od, “The Rise and Fall,” 482. 40. The 18th Dynasty of Egypt (ca. 1560–1307 BC) not only saw the reunification of Egypt after an era

288 (Nov 1992), 58, 59. Not all scholars are convinced that astronomical evidence provides “benchmark dates” for the reigns of given pharaohs. “The absolute chronology of Egypt has been one of the major time-frames for ancient chronology in general, and it is important that scholars in other disciplines understand that absolute dates for Egypt are not as clear and well established as they are often thought to be” (Ibid., 53). Ward suggests that “as long as there is uncertainty as to whether any given coregency of the New Kingdom existed, and if so, how long it lasted, any system of absolute dates must remain inexact” (Ibid., 54). Uncertainty about dates, however, does not characterize all regnal dating, but rather only that of selected rulers. Direct evidence of co-regnal lengths often exists, providing a greater level of certainty about the exact regnal lengths of many rulers. Therefore, if an absolute date that is fixed to a time in the reign of a pharaoh is connected to a series of predecessors or successors whose regnal lengths are certain, benchmark dates can be assigned to their reigns. 42. Ibid., 59. 43. Ibid., 56. Egypt’s New Kingdom (ca. 1560–1069 BC) consists of Dynasties 18–20. 44. Ibid. 45. Egyptologists disagree over the year of Thutmose III’s accession, with three views predominant: the “high chronology” dates it to ca. 1504 BC; the “middle chronology” dates it to ca. 1490 BC; and the “low chronology” dates it to ca. 1479 BC (Redford, Egypt, Canaan, and Israel, 104). The high chronology is preferred here because of its exclusive agreement with the Ebers Papyrus when assuming a Memphite point of observation for the rising of Sothis. Shea also asserts that the high-chronology view is correct (Shea, “Amenhotep II as Pharaoh,” 43). The high-chronology date used by the present writer dates back two years from the standard number, due to the need to harmonize it with the second Palestinian campaign of Amenhotep II, which will be discussed subsequently. This alteration is justified both by the uncertain regnal length of Thutmose II, whose reign lasted no less than four years or more than twelve years (Amélie Kuhrt, The Ancient Near East ca. 3000–330 BC, vol. 1 [London: Routledge, 1995], 191; Sir Alan Gardiner, Egypt of the Pharaohs [New York: Oxford University Press, 1976], 191), and by the existence of a variable of ±6 years after calculating the date for the rising of Sothis (W. S. LaSor, “Egypt,” in ISBE, vol. 2 [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982], 40). 46. Redford, “Coregency of Tuthmosis III,” 109. 47. Der Manuelian, Amenophis II, 19. 48. Redford, “Coregency of Tuthmosis III,” 108. 49. Der Manuelian, Amenophis II, 40. 50. Redford, “Coregency of Tuthmosis III,” 111. 51. Ibid., 110. 52. Upon Amenhotep I’s death, Thebes was the most prominent city of the native Egyptians, who recently had regained control of their land and embarked on what would become over 150 years of unbroken prosperity. Yet Thutmose I, who did not descend from his predecessor, moved the chief residence of the Egyptian court from Thebes to Memphis, where he constructed a royal palace that was used until the reign of Akhenaten (ca. 1369–1352 BC). Memphis also became the headquarters of the pharaonic braintrust, where the great military campaigns were planned, and Egyptian soldiers were “armed before pharaoh.” In fact, all of the Asiatic military campaigns of Thutmose III and Amenhotep II were launched from Memphis, which had become the residence for pharaonic successors who came into office as coregents (Kuhrt, Ancient Near East, vol. 1, 177). Regarding Amenhotep II’s youth, Grimal notes, “That the young prince should have been active at Memphis is no surprise, for it was there that all young heirs to the throne had been brought up since the time of Thutmose I” (Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, trans. Ian Shaw [Oxford, UK: Blackwell, 1992], 220). This makes Thutmose I an excellent candidate for the pharaoh who personally spoke with the chief Hebrew midwives and instructed them to execute the newborn Israelite boys (Exod 1:15). The numerous summonings of these midwives, whose authoritative rank necessitates their having resided among the core of national Israel in Goshen, also implies an extremely close proximity between them and pharaoh. This requirement can be satisfied easily if pharaoh resided in Memphis, but not if he resided in Thebes. “The journey from Memphis to Thebes [alone] would have been a slow one of perhaps two to three weeks” (Joyce Tyldesley, Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh [London: Viking, 1996], 36). Even if one traveled at a similarly slow pace from Goshen to Memphis, which did not entail the same grade of ascent as did a trip to Thebes, the journey could be made in a mere 1½ to 2½ days. At a more realistic pace, the trip would be even faster. Pharaoh’s messengers probably traveled to Goshen on horseback, which would shorten the travel time even more.



