So, LeBron, after his team’s win over Miami last week, mentioned that he was going to change his jersey number (which is 23) out of respect for Michael Jordan… who obviously donned the number during his reign in the NBA.

This declaration brought on a media wave of attention to the very conceivable idea of retiring Jordan’s number throughout the NBA, which would cause some players to have to change their number from 23 or another relevant one for them. Although LeBron started this dialogue, I would say Pat Riley, Miami’s GM, pioneered this exact thing as Jordan’s number is already retired in the rafters over the arena seats.

I am a Jordan fan and I saw firsthand what his appearance did for every arena he walked in to, and yet not everyone is exactly on board with LeBron’s assessment. Charles Barkley discussed his stance on Inside the NBA with Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith, and said he didn’t think this should happen. He felt like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were the two who save the NBA and if anyone should be honored it should be them. Uh, What?

No disrespect Magic and Larry, but are you serious? I can’t even go any further with all the reasons why this isn’t even a comparison. I’m feeling flu-ish (LOL!). Thoughts?

Okay, say it’s just not me who believes Ron Artest is the second coming (maybe not that extreme) of Dennis Rodman?

If you go back a few posts you’ll see a short lineup of those “bad boy” types that Hubby thought I was endearing to and biased toward (And, yes, Dennis is one!), but that’s not the case here (I wanted to clear that up. LOL!). Artest, the newly acquired defensive mammoth to the L.A. Lakers, makes me a believer that we’re headed for a repeat.

Yes, I know, I know… It’s way too soon for that sort of talk, but what other team made a better or even comparable acquisition (Please don’t say the Cavs with Shaq…)? And what other team now would you say is more solid, with even an overly decent bench, than L.A.? Okay… I’m back. I just needed to point this all out before acknowledging the crazy antics and bonehead decisions Artest has made. But haven’t we all… (I’ll wait! LOL!).

The point is, today, today Artest is out of his mind (in a good way!) and finally with a team that can channel that fierceness and keep him focused at the same time. I mean, who can’t be calm with Phil around and the team reciting the Lord’s Prayer? As I always say, let’s just give him a chance. We shouldn’t deem one over another just because his questionable actions are public and yours or mine aren’t… Rodman was a crazed (And, I feel, misunderstood… Hey, I like vampires, too. Don’t judge me!) rocker with some head-turning tendencies, but when he stepped on the court, who was better?

I’m just saying… 

So, Ochocinco (Chad Johnson) of the Cincinnati Bengals is hilarious. For some time now, he’s been the “spark” (both good and bad) for his team and the unconventional entertainer of the NFL. Aside from his latest verbiage, Child Please!, he is also getting opponents all hot and bothered by sending them stuff in the mail.

Now, check this one out… He sent deodorant to the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive players because he said they couldn’t get close to him the last time they competed and maybe this time they would be able to… get a little closer… (Drained. Okay, I’m back. Hey, did you sing that little jingle, too?).

I never remembered good things happening to those who taunted others, so I’m trying to figure out how this will be different. Some old schoolers say they would make him pay for it on the field with some smash mouth football. I’m all for that, but I guess I’m just a little beside myself that this is being tolerated as he’s being paid to perform and be professional… enough for the antics. Or, is it okay… you know, good for the game?

So, I’m sure you’ve heard of this movie, right? Maybe not, but I think it’s a go see…

I guess I have this feeling because it is a true story, but I have another thought that I’d like to share, too. This guy, Michael Oher (defensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens), was just drafted in 2009 to the NFL and his compelling story just stole the show. Literally…

Apparently, so much so, his story is now a movie.

The storyline goes from Oher’s unfortunate upbringing to his adoption by a well-off and caring family to his college celebrity of being a sought after athlete. That’s cool, but why? No, not why he had an unfortunate upbringing or why such a wonderful family adopted him. No… my why is more about why is his life now a movie? Who is benefiting? Now, this guy got paid (enunciate PAAIID) when he was drafted, so he isn’t hurting. His adopted family is comfortable, so I’m sure they’re fine. So who, I ask, is the more from the creation of this movie?

Now, if Oher is going to ultimately benefit off this movie, then I’m all for it. But, if some slimy, slick-suited salesman (say that 3 times fast!) convinced Oher and his family that this was the greatest of ideas just to exploit him, then I’m troubled by that. You know, you just never know…

Okay, so a new NBA season is underway! Yay, right? Well sorta… for me at least. I mean, I love the game and the year’s trade acquisitions have been crazy to say the least (Uh, Ron Artest to the Lakers? Sick!). Okay, I’m back… The thing that has ruffled a part of my feathery side is the feeling that, yep, here we go again… you know, life.

