Ames Progressive

For myself and many other zealous contemporary followers of the NBA, his Airness Michael Jordan punctured the mythology of sport with immeasurable drive documented by six symbolic trophies, countless highlights, and a name so ubiquitous in 21st century commercialism that his Fortune 500 image transcends his athletic merit. A more seasoned student of the league could contend that Jordan represents brilliance captured in a time of burgeoning media outlets and idolatrous fanaticism. That same traditionalist could argue that Chamberlain, Jabbar, Robertson, Magic, and Bird deserve the same reverie as that enjoyed by No. 23. Yet what distinguishes Jordan from the rest concerns the anonymity of his supporting cast.

In developing my ultimate fantasy starting lineup, I always debate whether to start Sir Charles Barkley and Karl Malone, or to sit “The Mailman” and go for quickness by placing Scottie Pippen in at the small forward position — for his dexterity was so innovative that fans often referred to his role on the court as the point-forward. But many in retrospect view Pippen as Robin to Batman — a feeble sidekick riding the proverbial coattails of the true superhero. Pippen failed to lead the Bulls to the finals during Jordan’s one-year hiatus from the sport during his prime. The existence of a debate regarding Pippen’s skills illustrates Jordan’s dynastic grip over his team.

In the very city where Jordon once reigned, the “Baby Bulls” entered this season as a favorite among many talking heads of the hardwood to win the Eastern Conference. The drafting of streak-shooting Ben Gordon with the third pick in the ‘04 draft provided energy in the backcourt to complement the steady and precocious hand of Sioux City’s Kirk Hinrich. Subsequent additions of youthful talent, coupled with the signing of three-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace, resulted in a second-round appearance last season and an expectation of precipitous improvement for the ’07-’08 campaign.

One of Jordan’s anonymous teammates, John Paxson, presumably inhaled the same optimistic aura surrounding this year’s team and, as the current general manager of the franchise, fired head coach Scott Skiles after completing less than one-third of this season. The lack of a certified superstar and a dependable offensive presence in the frontcourt manifested itself in a 9-16 start that has many wondering how this group of spare parts can rekindle the winning spirit of the past three seasons and reclaim a spot in the playoffs.

As the Bulls struggle with the notion of mortgaging their current crop of players for Kobe Bryant — a player many blasphemously compare to Jordan — the Boston Celtics not only rule the East but also could challenge the record for single-season wins set by Jordan’s Bulls in ’95-’96 as they compiled a 72-10 regular-season record before picking up another title. Celtics’ GM, and former teammate of Larry Bird, Danny Ainge, authored two shrewd off-season deals that placed the team atop Mount Olympus, which incidentally has traveled across the Atlantic and found a lucrative spot under the El in Beantown. Ainge traded a top-10 pick in last year’s draft to acquire arguably the best shooter of our time, Ray Allen. Combining Allen with Boston’s lone All-Star Paul Pierce immediately boosted the team into the realm of respectability. However, Pierce and Allen dwell a couple of atmospheres below Jordan, who did not play alongside a menacing big man to dominate under the basket. Even Bird needed “The Chief,” Robert Parish, to support him in three successful title runs during the ‘80s. The two combined with one of the greatest power forwards of the time, Kevin McHale, to make-up “The Big Three.” Reviving the tradition, Ainge swapped five players and two future draft picks with McHale, the current GM of the Minnesota Timberwolves, for possibly the most agile 6’11” human on the planet, Kevin Garnett, to create a new stellar triumvirate.

The Celtics, however, now rely solely on three experienced players, while the other two fortunate starters are mediocre at best and the other faceless band of shadows wait eagerly to contribute solid minutes to an aspiring title contender. Many analysts found gaping holes in Ainge’s experiment and dismissed the Celts as a threat. Yet basketball, unlike baseball and football, allows the gifted individual to succeed regardless of surrounding elements. Of course I could not team Kevin Garnett with the West Valley Hills varsity team and anticipate glory. But rarely do superstars languish on non-competitive teams in the NBA, unlike in the MLB and NFL.

The Boston Red Sox owned the best record in baseball this past season before winning the World Series. But no Manny-loving ingrate can dispute that Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez deserves to haul in the biggest salary in the game.

San Diego Charger LaDainian Tomlinson officially captured the unofficial title of best all-around player in the NFL last season by rushing for 28 touchdowns. The blur behind the visor, however, has about twenty fewer playoff victories than Patriots’ linebacker Mike Vrabel. My guess is that 90 percent of my readers (yeah, I decided to break the fourth wall, if that term even applies to the written word) do not know Vrabel or any Patriot defensive player. The football field represents a war zone with integral players willing to sacrifice. So much occurs during one play. An exceptional prodigy such as LT can overcome miscues from his teammates, but eventually the entire team needs to click. The ball carriers steal the headlines but the linemen battling in the trenches determine the victor.

As scrum half for my college rugby team, I touched the ball more than anyone on my team and dictated the pace of the game. I understood the game more than most players at my level and I knew that spreading the field and feeding our fastest players the ball would decide the winner. But my preternatural instincts served little purpose when we lost rucks — rugby’s version of blocking at the line. I contemplated the importance of every aspect of the game, but invariably I ended by venting my anger at the shoddy play of my other 14 teammates on the field.

Parents and mentors de-emphasize selfishness and egotism, but as a society we celebrate the achievements of the individual, for it is the individual’s impact on us all that changes the world for the better.

Marching down the impoverished streets of Newark, New Jersey, this summer with warriors of social justice cooling off the masses with oratorical refreshment, I yearned to unleash my brand of truth. Speaking with the stoic militancy of Malcolm X, I would spell out the dilemmas of mankind that continue to prevent the emergence of Utopia. I would resemble a Tyler Durden pontificating about our “Spiritual War.” The spotlight stills the fields of breathing pain. Then silence forms the encore to my words. A moment of collective clarity with action forcing change.

Months later, hearing presidential candidates ad nauseam as they jostled for every vote in Iowa, I remembered that we are a country that re-elected a man who reacted to the deaths of thousands with fevered vengeance rather than solemn reflection. Our country and all humanity could use a modern leader with the vision of MLK or the discipline of Gandhi, but instead both political parties line up pseudo-celebrities slinging gossip at one another.

What we need now is an individual with the talent and energy to pull out a win with pressure mounting. An individual to motivate, to encourage and bring out the best in all of us.

My favorite Jordan clip does not include a fist pump or a tongue wag. Down by four with about a minute left in Game Six of the ’93 Finals against possibly the best team not to win a title — Barkley’s Suns — Jordan grabbed a rebound and dribbled the length of the court with a bubble of confidence warding off defenders. Jordan’s layup cut the deficit to two. Paxson nailed a three on the next possession and the Bulls won the title. The truth is, we recall Paxson, Horace Grant, and Toni Kukoc only because Jordan took their play to another level with his desire to win.

The Bulls could salvage their season and reach the playoffs. But as I said to friends during the summer, we are watching something special unfold in Boston: three dynamic players showing us the power of one