With spring finally making its presence felt, we can enjoy some of the added benefits. For any sports fan, it’s an action-packed time of year, best known for long stretches of time spent near a television instead of strolling through the botanical gardens. Hope certainly becomes eternal when each baseball team takes stock of its chances and imagines what could happen by summer. The NHL playoffs begin, with the puck (and a lot of hitting) flying every night. Finally, the NBA goes into “showtime” mode, with a riveting season that explodes in the first round of the playoffs.
Although Celtics star Kevin Garnett will be missed, basketball fans see an incredible final showdown in the works: the Lakers and Kobe Bryant vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers and Lebron James. Kobe’s legend is already well established with his championship run alongside Shaquille O’Neal in the late 1990s. But there is a pretender to the throne. Call him King James, LBJ or just the King, Lebron has had a spectacular year and he won’t be satisfied until he wins it all. You can bet there will be a lot of eyes glued to his HDTVs if these two go head to head.
Inevitable? There is no such thing in sports. Much like the woeful first-round exit of the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks a few years ago, there are no guarantees that regular-season success will carry over into the postseason. However, with Garnett and the Celtics looking vulnerable, it’s hard to imagine Lebron leaving before the Finals without real competition in the Eastern Conference. If he needed a little incentive, the Pistons’ Game 1 blowout of the Cavaliers featured Lebron in hungry man mode. He forgets the 38 points and the other flashy stats. When he buzzed from beyond half court to take a twelve-point lead until halftime, the result was, well, inevitable. He has been unstoppable and his explosive presence is making everyone remember the original king, Michael Jordan.
On the other side of things, Kobe and his Lakers made sure Utah never got comfortable, eliminating them in a decisive Game 1 win. With Kobe, there’s always the killer look in his eyes. He will not only destroy you, but he will do it very casually, as if he could annoy him, condescending to play you. When he has angered you, then it is better to wait for “maybe next year” or another comforting expression. Jordan comparisons have been coming for years.
So the stars have seemed to align. If you don’t have a satellite TV package, you’d be wise to partner with someone who does and watch this matchup in high definition. Promise not to disappoint. In the meantime, reaccustom yourself to the pine tar, grass, and classic cinder bat snap in America’s great old game. After watching such adrenaline-pumping duels on a basketball court, it might seem quaint to watch a baseball game. That’s the beauty of spring: When the NBA showdowns end and a new or old King is crowned, you drift off, to a different time of year. I see barbecues, backyards, and definitely baseball in your future.