On Kidd, Clemens, and Lebron

o those of you who graciously spend your precious time reading the words on these pages, I have one question:

Now that the NBA season has added another chapter to its glorious history, all attention has shifted to the curious case of Kidd’s next NBA address. I realize it’s customary to pontificate on a star player’s fate when the contract for that player has expired.

I understand that Kidd must factor in his family’s wishes. I also comprehend that Kidd might be looking to settle into a desirable locale that satisfies him, his family, his portfolio, and whatever costly hobby he might harbor.

What I fail to appreciate is why Kidd’s thirst for an NBA championship is headline news. Unless you’ve lived under a rock, isn’t it a rather obvious goal of a professional athlete to win a championship? Doesn’t Richard Jefferson want a title? Wouldn’t Dikembe Mutombo want to add weight to one of his long fingers? Does Karl Malone’s swift playoff exit disqualify him from hoisting a future trophy?

Players are often accused of playing for the money, and not to win. But there isn’t a professional athlete on the face of this planet who steps onto a court, sprints out to an outfield, or faces off – without caring about whether his or her team wins. He might lose focus at times. But deep down, no player favors losing over winning.

The hype to Kidd’s supposed plight aside, trying to pinpoint his likely destination has drawn some engaging debate. Almost every pundit queried believes that Kidd will have to head back west for a legitimate championship shot. I’m not as quick to agree, and here is why.

It is true that the Western Conference houses arguably three or four of the best teams in the entire NBA. It is also true that almost all of those teams would be favored against the Eastern Conference Nets – with or without Kidd – or any other eastern slug team. On the contrary, other factors lend credence to a counterpoint.

The more times a team gets to the finals, the more chances that team will have to win the title. The laws of both probability and average dictate at least the possibility that a win is within the realm of reality. If the Nets retain Kidd’s services and somehow find a consistent outside shooting threat, who says they can’t do better than two out of six in the 2004 finals? They certainly would have a fighting chance to repeat as Eastern Conference champs, year after year.

Out west, the wonderful collection of championship caliber teams makes for a high-level, action-packed race. They also afford a more competitive landscape for the chance to reach the finals. Last time I checked, reaching the finals was prerequisite A for actually winning the finals.

There is little doubt that adding Jason Kidd to the NBA champion Spurs would provide a formidable foe for any club. But that won’t preclude other western teams from fortifying their rosters. In fact, it might serve as a catalyst to those other teams’ hot-stove activity.

Let’s not forget that the Sacramento Kings played most of their last series without Chris Webber. With Webber, they probably would have defeated the Dallas Mavericks, and could have gone all the way.

The Los Angeles Lakers weren’t exactly themselves in 2002-2003. A more dedicated and less svelte Shaquille O’ Neal could cause the other western teams to digress into their familiar "also ran" roles.

What about the Mavericks? How deep into his pocket will Mark Cuban dig to muster the sufficient funds to land a decent low-post threat? We already know the luxury tax doesn’t scare this man.

I trust that Kidd will take his sweet time to decide who his future teammates will be. I just hope that he considers all the factors, and all the potential scenarios, before he embarks on his unique (OK, common) quest to obtain an NBA championship.

Lord knows that no other player really wants one; or so that’s what it seems.

Last week, I witnessed New York Yankee ace Roger Clemens A) win his 300^th game, B) strike out a batter for the 4,000^th time, and C) entertain thoughts about what cap he wants to wear in the Hall of Fame.

I might have inadvertently flipped over to the College World Series when a Yanks victory was safe in hand that historic day. Did I miss the announcement that Clemens was retiring immediately and scooting directly to Cooperstown to receive his plaque?

Whether or not Clemens should enter the Hall as Red Sock or Yankee is as important to me as what breakfast cereal I choose tomorrow. We’ll know the answer in less than six years (to the HOF question, that is).

What we also know is: A) The decision is now up to the folks at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown N.Y., not Clemens, and B) Clemens jumped the gun when he blabbed that he might not attend the ceremony if his bronze bust is adorned with a Bosox hat.

Maybe the Hall will choose the Yankee pinstripes over the Bambino Curse-ees. But Roger Clemens should not have been so hastily contentious the minute he reached the numbers (300 wins and 4,000 strikeouts) that will stamp his candidacy for a first-vote election.

Most likely, the five-year wait will make this pseudo-issue seem like ancient news. But by broaching the subject so quickly, Clemens may have given the Hall more to think about long before the voting commences. Here’s hoping their decision will not be swayed by the ramblings of a deserving Hall of Famer.

A talented young basketball player has a chance to yank his family out of poverty and reach his dream of playing in the NBA. Who are we to tell him he’s making a grave mistake?

The proliferation of NBA players who barely shave and have not even voted is disturbing, if only as it pertains to the overall quality of play. I wish for the NBA to institute a more refined developmental strategy to cultivate these fine talents. But the life-altering decision of an athlete often has blinders that block out such vague considerations.

What’s curious is that the objectors to James’ decisions probably never blinked an eye when Anna Kournikova stole millions for masquerading as a professional tennis player. We laughed at McCauley Culkin when he raked in megabucks during his Home Alone run. Both were much younger than James was when they hit stardom.

Lebron James is probably as talented as any 18-year old who ever knocked on the NBA’s doors. But despite his $90 million shoe deal with Nike, and despite the fact that he can now afford a fleet of Hummers, life as an NBA freshman won’t be a walk in the park.

Remember, he will sport a Cleveland Cavaliers uniform. Cleveland Cavaliers! You don’t have to spew pity for Lebron, even though the pressures will be infinite and the losing frequent. He will be preoccupied with playing on a new level, with new players, and for a new coach – all with the weight of a destitute franchise on his back.

If you find yourself obsessing that James should go to college, or that nobody deserves to make that kind of money, or that he will morph into a spoiled brat, I challenge you in this way: Pour out the same disdain the next time a child actor makes a million for smiling, or another athlete fattens his or her wallet after a life of being fed with a silver spoon. No, two wrongs don’t make a right. But from James’ prospective, where are the wrongs?

To the colleges who missed out on the Lebron James sweepstakes? You weren’t going to require him to pass Algebra or write English papers anyway.

Any comments, criticisms, or condemnations on this sports column or previous ones? Feel free to email me at tommyr@wi.rr.com.