MJ Needs CP3!

Ever wonder how it would feel to be called the Greatest Of All-Time?

Fast forward 2 years later and the Greatest to ever play in shorts is proving to be lackluster in a suit.

Meet Michael Jordan.

The Bobcats CEO is having it tough as of late with his hometown franchise.

Charlotte has shipped off both fan favorites Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace to various teams for cap space and lottery picks. Both trades resulted in little to nothing in return player value and his heirness has another problem on his hands...

Meet Chris Paul.

The hometown kid from nearby Winston-Salem (NC) has long thought to be a viable player in the upcoming free agent market with a pending exodus from New Orleans.

CP3 is also a Jordan athlete and has always looked up to MJ growing up as a role model.

So how can a team with enough money to make a max offer in 2012, young tradeable players (DJ Augustin, Kemba Walker. etc) and enough draft picks to sweeten any deal not be in play for 1 of the top point guards in the NBA?

As of now the entire sports world (including the Hornets) knows that Paul wants to play in New York...but the mystique of Michael Jordan has to mean something.

6 Time NBA Champion

5 Time MVP

10 Time scoring Champion

14 Time All Star

6 Time Finals MVP

=

0 Playoff wins

No superstar

1 Frustrated CEO

MJ Needs CP3

Peace,

Agent 34

Race Relations in the NBA (MLK Edition)

Does Racism exist in the NBA?

Some would argue that out of all the perfessional sports, the NBA is the most racist free of them all. 

Think about it.  Most of the more popular players in the NBA are African American and  roughly 77% of the players are black.  So is it safe to say African Americans are well represented in the league?

A closer look will tell you than in most sports; the race that is most dominant on the field/court also has the higher pressence in the front office...but not in the NBA. 

Michael Jordan stands alone as the only African American majority owner in the NBA. 
Being an owner takes a large amount of capital but a deeper look shows even more variances.

There are only 4 African American presidents in the NBA and people of color only hold 21 % of team senior administrative positions. 

I am worried that the people who bring the fans into the stands, sell jerseys, sign autographs and make organizations rich have little to no say on how the NBA is ran. 

At the annual 2010 Racial and Gender Summit the NBA recieved an (A) for their efforts in being one of the most diverse in mens pro sports in America.  One has to take in consideration that an (A) comes from the fact that other sports are even worse than the NBA and noting how far (loosely use) we have come since the birth of the league. 

Comissioner David Stern has consisitenly set the bar on hiring practices and pushed the envelope for other sports to follow, but is it enough? 

Point blank and simple RACISM exists in the NBA, maybe not on the surface but its there. 

The league is well represented on the court, even on the coaching sidelines but not in the front office nor in ownership.  There should be more representation from a person of color in those positions, to settle for 36% is to say that not even half is ok. 

On this MLK day remember that a dream was realized by thought provoking conversations that sometimes were racey, and tough to swallow but packed with truth and justice. 

Some such conversations need to be continued even in the NBA.

-Agent34

The Air up There must be Cold!

The title of this post says it all on so many different levels, the man who defined gravity over his NBA reign was just as cold in his acceptance speech as he was on the court. While I sat watching the H.O.F induction ceremony I listened to John Stockton, and David Robinson thank old teammates, coaches, and the organization that drafted players in order for them to win. The Admiral even said he prayed to god to send him a compliment the likes of Tim Duncan, and even went on to call him the "Greatest power forward to play the game."

Listening to MJ's speech you only heard him genuinely thank Scottie Pippen for "being there during my 6 championships", and even that was somewhat of a slight. Without Pippen Jordan arguably could have had no rings and just a host of scoring titles. His Airness referenced the Chicago organization saying "The organization didn't play with the flu in Utah". No Mike they didn't, but what they did do was give you Toni Kukoc and Dennis Rodman (who were both in attendance but not mentioned) to help you win, when your skills were on the decline.

One of the biggest surprises of the night was Jordan's take on Isiah Thomas and George Gervin whom were deemed responsible for his '85 All-Star freeze out. "I wanted to prove to you and everybody that I deserved to be there just much as anybody else, and I hope over the period of my career I've done that without a doubt." I was 2 years old when that 'freeze out" occured and had to research what he was talking about. My point is that it was 24 years ago..WHO CARES! He went on to say that they were the reason his competitive fire never died and even told his kids "I wouldn't want to be you."

Like most great men and women in history they are flawed. JFK had Marilyn, Whitney had Bobby, and MJ has well; his own ego. The sad part of the whole night, is that Jordan didn't see a thing wrong with anything he was saying. You almost wanted him to laugh off some of the lines, but it never happened. He spoke from the heart and you could tell he meant every word of it, even when he said "Don't be surprised if you see me back at 50."

On a night when being gracious and humble is expected, Jordan fell to an all-time low and did more to stain his legacy than he ever could have in a Wizards jersey. Charles Barkley looked shocked during the ceremony (not once did MJ mention him) and rightefully so listening to MJ relish the memories of torching (overated defender) Byron Russel. I admire Jordan for what he did on the court and his business model off the court, but I draw the line there. Our society puts athletes on platforms when they achieve the unthinkable, and its only right to show them to their seat when their time is up.

Michael Jeffrey Jordan Welcome To The Hall Of Fame..Please Take Your Seat!


'Agent 34