The Big Man: Missing Centerpiece

When you look back at NBA history, a Championship team or a Dynasty is built around a Center, aka "The Big Man". Your obvious exceptions are: Michael Jordan's Bulls of the '90s, and the Bad Boy Pistons of the late '80s-early '90s. Generally, the Center has a very successful track record of winning titles: The Celtics of the '60s (Bill Russell), the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers (Wilt Chamberlain), the '71 Bucks (Kareem) the '72 Lakers (Wilt, again), the Showtime Lakers (Kareem), the '83 Sixers (Moses), the Houston Rockets back-to-back titles in '94 & '95 (Hakeem), the 3-peat Lakers of the early 2000s (Shaq), and the San Antonio Spurs (Duncan & Robinson). You could even trace back even further to the NBA's first Dynasty, the Minneapolis Lakers (George Mikan). For years, the Center has been the most valuable position, because of the commanding presence in the middle, higher percentage shots, rebounding, shot blocking, and less prone to injuries. The Big Man is the make or break for any team who wants to win titles. The NBA's First Rivalry was between the Giants of the Game (Russell vs. Chamberlain), during the 1960s. Both men shared All-NBA 1st Team honors and MVPs during the decade (Russell-5, Wilt-4) for a combine total of 9. The Celtics reign of terror during the '60s was a result of Bill Russell's defensive dominance, Basketball Genius, hustle, determination, quickness and ability to make his teammates better. Jerry West & Elgin Baylor could not get the Lakers to the top of the mountain, because Bill Russell sat at the top of the throne, guarding the NBA Trophy like a force field. Wilt Chamberlain got his one and only time at the top, when he and the Sixers knocked Russell off the mountain in 1967, while winning League MVP honors. Wilt's impact for the Lakers was tremendous, as he joined forces with West to lead the Lakers to a 69-13 record (including a 33-game winning streak), en route to a 4-1 beatdown of the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. Wilt was Finals MVP. The year prior, fellow Hall of Fame guard Oscar Robertson put the icing on his cake, by joining forces with rising NBA Phenom, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lew Alcindor at the time). Jabbar led the way as the League MVP/Scoring Champ with 31.7 ppg, while leading Milwaukee to a 66-16 record, en route to obliterating the Baltimore Bullets in the Finals (4-0). Kareem was named Finals MVP. Julius Erving, another Hall of Fame perimeter player, had struggled to lead his team to an NBA title. In his first 6 NBA seasons, Doc carried the Sixers on his back for 3 Finals Appearances. In '77, they blew a 2-0 series lead to the Portland Trailblazers, because no one could stop Bill Walton. In '80 and '82, Philly was destroyed by Kareem. Doc knew that an NBA Crown would be the largest stamp on his legacy, to solidify and validate his status, along with his ABA awards. Philadelphia knew this as well, which led them to bring in Moses Malone from the Houston Rockets, while shipping out Darryl Dawkins and Caldwell Jones. Malone was not only the most dominant big man in the league at the time. Kareem was getting older. Time was running out for Doc. Magic & Bird had another year to turn things up to the max. MJ & Dream were still in college. Therefore, Moses was the NBA's True Alpha Dog. Malone was a 2-time MVP with the Rockets ('79, '82). Moses was the largest & final piece to the championship puzzle. His impact was immediate, leading the team in scoring (24.5 ppg, 5th in NBA) and rebounding (15.1 rpg, 1st in NBA), along with an All-NBA 1st Team Selection. Moses carried an already stacked team on his back (Dr. J, Maurice Cheeks, Bobby Jones, etc.) as he ran through the league like a locomotive. With Malone, the Sixers had a 65-17 record (1st in NBA), while annihilating their opponents in the Playoffs. Moses used the ball as his rod, as he lead the 76ers out of Egypt, through the Red Sea to conquer and vanquish the Pharoah-esque Lakers in a sweep. Moses dominated Kareem that series as well, while posting 26.0 ppg, 15.8 rpg in 13 postseason games, en route to the Finals MVP award. The Sixers went 12-1, making them "Fo, Five, Fo". The Showtime Lakers themselves, have used this ingredient of success, much to their advantage by winning 5 titles in the '80s. Although Magic Johnson caught lightning in a bottle in the Legendary Game 6 of the 1980 Finals (Game where Kareem is hurt), and becomes a hero as a rookie, Kareem was the REAL Finals MVP. That series, he averaged 33.4 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 4.6 bpg, 3.2 apg, 55% FG, 80% FT. Kareem was the best player in the world at the time, whereas Magic was a rookie. Therefore, since Kareem was the Captain, he was the largest reason why L.A. reached the heights that they had reached at the time. That season, Kareem won his record 6th MVP award. Magic would later take the load off of Kareem as the decade progressed, but for the time being, Jabbar was the man! In 1994, when Michael Jordan left for baseball, the league's best Center Hakeem Olajuwon took the torch and held it high in Michael's absence. Coming off of a stellar 1992-93 campaign in which he averaged 26.1 ppg, 13.0 rpg, along with a league leading 4.2 bpg to win Defensive Player of the Year (2nd in MVP voting), Hakeem was at the top of his game. He would build upon that success in the '93-'94 season. Olajuwon would have the signature season of his career, averaging 27.3 ppg, 11.9 rpg, and 3.7 bpg, en route to his first MVP award and his second DPOY award. That season was a Dream year for Hakeem, as he became the only player in history to win League MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in one season. The Dream filled the gap very well in MJ's absence, with a spectacular Finals performance vs. the Knicks. Hakeem terrorized Patrick Ewing in that series (Olajuwon- 26.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.9 bpg, 50% FG, PER: 27.1, Ewing- 18 ppg, 36% FG, PER: 15.5). This was certainly a performance worthy of a Finals MVP. The following year, Olajuwon would further build upon his legacy and solidify himself even more as an all-time great, with a Legendary Playoff run. That year, he averaged 33.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg, and 4.5 bpg in 22 playoff games en route to winning his 2nd straight Finals MVP (32.8 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 5.5 apg, in a sweep of Orlando). Clyde Drexler even knew Hakeem's value, which is why he demanded a trade from Portland to Houston to reunite with his old college teammate during that '95 campaign. At that point, Drexler was never the same player after becoming Michael Jordan's whipping boy in the '92 Finals, which made him another notch on MJ's belt. Therefore, he saw the small window of opportunity while His Airness was away, and he jumped on the Dream Express to win his only NBA title. Look at the San Antonio Spurs. If David Robinson was not there, I firmly believe that Tim Duncan's development would not have been the same. As a result of Robinson's presence, the Twin Tower duo of he and Duncan went on to win the first 2 out of 4 Spurs championships.

