Who’s Now Getting More Bang For Their Buck? Kobe, LeBron, Or Nike?

Well now that the NBA Finals are upon us. It has to be said that the marketing behemoths of Madison Avenue will do their very best to entice us all to divest ourselves of our hard earned cash, as they look to bombard us with their wares. And no one will be more likely to do this throughout the series than Nike Inc.And the one thing that you can’t deny about this particular marketing behemoth is that when it comes to using the tools of their trade. There’s absolutely no one better at it on the planet than they are ! Much like Coke , Pepsi, McDonalds are known globally as a brand that transcends the market place. So to now does Nike and all that it represents. And yes there are those amongst us who view them as exploiters of cheap labor and children.As pertaining to the labor laws . Perhaps even much more asides. But there’s no escaping the fact that as Nike goes . So too does the world of sports apparel and sport’s fashion.

Bill Bowerman co-founder of Nike Inc seen here with former track star Steve Prefontaine. It was Bowerman who devized the Swoosh motif that’s readily identified with the sport’s apparel company. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Cale Langer …….

From humble beginnings in Beaverton , Oregon . The company founded by Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight has become a colossus amongst its noted peers. The company still strives for excellence in all of its endeavors. And its tentacles now stretches across the globe in terms of its very presence. And with revenues in excess of $18.6bn for last year alone. It’s quite easy to see why the company is still strongly revered and on the same hand so widely despized. It has to be said that we can either choose to ignore the actions in the market place or we can admire them from afar.

Phil Knight co founder of Nike Inc along with Bill Bowerman the renowned track coach. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ ……..

As of late they’ve become socially conscious and also making sure that the public is very much aware as to the philanthropic efforts around the globe.

But the genius of Nike has always been their marketing and the quality of the product that they place within the market for the consumer. It also hasn’t hirt them by the fact that they make use of the most visibly high profiled athletes to endorse their wares. And from those halcyon days of the Spike Lee directed Michael Jordan ads . We now come full circle where we now have both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James now endorsing Nike made shoes.

So here’s one or two of the ads just in case you’ve not seen them as of yet. I’m sure that throughout the remainder of the NBA Finals they’ll be bandied about our television screens. And at the same time these partcular ads will provide us with a great deal of humor.

And while no doubt that LeBron is sitting at home watching the NBA Finals. No doubt hoping that he were participating in. He can at least be content with the fact that residuals he’ll no doubt earn as the ads are replayed again and again. It’ll go some way in making amends for that exit that he and his teamates had to endure at the hands of the Orlando Magic. As for Kobe, he’s having his day in the sun and he appears to be loving it nonetheless. As if anything else really matters as he pursues a fourth championship ring ?

Congress, Stay Out Of The Business Of The NBA!

Well once again we have a member of Congress choosing to intervene where they’ve no real right to. And it ought to be viewed as being somewhat suspicious given the delicacy of the situation concerning this particular representative.
Rep Steve Cohen (D-Tenn) picture appears courtesy of ap/photo ……

And in this case Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn) though making a valid discussion. It most certainly isn’t his case to be dictating a decision made and agreed upon by the vested parties within the professional game of baksetball. In this case Cohen believes that the NBA’s age limit ought to be rescinded. And having sent letters to Commissioner David Stern as well the players’ representative Union Head Billy Hunter. One might well be asking what it is that the congressman now seeks out of this all ?

Billy Hunter Executive Director of the NBA Players’ Association. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Jeff Richards …………

Were it not for the allegations concerning the Chicago Bulls’ player Derrick Rose and the fact that the player was alleged to have cheated when taking his SAT’s. Would we be at all hearing this issue being addressed ? One must remember that Rose was part of the Memphis Tigers’ men’s basketball team that came close to winning the national championship last year under the tutelage of the since departed coach, John Calipari.

However in light of this we’ve now got to ask ourselves for whose benefit was the age limit instigated in the first place ? That of the athlete ? Or for the benefit of the NBA and the numerous college basketball programs up and down the nation ? The fact of the matter is from the outset whatever choice was made. This was always going to be a controversial decision much less subject matter to begin with. Offcourse there are differing views on this all and they vary in range as to the veracity of making the case for either.

NBA Commissioner David Stern . picture appears courtesy of afp/ Richard Curtis…

It’s been argued if we can send our young men off to war then we ought to allow them the privilege of making a living within the NBA. But all too often what’s also overlooked in this. It is that many of these so called student athletes are in fact using a system that in many cases eschews the necessity of them actually taking advantage of the very chance given to them in obtaining an education and act the same time refining a god given talent.

