My latest reports on the world of sports. Welcome to Vaughn's World Sports Network. Here, you will receive nothing but pure, absolute, unbiased facts and opinions on the world of sports. I was inspired to create this, because of my undying passion for sports, and love of history. For those who desire a healthy combination of history with modern facts, this is the place for you. Follow me on Twitter: @301kingvaughnjr
We are now finished with the second quarter of the NFL Season (8 games). This is better known as the first half of the Season. Now, it is time to look at the players who have produced the best season within this timespan.
Tom Brady:
Completions: 225
Attempts: 328
Percentage: 68.6%
Passing Yards: 2,709
Touchdowns: 22
Interceptions: 2
QB Rating: 113.5
Tom Brady continues his rampage in the NFL as he currently ranks first in QB Rating at 113.5, while ranking fourth in completions (225), third in passing yards (2,709), and first in touchdowns (22). Through this first half, Brady has only thrown two interceptions. This run is remarkable as Tom continues to make both the Defense and Roger Goodell pay. Brady is on a mission to terminate his opponents pass by pass as he leads the Patriots to an 8-0 start. In 16 Seasons, Brady is hardly slowing down at all. Tom already has two MVP's to his Resume, and he would have no problem adding a third.
Aaron Rodgers:
Completions: 163
Attempts: 252
Percentage: 64.7%
Passing Yards: 1,937
Touchdowns: 19
Interceptions: 3
QB Rating: 108.2
Aaron Rodgers continues to play at MVP form as the Green Bay Packers still reign over the NFC North. He is still producing at top form but has had a bit of a fall off in the past two games with losses against the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers. The way that the Broncos dominated the Packers gave a slight blow to Aaron's stock as MVP. At 6-2, Green Bay is still very lethal.
Andy Dalton:
Completions: 174
Attempts: 258
Percentage: 67.4%
Passing Yards: 2,226
Touchdowns: 18
Interceptions: 4
QB Rating: 111.0
"The Red Rifle" Andy Dalton continues to fire away leading Cincinnati to a perfect 8-0 record, making them one of the small handful of undefeated teams that still exist. Andy continues to float around the MVP conversation which helps his stock grow exponentially. In the midst of his peers like Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck and others, Dalton shines the brightest.
Cam Newton:
Completions: 132
Attempts: 246
Percentage: 53.7%
Passing Yards: 1,820
Touchdowns: 14
Interceptions: 9
QB Rating: 81.4
With the way that Carolina is taking a hold of their division, Cam Newton shares a great deal of the responsibility for their success. Cam has emerged as an MVP Candidate compared to where he was at the start of the season. Newton is playing the finest football of his career at this point as he is silencing his critics with great field generalship. Cam may not have the most aesthetically pleasing numbers compared to his contemporaries, but he gets the job done. Newton has improved his football IQ and instincts as a QB.
My 2nd Quarter MVP goes to:
Tom Brady:
The race is still ultimately between him and Aaron Rodgers, but Brady has pulled ahead by keeping his team undefeated.
"He's On Fire". The legendary line from the classic NBA Jam when a player is on a hot streak where he shoots consecutive shots without missing. That phrase has transcended the Basketball world and it is the perfect way to describe Stephen Curry. Steph has been playing like he is in NBA Jam where he cannot miss. Just keep passing him the ball and watch him burn the net.
Defending NBA Champions the Golden State Warriors have launched to a great start this NBA Season, thanks to the scoring and playmaking of their leader Stephen Curry. Through the first 4 games of the Season, Curry has scored 148 points as he has become the second player in 40 years to accomplish that. The first was Michael Jordan himself during the 1985-86 campaign. He has also scored 20 points in the 4th quarter on three separate occasions. In the Season Opener (10/27), Curry cooked the New Orleans Pelicans with 40/7/6 (40 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds). His Airness did that on November 3, 1995. Now, Curry has 179 points in the first 5 games of the season.
Not to compare Curry to the King of the Basketball Universe, but he is separating himself from many of his peers. Although Steph has not yet reached the 50-40-90 club for shooters for an entire season, he has been lights out in his own way. Steph came close last season when he shot 44.3% beyond the arc and 91.4% from the free-throw line, but shot 48.7% from the floor. During these first 5 games, Curry has gone 50-50-90. (57% FG, 52% 3PT, 95% FT) The 3 PT % is subject to change, but those metrics are insane. The only players to do that are Steve Nash (4 times), Larry Bird (twice), Mark Price, Reggie Miller, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant. Steph is backing up his MVP Season last year with the way that he is scorching opponents. Currently, Steph leads the NBA in Scoring (35.8 PPG) while leading Golden State to the best Record in the NBA as they are undefeated at 5-0. They currently sit at the 1st place in Points (117.6). Curry is practically neck and neck with Chris Paul as the League's Chief Point Guard. His MVP and Ring are what give him the extra nod over CP3.
The Warriors have faced their share of skeptics who say that they did not deserve to win the Championship last season. There are people that call it a fluke. That season was FAR from a fluke in every way. Golden State went 67-15, one of the best records in NBA History for a Championship team. They worked extremely hard to win that title. Automatically, the Clippers would finish in second place of the Pacific Division. Oklahoma City was in shambles because of Kevin Durant's injury. The Spurs won the season series 2-1 over Golden State, but the Warriors would have had the last laugh in the postseason because of their home court advantage.
The Warriors only lost 2 games at Oracle Arena, but neither one was against the Spurs. The Clippers were even worse against the Warriors, as Golden State won the season series 3-1.
Another knock against them is that they played injured point guards during the entire playoff run. While that is true, it is not Golden State's fault. The Pelicans (without Jrue Holiday), The Grizzlies (without Mike Conley) The Rockets (without Beverley) and The Cavs (Kyrie Irving was gone after Game 1). Golden State is among the best in the league when it comes to conditioning. With the way that Basketball takes a toll on the body, Curry could have been on the list. No disrespect, but if these teams were healthy I don't see them stopping the league MVP. Step had too much momentum going for him with this incredible MVP Season.
The next knock is that LeBron "had no help". Anytime LeBron's team loses, people want to say that he "had no help". It takes an entire team to win the Finals just as much as it takes an entire team to even make the playoffs. Yes, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving went down, but as we know LeBron is supposed to have a reputation for making others around him better. Cleveland did not have the best chance to win because of their chemistry issues through the season. Kevin Love was pretty much the third wheel and Kyrie Irving is not only injury prone, but he had trouble putting his ego aside for a legend like LBJ. Plus, LeBron was in gunslinger mode during the Finals, taking 196 shots while missing 118 of them. Not the best strategy to win a Title, especially with someone who has been deemed as "unselfish".
Golden State won their Championship through practice, determination, dedication, and teamwork. Curry has been general to lead the troops and he is not missing a beat so far. Instead of being complacent after winning a ring, Curry has elevated his game to another level while elevating those around him. Last season, Steph put up historic numbers as a shooter and he is carrying that play over into this season.
Give Steph some more time and he will be firmly placed among the likes of Bird, Nowitzki, Miller, Ray Allen, along with Steve Nash among the game's legendary shooters.
As long as "He's On Fire", keep feeding him the ball until it is time to cool off.
The Cincinnati Bengals have been making waves through the first five games of this season. This week, they defeated the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks in Overtime. The Seahawks gave up a 17-point deficit as the Bengals continue to dominate with their Offensive Firepower. The “Red Rifle” Andy Dalton shot Seattle’s deficit down as he went 30-44 for 331 yards and 2 Touchdowns. When the Bengals trailed 24-7, Dalton threw for a TD and ran for another to cut the lead down on a 69-yard drive with no timeouts. Tight End Tyler Eifert led the team with 8 receptions for 90 yards and 2 TD’s while star WR A.J. Green had 6 receptions for 78 yards.
The win not only keeps Cincinnati undefeated, but it is also the second biggest comeback in franchise history. The Bengals have not been 5-0 since 1988 when MVP Boomer Esiason led them to Super Bowl XXIII. Dalton continues to make his case as an MVP candidate while WR A.J. Green continues to make himself known as one of the top receivers in the league.
