When Tiger Woods obliterated the field in the 1997 Masters to become the youngest champion in that tournament’s storied history, it was a merging of brilliance in every way imaginable.
Tiger was playing in a way no one was familiar with and handling it all with an otherworldly grace. Plus, at just 21, his youth mesmerized us as he acted every bit the energetic, fun, young man that he was.
It was, in a word, thrilling.
In 2006, LeBron James is doing the same thing in the NBA Playoffs. The Cleveland Cavaliers’ superstar has his team one game from a landscape-changing upset over the Detroit Pistons, in what has thus far been a performance that can be described as Tiger-esque.
Calling James’ play Woods-ian is in no way hyperbole. In fact, it is impossible to be hyperbolic regarding the young basketball genius. With James, the Cavaliers are one win away from the Eastern Conference finals. Without James, the Cavaliers are a lottery team.
This isn’t to say the former “Cadavaliers” are a sure thing to advance. The Pistons are a team that has proven themselves as champions and won’t go down easily. But should James and Co. finish them off, the sky’s the limit. No one could count them out as potential NBA champions.
LeBron James is doing things no 21 year old has ever done on a basketball court before, much like Woods did uncomparable things last decade on a golf course in Georgia. And James is doing it with the same energy, class and style.
And it’s been thrilling to watch.
–WKW
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The only player in the NBA destined to be the heir apparent to Michael Jordan is King James. Hear, hear!
This Wheeling-ite hopes that the dream comes true; after all fairytales should have happy endings! Cavs fans surely would LOVE that!
That aside, it really HAS been magical to watch this "heir apparent"!
Great comparison. I still think that Lebron goes home on Sunday though.