Almost all of you are big babies. When you were kids, you might have thought things like "only babies walk away from a fight," or "I need to be the man or I am no one." As you got older, you should have learned that fighting doesn't help anything, and that sometimes you can be better as a team then by being "the man."

Basketball is a team sport. There are five guys on the floor. In fact, a common criticism of todays game (even it is ridden with fallacy) is that today's NBA is too individualized; that teams played with more fluidity back "when I was a kid." Still, I am all for a more team oriented playing style.

Now LeBron James signed with the Miami Heat. It shocked us. But what shocks me even more is how he's been beaten down for it. Sure, "The Decision" was a bad idea from a young guy who hasn't made many, but as a free agent, he had the right to go where he wants to. He had said all along that he wanted to go where he had the best chance of winning and that's actually what he did.

In what weird world do we live where we criticize a guy for taking less money for the sake of the team? Where we call him cowardly, spineless, without drive, will or courage because he left a team that had little to no talent? A team that acquired no new talent, and a team whose owner apparently thought very little of the teams single bright spot?

Why would we root against a team that sacrificed money for team, gave up personal glory and accolades for victory, and that will better basketball for the world by teaching a whole new generation of kids that basketball is a team sport, not a game where you just stay where you are for the sake being "the man?"

I've heard people say that Magic never did this, Jordan never did this, and Kobe never did this. Well Magic and Jordan both were winning titles along side hall of fame team mates before they reached free agency, so it was a very different situation that's not really comparable. Kobe actually demanded a trade after winning three titles on Shaq's shoulders when not even in free agency after Jerry Buss refused to trade Andrew Bynum for Jason Kidd, so if you're going to talk about cowards and quitters, don't bring up LeBron's name...

It's silly. A free agent went to a different team. Yes, the Cavs franchise is sinking like the Titanic. But the nostalgic old idea of a captain going down with his ship is stupid in this case. Why waste a super talent that comes along once every generation on a team incapable of winning? Why should he lose there forever because he was first drafted there by a terrible, terrible franchise? 

It's been an incredibly busy new season. Let's hit on the surprises that really jump out.

1) The Hawks don't stink. It's just been SO long since they haven't been awful. With the core of Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Marvin Williams and Mike Bibby, they've grown beyond anyone's expectations. Not only are they better, but they are now one of the most entertaining teams in the league. While they are rarely on TV (because we get to watch the Spurs instead) you should really take every chance to tune in to a Hawks game.

2) Philly DOES stink. A few years ago, the Bulls signed Ben Wallace to a ridiculous deal, which led to several pundits to predict a championship for Chicago. It was a stupid deal, but an even more stupid prediction. I rank this one right below it. The Sixer's signed Elton Brand, and suddenly every one is predicting them to upset the Celtics as the Eastern conference's supreme power.

Guess what? Elton Brand is a loser. He is a money-first, team second big man with bad knees who has been to the playoffs once in his 9 NBA seasons.

3) The Cavs are real contenders for the first time. When LeBron went to the finals two years ago, his team was not a contender to win. Now they are. No one thought he would be so good or that Mo Williams could possibly help that much. But their offensive effeciency has gone from the basement to the top of the league, while their defense is terrific, as only the Celtics are better defenders.

4) Shawn Marion isn't the man. He wanted out of Phoenix so he could be "the man" and prove that Nash and Stoudemire benefited from his play. Well, he's dumb. I still say that Phoenix should have sent Marion to Atlanta for Josh Smith and Marvin Williams (this would have kept D'Antoni in town) and kept the Suns high flying.

5) The Knicks aren't all super dysfunctional. Isiah Thomas is fired, D'Antoni is in, and the Knicks are as relevant as they've been in years. Not surprisingly, the Knicks join the Hawks in the "really fun to watch" category.


Look for more to come!

Last night the Lakers eliminated the Jazz in Utah in game six of their conference finals series. From the beginning it looked to be a Laker blowout on the road, something that had never happened in this second round. Instead it became a close road win, and it was only the second time in 22 games when that scenario was able to play out.