Quick Recap: Bulls 88, Lakers 84

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The Chicago Bulls have not beaten the Los Angeles Lakers since December 19, 2006. Tonight, the Bulls bucked that trend by defeating the Lakers 88-84. If you missed the action, let me give you a quick recap.

Three Quarters of a Game

If you take out a dreadful second quarter (which you could never actually do), the Lakers outscored the Bulls 74-64. The Lakers only mustered 10 points in the second after starting so strongly in the first quarter. While I credit the lopsided second quarter to the Bulls finding their stroke from the field, part of the blame also goes to the Lakers' offensive approach. In the first quarter, the Lakers got out to a big lead by running the offense through Pau Gasol, who outplayed Joakim Noah early. Gasol shot 5-for-7 (10 points) in the first quarter and had 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 blocked shot. But in the second quarter, Pau was pretty much non-existent. All it took was one quarter--twelve minutes--of lackluster basketball and the Lakers started their road trip (I don't count an "away" game at Staples Center) off on the wrong foot.

M-V-P Chants in Chicago

After a slow start, Derrick Rose heated up and, to this minute, has probably not cooled off. In the first quarter, Rose was throwing up bricks left and right (2-for-8 from the field). After that, however, Rose was unstoppable. The star point guard dominated the second quarter by using his tenacious dribble penetration to get to the rim and make layups and draw multiple defenders and kick the ball out to three-point shooters. On numerous possessions, he demonstrated his great court vision by firing dazzling passes to cutters and spot-up shooters that the defense were not aware of.

In the third quarter, Rose showed off his new and improved three-point shot. Rose hit three three-balls in the game, giving him 32 on the season; interestingly, Rose hit 32 three-pointers in his first two NBA seasons combined.

But most impressively, Rose hit clutch shots down the stretch which had the Chicago fans on their feet chanting "M-V-P!" whenever he touched the ball. Whether he split a double team to get to the rim or threw up a step back jumper with the shot clock running down, Rose made the big plays when his team needed them most (when the Lakers made their late run).

No Answer Down Low

Don't let Carlos Boozer's 10 points fool you; the Lakers had trouble with the Bulls' big guy down low. Sure, Boozer wasn't raining buckets on the Lakers, but his low-post presence/threat caused a big mismatch that the Bulls exploited ad nauseum. Once the Bulls figured out that running the offense through Boozer would be the difference in the game--they did this in the second quarter--it was all over. Whenever the Lakers sent a double-down defender to help, Boozer, a great passing big man, would fire a pass to a spot-up three-point shooter (Rose on multiple occasions) or make a nice pass that would lead to an open shooter two passes later. This really was the difference in the game, despite how dominant Rose was. In summary, the Lakers need Andrew Bynum back.

NBA Preview: Central Division

Milwaukee Bucks

2009-2010 Recap:

Record:  46-36
Division Finish:  2nd
Playoffs:  Lost in First Round

Key Additions:  Drew Gooden, Corey Maggette

The seventh-ranked rebounding team in the league last season added to their emphasis on crashing the boards by adding two solid rebounders at the forward positions. Gooden is a proven rebounder who plays decent low-post defense. He is an unselfish player and a solid role player.

Maggette, meanwhile, is a proven scorer (19.8 ppg last season), with a big body that enables him to score down-low against smaller forwards and help on the boards. He shoots for a high percentage from the field and from the charity stripe. If he can stay healthy, Maggette will be a nice scoring option for the Bucks.

Key Losses:  None

The Bucks re-signed shooting guard John Salmons to ensure that any loss suffered would not be a crucial one. While players did leave Milwaukee (Dan Gadzuric, for one), none of the people who departed figured to be important to the Bucks this season.

Most Important Player:  Andrew Bogut

Bogut finally put everything together last season and looked like the franchise center that the Bucks drafted first overall back in 2005. He averaged 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game in 69 games before suffering a nasty arm injury (video is not for the faint of heart). But prior to the injury, Bogut was a force on the low block. While he does struggle from the free throw line in Dwight Howard-esque fashion (62.9%), the Bucks need him to return to last season's form if they hope to contend for the playoffs. He is irreplaceable to this group.

Rookie Spotlight:  None

Darington Hobson, the 6'7" swingman out of New Mexico, has officially been ruled out for the season after doctors informed the team that he needed surgery on his right hip (he had surgery on his left hip earlier this week). While this team has no notable rookies, it is a very young team with a young core.