Meanwhile, Seattle is in serious pain at 2-3. QB Russell Wilson has been taking a pounding this season as he was sacked four times in this game alone. For the season, he has been sacked 22 times at this point.
The Bengals have recently become a playoff contender again, but their biggest test is to claim a postseason victory. They have been turning heads and look for ways to continue.
So far, Dalton is 108-160 for 1,518 yards (1st in NFL) and 11 Touchdowns with a QB Rating of 115.6. You could very well say that he is one of the Top 5 QBs in the AFC with his production. Andy is bringing a sense of hope and signs of promise to the Bengals as they are the favorites over the likes of perennial AFC North Juggernauts the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Dalton is on pace to produce a Career-High Season with 35 Touchdowns, 4,858 Passing Yards, a 67.5 percent completion rate, and a career-low six interceptions.
I am not jumping the gun on Dalton just yet, but things are looking up. We just need to see what he has in store for us in January.
We are now finished with the first four games of the NFL Season, which makes that the 1st Quarter. Now, it is time to look at the players who have had the most outstanding seasons within that timespan.
Tom Brady:
Completions: 96
Attempts: 133
Percentage: 72.2%
Passing Yards: 1,112
Touchdowns: 9
Interceptions: 0
QB Rating: 119.6
Tom Brady has the New England Patriots riding high as usual, leading the AFC East at 3-0. Tom has been absolutely brilliant in these first 4 games of the season, completing 72% of his passes for more than 1,000 yards, 9 TD's and 0 INT's. If the suspension was still approved, Brady would have fallen behind obviously along with his team. If anything, that has fueled his competitive fire to do what he has done for his whole 15-year career, silence the critics. The Patriots have enjoyed a Bye Week, but they look to continue their momentum. After all, there are still 12-13 more games in the season but for now, Tom has played at MVP level in the early stages.
Aaron Rodgers:
Completions: 89
Attempts: 123
Percentage: 72.4%
Passing Yards: 995
Touchdowns: 11
Interceptions: 0
QB Rating: 125.9
Perennial MVP Candidate Aaron Rodgers continues to lead his team while destroying defenses with his combination of passing and mobility. Rodgers is one of the ultimate double threats at Quarterback. The Packers continue to throw deep passes even without go-to WR Jordy Nelson. Still, nothing has slowed Aaron down from raising the game of his other receivers. Three of Green Bay's first four games were won in convincing fashion. Aaron's QB Rating is another indication of how dangerously precise he really is.
Julio Jones:
Receptions: 38
Receiving Yards: 478
Average YPC: 12.6
Touchdowns: 4
Julio Jones has certainly been the MVP for the Atlanta Falcons with his dominance over the secondary. His physical presence creates nightmares for opposing Defensive Backs while standing at 6'3" 220 lbs. Julio leads the NFL in Receptions (38) along with Receiving Yards (478) as well as yards per game (119.5). He ranks 2nd in Touchdown receptions with 4. The Falcons are currently tied with the Panthers for first place in the NFC South with a record of 4-0. Without question, Jones has taken the mantle of the Best WR this season with Cowboys stud Wideout Dez Bryant out for most of the season and Calvin "Megatron" Johnson suffering on a Lions team that is 0-4. Those are the three key receivers in the current NFL Landscape, but Julio is having a breakout season. Along with fellow WR Roddy White, the Falcons Wide Receiving Combo has made Matt Ryan look more valuable as a QB.
Andy Dalton:
Completions: 78
Attempts: 116
Percentage: 67.2%
Passing Yards: 1,187
Touchdowns: 9
Interceptions: 1
QB Rating: 123.0
The "Red Rifle" Andy Dalton has been a straight shooter as he has led the Cincinnati Bengals to a 4-0 record to lead the AFC North. Dalton has been vital in his team's success, as he ranks among the top 3 in Passing Yards (1,187). Dalton is nominated as a candidate for 1st Quarter MVP because of how his production has translated into his team's success along with the other players nominated such as Brady, Rodgers, and Jones. The Bengals are 4-0 for the first time since 2005, as they average 30.2 points. Led by Dalton, Cincinnati ranks second in total yards as they pile the points on the opponents. The Bengals are currently at the top of the class of an otherwise struggling AFC North Division, and The Red Rifle is the prime cause offensively.
The 1st Quarter MVP Award goes to:
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers has the Green Bay Packers standing tall at the top of the NFC North at 4-0 and leads the NFL in TD Passes (11) and QB Rating (125.9). The race is still tight, especially between him and Tom Brady. As for now, Aaron wins the award because of his efficiency and versatility.
There are always events or situations in history where we look back and wonder "What Could have been?". Whether it was a great team that could not win a championship ('90s Orlando Magic), or a great match that never happened (ex: Shawn Michaels vs The Rock). There are also dream matchups that never manifest (Hogan vs Flair at WrestleMania VIII, Austin vs. Hogan at WM X8). In this case, I would like to look at what would have been the ultimate dream series (pun intended) between the two best players of their respective era. In this case, I would like to examine what could have been the premiere Finals series between Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls and Hakeem Olajuwon's Houston Rockets. If only Mike did not put the Basketball down to pickup the Baseball bat. We would have the best Finals series of that decade in my view.
People always like to run with this idea that the Chicago Bulls would have won eight straight championships if Michael never left for baseball. First and foremost, Michael Jordan is the greatest player to ever pick up a basketball. He is to Basketball what Hulk Hogan and Stone Cold Steve Austin are to Wrestling and what Jerry Rice is to Football. I just wanted to clear that point. However, I would like to take a quick flashback to the year 1984. There was a young man from the University of Houston by way of Lagos, Nigeria who was drafted two spots ahead of Michael as the 1st Overall Draft pick. His name was Akeem Olajuwon (later Hakeem). MJ was incredible in North Carolina, but Dream was very close in his own way as he carried the U of H on his back. For the record, I knew nothing about the University of Houston until I found out that Hakeem Olajuwon played there. Plain and simple, this man put that school on the map. Hakeem was not some nameless scrub player. He did not have to carry the regret of being the player that his team passed over Michael Jordan to draft (Sam Bowie). The Dream had a remarkable career in his own right.
In fact, I would like to fast forward to 1986. That season, Jordan was injured for most of that season. As we all know, Michael torched the 1986 Celtics Empire for a Playoff Record 63 points. Unfortunately, the Bulls were swept in that series. Meanwhile, Olajuwon led the Houston Rockets to the NBA Finals against that same Boston Celtics team led by NBA MVP Larry Bird. Boston would capture their 16th Title in that series. Remember, the Dream led his team to the Finals five years before Jordan would conquer Magic Johnson's Lakers for his first championship. What makes this fantasy series even more special is that Olajuwon was THE Dominant Center of his Era/Generation in a time where you had at least four other Hall of Fame (future Hall of Fame) Centers in their prime or entering their prime. You name the player, Hakeem has given him a lesson at some point. Out of that era, he was the most versatile. He had the quickness and handles that wing players envied, along with a presence that traditional pivotmen were not able to match.
Whenever this topic is brought up, everybody wants to put an asterisk next to Houston's two championships as if they meant nothing. At least Hakeem stepped to the plate to become a champion, instead of becoming another ringless statistic like Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley or Karl Malone. None of them took advantage of that window of opportunity, and their legacies have suffered because of that. It is hard to argue against Michael going undefeated in the Finals (6-for-6). On his path to the Championship, Jordan went through some giants such as the Celtics led by Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons as well as Magic's Showtime Lakers.
Jordan's first three-peat was his most statistically dominating run as the Bulls defeated the Lakers, Blazers and Suns (his numbers speak for themselves). However, there is one common denominator in each series. None of those teams had a dominant Center like Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston. The Dream would give Chicago matchup nightmares in the Finals. Chicago's defense would be faced with threats that they never had to face in the first or second three-peat. Kareem was retired by the time the Bulls played the Lakers. Hakeem's post moves and footwork would have Bill Cartwright and Horace Grant pretty much dumbfounded. The Sonics and Jazz did not have Centers that created major threats either. Next to Michael Jordan, I would say that Hakeem was the 2nd best player of the 90's. These two titans dominated in what is considered by many to be the "Golden Era" as it was a time where every team across the league seemed to be loaded with Hall of Fame talent.
