By Stuart Shikano

When I saw RIP Kobe Bryant as the #1 trending topic on Sunday, it was one of the most shocking things I have ever seen. As I saw tons of tweets about it and, I knew it was true. But, it didn’t seem true and it shouldn’t have been true. So, I had that moment where my brain processed the information, but then rejected it, asked what really happened, and why I read what I just read.

I have often wondered what it must have felt like when people got the news of the deaths of icons who were far too young. Bruce Lee died of cerebral edema at age 32 in 1973. John Lennon was shot and killed at age 40 in 1980. Tupac Shakur was shot and killed at age 25 in 1996. The Notorious B.I.G. was shot and killed at age 24 in 1997. As a fan of all of these people, I could not help but wonder how shocking, devastating, and odd it must have been to go from being a fan of that living person to finding out in an instant that they had died. Sadly, I no longer have that curiosity. I wish I did though.

If a famous person is elderly or known to be ill, while it’s sad to read the news of their passing, it’s not shocking. One can process the information and give a tip of the cap to the person for the live they lived. It felt hard to do that Sunday for Kobe Bryant. I was hearing people recap Kobe’s basketball career and what he had done post-playing. It was appropriate to do so, but it felt wrong. I did not think we would be doing this any time soon. Recapping a man’s life should not be done when the man is 41-years-old.

When I first started watching basketball, Kobe Bryant was one of the biggest stars in the league. It was during the Shaq and Kobe era. Kobe was one of a few NBA players that I knew of right from the beginning of my basketball fandom and one of a few NBA players that I consider to be basketball. Guys like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird aren’t just basketball players, but embody the sport itself. One word that always stuck with me in regards to Kobe was the word “respect.” Even as a little kid first watching basketball, I knew of his strong work-ethic and I had a lot of respect for that. I knew he was fun to watch, but I also knew that that was true because of hard work.

Kobe worked his ass off. Hear any teammate, coach, or anyone who worked with him discuss him for any amount of time and they’ll have a story that exemplifies his work ethic. Kobe walked it like he talked it. He was in the gym, he was working on his skills, he was watching tape, he was looking to get a psychological edge. He never let up in his 20-year NBA career. This is all reflected in what he accomplished in his NBA career because he accomplished it all. 5-Time NBA champion, 2-Time NBA Finals MVP, an NBA MVP, 2nd most points in an NBA game (81), 18-Time NBA All-Star, 11-Time All-NBA First Team, 9-Time All-NBA Defensive First Team, 2-Time scoring champion, a Slam Dunk contest winner, a 2-Time Olympic gold medalist, and an eventual first ballot Hall of Famer.

If you want to talk about legacy. The man had 2 numbers retired by the same team — 8 & 24. His run as #8 was an amazing career on its own, as was his run as #24. He absolutely deserved to have BOTH numbers retired. Kobe gave more to the Lakers organization than anyone could have ever expected.

The competitiveness of Kobe is legendary. The ruthlessness, intensity, and drive of Kobe was real. Anyone who competed against him can attest to that. The relentlessness of Kobe is exemplified in stories of Kobe researching how sharks hunt seals in an attempt to get some information on how to guard Allen Iverson or him studying the rulebook to know where exactly on the court referees stand, so he could get away with contact. The comparisons to Michael Jordan are obvious because Jordan was a huge inspiration to Bryant. Both are ruthless competitors, insanely hard workers, incredibly skilled offensive players, great defenders, and guys who expected a lot out of themselves and their teammates. Especially in his early days, Kobe talked like Jordan, his demeanor was like Jordan’s, and his game resembled Jordan’s. As the years went on, Kobe carved out his own identity, but the Jordan DNA was still there.

Kobe’s NBA career lasted 20 years, which means he gave us countless big moments. Although, there are certain ones that fans recall quickly. The 81-point game against Toronto in January 2006. Shaq fouling out in OT in game four of the NBA Finals and Kobe hitting clutch shots to beat Indiana to give the Lakers a 3-1 series lead. Kobe’s buzzer beater against Phoenix in the ’06 playoffs. The pass to Shaq for the alley-oop that became the defining moment of the Lakers’ 15-point, fourth quarter comeback against Portland in game 7 of the Western Conference finals and quite possibly, the defining moment of the Shaq-Kobe era. Then, there’s a moment that’s not even a play. Something that won’t show up anywhere in a box score or play-by-play sequence. When Matt Barnes pretended to throw the ball right in Kobe’s face and Kobe did not flinch AT ALL. It was a legendary moment that seemed to prove that Kobe could never be intimidated. Then there was the Achilles’ game. Kobe had ruptured his Achilles, but remained on the floor to shoot two free throws, and he drained both. He must have been in a tremendous amount of pain, but it wasn’t enough to stop him from hitting two free throws. This was another moment to add to the mythology of Kobe Bryant. Finally, there was the 60-point finale. Kobe had had three injury-plagued seasons following his ruptured Achilles where he saw limited action or just did not look like the Kobe of old. When the time came for his last ever game, NBA fans were excited to watch. What did Kobe do? He gave them a show, just like he always did. As Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Kanye West, Shaquille O’Neal, and Jack Nicholson watched, Kobe dropped 60 points on the Utah Jazz, and seemed to hit every shot down the stretch. It was thrilling and fun; it was a hell of a way to go out. I had the time of my life watching that game. He then grabbed a microphone, addressed the L.A. crowd, and signed off with, “Mamba out.” This was something that President Barack Obama paid homage to at his last White House Correspondents’ Dinner when he dropped the mic and said, “Obama out.”

The world got to see phases of Kobe. They got to see Kobe evolve. The world saw Kobe go from a kid out of high school getting adjusted to NBA life to an emerging star starring opposite Shaquille O’Neal. They saw him go from a prolific scorer who more than held his own standing next to Shaq to a controversial figure embroiled in a nasty public feud with Shaq. Following his separation from Shaq, Kobe became either an amazing scorer who had no help or a guy who shot too much and didn’t trust his teammates. It depends on your perspective. I say the former. Then the world got to see Kobe go from a fed up guy demanding a trade because he had no help to a guy pleased with the team acquiring Pau Gasol and being back in contention. They saw Kobe go from being a champion again and an immortal figure in NBA, Lakers, and Los Angeles history to an aging legend who had ruptured his Achilles and knew his NBA days were numbered, so he began setting himself up for his post-NBA life.

His post-playing career appeared to be a natural transition. Having time to think more about his post-playing career while recovering from injuries, Kobe seemed to know exactly what he wanted to do after retiring from basketball, and appeared to be at peace with his NBA career coming to a close. Sometimes I hear a retired athlete talk about how they don’t miss the game and I don’t believe them. But, when I heard Kobe say it, I believed him. After leaving the game, Kobe won an Academy Award for a short film he did called, “Dear Basketball.” He authored a #1 New York Times bestseller. He produced content for ESPN like the informative player breakdown show “Detail.” He made smart investments. He was coaching his daughter’s basketball team and was putting everything he had into that. He would discuss the talent and drive of his daughter Gianna and her WNBA prospects. Kobe was doing a lot — he was embarking on numerous creative ventures, financial ventures, and of course, being a dedicated and loving father. He was living a very fulfilling life post-NBA and appeared to be just getting started. Kobe would discuss his ambitions as a storyteller and his many other goals he had going forward; he had a vision and I bet he was going to achieve all of it. Why? Because he’s Kobe Bryant and that seemed to be what he always did.

The impact Kobe Bryant had on athletes as a whole is pretty incredible. It is obvious that basketball players who grew up watching him would be inspired and influenced by him. But a lot of these guys ended up forming a relationship with Kobe. They trained with him, considered him a mentor, and got sage advice from him. Kobe did not have to do this. But, younger players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker, Kyrie Irving, Trae Young, and Jayson Tatum not only got inspiration from watching him as they grew up, but also got information and inspiration from him personally. Whether it was through training with him or inspirational texts, their relationship with Kobe got to go deeper. And this is not just the case with NBA players. WNBA players, women’s college basketball players, tennis players, NFL players, and soccer players all got the opportunity to call Kobe a mentor, advisor, and friend. It’s pretty remarkable to see the personal reach Kobe had for athletes in all sports. He did not have to share his wisdom or time with other athletes, but he wanted to, and he made himself available to them.

Personally speaking, I was always eager to listen to or watch a Kobe Bryant interview. It was not only a chance to hear a basketball player I loved watching speak, but it was also an opportunity for me to absorb interesting ideas and pick up new philosophies. Kobe was my favorite athlete to hear speak because he always said things that I felt I could apply to my own life. When Kobe spoke, I was fascinated, and would acquire new ways to view various things in life. I felt like taking notes. I would let his words marinate, and take his words with me. He was a bright and brilliant man. Kobe was just a different type of dude. He thought differently than everyone else.