2010-2011 Division Outlook:  1st

The Bucks surprised a lot of people in the Eastern Conference last season, and I think they will parlay their success last season into this one. I am a huge fan of their starting line; starting point guard Brandon Jennings is blossoming into a great point guard after a spectacular rooking campaign that was highlighted by his historic night; the Bucks have two wing players who can score the ball in Salmons and Maggette; they have a solid rebounding/defensive-oriented role player in Gooden; and they have a go-to franchise center in Bogut. The bench is also pretty deep and features players like the dynamic Chris Douglas-Roberts, veterans like Michael Redd and Earl Boykins, and unselfish bangers like Jon Brockman and Brian Skinner.

I pick the Bucks to lock up the top spot in this division not only because they are good enough, but because their main competition, the Bulls, will be without star Carlos Boozer until December at the very least. I feel like Milwaukee will get off to a better start than the Bulls, and then the Bulls will need to readjust a bit once Boozer comes back, and those factors will lead to a better overall record for the Bucks.

Chicago Bulls

2009-2010 Recap:

Record:  41-41
Division Finish:  3rd
Playoffs:  Lost in First Round

Key Additions:  Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Kurt Thomas

Although the Bulls won 61 games last season, many people thought they were still on the outside looking in when it came to being classified as one of the great teams of the league. What the Bulls needed, many said, was a low post scoring threat. Well, this past offseason, they went out and got someone to fill that void--Carlos Boozer. The Booze gives the Bulls a proven down-low scorer and someone who can run the pick-and-roll ad nauseum with Derrick Rose (a play that the Bulls did not utilize as often as many other teams last season). Boozer has averaged at least 19 points and 10 rebounds in three of his past four seasons and, now that he plays in a weaker Eastern Conference, should be able to easily duplicate those numbers, if not better them. Unfortunately, Boozer fractured the pinkie finger on his shooting hand and will be out until early December, as noted above.

Anytime you have a down-low scorer, you need to add shooters around him to punish teams for sending a double-down defender. The Bulls understood this and immediately grabbed Kyle Korver and Keith Bogans. Korver is one of the best three-point shooter in the league; last season in Utah he shot an absurd 53.6% from deep. He will add a much needed dimension to the Bulls offense that will not only give Boozer some more room to operate down low, but will also give Rose an outlet when he gets swarmed on dribble penetration.

Kurt Thomas provides the Bulls with another solid role player. The Bulls really surrounded their stars--Rose, Deng, and Boozer--with unselfish, gritty players. Thomas not only adds rebounding and defense, but veteran leadership.

Key Losses:  Kirk Hinrich, Brad Miller, Tyrus Thomas

The Bulls lost a lot in Hinrich, Miller, and Ty Thomas, but they ended with a net gain. Hinrich is obviously a great ball handler with the ability to score when needed. Miller is a versatile big man. And Thomas is an athletic guy who makes a difference with his shot-blocking ability. But they tried their best, and I think succeeded, in filling the voids left by these players.

Most Important Player:  Luol Deng

Deng is the least-hyped of the Bulls' core, but I think the most critical if the Bulls hope to go deep into the playoffs this year. We know that they have a franchise point guard and a great low-post scorer. But we also know that every great team has a good wing scorer who can create his own shot and carry the scoring burden on any given night. Deng has shown the ability to be that guy in the past, and the Bulls will need him to be that guy this year if they hope to get deep in the playoffs.

Rookie Spotlight:  Omer Asik

With Boozer on the shelf, new head coach has moved Joakim Noah to the four and Asik to the five in some preseason games. Asik is still a work in progress, but definitely has the size to make some modest contributions off the bench in the regular season. I personally think they should start Kurt Thomas and Noah, not Noah and Asik. But either way, Asik will get some minutes.

2010-2011 Division Outlook:  2nd

While I don't think the Bulls will finish with the best record in the division, I think they will be the best team in the group when all is said and done. And I think they will make a deep playoff run. They are a very, very balanced team with all of the right pieces in place to win a championship. But I see two roadblocks to their success. First, can they gel quick enough to make that deep run happen this season? And second, is this squad simply together at the wrong time? They are a great team on paper, but have been assembled in the middle of a dynasty (Kobe and Pau's Lakers) and at the beginning of another one (Run DLC in South Beach).

