Born Earvin Johnson, Jr. on August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan, Magic Johnson was a point guard for the NBA and widely revered as the best in basketball history. Having won championships in high school, college, professional, and international levels, his professional career ended after thirteen seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. During this stint, he won five NBA Championships and was named to the All-Star team twelve times. His induction to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame took place in 2002.

Magic Johnson is also well known as one of the first public figures to make public his HIV-positive status, which he uses to the advantage of others, promoting education and awareness of the disease and the truth about how it can be spread. His announcement took place on November 7, 1991, shocking Americans with this news and the combined announcement of his official immediate retirement from basketball.

Though officially retired and having not played a single game during the 1991-92 season, he returned to the sport to play a final All-Star game due to being voted to the team. Johnson’s West team dominated and outshined the East with the final score of 153-113, Johnson scoring 25 points and nine assists. The game earned him is second All-Star Most Valuable Player Award, after which he continued his career by playing for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team with fellow superstars Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. The team was undefeated, won the Olympic Gold, and is revered as one of the greatest collections of basketball talent in history.

Every NBA fan would love to have an autograph from their favorite athlete, but often the cost of basketball autographs are out of reach for many. Whether it’s the cost factor or the concern as to whether or not a paid autograph is authentic, many are looking toward the athletes themselves for free basketball autographs.

One of the best places to start with, or build on to, your basketball autograph collection is through the Basketball Hall of Fame. As a general rule, halls of fame are very accommodating to fans and their request for autographs. The halls do not personally provide the autographs, but they will generally forward all fan mail to the athletes for handling.

Quite often, the best time to request autographs is after an athlete has retired from the game of basketball. During the height of their career, most basketball stars are flooded with requests for their autograph, which can make it difficult to respond to each one individually. When requesting an autograph, always send a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) with enough postage to accommodate the return mailing costs. If you are sending your own basketball collectible to be signed, including a photo or trading card, make sure that the envelope size will accommodate the item without it having to be bent. For investment purposes, basketball autographs will be their most valuable if they are in mint condition.

When addressing your envelope for mailing, make sure that you place the basketball player’s name at the top, which would be followed by the address for the hall of fame.

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
1000 West Columbus Ave.
Springfield, MA 01105

Born in Leeds, Alabama, on February 20, 1963, Charles Wade Barkley made a name for himself in the NBA as a power forward. Earning himself the nickname Sir Charles, Barkley carries the title of NBA Most Valuable Player for 1993 and, in 1996, was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He was a member of the famed 1992 US Olympic Dream Team and holds gold medals in association with both this team and the 1996 team.

Though Barkley is only about 6’4” (his listed height is 6’6”), he is well known as a tenacious, rugged rebounder, an excellent scorer, and a conscious team player. He played basketball in college for Auburn University for three years, leading the league in rebounds each year. He mainly played center in college, then left the school a year early to enter the NBA draft. He began playing for the Philadelphia 76ers.

During the early years of his career, Barkley was well known for a weight problem, topping 300 pounds and earning a nickname of “The Round Mound of Rebound” back in college. Every year that he played with the 76ers, except 1988 and 1992, they reached the playoffs. However, in 1992, Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns.

Patrick Aloysius Ewing was born August 5, 1962, and was a famous NBA basketball player, spending most of his professional career playing center for the New York Knicks. Born in Jamaica, he came to the United States with his family at the age of 12 and was settled at Cambridge, Massachusetts. After high school, he attended Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where he became known as one of the greatest college basketball players of his era.

Ewing was taken by the Knicks as the first overall draft pick in 1985, and, though he had a less than perfect season due to injuries, was named the NBA Rookie of the year, averaging 20 points and 9 rebounds per game. He was soon to be recognized as one of the top centers in the league. An 11-time All-Star, he was also a member of the 1992 US Olympic Dream Team, winning a gold medal.

Though he earned many honors and is renowned as a great player, Ewing never led the Knicks to a championship game. In 1993, it seemed that this situation would change, but even with the best record in the conference, they were knocked out of the finals by Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.

When arcade games gained popularity in the 1970s, they were the traditional type like the first pinball games, Pac-Mac, Pong, and Space Invaders. However, over time, the creators of these games realized they had to innovate and improve constantly to retain the attention of their players. This led to them diversifying into games like the High Impact Football game series. This was a completely new format for arcade games. However, these games did not do as well as their ancestors. Perhaps players took time to adjust to them.

It was not until the release of basketball arcade games that this type of game really caught on. The first that really took the arcade games by storm was NBA Jam. This genre got noticed immediately with its release and became popular worldwide.

NBA Jam was unique in a lot of ways. First of all it was more expensive than the other games, where finishing a game required no less than $2. It was also the very first game that used real teams, real players with their real names, with the digitized version of these players playing the game on screen.

Playing the game was akin to watching a game on TV, only better, since here the game players could make control every move of their favourite basketball players. More so, one could defy gravity to make them do what a player wanted them to do. This has been one of the criticisms of the game, that it featured unrealistic effects, with the players flying as much as their heights to score a point. Fans of the game however maintained, that this was actually a great high.

However, the game continued to climb on the popularity charts and featured basketball greats of their times like Karl Malone, Chris Webber, Colbert Cheaney, Jeff Hornacek, David Robinson, Charles Oakley among others. After a time people discovered other features of the game like Easter eggs and other special features to be activated by use of buttons and joysticks.

The game saw many sequels and spin-offs, including the NBA Jam: Tournament Edition, NBA Jam Extreme of 1996 and even a 3D version of the game featuring a commentary. The other games in the line were NBA Hangtime and NBA Hangtime Extreme. A college version of the game, called College Slam was also introduced in 1995.

The huge success of basketball games also gave rise to other sports games, which centred on games like football and baseball.

When Electronic Arts set the bar fairly high with the release of Madden 2008, they knew they had to raise it even higher in NBA Live 2008. The game is slated to be on all the major consoles such as the Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and the Nintendo Wii. This year’s iteration seems to hearken back to the fundamentals of basketball. One new feature in the video game is an online tournament mode. This will be a 32 team tournament style playoff that plays similar to fantasy football.

Electronic Arts has not corroborated if this mode will entail any e-mail support, but it looks promising. The online choices appears to have some variety to it. Gamers can play a versus mode and quick play to name a few. Versus is playing against other players online and quick play is using your own customizable team. If you choose to create a team with Shaq and Kobe as teammates, you can do that. The ESPN heavy presentation gives NBA Live 2008 a more authentic television experience. Players will also notice a scenario mode (ala Madden) where you can generate a bizarre situation any way you want. Last seasons modes such as the mini-games, dynasty mode, and NBA all star weekend will no doubt be making a return.

