OT: LeBron gives up number for nod to MJ

GoGoCeltics · Post #1 » by **GoGoCeltics** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:05 am

per the Wiretap

How do you feel about this? Now I'm all for LeBron giving up his number, that's his choice, but he just seems so full of himself:

"He can't get the logo [Hall of Famer Jerry West's silhouette adorns the NBA's logo], and if he can't, something has to be done. I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. I'm starting a petition, and I've got to get everyone in the NBA to sign it. Now, if I'm not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it."

Wait, what? If he chooses not to wear 23, no one should be allowed to wear it? Seems a little full-of-yourself there, Mr. James. 12 other guys wear it in the NBA, and maybe not all of them do it because of MJ. LeBron is going to wear #6, which I also find amusing because he goes on to say:

"My second-favorite player was Julius Erving, and he wore No. 6,"

He chose #23 because of MJ, deems this as the number belonging to MJ only, then goes on to take Dr. J's number? I know MJ is probably considered by most to be better than Julius Erving, but the point is that people take numbers based on their favorite players. That's just how it goes. I loved MJ when he was in the league, he was an amazing player and very fun to watch, but his number is fair game. I admit I'd find it a little weird and possibly disrespectful if a player on the Bulls decided to wear 23, though.

bendyone · Post #2 » by **bendyone** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:16 am

Dude has blinkers on......does he know basketball was around before the 90's???? Jordan made the NBA market....he didnt make the game....he didn't change the game that much even....think of players that changed the course of basketball and basket ball players, then I think of Magic, Cousy, Russel, Pistol Pete, Wilt, Dikembe, The Wormand even Stockton....

Question....is 23 retired in NY???

chakdaddy · Post #3 » by **chakdaddy** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:25 am

As pathetic as Miami retiring his number.

He vacates MJ's number and takes the number of an equal or greater player and greater winner, Bill Russell.

Post #4 » by **canman1971** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:34 am

Just add it to the long list of why I hate Lebron James.

Cooze · Post #5 » by **Cooze** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:38 am

Well thank christ The Bron has been so magnanimous as to allow Jordan to have his own number. Seriously, what a F#ckin' Douchebag. I can't even F#ckin' believe I actually once liked this guy.

ImmortalD24 · Post #6 » by **ImmortalD24** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 2:26 am

I don't think it's intended to be anything but a nice gesture and a way to sell a lot of new Jerseys, but does LeBron realize the irony of him asking players to stop wearing #23 in honor of Jordan and than saying he's going to wear six because "it's my lucky number"

#6 is of course Bill Russell's number and if any player's number should be retired for as Lebron put it "what's he's done for the players who cam after him" it's Russell.

Bill was an important social figure in the civil rights movement and played at San Fransisco University, the first school to start three black players in 1955.

Russell was the second most important athlete of his era next to Muhammad Ali and a pall bearer at Jackie Robinson's funeral because he was Jackie's favorite athlete.

Russell also organized a near strike of the all-star game to get players better treatment and more security within their contracts.

He was the first African American coach in any sport, the first to win a title, the only player coach to win a title and has more rings than any NBAer and more championships than any player in any the history of American team sports.

I don't care if anyone's number is retired, but it would be nice if the athletes of today had a sense of the entire context of history, not just that which happened while they were alive.

Someone posted this on another board.

SonicYouth34 · Post #7 » by **SonicYouth34** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 3:07 am

chakdaddy wrote:He vacates MJ's number and takes the number of an equal or greater player and greater winner, Bill Russell.

Bingo.

Post #8 » by **Hilltop** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 3:09 am

I don't think the debate is so much about whose jersey should be retired league-wide whether it's Russell's or Jordan's. They are both great players, and they have both been hailed as the greatest of all time. It goes without saying that both players deserve a ton of respect.

Now, LeBron is probably doing this to look like a "student of the game" or something and give Jordan the respect due him, but I find it a little funny that it took him 7 years playing in this league to do this. If you are going relinquish the #23 to honor a great who has worn that number, why put on #6 which was worn by another comparable great? Seems to me that someone doesn't respect his past as much as he 'claims' to by yapping about how there would be no "Dwayne Wade, LeBron, Kobe without Michael etc.". :roll:

Basketball history goes way beyond the 80's my friend.

chakdaddy · Post #9 » by **chakdaddy** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 3:25 am

Hilltop wrote:I don't think the debate is so much about whose jersey should be retired league-wide whether it's Russell's or Jordan's. They are both great players, and they have both been hailed as the greatest of all time. It goes without saying that both players deserve a ton of respect.

Exactly. But I just get pissed how the league and the media elevate of Jordan like he's an order of magnitude better than anyone else, and that's a complete disrespect to Russell, Bird, and Magic, among others. Plus, that kind of marketing IMO led to officiating problems as the league tried to promote and market 'invincible' teams in Chicago and then LA.