Indiana Pacers

2009-2010 Recap:

Record:  32-50
Division Finish:  4th
Playoffs:  Did Not Qualify

Key Additions:  Darren Collison, James Posey

The Pacers made a major upgrade at point guard by acquiring Collison from the Hornets and moving last year's starter, T.J. Ford, to the bench. Collison had a wonderful rookie season that saw the young guard breakout offensively. Watching him at UCLA, I honestly did not think his game would translate to a starting gig in the NBA; I thought he was a backup at best. But Collison put together stretches where he scored 20-30 points on a consistent basis. He is a true pass-first point guard, but he plays great defense (1.03 steals per game) and shoots above average from beyond the arc (40%).

Posey is a solid defender and three-point shooter. But most advantageous for the Pacers is the fact the Posey is a guy with winning experience. He has won two championships as a starter (with Miami and with Boston) and his attitude and approach will help this young team.

Key Losses:  Troy Murphy

I documented the underrated Murphy in my preview of the New Jersey Nets. By losing Murphy, the Pacers will need center Roy Hibbert and power forward Josh McRoberts to step up in big ways. Hibbert made nice strides last season, but this season the onus of Pacers' inside scoring will be squarely on him. McRoberts will likely focus mostly on solid rebounding and defense because he simply does not have the talent to be a big-time scorer in this league. Thus, Hibbert will need to provide the team with at the very least 15.0 points per game if they hope to take some pressure off of the perimeter guys.

Most Important Player:  Darren Collison

With apologies to Hibbert who will certainly need to step up as described above, it is Collison who holds the key to the car. Collison has the ability to take this team to the next level in its development. He won't have to carry the scoring load on most nights as Danny Granger is one of the game's top players, but Collison will have to do everything else:  manage the personalities of a young team, handle the rock, distribute the ball, and make plays on defense.

Rookie Spotlight:  None

I don't see any of the rookies in Indiana getting enough minutes to make any sort of noticeable contributions. A.J. Price will be the third-string point guard and may get some minutes in blowouts, but beyond him, you don't see many rookies on the floor.

2010-2011 Division Outlook:  3rd

I think the Pacers' future looks bright, and this season they will take a small step forward with the Collison addition and LeBron's departure from Cleveland (more below). If Hibbert can develop into a dominant center, the landscape of basketball in Indiana would change considerably. But I don't think Hibbert is that kind of player; I think he's too soft. Only time will tell.

Detroit Pistons

2009-2010 Recap:

Record:  27-55
Division Finish:  5th
Playoffs:  Did Not Qualify

Key Additions:  None

The only additions even in consideration of being classified as important are two washed up stars of yesteryear:  Tracy McGrady and Ben Wallace. T-Mac will come off the bench and, if anything, at least puts butts in seats. Wallace will provide solid energy and probably some rebounding, but nothing that will make you drool.

Key Losses:  None

Most Important Player:  Rodney Stuckey

Stuckey was the lone bright spot in an otherwise dreadful year for the Pistons. The fourth-year point guard averaged 16.6 points and 4.8 assists per game last season. Stuckey is not very well known outside of Detroit mainly because he played college ball at Eastern Washington University. But don't let the lack of a big name college fool you, this guy is a big-time player. He will have to have a big year for the Pistons to beat out the Cavs for 4th in the division.

Rookie Spotlight:  Greg Monroe

The big man from Georgetown will be third on the depth chart at either center/power forward, but should get some minutes considering the Pistons will not be very competitive this season. The Pistons hope that they can groom Monroe into being their franchise center of the future. And there's no reason why he won't be; Monroe has all the talent in the world and incredible athletic ability. Look for Monroe to make some good improvement this season and try to earn a starting job next year.

2010-2011 Division Outlook:  4th

The Pistons have some interesting personnel decisions right now. This is clearing a rebuilding year for them, yet they have veterans at some spots with young players waiting in the wings. Richard Hamilton still provides steady numbers, but you have to wonder when the starting job will be handed to Ben Gordon, who has the ability to score in bunches. Stuckey obviously has a stranglehold of the point guard position. Tayshaun Prince is an underrated player, but Austin Daye, who has the same versatility but maybe even more raw talent, waits behind him. And at center, Wallace will probably start, but the bruising Jason Maxiell waits for his chance. I think they should go young at all of those spots, give those guys some playing time, and make a concerted effort to transition into the next era in Detroit basketball.