As you can see, this has been a very strong pattern throughout NBA history. A valuable Big Man is like water: you cannot live very long without it. Unfortunately, the Great NBA Center has become extinct and obsolete. This has come as a result of the league's rule changes, which opens up the floor for perimeter players. This also includes the defensive 3-second violation, where big men cannot stay in the paint for more than 3 seconds. You also have players who are not as well conditioned as they were in the Golden Years of Centers (Wilt, Hakeem, Kareem, Robinson, etc.) There was certainly as much processed food during the '90s, but the Big Men of that time were in better shape, and were more athletic, in spite of not having as much equipment, advanced weight training and vitamins that players have today. Yet, these players STILL put up OUTSTANDING numbers. Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and a young Shaq were the best Centers of the '90s and their production proves it. There is no way that you can seriously tell me that Dwight Howard, Tyson Chandler or Andrew Bynum would hold a candle to what these players did during their respective primes. Those guys look like scrubs compared to these four Hall of Fame Titans. Dwight Howard is a diva whose offensive game still has a way to go (He trains with Hakeem, what more do I need to say?), Andrew Bynum is inconsistent, and uncoordinated with a lack of footwork, and Tyson Chandler could not stand a chance against a threatening big man, with a horrific 1.1 blocks per game. 1.1 BLOCKS PER GAME?! Yeah, Chandler would really suffocate Hakeem and give him a headache! Dwight Howard could really shut down Shaq and Bynum could really slow down the Admiral! This is foolish! Players from the '90s like Olajuwon & Robinson averaged roughly 13 Rebounds, and 3-4 Blocks Per Game, IN THEIR PRIME!! Today's Big Men have become lazy, out of shape Cream Puffs, with no formidable game that strikes fear in the hearts of the opponents. Big Men like Shaq, Wilt, Russell, etc. were Gladiators that fought the good fight with dignity, pride and self-respect, not for greed! Their game spoke for them and brought the fame to them. Too many players want the fame, but their game does not support the image that they portray. Dwight Howard dominates guys who are SCRUBS!! He would not last that long in the Eras before him! Big Men, please come back! The hardcore hoops fans, like myself, need you!

