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Bernie Sanders says LeBron James is the GOAT over Michael Jordan (VIDEO)

By Dane DelgadoSep 15, 2019, 10:00 PM EDT
3 Comments

Everyone has an opinion about who is the greatest player of all time between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Most folks still seem to pick Jordan, although it’s been hard to argue with the type of player that James is in a vacuum outside of measurements like championship rings.

In any case, we now have one more person who has tossed their opinion into the ring of public consciousness. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has now said that he believes that LeBron is the GOAT thanks to his public service.

Via Twitter:

“I think LeBron has been willing to do what a lot of athletes are not and get involved in the political process, put money into education, and I respect that.”

James has certainly done a lot politically, socially, and as an activist. He’s supported things like entire schools, and he’s been on the bleeding edge of NBA activism against things like police brutality.

Jordan has also done his part, including a recent pledge for $1 million in funds to aid Bahamanian hurricane relief. Folks like to bag on MJ for his purported “Republicans buy sneakers, too” comment, but it’s unclear whether he actually ever said or felt that.

In either case, it appears that we know who Sanders thinks is the GOAT. Next someone should ask Elizabeth Warren if she would have taken Kobe or Shaq in 2004.

Dwight Howard buys Rolls Royce to honor favorite Marvel character (VIDEO)

By Dane DelgadoSep 12, 2019, 11:00 PM EDT
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Dwight Howard is a weird dude, and now that he’s back with the Los Angeles Lakers he has additional media scrutiny upon him. Perhaps that’s not the best thing.

A recent interview that Howard gave with Grant Bensinger, Howard pointed out that he had a purple car because his favorite Marvel character was Thanos.

The only problem? Howard couldn’t quite pronounce “Thanos” and in fact didn’t seem to really understand the whole point of the last two Avengers movies.

Via Graham Bensinger:

He’s my favorite character. He was able to understand that in order for him to complete his mission, he had to get rid of his emotions. And that’s the hardest thing that we all face.

Spoiler alert coming, but what Howard appears to be referencing is the fact that Thanos decided to kill his own daughter in order to become more powerful in Avengers: Infinity War. Why would Howard think that was a good example of power of will? It’s hard to say.

Howard also showed off a Can-Am Spyder painted in Superman colors, telling Bensinger that he’d gone 170 mph on that particular vehicle. Displacing 1330cc and coming in more than 1,000 lbs, it’s doubtful that Howard ever went that fast on a trike that reportedly tops out around 120 mph. To achieve those kinds of speeds Howard would need to be riding something in the range of a BMW S1000 RR or a Kawasaki Ninja H2R.

So, to recap: It appears Dwight Howard interpreted Thanos’ character arc in a weird way, and he probably made up a white lie about how fast a motorcycle goes. Why? Who knows! His ridiculous mansion 35,000 sq. ft. mansion was interesting enough, he didn’t need to talk about all the sweet jumps he takes his toys off of.

Anyway, it’s September! The season doesn’t start for several weeks, and I just cannot wait. The Lakers are going to be hilarious to watch.

LeBron James’ ‘Taco Tuesday’ trademark request rejected

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By Kurt HelinSep 11, 2019, 11:01 PM EDT
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LeBron James loves Taco Tuesday — and it’s become a social media thing.

So much so, that LeBron, through one of his companies, tried to trademark the phrase with the plan to start a “Taco Tuesday” podcast.

However, that idea was shot down by the trademark office because “Taco Tuesday” is a “commonplace message,” meaning so many people use it no one person can trademark it.

I’m no trademark attorney — although I am good at eating tacos — however, this seems a good call to me. Nearly every Mexican restaurant, and some not-so-Mexican restaurants, use Taco Tuesday in their advertising. It’s about as common a part of the vernacular as it gets. It’s already too out there to trademark.

LeBron wasn’t the only Ohio institution to lose out on a trademark application Wednesday:

Kobe Bryant calls out girl for choosing dance recital over youth basketball game he coached

Will Navarro/NBAE via Getty Images
By Dan FeldmanSep 11, 2019, 5:15 PM EDT
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Kobe Bryant is maniacally devoted to winning and basketball. That made him an all-time great NBA player.

It also makes him an unbearable youth-sports coach.

Bryant edited the Instagram post to add, “meaning she enjoyed dance more than ball which is fine. Now? She eat sleeps and breaths the game.” That makes it better, but it’s still not good. Putting “winners” in quotes like that for a kids game is a real jerk move.

Anthony Davis: I want to hold LeBron James accountable, ensure he makes All-Defensive team

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By Dan FeldmanSep 9, 2019, 5:15 PM EDT
2 Comments

Anthony Davis said LeBron James wants him to be the Lakers’ offensive focal point. But Davis isn’t stopping there.

He’s got big plans for defense, too.

Davis, via Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports:

“I want to be Defensive Player of the Year,” Davis told Yahoo Sports. “I think if I’m able to do that, I can help this team win. The offensive end will come around, but defensively, I want to hold myself, teammates, including LeBron, accountable in order for us to take on the challenge of being the best we can defensively. In doing so, we’ll have a good chance of winning every night. I want to make sure me and LeBron are on the All-Defensive Team. And for me personally, I just want to be the Defensive Player of the Year. If we’re able to hold teams under 100 [points], which is probably unrealistic but it should be our goal, I think we’ll have a shot at winning the title.”

LeBron has exerted minimal defensive effort the last few regular seasons, for better or worse.

The good: LeBron saves his energy for deep playoff runs. Into his 30s, he probably can no longer play all out in the regular season and into June.

The bad: LeBron’s teams develop awful defensive habits. That’s difficult to overcome suddenly, even with more effort, in the playoffs. His loafing also makes it hard for his teammates to take him seriously when he criticizes their devotion. Though his Cavaliers annually reached the postseason despite lax defense, that doesn’t work in the Western Conference. Last year’s Lakers missed the playoffs in part because they didn’t play to their defensive potential.

Davis could win Defensive Player of the Year. His length, mobility and hops give him elite defensive upside. He could cover for many of LeBron’s deficiencies.

But demanding LeBron brings enough intensity to make an All-Defensive team himself? That’s something else entirely.

Maybe Davis will get through to LeBron. And maybe that won’t backfire late in the season because LeBron shouldered too heavy of a burden early. But those are big ifs, and this is just another potential issue as a potential championship run and Davis’ upcoming unrestricted free agency loom.