And now with some high schoolers actually choosing to forgo college and make their professional living either in Europe, South America or Far East Asia. One can argue as such they’re not being totally denied the right to practice their profession outright. The rules were put in place and agreed to by the NBA and that of the Players’ Association. Given the fact that there are those who argue that this’ll indeed give those players the chance to learn their craft in the appropriate surroundings of a college campus and compete at the collegiate level. I again ask the question what business is it of Congress to try and intervene in such a matter ? No federal laws have been broken by the NBA at this juncture.

The argument can and has been put forth that with diluted talent pool , the brand of basketball being played within the NBA does become bland and mediocre. But one might also state that this could also be put down to the lack of coaching that there is and the overall quality therein.

And whilst both sides do make a valid and strong argument to their cases. In no shape or form should it be left to the Federal Government to be dictating to a private business enterprise what rules it ought to have in place or how they ought to be conducting their business practices.

Far too often we’ve seen what the Congress or an administration is capable of when left to their own devices in dictating the practices of a private enterprise. If this issue is to be dealt with in the appropriate manner. Then let it be done by the parties concerned in this matter. There is a remote possibility that there could be a legal challenge to the rule within the Federal Court system. And if that is to be the case then let the parties there then present their case. Once again we’ll see the merits of a judicial system showing us whether or not they comprehend the tenets of the law and that of an enterprise being able to conducts its business within the parameters it’d set and which was unanimously agreed upon to begin with.

The rule itself isn’t that imposing nor is it overly arduous to comprehend. An entrant into the NBA Draft must be nineteen years of age , having graudated high school, or having been a year removed from college. One might feel that on appearance that this might be somewhat draconian in its wording. But the rules are meant to be abide by and not rescinded merely because an individual deems it to be unfair. And in this case I for one that for this individual there are far more pressing needs that ought to be receiving his undivided attention. His constituents surely didn’t send him to Capitol Hill to be dealing with an issue that on the pecking order of things to do ranks no higher than what color the curtains of the White House might need to be.

Politicians much like celebrities and and athletes do often tend to like the sound of their own voice. And the very fact that their faces are front and center for the media and nation’s attention. In all reality does this lone issue truly deserve this much attention from a member of Congress ? I’d gladly like to read your own comments on this matter and the differing opinions that might be held on it all.

The Cure For What Ails You, Or Is It?

Well it’s happened and we’re now aware as to who the final two representatives will be from the Eastern and Western Conferences respectively. They are from the Eastern Conference the Orlando Magic (59-23) and from the Western Conference , the Los Angeles Lakers (65-17).

A composed Phil Jackson meets with the convened press at the team's practice facility in El Segundo , Ca.

And though this may not have been the most desired matchup for the erstwhile fans of the NBA. Much less the hierarchy of the NBA and that of Commissioner David Stern. This is afterall what we’re now left with. And that if anything on the face of is all we can ask for.

Oscar Robertson presents the Eastern Conference Finals' trophy to the Magic's CEO Bob Vander Weide and the team's owner Rich De Vos (center)

Never mind the fact that the fans in Cleveland must now be feeling somewhat aggrieved that The King…. LeBron James won’t be front and center leading his team. That being said who now really wants to see a whining spoilt self serving individual whose conduct after the Eastern Conference Finals left a lot to be desired ? If sportsmanship and civility to LeBron James means nothing. Then perhaps the NBA Finals are indeed better off without him and the Cleveland Cavaliers to begin with !

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic takes a question from a member of the press at the team's training facility in Orlando prior to the team's training session on Monday morning.

It goes without saying that there are those who feel that James’ actions in walking off the court and not shaking hands with his opponents or even conducting the mandatory press interviews is basically a none event. But then again if he weren’t LeBron James or some other marquee player within the league. One’d dare say that the player would now be facing a fine from the hierarchy of the NBA. And as of yet we’ve heard nothing to the contrary from the NBA in this regard. It’d appear that being LeBron James afterall does carry and have its privileges.

And one might say that the NBA wouldn’t have it any other way at this juncture to begin with. So much so that it has always tied their flag to the mast of the individuals rather than the teams within the sport. But you’d be hard pressed to hear David Stern say otherwise. He loved it when Michael Jordan was there to make the sport a selling point to corporate America and the ad agencies of Madison Ave. But he’s got to be loving it even more so now that he has the likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and the perceived built in rivalry that there now is . It all helps to sell the game and keep it in the spotlight and make it the global behemoth that it has become.

