The In-Decision

Three years ago when he was impersonating Stan Van Gundy and winning Defensive Player of the Year Awards annually, Dwight Howard looked like the ultimate big man.  Free-throw shooting aside, Dwight put up the type of numbers you'd expect from the new Superman.  While he was never going to be Shaq, perhaps Dwight could cast the role of Dean Cain and at least fill some of the shadow of Christopher Reeve.

Fast forward to today, when Dwight Howard no longer seems fun and youthful.  Instead, he is now simply immature.  The months of indecision by Howard have eclipsed the lapse of judgement exhibited by LeBron James two years ago.  Perhaps if Howard had more success, he would warrant being universally hated as LeBron has experienced.  Hatred is reserved for those with greater accomplishments than Howard. 

"Superman" appears incredibly mortal in recent seasons.  With a back injury that kept him out of the playoffs and Olympic competition, and clearly the man of steel lacks iron resolve and dedication.  The latest on Howard?  The Nets have pulled out of trade talks and the Rockets and Lakers appear to be the most likely suitors.  The issue, Howard hasn't flip-flopped into wanting to join those teams just yet.  Give it another week and we can have "Breaking News: Dwight Howard considers Team X," and further perpetuate this ridiculous situation.

I am now to the point where discussion of Howard has surpassed even the loathing I held for Brett Favre and his annual self-hostage negotiation he seemed to have with Ed Werder each summer.

Dream Debate: 1992 vs 2012

Make no mistake about it, this is not going to have a Mason Dixon versus a resurgent Rocky Balboa type of ending.  The debate to the 1992 Dream Team versus the 2012 US Olympic Team will have to be settled in the media and on paper.  You can hold off on the training montage music.  Charles Barkley will not be chasing chickens, unless they are boneless, skinless chicken breasts that net less than 8 Weight Watchers points.  Michael Jordan is too busy smoking cigars and playing golf to run up the steps to a heroic fist pump.  Larry Bird will not build pure blunt force trauma and suddenly take out Kevin Durrant.  Sparring is definitely out.

What we have instead, is a generational debate that those voting for the current 2012 team do not seem to understand.  The modern assumption that whatever is done today is automatically the first, best, strongest, sexiest and fastest thing ever, does not hold true with this argument.  While the current Olympians certainly are fast, the argument ends there (I'm not commenting on the sex appeal of Anthony "Unibrow" Davis).

The word being used to describe this year's Olympic team is "versatile."  Coach K, commentators and players alike have fallen in love with this word as if by sheer volume of use it will convince spectators it is the most important factor of a basketball team.  It's great that LeBron and Kevin Love can slide into the center position if needed.  It's great versatility, but neither matches up with true, all-time great centers like Robinson and Ewing.

The 2012 team has a tremendous stable of point guards including Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook.  The problem, that they all play the same position, and are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th best players at their position in the current Association, with injured Derrick Rose sitting out with injury.  Well, that, and the issue that they all play the same position, and not nearly at the level of Magic Johnson. 

I have a better word, one that describes the 1992 Dream Team - Legendary.  Eleven Hall-of-Famers on the 1992 squad, including the best ever leading the way.  Line up the teams top to bottom, and from my estimation, the 1992 team wins at all eleven roster spots.  Jordan > Kobe, Magic > LeBron all the way to Drexler > Iguodala and Mullin > Harden.

The last word in this debate - Blowout.  This game will never be played, but that does not hinder my confidence.  Dream Team -14.5.