In Basketball, the New Has Replaced the Old

Saturday night, with great sound and fury, Vince Carter took MJ's torch, bringing an official beginning to a new era in the game of basketball. Most of us can remember Michael "Air" Jordan, the young prodigy, overtaking his teacher Dominique "The Human Highlight Reel" Wilkins to win his first slam dunk title. Jordan sailed from the free-throw line back in the 80's and onto posters garnishing the walls of millions of young boys. Jordan's legendary jam, now a fixture in every high school slam dunk competition, was innovative, exciting, and brought an official beginning to the era of three living legends: Bird, Magic, and Michael, as they became known. The three living legends have since retired, and returned to the game in different capacities. However, before they left, they served as heroes for a growing generation and left their marks on a game that has become great.

When Jordan, the last of the living legends, retired back in 1998, he did so without an apparent successor. The following summer, a lockout occurred, as the players and owners squabbled about money. In essence, the world forgot the very variables that had led the game to greatness. In a league devoid of leadership, David Stern, the Jewish voice of reason, prevailed. He brought the players and owners together to save the game that he had fallen in love with as a child. Then, the very thing that made the game great the first time, made it great again.

In interviews with Jordan, Magic, and Bird, all were asked the question of who made them fall in love with basketball. Invariably, they would all answer that growing up, they saw players like George Gervin, Dr. J, and Bill Russell on television. Seeing what feats other men deemed great by society could accomplish, they found inspiration to achieve greatness within themselves. Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Steve Francis are the new stars of the league. They found their inspiration from men like Jordan, Magic, and Bird. Like their predecessors, they strive to bring basketball to a higher level.

Wilt Chamberlain brought the first slam-dunk to the game of basketball. Bill Russell made it exciting to play defense. Bob Cousy made dribbling an art form. In our generation, Magic taught us the grace of great passing, Bird taught us what sheer skill and determination can achieve, and MJ displayed to us true athletic feats of greatness. Jordan showed us last second heroics, by winning thirty-nine games at the buzzer, displaying athleticism that made our jaws drop, and showed us that basketball was indeed a game of lofty dreams.

Saturday night, Vince Carter elevated the game to the next level. He slammed dunks that Jordan couldn't have even imagined. The true beauty of his mastery was best illustrated by the reactions of his fellow all-stars. Shaquile O'Neal was speechless following Carter's first dunk. Shaq's jaw had dropped and he couldn't believe what he had seen. Kevin Garnett and Chris Webber had their own video camera and refused to talk to interviewers while the competition was going on, because they were so enthralled. Alonzo Mourning, my pick at the half way point for this year's MVP, brought his daughter and screamed like a child from sheer excitement. On Saturday night, Vince Carter raised the bar for future generations.

First, Carter began with a mind boggling reverse 360 jam, that he finished with great authority. For his next dunk, he jumped from out of bounds, turned in the air, and slammed once again with authority. For his third and perhaps greatest dunk, he caught the ball in the air, put it between his legs, and jammed it home. He reached the finals with a perfect score of 100.

By this point in the competition, all of his competitors knew that they were experiencing greatness, and had essentially given up. The fans at the Oakland Coliseum were quiet when all of the other contestants dunked. They were waiting for more Vincemania to ensue. He would not disappoint. At a point when the coliseum was hush for his fourth dunk, the game was great and spectators were children once more.

Carter then ensued to perform what I believe to be the coolest thing that I've seen in a long time; Carter jammed the ball and then stuck his arm through the basket. He hung by his elbow for a few moments as he basked in what he had done. The expression on his face showed that he was just as much in awe of what he was able to do as we at home were. Finally, in his final dunk, with the title essentially already won, he did a dunk that carried with it great symbolism. He did Jordan's dunk from the free-throw line, only he did it his way-he did it two handed.

We are now in an age of a new brand of basketball. Its athleticism and mastery of gravity are mind-boggling. Vince Carter is the new Michael Jordan, and I am certain that counterparts will be quick in following. It's time now for us to just sit back and enjoy the show, as the cycle of basketball and life, is hitting its stride.