Throughout the puppet commercials, the Vitamin Water campaign, the countless specials, articles, barbershop debates and so on, I've been repeating one sentence like it was my mantra: "The Fix Is In." I enjoyed the intensity of the playoffs all the while believing that the script was already written, like the other teams playing were mere opening acts to an awe-inspiring grand finale. My brother claimed Garnett and Yao Ming were paid to fake injuries(he was kidding right?) while I studied the game spreads on gambling websites just knowing it had a bearing on the outcome. Suddenly the conference finals came along and things didn't look as they appeared. It was like reading a book while assuming you knew the ending; all the clues pointed to the two heroes dueling it out in the final scene; the only surprise would be which one would be left standing. Now? Doesn't look like there will be a storybook ending.
Historically the NBA has capitalized off rivalries. The fiery competition between teams and individuals captivated spectators nation wide and brought attention to a league some thought wouldn't make it in its early years. There was Russel and Chamberlin, with Wilt playing the role of gargantuan antagonist. He was a brash giant who towered over opposing players at 7'1" when there were about 2 or 3 other players in the league who barely hit 6'10". Then there was Russel, the much smaller player who played the team game to perfection and was as devout to defense as Beanie Sigel is to Islam.
The great Celtic/Laker feud brought fans into a war as intense as the Israeli/Muslim conflict. Their contention took precedent in the 60's with the Jerry West led Lakers suffering the heartbreak for the decade losing all five meeting against the team with the cigar smoking Auerbach and the trademark parquet floors. The "Rivalry" would be revitalized in the 80s headed by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird whose fierce battle in the NCAA championship drew on of the highest ratings in history. The competition was fierce and generated by intense hatred. Basically if the current refs of this pussy league we call the NBA officiated just one of these games, every player would've been suspended and sitting at home watching the ball boys decide their fate. These battles electrified the league and ushered in the reign of Michael Jordan, a man entertaining enough to need no rival.
When Jordan left the game with his hand frozen in the air and Bryon Russel trying to regain his stability, there was a void in the league. The next "Heir Jordan" was touted in every draft. Rather it was Vince Carter(no heart), Penny Hardaway(injuries), Harold Minor(ugh), or Grant Hill(injuries). Years later it would be Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade and Lebron James. None of the earlier players lived up to their billing, but these next three are duking it out for supremacy and it's happening right before our eyes. Kobe and Lebron have emerged as the darlings to carry the torch. The media has orchestrated a debate that could only be ignored if you were in one of those rare tribes being studied by anthropologists. Their highlights are played back to back on Sportscenter nightly, they are questioned about one another at their press conference. Opposing players are harassed about their opinions on the matter. I'm just waiting for one of them to make a diss track to set this thing off.
Now the subject of the so called 'Great Debate" could be over before one of the chosen approaches the podium. The Lebrons are being exposed for their lack of offensive imagination and their inability to guard the three point line. Teams have come back from 3-1 before and closing a team out is something different all together. But it's really starting to look the Cavs don't have enough help to keep King James in power. Then there's the Lakers, the team that lacks the passion of their leader, the team that plays defense for quarters instead of entire games. Kobe has a much better supporting cast, but they tend not to show up. Now they're in a dog fight with Denver with the series is tied 2-2.
So now we're turning the pages approaching the final chapter of a great story. The main characters look like their names might not show up on the last few pages while the supporting cast looks to take on a bigger role that didn't look possible earlier on. Good story tellers never commit to a predictable finale, but then again I might not want to finish the book if the my favorite characters get killed before it ends. I can just imagine David Stern sitting in his office like the warden at the end of "Shawshank Redemption." Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard just finished crawling through shit and ruined his master plan. Stern sits in his chair with a gun pointed at his office door while the media and angry NBA fans bang against it determined to make him pay for his crimes. Now that's an ending
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