Ware's Injury Demonstrates the Power of Sports

More than a game.

The adage was shown to us all yet again yesterday, in the wake of Kevin Ware's heartbreaking injury. Passion. Heart. Courage. Tragedy. Triumph. All the reasons we play these games.

While on a routine defense of a three point shot, point guard Kevin Ware crumpled and shattered his tibia, leaving an exposed compound fracture. He scooted off the court, directly in front of his team's bench, before collapsing. Players immediately rushed to his aid. Nine minutes of pandemonium proceeded. Several players openly wept on the court.

Ware, a player who plays off the bench- in the face of months of rehabilitation and great personal loss, gathered his team before being carted off on a stretcher, and spoke. "Just go win this game for me. Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Just go win this game."

In the aftermath of the injury, the game changed. All who watched, felt it. The game showed its true power: as a medium. A medium to show the human capacity for greatness. The power of inspiration. The power of love, compassion and courage.

Louisville scored a whopping 50 points in the second half and ran away with the game, and ran away into the final four- and further, into the depths of sports history.

LeBron will agree to million dollar bet- setting the stage for one of the greatest moments in NBA history

Once or twice a generation, the man and moment align. Ali-Frazier. Jordan game 6. Clinton-Lewinski. One of those moments has come upon us.

Magic Johnson has put forth one million dollars- 20 times the average household income in the U.S.- daring LeBron to join the dunk contest. However, Magic's money comes with an asterisk- LeBron must win.

Following Magic's precedent, LeBron's biggest NBA rival, Kevin Durant, has added $1,000 to the pool, with several others matching his offer. The chips keep stacking. How high the stack will be by this time next year, one can only guess.
 Make no mistake, this is no guaranteed payday for your boy KingJames. There are a lot of talented dunkers in this league, and they'll be bringing the house. Someone's securing a legacy. Someone's going to get paid.

Set the fireworks, close the blinds. Next year's dunk contest will be one of the greatest moments in NBA history. You'll be telling your grandkids about this one folks.

Tom Brady is the greatest American with a heartbeat

Today, Tom Brady signed a three year/27 Million dollar extension with the New England Patriots.

This deal is eye-catching for several reasons. After all the Joe Flacco talk of this postseason- one issue was highlighted particularly about Joe- his worth to his franchise. He was a man in search of a paycheck- and he earned it. It seems after his super bowl win, his value stands at approximately 20 million dollars a year.

Now considering Tom, unquestionably in the conversation for greatest football player to even touch the pigskin, his value on the free market, even at age 37, would almost certainly exceed this. Next year, Tom will make 7 million dollars. This leaves him taking a $13 million dollar paycut- at minimum.

While Tom is not the first, nor will he be the last, great player to take a paycut in search of a championship, a move like this is without precedent. His reasoning is clear- his Facebook page last night lit up with two simple words: Just Win.

Tom Brady today stands as the greatest living American. The pages of his book could not have been written in a more fitting fashion. He was a kid who pulled himself up from his bootstraps to the forefront of American culture. He was not born into his greatness. He was passed up, ignored, left for dead. At Michigan, when he was benched. At the draft, #199. You can see it in his eyes, even at age 37. The fire, the ethos. The pain he turned to glory. Twisted, angry, unadulterated glory.  The Patriots are the most quintessentially American team, by nickname. He suits up in red, white and blue every Sunday.  His monetary sacrifice reminds one of the legendary Alexander the great scene- Alexander, as the general, is given the last bucket of water, his men, lost in the desert. He pours the bucket out, stating, "We live together, we die together." Overall, America is a nation who's mantra is: Win. and Tom Brady is the ultimate winner. Here's a toast to the greatest American with a heartbeat.