All during this season's NBA Playoffs, the mantra that's been sent down from the league and relayed through their TV partners and commercials for Nike have been . . .LeBron vs. Kobe . . . LeBron vs. Kobe . . .LeBron vs. Kobe.
In spite of better-than-average TV ratings and a classic seven-game series between the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics, all signs pointed to a clash of the NBA titans: LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers meeting Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers in the finals. LeBron vs. Kobe . . . LeBron vs. Kobe . . . LeBron vs. Kobe.
Except somebody forgot to tell the Orlando Magic. They made the Cavs (and LeBron) disappear in six games to win the Eastern Conference title, and will play the Lakers (who beat the Denver Nuggets in six) starting Thursday.
For the city of Cleveland, the long drought of not having won a sports championship since Lyndon Johnson was President continues. The Cavaliers have yet to win a title. All those rumors about James taking off for New York once he becomes a free agent in 2010 are going to get louder. He has a better chance of winning a championship there than he would in Cleveland. Just ask Kevin Garnett, whose fortunes improved dramatically once he left Minnesota for Boston.
ABC and ESPN, which now has to sell this series as Disney World vs. Disneyland (nice corporate synergy) instead of--well, you know, is stuck running a version of a sitcom they just canceled : Orlando Who? How many players on the Magic can you name besides Dwight Howard (or is that Juwan) ? To be fair, can you name anyone on the Cavs and Lakers besides . . . Kobe and LeBron? Phil Jackson, maybe?
The Magic have not been to the NBA Finals since 1995, when Shaquille O'Neal made the first of many appearances on the big stage. It's easy to forget that now, having seen him lead the Lakers and Miami Heat to titles since then.
Ever since Shaq and Kobe's acrimonious parting ended the Lakers' mini-dynasty a few years ago, Bryant has been trying to prove he can win the NBA title all by himself. This is the year he accomplishes that goal. Lakers in five games. Then we can come up with a new mantra.
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