Trouble in Paradise

This past Thursday, the Miami Heat hit a wall in the form of the Indiana Pacers. Dwyane Wade, the very player that the media calls "clutch" and "Jordan-esque" was anything but those things in the Game 3 loss in which he had the WORST game of his CAREER!! 5 points, 5 rebounds, 5 turnovers. Forget Dominoes, this was the real 5-5-5 deal! The Heat imploded, as Wade exploded in Coach Erik Spoelstra's face with a barrage of F-Bombs and other colorful language on the bench. Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers exploded with a high energy, uptempo game that left the Heat clueless. The Pacers looked like a real army, assembled by Commander in Chief Larry Bird. Danny Granger frustrated LeBron, while David West and Roy Hibbert ran circles around Joel Anthony and "Dexter Pittman" of all people. Miami, as a whole looked lethargic. Even LeBron James, 3-time MVP packed it in with 22 points with an often joked about 4th quarter. Chris Bosh's stock has certainly risen since his injury, because they are missing his length and presence for the rebounds. However, D-Wade will receive the lionshare of the blame from me, because this is who Skip Bayless calls "Batman" and "The Closer" by both Skip and Stephen A. Smith. Well, Wade did not close, but he folded like an accordian that night. The following day on Sportscenter, there were talks of splitting up the big 3 through way of a trade. The scenarios were to trade Wade, Bosh or both. However, LeBron's name was never mentioned, because he has proven to be the most consistent factor in an inconsistent experiment. Therefore, it would be insane to get rid of the most vital and constant asset to this team, while Wade has become notorious for his injuries and Bosh's downfall has been the largest achilles heel. Thursday night's debacle in Indiana proved that players like Wade and James do not fit, because they are two halves of the same player on the same team. LeBron has extra to offer in his arsenal because of his size, and playmaking ability as a passer. Both men are dynamic on the fast break, but in the half court set and low post, they have nothing else to offer. This team is only top heavy with 3 franchise players clustered together, and a suspect bench. The Heat looked more like the Miami Cavaliers. The Heat shot 37.2% from the floor, with LeBron looking LePassive with 3-9 shooting in the 2nd half, with Wade's 2-8 in that same time. LeBron only made a total of 10 out of 22 shots, 7 boards and an abysmal 3 assists to go with a less than stellar 22 points. Dwyane Wade was a complete no show, making only 2 out of 13 shots with his pitiful 5 points. Mario Chalmers was the only one who displayed heart and effort with 25 points, while going down swinging. The Pacers outrebounded the Heat 52-36, while the Pacers grabbed 27 boards in the second half, while the Heat only had 14. LeBron's passive and complacent mindset reared its ugly head again that night, but I will not bring the hammer down on him as much as I am on Dwyane Wade's behalf. This was immature and uncharacteristic, and shows the lack of true chemistry and leadership this team really has. For someone who is painted as the go-to guy and the Captain by fans and media, Wade played like total garbage. Now, it seems as though people can no longer use the "2006 Finals" as a mask to hide Wade's deficiencies. I believe that the time has finally come to stop. You cannot coast off of a performance from 6 years ago and continue to label him as "clutch". It is about "What have you done for me lately?" not "What did you do for me 6 years ago?". Last year's Finals vs. the Mavericks was perfect proof that a 3-headed monster cannot defeat an army that blends together with a great general leading the way (Nowitzki). Wade's performance was WORST than LeBron's Finals blunder. Both men cancel each other out, because it takes the ENTIRE game for each man (LeBron & Wade) to get their 30 points, while Bosh gets his 18. Initially, even I said that it would not work when the season started last year vs. Boston. However, when they hammered the Celtics and shut down D-Rose & the Bulls, I had strong confidence that LeBron could finally reach the mountain top. Then, my initial thought was proven right, as they folded against a more complete team like Dallas. The Mavericks had a franchise player (Dirk Nowitzki), along with a past his prime Jason Kidd, another complimentary sidekick (Jason Terry) and a strong supporting cast. Now, a deeper, emerging Oklahoma City Thunder team, a gritty veteran Boston Celtics squad, and a methodical San Antonio Spurs squad, all are more complete teams that have a strong idea of who they are and what they can do. This Heat squad has absolute no clue of their identity, because the issue always rises about who should be the closer and who should have the ball in their hands more (LeBron or D-Wade). Effective and Successful teams do not have those kind of problems, because once again, they already KNOW WHO THEY ARE!! Garnett, Pierce and Allen put their egos aside for the sake of the team, and they already knew their window was closing. This is the only exception. However, San Antonio throughout the years have built their teams from the ground up through the draft and picking up smaller name role players from free agency. This is why they have become a dynasty (4 titles), with the greatest Power Forward of all-time (Tim Duncan) along with great sidekicks (Parker & Ginobili) along with a string of other pieces that fit the puzzle. Meanwhile, the Thunder are following that same blueprint of builting from square one through the draft. First, they draft a transcendent player (Kevin Durant) like the Spurs with Duncan, and add a great sidekick point guard (Russell Westbrook), a strong sixth man (James Harden), a monster defender (Serge Ibaka), along with a solid big man (Kendrick Perkins) and other key pieces. Therefore, they have a much higher ceiling in the long-term than Miami, because they have the right pieces to win them a number of titles (3 or 4). Neither of these teams are packing big name meals on one plate and throwing it in a microwave. Building a solid nucleus is a process that takes time, because the players have to become familiar with each other and the system. Sadly, the Heat are learning this the hard way. The Heat are the perfect example of a very "flawed" attempt to be a "Superteam". A TRUE Superteam consists of a transcendent franchise player, a great sidekick (another star is a bonus), along with a deep supporting cast that can work within the proper system to help that team succeed. (More on real Superteams later). If things don't work out this year or next, the Big 3 band could be disbanded and the Miami Heat Welcome Party could be over very soon. This leaves Pat Riley starting over from the drawing board and rebuilding sooner than later.

