Only ignorant hicks. The NBA draws huge TV numbers in China, Brazil, India, and several other global markets. It's popularity on a global scale is massive. Why do you think Nike sent basketball players like LeBron over when they started to attack the Chinese market more aggressively when Yao arrrived? The NBA has a massive global presence because people actually play the [dadgum] game in other countries. You know who nobody in China would know or give a green [dadgum] about? Peyton Manning.
Can't imagine the backlash James would receive if he sucker punched a teammate like Jordan did. I liked Jordan as a player but one only needs to look at his HOF speech to see what kind of person he is. It makes "The Decision" look like a nursery rhyme.
That shitshow was orchestrated by ESPN and LeBron donated every dime to charities from that. Was it dumb? Yes, but he didn't profit off it and all it did was make people hate him. I don't hold that against him.
Jordan being an unrepentant ass hole is what drove him to be the greatest. You can't have one without the other.
No, but he didn't make a dime off it. LeBron's publicist and agent are retarded to let it happen, though.
But your point is fair. Tracy Mcgrady was probably just as talented, but lacked the drive (be it via fury or some other motivating mechanism).
The problem you run into with the point you're hinting at is that next to nobody in the US gives about tennis because good American male players are as extinct as [dadgum] dinosaurs.
Jordan was pretty much before my time, McGrady was my favorite to watch when I was younger. When he was at his best, which was a short period of time, he was absolutely amazing.