In terms gameplay, there looks like there will be more maneuvers being performed in the paint. The low post game is a point of emphasis in this years version of NBA Live 2008. Putting your back against the defender and executing fakes/shots will be strategic. A wide variety of shot selections can be used at the touch of a button. Another new feature in the game are the various cross-over dribbles and spins that can be utilized in conjunction with each other. Since the game an NBA simulation, you cannot expect to see extravagant dribbles by Tim Duncan.

You will have significantly more success if you are doing cross-overs with Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. These moves will be mapped to the right analog stick (ala NBA Live 2003). A shadow button has been included for better defensive positioning. Furthermore, expect to see players like Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce attempt fade away jump shots. Conversely, players like Dwayne Wade and Allen Iverson will drive towards the basket. The NBA Live series is always a step behind the critically acclaimed NBA 2k series. Will this year be different? We will have to wait and see when NBA Live 2008 is available in October.

Have you ever asked yourself is it possible to watch NBA games online? Because I have and I found that you can indeed watch NBA games online. And I found out that I don't even have to pay any monthly fees. These days, I find that many of my friends that love basketball keep asking me the same question because they know I don't miss a single game. For this reason I have written this article, which will hopefully enlighten everyone and no one will ever have to miss a single basketball game again, that is my hope.

Okay so let's get to the good part, how do I watch NBA games online? Well I have a service called Satellite TV for PC, which allowed me to watch all the NBA games online on my computer. The best part was I got a sweet deal, not only do I get all the NBA games but I also get all the channels and programs that any other normal satellite subscriber like dishnetwork offers and I only payed a one time charge of $50.

I did some research before I got my Satellite TV for PC service, and I found out that there are a lot of services that allows you to watch NBA games online and there are even some free ones. But truth is all the free ones I tried were absolute crap. Crap quality, like really crap, massive delay time and I didn't even get the playoffs. Then I read many reviews about payed services and from all the reviews I read one service really stuck out and that's the one I got. I've had my service for over 6 months now and I have no complaints. Everything was so easy I told my 62 year old dad to get the service so he could watch England in the cricket world cup and he was able to set it up by himself.

One of the best things about the game of basketball is that it is a team sport. If you want to win games you are going to have to do your part, but your teammates are also going to have to do theirs. For this reason, great bonds can be formed through the game of basketball. This holds true when players form friendships as well as coaches. The bottom line is that there is no better way to make friends than through sports; especially the game of basketball.

The reason that basketball brings people together is because they have to work with one another on the court. And over time as you work with somebody on the court, you will become closer to them in other areas of your life as well. And this does not just hold true for younger kids that are playing the game of basketball. Even grown men who play in the NBA make a lot of life long friends through the game of basketball. With basketball you do not have to be a certain age to make friends. As long as you are open to meeting new people the sky is the limit. You can make friends with both your teammates and your coaches. And in many cases these are people that you will remain friends with the rest of your life.

Overall, friendship and basketball go together nicely with one another. There is no other game on the face of the earth that helps bring people together like basketball.

I can’t stand when certain players in professional sports feel that they are greater then their sport. Currently the Miami Heat is playing horrible basketball in the NBA finals and their aging star is greatly to blame for their lackluster performances.

The Miami Heat is full of BullShaq. While Shaquille O’Neal is playing stinkball his Miami Heat is faltering. They are now down two games to none.

As far as Shaquille “BullShaq” O’Neal is concerned his behavior after his last game was despicable. BullShaq scored a career low 5 points in an NBA final series game. He refused to address the media and was fined by the NBA.

Mr. O’Neal fails to realize that it’s the fan in the stands that is ultimately responsible for his fortune. Without the fan, BullShaq would be nothing.

Mr. O’Neal owes an apology to the media that covers him and the NBA fan that attends his games. Right now Shaq should bow down to his fans. He is playing atrocious basketball and the fans deserve much better.

At the very least, he should address the media and his fans with class and dignity. I know that’s a lot to ask from today’s greedy and ill-mannered professional athlete.

Most of us have had bad days at work and have had to face our bosses and fellow employees. Most of us approach this situation with tact and professionalism.

I’m convinced that Mr. O’Neal is void of the maturity and character that would lead him to treat the NBA fan with respect.

I hope that Shaq can turn things around and make amends for his poor behavior but that would be like asking Ricky Williams to stop smoking marijuana.

I work for an online sports paraphernalia company that offers a wide variety of basketball apparel and equipment. So much so that potential customers are often confused about what to buy and what will ultimately fit their needs. The majority of the confusion pertains to basketball standards, hoops and goals and what each entails. Well, here’s the skinny on each.

Basketball Standard: Basketball standards are the most expensive of the bunch. They can be either portable or stationary. When you think basketball standard you should think of the type of basketball system that is used in the NBA or out on the playground. Simply put, a basketball standard is the entire package - rim, backboard, net and pole.

Basketball Hoop: When little Johnny writes to Santa Claus telling him he wants a basketball hoop for Christmas, he means that he wants the entire package. However, a basketball hoop is not quite the entire package. A basketball hoop is the combination of a rim, net and backboard, but no pole. Think of your high school gym. Yes, you probably had a basketball standard in there somewhere which the basketball team most likely used for real games. But you also had basketball hoops on the surrounding walls. That is what a basketball hoop is - a rim, net and backboard that can be fastened to an already existing structure.

Basketball Goal: The name of this particular piece of equipment get its name from its intended purpose. The word goal is something you strive towards. In sports, the goal is usually the place where you score points. Well, the same is true in basketball. The goal is just another name for the rim.

When purchasing sporting equipment, it is good to know the difference between the various technical terms associated with each individual sport. If you don’t, you may unintentionally buy something which you did not want.

These are four words that don't belong together - especially not in a headline. And then to further the Sopranos-esqueness, we add point shaving, referees betting on the games they officiate, and referees in debt to their mob bookies. They all add up to NBA seasons for the past several years with way more problems than just an asterisk in the records here and there.

Going to an NBA game had been an opportunity to watch the best in basketball compete - we thought. It now appears that many games' outcomes were dependent not on players talent and game play, but on the needs of a gambling referee and his mob controllers.

Sports fans criticize the WWF for its scripted wrestling matches and their foreordained outcomes. Fans who follow professional wrestling, as least, know what they are paying for and its not to line the coffers of organized crime. Nobody would bet on the outcome of a professional wrestling match, unless they were complete morons. Now, it appears, that the same can be said about professional basketball.

David Stern, commissioner of the NBA, has a very pro-active track record. This should help in the days ahead, as the NBA struggles to come to grips with the unleashed python of organized crime in their midst.

Stern has been adamant in turning down proposals to put a team in Las Vegas because of gambling fears. Putting a team in Las Vegas could be one of the ways forward for the NBA. As the Nevada gaming commission points out they have the legal tools to oversee unusual activity as far as the movement of the line and that type of conduct.

This story will continue to unfold for many months to come. You can follow the latest in headlines here

There is not such thing as a sure bet. The beauty of sports competition is that no matter what team is the favorite and has probabilities on their side, one score of the other team can change the outcome of a game.