The bottom line is you can’t tell the story of basketball without discussing Kobe and you can’t appreciate the sport of basketball without appreciating Kobe.

I would like to say on a final note that it is beyond a tragedy that the world lost Kobe’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna as well. To see her life cut short at 13 is unimaginable and devastating. Kobe obviously loved her so much and he also talked about her in such high regard in regards to her as a basketball player. She had that Mamba Mentality that her father had. It would have been amazing to see her continue on her journey. I know Kobe mentioned her playing for UConn down the line; that would have been amazing to watch. Seeing her in the WNBA would have been wonderful. There are no words to describe losing her. For Vanessa to lose her daughter and her husband at once in a horrible helicopter crash is tragic. It’s all very tragic. There’s no making sense of this and there’s no words to describe this devastating event.

Rest in peace, Kobe Bryant.

Rest in peace, Gianna Bryant.

By Stuart Shikano

Conor McGregor captivated the people and rose to superstardom with his bravado, trash-talking, charisma, and of course, his mixed martial arts skills and quick knockouts in the octagon. He had won belts in two different weight classes. He had predicted fight outcomes that became eerily true, earning the nickname, “Mystic Mac.” He had crushed opponents in the octagon and in press conferences with his verbal strikes. He had become the biggest star in the UFC. So big, that he ended up fighting boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in the boxing ring in a huge PPV event. After that, where was there to go?

McGregor had been working hard to achieve success in the UFC. He was winning fights, training hard, and making a name for himself. Fighting Floyd Mayweather was a symbol of his UFC and business success. Landing that fight landed him by far, his biggest payday. It was a monster event that felt like the culmination of all the hard work McGregor had put in. So, following that was going to be interesting. Unfortunately, it was interesting for all the wrong reasons. McGregor’s name seemed to only appear in the news for bad or embarrassing reasons. McGregor was arrested and accused of doing a lot of different things — ranging from dumb to very serious. In McGregor’s lone fight post-Mayweather, he lost a one-sided fight UFC match to Khabib Nurmagomedov, that resulted in a chaotic scene with McGregor, Khabib, and members of both camps fighting. That melee broke out into the crowd. So 2018 and 2019 were not great years for McGregor inside the octagon or outside of it.

Things got bad enough where Conor McGregor did an interview with Ariel Helwani in August to apologize for his controversies. McGregor showed remorse in the interview. He also expressed hurt that fans, including his loyal Irish following had been disappointed in him. It was a different Conor McGregor than we had been used to seeing. It was a little jarring. We wondered if McGregor would have a triumphant return or if he would continue down an unfortunate path, all too familiar to the celebrities who made more money and attracted more fame than one can comprehend.

In the run to UFC 246 where Conor McGregor vs. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone would be the main event, we saw a toned-down, focused Conor McGregor. There were no big press conference antics nor any brutal trash talk. McGregor said he had abstained from drinking in the leadup to the fight; he was not partying. He looked like he was in great shape. We heard from people in his camp and from the man himself that he was in better shape than ever and more focused than ever. It sounded convincing, but we would determine how true that was based on the result of UFC 246.

So, what did we get? We got an electrifying, efficient, dominant performance from Conor McGregor. McGregor came out roaring and determined to start strong. Viewers felt McGregor’s urge to end this fight before it really began. McGregor knocked out Cerrone in 40 seconds. McGregor missed with a left hand, then hit Cerrone in the face with his thigh. What followed were four shoulder strikes to Cerrone’s face. It looked like some John McClane, John Wick stuff. Straight out of an action movie. To do that in real life is incredible. It was an amazing sequence that will no doubt be shown for many, many years to come. I marveled at it and had never seen anything like that before. I thought it hadn’t been done before, but then thought maybe I just haven’t watched enough UFC fights. But, then after the fight, Cerrone even said he had never seen anything like that. It was believed that Cerrone had broken two bones (likely the nose and collarbone) and was taken to a hospital after the fight. After the shoulder clenches, the dominance continues for Conor, as he landed punch after punch. Cerrone was never in the fight; from the VERY beginning, McGregor was in control and ended up being successful in just about everything he attempted to do.

It was as dominant a performance as we’ve seen from Conor McGregor. The talk of old Conor being back looked true. McGregor did say he was going for the knockout in this fight, so Mystic Mac is also back. It was a huge fight for Conor as a win would increase his popularity and give him a lot of options for future fights, as well as bolster his brand and increase opportunities to make money.

It felt right seeing Conor back as victorious, draped in the Ireland flag, and being interviewed by Joe Rogan. So, who’s next as Conor’s opponent? Could it be Jorge Masvidal? Could we see a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov? Could all this be leading up to a rematch with Floyd Mayweather? We will see. But one thing is true: the King is back. Welcome back, Conor McGregor.

By Stuart Shikano

As my hometown team, I expected the San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs this season. I knew they would have had a better record last season if QB Jimmy Garoppolo did not go down in week 3 with a torn ACL and then miss the remainder of the season. Getting Jimmy G back for this season and combining him with Kyle Shanahan’s play-calling, I knew they would be good. I knew that they would be good this season because they bulked up their defense by drafting DE Nick Bosa with the #2 pick, signing Pro Bowl DE Dee Ford, and also signing LB Kwon Alexander. These gentlemen joined a front seven that already included standouts like DE Arik Armstead and DT DeForest Buckner. But, I did not know they would be THIS good.

The Niners have been the best football team all year long. Want some proof? They started 9-0 and were the last undefeated team in the NFL. Then their schedule got harder and a lot of their most impactful players got hurt. Pro Bowl TE George Kittle missed the epic week 10 Monday Night Football game against Seattle, which resulted in a loss, and week 11’s showdown against the Arizona Cardinals, which resulted in a win. Not having your stud tight end, who is the best pass catcher on the team, and a standout blocker certainly negatively affects a lot of what the Niners do on offense. It might have been all the difference in the MNF showdown vs. the Seahawks. DE Dee Ford missed week 12 vs. Green Bay (a W), week 13 vs. Baltimore (a L), as well as week 15 (a loss vs. Atlanta), week 16 (a win vs. the Rams), and week 17 (a win vs. Seattle). Ford is a great player himself and his absence was one less scary dude to match up against the opposing team’s offense. But not only that, Nick Bosa is a much better player when Ford plays. Bosa is able to get to the quarterback faster, play less snaps, have more energy, and generate more production. You could see it with your eyes. The stats show it too, as Bosa’s 2 multiple-sack games have both come when Ford played. FB Kyle Juszczyk missed weeks 6-9 due to injury and legendary CB Richard Sherman missed week 15’s loss vs. Atlanta. It was a tough time to have all those injuries, as the Niners played most of their toughest opponents. Opponents like the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and Baltimore Ravens.

The Niners have been the best football team all year long. Want some more proof? They never had a letdown. Every other really good team this year had a game where they didn’t just show up, everyone was shocked, and it resulted in a lopsided loss. The Ravens did it in week 4 when they lost 40-25 to the Cleveland Browns. They did it again in the AFC Divisional game vs. Tennessee. Cheap shot, I know. The Saints did it in week 10 when they lost 26-9 to the struggling Atlanta Falcons. The Packers did it in week 9 in a 26-11 loss to the Chargers and funny enough in week 12 in a 37-8 loss to the Niners. The Chiefs did it in a week 5 Sunday Night Football loss to the Colts, losing 19-13. Yes, Patrick Mahomes got injured in that game and kept playing banged up and didn’t look like himself, but hey, it still counts. The Seahawks did it multiple times, but the worst one was week 16 against Arizona, where they lost 27-13. The Niners lost three games, but they ALL came down to the last play of the game. They lost 27-24 against Seattle on MNF, which took every second of OVERTIME to lose. Seattle won on a GW-field goal in OT? That’s not a letdown. That’s a great game, where unfortunately someone had to lose. Later, they lost 20-17 vs. the mighty Ravens, and that came down to another GW-field goal. Lamar was really rolling then and the Niners were able to slow him down way more than any other team in that span; they even got a strip and recovery on him in a crucial spot in the game. But, still Baltimore did win, albeit on a GW-field goal. So again, very close and in no way a letdown. Their last loss of the season was to Atlanta, where they lost 29-22. This was an odd game that came down to a review to determine the outcome. Officials looked to see whether Julio Jones got into the end zone to give Atlanta a win on a game-winning touchdown. Officials determined that he had done just that and Atlanta won the game. It was a disappointing loss for the Niners, but again not a letdown. It came down to review to determine they had lost. So three losses, all close games, and zero games where you thought the Niners didn’t come to play that day. Three losses, losing by an average of 4.3 points, and all three of those games coming down to the last play of the game. Compare that to 13 wins, where the Niners won by an average of 14 points.