Cleveland Cavaliers

2009-2010 Recap:

Record:  61-21
Division Finish:  1st
Playoffs:  Lost in Second Round

Key Additions:  None

The Cavs screwed themselves over this season. Don't blame LeBron, blame Cavs management. The Cavs put all of their eggs in one basket and came out empty. By focusing ONLY on LeBron this past summer, they failed to plan for the "what if LeBron leaves?" scenario that ended up playing out. But perhaps even more interesting is that let's say the Cavs DID court King James back to Cleveland…they did not add anyone else! This would have been the same team that fell short last season, minus Delonte West. How do you expect to get over the hump with the same group of guys who have failed to pull through when it counts? Terrible offseason plan by the Cavs.

Key Losses:  Some guy named LeBron James, who did this, also Delonte James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Never mind the names listed above. The Cavs key loss was any hope of a respectable season.

Most Important Player:  Danny Green

Not because of his on-court play, but because of his dancing ability. He will need to bring impressive performances on a consistent basis to keep his teammates and the twelve fans in attendance entertained throughout this wretched season.

Rookie Spotlight:  None

No rookie, no matter how impressive, can make this season watchable.

2010-2011 Division Outlook:  5th

The Cavs have a couple of players that could win a couple of games this season (Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison). But the drop-off from last season will be astounding. What was once a great show for the city of Cleveland will become a sideshow. Although I initially had the Cavs in 4th in the division, I dropped them to 5th because I think the train will completely fall off the tracks emotionally and psychologically after what happened this offseason.

Why the Bulls Should Decline a Carmelo Anthony-Joakim Noah Deal

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Recent reports claim that the Chicago Bulls have considered trading away center Joakim Noah in a multi-team deal that would bring Denver Nuggets star forward Carmelo Anthony back in return. My advise to Bulls general manager Gar Forman is straightforward:  Don't do it. 

Don't let Melo's star power and scoring ability blind you. Don't get me wrong; I think it is a great idea to go after the three-time NBA All-Star. But not at the expense of Joakim Noah. 

Heading into this past summer, the biggest free agent-fest in NBA history, the Bulls had one objective. The Bulls wanted to bring in an elite scoring option to complement its young core of Derrick Rose and Noah. Rose is a franchise player at a position (point guard) that some would argue is the most important position on the court. And Noah is an energetic, selfless, defensive-minded player at another position (center) that would some argue is the most important position on the court. With the two most important positions in basketball locked up, the Bulls needed to focus on bringing in a dominant wing player to handle the scoring duties on a nightly basis. They certainly had plenty of options this off-season; Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Joe Johnson, to name a few. Well, we all know what happened with those guys. Wade and LeBron formed "Miami Thrice" with Chris Bosh down in South Beach and Joe Johnson resigned with the Atlanta Hawks. 

The Bulls managed to buy some insurance by signing talented power forward Carlos Boozer and sharpshooting Ashton Kutch-I mean, Kyle Korver. Sorry, I confuse the two  all the time. Those certainly are solid moves that make the Bulls an even bigger threat than they already are in the Eastern Conference. But they don't put the Bulls over the top. In other words, they are probably looking at a second round playoff exit. The fact is, as I pointed out in a previous post, an NBA team must have at least two no-brainer All-Stars on its team in order to win a championship. Rose earned his first All-Star appearance last season, but that was just the beginning. You figure the guy will be an All-Star for the next ten seasons, barring injury. Do the Bulls have a second? What about Carlos Boozer? It's possible, but not guaranteed or even reasonably expected. He certainly won't win the fan vote based on performance/likability. And while he will not have as stiff a competition as he had in the Western Conference, he still faces some young forwards who last season appeared to have arrived on the national scene (David Lee, Al Horford, and Gerald Wallace). Add to that trio Chris Bosh and I could see Boozer getting left out of the mix. 

Enter Carmelo Anthony. He made his third All-Star appearance last season and put forth the best statistics of his career. He averaged over 28 points per game and added 6.6 rebounds as well. No NBA fan can deny that Melo is an elite scorer and someone who you want to give the ball to down the stretch. Sounds like the perfect fit for Chicago, but only if they add Melo to their core! Not if they break up the core by trading Noah away. How does that make sense? If we have learned anything throughout NBA history it is that you cannot build a championship team simply having a bunch of me-first scorers. You need "role" players. You need guys like Noah, who sacrifice their bodies for the greater good of the team. You need people content with getting only eight shots per game (Noah). You need people who can lead without scoring. 