LeBron James- MV6

It is official. LeBron James has been crowned the MVP for the 3rd time in his career, and has solidified his place as the best all-around player for both his team and the regular season. The award goes to who has added the most value for his team and the most dominating player throughout the league and he certainly has fit both forms of criteria for the past 4 years. In spite of a truncated 66 game regular season, LeBron has played out of his mind. He has not only enhanced his game in the low post from his training with Hakeem Olajuwon, but he has also peaked statistically, with an insane career high field goal percentage of .531. Only 3 other players have had reached a stronger stat level in the regular season:

1. Michael Jordan ('88, '89, '90, '91)
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('71, '72)
3. Wilt Chamberlain ('62, '63)

Appropriately, these players are my Top 3 Players of all-time. Now, I am not going off the deep end to compare LeBron to any of these guys on a larger scale like others do, but when you look at regular season, he is in very good company (when you look at NBA Metrics). Out of this list, only MJ and Kareem won the MVP during those great seasons. LeBron averaged 27.1 ppg (Career average), while shooting 53% while the league average field goal % was 45. The incedible versatility of LeBron James is what puts him above the rest, because of how efficient he is as a scorer, his terrific playmaking ability as a passer, his great rebounding to open up for his transition game, unbelievable athleticism, and improved defense. If you are looking for those ingredients all in one superstar, LeBron James is the answer. LeBron has been a master at opening the floor for his teammates and he has been able to guard every position from the 1-5 effectively. James has been the most consistent member of the Miami Heat, when their co-Alpha Dog (Dwyane Wade) has missed at least 40% of the season due to injury, relegating him to the No. 2 man on the team. This award is very valuable to a player's legacy and this raises LeBron's stock even further at this point. This dynamic reminds me of the Moses Malone/Dr. J tag team in 1983. At the time, Moses Malone was the most dominant player in the league as the reigning MVP with the Houston Rockets. Malone won his 2nd MVP award in his last season with the Rockets the previous year, with a phenomenal campaign while posting a career high 31.1 ppg, and 14.7 rpg. His first season with the Sixers, nothing changed for him from a performance standpoint. He was the best player on an already stacked team, leading the way with 24.5 ppg (5th in the league), while still leading the league in rebounding (15.3 rpg). Moses was the largest piece of the 76ers puzzle to overpower their opponents with a 65-17 record, a 13-1 playoff record (including a Finals sweep of the Lakers) and a Finals MVP for Malone. That story sounds awfully familiar doesn't it? Yes, the same story is being re-written nearly 30 years later. This time, LeBron James plays Moses Malone, and Dwyane Wade plays Dr. J. James was a force in Cleveland like Moses was in Houston. Now, he is on a more stacked team like his predecessor was. LeBron is now in elite company as one of four players in history to win multiple MVPs on multiple teams (Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone). These are the same men that I have alluded to previously in this article, and like LeBron, each player has won another MVP as a member of a new team.
1. Chamberlain was the first, as he won his 1st with the Warriors in his rookie year (1960). Six years later, as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, he wins his 2nd of an eventual 4 for his career ('60, '66, '67, '68).
2. Kareem was a record 6-time MVP, as he won his first 3 with the Milwaukee Bucks (1971, 1972, 1974) with two scoring titles as a bonus. Jabbar went on to win another 3 with the Los Angeles Lakers (1976, 1977, 1980).
3.Finally, last but not least, Moses Malone. To add further detail, Malone won his first 2 MVPs with the Rockets (1979, 1982) and his last with the Sixers (1983). The most important element for each of these players is this: They all closed out one of those campaigns with a championship. Wilt won his first title in his 3rd MVP year (1967). Kareem won two of his six rings during his first MVP season ('71) and his last MVP campaign ('80). As you already know, Moses won his only ring in his one MVP year with Philly ('83).