The Niners have been the best team in football year long. Want more proof? Their defense is SCARY. I’m glad I root for the Niners because I’d hate to see this defense against my team. Led by brilliant defensive coordinator and awesome sideline reactor Robert Saleh, this Niners’ defense has been lethal. The front four of Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, Arik Armstead, and DeForest Buckner is terrifying for opposing offenses. These are some big, athletic, strong, and talented dudes. They get after you and get after you fast. Linebackers Kwon Alexander, Fred Warner, and Dre Greenlaw are also studs on defense. Their front seven reigns superior over every team in the league. Their secondary has overachieved, compared to analyst expectations. Led by the man Richard Sherman, who had a great comeback season, the Niners’ secondary has looked great too. You can’t throw on this team. Between the Niners’ front four getting after you, getting sacks, and messing up the offense’s rhythm and the Niners’ secondary showing up, how are you going to throw on US? For what it’s worth, the Niners are 1st ranked in opposing passing YPG and 2nd ranked in total defense.

The Niners have been the best team in football all year long. Want more proof? Their offense is very dynamic. Their run game has been superb. The Niners ranked 2nd in the NFL in rushing, trailing behind only Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens. Whether it’s Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman, or Raheem Mostert, it really doesn’t matter. They all have the potential to be the lead rusher any given Sunday and carry the load. Kyle Shanahan’s creative run plays has elevated all backs on the team. The Niners’ run game has been the main story of their offense, but let’s not forget Jimmy G. Let’s put some respect on his name. Garoppolo threw for 3,978 yards and posted a 27-13 TD-INT ratio. He went 13-3 this season and as of now, has a career record of 21-5 as a starting quarterback. When he has needed to make THE throw, he has made THE throw. He threw the game-winning touchdown in week 3 vs. Pittsburgh. In week 9, Jimmy G threw 4 TDs in a near perfect performance Halloween vs. the Cardinals. In that game, he threw some gutsy passes, came through repeatedly on 3rd down, and elevated them to victory. In week 14 in New Orleans, Garoppolo out-dueled Drew Brees. On 4th and 2 on the final drive, Jimmy G hit George Kittle, who then went on an incredible run after the catch. Kittle kept running as New Orleans grabbed his face-mask, and as he was surrounded by multiple Saints trying to pull him down. The 31-yard run after the catch by Kittle and the 15-yard facemask penalty he drew were enough to set up the Niners for a GW-field goal. These were Kittle’s heroics, but Jimmy G threw him the ball. Clutch stuff from both gentlemen. In week 16 vs. the Rams, Garoppolo completed a 46-yard pass in the middle of the field to Emmanuel Sanders on 3rd & 16 from the Niners’ 31-yd-line. The game was tied and that pass set up the Niners for the eventual GW-field goal. It was a clutch throw. It was third down, it was a big strike, and it ended up winning the game. In the NFC Divisional game against Minnesota, the run game was largely responsible for the Niners’ success on offense, but Jimmy G had an incredible opening drive, and converted on 3rd down time and time again. A lot of credit should be given to Kyle Shanahan for Garoppolo’s success, as Jimmy G fits in well in Shanahan’s system, throwing precise passes perfectly in rhythm within Shanahan’s system. Shanahan has Garoppolo throw a lot passes in the middle of the field and gets guys open for him. But, let’s also give Jimmy Garoppolo credit for his ability to get it done, his leadership, and his poise. I never see Garoppolo look defeated after making a mistake or when his team is trailing. There was a moment in their second matchup with the Rams where they were losing and I was freaking out as a fan. I saw Garoppolo smiling and laughing on the sidelines, and was yelling at the TV, “Why are you laughing? Let’s go!” But, I was the one in the wrong. The Niners came back to win the game and later, I realized that it was good Garoppolo was staying loose even when losing. That shows his confidence and his poise. He’s not freaking out about trailing in the game; he knows football games are long and that practically no deficit is insurmountable. It’s one play at a time. When trailing, it usually takes a big play or two down the line to really turn the game around. Jimmy G comes from the New England Patriots and I gotta think some of his calmness, poise, and leadership skills come from seeing Bill Belichick and Tom Brady go to work every day for three and a half years.

The Niners have been the best team in football all year long. Want more proof? They can win in so many ways. A lot of other teams win and lose by their passing game, win and lose by their running game, win and lose by their defense. The Niners can win games with Jimmy G throwing a lot and tearing it up. The Niners can win games with their running game racking up tons of yards. The Niners can win games with their pass rush terrifying quarterbacks and shutting down offenses. The Niners have also been in every type of game and came out victorious. They have won in routs (beating the Bengals 41-17 in week 2, beating the Browns 31-3 in week 5, beating the Panthers 51-13, and beating the Packers 37-8 in week 12), they have won close games (beating the Steelers 24-20 in week 3, beating the Cardinals 28-25 in week 9, and beating the Seahawks 26-21 in week 17), they have won low-scoring, defensive games (beating the Redskins 9-0 in week 7), and they have won high-scoring duels (beating the Saints 48-46 in week 14 and beating the Rams 34-31 in week 16). A lot of teams have one way to win and if they don’t have that clicking in a game, then they’re going to lose. The Niners can win being carried by various players and units (passing game, running game, defense). They can afford for their QB to struggle, their run game to struggle, their front seven to struggle, and still win, sometimes even easily. That’s impressive.

The Niners have been the best team in football all year long. Want more proof? This one may not be proof, but it does say something. They have A LOT OF FUN. This is a team that takes care of its business, but they also have a great time doing it. The guys seem to genuinely enjoy one another, which is a testament to the team’s culture. They have one another’s back and celebrate other guys’ success. They have signature celebrations. Nick Bosa has his shrug and Arik Armstead has his rubbing of his stomach to indicate his hunger. Bosa has given us some great moments in celebration of great plays. The miming of the flag plant against the Browns in a retort to Baker Mayfield’s college celebration. The sliding onto a rain-soaked field in Washington D.C. And most recently, the Undertaker-esque getting up after having the wind knocked out of him against Minnesota in the NFC Divisional round; trainers had come onto the field and the Niners’ faithful chanted “BOSA, BOSA, BOSA.”

So, was this post biased? Yes. But, was there a lot of truth in it? Yes. The Niners have been the best team in football all year long. And, it feels great, baby.

By Stuart Shikano

The holiday season is well upon us. Every year during this time, people get Christmas trees and put up lights, Starbucks changes their cups, and people debate if Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not. The answer to that is of course yes. And because it’s one of the best movies ever: so, by default, it’s the BEST Christmas movie ever. Die Hard is labeled as an action movie, but what makes Die Hard so much better than your typical action movie?

Well, let’s see.

1. DEPTH OF THE CAST

Die Hard’s cast of characters is a very deep roster, kinda like the 2015 Golden State Warriors or the Wu Tang Clan. There are the stars and then there are a plethora of other competent people contributing just enough to elevate the whole thing. So in Die Hard, we got Bruce Willis as John McClane, Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennero-McClane, and Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber. That’s the main three. But, then we’ve got all sorts of supporting characters that add their own unique thing. So, we’ve also got Karl the hard-to-kill top henchman (Alexander Godunov), the competent police officer and Twinkie fanatic Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson), the inept and constantly irritated chief of police (Paul Gleason), the young, likable limo driver Argyle (De’voreaux White), the opportunistic reporter (William Atherton), and the sleazy and way too confident co-worker of Holly’s, Ellis (Hart Bochner).

Then, there are other characters with very little screen time who are still able to get in a very memorable line or moment. Take for instance, the computer/tech guy Theo (Clarence Gilyard, who delivers a very memorable and quotable line, ‘Oh my god, the quarterback is toast’ after Hans and his henchmen take out an armored police car. The FBI guys both named Agent Johnson, which is another funny gag, even add to the movie in their little screen time. The two agents’ arrogance and foolishness make for some comical moments. Then, there’s Uli (Al Leong), a Gruber henchman getting in position during a tense moment, when he succumbs to the temptation of a crunch bar that catches his eye. A little moment like that is one of the things that separates Die Hard from other action movies. To throw in a funny moment like that shows the attention to detail of the movie and the need to get as much as juice as you can get in every scene.

2. HUMOR

The humor in Die Hard is what makes it so re-watchable for me. Some action movies are too serious, too dark, or too high-brow for me to watch over and over again. The fact that there are so many moments and lines in Die Hard that make me laugh is what makes me continue to watch it. A lot of that humor comes from our protagonist, John McClane (Bruce Willis). McClane delivers a lot of funny lines throughout the movie. Even as he fights the terrorists, he’s talking smack to them, and getting in witty lines. That mixture of humor with action and humor in serious situations is the key ingredient to this movie.

