Michael Jordan scores 100?

I don't know why I'm blogging so much about basketball, but maybe it's because I'm depressed about football. Go Niners! You have to win one eventually.

Anywho, my blog post today is about Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan's last video game appearance was in 2004 as a member of the Wizards, and the last time he wore a Bulls jersey in a video game was approximately 10 years earlier. The only NBA game I ever played for the N64 during my childhood wasn't even allowed to include Jordan. Adding Jordan to a video game was very expensive due to his personal brand. Now, though, Jordan is apparently comfortable with returning to the video game scene in a Bulls jersey. NBA 2K11 even has him on the cover, and they've made him the centerpiece of a new part of the game called the "Jordan Challenge" where players can relive Jordan's greatest moments.

While promoting the game, Michael Jordan made a comment about how he could score 100 points in a single game the modern NBA. In his prime, anyways. Jordan has always been an egomaniac, but he's also very careful not to tarnish his brand. So now there's a legitimate debate over whether he really could score 100 or not.

Most folks either believe him wholeheartedly or totally scoff at the idea. To be fair to those who scoff, Jordan really wasn't as good of a 3-point shooter as Kobe Bryant, nor did he shoot free throws as well as Kevin Durant, nor did he shoot from the post as well as Carmelo Anthony, nor was he as strong as LeBron James. Even in his prime, Michael Jordan was still human. He wasn't the best at everything, and he certainly wasn't unstoppable. So, for those who don't think he can score 100 in the modern NBA, you have some good arguments.

However, I believe him. And here's why:
Folks are used to seeing Michael Jordan cut to the basket, make fancy dunks, or pull up for beautiful jumpers that wow the crowd. He had flair, and everyone noticed it. What a lot of folks forget is that Jordan was also very physical and aggressive, and most of his opponents were too. The only way to stop Jordan was by touching him and preventing him from attacking the basket. In Jordan's day, defensive players could touch an offensive player with their hands and it was perfectly legitimate. In the modern NBA, the rules state that this is a personal foul, and if the opposing team is over the limit or the fouled player takes a shot attempt, this results in two free throws. THIS is the key to Jordan's 100 points.

In Jordan's prime, the only way to stop him was to touch him. Since he retired, though, the rules have changed. What was once considered the only way to stopping Jordan is now considered a foul every time. So every time Jordan cuts to the basket or drives the lane, he will get fouled. At his best, Jordan in the modern NBA would draw even more fouls than Kevin Durant, and Jordan would have a nearly limitless supply of free throws to augment is normal offensive numbers.

Free throws aren't flashy. They aren't difficult. They don't get on the highlight reels as readily as dunks or three-pointers, but they are worth points. And with enough of them, Jordan could reach the 100 point mark in a single game.

One of the only other arguments against him scoring 100 is that Jordan was not selfish. My counterpoint is that it depends on which Jordan you watch. Jordan at 30-something years old with Pippen as a teammate was unselfish (much like Kobe Bryant is now). Jordan at 20-something without Pippen was as selfish as they come (much like Kobe Bryant was back in the day). Go figure. Anywho, I'm inclined to believe that Jordan becomes selfish or unselfish depending on the circumstances. If he is truly determined to score as much as possible, he will do exactly that. So as for Jordan's selfishness, I think there's an on/off switch for that.

And that's that. In the modern NBA, with the no-touch rule in place, Jordan in his prime really could score 100 points in a single game.

Miami Heat Training Camp

The Miami Heat are holding training camp at Eglin Air Force Base. For reasons beyond my understanding, Miami Heat Training Camp is being televised in Los Angeles.

I decided to keep it on the TV while I work on problems. After doing some defensive drills, the Heat divided up into two teams of five: the white team and the red team. For the first half they divided equally, with LeBron James on the white team and D-Wade/Bosh on the red team. White team was leading by a lot. For the second half, the teams were restructured, with LeBron joining Wade and Bosh on the red team. You'd think the red team would catch up quickly, but right now both teams are playing well. Gotta give credit to Jason Williams, Mike Miller, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and the other guys on the white team.

Anywho, in one full-court play I got to see Dwyane Wade steal the ball and then lob it up to Chris Bosh, who redirected the ball in mid-air to LeBron James (who had already jumped), who then dunked it in on the way down. It was a spectacular show, and I wish I could find a video online to share. You can tell they have fun playing with each other.

Just thought I'd share.

Oh, I found a trio of fun videos:
Shaq Dancing
Kobe Bryant speaking Italian
Great Action Scene from Red vs Blue