Now, it is time for LeBron to settle the biggest piece of unfinished business: Winning a championship. I don't want to sound like someone who overemphasizes rings, but for a player of his caliber & expectations it will further complete the painting of his body of work. This will certainly be a great form of redemption for a future Hall of Famer, Top 50 player, and one of the top 5 Small Forwards of All-Time. For those of you who say that LeBron is not clutch, let me remind you that he has orchestrated numerous great fourth quarter performances from his days with the Cavs, even several with the Heat. While LeBron layed a colossal egg in last year's Finals vs. the Mavs, he has had his share of classic playoff greatness (His destruction of the Wizards in '06, his 48-point Massacre of the Pistons in '07, his Game 7 duel with Paul Pierce in '08, and last year's domination against the Celtics & Bulls). The ultimate icing on LeBron's cake is the ring, like Nowitzki last year and many others before. I am not a LeBron-tard bandwagon fan that equates LeBron to Michael and co. but I am a fan of great players striving for greatness. I have let go of my frustration from "The Decision" in 2010 and want to see him put the ultimate exclamation point on his legacy so that everyone can finally SHUT UP!!

The Rock 40th B-Day Tribute

Today, I would like to personally take the time out and present a Birthday Tribute with a Special Article Dedicated to a Living Legend in Sports & Entertainment: "The Rock". Born Dwayne Johnson on May 2, 1972 in Miami, FL wrestling was in Rocky's DNA from day one. As the Grandson of High Chief Peter Maivia, and Son of Rocky Johnson (Both Hall of Famers), The Rock was destined to be great in the ring. After excelling as a star Defensive Lineman for the Miami Hurricanes, The Rock soon took his talents to his stomping grounds, the squared circle. After being cut by the CFL, Dwayne Johnson goes on to sign with the WWF in 1996 under the name Rocky Maivia, making his debut at Survivor Series '96. The following year, he goes on to win the 1st of 2 Intercontinental Titles, which included the start of his feud with longtime archrival, Stone Cold Steve Austin. During this time, The Rock was the rising star as the co-leader of the Nation of Domination with Faarooq (Ron Simmons). From there, The Rock's meteoric rise begins, and by the end of '98, he becomes the youngest champion in WWF/E history at the time at age 26 with the win over Mick Foley (Mankind) at Survivor Series '98. From there, he and Foley would have a feud that would last through Royal Rumble '99 with a Legendary "I Quit" Match. Rocky would move on to continue his feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin, but this time to another level for the WWF Championship. The Rock would be the perfect villain to the hero of Stone Cold, as he was Vince's Greatest Weapon for the Corporation. Austin defeated The Great One at WrestleMania XV, which was the first of their Legendary & Iconic WrestleMania Trilogy matches (XV, XVII, XIX). The Rock vs. Stone Cold feud was a MAJOR piece of The Rock's legacy, as well as the greatest reason that WWE won the Monday Night War vs. WCW. Austin/Rock were like Magic/Bird, Chamberlain/Russell, Ali/Frazier, Batman/Joker, Spiderman/Goblin, etc. The Texas Rattlesnake and The Brahma Bull had terrific chemistry together. There was no backstage BS between them, but rather a very strong bond, and their matches were perfect examples of that. Throughout 1999, The Stone Cold/Rock feud shot TV Ratings & PPV Buyrates to Infinity and Beyond! (Buzz Lightyear voice). These two Warriors were the Kings of the Attitude Era, as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were the Kings of the NBA in the 1980s. Simultaneously, Austin and Rock were the headliners. Arenas were packed, other talent was pushed, merchandise sold left and right off the shelves and the business