And how.

A little over a year ago, I commented how I thought it was unwise to compare LeBron James to Michael Jordan. Of Jordan, I said:

I don’t think he would have flaunted his awesomeness in such a classless way, regardless of  his personal preferences.”

He certainly didn’t when I was watching him on TV. At least not in public where people would comment about it. But after reading part of the transcript and then a review of his Hall of Fame acceptance speech by the reporter who has likely covered him the longest, I realized I may have been wrong. Reeeally wrong.  This all happened last week…where have I been? I didn’t even hear about it.

Anyway, I read another story, and then this one with an opposing viewpoint (there were several others in support of the speech as well).

Of this I am certain: he is arguably the best player to ever hit the NBA. Maybe even the best player ever, anywhere, at any sport. But I also agree with a comment on one of the stories: “Great men do not need to stomp on those around them to make themselves [appear] taller.”

And stomp he did. From his high school and UNC coaches, fellow players and other acquaintances, to his own family — no one was spared. It was as if he finally got his turn to purge all the pent-up grudges and bitterness, saved and documented since the 1980s. It was just sad that he had to do it at a ceremony designed to honor his amazing career.

Maybe he could have written a tell-all book instead. Spill all the poison there.

Then again, he doesn’t have to be nice; he’s a great athlete. That’s the conventional acquiescence nowadays, anyhow. Same for entertainers and CEOs. If you are at the top of your game, humanity is optional.

Somehow, though, I think the likes of Jerry West, Hank Aaron, Joe Montana and Jackie Robinson might disagree.

FO

PS – Happy Birthday to Rousseau! He’s a big 9-year-old this day, Talk Like a Pirate Day. Yarrrrr!

Photo credit: Nike

I totally forgot about this place. We are *so* staying here once we reach San Bernardino. Must get the Thriller on task with our exact travel schedule so we can book it way in advance.

Not quite politically correct (we aren’t going to get into THAT today, are we now), but so much a part of the history of when families became mobile and started traveling by car across the country after WWII.

Yesterday, our Route 66 Dining & Lodging Guide arrived in the mail. While I finished a paper (at 10 p.m.), the Thriller read to me some of the cool places where we’ll stay or eat. That’s when I noticed the Wigwam Motel. What a great final stop on our destination. It is going to be a boss trip.

And speaking of destinations, I’m late for mine and the hair isn’t even dry yet…yikes…

Have a goody!

FO

PS – Thoughts and prayers go out to BoomR’s mom-in-law, who is fighting the last stages of cancer. We all heart you, Boom Boom.

…and not a single room to be had in the entire city of Detroit. I don’t get it. Is the Blue Jays/Tigers game that big of a draw? Maybe. I dunno. But we could not find a single place to stay tonight after we take Bob and Kay to the airport. Of course, there *is* a room available at the MGM Grand…for $299. Um, no thanks. Stein told me yesterday that Notre Dame is playing at UMich, so that might have something to do with it as well. I’ll bet there hasn’t been a room in Ann Arbor since the football schedule came out last year. Every Catholic in Indiana will be there.

So we settled for the Airport Best Western — a 16-mile drive from downtown. It’s OK. We’re going to have some fun. Us, and the 56,437,228 other people who will likely descend upon Greektown tonight.

My new Flip video is go-go-gadget amazing. I’m having fun with it. Drop-of-the-hat movies will be boss with the grandsons.

You won’t be surprised to learn that I’m also after this little gem:

Oh yeah.

Have a fun weekend, fiends. I’m off to get packed and ready to go.

Fink out.

Random Neuron Firings

So BoomR sent me some photos of Beatles Rock Band last night. Clicky:

Yep, looks like fun all right. Thanks, Boom Boom. I am *so* on this.

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Had rehearsal for the famous “Telephone Hour” number last night. Fun. Good to see high school kids unzipping their cocoon skin and stepping out a bit.

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My Flip arrives tomorrow. Color me tres excite. Look for random and sundry uploads from our Detroit trip to take BFFs Kay and Bob to the airport on Saturday. Dare me to go ninja with it in Greektown Casino? Nah…probably get it confiscated. And as I always tell my choirs, in the interest of fair warning: That will make me mad.

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Speaking of Satuday…the airport. She’ll only be gone for 7 weeks, though. Which reminds me: cast/crew of Birdie who are reading this — that’s about how long we have till we open. Nice.

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I’ve lived in northeast Ohio for the better part of 36 years, and I’ve never been on a tour of the nearby Smucker’s headquarters in Orrville. Go figure.

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Speaking of Orrville, the Thriller and I are going to Smithville — just a few miles from the Smucker’s plant –to have dinner here with RD and Bonnie very soon. Me psyched — diet be danged that night, lemmetellya. (The food’s great, but yeesh their website is in desperate need of a redesign.)

And now my fiends, I am out of time, and out of here. Happy Thursday — tomorrow’s only a day away.

FO