Basketball picks are popular today with all the games that have been going around on the NBA playoffs. Thousands of bettors search into basketball picks website trying to find light to their judgment and making sure they make the right bet.

Though, the basketball picks are useful to analyze different situations and reading a different and experienced perspective of the game, they shall not be taken totally. Since NBA picks are made by personal judgments you can take these to make up your own picks and opinion. Mixing various basketball picks that predict games results in different ways helps in considering or rejecting certain opinions or predictions.

You may find several basketball picks in the internet. Some of these websites are pay-to-see, so you have to pay an amount of money so you can receive picks from expert handicappers that have been long enough watching and betting the sport to make a good judgment. But they are not perfect and they may fail from time to time, there is not such thing as 100% games predicted. But these basketball picks are great and beneficial for your own picks.

There is also free basketball picks you may find in some websites. Though, they may not come from recognized handicappers, they still are a personal prediction of someone who is analyzing the sport. Do not discard free basketball picks because they still help you and they are free!

Remember basketball picks must be taken consideration but they are not what the outcome will be, sports games are so unexpected that the best handicapper that can give you the best advice is your own personal judgment.

Theoretically anyone can become an NBA player but in reality in order to become an NBA player you have to meet a whole lot of criteria, you have to be noticed by scouts and above all there has to be spot for you on the team.

In order to selected in NBA, you have to play at college level. You have to know the nuances of the game and of course, train very hard. Players keen to selected for NBA maintain a strict diet regimen, exercise very hard and ensure they sleep well to help their body recover. They also spend a lot of time practicing to improve their game and skills. They make sure that they learn and evolve continuously as players. Usually, basketball players have to be tall. However, if a player is not tall, he makes up for this lack by being quick and accurate with shots and passes. All basketball players need to excellent and outstanding maneuvering abilities.

For those players who could not make it to the college team for some reason or the other, they should not feel disheartened. They always have the option of playing in Europe. However, you need to have good contacts. Players should find out how to get in touch with scouts. You can also get yourself an agent who will help you in all these matters.

Remember, if you are talented and top notch player, you will get noticed for the draft because of all the publicity you get. But this does not mean that you will be selected. There has to be an open slot in the team for you.

In order to part of the NBA, you would have to make basketball you life. You would be required to put in very long hours of training and practice. Plus take care of what you eat and drink as these are all connected to your fitness. You would have to build your focusing abilities so that during games you concentrate on the issue at hand rather than being distracted.

Once you have learned to do these things, it should be a lot easier to get selected for an NBA draft. Remember, commitment and perseverance will go a long way so start planning your NBA future today.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a former NBA (National Basketball Association) player of legendary status. At 7 feet, 2 inches in height, Kareem dominated the in the NBA for 20 years. Kareem was voted the National Basketball Association's most valuable player on six different occasions, in addition to being on the NBA All-Star team in 19 of his 20 seasons. Being named one of the fifty greatest players in NBA history, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was inducted into the NBA hall of fame in 1995.

Kareem was born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr. in Harlem, New York City, in 1947. Born a large baby, 12 pounds and 11 ounces, Ferdinand began dominating the game of basketball at an early age. In high school he led his team at Power Memorial Academy to a 96-6 overall record with a 71-game winning streak and three straight New York City Catholic championships. After high school he decided to attend UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), where he played college basketball from 1966 to 1969. During his college campaign, Ferdinand helped lead UCLA to 88 wins and just 2 loses with three championships. In addition to the fantastic team accomplishments, Ferdinand was named Player of the Year twice, named First Team All-American on three occasions and was the first Naismith College Player of the Year. The trademark goggles he wears was the result of a scratched left cornea that happened while playing basketball in college. Ferdinand Alcindor also converted to Islam during college but his name change didn't occur until 1971.

After college, Kareem was drafted in the 1969 NBA Draft as the first overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks after declining a millions dollars to play for the Harlem Globetrotters. Placing second in scoring and third in rebounding during his first year in the NBA, Abdul-Jabbar easily earned Rookie of the Year honors. In his second season with the Milwaukee Bucks, he earned his first scoring title, his first Most Valuable Player award and first Finals MVP award along with winning the his first NBA championship. Over the next five years he remained a dominant force with Bucks with multiple scoring titles and winning MVP honors another two times before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. In his first five years with the Lakers he earned three more Most Valuable Player awards. Before Kareem's retirement from basketball in 1989 he won five more championships with the Lakers under the coaching of Pat Riley.

Besides being a basketball superstar, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has been in a couple films as an actor and has appeared as a guest on a few television shows. His first movie appearances were in "Airplane!" and "Fletch". Kareem has since been named to NBA Hall of Fame and in 2005 became an assistant to coach Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers. Kareem is currently helping to develop young players on the Lakers. Every player on the Lakers surely listens to the wise words of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar because he is one of the top five players in the National Basketball Association's history.

If you have a sports fan in your home, chances are you have already considered a party theme based on their sports enthusiasm. If your sportster loves basketball, then a Happy Hoops Basketball Birthday Bash could be the answer to all your party dilemmas.

The first thing to consider is whether your basketball party is going to be held indoors or outdoors. If you are planning an indoors basketball party, chances are you are going to have to concentrate on basketball décor and trivia. You might consider watching Basketball games or instructional videos as well as providing basketball party favors, memorabilia, and games such as basketball word scrambles or wordfinds.

If you are having an outdoor basketball party, you can incorporate lots of activities that require physical exercise and use basketball skills and ability. Even if you have no traditional basketball court, or your players are very young, you can still have plenty for them to do to feel as important as members of the NBA!

Consider purchasing shirts in two different colors, so the players can divide into teams. Either hold your party at an indoor or outdoor basketball court, or on your driveway. You can use your concrete or paved areas for dribbling and shooting. No basketball goal? No problem! Have your basketball partiers play using large trashcans as goals. You can get softsider balls in smaller sizes to make it easier as well.

Another option for inclement weather is to have your party inside. Just utilize the regular indoors activities, and perhaps clear out an area, and set you nerf basketball hoops, and play using Nerf balls. Just be certain that you arrange things so that there are no breakables present, because even the most coordinated and gentle can fall and cause the loss of a treasured item through breakage!

Millions of people bet on sporting events every year and some of the most exciting action can come from nba betting. The large number of professional basketball games allows you to do a lot of nba betting and potentially win a lot of money. However, you need to know how to make the best bets. A lot more is involved in successful betting than just looking at the betting lines and odds and then laying your money down. There are numerous factors that can affect the outcome of a pro basketball game, and just knowing team records don’t always tell you everything you need to know.