Our central character sets the tone for the whole movie. McClane is funny and his interactions with other characters are amusing. So as we follow him around, we observe this repeatedly. We see this from the start of the movie with an advice-giving plane passenger, the Nakatomi Plaza front desk guy, or Argyle the limo driver, McClane seems to always be taking things in stride and smirking his way through these interactions. His chemistry with limo driver, Argyle is great and really kicks off the movie. While the movie was already good in its infancy, when we hear Argyle turn the radio volume louder and correctly tell John McClane, “This is Christmas music,” as we hear Run-DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis” playing, the movie REALLY begins.

The humor coming from John McClane throughout the movie comes both behaviorally and verbally. Early on, McClane’s reactions to events in the terrorist hostage takeover make us laugh because they ring true. When McClane pulls a fire alarm to alert the cops, he thinks he pulled off a brilliant move. McClane is proud of himself and ecstatic until he sees the cops beginning to drive the other way. His profanity-laced response is hilarious because we understand how he’s feeling and probably see ourselves reacting the same way. When McClane kills the first henchman and sends him down an elevator with the caption on his shirt reading, “Now I Have A Machine Gun. Ho-Ho-Ho,” we are able to laugh with McClane and join him in taunting Hans Gruber and the villains, instead of being fearful.

The jokes, the taunts, the smack talk while fighting all spices up the already good action. We have another layer of entertainment and makes it somewhat lighter, in a good way. The humor plays throughout the movie, giving us many quotable lines. Chief among them, of course, “Yippee ki yay motherfu**er.”

3. HEART

Marriage and its struggles are part of this movie. But, it’s not same hastily put together story. John McClane and Holly Gennero-McClane’s marriage is on the rocks because Holly had a career opportunity in Los Angeles, John didn’t want to move from New York City, he was skeptical in if Holly’s career opportunity in Los Angeles would last, and he was generally unsupportive of her and her career. Realistic stuff. Even the arguments between the two of them feel true to life. Early in the film, McClane turns a perfectly amiable conversation with Holly into an argument about her not using his last name with the company she works for. After Holly leaves, we see McClane show remorse for picking a fight and hear him scolding himself. That’s a moment everyone’s had. People will pick fights, know it’s something they shouldn’t do, and they’ll regret it afterwards. However, people often don’t express remorse to the person they were arguing with, at least not immediately. So, the other person doesn’t know that they regret what they said. And if they did, they probably wouldn’t be mad at them anymore. But they don’t, so the tension lingers. In this movie, we don’t see any reconciliation until the movie’s end. But, it’s all realistic stuff: life problems, marriage drama, and insecurity. When we see John McClane and Holly Gennero-McClane reunite at the end of the movie, it’s very sweet. After all the terror, their initial problems seem pretty small, and easy to get over.

The subplot of John McClane and Al Powell’s relationship gives the movie heart too. McClane and Powell strike up a friendship through walkie talkies. Powell trusts McClane’s testimony from inside the building being taken hostage and McClane appreciates Powell’s belief in him and companionship. In an emotional scene, Powell tells McClane that the reason he is on desk duty is because of an incident where he shot a kid who he mistook for someone with a real gun. Powell says he couldn’t pull out a gun on anyone after the traumatic event. In the moment, McClane expresses sympathy. But then when McClane reunites with his wife and the audience thinks the movie’s over, one of the terrorist henchman Karl appears with a gun pointed at McClane, trying to get revenge after McClane killed his brother, another one of the terrorists in the building. But before getting a chance to do so, we see Karl being shot and falling to the ground. The camera initially just shows the gun firing, but then eventually reveals the one firing to be Al Powell. It’s a moment of redemption for Al, as well as a testament to how instinctive it is for him to protect his new friend John McClane. The movie could have easily ended without that scene and no one would have felt that the movie was incomplete in any way, but Die Hard goes the extra mile and gives us another powerful moment.

Merry Christmas, everyone. And remember that no matter what some killjoy says, Die Hard has all the elements of a great Christmas movie. It is also so much more than an action movie.

By Stuart Shikano

Saturday Night Live, the iconic late night sketch comedy show, has been on the air for 45 years. It started as a countercultural sketch comedy show and somewhere along the line transformed to cultural institution. It’s birthed so much talent throughout the decades and the beautiful thing is once a cast member leaves the show, no matter how much time has passed, they can always come back. And, they usually do.

Saturday, December 21, 2019 was another example of a cast member returning to host. But not just ANY cast member coming back to host. Arguably the funniest, most talented, and best SNL cast member ever. A man who saved the show after Lorne Michaels and the original cast and crew left. A man who deserves credit for SNL becoming known as a cultural institution instead of that irreverent, funny show from the ’70s. The legendary and multi-talented Eddie Murphy.

Eddie was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1980-1984. That means that Eddie started when he was 19 years old and left the show at 22 years old. Eddie blew up quickly after getting on SNL, starring in classic comedy films like 1982’s 48 Hrs. and 1983’s Trading Places. He also released his classic stand-up special Delirious. After leaving the show, the success for Eddie kept going with 1986’s The Golden Child, 1987’s Beverly Hills Cop II, the 1987 stand-up comedy theatrical film Eddie Murphy: Raw, and 1988’s Coming to America. Eddie also had a hit song called “Party All the Time” that peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Eddie hosted the show for the first time while he was still a cast member. He did so to fill in for his 48 Hrs. co-star Nick Nolte on December 11, 1982. It made sense; they are both in that movie. Eddie hosted for the second time two seasons later on December 15, 1984. This was the first season after Murphy left the show. Then after that, the only time he appeared at SNL studios was at the SNL 40th Anniversary show in February of 2015.

So, Murphy hosting the 2019 Christmas show was a huge deal. It was announced early, people were very excited, and we all had it as something to look forward to for a long time. And, it didn’t disappoint. Eddie Murphy killed it. Eddie delivered some funny jokes in his monologue, before comedy heavyweights and Eddie Murphy comedy offsprings Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, and Dave Chappelle interrupted his monologue. Each guy asked Eddie if he got their sketch “suggestion.” As funny as all those moments were, Chappelle had the funniest cameo, in my opinion. Then finally, Kenan Thompson stopped Beck Bennett from talking, and joined the four comedians on stage. It was a wonderful sight to see five hilarious and accomplished performers all on stage together. It was one of those moments that will turn into a photograph and circulate for many, many years.

As the show went on, Eddie reprised classic characters like Mr. Robinson, Buckwheat, Gumby, and Velvet Jones. SNL did a great job of bringing back Eddie’s old characters while referencing current events and trends. For instance, Mr. Robinson discussed gentrification in the Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood sketch, Buckwheat appeared on The Masked Singer, Gumby mentioned musical guest Lizzo and roasted Colin Jost and Michael Che on Weekend Update, and Velvet Jones referenced Instagram in the Black Jeopardy sketch.

SNL also did some new SNL Christmas-themed sketches that killed. One was a Holiday Baking Championship parody featuring horrible bakers, one was a family Christmas dinner sketch poking fun at the appearances vs. reality of any family, and one was about elves being attacked by polar bears.

In my opinion, every sketch in the episode worked. I laughed throughout the whole show. Gumby is a personal favorite of mine and my favorite SNL character. I had never really thought about seeing Eddie do that character again until I found out he was hosting and, it was something that they had to do. It was wonderful to see Eddie do all his old SNL characters and just to see him hosting SNL, in general.

35 years is a long, long time. But, Eddie made his way back home to Saturday Night Live. I love seeing former SNL cast members return to the show. SNL welcomes them with open arms and, it is usually an emotional and meaningful event for the person returning. Last season, but earlier this year, Adam Sandler hosted for the first time, and it was his first appearance on the show (excluding the SNL 40th Anniversary show) since 1995. That was another fun, nostalgic episode.

Being on SNL is like playing for the Yankees. The New York Yankees’ history goes so far back. The Yankees’ history can be divided into all sorts of eras with different legends. Yankee Stadium has always and still does welcome back the legends from their franchise history. It doesn’t matter what decade a legendary Yankee played in, their name lives on through retired numbers, plaques, and monuments in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. They also will return for number retirement ceremonies, championship anniversaries, and other ceremonies. All these people are part of the Yankee legacy. People will have different favorites, usually based on the time they grew up in. But, at the end of the day, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettite are all Yankees. The connection to the franchise never goes away.

The connection to SNL never goes away for its cast members. That goes for everyone, whether we’re talking about Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Norm Macdonald, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, Chris Farley, Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen, Maya Rudolph, or Jason Sudeikis. Some were on in the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, ’00s, or ’10s, but they’re all part of the SNL legacy. And they can all come back.