On one hand, I won't say that the Bulls would have had a run of eight straight championships. The Rockets have proven that they can give Chicago matchup issues in the regular season. On the other hand, I will not say that Houston would have won two straight over Chicago. You could go with either season, and Houston would have walked away with at least one trophy. The Rockets are the one team that has a career winning record against Michael Jordan. From 91-93, Jordan went 1-4 against the Rockets.
Figuring out a defensive scheme against Olajuwon would have been much harder than creating a defensive scheme against Karl Malone or Charles Barkley.
Just like Jordan in 1988, Hakeem won both MVP and DPOY during the 1994 Season. However, Dream won Finals MVP in that same season where he picked up the other two awards. That 1994 team defeated Chicago's rival New York Knicks in seven games during their first championship run. New York was led by Hakeem's rival Patrick Ewing. For the 1995 campaign, Houston managed to win their second title as a 6th seed with under 50 wins (47-35). They were called "Road Warriors" for a reason as they never had home court advantage during their playoff run. Along the way, Houston defeated the No. 3 seed Utah Jazz (60-22), No. 2 seed Phoenix Suns (59-23) and the No. 1 seed San Antonio Spurs (62-20). Those teams featured very decorated players: Karl Malone and John Stockton (both 1st Team All-NBA), Charles Barkley (2nd Team All-NBA) and David Robinson (1st Team All-NBA, MVP). In the finals, they would squash a young Orlando Magic Team (57-25) led by Shaquille O'Neal (2nd Team All-NBA, Scoring Champion) and Penny Hardaway (1st Team All-NBA). Houston conquered the top teams and stars of the league during that two-year window. During the second run, the second biggest factor next to Hakeem was Clyde Drexler.
Clyde was acquired by The Rockets during a trade midway through the 1995 Season as the Blazers traded him in exchange for Otis Thorpe. Despite the rough start, Drexler was able to play a key role in Houston's second title chase. Clyde was looking to redeem his image after Michael Jordan demoralized him in the 1992 NBA Finals. If Houston plays Chicago, Drexler would be looking to seek revenge. Drexler's legacy was revived once he reunited with his former College Teammate Hakeem Olajuwon. Clyde needed Hakeem more than Hakeem needed Clyde. Drexler's window was closing to win a championship as he was in the twilight of his prime.
If I had to lean to any one of those Rockets teams to defeat Chicago, I might lean towards the 1995 Team slightly. Michael Jordan was the main player who demanded double teams, because of the damage that he can do on the offense. Scottie Pippen did a great job in Michael's absence, but he only averaged 16.7 ppg while Jordan was gone. That would not fly when you are trying to establish yourself as a leader away from His Airness. Scottie was not a player who screamed "Double Team". Meanwhile, Olajuwon and Drexler each demanded double teams as they could create problems in their own way.
As for the series outcome, Houston wins in a 7-game series as Olajuwon wins Finals MVP. It would have been great to see this happen. All we can do is fantasize about what could have been.
I have been waiting for the longest time to do this project. The Model of Consistency. One of the true Ironmen of Sports, especially in a Sport like Pro Football. The Gold Standard that other Wide Receivers are measured by. Jerry Rice is the embodiment of commitment, discipline and greatness. Although he was not the fastest or the most physical wideout, Jerry's work ethic and technique brought him a countless number of accolades. Rice was a standout wide receiver ever since his days at Mississippi Valley State, an HBCU (Historically Black College University). Jerry attended MVS from 1981-1984. While there, he received the nickname "World", because there wasn't a ball in the world that he couldn't catch. In 1982, Jerry caught 66 passes for 1,133 yards and 7 touchdowns. 1983 was his standout campaign, as he set numerous records. That season, Jerry had 102 receptions, with 1,450 yards while being named First Team Division I-AA, All-America. The next season, he broke those records with 112 receptions and 1,845 yards, with 27 touchdowns. Jerry finished his historic College Career with 301 receptions, 4,693 yards, and 50 touchdowns. In spite of his record-setting career at MVS, the one weakness that scouts discovered was his speed. During the combine, Rice clocked in a 4.7 speed, which is not very high for receiver standards for the draft. However, there were two key teams that kept a very close eye on him. Fittingly enough, the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. Niners coach Bill Walsh saw a huge investment in Jerry and drafted him with the 16th overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft. Walsh was impressed after watching highlights of Rice the Saturday before San Francisco played the Houston Oilers on October, 21, 1984. The investment would prove to pay off in great ways. San Francisco came off the heels of winning their second Super Bowl Trophy in late January, when they drilled Dan Marino's Miami Dolphins 38-16 in Super Bowl XIX. San Fran looked to add to their dominance, and Rice was the perfect new weapon for Joe Montana. In his rookie campaign, even though he struggled at times, Rice gave glimpses of his greatness, when he caught 49 passes for 927 yards (18.9 yards per catch) and 3 TDs. This performance earned Jerry the NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year. His standout game was a 10-catch, 241 yard game against Division rival Los Angeles Rams. 1986 proved to be Rice's first breakthrough season where he had his first of 11-straight 1,000 yard seasons. This was also the first season with double digit Touchdowns and 80 or more receptions. That season, Jerry recorded 86 receptions for 1,570 yards and 15 TD's. This campaign also marked the first of six seasons where he would lead the NFL in receiving yards and touchdowns. The rewards would include, his first of 13 Pro Bowl Selections, his first of 10 First-Team All-Pro Selections along with the NFC Offensive Player of the Year Award. This is where Jerry truly raised his game to become a transcendant player. The 1987 season was shortened by a strike, which typically became a roadblock for statistics. However, Jerry became the exception to the rule. Despite playing only 12 games, Rice lead the league with 1,078 yards and a then NFL-record 22 Touchdowns. For his brilliant season, Jerry was named NFL MVP by both the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), and Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). Rice also received his first of 2 NFL AP (Associated Press) Offensive Player of the Year Awards. Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver Mike Quick was in second place with 11. This marked the first time in NFL history since the merger, where a player doubled the numbers of his nearest competitor. In 1988, Jerry caught 64 passes for 1,306 yards (career-high 20.4 YPC) and 9 Touchdowns. This was his first Super Bowl Campaign, as San Francisco won the NFC West with a 10-6 record. In the playoffs, Rice raised his level of dominance, as he helped lead the 49ers to a 28-3 thrashing over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in the NFC Championship. That game, he had 5 receptions for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jerry raised the bar even higher in his first Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XXIII, Jerry was unstoppable, as he set records for receptions (11) and receiving yards (215) with 1 Touchdown to help the San Francisco 49ers defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 20-16. This was the third Super Bowl in team history, as Jerry won the Super Bowl MVP Award. Rice only became the third wide receiver in history to win the award. 1989 is considered by many to be the greatest season in 49er History. That season, they went 14-2, with Jerry's 82 receptions, 1,483 yards and 17 touchdowns. In the playoffs, he was still sensational, with 12 receptions, 169 yards and 2 touchdowns in their 2 playoff games before the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XXIV, Rice was once again a major weapon for the Niner Army with 7 receptions for 148 yards and a record 3 touchdowns as San Francisco dismantled the Denver Broncos 55-10 to win their 4th Lombardi Trophy. Rice continued his success in 1990, with a league-leading 100 receptions, 1,502 yards and 13 touchdowns. Unfortunately, San Francisco failed to three-peat as they lost in the NFC Championship game to the eventual champion New York Giants. For six seasons, the Jerry Rice-Joe Montana Connection was the most lethal QB-WR Combination in the NFL. Together, they scored for 55 Touchdowns, and won back-to-back Super Bowls. Even though Joe had been a champion twice, Jerry helped to extend his greatness. The 1989 Season was the perfect example of that. However, the party would soon end, when Montana went down with an injury that sidelined him for the entire 1991 season. Steve Young would take the torch as the new starting QB. Jerry admits that he had to make slight adjustments, because Young was not only a left-handed QB, but he was also mobile. However, Jerry continued business as usual (80 catches, 1,206 yards, 14 touchdowns). In 1992, Rice caught 84 passes, 1,201 yards and 10 touchdowns as he and Steve Young led the Niners back to the NFC Championship. San Fran would fall to the future champion Dallas Cowboys. In 1993, Rice caught 98 passes for 1,503 yards and 15 TD's to win his second AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award. In 1994, Jerry had his finest season at that point, with a career-high 112 receptions, 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns. In the first game of the season against the Los Angeles Raiders, he broke Jim Brown's all-time record for Career Touchdowns. During the game, Jerry caught 7 passes for a season-high 169 yards and 2 touchdowns (rushed for one more), to move into first place with 127. Even though he only had 6 catches in the playoffs, Rice once again became unstoppable when it mattered most, in the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XXIX, Rice recorded 10 receptions for 149 yards and 3 touchdowns as the 49ers torched the San Diego Chargers 49-26 to become the first team to win 5 Super Bowls. In 1995, Rice superseded his previous season numbers with a career-high 122 receptions (tied with Cris Carter for 2nd place), a career-high 1,848 yards (1st place, a record now broken by Calvin Johnson) and 15 touchdowns, before the Niners would fall to Green Bay in the Divisional Playoffs. From '94-'96, Rice racked up a phenomenal 342 receptions, 4,601 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns. This has to be considered the best three year stretch by any receiver in history. However, his prime would soon come to a close. In 1997, Rice tore ligaments in his knee on a WR Reverse play. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Tackle Warren Sapp grabbed Jerry by the face-mask and pulled him to the ground, causing a 15-yard penalty. This ended Rice's streak of 189 consecutive games played. As a result, he was forced to miss the Pro-Bowl for the first time in 11 seasons. However, Rice would recover and return in 1998 with 82 catches, 1,157 yards and 9 touchdowns to make his 12th Pro Bowl appearance. By 1999, the Niners organization was moving in a new direction with the emergence of Terrell Owens. TO was considered the present and future, while Rice was officially considered the past. This was the first season where Rice failed to reach 1,000 yards in 16 games. He had the same results in 2000. San Fran was officially in rebuilding mode, and Jerry saw the writing on the wall as he left the 49ers to sign with Bay Area rival the Oakland Raiders in 2001. During his time with the Raiders, Rice showed flashes of brilliance as he and fellow Hall of Famer Tim Brown became the oldest receiver duo in NFL History. In his first season, Jerry caught 83 passes for 1,139 yards and 9 touchdowns. 2002 was his best season in Oakland, as Jerry made history by making the Pro-Bowl and All-Pro Teams as a 40-year old. That season, he caught 92 passes for 1,211 yards and 7 touchdowns to reach his 13th Pro-Bowl. In the process, he helped make Rich Gannon and MVP. This was a great way to show that he could still shine even without two Hall of Fame Quarterbacks. However, the fun would soon end as the Raiders were pummeled by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII. In 2003, the Raiders never recovered as they went from 11-5 in 2002 to 4-12 in 2003. Jerry requested to be traded to the Seattle Seahawks, where he would spend the rest of his career. At the end of the 2004 season (his 20th), Jerry originally opted for a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos. However, during training camp, he decided it was best to retire than to finish his career at the bottom of the depth chart. On August 24, Rice signed a one-day deal to officially retire as a San Francisco 49er, just as Emmitt Smith did with the Dallas Cowboys. In 2010, Rice and Emmitt would appropriately be inducted together into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This has to be the first time that the All-Time Leaders in Receiving and Rushing were inducted in the same class. Jerry Rice holds virtually every significant receiving record that you can imagine. Rice was a true Ambassador of the game, both on and off the field. Unfortunately, Rice has had his fair share of critics (both fans and players) who say that he was only a star because of his two Hall of Fame QB's (Joe Montana and Steve Young). Most notably, Rice's former teammate and mentee, Terrell Owens made this ridiculous statement because of bitterness and jealousy. I have been waiting to address this for the longest. Jerry was great on his own. It takes two to tango. Rice was a playmaker when he caught those passes. Don't sell him short, because of his team. He made both of them look better. If it was just about his Quarterbacks, players like Dwight Clark, John Taylor, Brent Jones, etc would have had the careers that Jerry Rice had. Rice was a prototype receiver that came at a time where the NFL was introducing bigger, stronger more athletic wideouts. Jerry was a transcendant player who was naturally great anyway. It helped to have a nice supporting cast, but Jerry recorded those astronomical numbers because he was the best option on the team. He emphasized conditioning and endurance, which made him maintain a high level of play within the final 2:00 minutes of a game. He was a master of Yards After the Catch in a similar way that Michael Jordan was a Master of playing off the Dribble. Montana and Young loved to have Rice on their team to throw the ball to. He was a great teammate in the locker room and not a constant nightmare for his coaches. Players like TO and Randy Moss imploded the teams that they played on. Jerry's 22 Touchdowns in 1987 were more impressive than Randy's 23 in 2007, because Rice played in a strike shortened season. Meanwhile, Moss broke the record by only 1 TD in a full 16 GAME SEASON!! Owens burned three of the best bridges that he had (Niners, Eagles and the Cowboys). Along the way, both players had their strings of impressive QB's. Overall, Jerry Rice raised the standards for players who strive to one day make it to the Hall of Fame, especially on a 1st Ballot basis. Rice's name is all over the history books, as he is the all-time leader in receiving for both the regular season and post season. In 1999, Sporting News named Jerry Rice the 2nd Greatest Player of all-time behind Jim Brown on their 100 Greatest Players list. In 2010, NFL Network ranked Jerry Rice number 1 on their 100 Greatest Players list. Jerry was also named to the NFL All-Decade Team for the 1980's and 1990's. Rice's legacy is lightyears ahead of any other wideout in history, as he finished his spectacular career with 1,549 yards, 22, 895 receiving yards, (14-1,000 yard seasons) and 208 Touchdowns.
Kevin Durant had another banner year. This time, he added an MVP Award to his impressive resume. Durant would also win his fourth scoring title as he helped to lead the Thunder to the WCF where OKC would fall short to the San Antonio Spurs. Durant would also be chosen as the player to appear on the cover of NBA 2k15. This has indeed been a special year for Durant.
Team of the Year: San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs added a 5th NBA Championship Trophy to their Trophy Case to their storied history. The Spurs added to their legacy as they dismantled and obliterated the Miami Heat in merely 5 games. This was the ultimate revenge for the Spurs as they were one game away from beating Miami the year before. San Antonio was an all-around machine that ran to perfection. The Spurs finished first in their division. Their playoff run was great, as they defeated the Mavericks (4-3) in the first round, ran through a young Blazers team in the second round (4-1), and theiincce rival OKC (4-2) in the Conference finals before the rematch. San Antonio redeemed themselves in great fashion as they defeated Miami with technique and execution. The Heat were exposed with no help from shady calls by the refs in their favor. The Spurs destroyed the Heat on the boards, as well as on the perimeter. It was a textbook victory that basketball purists could be very proud of. Aside from LeBron's cramps, Kawhi Leonard neutralized him fairly well. Leonard won the Finals MVP. This series reminded me of the first title win over the Knicks in 1999, and the series against LeBron's Cavs in 2007. The Spurs added to their legacy as a Dynasty. The Spurs are currently 4th in most championships in NBA History.
Game of the Year: Super Bowl 48 (Seahawks vs. Broncos)
This was the ultimate surprise of the year. No one expected the Seahawks to not only win, but to murder the Broncos in the process. The Seattle Legion Defense lowered the Boom on MVP Peyton Manning and the Denver Offense by giving him no preparation time at all. The momentum was set from the first safety of the game. The Seahawks continued to bring the pain like Method Man with their swarming blitzes, and how they shut down the receivers. Denver was a heavy favorite. In this game, they were greatly exposed. Peyton Manning's Record-Setting MVP Season went up in flames, as the Seahawks spoiled his comeback story. This game was the closest thing to the 1985 Bears 46-10 wipeout of the Patriots in Super Bowl XX. The Seahawks won their first Super Bowl, as they mutilated Denver, 43-8.