For example an injury to a key player might dramatically affect a team’s ability to win the next game against their arch rivals. Therefore it could also affect which team you bet on and how much you want to bet. For example, is the injury serious enough to keep the player out of the game, or will just limit his playing time? If he can play, how might the injury affect his performance? If the player normally scores over 30 points a game and will likely only score half of that due to the injury this is information critical to your nba betting decision.

A nba betting decision may also be impacted by such factors as friction between team members or between a player and a coach. Something like that can cause team members to lose focus and affect their play. So to do the best at your nba betting be sure and do your research and listen to the recommendations of the experts. Then place your bets and collect your winnings.

After Ohio State star Greg Oden announced that he would be entering the NBA draft, Danny Ainge, Celtics’ executive director of basketball operations, preferred to stay quiet about it. Ainge has already been fined $30,000 by the NBA for making contact with a potential draft choice.

This time Ainge said that he was not willing to comment on anything because it was not yet official.

The Celtics finished with the second worst record in the NBA and this would give them a very good chance of either selecting Greg Oden or Kevin Durant of Texas during the draft. Both Oden and Durant have already announced that they will be going pro but Ainge is not ready to comment till May 3, 2007, the date when the NBA will confirm that both Oden and Durant have filed their paper for the draft.

In March 2007 after the Big 12 tournament, Ainge was fined when he sat next to Kevin Durant’s mother. The NBA reasoned that Ainge had violated the rules that expected basketball executives to keep minimum contact with the potential NBA draft picks until college players are officially declared for the draft.

During the ceremony to honor late Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach, Ainge refrained from making any comments on Oden or Durant.

The Celtics honoured Auerbach just before the game against the Yankees. The Red Sox hung out all the 16 championship banners from the Green Monster along with one which featured a silhouette of Auerbach smoking a cigar. Ainge was present along with the team owners and several current and former Celtics players on the mount while Bob Cousy threw the ceremonial first pitch.

Who has never heard of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, or Vince Carter? These NBA greats have been a household name for decades. NBA is the basketball league the world enjoys. All basketball fans dream of watching their favorite teams hustle and bustle in the hard court. But for those unlucky enough to buy season tickets before it ran out, they would have to be content watching NBA matches on TV.

But there exists even more unfortunate individuals who can't even watch NBA games on TV. People like me who have jobs that could extend late at night would have to be content watching the games on tape. Of course, it was never the same as watching it live because other people could spoil the game for you. I remembered asking my friend one time to tape a game for me. He did record it. But he couldn't help himself telling me the highlights of the game and who won the match. The excitement is really gone. It watching the tape felt like watching an old film with no sound.

Good thing I discovered satellite TV for PC's. Now, I can watch NBA games online. And all I really need is a laptop and an internet connection. Even if I were on the go, I would never have to miss a game. I just log on to the site, download, and watch NBA games online. It's sweet and easy. No need to install satellite dishes or any receivers. No need to learn about codes and technical setup either.

With over 3000 channels to choose from, satellite TV for PC's is a dream come true. I get to watch NBA games and all my other favorite TV shows without much of a hassle. Sometimes, I even watch shows right from my computer at work!

So for all people who can't get enough of NBA games or any other TV shows, don't despair. You can certainly catch up on them all. You can even finish watching the whole season in one sitting! As for me, I now always watch NBA games online. The only regret I have is that I should have known about it sooner.

Born February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York, Michael Jeffrey Jordan is one of the most renowned players in NBA history and considered even by some to be the greatest basketball player of all time. He played for a full fifteen seasons and finished with an average score of 30.12 points per game, eking out a record ahead of Wilt Chamberlain, who had set the score to beat at 30.06. While playing for the Chicago Bulls, he racked up six NBA Championships, ten scoring titles, and five Most Valuable Player titles.

Since 1983, he has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated 49 times, setting yet another record. In 1999, ESPN dubbed him the “greatest North American athlete of the 20th century”. Because of his consistent ability to dunk the ball from the foul line and jump high, he has earned the nicknames of “His Airness” and “Air Jordan” (later used for the popular shoes he endorsed).

Though born in Brooklyn, his parents, James and Delores, moved the family (Jordan has two older brothers and two sisters, one younger and one older) to Wilmington, North Carolina, when Michael was still very young. Among his siblings, Michael was probably viewed as the least likely to succeed in life, as he was the only one not to hold a steady job.

Earvin Johnson Jr., known simply as “Magic” to millions of basketball fans all over the world, has been one of the NBA’s best players and biggest winners. Standing 6-9, Johnson revolutionized the point guard position with his pure passing and all-around versatility.

Johnson was a winner at every level of his career, starting in high school and including college, professional and international. At Michigan State University, he injected a much-needed dose of enthusiasm and passion into the college hoops scene, eventually leading his school to the 1979 National Championship over Indiana State which was led by another legendary basketball player, Larry Bird. Bird would become Johnson’s closest rival throughout their respective careers. Their college championship showdown became the most watched college basketball game in history.

Johnson later joined the Los Angeles Lakers and was their heart and soul for 13 seasons, leading them to five NBA championships. He was named to the NBA All-Star team 12 times, league MVP three times and NBA Finals MVP three times. In 2002, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was voted to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996.

In 1991, Johnson announced that he was HIV-positive and retired from the NBA. He was among the first sports celebrities and one of the most popular public figures to ever do so.

Johnson earned his nickname back in high school when he was an All-American at Everett High School in Lansing, Michigan. He was 15 at the time and he had an amazing game where he finished with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists. That inspired a local sports writer named Fred Stabley to christen Johnson as Magic. In his senior year, Johnson led Everett to the state championship (27-1 win-loss record).

When he entered the NBA in 1979, the league suffered from a poor image and was ranked third in popularity behind the NFL and MLB. But Johnson’s rivalry with Bird, who had joined the Boston Celtics, revitalized the NBA. In their first three years in the league, the duo produced two championships – two for Magic and one for Bird. Before they were done, the dynamic duo would have eight NBA championships between them – five for Magic and three for Bird.

The Women’s National Basketball Association or WNBA first started in 1996. This is the first women’s league that has been endorsed by the NBA. WNBA held its first season in 1997 in June. This was after the USA Women’s Basketball team won the gold medal in the 1996 Olympics.

WNBA is divided into Eastern and Western Conferences which is similar to the NBA. The playoffs result in the finals between the advancing team from each conference. WNBA plays in the summer, between the NBA seasons. They use many of the same venues as their NBA teams. A regular season is made up of 34 games and during the middle of July each year, games come to a halt for the WNBA All Star game. This is time when star players from Eastern Conference play against the star players from Western Conference. Fans are allowed to vote right through to season to select the star player they want to see in the WNBA All Star game.

The playoffs is made up of series in which the top four teams from each Conference play. Usually the team with the best record will play the team with the fourth best record and the second and third best teams play each other in the first round. The winner of each series play each other in the second round which best of three. The winner from the second round then advances to championship finals which best of five.