People will have different favorites, usually depending on the cast they were watching when they were growing up. But, the fact that there’s always a cast of talented people that people respond to is incredible. Decade after decade, there’s always a new cast, new stars being born, and new favorites for the people at home.

I remember seeing Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd return to play the Wild and Crazy Guys in a 2013 episode hosted by Justin Timberlake. It was crazy because they did those characters in sketches from the ’70s, but this is the show they did that on. So, they could return around 40 years later, and do that on the same show in the same studio. It’s crazy that that much time can pass and the same people can come back and slip into their old characters. It’s remarkable that we have a show where something like that is possible.

This is the only show where things like that can happen. Bill Murray can just pop back in, Eddie Murphy can return to host after 35 years, Adam Sandler can return to host after 24 years, Tina Fey can pop back in, Bill Hader can come back and do some sketches. Even in the Eddie Murphy episode, Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen returned to do the cold open. They’ve both made numerous cameos since leaving the show and, I think it’s great that the former cast members can really do that any time they want or any time an opportunity for them to return arises. The community aspect of SNL is amazing. So any time we see a former cast member return in some form or fashion, it’s important to note that these people are all part of the same show’s history and legacy, no matter the era.

It must be a special thing to come back to the place where you got your start. The cast is different, the writers are different, the times are different, and you’re different. But, it’s the same city, the same location, the same studio, and it airs at the same time on the same night. I bet old memories and old feelings come back as the host comes back. For x amount of years, this is where they went to work each day, had fun, were stressed out, were exhilarated, performed a lot of sketches, did a lot of shows, and made themselves a household name. We all watch it as entertainment, but they were living it. This is an old chapter of their lives and one they always have the option of revisiting. That’s a rare thing in life.

By Stuart Shikano

Kevin Garnett made some remarks on The Bill Simmons Podcast about his Celtics “breaking” LeBron. A lot of people thought that was ridiculous and made fun of him, Paul Pierce, and that Celtics team on Twitter afterwards. I can’t say I agree with that statement. I do understand the sentiment behind what KG said though. Despite not totally agreeing with what KG said, this leads me to write an in appreciation post of the Pierce-Garnett-Allen Celtics.

Why is this necessary?

Because people dismiss them for winning one championship. People act like they were some one-hit wonder, when that couldn’t be further from the truth. Pun not intended, I swear. The Celtics were a juggernaut and not just for one year.

When, the Celtics acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in one offseason, we all were excited to see them play together, and knew that this was going to be the team to beat in the 2007-08 NBA season. We had seen each individual be great, but not have much help. So, the idea of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen playing together was thrilling for anyone who loves basketball, as we would get to see these three stars compete for a championship. Boston went from depressed they didn’t get the #1 pick and draft Greg Oden to incredibly excited about seeing a big three play in Beantown. There was a lot of anticipation to see this Celtics team play. I mean, Pierce, Garnett, and Allen even shot a This Is SportsCenter commercial before they even played together.

We were all right in thinking this team would be great. The Celtics went 66-16 in 2007-08 NBA season and finished as the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference and had the best record in basketball. After somehow going seven games with the #8 seed Atlanta Hawks, the Celtics won the series. They then played LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. This was the young LeBron with no help from Cleveland teammates LeBron. Remember those days? The days when LeBron played with Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, and Daniel “Boobie” Gibson. The days when we wondered if LeBron would ever get to play with fellow future Hall of Famers like the greats who played before him and at the same time as him. I digress. The series went seven games, a testament to LeBron’s greatness, and the Celtics came out on the winning side. Game seven was awesome; LeBron and Paul Pierce engaged in a back-and-forth duel that had announcers reminiscing about Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins’ duel in 1988. The Celtics then went on to beat the Detroit Pistons in six games in the Eastern Conference finals. The Pistons had been the beasts of the east for practically the whole decade, as that was their sixth straight appearance in the Eastern Conference finals.

Then in the NBA Finals, the Celtics beat the Lakers in six games. It was not quite as close as it sounds. I do not consider that close of a series if one team never ties the series. Boston won the first two games, Los Angeles won game three. Well, if they hadn’t, they’d be down 0-3, and effectively have no chance at winning the series. Then, Boston won game four, and Los Angeles won game five. Again, if L.A. does not win game five, the series is over. So it’s an elimination game that gave them life for one more game. In game six, the Celtics won by 39 points, so that was nowhere near close. I mean, Paul Pierce was dumping Gatorade on Doc Rivers at the end of the game. So, yes it was a six game series. But, no it was not a close series. It was an impressive and dominant performance by the loaded Celtics.

We all thought they were great after that. Now, one thing that did happen in that series that people mocked at the time and still do was the Paul Pierce-wheelchair moment. In game one, Pierce injured his knee, he was down for a long time, he was carried by teammates, and eventually departed on a wheelchair. He returned shortly and looked like himself. It was an odd and iconic moment. Phil Jackson poked fun at him to reporters. I had not even heard of Twitter yet, as it was not big at all then. But if it was, there would have so many memes of Pierce. Now that was something that really annoyed people and still to this day, Paul Pierce gets s**t for that. People thought it was dramatic and that he was faking it. I think this is one of the reasons people discredit the Celtics’ success during this time. Another part of that is some of the odd things Pierce has said as an analyst, including his proclamation that he had a better career than Dwyane Wade. I get why people are rubbed the wrong way by some of Paul’s proclamations, but we have to be honest. The man had a great career. He was 2008 NBA Finals MVP, was clutch, was a reliable scorer, and was a tough as nails competitor.

The next season (2008-09), Boston went 62-20. They caught a tough break when Kevin Garnett’s right knee sprain sidelined him for many late regular season games and the whole postseason. Boston not having Garnett was a huge blow to them on both sides of the ball and made them significantly less scary. Garnett’s such a great player and a competitive monster. Boston beat the Bulls in seven in the first round. Then, they played the Dwight Howard-led Orlando Magic in the second round. Even without Garnett, the Celtics led the series 3-2 after five games. But, Orlando won games six and seven to eliminate Boston. Now, that Orlando team was really good; but, if they took them seven and were up 3-2 without Garnett, is there really any doubt that they wouldn’t have beaten Orlando with Garnett? I say no. If they had Garnett, after they beat Orlando, they would have gotten LeBron and the Cavs again in the Eastern Conference finals. So, if Orlando beat Cleveland and I said Boston beats Orlando with Garnett, then Boston beats Cleveland with Garnett too. So, they would have made their second straight NBA Finals appearance, where they would have squared off with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and the Lakers again. I can’t give a conjecture on who would have won that series. It would have been a hell of a series though. So the point here is that after winning a championship, Boston was a Kevin Garnett injury from getting back to the Finals where they could have repeated.

In 2009-10, Boston went 50-32 in the regular season. In the first round, they beat the Heat in five games. In the second round, they beat LeBron and the Cavs in six in a very odd series where you could feel that LeBron was about to leave Cleveland. This is part of what KG is referring to. LeBron did know that the Cavs weren’t going to win that series and knew he had to squad up to make it fair. Next up was the Eastern Conference finals, where the Celtics beat the Magic in six games to advance to the NBA Finals. Now, if KG wasn’t hurt last season, this would be three straight Finals trips. Nothing to sneeze at. Also, every year at the start of the season, we expected Boston to be in the Finals. We were never surprised when they got there, we expected them to get there. We all knew they were great at the time. Any way, in the 2010 NBA Finals, Boston was up 3-2 through five games. In game six, the Lakers wiped out the Celtics 89-67 in L.A. to force a game seven. Also noteworthy is that Celtics’ center Kendrick Perkins got hurt in that game and was then ruled out for game seven. Game seven was wild, an NBA classic. The game was very close, Ron Artest hit the biggest shot of the game, and the Lakers won 83-79. The Celtics were so close to another title, but instead it was an NBA Finals loss. Sports often comes down to games that close.

In the 2010-11 season, Boston went 56-26, and then lost to the Heat in the second round in five games. Okay, this one wasn’t close. Nothing to brag about here for Boston. LeBron had his own superteam with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and they beat down the Celtics. But even the next season, the Celtics were back in the Eastern Conference finals, and up 3-2 against the LeBron-Wade-Bosh Heat. The Celtics were old at this point and LeBron was prime LeBron and it was still a tight series. Game six got quite possibly the greatest LeBron game ever when he dropped 45 points, shot 19-26 from the field, and tacked on 15 rebounds. It was a hyper focused and almost demonically possessed-type game for LeBron. The frame of LeBron crouched over, staring ahead with a really serious look in his eyes from that game is still one of my favorite memes. Then in game seven, Miami won convincingly 101-88 to eliminate the Celtics. That was the end of the Celtics big three era, as Ray Allen signed with the Miami Heat that offseason.