became a tremendous mainstream phenomenon again, like the Rock 'N Wrestling Era of the '80s. This was the closest that I had been to witnessing the Golden Era of Hogan, Savage, Flair, Piper, etc. Wrestling was a force to be recognized through the mainstream media and all over the world, because of the groundwork that these men laid and the foundation that they set for the generation today. Today's stars are performing in the arenas and the rings that The Rock BUILT for them. The People's Champ shed his blood, sweat and tears through 7 long years in the business. The Rock was a REAL Total Package Star (not Lex Luger) that could not only entertain, do a GREAT Promo, but he could actually WRESTLE and put on great matches, night in and night out. The Rock was a multi-dimensional superstar, and he is STILL a multi-dimensional entertainer. What Hulk Hogan started in the '80s with movies, TV, etc., The Rock capitalized on that and took acting to another level that Hogan could only dream of. Rocky is a ratings & PPV machine, because he is his own brand! He would go on to feud with fellow Attitude Era stars Triple H & The Undertaker over the title later that year as well. By 2000, The Rock's star value escalated to another level, as he won the Royal Rumble, headlined his second-straight WrestleMania, hosted Saturday Night Live, won another World Title and continued his feud with The Game. 1997-2002, the Alpha Dogs of the Attitude Era were Stone Cold/The Rock. '97-'99 Stone Cold was the Top Alpha Dog. '00-'02 The Rock took over as more of the Alpha Dog of the company, both from a performance standpoint, and career standpoint. 2001 saw the best match of the Austin/Rock WM Rivalry with the Classic WM 17 Match in Houston, with Stone Cold turning heel. The match itself was a masterpiece. It was filled with one great spot after another, as both men pulled out all of the weapons from their arsenal. Rock hit the Stunner, Austin hit Rock Bottom. Both did the Sharpshooter, with Stone Cold even pulling out an old trick with the classic Million Dollar Dream. This was truly a 5 star match, and possibly the best of Rock's career. At that same time, The Rock would go on to carry team WWF to victory over the WCW/ECW Alliance with an Epic victory at Survivor Series. In 2002, The Rock went on to headline WM X8 in a Fantasy Icon vs. Icon Match with Hulk Hogan. This was the Attitude Era vs. The Golden Era and the passing of the torch. The Rock would go on to win in another Match of the Year classic, like the previous ones he had with Austin. Rocky would go on to surpass Hulk Hogan and Stone Cold Steve Austin for most WWF/E titles (6), with his 7th at Vengeance. Outside the ring, The Rock was a Box Office Headliner as well, starring in the Scorpion King, along with Walking Tall, Rundown, etc. later on. He has also starred in the smash hit Fast Five, and will be in the upcoming G.I. Joe 2.

The Rock's pop culture influence in & out of the squared circle has been unparalleled. Now, he has become a 7 time WWE Champion, 2 time WCW Champion, 2 time IC Champion, multi time tag champion, 2000 Royal Rumble Winner, headliner of 5 straight WMs, and many other PPVs in his era, and a cornerstone for the Attitude Era. The Rock has done more in 7 years than many others have done in 20-25 years in the business. His impact is phenomenal, drawing power amazing, and is a Walking, Talking, Legend and Icon. If it were not for The Rock, WWE would not be here today! John Cena, Randy Orton, and CM Punk would not have the platform that they have now, if The People's Champion had not laid the building blocks for them to do what they do. This is my personal tribute to the Jabroni' beating, Pie eating, Trail Blazing, Eyebrow raising, Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment! There will never be another like him, if you SMELL, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, what The Rock is COOKIN'!