When Michael Jackson passed, it was simply impossible not to notice. Every media outlet available to man had the King of Pop streaming at a constant pace of forevermore.
While large and small news organizations alike scaled every corner of California for new details on the pop icon’s status, most of us sat in a state of shock. The recoil of the blasts that the media and general public had fired at Jackson during his life, maybe, had finally reverberated down our collective spine.
Some of us felt ashamed for things we had said in the past to defame Jackson amongst our peers just for the sake of a good laugh.
However, there was no more time left to apologize.
There was no living person left to write a sorry letter. All we could do at that point was express our sorrows and sympathies to each other. We just had to hope that listening to his many masterpieces could show him the appreciation he deserved, while easing our pain in the process.
For some, the old Michael did it for us.
Many NBA Players show parallels to some of Jackson's songs.
If you had an old record player, maybe you dusted off some old Jackson 5 hits (it’s okay to listen to Tito, too).
Maybe you were an ‘Off The Wall’ kind of guy.
Maybe – just maybe – you were one of the few diehard ‘Invincible’ fanatics.
As far as you, the reader, are concerned, the song choices are to be completely of your liking. They can be kept to your disclosure.
However…
We at NBAwire have uncovered what some of the NBA’s biggest stars were listening to go along with their reminiscing over the King.
Let’s let ‘er rip, shall we?
We will call this track-listing “The Day We Remembered That Other Michael,” by the NBAPA.
Beat It – Ron Artest
This was just too easy, and I am sure that you all saw this coming from a mile away. It would have helped if those attacked by Ron at the Palace on that fateful night saw him coming from even a row away.
The following lyrics are to Ron’s most delightful of hearing pleasures: “Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight/It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right.”
Let the big fists fly, big dog. Let them fly.
Black or White – Jason Kidd
Let me explain. Jason Kidd appeared a lot more African-American earlier in his career and turned white gradually as he got further down the line.
With a face resembling rapper Drake, he donned a yellow afro as a member of the Phoenix Suns. As the years went on, Kidd started advertising men’s cologne with a close crop cut as a member of the New Jersey Nets, while looking rather pasty.
Now, as a member of the Dallas Mavericks, he looks like my uncle.
If you do not believe me, look pictures of Kidd up on Google from these various points during his evolution. Prepare to be amazed.
Dirty Diana – Dirk Nowitzki
This is by far my favorite selection.
Who would have thought that we would see Dirk Nowitzki in this current quarrel over his soon to be illegitimate child?
Dirk Nowitzki was one of the more quiet NBA stars, but the quiet ones, according to tradition, are always the biggest freaks.
Dirk got caught up with his own version of ‘Dirty Diana’, Crystal Taylor, after she spent almost 10 years trying to ruin the life of quarterback Tony Banks.
The only daunting difference between the Dirty Diana and Crystal Taylor is that Dirty Diana had more class. Dirty Diana traveled in limousines and hung out with big stars backstage.
The only backstage action Crystal Taylor entertained was while pleasing guests in the so-called “Champagne Room.”
I just wish someone would have introduced the German gentleman to eharmony.com. There are better places in this country to look for prospective girlfriends than huts that house accused stalkers on the prowl for fresh athlete meat.
Childhood – Kobe Bryant
Kobe was bred for basketball excellence much like Michael Jackson was.
OK – that’s a lie. I highly doubt any child could get abused into success like Michael Jackson apparently was via Joe Jackson (much less by Papa ‘Jellybean’).
Kobe spent a lot of his childhood bouncing around from Italy to the United States, and there are many who question Kobe’s lack of an entourage.
While Lebron James has loads of childhood friends by his side at most appearances, Kobe does not. Another parallel Kobe has with Michael are their publically speculated family bonds.
Kobe is not often seen around his parents, and neither was Michael. When Michael was married, people thought he acted strangely around his wives, which is an opinion that has plagued Kobe in his own marriage with his wife, Vanessa.
Stranger in Moscow – Andrei Kirilenko
Andrei Kirilenko remains one of the NBA’s biggest enigmas.
