The throwback dilemma

On my way to work today I saw a guy wearing a navy blue LeBron James Cavs jersey. And seeing this winner got me things about a few things. 1) Is that man the only person in Anerica still proud to be rocking a James Cavs jersey after "The Decision" and 2) Let's say LeBron eventually fulfills his potential and becomes the GBPOAT (Greatest Basketball Player of All-Time with the Miami Heat or some other team, what jersey will become his iconic throwback? Question #1 really doesn't need to be answered, but question #2 got me thinking.

First we have to assume that throwback jerseys will still be a desirable commodity in the future, I think it has to be at least another 15-20 years in the future before it'll be time to really look back at LeBron's career. But yeah, people still want jerseys from their favorite players from yesteryear. For a player like LeBron, who came in with so much fanfare and expectations, but lived up to almost all of them, it seems like the legend of the Chosen One should be celebrated. But let's say that LeBron finally wins a ring with another team and goes on to mark his places in the annals of NBA history with them, does this team become his most famous jersey? I would think the LeBron James dilemma is probably the most difficult of any current player because he switched teams, but has so much back history with the first one.

Thinking about LeBron James got me thinking about my favorite player in the NBA, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. He won 3 championships in the early 2000s and was part of the most dominating duo in NBA history as #8, but after some legal troubles and wanting a new start he went to his high school number, 24. Kobe goes on to win 2 more NBA championships, puts his name up with the greatest Lakers of all-time (he's considered the greatest in some circles) and is continuing his climb up the all-time scoring list. But what is more important, his time as a champion as #8 as part of a dynamic duo, or his time as "the man" and possible NBA pantheon guy as #24? I guess what makes the Kobe situation easier is that he has only played for one team his whole career and I think there are so many good memories for each that both #8 and #24 will be acceptable throwbacks down the road. But what number do the Lakers retire?

We Suck but it's Shaq's ex-wife's fault

It's funny that my blog started with a teribble show (Jon & Kaye Plus 8), but thank the Lord that America will never stop producing terrible television, if anything America has started making even worse television. VH1's Basketball Wives, the apparent brainchild of former basketball wife Shaunie O'Neal (the former Mrs. Diesel, not Vin, Shaq Diesel), has taken the pole position as the worst show on TV. First, there is only one current basketball wife on the show and she is married to Speedy Claxton. He's far from the most famous husband, ex-husband, boyfriend or baby's daddy from the collection of men that these women have ran through, but kudos to Speedy and Meeka for keeping it together. Second, their popularity is derived from their checkered dating past and America's stupid obsession with reality TV (although BW is more scripted reality TV than actually reality, but when you have that many bitchy minority women in a group, it's hard to tell the difference). All in all, BW is something that I am ashamed that I have watched twice and truly wish that it will be taken off the air. But since it's already in its second season and will be spreading to the West Coast (same formula, only one true wife, the ever-crazy Mrs. Doug Christie), I don't see much of a reprieve.

This is why America sucks...BW is worse than big portion sizes, Rosanne Barr and Carl Lewis singing the National Anthem and the proliferation of juvenile obesity combined for America. And it is all Shaunie O'Neal's fault. But I guess it makes it Kobe Bryant's fault since he had some hand in putting Shaq's alleged infidelities out there, but Kobe can do no wrong by me, so it's Shaunie O'Neal's fault.

The brand is expanding

Although I doubt my readership has increased that much (here's looking at you Erica B. even though I'm not sure you actually read my blog), I think I've got something special that will be a great addition to the brysonthinks brand. I have posted a couple of coversations that I have had with my brother Caleb on here before, and since he's joined twitter (@BelacTieAffair) we have had that many more opportunities to shoot the shit and just be the hilarious people we are together. But these conversations need a forum of their own to be appreciated. So I am pleased to announce that there will be a companion blog "Me and My Brother" (official title still in the works), that will showcase these lovely conversations and hopefully get some analysis from the participants (namely, me and my brother). So that's something to look forward to.