Of players who appeared in at least 60 games and averaged 25 minutes or more over those games, Joakim Noah ranked 5th in rebounds per 48 minutes with 17.6. Who ranked above Noah on that list? Only Kevin Love, Dwight Howard, Marcus Camby, and Samuel Dalembert, in that order.

Of players who appeared in at least 60 games and averaged 25 minutes or more over those games, Noah ranked 10th in blocks per 48 minutes with 2.49. In this particular category, he outperformed guys like Tim Duncan, Jermaine O'Neal, teammate Taj Gibson, Paul Gasol, Brook Lopez, and Chris Kaman.

Whether you like him or hate him, Noah is a legitimate building block at the center position. His back-to-back national championships at the college level is a glimpse at his winning intangibles. New Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau thinks Noah "has the ability to make other players better." Thibodeau said Noah's post defense is "terrific." He also sound his passing is underrated and he has the ability to lead behind the defense. Sounds like a prototypical center to me. Sure, you would like a center with a dominant sky hook and post-up game (Noah's offense is quickly improving), but it's not necessary to win. What is necessary, however, is a player of Noah's makeup down low. Look at the past champions and the players on their squads who fit that mold:  2008 Celtics (Kendrick Perkins), 2007 Spurs (Francisco Elson), and 2006 Heat (Udonis Haslem). The back-to-back champion Lakers had Ron Artest play that role because they had more offensive-minded big men in Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. But you get the point. 

Although you may think guys like Noah can be found dime a dozen in the league, that simply is not true. I have heard people try to compare Noah to players like Marcin Gortat of the Magic and Louis Amundson of the Suns. Noah is way out of those two guys' leagues! Noah is a starting center in the league, not a bench guy that comes in once per half to give the starters a blow. He averaged over 30 minutes per game last season, and that number figures to rise this year. By comparison, Gortat played 13 minutes per game and Amundson fourteen. If you want realistic projections, you have to compare starting centers with other starting centers. And as I show above, Noah outperforms many of the players we consider good to great.

Now imagine if the Bulls went ahead and dealt Noah. Who would they have to fill that void? Boozer has not played much center in the past and certainly would be over-matched that position, especially defensively. Taj Gibson is skilled and has a lot of grit, but he is undersized to play center. And the veteran Kurt Thomas at this point in his career is not a starting center in the NBA. That leaves the Bulls with rookie Omer Asik from Turkey, a 7-footer whose talent is pretty raw and who has yet to play an NBA minute. You will not win a title with that front line.

From what I hear/read, it appears as though the Bulls have some flexibility with this deal. Initially the Nuggets thought about asking for Luol Deng, but his price tag is a bit too high for what you get. If the Bulls could work out a deal involving Deng and a few other pieces, excluding Noah, for Melo, then I think they should jump on it. But if Noah's name comes up during any discussion, the Bulls should nix it and move on unless they can poach a solid big man from another team.

Jordan Rides the Bus: A Review and My Observations

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Last night I watched the newest installment, Ron Shelton's "Jordan Rides the Bus," in ESPN's "30 for 30" sports documentary series. The piece explored Michael Jordan's first retirement from the NBA and his subsequent career playing professional baseball. While I consider myself a lifelong NBA fan and an absolute diehard MJ supporter, I was simply too young to understand the ramifications of his move back when it happened; I was about six years old at the time. The only thing I remember about that time period is an Upper Deck baseball card of Michael Jordan in a White Sox uniform that I happened to procure (to this day one of my favorite cards in my remaining collection). Thus, when I heard that this piece dove directly into the retirement/career change, I highly anticipated its premiere.

As a whole, "Jordan Rides the Bus" was a solid production and an informative work that any NBA fan should watch. There has always been a lot of speculation over why Michael Jordan decided to retire and play baseball. In this documentary, Shelton does his best to set the record straight. That is, MJ retired for a combination of reasons, namely:  1) he was bored with basketball and had lost his passion for playing; and 2) his father, who was murdered shortly after Jordan won his third NBA championship, had always dreamt for MJ to play baseball, so this was a decision to honor his dad. As a kid, I don't remember any mention of the murder of MJ's father. And perhaps that is for the better because I doubt any parent would want their child watching a news story of a man found dead in a creek. But that is such a vital component of the MJ story and I am glad that I learned of it. Finally, from a production standpoint, I wish the producers had the chance to interview MJ, today, about the events. I noticed that in many of the "30 for 30" pieces, the subjects of the documentaries are rarely featured in present-day interviews. It would have been great to hear from the man himself as he undoubtedly could provide insight/knowledge/information that you simply cannot get from analyzing videotape or talking to friends.