He is a 6-9 walking prototype of Russian basketball that us Americans have yet to understand. The problem is that, at age 28, I do not think Kirilenko has learned to understand himself.
Even when so many have seen so much potential hidden within his foreign frame, Andrei has been, at best, inconsistent throughout his career.
At one point, he even contemplated giving his salary back to the Jazz and quitting the NBA.
Seriously though, if Jerry Sloan can’t figure you out, who can? It remains to be seen if Andrei can fit in anywhere, not just on the Jazz, but in life itself. He constantly looks out of place, and lost, just like a ‘Stranger in Moscow.’
The ironic part is that Moscow might be the only place Andrei wouldn’t feel like a stranger. Maybe a return home isn’t such a bad idea, after all? Only time will tell.
Thriller – Allan Houston
In short, ‘Thriller’ is a haunting, fantastic video centered around the undead and their reign as supreme over whatever set they were inhabiting the day the video was shot.
This is a macrocosm of Allan Houston’s career.
I am really not sure how many times Allan Houston tried to come back to the NBA after injuries, but he never quit. When it seemed as if everyone had forgotten about him, Houston dug himself up from under his tombstone during various instances attempting to, once again, sit atop the mountain of three-point gods one last time.
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ – Latrell Sprewell
I’m not sure that the NBAPA wants to associate themselves with a human of Latrell Sprewell’s caliber anymore, and if they do not wish for that to be the case, then I sincerely apologize for including him on the track list.
I just had to!
The song recites: “If You Can’t Feed Your Baby (Yeah, Yeah)/Then Don’t Have A Baby (Yeah, Yeah)/And Don’t Think Maybe (Yeah, Yeah)/If You Can’t Feed Your Baby (Yeah, Yeah)/You’ll Be Always Tryin’/To Stop That Child From Cryin’/Hustlin’, Stealin’, Lyin’/Now Baby’s Slowly Dyin’.”
Last I heard, Latrell is still waiting on an offer lucrative enough to feed his children. An above-average offer was not enough to do the trick years ago, according to the former All-Star, so I guess the retiree benefits for the NBA must be pretty good these days.
Liberian Girl – Samuel Dalembert
If you watch the video for ‘Liberian Girl,’ you will notice that the typical life of a Liberian woman is not really represented all that well.
The video seemed to be a power tool meant to promote Michael Jackson’s star prowess, which was completely evident when we saw John Travolta.
Here’s the thing: Samuel Dalembert is not from Liberia. He is from Haiti. But soon, if he stays out of favor with new coach Eddie Jordan, Sammy might be looking for a new team to represent.
Why not Liberia?
Here in America, we have all grown restless of Dalembert’s repeated trial-and-error attempts at offense.
He has made a killing off of being a salary cap inconvenience with a low basketball IQ. His next move should involve falling in love with a ‘Liberian Girl,’ because: a) I don’t know of any live television feeds from Liberia, so I would probably never have the displeasure of seeing him play basketball again, and b) see ‘a.’
And now, we will end with an absolute classic…
You Are Not Alone – Rajon Rondo
Just as we were getting ready to see what might be the Boston Celtics’ final long playoff run with their current roster fully intact, we received reports out of Camp Green from Danny Ainge that Rajon Rondo was, to put it bluntly, a locker room brat.
Ainge said that Rondo was someone who hurt team chemistry, which was a complaint he heard coming out of Kentucky as well.
But this is a time for celebration!
We should not mourn our time together, and I think we are all learning that lesson after we failed to properly appreciate Mr. Jackson while he was with us.
My point is that someone out there has to like Rajon Rondo enough to appreciate what he brings to the table.
In my opinion, it might be his twin: Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em.
They share a likeness, as well as a personality. Like Soulja, I am sure Rajon probably thinks that his critics (in Rondo’s case, Danny Ainge) are just jealous of his swag.
After all, if there’s one thing we can learn from Michael Jackson, Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em and Rajon Rondo, it’s that it might not always be the ‘Man in the Mirror’ that’s in the wrong (at least, in their cases.)
It might be us.
Rest in peace, Michael.
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