Comments on: LeBron James: No. 23 Belongs to Jordan http://rockintherim.com/lebron-james-no-23-belongs-to-jordan/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:13:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Sonny Gill http://rockintherim.com/lebron-james-no-23-belongs-to-jordan/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Sonny Gill Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:13:27 +0000 http://rockintherim.com/?p=250#comment-121 What's also interesting is that Pat Riley actually 'retired' the number 23 from the Miami Heat in honor of MJ and so no one could use it. I don't think Riley should've done that in the first place and is what got the media and LeBron in a stir about this whole issue. What’s also interesting is that Pat Riley actually ‘retired’ the number 23 from the Miami Heat in honor of MJ and so no one could use it. I don’t think Riley should’ve done that in the first place and is what got the media and LeBron in a stir about this whole issue.

]]> By: Kasey Skala http://rockintherim.com/lebron-james-no-23-belongs-to-jordan/comment-page-1/#comment-120 Kasey Skala Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:08:31 +0000 http://rockintherim.com/?p=250#comment-120 I agree with you that #23 shouldn't have a league-wide retirement. Having Chicago retire the number does enough for MJ's legacy. Yes, he was & is the G.O.A.T. and I don't think anyone will claim that stake. Yes, he did the game a lot of good and was able to draw fans across the globe in, however, his mark on the NBA was not revolutionary. Jackie Robinson deserves his # to have a league-wide ban. What Jackie did for not only baseball, but for all african-americans is revolutionary. Keep # retirements to teams, not an entire league. The only other person who should have his number retired would be Jesse Owens - and of course, there is no number in his sport. I agree with you that #23 shouldn’t have a league-wide retirement. Having Chicago retire the number does enough for MJ’s legacy. Yes, he was & is the G.O.A.T. and I don’t think anyone will claim that stake. Yes, he did the game a lot of good and was able to draw fans across the globe in, however, his mark on the NBA was not revolutionary.

Jackie Robinson deserves his # to have a league-wide ban. What Jackie did for not only baseball, but for all african-americans is revolutionary.

Keep # retirements to teams, not an entire league. The only other person who should have his number retired would be Jesse Owens – and of course, there is no number in his sport.

]]> By: Sonny Gill http://rockintherim.com/lebron-james-no-23-belongs-to-jordan/comment-page-1/#comment-118 Sonny Gill Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:40:25 +0000 http://rockintherim.com/?p=250#comment-118 Bill - you make an interesting point about numbers losing meaning after time. I see what you're saying but of course, certain ones will never be forgotten. Even so, retiring a number for an entire league is a bit much, IMO, and also slightly disrespects some of the other greats of the league (Kareem, Wilt, Oscar). Would be cool to hear MJ's side, though I'm sure he wouldn't tell LBJ not to do it. Bill – you make an interesting point about numbers losing meaning after time. I see what you’re saying but of course, certain ones will never be forgotten. Even so, retiring a number for an entire league is a bit much, IMO, and also slightly disrespects some of the other greats of the league (Kareem, Wilt, Oscar).

Would be cool to hear MJ’s side, though I’m sure he wouldn’t tell LBJ not to do it.

]]> By: Bill Free http://rockintherim.com/lebron-james-no-23-belongs-to-jordan/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Bill Free Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:27:38 +0000 http://rockintherim.com/?p=250#comment-117 Interesting question, Sonny. It's fairly common to have a team retire a number, but to have an entire league retire it is another matter. LBJ is right: Jordan was not just a great player, he was a transformational player both on and off the court (full disclosure: huge MJ fan). But the game moves on. In the absence of context, numbers lose their meaning. Since Jordan was courtside that night, it would have been interesting to get his perspective. My short answer to LeBron: keep the number. When Jordan came back wearing No. 45 it never felt right. Interesting question, Sonny. It’s fairly common to have a team retire a number, but to have an entire league retire it is another matter. LBJ is right: Jordan was not just a great player, he was a transformational player both on and off the court (full disclosure: huge MJ fan). But the game moves on. In the absence of context, numbers lose their meaning. Since Jordan was courtside that night, it would have been interesting to get his perspective.

My short answer to LeBron: keep the number. When Jordan came back wearing No. 45 it never felt right.

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