But, damn, the fact that those three guys were as old as they were and were pushing prime LeBron along with D-Wade and Bosh to seven games is impressive to me. The Celtics had no business making that series THAT competitive, but that’s a testament to the Celtics’ competitive will. Pierce, Garnett, Allen, Rondo, all of them. Coach Doc Rivers too.

So to recap, the Celtics won a championship in the ’07’-’08 season, were the second favorite to win the Finals heading into the ’08-’09 season and quite possibly could have if it wasn’t for a Garnett injury, were the third favorite to win the Finals heading into the ’09-’10 season and were one win away from winning the NBA Finals, and then were respectably battling God-mode LeBron and D-Wade & Bosh in the Eastern Conference finals as old guys. That’s not a one-hit wonder, folks. The Celtics were Finals contenders for multiple seasons. They got robbed of a chance to go back-to-back because of KG’s injury. They made two Finals trips. In the second one, they were up 3-2 and then lost a close game seven. Come on! These guys were great. These dudes were ruthless competitors. They, no doubt, pushed LeBron, pushed D-Wade, made these guys dig deep and brought out some of their best games ever. They weren’t rock stars like the Heatles, they weren’t as flashy as Golden State, nobody on the team was as iconic as Kobe Bryant, but dammit put some respect on their names. These dudes went toe to toe with everybody. They changed the landscape of the league by showing you could form a superteam and instantly have a great chance to win a championship. This team deserves credit for how we ended up watching a LeBron-Wade-Bosh Miami Heat team, a LeBron-Kyrie-Kevin Love Cleveland Cavaliers team, and a Kevin Durant-Steph-Klay-Draymond Golden State Warriors team. This team did WIN a title and were a few instances of bad luck away from being a mini-dynasty.

I think part of the reason Paul Pierce offers boastful takes about himself and Kevin Garnett talks about “breaking” LeBron is because they never get the credit they deserve, like 2 Chainz says. They know how great they were and how little they’re discussed as time passes. They deserve more respect for what they accomplished, how they played, and how they fought from 2007-2012. I haven’t forgotten and, I never will. Don’t let your grievances with Paul Pierce let you lie about those Celtics.

I appreciate the Pierce-Garnett-Allen Celtics.

By Stuart Shikano

You know how this was going to go. The Bucks and Lakers faced off Thursday night on TNT from Milwaukee. Now, despite the fact that this was only one regular season game, we were all always going to look at this game as something a lot more significant. These were the two possible scenarios. Bucks win, we say, “Giannis is officially the best player in basketball. Passing of the torch.” Lakers win, we say, “LeBron’s STILL the best player in basketball even at nearly 35 years old and 17 seasons in. Damn, that’s impressive.” Well, the Bucks won, so we’re talking about Giannis.

PT. 1: THE RISE OF GIANNIS AND HIS CONTINUOUS SURGING

Giannis Antetokounmpo came into the league in 2013 at the age of 18. He did not play college ball in the U.S., as he hails from Greece. He was the 15th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. He did not have LeBron or Zion hype, as people did not know much about the man. Neither Giannis or the Bucks were discussed very much in his first few seasons, as neither were at the forefront of the league. Things started to change in the 2016-17 season when Giannis upped his points per game average 6 whole points, totaling 22.9 points per game, as well as 8.8 rebounds per game. Giannis became an All-Star for the first time and was named Most Improved Player, proving he was going to be a force to be reckoned with. Giannis did more improving in the 2017-18 season, averaging 26.9 PPG and 10.0 RPG, while also making his second consecutive All-Star team.

In the 2018-19 season, just as he had done every season prior, Giannis’s PPG and RPG averages increased. Also in the ’18-’19 season, Giannis averaged 27.7 PPG and 12.5 RPG, made his first All-NBA First Team selection, made his first appearance on the All-Defensive First Team, and oh yeah, won the 2018-19 NBA MVP. The days of being an emerging star were over, Giannis was arguably the best player in the game, and worst case, a top five player.

Yet, there are always critics. The one nitpicky thing people brought up when dissecting Giannis’s play was that he needed to get a jump shot. Having heard many stories about Giannis’s work ethic, I had no doubts that he would come back for the 2019-20 season with an improved jump shot and three-point shot. That he has. Giannis is now a threat from beyond the arc. Giannis has made 49 3-point field goals this season in 28 games. To put that in perspective, last season, Giannis made 52 3-point field goals in 72 games played. Giannis is shooting 33.8% from three-point range this season and shot 25.6% from three-point range last season.

Giannis is like Lowe’s, he never stops improving. Even coming off an MVP season, Giannis has shown improvement. In addition to the improved shooting, Giannis has also increased his PPG average to a career-high 31.8 and his RPG average to a career-high 12.8. Now, the team’s through 29 games, so there’s still a long way to go. But, Giannis’s play this season and the numbers he’s put up thus far makes it look very promising that this will be a year of career highs once again. The Bucks are off to an amazing start with a 25-4 record after 29 games. As of now, they look like the team that’s going to come out of the Eastern Conference. They look more like title contenders than ever.

Alright, now let’s bring LeBron into the Giannis conversation.

PT. 2: GIANNIS AND LEBRON

Giannis often gets compared to LeBron. Their games are not identical. But, they are both athletic freaks, can blow by anyone to get to the basket, have a strong work ethic, and a desire to be the best.

Now, LeBron has been at a place where there are no flaws in his game for a long time. But that wasn’t always the case. In his early years, critics of LeBron would bring up his subpar shooting. In the 2007 NBA Finals, the Spurs’ game-plan was to make LeBron uncomfortable by testing his jump shot. They exploited his weakness and swept him in the Finals. This is something LeBron recently spoke about. Then, there were critics saying LeBron didn’t have the ‘killer instinct’ and didn’t want to shoot in late, high-pressure game situations. Then, in the 2011 NBA Finals, the Dallas Mavericks tested LeBron’s jump shot and used his shooting inconsistency and skepticism in his jump shot against him. Once again, a team exploited LeBron’s weakness and beat him in the Finals. But, that was the last time a team could do that to LeBron.

LeBron’s field goal percentage rose from 51% in the 2010-11 season to 53.1% in the 2011-12 season to 56.5% in the 2012-13 season. Also noteworthy is LeBron’s three-point field goal percentage went from 33% in the 2010-11 season to 36.2% in the 2011-12 season to a career-high 40.6% in the 2012-13 season. That whole, ‘Let’s see you hit a jumper and test your confidence in that” tactic that the Spurs and Mavericks had used against him had become obsolete. The days of slowing down LeBron in any way were over.

A lot of LeBron fans point to the 2012-13 season as prime LeBron. It was a year of peak athleticism, defensive greatness, and his best three-point shooting. Then, there was of course the usual unparalleled ability to drive to the basket, amazing distribution and playmaking, unreal floor vision, and scoring efficiency. That was also the year the Miami Heat won 27 straight games. Not too shabby. The year ended with an intense seven game NBA Finals that they won against the San Antonio Spurs.

After that, we saw more greatness from LeBron. LeBron went toe to toe, without his two best players Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, with the loaded 2014-15 Golden State Warriors. This was a Finals that went six games with LeBron largely playing that series with Matthew Dellavedova as his partner in crime. Then there was the 3-1 series comeback that finished up with an insane three-game stretch from LeBron and Kyrie to knock off the 73-win Golden State Warriors and finally let Cleveland sports fans celebrate a championship. There was also the 2017-18 season when Cleveland traded their whole team at the trade deadline and LeBron was still able to get to the Finals with a weak supporting cast. There was that game one where LeBron was out of this world going toe-to-toe with the KEVIN DURANT-Golden State Warriors with little help. Then, his hopes of snatching that game one got derailed when the refs reversed the initial call of a KD charge to a LeBron blocking foul, George Hill missed that free throw, and then J.R. Smith, well you know what happened.

Any way, why am I writing about all of this? What does this have to do with Giannis?

Great question. Giannis just turned 25. LeBron was 26 in that Mavericks NBA Finals. As great as LeBron had been up to that point, he got way better after that. If Giannis is already better this season than he was last season after winning the MVP, what will he look like next season? And the next season? And the next season? 28-year-old LeBron was prime LeBron, with still many years of greatness after that. So, what the hell is Giannis gonna look like when he’s 28? And what is he going to look like at 29, 30, 31, 32? The potential is limitless.

