Usain Bolt: World’s Most Dominant Athlete?

By Chris Le

Another race, another world record.

On Sunday, at the Track and Field World Championships in Berlin, Usain Bolt pistol-whipped the 100-meter field, breaking the finish line in a world-record 9.58 seconds.

If you’re unfamiliar with track and field or if you’re the average, Customary System-loving Yankee who can’t quantify 100 meters and the idea of traversing such a distance in 9.58 seconds can’t register in your head, check this: Bolt ran, considering acceleration, at the average speed of 23.35 miles per hour and approached a top speed of 28 miles per hour.  That makes Bolt the fastest biped in the world that’s not an ostrich or kangaroo (which can reach a hopping speed near 44 miles per hour).

But it’s not just the speed at which he travels that amazes, it’s also his atypical body for a sprinter.  Past record holders hover around six feet: Tyson Gay, 5’11; Maurice Green, 5’9; Donovan Bailey, 6’0.  Bolt, who measures at six feet, five inches, one hundred ninety pounds, and endowed with the fastest of fast-twitch musculature, moves in ways a man his size shouldn’t be capable of.  Watching Bolt run, you begin to think that if there is a God, he was generous the day he created Bolt.

No other human comes close.  In the finals, to Bolt’s right ran Gay and Asafa Powell — holders of the next two fastest 100-meter times ever — and yet Bolt instantly eliminated any notions of contention.  Gay and Powell ran the race of their careers, and all they received in return was a feature in Bolt’s highlight reel.  No other athlete makes his craft seem so effortless.  Which naturally leads to the question: Who is the world’s best?

The only possible candidates for Most Dominant Athlete are Michael Phelps, Roger Federer, Manny Pacquiao, Tiger Woods, and of course, Usain.

But do any of them compare to the Lightning Bolt?

Take the Olympics.  Bolt so comfortably distanced himself from the field that he pulled up after 70 meters, jogged the last thirty and still broke the world record.  And this was in the Olympic Finals.  No other athlete has the ability and, most tellingly, the cajones to be so brazenly confident.

Michael Phelps can’t afford the luxury of decelerating to gaze back at his competitors on the final leg of a meet.  Roger Federer isn’t so assured as to cede a set, knowing he’ll win the next two (though, granted, he’s cocksure enough to make a jacket stitched with the number fifteen, before winning his fifteenth major).  I’ll make out with Emmanuelle Chriqui before Manny Pacquiao plays defensive and surrenders the championship rounds, thinking he has the previous nine in the bag.  And Tiger Woods — well, given his year and his recent withering at the PGA Championship, I think it’s safe to say Woods is out of the running … until next year.

I'm more likely to show her my 'O' face.

Only Pacquiao and Phelps can challenge Bolt for the title.

Since a late career metamorphosis, aided by trainer Freddie Roach, Pacquiao has sent back all challengers regretful, and usually in a heap on the canvas.  Entering boxing at flyweight (106 pounds) and being most comfortable at featherweight (126 pounds), Pacquiao has risen as far as welterweight (147 pounds) to face all comers, most recently against Ricky Hatton (KO 2), and most famously opposite Oscar De La Hoya (TKO 8).

Pacquiao is the best boxer in the world.  But I say that with a little hesitation, and that little hiccup is typically brought about by the recently retired and un-retired Floyd Mayweather, who not too long ago held Pacquiao’s pound-for-pound crown.

There’s no such pause when discussing today’s greatest runner.  The answer is immediately Usain Bolt.  Whether it’s sprinting or long distance, there’s no better track athlete.

But it can be argued that Michael Phelps, swimming wonder and out-of-pool douche, has the upper hand against Bolt.  Unlike Bolt, Phelps has mastered a wider range of strokes (butterfly, freestyle, medley) and distances (100-, 200-, 400-meter), amassing 14 Olympic gold medals and six world records.

Because of his range and overall dominance, I’m going with Phelps.

What say you?

Djokovic Beats Roddick, Gets Booed

By Chris Le

American tennis fans, particularly those in New York for the U.S. Open, just found a new Public Enemy Number One—Novak Djokovic.

Dispatching of fan favorite Andy Roddick in surprisingly easy fashion, 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5), it could have been a moment of sweet retribution for the 21-year-old Serb.