Didn’t think that was going to be the spin, huh? I was just driving and I thought of the new season and I was just like ‘blah’… Honestly. How do you cope with that day-after-day, year-after-year sorta feeling that creeps up and shows its head every once and a while? You know, time and tenure are wonderful things and so I just wonder how one can press through the I-gotta-get-out-of-here itchies…

I’m sure even these paid (uh, really paid) NBA players feel this way, too, here and there. We’re all human and it has to spring upon you every now and then. Even with the money and the resources and the thrills, these athletic specimens even ask what else is there.

I’m sure I’m bumming around because my favorite season is gone, yet again, and while there’s this wonderment over the new NBA season, but I’m already in the playoffs (spring/summer)… Can we say Lakers and Celtics, with the Lakers taking it all?!? That’s an entirely different story…

Okay, for one week (just one!)… if you could be ANY athlete who would it be and why?…

Hmmm… Let me think on who’s jersey I’d like to swap out for and get back to you.

Literally. What’s left in the heads of those athletes who suffer concussions… yes, some have endured more than one.

I guess, moreover, my question is why would an athlete return to a sport when a concussion is suffered? I mean, the symptoms are real and the long-term consequences are real? A good number of concussions have occurred of late and one by one the athletes are returning to the game.  A sports loving friend of mine says having a concussion now days is as common as getting a headache. Wow.

To me, it’s never that time. One shaky skull and I’m done. I just don’t get it…

So, I love T.O… Period.

Hubby and I have the best, drag-out arguments about my professed love. In fact, we just had one a couple days ago. Now, listen… its not shallow by any means (You know, the stereotypical wife love for an athlete because of his jersey’s snug fit.). No, I am a real fan of Terrel Owens. I think he’s a great athlete and one of the best receivers who ever played the game. He’s dedicated to his craft, he’s passionate, and he’s extraordinarily gifted. He wants to win. He has the swagger to match and he just inspires me when he touches the field (especially with those catches across the middle).

This season, T.O. achieved what no other player has in the NFL and that is scoring a touchdown against every team… Uh, to which Hubby says, “You know why? Because of all the teams he’s played for so he’s had an unfair advantage” (Hubby, you’re such a hater!! Gosh!). Hubby thinks I just love bad boys in general… (Hmmm… This is the same conversation when he brings up how much I like Bobby Brown and Dennis Rodman [Whatever, don't judge me!]). Look, who doesn’t black out every once and a while? T.O. has his moments and so does every other superstar athlete (I think its in their nature.).

Now with the Buffalo Bills, my thing is, what’s wrong with admiring (a.k.a ‘loving’) a player who encompasses the position in which he plays? I mean, what off-the-field antics have you heard about T.O. (No, he didn’t try to kill himself.)? He’s not one of these knuckle head superstar athletes who starts fights in clubs, rapes women, or shoots himself. And, the media… don’t get me started with the media. Even Deion Sanders (former superstar player/current analyst) says the media’s questions are posed to setup T.O. to “react”.

I’m just saying… Whether he’s with the Boys (Dallas Cowboys, that is… for the NFL-challenged) or the Bills, T.O. can depend on me being a fan. Wait… in the heat of husband/wife battle I don’t bring up Hubby’s secret love crush on Angelina Jolie, do I? And, uh, she doesn’t even, well uh… Okay, she’s not too bad of a crush to have either.

Am I wrong?…

Well maybe it is… The coach for the San Fransisco 49ers, Michael Singletary, has captured the heart of the team. Besides the fact that he’s added the old school culture from his playing days (He’s a former Chicago Bears linebacker.), Singletary has implemented the mountain.

Although it has taken on other names (some that I can’t mention here… LOL!), this mountain is the ultimate training and practice tool that separates the 49ers from other teams. It is a grueling hill that each player is required to climb-doing various drills-and ultimately master… But that’s just the thing, you don’t ever master it. Players have said that although you think you have it down, it still creeps up on you and totally destroys your manliness (I’m surprise something can… Okay I’m back.).

What I like is that Singletary is pressing his players. He’s pulling that “thing” out of them. He believes it’ll make them better for it… I took the mountain thing on for myself (Yeah… no, I’m not actually climbing hills.) as a way of just pushing myself through just being average.

Now I’m going to eat some ice cream. LOL… I’m serious though.

I just want to encapsulate this story with great tragic imagery, as it is just that…

A 2-year prison sentence has started for violating New York’s strict guns laws. Why?

Now a 3-year-old boy is without his father and a wife is left alone as she prepares for the birth of another child. Why?

The one-time Super Bowl champ is without a team and can only hope that after his jail stint a team will pick him up. Why?

His father stands in the court room and tells Plaxico to be strong. Why?

This all stems from Plaxico accidentally shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub… The gun wasn’t licensed in New York. Why?

Bad decision making… Period.