The things that make great NBA players even greater are experience, summers where players work on improving a part of their game, and playoff heartbreak that creates more motivation. LeBron got better every year in his early years. LeBron would come back certain years physically stronger, in better shape, and an improved jump shot, etc. Losing to the Mavericks in the Finals and his poor performance in that series made him better going forward. Giannis has gotten better every year to this point. Giannis has put on over 50 pounds of muscle since entering the league in 2013 and has improved his jump shot and three-point shot. That loss to the Raptors in the Eastern Conference finals after getting off to a 2-0 lead looks like it’s made him hungrier and better.

We knew LeBron was great in his first run in Cleveland. But, if someone told you then that he was going to get a lot better, you probably would have marveled at thought and said to yourself, “That’s going to be scary for the league.” And it was! EIGHT STRAIGHT FINALS APPEARANCES with two different franchises??

Well, I can safely say that as great as Giannis was last season and is this season, he’s also going to get better. He said this past summer that he feels he’s only 60% of what he can potentially become. Some agreed and some didn’t believe you could be at 60% of your potential and win the MVP; they wondered how you could get THAT much better. Well, he’s shooting threes now, and with more three-point attempts and jump shot attempts in games and more practice shooting when the cameras are off, he’ll only become a better shooter. Then, add more experience and an increased knowledge of the game. Yeah, watch out, rest of the NBA.

The thing is when you know a guy is willing to put the work in and get better, you can count on them to improve. Some guys develop their game and as the years go on, you don’t really see anything new or anything that’s improved that much. With LeBron and Giannis, that’s not the case.

I say this confidently, Giannis has the potential to become a top ten NBA player of all time, and maybe even higher. What’s my rationale? Look at him now and then consider that he never stops improving.

By Stuart Shikano

Inside the NBA is the best sports show ever. We can all agree on that, right? Great. I’m taking it a step further to say that Inside the NBA is one of the best shows ever. I seriously cannot think of too many TV shows that I enjoy watching as much as Inside the NBA.

The show has been firing on all cylinders for a long time at this point. The thing that makes the show great is the chemistry between its four stars. But, each and every one of them brings something very valuable to the show that is unique to them.

So, there’s the host Ernie Johnson, and the three analysts– Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal. Host Ernie Johnson has been working for TNT sports the longest at 30 years, then came Kenny, and then came Charles Barkley to take the show to new levels. After many years of show excellence, Shaquille O’Neal joined the show in 2011, after a Hall of Fame NBA career. It was the rich getting richer a la Kevin Durant joining the 73-win Golden State Warriors in 2016.

The host of Inside the NBA, Ernie Johnson is the ultimate professional. Ernie is as respected as can be, both as a person and as a broadcaster. His ability to keep the show on track, not get overshadowed by Charles and Shaq, and add his own funny quips makes him a rare person qualified for this job. Ernie can be described as the heart of the show. He’s also someone that the analysts and viewers trust to lead the way.

Kenny Smith, the unsung hero of the show, keeps the show grounded. He is a smart commentator, the primary X’s & O’s guy, and a superb analogist. Kenny is also great at discovering what’s funny and what’s entertaining for the audience. There are a lot of times where Charles or Shaq have said something amusing, but the comment when unchecked, and Kenny will make a comment on it being odd or amusing. A potential funny moment was about to slip away and then Kenny saves it and the thing opens itself up to the whole panel. Viewers see Kenny’s point guard instincts kick in with his ability to notice and capitalize on developing opportunities.

Then, we have the guy who really makes this thing go– Sir Charles Barkley. A one of a kind, Barkley is funny, blunt, and charismatic. This was true when he first became famous as a basketball player and it remains true as an analyst because that’s who Charles Barkley really is. He’s as authentic as it gets and that’s what makes him wildly entertaining. I mean, Charles Barkley hosted Saturday Night Live when he was playing in 1993 and then after his playing career in 2010, 2012, and 2018. Not many athletes host that show once and none host after their playing career is over. Barkley’s personality makes for reliably funny and amusing comments every show.

In 2011, the show got some extra juice when Shaquille O’Neal joined the program. Shaq’s big personality has added an extra dimension to the show. One of the most iconic athletes in modern history and one of the biggest personalities you’ll find anywhere, Shaq makes the show even bigger. A presence of someone as famous as him on a sports studio show is not common. Shaq’s laugh is contagious and he is also able to make Barkley’s jokes even funnier simply by laughing and asking Barkley to repeat it. I laugh every time Barkley fires off a joke and Shaq laughs as he asks, ‘What’d he say, Chuck?’ or ‘What’d you say, Chuck?’ Such an ability is uniquely Shaq; Shaq’s dynamic presence is enough to get a laugh simply by laughing and asking the joke teller to say it again.

The chemistry is always excellent and is what drives the show. You can tell all four of these guys love each other and they feel like a family. Every show, there is always something super funny that happens. There are always laughs to be had. It could be through a joke one of the guys delivers, an odd comment that others on the panel find funny, Kenny poking fun at Barkley, Barkley poking fun at Shaq, Shaq poking fun at Barkley, or any one of them or all of them poking fun at something else. The reason the humor appeals so much to people is because it arises organically. You see a lot of sports shows (and sitcoms too) force humor and it makes people uncomfortable. You can tell they’re TRYING to have a funny moment and the lack of authenticity kills the whole thing. But, with Inside the NBA, it is a guarantee that viewers will laugh at real moments and real banter. The real moments and the real banter all comes from the four guys having great chemistry.

Even their fights are wildly entertaining, instead of awkward and cringeworthy. These four guys are so comfortable with each other that they feel free to argue on TV. Most of the heated arguments are between Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. Usually those arguments will escalate to Barkley saying Kobe and D-Wade helped carry Shaq to championships or he will mock his last few NBA seasons and Shaq will remind Barkley that he never won a championship. Harsh stuff, but because of Charles and Shaq’s brotherly relationship, it’s not as big of a deal as some may think it is, and it doesn’t blow over into the next show. These guys are brothers and fight like brothers. The fact that they feel free to go at it like this is a testament to their bond.

In conclusion, TNT has caught lightning in a bottle with this show. A sports show like Inside the NBA will never be duplicated. This is a show that features two of the greatest NBA players of all time in Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, which obviously gives the show instant credibility. But the more crucial part of having Chuck and Shaq working together is that it gives the show quite possibly the two biggest personalities to ever play the game. You could put together an NBA studio show with other legends, but it would not be as funny as having Charles Barkley and Shaq together. A host like Ernie Johnson is hard to come by. The same for an analyst like Kenny Smith. So, the next time we hear Charles going on a hilarious Charles riff, see Kenny go into the game via screen technology, watch Shaq go through the Shaqtin-A-Fool finalists, and watch E.J.’s Neat-O Stat of the Night, let’s all appreciate each and every one of them and them as a group. And let’s appreciate them and the show until their last one together.

By Stuart Shikano

San Francisco and Baltimore. These two cities are not close together and there’s no rivalry between the two cities. Historically, there is no real rivalry between the 49ers and Ravens. But, that could be about to change.

It is quite possible that the 49ers and Ravens meet again in Super Bowl 54. In 2013, the 49ers and Ravens faced off in Super Bowl 47 from New Orleans, Louisiana. It was an exciting game remembered mainly for a Beyonce halftime performance that was followed by a blackout early in the second half. Other notable details include Baltimore getting off to a very good start and the Niners seeming to find their momentum after the blackout, the game being Ray Lewis’s last, the game being a battle of brother head coaches, and some questionable San Francisco play-calling late in the game.

Fast forward to 2019, the two best teams in football appear to be the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers. The two teams played each other recently and the game resulted in a Ravens win via a game-winning field goal. These two teams have been the most captivating watches this year. Lamar Jackson’s electric run game and acute pocket passing has been the story of the 2019 NFL season. Although, the second eye-catching story of the 2019 NFL season has been the dominance of San Francisco’s defense and the explosiveness of San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan-masterminded offense.

The easy Super Bowl prediction right now and to be honest, the seemingly accurate one is Ravens-49ers.

There would be practically a completely different cast of characters should they play in Super Bowl 54. Only five Baltimore Ravens players (G Marshal Yanda, P Sam Koch, K Justin Tucker, CB Jimmy Smith, and LS Morgan Cox) remain from the 2012-13 Super Bowl winning team. For the San Francisco 49ers, there are two players remaining, LT Joe Staley and TE Garrett Celek– the latter was placed on season-ending IR. This would not be some rematch where it is the same guys and the rivalry is mainly between star players. It would be a rematch where six players, coach John Harbaugh, and the Ravens/49ers fans would be seeing as a rematch. Funny enough, it will be the Ravens this time who have the dual threat quarterback tearing up the league alongside offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Seven years ago, that was the situation with the 49ers, as Colin Kaepernick’s exciting play ignited the league with help from Greg Roman.

