The State of the Game address

Just over 10 years ago, Michael Jordan, perhaps the most prolific athlete ever to walk the earth, retired from the game of basketball. His not-so-unexpected return to the Chicago Bulls in 1995, while enjoyable at first, was the beginning of the end. Everybody, including his "ego-ness" himself, knew it. Mike managed to string us all along for another eight years, finally retiring for good after last season, from the Washington Wizards.\nI am not discrediting MJ or his résumé, but the league went through some very difficult times during those years, and Jordan's refusal to just go away only made things worse. After his first "retirement," the question on everybody's mind was who, if anybody, could or would ever fill those annually morphing dollar signs he calls shoes? \nIf you ask me, there is nobody who will ever be Michael Jordan. \nHowever, in order for the fans to get over him, his heartfelt and permanent exit should have been swift. \nAs the NBA financially hobbled through nearly a decade, fans and media both wondered if things would ever be the same after MJ. We wondered if there would ever again be a single superstar that stood head and shoulders above the rest. We wondered if there would ever be another dynasty. We wondered if that dynasty would be somebody other than the hated Lakers. Finally, we have some answers. \nThis year's playoffs have been some of the most exciting ever. Yes, you heard me Chicago, ever. In the year that King James arrived as good as advertised, if not better, professional basketball is starting to climb the ladder in the sports world. Their recent rise can be attributed to (I can't believe I'm saying this) David Stern's plan to diversify and spread out the talent pool. \nNaturally it took a few years to breed itself, but now going into the 2004 conference finals, we have a product worthy of $45 nose-bleed tickets. \nThe Lakers, after being dethroned by the Spurs last year, had upped the ante by signing Karl Malone and Gary Payton in the offseason, and got their revenge against Tim Duncan. Now they have to deal with Kevin Garnett, who seems to possess an inner rage rivaled only by George W., and has carried the Wolves to their first conference finals in franchise history. The Pistons added Rasheed Wallace during the second half of the season, and paired with Big Ben Wallace, are now something to fear coming out of the East. \nLest we forget the Pacers, owners of the best record in the league during the regular season, who, with former Pistons head coach Rick Carlisle, will certainly have something to say about Detroit's attempt to relive glories past. \nThe biggest story of the playoffs however, is without a doubt, the Kobe Bryant situation. Is anybody surprised that he averaged 25.3 a game? No. Including a 42-point outburst in Game 4 of the semifinals against the Spurs? No, again. However, his ability to deliver this caliber game while dealing with a much-scrutinized court case in Colorado is astonishing. In fact, it's downright inspiring (at least enough to get me off the couch so I could write this column). The man appears in (legal) court at 9 a.m., walks out in tears, walks off his Lear Jet hours later with a face of stone onto the (NBA playoff) court. That is borderline ridiculous. And it once again begs the question: Can anybody replace Michael Jordan? Absolutely not. But, are we better off this way? It's a no contest. \nLong live the King.