Before their quarterfinal meeting, Roddick took a few jabs at Djokovic, who cited hip, ankle, stomach and breathing issues as reason for his poor play in previous rounds. Roddick wondered, jokingly as he suggests, if Djokovic is also suffering from bird flu, anthrax or SARS, saying “He’s either quick to call a trainer or he’s the most courageous guy of all-time.”

Djokovic did not take the comments lightly and took it out on Roddick on the court.

In post-match interviews, Roddick reiterated everything he said was in jest, as he is known to be sort of a jokester, and his comments aren’t always without a hint of sarcasm.

Djokovic still wasn’t humored, telling USA reporter Michael Barkaan, “You know, Andy was saying I have 16 injuries in the last match. Obviously, I don’t—right?”

A few boos from the pro-Roddick crowd began to shower on the third-ranked player in the world. Barkaan gave Djokovic a chance to take back his comments, a clear opportunity to win back the crowd that loved him a year ago, but the Serb didn’t bite. “They’re already against me” Djokovic said, “because they think I’m faking everything, so it’s all right.”

After that, every pro-Djokovic American turned against him and the boos magnified in intensity.

It’s funny that Djokovic is so easily butt-hurt, since he himself is famous for mockingly mimicking Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova (see here) and their pre-serve idiosyncrasies. His sense of humor, apparently, is relegated to making fun of others.

In later interviews, however, Djokovic apologized to Roddick and seemed genuinely remorseful when saying, “He made a joke and it was a misunderstanding, so I don’t blame it on him. Maybe I exaggerated and reacted bad in that moment.”

Is this apology enough to get back on the New York crowd’s good graces?

We’ll find out in Saturday’s semifinal when Djokovic faces number-two seed Roger Federer.

May-Treanor, Walsh Get Their Record Streak Broken

By BJ

In the present decade, a firm argument can be built over either Roger Federer or Tiger Woods as the most dominant athlete, but can I toss the beach volleyball duo, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in the discussion? In a year-long streak that ended today, May-Treanor and Walsh won 112 consecutive matches and 19 consecutive tournaments, including throughout the Olympics, the longest streaks in beach volleyball history. In comparison, Rafael Nadal won 81 consecutive matches on clay in a streak that ended last year, still a far reach from the 112 won by the 2-time gold medalists.

The No. 3 seed Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh won an exciting back-and-forth game over May and Walsh in Saturday’s Crocs AVP final 21-19, 10-21, 25-23 with the match being decided on the 11th championship point. Arguably the greatest beach volleyball duo of all-time can start a new streakat the Santa Barbara Open next weekend.

Atlanta Dream Challenging for WNBA’s Worst Regular Season Record

With the WNBA season winding down, the Atlanta Dream have had a nightmare of a season, sporting a record of 3-29 – a .103 winning percentage. Not much good can be said about the expansion team that began the season 0-17 (a WNBA record for consecutive losses and most losses to open a season), then won three of their next five before dropping their last seven.

To compare the almost unfathomable winning percentage, the Miami Heat finished the 2008 season 15-67, a .183 winning percentage, while the Miami Dolphins’ 1-15 record last year tops the cake with a .063 percentage. Man, while Boston/New England is enjoying an awesome year in sports, Miami is really sucking hard.

The 1998 Washington Mystics hold the infamous record for worst WNBA season at 3-27 (.100), meaning the Dream has to drop their last five games to dip below this mark.

Rodman Greatest Athlete Jackson Ever Coached

Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant. Shaquille O’Neal. Scottie Pippen. None of them were uttered by legendary coach Phil Jackson during a speech when talking about the greatest athlete he ever coached. That honor went to bad boy Dennis Rodman, whose endurance really impressed Jackson. And with that, a tribute to the rebounding machine. (Kobe can’t be happy about this.)

Olympics Update (for Saturday)

By BJ

After avenging their semifinal loss in the 2006 FIBA World Championship to Greece (2-2), the U.S. (4-0) took care of Spain (3-1) as well, steamrolling past them 119-82 on Saturday. The win in the match up of undefeated squads clinched the first seed for the U.S. in Pool B, who will finish opening-round play against Germany (1-3) on Monday before advancing to the quarterfinals.

Anyone who didn’t know if Kobe Bryant or LeBron James was the leader of the team, here’s what James had to say after the game. “I’m the leader of the team, and I’ll make sure there’s no slippage.”

