by Rich Briggs

Created on: June 24, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

I used to be an NBA fan, especially back in the 1980s and 1990s, when Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isaiah Thomas, and Michael Jordan were in their heyday. Yes, these players were superstars, but they knew how to play the game, utilizing fundamentals and how to work with their teammates. It is no coincidence that they have 16 championships among them as players. Simply put, they could play.

When Michael Jordan finally hung it up after a brief stint with the Washington Wizards, it signaled the end of an era. There have been players who have come in during Jordan's reign, and after, but nobody has been able to pick up the torch. Hence, the game is no longer fun to watch because of the pace of the games and because of the brand of basketball being played.

When Kobe Bryant came into the league, he was being hailed as the next Jordan. Someone forgot to tell the experts because, while Kobe has put up some numbers, he is nowhere close to what Jordan was. Of course, during an interview, Kobe said he never wanted to be the next Jordan. He just wants to be the best he can be.

When Shaquille O'Neal went to Los Angeles to play for the Lakers and with Kobe, they were to be the next dynamic duo. Well, as it would happen, the two superstars had a hard time getting along. Each thought the Lakers were his team and they jockeyed for position as to who was really the man. They won three consecutive championships together, but lost a fourth before Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat where, alongside Dwayne Wade, he won another championship.

Kobe finally got his way, even after demanding to be traded last summer. He stayed with the Lakers and he got his team to the NBA Finals this year. Problem is that the Lakers ran into a buzz saw in the Boston Celtics. This heated rivalry was renewed and the better team, and the better coached team, won the title. As Kobe won his first league MVP award, he failed to help his team win a title sans Shaq.

I have never been a Kobe fan, nor have I ever been a Lakers fan. While the Showtime Lakers won five titles during the 1980s, I was a Celtic fan because of Bird. When Bird and Magic hung it up, I, along with most of the rest of the NBA fan base, became a Jordan fan. As good as he was, he made his teammates even better and produced six titles, a repeat three peat, if you will. This, among so many other factors, is why Kobe will never be even close to Jordan.

Scoring points by the bushel is one thing; helping your team win a championship is another. Kobe may

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