Most Improved Team: Washington Wizards
Recently, the Washington Wizards have been the feel good story of not only the NBA, but Washington, DC overall. As a native Washingtonian, I am impressed and thrilled to see the success of this team. For years, the Wizards have been overlooked and practically irrelevant in the scope of the NBA. However, they have made a quiet rise and progression in the East. John Wall has emerged as an upper echelon Point Guard as he leads the way. The Wizards defeated the Chicago Bulls in convincing fashion in the playoffs before being eliminated by the Pacers. With the addition of Paul Pierce, the Wizards will look forward to building on the previous success.
Surprise Team: Dallas Cowboys
Out of all teams in the world of sports, the Dallas Cowboys have played above their recent mediocre standards. It is ironic that a team as decorated as the Cowboys has now become a surprise. Recently, Dallas has become a laughingstock in the NFL, as they have registered consecutive seasons ending in 8-8 or worse. However, the Cowboys have proven the skeptics wrong as they have gone 12-4 to clinch the NFC East. Along the way, Dallas has knocked the December monkey off of their back by going undefeated for the entire month. Along the way, QB Tony Romo has broken Troy Aikman's record as the Franchise All-Time Leader in Passing Yards. Running Back DeMarco Murray broke Emmitt Smith's Single Season Rushing Record. Pro Bowl Wide Receiver Dez Bryant also broke the Team's Single Season Record for Receiving Touchdowns. All three have made great cases for NFL MVP. Not only that, but four players from the Cowboys have been named to the All-Pro Team. How bout them Cowboys?!
Breakout Athlete: JJ Watt
JJ Watt has been the heartbeat of the Houston Texans since his arrival in 2011. After two straight All-Pro Seasons, Watt continues his run of excellence as he has recorded his second 20 Sack Season in his 4 year NFL Career. Watt also recorded 5 fumbles this season, which led the NFL. JJ has earned unanimous votes in multiple positions for the All-Pro Team. Watt's play has earned him an MVP Nomination.
Inspirational Athlete of the Year: LeBron James
In the wake of the devastating defeat at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs, LeBron James started to reflect on the direction of his career. Following the season, LeBron became an unrestricted free agent. As a result, the LeBron Sweepstakes would begin once again as they did in 2010. Questions swirled all across the media as to where LeBron would end up. Fittingly, one of the candidates was Cleveland. The Cavaliers made a very strong bid to bring back the hometown hero that they villified because of how he made his exit four years earlier. They pulled strings left and right, from signing Kevin Love, to having the number one draft pick (Andrew Wiggins). The stars were lining up in Cleveland. Meanwhile, LeBron scanned the roster of Miami, and realized that the well that he drank from for championship glory had now run dry. The glamour and mystique of Miami faded away. The magic wasn't there for him. The party was officially over in South Beach. Pat Riley even held a Press Conference practically begging LeBron to stay. He even put his rings on the table, challenging LeBron to be loyal. Riles made the wrong move doing that, because he basically called out LeBron for being a quitter. LBJ saw the writing on the wall as he did before in Cleveland, and knew his days with the Heat were numbered. During the Summer of 2014, LeBron made his triumphant return as the proverbial Prodigal Son to his hometown of Cleveland. LeBron made peace with the same owner (Dan Gilbert), who said that the Cavs would win a title before he would ever win one in Miami. Gilbert was the same owner who behaved like a spoiled child when LeBron left for a better opportunity. Now, they have buried the hatchet as they say. The same fans who burned his jersey when he made his "Decision" have now welcomed him back.
Most Improved Athlete: DeMarco Murray
Cowboys Running Back DeMarco Murray has been a quiet success story. In the midst of low to mediocre expectations for Dallas, DeMarco is shining brightly. This season, Murray has made a strong case for the MVP Award, as he has picked up the ball and carried it well in the absence of Adrian Peterson. Murray has had a groundbreaking season, as he has helped to spear head the recent success of the Cowboys. With an impressive offensive line, Murray has been brilliant this year. With consistency and being healthy, only time will tell what else he can do.
Play of the Year: Odell Beckham's catch vs. The Dallas Cowboys
What else can you say? Nothing compares to how spectacular this catch was by Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr., even if it was against my Cowboys.
Documentary of the Year: 1984 NBA Draft
The story about this draft is enough for me to give this the "Documentary of the Year" Award. This has to be arguably the best Documentary that NBA TV has ever done. The 1984 NBA Draft is what is considered to be by many (myself included) as the greatest Draft Class in NBA History. The class included a total of 5 Hall of Famers (3 were selected in the Top 5). This draft is legendary for the quality that it produced. The draft starts out great with Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon as the 1st Overall pick for the Houston Rockets. Olajuwon stayed in the same city where he became a star in College. It also had its classic punchline with Sam Bowie as the 2nd Pick for the Blazers right ahead of Michael Jordan at number 3 for the Chicago Bulls. Jordan's college teammate Sam Perkins was selected 4th to the Dallas Mavericks, as Sir Charles Barkley went 5th for the Philadelphia 76ers. John Stockton was the quiet coming in the draft. Brazilian Legend Oscar Schmidt was drafted, but stayed in Brazil to dominate. This draft also had great role players such as Otis Thorpe, Sam Perkins and Kevin Willis to name a few. Even Coach Rick Carlisle was drafted. What fascinates me the most is how these careers connect with each other. This draft bridged gaps from the Magic-Bird Era to the Era of Duncan, Kobe, etc. This draft has made a major mark, and the story is incredible.
Milestone of the Year: Payton Manning becomes NFL All-Time TD Pass Leader.
Peyton Manning continued to make history as he became NFL Career Leader in Touchdown Passes. The rate that he reached this milestone is even more impressive considering how efficient he has been throughout his career. Manning continues to decorate his career as he nears the end of his journey.
Congratulations to Mr. LeBron James for winning his 4th NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2012-2013 NBA Season. LeBron has now joined Elite Company, making him the 5th Player in NBA History to win at least four or more MVP Awards:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6)
Michael Jordan (5)
Bill Russell (5)
Wilt Chamberlain (4)
LeBron James (4)
This is certainly a prestigious class to be a part of, which adds even greater value to LeBron's already impressive legacy. As always, LeBron has been playing like a man among boys this season. From the start, I pretty much knew that LeBron was the ultimate lock for the Award. No one else was even within striking distance of the award. James won 120 out of the 121 votes. He would have been the unanimous MVP if it had not been for scoring leader Carmelo Anthony winning that 1 vote. That is how lopsided the voting was. Not even KD received a vote, when he was second place last season. Shaq went through the same thing when he won the MVP in 2000, when Iverson had the 1 vote that kept him from being the unanimous winner. LeBron had another fantastic day in the office this season, as he averaged 26.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 7.3 apg, 1.7 spg, with an incredible career-high field goal percentage of 56%. LeBron also shot a career-high 40% from the 3-point line, while shooting 75% from the free throw line. Once again, LeBron led the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) for the sixth straight time in his career with a PER of 31.6. LeBron also led the league in Win Shares for the fifth season in a row (19.3), along with a career-high .322 Win Shares/Per 48 Minutes. James also shot a career-high in True Shooting Percentage, shooting 64%. Those are true examples of value, for both the team and the league. This season, LeBron James also became the "youngest" player in NBA History to reach 20,000 career total points. As I have said before, he is only considered the "fastest" because of age, but in terms of career, he is not. Either way, it was very impressive. LeBron was also named "NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month" for every month, except April. (November-March) This season, LeBron also went on a monstrous streak of games where he scored at least 30 or more points on 60% shooting or higher from the field. Even more recently, LeBron led the charge as the Miami Heat went on a 27-game winning streak, while finishing the season 66-16. With new additions such as Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, and Chris "Birdman" Anderson, LeBron found new players whose roles could be further enhanced by playing with him. This season, we have continued to see James be the general and march his team to success. Once again, we have seen LBJ continue to dominate on both ends of the court. LeBron has also earned the respect, and admiration from All-Time Greats such as Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Karl Malone as well as Bob Pettit to name a few. They expressed their appreciation of James during a roundtable interview with USA Today Sports. Kareem admires LeBron's desire to be the best. Bob Pettit sees his own commitment to strength and conditioning in LeBron's game. Moses Malone appreciates the path that he and James both took to NBA success coming straight out of High School, winning multiple MVP Awards and each a Finals MVP. Bill Russell has even said that he thinks of LeBron James the same way that he used to think about Wilt Chamberlain. Not to speak for anyone, but I am sure that Wilt would also have a certain admiration for LeBron James and everything that he brings to the table. Like Wilt, LeBron is head and shoulders above the rest, as his amazing individual production gives balance to his team success. Although Wilt only led his teams to 2 championships, he had 4 MVP's and multiple records to further solidify his legacy in other areas. James is carving his place in History even more. He continues to add more dimensions to his game. With all fairness to today's NBA, the competition looks more like St. Vincent St. Mary than the NBA that we have been so used to for years. This is not a swipe at LeBron, but to the rule changes. LeBron's versatility continues to reach new levels. However, James' season has orchestrated yet another incredible season to further etch his career to legend status.