The dream race in the 100-meter Olympics never formulated, rather it was a one-man show by Jamaica’s Usain Bolt. American Tyson Gay finished fifth in the semifinal to be eliminated from the final, and Asafa Powell finished in a disappointing fifth in the final. The 21-year-old Bolt captured his first gold medal in stunning fashion Saturday, breaking his own world record of 9.72 seconds with a 9.69 finish, despite looking around and posing for cameras before crossing the finish line.

Now that’s impressive. As for those who might see it as mockery to his fellow competitors, the 6’5″ sprinter responded, “I wasn’t bragging. When I saw I wasn’t covered, I was just happy.” Heck, he can do cartwheels across the finish line if no one can catch him. Bolt is the heavy favorite to win the 200 meters next week, and Michael Johnson said that he is prepared to see his 12-year-old world record of 19.32 seconds be broken. And just think, Bolt hasn’t reached his prime yet.

Roger Federer won his first medal in three Olympics, gold in doubles play of all things. He and Swiss partner Stanislas Wawrinka defeated Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-3 in the final Saturday. Federer truly is the paradigm of sportsmanship. His Wimbledon loss was nothing short of respectful (unlike James Blake‘s recent loss) and his uncanny doubles win resembled that of a child winning something great. But I definitely tip my hat to Federer, one of the greatest tennis players ever.

Remember the Greco-Roman wrestler who dumped his bronze medal in the middle of the mat during the medal ceremony? He’s not getting it back. The IOC ruled on Saturday that Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian would be the fourth athlete kicked out of the Games and have his medal be the third removed, but the first not associated with doping.

Brett Favre makes his debut tonight as a New York Jet in preseason action against the Washington Redskins at 4p PT. I just now really took the time to think about how Favre’s Jets are in the same division as New England, and the AFC South and AFC North are stacked so they have 0% chance of making the playoffs. I can’t see what he’s playing for at his age other than for the love of the game because it’s going to be a long, playoff-less season for the future Hall-of-Famer.

With the AP preseason poll released Saturday, Georgia held top rank as well as in the coaches’ poll. Ohio State switched spots with USC with Oklahoma and Florida rounding out the top five. Check out the rest of the poll on ESPN. Season kicks off on August 28.

Georgia Tops Preseason Coaches’ Poll for College Football

By BJ

The USA Today preseason coaches’ poll was released on Friday, and here is your top five for the upcoming 2008 college football season, which kicks off on August 28:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

So it took a few weeks for the Minnesota Twins to read my article and realize that they needed to bring up Francisco Liriano and cut Livan Hernandez and on Friday, they did just that. Liriano, who spent three months in the minors, took the mound Sunday against the Cleveland Indians and pitched six scoreless innings in leading the Twins to a 6-2 victory and into first place in the AL Central. The lefty recorded his first win in over a year and lowered his ERA on the season to 7.16.

I’m so impressed with the Oakland Athletics’ Brad Ziegler that I’m going to update his record streak until he gives up a run. With two scoreless innings on Friday at Boston, the reliever has now tossed 32 scoreless innings to start his career.

Michelle Wie missed the cut in the men’s Legends Reno-Tahoe Open on Friday by nine strokes with a 9-over par, her eighth straight failed attempt at making the cut on the PGA.

Rafael Nadal fell to Novak Djokovic 6-1, 7-5 in the semifinals in the Cincinnati Masters on Saturday to end his win streak of 32 straight matches and five straight tournaments. Notwithstanding the loss, Nadal is set to replace Roger Federer for the No. 1 ranking in the August 18 rankings after over three years of Federer and Nadal being 1-2.

A possible Oscar De La Hoya v. Manny Pacquiao bout could take place on December 6, the date of De La Hoya’s final fight of his career. We would find out as early as Wednesday if the pound-for-pound king (47-3-2, 35 KO) would move up to the 147-pound welterweight to take on the popular boxer’s (39-5, 30 KO) swan song.

Big Brown bounced back by winning the Haskell Invitational in his first race since his Belmont Stakes flop eight weeks ago. The 1-5 favorite had to come from behind to overtake Coal Play for the win.

Team USA basketball 89 – Russia (exhibition) 68
Next game: Tuesday against Australia in their final exhibition game.

Manny Heading to the Dodgers

By BJ

Well, forget the Fish. Manny Ramirez is headed to the Dodgers in a three-team trade that has Jason Bay heading to Boston pending commissioner’s approval.

