Another Finals loss for Lebron?
Yeah.
How many?
Not two, not three, not four…
No. Even if he was hot, sick, tired, hungry, cramping or possibly dying did Jordan ever sit the last 4 minutes of a finals game or disappear and score less than twenty? Absolutely not. But is that why he never lost? The answer is also a resounding no.
Four minutes is hardly the whole story. The number is now five for LeBron though. A whopping five losses in the NBA Finals and a lot of people seem to have forgotten all the things that were once common knowledge.
Almost none of this is truly original or mind-blowing. However, due to the epidemic of long-term memory loss that has apparently swept the nation, I will do everyone the service of a little refresher. The reason Jordan never lost is because regardless of the score.. Regardless of his own physical condition… Regardless of odds, reason, expectation or air conditioning– he refused to lose. This my friends is what we call will and determination. His competitive arrogance was so great that losing was never a plausible idea.
Anyone who saw or even merely heard of Jordan knows that. Yet, somehow as we ride high on the fresher accomplishments of Lebron, many have forgotten that no one could will Jordan to do anything but Michael Jordan. And that is because his was better than his opponents. No one had to coax Michael.
No one had to fix Michael, or motivate Michael. He never danced, paraded, or had a “Decision” moment because he knew everything he needed to, long before you did. He was simply better than you, that’s it. He knew he was better because he worked harder. Thought quicker than you. And didn’t listen to you or anyone, not even his body when it told him to quit. That’s because quitting is never an option when you’re the best. He was, and always will be, the ultimate champion.
The essence of spirit in competition… And, of course the greatest athlete any of us have ever seen. When Michael kept losing to the Pistons, he didn’t decide he could never win in Chicago. He didn’t say “hey! I’ll join… Barkley, Magic, or Bird.” He just kept fighting. He was determined to do it on his own. Yes, of course the addition of Scottie Pippen helped. Yet, did he or anyone in the world for that matter know what Scottie Pippen was? Lebron knew what Wade and Bosh were. He knew what Kevin love, Kyrie, and Tristan Kardashian were. His arrogance is the antithesis of a winner’s arrogance.
Piggy Backing
He knew that he would win championships if he played with two of (arguably) the top ten current players in the game in Miami. And perhaps he never goes back to Cleveland without a freshly drafted Kyrie… Michael didn’t need the satisfaction of having a sure thing because the surest thing for him was his own talent, drive and ambition. He wanted the satisfaction of having more rings than you. In his mind could he REALLY be the best if say he joined Magic who already had rings?
Hey, it’s only basketball. I’m a writer and a salesman. In writing self deprecation is fine. In sales it depends. In basketball I suppose it does too. Self deprecation can make a player more endearing. Perhaps even more personable. But to trivialize one’s own profession to suit your mood? That’s the mark of someone who doesn’t NEED to be the best. NEED and WANT are very different.
If there’s one major difference separating Jordan from James it’s not talent. The talent is comparable. Michael simply has more guts than Lebron, and finally Monday night he proved to the world for the first, and probably not the last time.. That he is no Jordan
