Comments on: LeBron James: 23 to 6

By: @Cavalette23

@Cavalette23 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:07:00 +0000

If LBJ changes his number, then I would have to change the "23" in my screen name and I will be stuck with a closet full of his #23 Jerseys! Would he allow me to trade my #23 Jerseys in for #6 Jerseys?

By: DevonMSF

DevonMSF — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:29:56 +0000

Great stuff J!
LeBron needs to concentrate on a ring first, then worry about the extras.

By: JerodMSF

JerodMSF — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:24:36 +0000

Agree with most of what you say here Boris. I think this is totally unnecessary. Jordan was a great player, yes, but he did not do anything transcendent from a social perspective like Jackie Robinson did. I consider MJ to be the greatest player ever, but I think it takes more than that to have an entire league retire your jersey.

Plus, how much bigger can LeBron's ego get? He thinks that just because he switches his number from 23 that everyone else wearing should be compelled to do the same? Come on. Focus on winning a championship and not on this extraneous stuff. Kobe switched his number a few years ago and we all saw the effects from a marketing standpoint. If you want to change numbers, just do it. We don't need some fancy and grandiose explanation. And if LeBron is genuine about honoring MJ, fine. Do it on your own. Don't expect everyone in the NBA to simply bend to your will.

Of course, that's what typically happens, so I guess we can't really blame him…

By: Boris

Boris — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:26:47 +0000

I'm sure LeBron has always adored Jordan. The timing of it strikes me as suspect–not to mention it's appropriateness. Why push for retiring Jordan's jersey now?

LeBron is displaying his lack of awareness of NBA history.

Jordan has already received plenty of tributes. But if LeBron wants to see Jordan honored again, an award can be named after Jordan instead.

And what Jordan wants most is to play again. If his induction into the Hall of Fame wasn't enough, seeing his jersey retired around the league (extremely bad idea) will drive it home to him that his playing days are over.

Has Jordan spoken out and said he supported this?

By: DevonMSF

DevonMSF — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:12:57 +0000

You make a great point Boris! Well said.
If Jordan, why not Russell?
Even though Bill has the most rings all-time, Jordan's impact has been felt
unlike any other, thus the reasoning for the idea.
And no, this is no publicity stunt. If you research, LeBron has always adored
Jordan, and what he has done for ball.

By: Boris

Boris — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:44:03 +0000

I wonder if LeBron realizes that #6 was worn by the player with the most rings in NBA history?

Bill Russell.

Shouldn't #6 be retired, too?

More players will inevitably come along who eclipse Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

If numbers were retired league wide, where would it stop?

Also, how would Clevelands fans feel about seeing the jersey of the player who eliminated the Lenny Wilkins Cavaliers team from the playoffs multiple times hanging from the rafters of the Quicken Loan center?

This tribute by LeBron also strikes me as a ploy to get people to forget about what he's done earlier in the year: walking out on the media and his teammates after loosing the '09 ECF to the Magic, trying to suppress video footage of an average dunk over him at one of his summer skills camps, walking out on kids after a 5 minute speech at another summer camp, etc.