Post #10 » by **Hilltop** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 4:36 am

One thing I find funniest in all this, is how LeBron says he's honoring Michael Jordan. By saying that no one else should wear #23 because isn't going to wear it anymore is like honoring himself and retiring the jersey for himself instead of Jordan in the first place :roll:

I'm glad guys like Toney Douglas have had some balls and stood up for the number.

Post #11 » by **canman1971** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:59 pm

ImmortalD24 wrote:
I don't think it's intended to be anything but a nice gesture and a way to sell a lot of new Jerseys, but does LeBron realize the irony of him asking players to stop wearing #23 in honor of Jordan and than saying he's going to wear six because "it's my lucky number"

#6 is of course Bill Russell's number and if any player's number should be retired for as Lebron put it "what's he's done for the players who cam after him" it's Russell.

Bill was an important social figure in the civil rights movement and played at San Fransisco University, the first school to start three black players in 1955.

Russell was the second most important athlete of his era next to Muhammad Ali and a pall bearer at Jackie Robinson's funeral because he was Jackie's favorite athlete.

Russell also organized a near strike of the all-star game to get players better treatment and more security within their contracts.

He was the first African American coach in any sport, the first to win a title, the only player coach to win a title and has more rings than any NBAer and more championships than any player in any the history of American team sports.

I don't care if anyone's number is retired, but it would be nice if the athletes of today had a sense of the entire context of history, not just that which happened while they were alive.

Someone posted this on another board.

Someone should send this to LeBron. He is such a douche bag.

bruno sundov · Post #12 » by **bruno sundov** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:16 pm

Who heard Tom H. on this topic last night? He basically said LBJ has no idea what he is talking about and #6 should be retired in every arena. Of course my man Tommy is right

GWVan · Post #13 » by **GWVan** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:25 pm

Thank you Lebronnie Baby for reminding us that today's over-hyped NBA players have no sense of the history of the game or the greats that paved the way for them.

TonyMontana · Post #14 » by **TonyMontana** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:22 pm

Like I said Lebron is a Douche bag thats only out for his own best interest.

Bad-Thoma · Post #15 » by **Bad-Thoma** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:43 pm

Frankly, beyond the obvious sentiment that LeBron looks like an **** over this, I don't think any team should have to retire another team's stars number. Even Bill Russell, who I have argued many times is the best player in NBA history.

The whole concept is stupid. Jordan was great, but why should his rivals have to retire his number? I've liked LeBron to this point... but this is just (Please Use More Appropriate Word) and I have lost a lot of respect for him.

greenbeans · Post #16 » by **greenbeans** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 11:08 pm

Please, anything but 6, now every douche will think I have a Lebron tattoo

Post #17 » by **Hilltop** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:58 am

The only exception is Jackie Robinson. But no, Michael Jordan should not even be mentioned in the same sentence as that man. Robinson had a legacy that reached far, far, far beyond just his individual accolades. The man changed the sport completely.

Is Jordan the greatest basketball player? Possibly, and majority believe so. Regardless, I do not think he deserves his number to be retired all over the league.

campybatman · Post #18 » by **campybatman** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 5:37 am

I don't have a problem with LeBron deciding to change his jersey number next season. That's his decision. But it should end there. The NBA shouldn't be obligated to retire the number twenty-three, nor should James expect players to do as he will.

LeBron has been wearing twenty-three since high school I believe. Why all of a sudden after six seasons (players have to wait after five seasons to change) in the league would you declare this change now. I wonder did Jordan get in his ear and ask LeBron to do this seeing as he's LeBron. Something just doesn't seem right here. Not to mention, this comes just before LeBron's option year where he can become a free agent next year.

Detlef Schrempf: Retire #23 for Michael Jordan? what about #1 for Oscar Robinson or #6 for Bill Russel? the list goes on - Jabbar, Magic, Bird - tough to do! Twitter.com

TonyMontana · Post #19 » by **TonyMontana** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:46 am

greenbeans wrote:Please, anything but 6, now every douche will think I have a Lebron tattoo

Stop lying....... :lol:

You know you got a poster of him on top of your bed, as well as his puppet you cuddle up with before you go to sleep........ :wink:

Post #20 » by **sunshinekids99** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 3:07 am

Hilltop wrote:The only exception is Jackie Robinson. But no, Michael Jordan should not even be mentioned in the same sentence as that man. Robinson had a legacy that reached far, far, far beyond just his individual accolades. The man changed the sport completely.

Is Jordan the greatest basketball player? Possibly, and majority believe so. Regardless, I do not think he deserves his number to be retired all over the league.

I agree that Robinson had some great accomplishments. But I think it was pretty silly to retire his number everywhere in baseball. So with that of course I don't think MJ's number should be retired either.