As we celebrate All-Star Weekend, it is only appropriate that we also celebrate another major milestone: NBA Royalty Michael Jordan turns 50! Jordan certainly created many great moments during the All-Star Weekend (87-88 Slam Dunk Battles with Dominique, 40 points in '88 ASG in Chicago, etc) What else is there to be said about Michael Jordan that has not been said? He is the ultimate prototype of a total package player. Jordan was a jack of all-trades, and master of all in a number of categories:
Basketball IQ
Scoring
Defense
Playmaking
Leadership
Team Play
Competitive Drive
Consistency
Athleticism
Agility
Innovation
Individual Brilliance
Clutch Play
Ultimate Regular Season/Playoff Performer
Jordan's first flash of brilliance took place at the University of North Carolina, under Coach Dean Smith. People assume that Jordan first learned team basketball under Phil Jackson, but that is far from the truth. This is the place where Jordan ultimately blended within the team concept, because his numbers in college tell the story (17.7/5.0/1.8 FG%-54, 3pt%-45, FT%-75). In his freshman year (1981-82), Jordan helped lead the Tar Heels to a National Title, with his signature game winning shot over Patrick Ewing & the Georgetown Hoyas. Here are Jordan's accomplishments from his great NCAA career
1982 NCAA Champion
1982-83 NCAA AP All-American 1st Team
1983-84 NCAA AP All-American 1st Team
1983-84 AP Player of the Year
1983-84 NCAA John Wooden Award
1983-84 Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Award
Jordan achieved this while being in a toned down system. After his fantastic junior season, Jordan would go on to take his game to the pros, where he was drafted 3rd Overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 NBA Draft. As a rookie, Michael immediately set the league on fire, averaging 28.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.9 apg, and 2.4 spg, while shooting 51% from the floor. This production not only earned Michael Rookie of the Year, but also a place as the starter for the Eastern Conference All-Stars, All-Rookie 1st Team, and All-NBA 2nd Team. Jordan also led the league in Total Points that season. (2,313) He also finished 6th place in MVP Voting. Jordan's momentum was temporarily put on hold the following season (1985-86), because of foot injury, which limited him to only 18 games. However, the playoffs were only a sign of things to come from Michael in the future. In the first round of the 1986 Playoffs against the Celtics, MJ unleashed a playoff record 63 points on the future champion Boston Celtics, who had the #1 Defense that season. (By the way, this Celtics team is widely considered to be there very best, and that speaks even more volumes about Michael's greatness) With that game, MJ put the league on further notice, that he was next in line after Magic & Larry. That fire from the playoffs extended into the next season. In 1986-87, Jordan went on a scoring rampage. That season, he averaged a career-high in points (3,041), and scoring average (37.1), snatching his first of 10 future scoring titles. Michael became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain ('61, '62, '63) to score at least 3,000 points, while averaging at least 37 ppg. ('60, '61, '62, '63). That season, Jordan also had a 9-game streak of 40 points or more:
41- Nov. 28, 1986 @ L.A. Lakers
40- Nov. 29, 1986 @ Golden State
40- Dec. 2, 1986 @ Seattle
45- Dec. 3, 1986 @ Utah
43- Dec. 5, 1986 @ Phoenix
43- Dec. 6, 1986 @ San Antonio
40- Dec. 9, 1986 @ Denver
41- Dec. 10, 1986 @ Atlanta
41- Dec. 12, 1986 @ Milwaukee
That season, Michael would go on to have at least 37 games of 40 or more points. What is even more astonishing is the fact that Michael NEVER had a game with 81 points, but yet he STILL scored over 3,000 points that season. He also earned his 3rd straight All-Star appearance (1987 Slam Dunk Champion), along with his first All-NBA 1st Team appearance. This was such a breakout season, that Jordan finished 2nd in MVP Voting, only to Magic Johnson. The Lakers also had Michael Cooper as their DPOY, but Jordan still found a way to drop 41 on him. This was truly a benchmark season, because this was the OFFICIAL start of Michael Jordan's Prime. (1987-1993) Michael also became the first player in NBA history to record 200 steals (236), and 100 blocks (125). Unfortunately, he was never given credit for his defense that year.
Here is a look at some of the other 40+ point games MJ had back in 1987:
Jordan's first 50-point game VS. Knicks at MSG:
Michael Jordan's 53 pts. vs. Clyde Drexler's Blazers:
MJ drops another 53 vs. Pacers (70% FG): (Long before LeBron)
MJ vs. Dominque (61 points vs. Hawks):
MJ drops 44 on Akeem's Olajuwon's Houston Rockets
Michael delivers 61 on Detroit Pistons (Bad Boys): 5th Ranked Defense
In 1987-88, Michael would leave a mark even bigger than the one he left the previous season. That season, he captured his 2nd straight scoring title (35.0 ppg), while leading the league in steals for the first time (3.2). He also recorded at least 200 steals, and 100 blocks for the second consecutive season. (259 steals, 131 blocks) Jordan made his 2nd straight All-NBA 1st Team, and his first All-Defensive 1st Team. During All-Star Weekend, Michael engaged in the greatest Slam Dunk battle of all-time Vs. Dominique Wilkins. Jordan won his 2nd Straight Dunk Contest in his Battleground of Chicago, while also winning ASG MVP the following night. With his incredible season, Jordan won his 1st of 5 NBA MVP Awards, where he beat out Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in another strong race. He also won Defensive Player of the Year. However, Michael's success was short-lived, because the Bulls would run into a brick wall named "The Bad Boy Pistons" during the Eastern Conference Semis, 4-1. In 1988-89, Jordan was forced to take on even more of a utility role, filling in at Point Guard for an injured John Paxson. Michael was able to display another dimension to his game as an all-around player. That season, he won his 3rd straight scoring title (32.5 ppg), while averaging career-highs in both rebounds, and assists (8.0 rpg, 8.0 apg). Jordan also had 7 straight games with at least a Triple-Double. Today's fans are so fascinated with LeBron's all-around game, that they tend to forget about the versatility of MJ. That season was also most notable for the game against the Cavs in the playoffs, where Jordan hits "The Shot" over Craig Ehlo, saving Chicago's postseason. The Bulls would go on to play the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time, ultimately falling to them 4-2. During this time, Pistons Coach Chuck Daly devised a set of defensive rules specifically for Jordan called "The Jordan Rules". This was instituted right after Jordan's 59 point game against them on April 3, 1988.