In 1997 when WNBA started, it has just 8 teams and this number gradually increased. By 2000 the league was collectively owned by the NBA and in 2002 NBA sold individual franchises either to their NBA counterparts in the same city or to a third party owner. This sale caused two teams to relocate and the Cleveland Rockers folded at the end of 2003 season.

In 2005, many changes were made to the governing rules of the WNBA so that it would be similar to the NBA.

I do enjoy my sports. Many days I just don't have enough time to watch sports so I turn on ESPN News for a half or so and get caught up. Most of the ESPN News Casters do a great job of reporting the daily sports happenings. Actually they all do a great job, One Sportscaster does have this little quirk that does bother me.

I watch ESPN News in the United States a country who's official language is English. All of the sports casters on ESPN News Broadcast in English. I am somewhat embarrassed to say that even though my wife of over 10 years was born in a third world country and speaks English as her 2nd language that I still only speak English.

One of the ESPN Newscasters seems to feel a need to toss in a few Spanish phrases over the course of the 1/2 hour show. While it doesn't typically detract from the show or even the news I receive, I shouldn't be required to consult an English Spanish dictionary to understand a NewsCast that is suppose to be broadcast in English Only. ESPN does have a Spanish language version, I am betting that if someone on the Spanish version of ESPN spoke English that ESPN would put a quick end to it.

The U N Security Council turned up at the Madison Square Garden to watch the New York Knicks play the San Antonio Spurs. It was a welcome change for the diplomats specially those from Iran, Sudan, Israel and Palestine. The U S Ambassador to the U N, John Bolton played the host.

Bolton rooted for the Knicks since their were the “home team”. He said being against the Texas team, which San Antonio Spurs are, could be a little dangerous for a Bush administration official.

David Stern, the NBA commissioner, handed out caps from both teams to the visiting ambassadors. He said that the NBA thinks that basketball is a universal language and brings people together.

The fourth quarter had the council members on their feet cheering for the teams. Bolton mentioned that the game was like negotiating in the Security Council. China U N Ambassador Wang Guangya was accompanied by his wife. He wanted to invite Yao Ming to New York for this game but the Houston Rockets’ center was busy and could not come.

Argentina’s U N Ambassador Cesar Mayoral was delighted that the Spurs won since they have two Argentine players; Fabricio Oberto and Manu Ginobili. The Russian Ambassador to U N was on his first visit to Madison Square Gardens and used to be a basketball player in high school.

The only woman in the 15 member council was Denmark’s U N Ambassador, Ellen Margrethe Loj. She was given a crash course in February 2006 on how to play basketball by NBA’s Senior Vice President for Player Development, Mike Bantom. Bantom is a former NBA player.

When ABC “traded” Al Michaels to NBC this off-season, ABC replaced Michaels with Mike Breen as their lead NBA play-by-play announcer. Breen will now be calling the NBA Finals with Hubie Brown, Michaels former partner. Breen is an established play-by-play announcer, but is he the best in the business?

Breen is currently in his 14th season as an NBA broadcaster. He worked for NBC as both an NBA and WNBA broadcaster until 2002, the network's last year. He is also the lead play-by-play announcer for New York Knicks games on the MSG Network, taking over for Marv Albert who left over a dispute with Knicks management. ABC chose Breen instead of pursuing the likes of Albert, Brent Musburger, Kevin Harlan, or Dick Stockton.

It is suspected that the move was made as much for convenience as it was for talent. Albert is under contract with Westwood One, the YES Network, and TNT. Harlan and Stockton both also work games for TNT. Musburger, who calls NBA games for ESPN would seem to be the more obvious choice. He has years of experience calling big games and is one of the most recognizable voices in the industry.

It seems as though ABC simply elevated Breen from the number two spot to number one without considering the other options. However, the number one spot demands much more than number two – most notably the NBA Finals. Is Mike Breen the best NBA play-by-play announcer? We’ll soon find out.

Johnson announced his return to basketball for the 1992-93 season, though after practicing during the preseason, he opted out of seasonal play and went back into retirement. He made two other returns to basketball later, entering as a coach for the final sixteen games of the 1993-94 season in the stead of Randy Pfund. After winning only five of those games and not even leading the team into the playoffs, he chose not to coach the following season. Again in 1995-96, Magic returned to basketball as a player, late in the season. He played the final 32 games of the season, and, after the team lost the first round of the playoffs, he retired for the last time.

He continues to make charitable appearances on the court, and he’s pursued the ownership of two basketball clubs, one Swedish and one Scandinavian. He’s played a few games in the Summer Pro League (played just prior to the start of the NBA season and consisting mostly of NBA rookies and sometimes more well known players looking to get in shape), as well as a few games with the teams he owned, though he was injured in a game with his Scandinavian team and prevented from playing any more games.

Much like Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson is an iconic figure for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The NBA and its players represent a game of extraordinary skill, athleticism and grace, and, for good or bad, set an example for the entire basketball world, on the court and off of it. Like everything there must be balance between the positive side of things and the negative and it is even better if the positive side outweighs the negative.

On the NBA we have on the positive side, the players’ passion for the game, their commitment to the fans and respect for the history and tradition of the game. In regards to the negative, while the NBA has worked meticulously to eliminate fighting from the game, incidents such as that Saturday night at Madison Square Garden between the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks show the public there is still much more to be done, or maybe tell us that the solutions are not being the ideal ones.

As a result NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony was suspended for 15 games and six other players were penalized as commissioner David Stern came down hard on both teams after the Nuggets and Knicks brawled at Madison Square Garden.

It is a shame for the fun of the game but the NBA is in it’s obligation to take the strongest possible measures to avoid such spectacles in the future and to make a statement to all who follow the game of basketball that they understand their obligations and take them seriously.

The main concern should be for the safety of the players and the fans, because when things such as these get out of hand you cannot predict or project where they're going to go.

Spalding is perhaps the most respected and popular brand when it comes to basketballs. Spalding, a brainchild of Albert Goodwill Spalding, was created in 1876, and was the first firm to manufacture balls specifically for the game of basketball. According to the survey website epinions.com, Spalding is the global market leader in basketballs, rivaling the popularity of other basketball brands like Nike, Wilson, Rawlings, and Mikasa.

Spalding has been NBA’s officially recognized ball since 1983. Almost all reviewers on Epinions gave five star ratings to Spalding balls. Spalding balls are considered extremely durable, suited to both outdoor and indoor play. Another factor in their favor is cost- they are not as expensive as other basketballs like Nike. For example, a Spalding All Surface Composite Leather ball sells on SportDepot.com for around $30. As the name suggests, this ball is good for both indoor and outdoor play. It has a soft composite leather shell, marked with deep channels to enhance grip and bounce.

The NBA (and WNBA) basketballs manufactured by Spalding measures 29.5” in circumference (28.5” for the women’s match). That is, official size 7 for men and 6 for women. The men’s basketball is pebbled with a density approaching 122 per square inch, and this helps retain a good bounce for a longer time. This ball has a leather cover, suited only to indoor play. The wide channel design ensures smooth bounce.