MLB Trade Deadline: Thursday @ 1p PT
Trades since Tuesday:

LAA traded Casey Kotchman and pitching prospect Stephen Marek to Atlanta for Mark Teixeira.
NYY traded Kyle Farnsworth to Detroit for Ivan Rodriguez.
NYY traded LaTroy Hawkins to Houston for minor league infielder Matt Cusick.
Florida traded pitching prospect Gaby Hernandez to Seattle for Arthur Rhodes.
CWS traded Nick Masset and minor league infielder Danny Richar to Cincinnati for Ken Griffey Jr. and cash.

I’m surprised ESPN has no coverage of Paul Pierce‘s recent response to a Spanish reporter while Pierce is in Madrid, which went like this. Q: “Is Kobe really the best player in the world?” Pierce: “I don’t think Kobe is the best player. I’m the best player. There’s a line that separates having confidence and being conceited. I don’t cross that line but I have a lot of confidence in myself.”

Now before you Lakers fans jump on Pierce like an Asian fight, understand this. Pierce is reeling off of an NBA championship over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, where he was named Finals MVP. He watched first-hand the regular season MVP get thrown off his game while he upped his and played neck-and-neck with and I’ll be the first to admit, outplayed Kobe in the stretch. So in one series, Pierce gained the ultimate confidence that he could top the best, which is why he felt sane when he said what he said.

Okay, now you can jump on Pierce.

Michelle Wie is set to try her hands again with the men, as she attempts to qualify in the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open this weekend. I think Annika Sorenstam speaks for all of us when she says that Wie shouldn’t be competing with men if she can’t even qualify in a women’s major. What I want to bring up is how much tournament director Michael Stearns is shaming the PGA by inviting the 18-year-old child star to play at a level she isn’t even close to being able to play at. Stearns said, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I happen to believe she’s a great player. Who’s on the list here who won a U.S. Publinks at age 13?”

That attitude says it all. We admit, Wie was a great player. Five years ago. Now, she’s playing with the pros and has rode on her childhood fame for quite too long now. She’s just another face in the LPGA and is just embarrassing herself every time she plays with the men. But good luck to her trying to make the cut for the first time in eight tries on the PGA Tour.

Update:

ATP Masters Series
Second Round Wednesday: (2) Rafael Nadal def. Florent Serra 6-0, 6-1
Third Round Thursday: Ivo Karlovic def. (1) Roger Federer 7-6, 4-6, 7-6

The Oakland Athletics’ Brad Ziegler threw three scoreless innings Wednesday to run his record for most scoreless innings to start a career to 30.

Team USA basketball 114 – Turkey (exhibition) 82

Let Them Go to Europe

By BJ

International basketball has never been more competitive with the U.S. than now, and this offseason, European teams have actually signed five NBA players to play basketball abroad than in the NBA. Sasha Vujacic and Andris Biedrins could have been two more familiar faces not coming back to the NBA next season, but their current teams dished out some favorable contracts to retain them.

Vujacic who averaged under 9 points last season is getting a 3-year, $15 million deal after receiving numerous offers abroad. How do I know it’s all about the money, contrary to what Vujacic claims? Because the Lakers offered $2.6 million a year earlier this month and Vujacic was ready to pack his bags.

Same deal with Biedrins. With a six-year deal worth a guaranteed $54 million, the Warriors’ big man, who averaged 10.5 points and 9.8 rebounds last season, makes Stephen Jackson, arguably their best player, the lowest-paid starter on the team with a salary of $6.6 million last year. The Warriors are creating as much a financial mess as the Nuggets, paying all of their starters big money, which prompted the Nuggets to recently give up Marcus Camby for a draft pick. Those in the Bay Area should be concerned.

Remember star Irish wideout Jeff Samardzija turn down the NFL draft for a shot at MLB? He made his career debut last Friday for the Chicago Cubs, throwing two innings of relief. On Sunday, he notched his first career save, reaching 99 mph with his fastball. Cubs manager Lou Piniella has said that Samardzija will be around to stay and even mix into the closer role with Kerry Wood out. A feel-good start for the ND alum.

No one’s ever had as good of a major league start than the Oakland Athletics’ Brad Ziegler, who broke a 101-year-old record of most scoreless innings to begin a career. With two scoreless innings on Sunday, the right-handed submariner has pitched 27 innings without a run to break the previous record of 25 innings set by Philadelphia’s George McQuillan in 1907.

