With cigar in hand and sarcasm dripping from his words, Michael Jordan posed a question for Charles Barkley. "Charles, what would you have done if Pip (Scottie Pippen) and I called you up and asked you to come join us in Chicago?" Jordan asked.
A look of disgust flashed on Barkley's face. "Not in a million years" he scoffed, and his colorful language made Jordan smile with pleasure.
"Let me just tell you this," Barkley said. "Mike (Jordan) and I are in 100 percent agreement on this. If you're the two-time defending NBA MVP, you don't leave anywhere. They come to you. That's ridiculous."
"I like LeBron. He's a great player. But I don't think in the history of sports you can find a two-time defending MVP leaving to go play with other people."
To former NBA legends, the move has diminished James' profile. It's how the self-appointed "Chosen 1" has taken the easy way out, leaving his home to join another established star instead of leading a supporting cast up the mountain. In the process, he's breaking the protocol set by most great players.
A Western Conference general manager echoed the feeling to Sports Illustrated, saying that James' actions have caused many people to "feel like the sanctity of greatness is tarnished."
"It's disappointing from a competition standpoint," Barkley said. "You want to beat these guys. Sports are all about competition, and you want to beat the best. You want to beat Kobe (Bryant). You want to beat Dwyane Wade. You want to beat the Celtics, who beat you last year. That's what competition is about."
In other words, a coronation might be coming. But James will never be a Jordan, and he'll never be a true king.
(Thanks Dan Bickley, The Arizona Republic)
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