All over the place I’m reading stories that Kobe Bryant must, for some reason, validate his place in history by winning a championship without Shaquille O’Neal around to help him. And that’s what this NBA Finals is all about.

And that is so ridiculous.

My goodness, Michael Jordan never had to win one without Scottie Pippen. Bill Russell didn’t have to win one without all those great players he had alongside him in Boston. Magic Johnson didn’t have to grab one without Kareem and Worthy.

I really don’t understand why Kobe suddenly has to win “his own” title to someone cement his legacy. Come on, folks — I don’t think MJ ever won an NBA title with a supporting cast as weak as the one Kobe has right now. I mean, this Laker team isn’t exactly Kareem, Worthy, Byron Scott and Magic, is it?

Basketball is a team game. Ask Wilt Chamberlain (well, he’s dead, but you know what I mean). Oscar Robertson, ask him. You need talented players, plural, to win titles. The NBA does all it can to make it seem as if it’s just one man on these teams. There’s way too much of that “Kobe vs. LeBron” and “Garnett vs. Howard” marketing junk going on as it is. And people actually fall for it. They think if the Lakers lose this series, it falls totally on Kobe’s shoulders.

Don’t get roped into it. It’s the Lakers vs. the Magic. Period. The great players play a big part in it, but they aren’t the whole show. Didn’t we learn anything from LeBron’s conference finals last week?

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Tags: Dwight Jaynes, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, NBA championship, Oscar Robertson, Scottie Pippen, Wilt Chamberlain

People are already making fun of the accurately nicknamed “Big Baby” Davis, sobbing and sulking on the Boston bench last night after being screamed at by his teammate, Kevin Garnett. It’s just one more incident that gives you some insight into Garnett’s personality. Of course, most of the country probably believes what we saw in the nationally televised game Friday night was just one more example of Garnett’s sterling leadership. Tough love, is what one of the commentators called it.

Yeah, right. In most cases, that kind of stuff is not leadership. It’s just a guy being a jerk or it’s some sort of act, showing everyone how powerful he is. And Garnett — who comes off as a borderline psycho and a bully – is good at that. Of course, he’s always excused because he’s a great player. But understand, losing your temper and embarrassing teammates in front of standing-room-only crowds and a national television audience is not leadership. It’s an ego running amok.

When I look around at great leaders, in sports, business or politics, I don’t see a lot of people behaving like this maniac. As great as he is as a player, I bet he’s a real handful to coach. If an opponent doesn’t pop him in the nose one of these days, a couple of his teammates will. If body language is any indication, it looks to me as if most of the guys on his team are tired of his act, too.

Ladies and gentleman, the measure of what a great competitor you are is not how much you scream, yell, growl or snarl. You can compete just as hard with a mask of stoicism. You can compete just as hard with a smile on your face. People used to understand that. Fans and competitors alike used to respect the quiet dignity of the likes of Bill Russell, Jimmy Brown, Oscar Robertson or Joe DiMaggio. That was the standard. Now, because they don’t make a public spectacle of themselves during a game, those guys would probably be accused of not caring.

Again, this makes me look like a cranky old timer. Maybe. I think it merely means I value civility. And I worry that when kids watch Garnett pull this junk on television and is praised for it, we’re creating a whole bunch of mini-Garnetts, who can’t wait to get out on the field or court and belittle their teammates in the name of leadership.

Spare me.

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Tags: Big Baby Davis, Bill Russell, Dwight Jaynes, Jimmy Brown, Joe DiMaggio, Kevin Garnett, Oscar Robertson