From a sports perspective, here are some things that intrigued me:

1. When MJ went to Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf to inform Reinsdorf of his decision to retire and try baseball, Reinsdorf suggested that MJ talk to coach Phil Jackson about the decision. Reinsdorf felt that Jackson would be able to offer valuable advice/insight to the young star. Jackson, in his meeting with MJ, said, "You have to understand…you are depriving so many people who enjoy this sport [of] the opportunity of such a great amount of pleasure." Two things jumped at me when I heard that line. First, although the Zen Master is completely correct in his assessment, that is truly terrible advice. I wonder how much MJ even considered that in making his decision. I understand the sentiment that professional athletes play "for the fans," but in MJ's situation, was that even an appropriate thing to say? Sprinkled in Jackson's comment is the foundation for today's team/owner/city mentality that a professional athlete is simply property. When LeBron decided to leave Cleveland for Miami, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and Cavs fans were irate because they felt LeBron owed them his services. They felt he belonged to them. The Ménage à trois between sports franchises, players, and fans, is unique and certainly special. But people need to keep things in perspective.

My second reaction to Jackson's comment is this:  Imagine if MJ had stayed in the NBA and played full 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. Would the Bulls have won eight championships in a row? As unimaginable as the feat seems, if there's one team that could have done it, it was MJ and his Bulls. By all accounts the year off for MJ was valuable to his basketball career--Jackson says MJ became a much better teammate when he returned for the second three-peat. So, being on the conservative side, let's say MJ, suffering from burnout in 1993-94, doesn't win that season, but wins the next season (1994-95). That means in a span of eight NBA seasons, MJ and the Bulls would have won seven titles, including a four-peat. A four-peat? Does that even exist? If that had happened, I don't think we would ever see a more impressive team accomplishment in the modern era.

2. What is today's equivalent of MJ's move to baseball? Think about the components of this career change. For one, he left the top of one sport to go to the middle of another sport. Second, he left money, success, dominance, and everything else that came with being the NBA's top player for road trips on busses with no-names and ballparks that seat roughly 10,000 fans. Third, he moved to a sport that emphasizes completely different skills. And fourth, he left a media that loved him and never questioned him to a media that doubted him and wanted to see him fail. Because baseball is so unique as a sport, the only transitions even comparable to MJ's are another basketball star to baseball or a football star to baseball. And because it's too easy to use a basketball-to-baseball comparison (LeBron, Kobe), let's try football to baseball.

The only equivalent I can think of is Tom Brady moving to baseball (to hit, not pitch) after he had won his third title in four years with the Patriots (2004-05 season). Like Mike, Brady was the unquestioned leader and most valuable component to a team that had a stranglehold on its sport. And like Mike, Brady had a flawless public image and a unique way with the media. Brady does have a more established baseball background than MJ (Brady was drafted by the Expos as a catcher). But the point is you throw Brady in without having any at-bats in the past 10 years, at a somewhat high level in the sport, and see what he can do.

But if someone were to try it, I don't think it would generate as much fanfare as MJ's move did. Sure, if Brady tried baseball, SportsCenter would go crazy and probably take us to every at-bat live. But would minor league stadiums sell out? Doubtful. In the one season MJ played with the Birmingham Barons, the attendance tripled. Home and road games had the "Stephen Strasburg effect" for a guy who had not picked up a baseball bat since high school! He wasn't a highly touted prospect with once-in-a-lifetime raw talent, highlight videos, or gaudy amateur statistics!

3. The most incredible part of all of this is the following:  Michael Jordan won three consecutive titles with the Bulls, then took a year and a half off to play professional baseball, and came back and won another three consecutive titles. That's greatness. That will never, ever happen again in any professional sport. He didn't take a year off to rest and recuperate his body like Favre. He spent that year toiling in baseball stadiums and under the scrutiny of sports media. Yet he came back and picked up right where he left off. Amazing. The greatest ever.

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