 

So What Now For Phil …..?

Well Phil Jackson has led the Los Angeles Lakers to their 5th appearance in the NBA Finals under his tenure. And Jackson as a coach will be seeking his tenth NBA title as a coach and his eleventh overall.

James Worthy seen here with the Lakers' players after their triumph ove the Denver Nuggets having closed out the series and secure a berth in the NBA Finals . The team is unaware as to who their opponents will be. The trophy presentation was made in Denver at the Pepsi Center .

picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Andrew D Bernstein…

Having won a championship as a player with the New York Knicks. The Zen Master as he’s come to be known now seeks to surpass the number of titles won by Red Auerbach as coach of the Boston Celtics.

Jackson for his part has been nonchalant as he’s guided the Lakers in what some might say has been his best coaching job done in years. Last year as we know the Lakers succumbed to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Where they fail to show us what many had thought they were capable of doing. If anything though they were up against an inspired Celtics’ team led by their triumvirate of stars in Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.

Jackson and his coaching staff intently watch a Lakers' game during the regular season . picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Phillip Booth ................

This time around for the Lakers for what will be their thirtieth appearance in the NBA’s showcase. They are unaware as to who their opponent will be. At this juncture the Eastern Conference Finals has yet to reach its culmination between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic. And though the Magic holds a 3-2 lead in the best of seven game series. The momentum now seems to be with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Especially as LeBron James now has that look of the eye of the tiger within his eyes.

James for his part has willed his team to victory . And has raised the level of expectation amongst the home fans that they’re now quite capable of erasing this deficit altogether. The Orlando Magic for their part may well have other ideas on the subject itself. The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard for his part has ran afoul of the officials throughout the series to the extent that the player now has to watch how he plays and his focus on the series as it reaches its culmination.

And as the events now unfold it will be very interesting to see how this particular series plays itself out. The concensus is that the most desired opponent that the fans seek and that of the ESPN/ABC network would desire to see , would be that of the Lakers facing the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. If nothing else than other to see Kobe Bryant and LeBron James face off against one another. Many are of the opinion that this would bring back the days of the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. And no doubt it’d create a ratings bonanza for the network and their advertizing patrons.

As much as the fans of the NBA desire to see a matchup of this magnitude should it materialize. The fans of both franchises would be in for a definite treat that would no doubt create a great deal of conversation between the two legions of fans. As they debate which is the better team and who’s more likely win the NBA title and raise the Larry O’Brien trophy aloft to signify that their ultimate goal has been reached.

The season has been a fortuitous one for the Lakers. As from the beginning they were seen as the prohibitive favorites to win the title outright. They secured the homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. And though their overall play wasn’t of the highest standard one would’ve come to expect. They were able to do enough to make it through the earlier rounds without too much of a stern test. However if there was anything that was indicative as to how one could view the Lakers in the playoffs. Then it was their lack of cohesiveness as a unit. Inconsistency was the norm for much of the postseaon.

Rehab

 What should happen were the Lakers to meet an unlikely fate and succumb to  the Houston  Rockets?  Strange as it seems the Los Angeles Lakers as a team has been very much viewed as a disappointment through much of the series between these two teams.

Ariza of the Lakers and the Rockets’ Ron Artest lock arms during play. picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images / Phil Guthrie ………..  

One might understand were it not for the fact the Rockets are without two of their more formidable stars in Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.  OK, one might say that McGrady hasn’t been much of a factor since his loss to the team earlier in the regular season.  Yao Ming on the other hand is viewed as the Rockets’ most potent offensive weapon.  Or is he?

A pensive Kobe Bryant speaks with the press during the post game interview after game 6 at the Toyota Center in Houston , Tx. The Lakers lost the game to the Rockets 95-80. In doing so it forces a decisive game 7 between the two teams. picture appears courtesy of ap/ photo/ Mark McCann ………..    

Well with the displays and the leadership now being exhibited by Aaron Brooks.  One may well view it a new star has arrived.  Because Brooks by his  very presence has been a blessing in disguise for the Rockets’ and their no doubt long suffering fans.  And who’d have thought that Ron  Artest would turn out to be the moral center, linchpin and fulcrum for this team?