The Spalding Rubber Men’s basketball is manufactured according to the requisite NBA specifications, and it is good for both outdoor and indoor play. It has a circumference of 29.5”. This brown colored ball has the NBA logo imprinted on it.

The latest, and very popular, Spalding basketball lines are the TF 100 and TF 1000. These balls are used by basketball pros during official matches, and are retailed on many sports websites like SportsDepot.

Apart from the official basketballs, Spalding also manufactures other kinds of balls like the Leather Mini basketballs, which are sold by OnlineSports.com.

Five, four, three, two, one Women’s Basketball is at its highest level worldwide. After years of struggle with audiences and respect of doubters now the sport can look back and laugh. Starting in the USA women’s basketball started just as the sport of baseball. Women played basketball in dresses and skirts to cover up their body. Women back many years ago were subsided to be a mother and work at home while the husband provided for the family. Basketball was not

Basketball leaders who helped open the doors for women’s basketball in the USA such as Teresa Edwards, Cheryl Miller, Cynthia Cooper and Jennifer Azzi. There are many reasons why women’s basketball has grown in the last decade. Exposure such as the summer Olympics, professional basketball leagues like ABL, NWBL, WNBA, semi professional leagues and women’s college basketball. The audiences have grown for women’s basketball and even being broadcasted on televisions worldwide. The fan base is tremendous, from NBA player’s support, worldwide women’s support, young girls and men in general.

Women basketball players from the USA are heading to Europe more and more each year to play in European Championships and competitions. In the past, this was open to only a few standout players who had previous professional experience or had been to the Olympics. Now, young players from Europe have more opportunities than ever to play basketball in US universities and colleges. Most competitions in European countries are not as big as top leagues such as the French, Spanish, Italian and Russian like leagues. Therefore, young players have the chance to receive a high quality education and have more exposure in the USA.

It is proven that Women’s Basketball is at its highest ever and only will go up. Many leagues have come and gone but hopefully the Nationals Women’s Basketball Association (WNBA) basketball league will prevail due to the support of the National Basketball Association (NBA). With the respect of basketball leagues there are many women’s basketball resources online and apparel for the support of the game. Top websites such as Women’s Basketball Online, Women’s Basketball Buzz (http://www.wbbuzz.com), basketball blogs and more.

Do you want to know a little secret? NBA basketball betting can make you a lot of money. NBA basketball is a game that has helped turn sports betting losers into happy sports bettors with larger bankrolls. It’s really no secret to winning sports bettors—NBA basketball is the easiest game to make money at. The game itself gives sports bettors plenty of opportunity and the ability to win right up until the end. Unlike Football, Baseball and Hockey, NBA basketball does not have limited scoring. In those other games you might see a handful—or less—of scoring executions per game. If your side gets behind too much, it’s over no matter how much time is left. However, in NBA basketball, your team is usually in the game until the end.

Think about it for a moment. If you were to bet a -8 point favorite in football and the game was tied with 6 minutes left and the other team had the ball, would you have a realistic shot at winning? The answer is probably not. However, let’s apply the same situation to an NBA basketball game and chop 4 minutes off the clock—so there’s 2 minutes left. Would you have a realistic shot at covering the 8 points? You bet! Teams must shoot the ball within 24 seconds and each made basket is worth 2 or 3 points. You would only need 3-4 baskets to make the 8 points. Granted, the other team can score too, but in the NBA, two minutes at the end of a game is an eternity when the teams are close.

Let’s look at another scenario. Imagine that it’s half time in Basketball and Football, it’s the 5th inning in Baseball and it’s the 2nd period in hockey. Which of these four following scenarios have the best outcome?

1. The team you bet on in Baseball is down by 6 runs.

2. The team you bet on in Hockey is down by 3 goals.

3. The team you bet on in Football is down by 21 points.

4. The team you bet on in NBA Basketball is down by 22 points.

The answer, of course, is number four. Scores are hard to come by in the first three options. While comebacks happen sometimes, in the NBA, teams always go on runs. Each season is filled with games where a team was down 10,15, even 20 points and came back to win. There are many other games where the underdog was down by a lot and game back to lose by just a few points. With the NBA, you are almost always in the action right up to the end of the game. Can you say that about any other sport?

Finally, let’s talk about NBA basketball totals. You might find that betting the total points in a game (under or over) is your thing and you would not be alone. There is a theory out there that those who can get a feel for totals betting are among the most successful sports bettors alive. You could debate that theory, but it does point out a very important idea. Totals betting in NBA basketball is full of winning opportunity and the sports books don’t set them as well as the spread. Will this translate into more money in your pocket? That’s for you to decide.

If you are not on fire right now for some NBA basketball action, check your pulse. NBA basketball presents one of the greatest opportunities open to sports bettors. Don’t miss out of a great thing. Sports bettors and handicappers look forward to the NBA basketball season every year and now you know why.

The Los Angeles Lakers are a professional basketball team in the NBA. They are considered to be a basketball dynasty and, as a team, hold a number of notable records that explain their fame. As of the end of the 2004-05 season, they have more wins (2,621), a higher winning percentage (61.9%), more finals appearances (28), and more championships (with the exception of the Boston Celtics, who beat them by two with 16) than any other team. They also hold the record for most consecutive wins in a season (33).

The Lakers originate back to 1947, when the Detroit Gems were bought for a sum of $15,000 and moved to Minneapolis. As a member of the National Basketball League, they had the worst record by far and were given the first pick in the 1947 dispersal draft, which they used to recruit George Mikan, who is revered as the best center of his time. Between this pick and a new coach (John Kundla), the Lakers went on to win the NBL championship for the 1947-48 season and were bumped up to the Basketball Association of America (along with four other teams). Here, they won the 1948-49 championship, after which the NBL and BAA merged to form the NBA.

Each of the thirty National Basketball Association (NBA) teams spends a great deal of money on scouting players. The look into players skills and weaknesses and determine if they have what it takes to play in the NBA, which is considered to have the best basketball players in the world. Even with all that money spent on scouting some teams waste draft picks and contracts on players that turn out to be bad players. On the other hand some great players get pick in the second round of the NBA draft and become stars.

Looking back at some of the last few drafts you can point out many players that were taking late in drafts that should have been taken higher. One such player is Gilbert Arenas. He was the 31st pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, which placed him in the second round. As a second round pick his contract was no guaranteed, meaning he had to earn a contract. This past season he was fourth in the NBA in scoring, which is not what is expected from a second round pick.

Another player that slipped through the cracks was Michael Redd. He was drafted the 43rd player in the 2000 NBA draft and has turned out to have a better career than the 44 player picked ahead of him. Many of the player picked ahead of him are no longer in the NBA or are not productive players. This past season Redd averaged more than 25 points per games. That just goes to show you, scouts spend a lot of time making predictions and evaluations but they can still be wrong.

As of the 2005-06 season, 334 colleges and universities participate in Division I Men’s Basketball, with 49 of the 50 states having at least one program (Alaska has none). The teams are divided among 31 different conferences, some major and others mid-major (though this distinction is not considered to be official). No mid-major team has made the Final Four since 1979 (Penn and Indiana State – led by Larry Bird – both made the semi-finals), though both lost to Michigan State, headed by Magic Johnson.

In the past, the NBA would not draft a player who had not graduated from college. This worked well for both the NBA and the schools because it allowed the colleges to retain their players and remain competitive, and it meant the NBA never had to fund a minor league. At the same time, the players benefited by completing their education. However, over the years, student athletes began to have a hard time maintaining their studies, due to the commercialization of the sport. And the American Basketball Association began to draft undergraduates.

The UCLA Bruins are by far the most storied of all College Basketball teams. With 11 National Championships, they lead the nation in the category. They met up with Florida in 2006.

Basketball is one game that has become one with the American identity. The NBA Basketball League is renowned all over the world. It is one of the major professional sports leagues in the US.

Christened Basketball Association of America in 1946, NBA soon adopted its present name in the fall of 1949. It adopted the name after its merger with the major contender National Basketball League. The attempt to form professional basketball leagues dates back to the days before the formation of BAA. The quality of games in the early days of the BAA was nothing exceptional compared to the games played by other leagues or individual clubs.

Today, NBA considers the New York Knickerbockers hosted by the Toronto Huskies on November 1, 1946 as the first game in the history of the league.

NBA began with seventeen franchises and has seen quite a number of changes in number ever since. In 1950, the number of franchises came down to eleven and further reduced to eight in 1954. All eight of them are still part of the league. They are the Knickerbockers, Warriors, Pistons, Nationals/76ers, Celtics, Hawks and Royals/Kings.

In June 2006 NBA and the entire world stood witness to the first change in the game ball ever since the beginning of the League 35 years ago. The ball, manufactured by Spalding, bore a new design and was formed of a new synthetic material.

Today, after a series of re-sizing and relocations, NBA has, under its belt, 30 teams, 29 US-based and 1 based in Canada. The Boston Celtics have been the most successful NBA team with 16 Finals wins. The Miami Heat, who won its first championship in 2006, is the defending champions at present.

The NBA Regular Season begins in the first week of November with warm-up games, practice sessions and rigorous training beginning from October. Once the training camps are over, a series of exhibition games are held before the Regular Season takes off.

February interrupts the regular NBA season to make way for the annual NBA All-Star Game celebration. Balloting the fans is done all across the US. The best is selected while coaches vote to choose the remaining 14 All-Stars. The best performing player is rewarded with a Game MVP award. Besides, the All-Star game provides the opportunity to players to show off their talents in multiple ways. The NBA Playoffs begin towards the end of April.

The NBA has specified basketball sizes not just for official men’s, women’s, and junior league games, but also unofficial games for children and youth. These size specifications help you choose the right ball for yourself or your children, and it is recommended that they be followed strictly to avoid injury during play.

Basketball is a physically vigorous game, with moves that involve running, jumping, blocking, and shooting. The injuries during the game are categorized into upper body and lower body injuries. While lower body injuries can be prevented by proper shoes, training, and padding, upper body injuries are best prevented by using basketballs of proper size and weight.

According to a survey published by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), basketball ranks fourth among the major causes of injury in the US. A study quoted on iqHealth.com says that basketball causes 20% of all injuries in children aged 10 to 14. iqHealth.com goes on to suggest that proper basketball weight and size go a long way in preventing such injuries. The NBA recommended basketball size for children in this age group is 27.25”, with weight around 12 oz.

Injuries due to improper basketball size are also prevalent among children below the age of 7. NBA recommends that very young children be given foam or rubber basketballs with a 22” circumference and weight of 8 oz.

The CDC found that girls are more frequently and acutely injured than boys during basketball games. For adolescents girls between the ages of 14- 16, NBA recommends “junior” basketballs of circumference 27.75” (size 5), with a weight of around 18 oz. Also, the ball for women’s official games is 28.5” in circumference (size 6) and weigh 20 oz. The men’s official basketball, by comparison, is bigger (29.5” or size 7), weighing 22 oz.

Even training balls that are not used for official matches have certain size and weight criteria. For shot training, the men’s training basketball has 36” circumference (size 9). The women’s basketball is 33.5” or size 8. The men’s weighted ball used for muscle building exercises is 29.5” in circumference and the women’s ball is 28.5”, with weight a little more than the official balls.

Choosing the right ball is important for your health and safety, and these guidelines should be adhered to while purchasing basketballs for official or unofficial games.

The Atlanta Hawks are one of the worst teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They have a considerable amount of talented player but their biggest weakness is that they do not have a great point guard to get those guys the basketball. Last year they had the opportunity to draft one of the best point guards to come to the NBA in years in Chris Paul and they did not. He ended up being rookie of the year and nearly led his team to the playoffs on his own. Fats forward to this years draft and the Hawks make the same mistake by drafting another forward rather than selecting Marcus Williams, the best pure point guard in the NBA Draft. Drafting Marcus Williams could have given the Hawks the opportunity to make the playoffs. Instead they drafted Shelden Williams a power forward. Even though Shelden Williams was a solid pick he will not provide them with the things they need to make it to the playoffs next season.

The only way the Hawks will make the playoffs is if they make some trades or a free agent pick up to get a quality guard to run the team and get their athletic guards and forwards the basketball.

David Stern the commissioner of the NBA wants to impose a Dress Code on the Players. A Dress code for a sport that is played in Shorts and tank tops. Will this Dress Code Backfire on commissioner Stern.

David Stern wants to upgrade the image of the NBA by imposing a "Corporate Dress Code" on NBA Players. Currently NBA Players can wear anything they want in public. If David Stern has his way the players will be required to wear Slacks, Collared Shirts and Sports Jackets.

How is a Dress code going to change the quality of the games played on the hardwood. David Stern is under pressure to change the public image of the league in the Wake of the "Rumble in Detroit". Somehow he thinks that by requiring players to be more GQ in public this will help the public relations.

The GQ effect could backfire badly. Many basketball fans (The Average man and women on the street) are priced out of going to basketball games. They resent all the corporations with the luxury boxes and court side seats. Requiring the ball players to be more GQ may just put these fans over the edge and convince them that basketball is only a game for the corporate elite.

Sure you may get more money for the luxury boxes at the cost of TV Viewer ship and the revenue that goes with those TV packages. David Stern be careful what you ask for?

Basketball is a very popular sport in America and its popularity has also spread to South America, Asia, and Europe. With its widespread popularity, a new genre of game also has become a rage, that is basketball betting.

Basketball betting has become increasingly common with the advent of Internet betting. At the click of a mouse, gamblers worldwide are making money by betting in record numbers.

Betting has caught up fast because it gives novice or seasoned gamblers the chance to earn money in addition to enjoying the game on television. And what’s more, these gamblers have 100 games or options to choose from for betting. One can bet on half-quarter of a game or point spread or spread full game. There are around 30 National Basketball Association teams and around 200 college basketball teams. Such betting is pretty frequent and happens every week during the basketball season.

NBA was founded in 1946 and is the foremost and leading sports league in North America. NBA season normally lasts from late October to the month of June. The best way to bet in such seasons is not to give over weightage to any team. Being a pretty long season, there can be inconsistency among the best players and who knows the worst team may end up showing a winning streak!

NBA basketball betting can be lucrative if proper homework and analysis is done around the game. People usually go for basketball betting because it comprises a week’s action unlike a football game, which lasts for two days of action, Saturdays and Sundays.

Anyone who has a passion for basketball knows that the NBA and the professional basketball players associated with it symbolize a game that needs extraordinary skills, grace and athleticism. Besides this, the NBA and its players also set example from the way they behave and react on the court and off. Players should realize that there has to be a proper balance between the good and the bad and that the good should take precedence over the bad influence.

The NBA has worked very hard to ensure that it eliminates fighting from this wonderful game of basketball. However, there are still incidents that cast show over this game. NBA knows that there is still a lot of work to be done if it wants its image to improve in the eyes of the fans and the basketball world in general. On one hand we have the players who are passionate about the game and give it all they have and on the other a tiny incident can spark off a big row. Then, there are the players antics which always pop up at the most unexpected place. Players have to realize that they are looked upon as role models by the younger generation and getting into trouble off the court does not do them or their fans any good.

Basketball is a highly entertaining and fun game to watch. NBA and its players have an obligation to the fans and spectators who spend money to cheer them. NBA has clearly mentioned that it would take measures to avoid fighting incidents on courts and we know that they are serious about them. But who will tell the players about their off court behavior? Should not the players be held responsible for their behavior both on and off the court?

Michael Jordan is still regarded as the greatest basketball player to have ever played the game. This is despite the fact he retired many years ago. It was because of Jordan and the way he played the sport that increased the popularity of basketball and NBA all over the world in 80s and 90s. Jordan went on to become a huge marketing force and is still considered to be the most successful marketed athlete of his generation.

Michael Jordan retired from NBA after playing 15 very successful seasons. During his 15 years, Jordan established many records. His 30.12 points average per game is the highest very in NBA history. He won 6 NBA titles Chicago Bulls and won the MVP every time the Chicago Bulls won the championship. Michael Jordan was the leading NBA scorer for 10 consecutive years and has won the league’s MVP award 5 times. His achievements are innumerous and cannot be listed down.

Everyone became of Michael Jordan’s talent when he first played as a rookie in 1985. He had a dazzling arrays of shots and dunks in his arsenal along with superb defense and scoring ability. His ability to leap is legendary and went on to earn him nicknames like Air Jordan and His Airness. He was an all round player.

After his retirement, there was a vacuum. Many players were touted as the next Michael Jordan and these include Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter. However, none of the players could reach up to the standards laid down by Michael Jordan. Players like Michael Jordan are uncommon and they happen to come along very rarely, give us a lot of excitement and leave us yearning for more.

In 1999, Michael Jordan was named as the greatest athlete of the 20th century by ESPN.

Although he has been retired for several years now, Michael Jordan is still widely regarded as the greatest basketball player to ever play the game. His influence was felt not only in the way the game was played, but also in how it was perceived around the world. Ultimately, his excellence at his sport was instrumental in catapulting the popularity of basketball and the National Basketball Association all over the world during the eighties and nineties. Beyond all this, Jordan was also a marketing force and was hands-down the most successfully marketed athlete of his generation and, possibly, all time. In 1999, Jordan was named by ESPN as “the greatest athlete of the 20th century.”

Jordan retired from the NBA after 15 seasons, during which he established a number of prestigious records. His 30.12 points per game average is the highest ever in NBA history. He also won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and was the MVP of the NBA Finals every time they claimed the championship. In addition, Jordan has been the NBA’s leading scorer for 10 straight seasons and was the league’s Most Valuable Player five times. He was also selected to the All-NBA First Team 10 times, the All-Defensive First Team nine times aside from leading the NBA in steals in three years. The Associated Press also ranked him as second only to Babe Ruth as top athlete of the century.

Jordan’s wizardry on the basketball court was evident from the very first time he stepped onto an NBA court as a rookie in 1985. He unveiled the full package – a dazzling array of dunks, ferocious defense and the amazing ability to score any time he wanted to. His leaping ability was off the charts and quickly earned him such colorful nicknames as “Air Jordan” and “His Airness.” In one playoffs game against the Boston Celtics in 1986, Jordan scored a record 63 points, which prompted the league’s then-reigning MVP Larry Bird to proclaim that he was “God disguised as Michael Jordan.”

The media has portrayed a number of players as “the next Michael Jordan” upon entering the NBA, including such renowned hoopsters as Grant Hill, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, who have all fallen short of their lofty billing. The latest to earn the sobriquet are LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, but they have a long way to go before they can earn the right to be called the next Jordan.

The Basketball Association of America (BAA) started the first basketball season in 1946. In 1949, the BAA agreed to merge with the National Basketball League to become the National Basketball Association (NBA). At the start, there were seventeen franchises in the nation. However, in 1950 the franchises were consolidated to eleven. In 1950, the NBA became integrated, accepting the first African American players. Chuck Cooper joined the Boston Celtics, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton joined the New York Knicks and Earl Lloyd joined the Washington Capitols. The Minneapolis Lakers won the first NBA Championship in 1950.

The NBA was at its smallest in 1954 when it had only eight franchises, all eight of which remain today. These are the Knickerbockers, Celtics, Warriors, Lakers, Royals/Kings, Pistons, Hawks and Nationals/76ers. 1954 also saw the introduction of the 24-second shot clock to increase the tension of the game.

The NBA played with the six-team format until 1967 when it expanded by adding two teams. This expansion was in response to the founding of the American Basketball Association (ABA) in an attempt to tie up the best cities. The following year the Division Semifinals was changed to a best-of-seven playoff. Two additional teams were added each in 1975 and 1977. In 1976, the NBA reached a settlement with the ABA, which added four ABA franchises to the NBA, raising the total to 22.

The current sixteen-team tournament was not started until 1984. The First round was then changed to a best-of-five playoff, to accommodate the new teams. It wasn’t until 2003 that first round became the best of seven we have today. During the last 2004 to 2005 season, the NBA underwent additional changes. There are now thirty NBA franchises and the division structure has been realigned. There are now three divisions with five teams each.