Another important note is that neither the Ravens nor the 49ers have made it back to a Super Bowl since then. Somehow, after numerous disappointing seasons for both teams, both teams put together a loaded team on track to the Super Bowl in the same season. It’s like they were waiting on each other.

We still have to wait another month and a half to see if this Super Bowl matchup takes place. If it does, two Super Bowl match-ups in seven years certainly constitutes a rivalry, and a rather unlikely one at that.

So, if it happens, we can all collectively scratch our heads at how Baltimore and San Francisco became rivals.

Kawhi Leonard is a man who does not say much, at least publicly. Yet, he is someone who has drawn a lot of criticism over the last couple of years.

By Stuart Shikano

THE BEGINNING

It all began when Kawhi was recovering from a quad injury. Kawhi did not feel right. The Spurs told him he felt good to go. Kawhi did not believe them, trusted the way his own body felt, and continued to sit out games. The Spurs’ medical staff cleared Kawhi to play, Gregg Popovich felt Kawhi was ready to come back, and Kawhi’s Spurs’ teammates believed he was ready to return. Kawhi’s Spurs’ teammates even held a players-only meeting to encourage Kawhi to start playing again. Pop took passive-aggressive and aggressive-aggressive shots at him to the media. Manu Ginobili said some things. Tony Parker said that an injury that he himself had had was a lot worse than Kawhi’s injury and expressed bewilderment at why Kawhi was still missing games. It felt like Kawhi vs. the Spurs, with seemingly everyone in the building upset that Kawhi was not playing, and believing that he was healthy enough to be playing.

1. RESPONSE TO INJURY CRITICISM

So, what did Kawhi do? He didn’t give a damn what was coming at him, directly or indirectly, from the Spurs’ medical staff, Spurs’ players, and even the great Gregg Popovich. Kawhi continued to miss games, played only nine games in the entire ’17-’18 season, and none after the Spurs put on their blitz to get him to return playing. A strong-willed stance like the one Leonard took is not such an easy task, especially when you are at odds with a highly-respected franchise, Hall of Fame teammates, and a legendary head coach– many who say he’s the best in NBA history. None of that should matter if your body is telling you that you’re not healthy, but that’s easier said than done. How many guys would have played hurt because of the pressure from the organization? How many guys would have then re-aggravated their injury and been out again because they came back to play too early? So, do you think Kawhi made the right call by continuing to sit out when he did not feel healthy and his body was telling him he wasn’t ready to play again. The answer is yes.

2. RESPONSE TO CONFLICT WITH SPURS

There was no attempt to “stick it out” or “make things right” because of the history Kawhi had with the Spurs. Kawhi did not trust the Spurs any longer and felt betrayed by the organization. So, he decided it was time to go, demanded a trade, and was sent to the Toronto Raptors. Kawhi was going to do things “his way” in Toronto. He sat out 22 games to ensure injury rehabilitation. The Raptors went 58-24 and secured the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Kawhi then put on amazing performance after amazing performance. He rolled through the Orlando Magic, eked out a game seven win against the Philadelphia 76ers thanks to a continuously bouncing buzzer beater, became the first defender to slow down Giannis to beat the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, and then eventually dethroned an injury-plagued Golden State Warriors to win the NBA Finals. It was the Toronto Raptors’ first NBA championship and Kawhi became a national hero. So, do you think Kawhi made the right call by demanding a trade from the Spurs? The answer once again is an emphatic yes.

3. RESPONSE TO PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HIS FREE AGENCY

After winning his second NBA championship, second NBA Finals MVP, and giving the Toronto Raptors their first NBA title in franchise history, next came Kawhi’s free agency. Kawhi, along with the other free agents, would be free to talk to NBA teams (like they haven’t already, wink wink) and announce where they’re planning on signing on June 30. On that June 30 extravaganza, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving announced they would be signing with the Nets, Jimmy Butler agreed to a deal with the Heat, and Kemba Walker said he was going to Boston. We were all just waiting for Kawhi to sign. After that Sunday, June 30 was about to pass and there was still no word on where Kawhi was going, we put Woj tweet notifications on, just waiting to see where Kawhi was going to sign. Would Kawhi get caught up in the sentimentality and re-sign with the Raptors? I mean, how could you leave a championship winning team? Would Kawhi join forces with LeBron and Anthony Davis and create an unbeatable Laker team? After all, isn’t the point to win titles? And the Lakers would be an absolute lock to win with that team. Would he go to the Clippers and have his own team in his hometown?

We all wanted to know. Monday passed, no word on where he’s going. Tuesday passed, no word on where he’s going. Wednesday passed, no word on where he’s going. At this point, all us NBA fans are getting irritated. Can the guy make up his mind already? You could have thought about this all year long, not just start thinking about where you’re signing on June 30. Us NBA fans started to sound like Kawhi’s impatient, backstabbing Spurs teammates. But, Kawhi didn’t care about any of that. Kawhi was going to wait until circumstances where he wanted to go were right. Any way, Thursday passed. Friday was about to pass and then late Friday night (July 6), we got word on where Kawhi was going.

He not only chose to sign with the Clippers, but pulled off an ultimate gangster move by telling the Clippers they needed to get Paul George too because their roster is not good enough as is. The Clippers pulled off the trade for Paul George and thus, signed Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers made the most sense to begin with. Sure, that one year in Toronto was a blast for him and the team, but Toronto never felt like Kawhi– a California kid. Kawhi wanted to come home to Los Angeles, but the Lakers did not make as much sense because it would not have felt like Kawhi’s style to team up with a rival and all-time great like LeBron James. Joining an already loaded team like the Lakers seems counterintuitive to Kawhi’s reputation as the ultimate competitor, who dethrones dynasties.

Kawhi’s did not re-sign with Toronto and fall for the sentimentality. Kawhi did not sign with the Lakers and succumb to the allure of the brand that is the Lakers, or the temptation of forming a super team. Again, Kawhi did things his way. He wanted to come home to Los Angeles, but he wanted his own thing, and he got it. So, did he make the right call? Once again, yes.

4. RESPONSE TO LOAD MANAGEMENT CRITICISM

This season, “load management” is once again a hot button topic. Kawhi has been criticized for sitting out games and not playing in back-to-backs. Once again, we have a Kawhi Leonard who does not give a damn what you think about that and will continue to sit certain games out. As previously mentioned, last season, Kawhi sat out 22 regular season games and the season culminated in a Raptors’ championship. Leonard even said he did not think he could pull off his amazing playoff run without resting all those games in the regular season. So, did he make the right call on that? YES. So now, we have a situation where Kawhi is taking “load management” games with the Los Angeles Clippers and sports show hosts are freaking out, saying he should be playing in more games. But, if last season he felt he was not healthy enough to play all 82 or a number close to that amount, and he won an NBA championship, then why would you mess with the formula if you’re still not quite 100% healthy? Some will say that Kawhi and the Clippers BETTER win the NBA Finals if he’s going to sit out all these regular season games. Such a point is fair, but I would say that Kawhi believes he needs to take a select number of games off to feel like he’s peaking in the playoffs, and that taking 17-20 regular season games off makes him believe his Clippers will have a better chance to win an NBA title. To Kawhi, it may not even be a decision. To Kawhi, the “load management” games is imperative to winning an NBA championship and is part of the recipe of winning it all. Who could argue after last year? If the Clippers do win the NBA Finals this season, no one will be mentioning regular season games he rested for. The criticism will vanish and we’ll all realize that that was just a talking point for the regular season because people needed something to talk about. So, is he making the right call in this spot? In all likelihood, yes.

5. RESPONSE TO PEOPLE MOCKING NEW BALANCE

Even, his deal with New Balance exemplifies Kawhi’s IDGAF what you think attitude. We would expect a guy of Kawhi’s magnitude to be represented by Nike or Adidas. Instead, we have an NBA superstar representing New Balance. Now, New Balance isn’t considered cool, but there is something to be said about being the face of a brand. Kawhi doesn’t care about your New Balance jokes; he decided that New Balance is the best brand for him to partner up with. If Kawhi was still with Nike, he would be in a long line of basketball players that are part of the Nike brand. When I think New Balance, I only think Kawhi Leonard. New Balance put out an ad a couple months ago that feels very on brand for Kawhi Leonard and it plays all the time. I do feel like a company figured out how to show Kawhi for who he is in an advertisement. If he keeps winning and being great, he’ll probably change the way we think of New Balance.

In conclusion, Kawhi Leonard does not and should not give a damn what I think, what Gregg Popovich thinks, what fellow NBA players think, what sports media personalities think, and what NBA Twitter thinks. If he did, he probably would have made more mistakes, and cost himself in various situations. Keep ignoring critics and keep doing you, Kawhi. It’s made you all the better.