Sports

Jordan paved the way for Vinsanity

From the Hip

Ernest Salas
 

The old man was in the spotlight for one last ride in the NBA All-Star Game. And for a second, it seemed as though heid end up being the hero.

The double-overtime affair ended with the Western All-Stars winning the game in a fine defensive effort, 155-145, but Michael Jordanis shot broke a tie in the first overtime that gave the East a brief 138-136 lead. He had seemingly made up for missing a game winner late in regulation. He had made up for missing 18 of 27 shots. He had made up for not being "Mike."

But then Tracy McGrady fouled Kobe Bryant on a three-pointer with one second remaining. Bryant made two of those shots to send the game into double overtime and into Kevin Garnettis hands. Garnett earned the MVP trophy with nine points in the deciding extra frame.

Perhaps seeing how much of an egotistical snob he looked like, Vince Carter finally extended one last offer to Jordan -- behind closed doors. Carter had played in only 15 games this season but was voted in as a starter. He initially said he didnit want to let the fans down by not playing for the people who voted him in, but in the end, Carter did the right thing. Coming from a fellow North Carolina Tar Heel, Jordan accepted the offer.

Why was it right? Was it because Charles Barkley was critical? Was it because in is heart, he knew he didnit deserve to start? Or was it because he, and the rest of the league, owed something to Jordan?

Itis probably all of those things. Jordanis answer wasnit as important as the gesture. It wasnit just Carter. McGrady made a public offer that Jordan declined. Allen Iverson called him in private.

It really didnit matter from whom or how the offer was made. It wasnit just a former star making one last appearance. It was arguably the greatest player in NBA history. It was one of the players who made it possible for the rest of the league to survive. There wouldnit be a "Vinsanity" if it werenit for Jordan.

He had an off night -- so what? The baskets he made will long after be remembered the ones he missed stop clanging off the rim.

Boys will be boys

Ohio high school star LeBron James came back from a brief sabbatical to lead his St. Vincent-St. Maryis Fighting Irish past Westchester High School, 78-52. Without James, the rest of the Irish were outscored 52-26. Yes, he had the best game of his career (52 points) after being allowed to play again.

So whatis all the fuss about a high school kid who somehow managed to afford a $50,000 Hummer without doing anything fishy? Thatis not to mention the matter of the two retro jerseys.

James is likely to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. If Cleveland keeps sucking as bad as it has to this point, it might "win" the chance to select him in June. Itis not his fault he doesnit know he needs to follow certain rules if he wants to keep his high school eligibility. Heis being treated like the second coming.

Itis not fair to criticize James. In a perfect world, heid be trying to decide which college he wants to go to. But if the NBA allows high school seniors to declare for the draft -- and guarantees them millions of dollars to do so -- why should he wait?

The criticism should fall on the people who are making money off the kid. His school (the institution thatis supposed to care more about his education than about what it can make by shipping his team across the country), ESPN, shoe pimps, the NBA and the Ohio High School Athletic Association are all at fault.

Theyive done nothing but make James feel as though thereis nothing wrong with taking a little something for himself. Heis not being allowed to be a kid because the adults are playing with his life.

Cougar-ville

No, the Cougars didnit pull off a thrilling upset of then-No. 5 Louisville on Saturday. A 26-point loss isnit anything to get excited about and itis hardly enough for head coach Ray McCallum to build on, but it served its purpose.

It showed how far UH is removed from Phi Slama Jama; from the days when it was mentioned among the likes of the Cardinals. Itis a long way from the top. Despite McCallumis best efforts, thereis no denying this Cougar team is young and inexperienced. Senior forward Louis Truscott can have as many double-doubles as he wants, but that doesnit change the fact that the menis team is 6-13.

But there is hope.

Freshman guard Cedrick Hensley and sophomore guard Andre Owens are getting a ton of playing time ? and theyire contributing. Itis baptism by fire, but experience is experience. Truscott will be gone by the time those two become the stars of the team, but McCallumis program will be all the better for having to put up with a 26-point loss to Louisville.

Whether or not the program can ever get back to where it was is a different matter. Itis going to take more fearless players like Owens and Hensley. Itis going to take an assembly line of them.

One of these days, the Cougars will be on national television to serve as more than just fodder for a top-five team.
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