Here is that very game:
Michael Jordan 59 points vs. Pistons (4/3/88)
The system was designed to double and triple-team Michael every time that he had the ball in his hands. The Pistons knew that Michael's teammates were not a threat. However, things would change in Chicago's favor. The Bulls hired Phil Jackson as head coach, along with Tex Winter as assistant coach. Jackson's first move was to implement the "Triangle Offense". Under this new system, everyone was occupied and involved. Initially, Jordan didn't understand, because he thought Phil was trying to take the ball away from him. However, the system was built to move the ball around for everyone else, so that Jordan would not get swarmed so easily with double-teams. In this Offense, Michael also sacrificed his ball-in hand game to help Scottie Pippen develop as more of a ball-handler. Not only did Scottie improve, but so did others like Horace Grant, Paxson and so on. Not much changed in Michael's production. In 1989-90, Jordan had a season very similar to the previous one. That season, he averaged 33.6 ppg (1st), 7 rpg, and 6 apg, shooting 54% from the floor. Jordan also led the league in steals for the second time in his career. With the new Triangle Offense, Detroit's "Jordan Rules" became less effective. In the postseason, the Bulls made their second straight trip to the ECF vs. Detroit. This time, The Bulls took The Pistons to their limit. Although Chicago would fall 4-3, they found what it ultimately took to defeat their blood rivals. The Bulls regrouped for the following season. In 1990-91, Michael earned his 2nd MVP Award (31.5/6.0/5.5), while leading the Bulls to a 61-21 record. (1st in Eastern Conference) Finally, the pieces fell together in the proper places for the Bulls. In the playoffs, Chicago swept the Knicks off the court (3-0), demolished Philadelphia (4-1), and murdered the Isiah & Bad Boy Era in a sweep. (4-0) The Bulls would make their 1st Finals Appearance in Franchise history against the Los Angeles Lakers. (Team of the '80s) Michael would finally have the chance to prove himself on the biggest stage, against the best player from the previous decade, Mr. Earvin Magic Johnson. Magic was the king of the mountain during the '80s, being the leader/co-leader of the Lakers leading them to 5 Championship. He was the consummate team leader, who made everyone around him better. During this series, Jordan dismantled the Lakers, and matched Magic in playmaking.
1991 NBA Finals (Michael vs. Magic):
Total Points:
Jordan: 156
Magic: 93
Game-High:
Jordan: 36
Magic: 22
PPG:
Jordan: 31.2
Magic: 18.6
Field Goal Percentage:
Jordan: 55%
Magic: 43%
3-Point Percentage:
Jordan: 50%
Magic: 29%
Free-Throw Percentage:
Jordan: 85%
Magic: 95%
Rebounds:
Jordan: 33
Magic: 40
RPG:
Jordan: 6.6
Magic: 8.0
Assists:
Jordan: 37
Magic: 62
APG:
Jordan: 11.4
Magic: 12.4
Steals:
Jordan: 14
Magic: 6
SPG:
Jordan: 2.8
Magic: 1.2
Blocks:
Jordan: 7
Magic: 0
BPG:
Jordan: 1.4
Michael AVERAGED 11 Assists, IN THE FINALS! Come back to me when LeBron does that! With this outstanding performance, Michael not only won his first ring, but also his 1st Finals MVP. In this series, Jordan snatched the torch from Magic, and dethroned him as the King of the NBA Castle. This was the official changing of the guard, as Michael proved that even a scoring champion can win an NBA Championship. The NBA landscape changed even more from this moment. The thing that made this even more significant, is the fact Jordan won his first title, by conquering Magic's Lakers. That adds even greater value to his first championship run.
In 1991-92, Michael Jordan won his second straight MVP Award (30.1/6.4/6.1), while leading the Bulls to a 67-15 record. (franchise best at the time) Chicago's record improved, in large part because of the emergence of Scottie Pippen, along with B.J. Armstrong, & co. However, the road to the playoffs became even tougher for the Bulls. After sweeping the Miami Heat (3-0), the Bulls faced a very strong Knicks team in a seven-game series that had its fair share of controversy. Chicago emerged (4-3), and advanced to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the ECF. (4-2) In the NBA Finals, the Chicago Bulls would face a powerhouse Portland Trailblazers Squad. Michael would face yet another NBA Superstar. This time, it was Clyde "The Glide" Drexler. During the season, Drexler finished 2nd place in MVP Voting behind Jordan. This caused the media to draw numerous comparisons between the two, because they played the same position, similar size, and playing style. The Finals was billed as "Jordan vs. Drexler", and the series did not disappoint. This was the ultimate way for Michael to make the distinct separation between himself and Clyde, as he emerged victorious over his contemporary.
1992 NBA Finals (Michael "Air" Jordan vs. Clyde "The Glide" Drexler):
Total Points:
Jordan: 215
Drexler: 149
Game-High:
Jordan: 46
Drexler: 32
PPG:
Jordan: 35.8
Drexler: 24.8
Field Goal Percentage:
Jordan: 52%
Drexler: 40%
3-Point Percentage:
Jordan: 42%
Drexler: 15%
Free-Throw Percentage:
Jordan: 89%
Drexler: 89%
Rebounds:
Jordan: 29
Drexler: 47
RPG:
Jordan: 4.8
Drexler: 7.8
Assists:
Jordan: 39
Drexler: 32
APG:
Jordan: 6.5
Drexler: 5.3
Steals:
Jordan: 10
Drexler: 8
SPG:
Jordan: 1.7
Drexler: 1.3
Blocks:
Jordan: 2
Drexler: 6
BPG:
Jordan: 0.3
Drexler: 1.0
The highlight of this series was Jordan setting a then-record 6 three pointers in one game. (35 points in one half) Michael was rewarded his second straight NBA Finals MVP Award. During the summer, Michael also won his 2nd Olympic Gold Medal, as a member of the 1992 Dream Team. 1992 was a brilliant year for Michael Jordan. He achieved a Triple-Crown, (NBA MVP, Finals MVP, Olympic Gold Medal) becoming the first player in NBA history to achieve this feat. Jordan's explosion in popularity expanded the league's fan market. He took the game Magic & Larry saved, and brought it to even greater heights, which no one thought could be seen. Larry Bird & Magic Johnson raised the league's popularity & revenue from a national standpoint. Jordan made it even more acceptable from an international standpoint, as an American player. Ratings flew even higher, and the brands of other players received greater exposure as well. (Barkley, Karl Malone, David Robinson, Drexler, and others) The 1992-93 Season got off to a slow start for the Bulls, because of the lack of rest for Jordan & Pippen after the Olympics. Chicago finished the season with a record of 55-27. In spite of the early hurdle, Jordan still played at the highest level in the NBA. (32.6/6.7/5.5) MJ captured his 7th straight scoring title (tying Wilt Chamberlain), while leading the league in steals for the 3rd time. (2.8 spg) However, Jordan finished 3rd in MVP Voting, behind Defensive Player of the Year Hakeem Olajuwon (2nd), and Charles Barkley (1st). The media felt that they needed to promote another star as the MVP. They chose Barkley, because of his production, with a better team. (Phoenix Suns: 62-20) This only fueled Michael's competitive fire even more, to show who the REAL MVP was. After two straight sweeps (3-0 vs. Atlanta, 4-0 vs. Cleveland), Chicago would go on to face Phoenix, led by Charles Barkley.