What to do about college baseball and its antics? Allow me to provide a brief timeline of the recent history. First, there’s the batter’s perfectly executed kick to the catcher. Then, there’s the manager’s hilarious antics by my one and only minor league Braves. And now this. Coaches and players both involved. And a fan. The pitcher (yes, he was a pitcher) who chucked the ball is facing a felony charge, and 17 players were ejected. However, the punishment was quickly retracted because the teams were unable to finish the game. I’m calling the use of a bat in the next minor league fracas.

Rafael Nadal breezed by Nicolas Kiefer in the Toronto Masters 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday to claim his fifth title in a row. It was the first tournament for the 22-year-old Spaniard since the epic Wimbledon final, and Rafa can become the first men’s top-ranked tennis player in four years depending on how he fares in this week’s Masters Series tournament. Where was Roger Federer last week? Upset in his opening match to unseeded Gilles Simon.

Big ups to the Philadelphia Soul for capturing its first-ever AFL title Sunday over the defending champion San Jose SaberCats. The Soul almost blew a 17-point lead with 39 seconds left before hanging on for a 59-56 victory. Matt D’Orazio accounted for all eight of his team’s touchdowns, throwing for seven and running for another. And somehow, owner Bon Jovi has something to do with the team’s success in only its fifth year in existence.

Carlos Sastre won the 2008 Tour de France on Sunday by 58 seconds over pre-race favorite Cadel Evans. Soon after, a fourth biker on the Tour was arrested and detained for doping. This event has become more shamed than NASCAR and its Brickyard display.

There is a headline on ESPN.com that reads, “is mixed martial arts mainstream?” Are you kidding? MMA is as trendy now as backing Barack Obama for president.

People are talking about how Candace Parker got off too easy with a 2-game suspension because she’s the “golden girl” of the league. Please. Detroit assistant coach Rick Mahorn, who also received a two-game suspension, should be publicly beat by his momma after what he did to Lisa Leslie.

So is this year’s U.S. Olympic team Kobe‘s or LeBron‘s team? Annoying SoCal analysts say LeBron had his chance in 2004 and has a bronze to show for it. Kobe will be the difference but on a team LeBron’s already on. I think the same can be said for LeBron if Kobe played in 2004 sans the King.

The New King of Tennis

By Chris Le

Until further notice, Rafael Nadal is the best tennis player in the world.

Call it a knee-jerk reaction, but what the 22-year-old Spaniard has done this year has been nothing short of dominant.

Consider this: Nadal steamrolled the French Open field, including Novak Djokovic, and handed Roger Federer the most lopsided defeat of his career. Rafa didn’t drop a set in his seven matches of the tournament.

Then he goes to the Swiss’ surface of choice, the swift grass of Wimbeldon, and deals Federer an emotionally crushing loss of a lifetime.

Even if Nadal performs poorly at the upcoming US Open—which I predict will happen since he holds a horrible track record at this hard-court major—and even if Federer is the No. 1 rated player in the world (he’s 545 points ahead in the ATP Rankings), Nadal is without a doubt the new ruler of the tennis landscape.

It was almost inevitable.

Nadal is young, entering his prime, and Federer, at 27, looks like his best days are behind him. Now, Nadal most assuredly has the psychological edge in the match up. Back-to-back losses in devastating fashion aren’t exactly easy to forget, especially after the years of utter dominance Federer has enjoyed.

But that’s not to say he’s going to stink it up from now on. Federer past his prime is still better than 99.9% of the earth’s population. It’s just that a select few, mainly Nadal and Djokovic, have caught up.

But in Nadal’s case, he hasn’t just pulled even, he’s slowly pulling away.

There’s a New King in Town

By BJ

I read a lot of ridiculous fantasy baseball notes–most of the time what people say–so I’ve decided to dedicate a section in my column to Did He Just Say That?

Jun 29 [J.J.] Putz, who suffered a setback earlier this week in his return from an elbow injury, won’t necessarily return to the closer role upon his return, the Seattle Times reports. Recommendation: Miscommunication with the training staff gave Putz the idea that he needed to throw with a different motion, which caused more soreness in his arm. He’s back to throwing normally, and the pain has stopped. – Rotowire
How do you miscommunicate over something important like that with the people you should be closest to, i.e. the training staff? Well, I guess I experience that as well with my mom from time to time, but Brandon Morrow is looking like a real sweet pickup now.

Chestnut Defends Hot Dog Belt In OT Over Kobayashi

Joey Chestnut staved off Kobayashi in a five-dog eat-off at Coney Island on Friday after the two tied with 59 hot dogs in 10 minutes, two minutes less than in previous years. I think Chestnut’s proven himself to be the new king of hot dog eating, which segues into who I believe will be the new king of tennis on Sunday.

Nadal Will Beat Federer in the Wimbledon Finals

The two beat their semifinal opponents in straight sets Friday to set up their third straight Wimbledon finals. Roger Federer, who will be going for his sixth straight Wimbledon, has not dropped a set in the entire tournament. But after coming down to Earth with unfamiliar losses in tournaments earlier this year and Rafael Nadal‘s proven domination over Federer in the French Open, I see David utilizing that confidence to dethrone Goliath in a stunner this year.

Who Wants It More: Kobe Or KG?

By Chris Le

To me, the story of the NBA Finals isn’t the resurgent rivalry of the Celtics and Lakers. I’m not sure if it still qualifies as one since both teams were steeped in mediocrity the past few seasons and haven’t met in the postseason in over 30 years.

Basketball isn’t like baseball, where franchises, even cities, are legitimate adversaries (e.g. the Yankees and Red Rox). Granted, they aren’t division rivals, but you don’t see the same burning hatred between the Knicks and Celtics. Alternatively, animosity in the NBA has and always will be character driven. It was the individual battles that made past meetings between the Celtics and Lakers so captivating.

Unfortunately for us, the 2008 chapter of this series lacks just that.

This is far from the battles our grandfathers witnessed between Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. Long gone is the Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird grudge matches of our fathers’ generation. No, these upcoming games appear to be completely void of any bad blood, unless you count the small tiff between Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen a few years back when Allen called the current MVP selfish. But that’s hardly a marquee match up worth tuning in for.

Instead, the story of this series, the reason to watch these NBA Finals, is the continuing paths of two men—with their legacies hanging in the balance—seeking the same objective for two completely contrasting reasons. And I can’t wait to see who wants it more. Or, more importantly, who is good enough to accomplish his goal.

Kevin Garnett, whose struggles with the Minnesota Timberwolves are well-documented, seeks his first title. Long known as one of the games hardest-working and fiercest competitors, KG thirsts for a ring so explicitly, wearing his emotions on his sleeves, he almost makes you think he deserves one without actually having to earn it by beating his opponent. His game even prompted the legendary Bill Russell to offer KG one of his own 11 rings if he continues to play with his patented verve and desire. I can only image KG’s reaction if he  actually wins the championship. There’s no doubt in my mind his sobbing will put to shame anything Roger Federer and Terrell Owens consider crying.

Kobe, on the other hand, already possesses three rings. And you may snicker at the idea that Kobe’s hunger for a fourth championship is in the mere vicinity of KG’s want for his first. But Kobe is chasing something he’s craved as long as KG has aspired to be a champion—his own legend, separate from His Airness.

It must eat up his insides to constantly hear claims that he can’t win a title on his own, or that his first three championships don’t count in his quest to Jordan because Kobe was Robin to Shaquille O’Neal’s Batman.

Don’t believe otherwise, Kobe would love nothing more than to shut everybody up and prove he is every bit Jordan’s equal—if not better.

Kobe tries to play it politically correct, putting forth clichés like “Michael is Michael. He’s the greatest of all-time. I want to be the best I can be.” Blah, blah, blah.

Everyone just knows he wants to be the best to ever play the game just by watching him. From the way he plays, how he carries himself off the court, it’s just evident. I’m not saying this desire is necessarily bad either. I think all truly great players, deep down inside, for some on a subconscious level, aspire to be the greatest there ever was; it’s a part of what makes them great. You better believe Jordan had this mentality. That’s why when he had his opponents down, he proceeded to stomp on their necks, going for 50 and playing as hard as ever even when a game was already decided. He wanted to leave no doubt as to who was the man.

Of course, no athlete can publicly admit a conscious yearning to be better than another player. They’d be crucified by fans and the media. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have this urge inside them.

Kobe has it. You can tell that he’s wanted to be better than Jordan ever since he was in high school. And with a fourth title, he’d be on his way to Jordan’s summit.

So forget about the whole Celtics-Lakers mystique. This NBA Finals is about Kobe and KG.