Greatness

“I perform like Mike…anyone, Tyson, Jordan, Jackson…”

Notorious B.I.G. – Victory

A few months ago I received a phone call to help with a project that would chronicle the life of Michael Jordan for the Basketball Hall of Fame. Fast forward to the present day, and not only is my work forever on display in Springfield, MA…by next weekend the living legend will take his rightful place among the hallowed halls, closing the book on his storied career.

After Michael Jordan scored 63 points against the Celtics in the 1986 playoffs Larry Bird was quoted as saying,

“It’s just god disguised as Michael Jordan.”

Twenty-three years later this basketball god is headed to Springfield, Mass., to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. To commemorate this landmark event, ESPN Publishing has produced a Michael Jordan special bookazine, on newsstands now.

This 92-page, high quality collector’s book features story after story about Jordan’s remarkable career and record-breaking accomplishments. Basketball fans will no doubt enjoy this collection of some of the greatest photos ever taken of the legend, along with personal essays by some of the finest writers around; remembrances by his coaches and teammates (Dean Smith, Phil Jackson, Steve Kerr); analysis of his staggering statistics, and a toast to the “Air Jordan” as it nears its 25th anniversary.

ESPN’s Michael Jordan special bookazine features include:

“Tell him no, he’d make the answer yes.” Terry Francona chronicles Michael Jordan’s stint in Minor League Baseball.

“Cash Almighty.” Donnell Alexander recounts the time Jordan was cut by a samurai sword while doing a public appearance at North Carolina.

“Wonder Years.” The trip from Brooklyn to Springfield, Mass., took Michael Jordan 46 years, and this timeline highlights all of his greatest achievements along the way.

ESPN landed the first sit down interview with Plaxico Burress before he is sentenced to jail next month.

The entire interview can be seen on E:60 on Tuesday on ESPN.

You can watch a clip from the interview here.

Just from the couple of minutes I have watched, he comes off more sincere than Michael Vick.

Even the camera loves Candace Parker.

Parker is on the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine, pregnant and all.

The Los Angeles Sparks forward is the first pregnant athlete to be shown on the cover of ESPN The Magazine.

And fellas, the article’s first paragraph dives right into the fact that Parker is a C cup.

I’m sure the rest of the article is great but I didn’t make it past the first paragraph.

Parker is due in early May – never too early to get your office baby pools going on what day she has the kid.

The Lil’ Wayne/ESPN lovefest continued on Tuesday as Weezy appeared on “Around The Horn.”

What’s next, Wayne hosting the 1AM Sportscenter?

There’s nothing gangsta about talking sports with Woody Paige and Jay Mariotti.

Watch more ESPN videos on AOL Video

Rapper Lil’ Wayne spent the day in the lovely Bristol, CT, on the campus of ESPN.

Weezy, who has been blogging over at ESPN.com, took on Skip Bayless of 1st and 10 fame and actually proved he knows what he’s talking about.

Watch this clip where Wayne and Bayless breakdown Oklahoma-Florida.

“Magic has always been one of the most accomplished people in every field he has endeavored. He was an incomparable player and has become one of the best NBA analysts in the business,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, production. “His unique insights, perspective and personality will be the perfect complement to Stuart, Mike and Jon.”

Johnson had been an anaylst for TNT Sports for seven seasons and was a good fit with the team of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith.

The Magic man will be paired up primarly with Stuart Scott, Michael Wilbon and Jon Barry.

The network, in particular, Chris Mortensen had folks believing that retired quarterback Brett Favre was this close to returning to the NFL Wednesday afternoon.

Too bad Favre is not backing up those claims.

“It’s all rumor,” Favre told the Mississippi’s Sun Herald newspaper.

Is he or isn’t he?

The media darling Favre continues to stir the pot about a possible return from his short-lived retirement.

And the folks in Bristol are eating it all up.

When Brett Favre actually gets in front of a microphone and says “I’m back, and Aaron Rodgers, enjoy the bench,” then I will believe he’s actually returning.

Until then, let it go, ESPN.