1993 NBA Finals (Michael Jordan vs. Charles Barkley):
Total Points:
Jordan: 246
Barkley: 164
Game-High:
Jordan: 55
Barkley: 42
PPG:
Jordan: 41.0
Barkley: 27.3
Field Goal Percentage:
Jordan: 51%
Barkley: 47%
3-Point Percentage:
Jordan: 40%
Barkley: 25%
Free-Throw Percentage:
Jordan: 69%
Barkley: 75%
Rebounds:
Jordan: 51
Barkley: 78
RPG:
Jordan: 8.5
Barkley: 13.0
Assists:
Jordan: 38
Barkley: 33
APG:
Jordan: 6.3
Barkley: 5.5
Steals:
Jordan: 10
Barkley: 7
SPG:
Jordan: 1.7
Barkley: 1.2
Blocks:
Jordan: 4
Barkley: 3
BPG:
Jordan: 0.7
Barkley: 0.5
Jordan went on an absolute rampage, torching Phoenix for an NBA Finals record in scoring (41.0 ppg), which earned him his 3rd straight Finals MVP Award. Michael carried a tremendous amount of weight during this first 3-peat. This is weight that even Shaq had not carried. This first Bulls teams had Michael's DNA all over it. Jordan's first run (84-93) was beyond legendary. It was straight ICONIC! This was Michael at his apex, because he clearly mastered EVERYTHING during this time. (Physically, Athletically, Statistically, etc) He had the perfect combination of top speed, full strength, agility, all rolled into one. Jordan finally put the icing on his cake, with his team achievements. (championships) Even during this time, Michael was widely considered to be the greatest of all-time, by the likes of Magic Johnson, and others. Then, at the age of 30, he decided to walk away to play baseball, following the death of his father. For years, there has been speculation about this. I firmly believe that he left, because he wanted to pay tribute to his Dad, by playing baseball. (something he wanted him to do) Plus, the psychological damage was too strong after something that devastating. Unfortunately, too many new school fans want to bash him for leaving, in their agenda to praise Kobe for playing 17 years, without a break. They want to use this as an excuse to say Kobe is tougher. Now, I will take the time to address this nonsense: Michael achieved MUCH MORE, against tougher competition than Kobe & co. WITHOUT being stopped by an injury. Michael played through pain, so that was not an issue for him. It would make absolutely no sense for Jordan to be the greatest ever, but have a physical problem playing 10+ seasons. It was purely personal. When Michael retired in 1993, his body of work was much more impressive. He achieved MORE before baseball, than what Kobe, & LeBron have achieved in their entire careers. (20k + points, 7 scoring titles, 3 League MVP's, 3 Finals MVP's, in 9 seasons) He was still active, and working hard even in baseball.
In the middle-to-end of the 1994-95 season, Jordan made a MAJOR announcement with two words: "I'm Back!". MJ returned in a very large way as well. In his first game back, the Bulls took on the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. Michael wore his number from baseball (45), and delivered a classic 55-point game in a win against New York. This will always be remembered as the "Double-Nickel" game. Chicago would go to the ECF, where they were swept by the Orlando Magic. (Led by the NBA's new blood, Shaquille O'Neal & Penny Hardaway) Nick Anderson made a comment after the series, saying "Jordan was not the same", because he was out of basketball shape. In hindsight, I agree, because Jordan lost at least a slight step from before, because his body had become bulkier since he came back. Initially, Jordan was still not in basketball shape, and it showed during the 1995 ECF vs. Orlando. (Magic swept Bulls, 4-0)
The Chicago Bulls regrouped for the 1996-96 season, better than ever as a team. In his first full season, Michael Jordan recaptured the NBA scoring title for the 8th time (30.4/6.6/4.3), breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record for most scoring titles. Michael also led the revamped Bulls team to an historic 72-10 record. (best in NBA History) For this fantastic return, Michael was named the NBA MVP for the 4th time. In his All-Star Game return, he was also named ASG MVP. With newly acquired Tony Kukoc, former Pistons rival Dennis Rodman (San Antonio), Ron Harper (Clippers), and perennial sidekick Scottie Pippen, Chicago picked up right where they left off from when MJ first retired. The Bulls stomped out perennial whipping boy Miami (3-0 1st round), along with New York (4-1), before going to the Eastern Conference Finals to take care of unfinished business from the previous year. Remembering the embarrassing way their season ended, Chicago turned the tables, by sweeping Orlando, 4-0. This was their way of letting the young guns like Shaq know "We're back!". In the Finals, the Bulls would face a defensive force in the Western Conference, the Seattle Supersonics, who were led by "The Glove" Gary Payton. Payton was named the 1995-96 Defensive Player of the Year, while leading the league in steals. (2.9 spg) Along with premier PF "The Reign Man" Shawn Kemp, & co., the Sonics were 1st in the West (64-18). It was the Beast from the East (Chicago) vs. the Best from the West (Seattle). This series was clearly a defensive struggle to say the least. Both teams were powerhouses on defense. The contributions of Rodman, and Kukoc were vital in this series. This was clearly not Jordan's finest performance in the NBA Finals. (27.3/5.3/4.2) However, because he was the leader of the team, he won his 4th Finals MVP Award. Michael joined Willis Reed, as the second player in NBA history to win All-Star Game, Regular Season, and Finals MVP in the same season. The 1996-97 season was not much different from before. The Chicago Bulls finished the season 69-13 (tied w/1972 Lakers), with Jordan winning his 9th scoring title. (29.6/5.9/4.3) Clearly, Jordan was the best player in the league, with the best team! However, once again the media gets tired of naming MJ the MVP just like in '93. This time, they give the award to Karl Malone. After sweeping the Bullets in the 1st round (3-0), Chicago would overcome New York in another 7-game series (4-3). For the first time ever, the Bulls would face the Miami Heat (led by Alonzo Mourning & Tim Hardaway), in the Eastern Conference Finals. However, Chicago made short work of them, putting out the Heat, 4-1. Jordan would get his revenge in the Finals, as the Bulls took on the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals. The signature game for the series, was the "Flu Game". This was an example of how Michael had to rely on his heart, determination, and will to win like never before. Jordan returned to form in the Finals (32.3/7.0/6.0), while leading the Bulls to their 5th title. MJ was named Finals MVP for the 5th time, while the Mailman could not deliver. 1997-98 would be Jordan's farewell as a Chicago Bull. This season was a great way to go out for him, too. Michael won his 10th scoring title (28.7/5.8/3.5), along with his 5th MVP Award. During this same time, the media started building Kobe Bryant to compare him with MJ. Jordan would silence the critics in the All-Star Game, by winning the game's MVP Award. In the playoffs, Chicago would go on to dethrone the New Jersey Nets (1st round, 3-0), and Charlotte Hornets (4-1, 2nd round), before a grueling series with the Pacers. Michael's decline was on full display during the series, but the Bulls prevailed (4-3) because of the supporting cast. The Bulls and Jazz would have a rematch in the Finals. The signature moment of the series, was Michael's iconic game-winning shot over Bryon Russell, after stealing the ball from Karl Malone. This was the ULTIMATE storybook ending to a career. No other way to go out. For years, younger players and fans dream about that shot, and fantasize about taking that dramatic game-winner. When the series was over, Jordan was named Finals MVP for the 6th time (33.5/4.0/2.3), while leading the Chicago Bulls to their 6th championship. The supporting cast for the second three-peat was extremely crucial, because they covered up Jordan's deficiencies during that time. Michael was declining, not just athletically, but it also showed up in his production. He was less efficient, averaged fewer points, steals, etc, and shot a lower field-goal percentage. That is a FACT! With that being said, the team from 96-98, covered up those flaws in his game.
Michael decided to give a final encore, when he returned to play for the Washington Wizards. Although he was more than a shell of his former self, Michael still showed signs of dominance against the premier players at the time: Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, to name a few. In his return, Michael sparked a new interest in the Wizards. Attendance soared through the roof, with Jordan in a Wizard uniform. Michael also made the All-Star team in both seasons with Washington. In 2001-02 at age 39, Michael finished 13th in MVP Voting.
Michael Jordan was the closest thing to perfection on the basketball court. He was the greatest combination of athleticism with fundamentals. It is hard to find a great, talented athlete who understands, and uses technique. Many talented athletes just coast off of their natural abilities. Michael was the player who knew how to execute both equally. When his athleticism and speed diminished with age, he still had the IQ, and fundamentals to fall back on.
The legacy of Michael Jordan is unlike any other before, or after. For years, the media has constantly searched, and still searches for a "Like Mike" player. They will look for any form of flash, and charisma to match with MJ. Each player that has been compared to him has fallen under the pressure & burden: Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, were all destroyed by the injury virus. Kobe has gone the farthest, because of how he has ripped Jordan's style 100%, and smart people see through it. Even he has felt the pressure, and it has hindered his legacy as well. If it weren't for playing with a wealthy franchise (Lakers), he would fall in line with everyone else. LeBron James has decided to carve out his own identity, so he avoids it. (Plus, he changed his number) Although Dwyane Wade has been a member of 2 championship teams, injuries have plagued him as well. None of these players achievements, and level of play meet or exceed the enormous Jordan standard in any way. (Not even Kobe)
Michael's ability to raise his game is unmatched. His body of work speaks for itself. With that said, here are his accomplishments:
