Best Since Jordan?

I think its almost a definite consensus that Michael Jordan was the best player of the 90s, and quite possibly any era. What is not determined is who has been the best since him. Yes, I did say it was not determined. Most people are going to point the arrow towards Kobe Bean Bryant, but let us give that some real thought; you may be surprised.

Michael Jordan left the Bulls, for the last time, after the 1998 season. Since then, there have been 13 mvps. Everyone's favorite, Mr. Bryant only has one of those. Meanwhile, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, and Lebron James only have 2.

Has Kobe been the best scorer since Jordan, too? He's certainly got the rep of the best. However, Kobe has only won a whole 2 scoring titles since 1998. About the same amount as young Kevin Durant. The once great and much richer Allen Iverson has 4, thats easily forgotten. Lets not forget about McGrady having a couple before the injury bug hit and later decimated his career.

I know what the next thought will be, rings perhaps? Yes, 24 has accumulated 5 of those. I suppose you cannot take those away. You can mention the fact that Duncan has 4. While mentioning that, you have to note that Duncan was the main option on all 4 of those championship teams. He certainly did not have the luxury of being the big deferent to a massive and beyond dominant Shaquille O'neal for 3 rings. In his 7 trips to the finals, he has 2 finals' mvps. Duncan has 3 in 4 trips.

Have we overrated Kobe? I don't think we have, and I won't dispute the force he is in the league. My point is that the league has also had other great players. Just because Tim Duncan hasn't tried to clone Jordan doesn't mean he's not worthy of the title "best since Jordan". Flash shouldn't be the answer, and neither should high price divorces. However, productivity should be.

Peyton or Eli? Really?!

This past Sunday, Eli Manning won his second super bowl. When I say second, I do mean more than one but less than three. This has sparked several debates about which quarterback is better, Eli or his brother Peyton. Is this debate necessary? Here is what I think.

Here is the simple solution. Even if Peyton does not play another game, he will go down as one of the greatest to ever play the position. Peyton has thrown for 4,000 yards in every season with the exception of 2. Eli only has 3 total 4,000 yard seasons. Is that enough?

Do we have to bring actual wins in the equation? MVPs? Or any stat that proves if a QB is actually good or not? The bottom line is that Peyton has been possibly the league’s best for quite some time now. That has never been said about his younger brother, who has always been closer to the middle of the pack than he has the top.

To Eli’s credit, he has always played better in the Playoffs than his older brother. The only thing about that is you are not guaranteed to get to the postseason with Eli under the helm. If not for the Cowboys practically putting the Giants in this year it would not even be the least bit a debate. Even in the games where the Giants controlled their own postseason destiny Eli had an “Eli” type game. He threw the ball to a Washington Redskins’ player 4 times in a blowout loss. Lets not act like he was flawless in that win against his fellow New Jersey mates. His stats read 9 for 27 for 127 yards. Oh yeah, 99 of those yards came from a Victor Cruz catch and run.

What Eli did do? He talked his smack and he brought great play behind it. One season does not make him Peyton, and I’m sorry to say that two rings don’t either. What he has done is assert himself as one of the league’s top quarterbacks. But there are still at least 5 I’d take in front of him. Mr. Rodgers in the neighborhood, Cool Brees, Big Ben, the guy he’s beat in the big game twice, and his big brother would all get my selection before Mr. Elijah Manning. That is no knock on Eli, in fact its progress. He can certainly add the elusive “t e” to the end of his first name. As far as the debate with his brother, not so fast!