Wood identifies Ezbet Helmi,
located just over one mile southwest of Pi-Ramesses, as the royal residence of the exodus-pharaoh during the Israelites’ stay in Goshen (Wood, “The Rise and Fall,” 482). Though this site indeed may have possessed two palace structures of the 18th Dynasty (Ibid., 483; Manfred Bietak, Avaris: The Capital of the Hyksos [London: British Museum Press, 1996], 68–72), there is no epigraphical evidence confirming that Amenhotep II ever resided there, even periodically. Moreover, the discovery of a scarab there with his royal cartouche no more proves his personal occupation of the city (Wood, “The Rise and Fall,” 484) than the discovery of a scarab with his cartouche at Gibeon proves he resided on the Central Benjamin Plateau (James B. Pritchard, Gibeon: Where the Sun Stood Still [Princeton, N. J.: Princeton University Press, 1962], 156). Memphis, a known royal residence of Amenhotep II and the headquarters for all of the Asiatic military campaigns of the era, is currently a better candidate for the site where the exodus-pharaoh resided, though Ezbet Helmi does remain a legitimate candidate. 53. Other New-Kingdom princes who were sm-priests also functioned as chief pontiffs at Memphis, such as “the king’s son and sm-priest, Thutmose,” who appears with his father, Amenhotep III, at his burial in the Serapeum. This prince is attested on a canopic box, where he is called “the king’s eldest son, his beloved, high priest of Ptah and sm-priest.” He doubtlessly is to be identified with the king’s son and sm-priest, Thutmose, who appears on a statuette in the Louvre (Redford, “Coregency of Tuthmosis III,” 111). 54. Ibid., 112, 114. 55. Ibid., 114. 56. Ibid., 110, 114. 57. Ibid., 114. 58. In Tomb 64 of the Theban necropolis is an important wall painting that displays two royal tutors: Hekreshu and his son, Hekerneheh, who are in the company of their princely charges: Thutmose and Amenhotep. Hekreshu is seated, facing right, with the young heiRosetta Stone German

home of some relative because of the absence of ome

explanation for the lack of hospitality to an in-law about to bear a child.”24 He rejects a “room in a house” because that argument has been attached by some scholars to an unconvincing additional argument about a cradle slung from the ceiling, and because the kataluma has the definite article. In regard to Brown’s reasoning, we can reply that the private home he suggests may or may not be that of a relative. No unkindness or lack of hospitality is implied when the Holy Family is taken into the main family room of the home in which they are entertained. The guest room is full. The host is not expected to ask prior guests (or a recently married son) to leave. Such would be quite unthinkable and, in any case, unnecessary. The large family room is more appropriate in any case. We grant that the suggestion of a cradle slung from the ceiling is linguistically and culturally unconvincing, but the translation of “guest room” for kataluma should be separated from it in any case. In regard to the definite article, the “guest room” of Luke 22:11 also has the definite article, and there the meaning “guest room” is unmistakable. We would counter that the presence of the definite article reinforces our contention. It is not “a room” but rather “the guest room,” more specifically, “the guest room” of a home, naturally. This option admirably fulfills both the linguistic requirements of the text and the cultural requirements of the village scene. This translation gives new understanding to the story of Jesus’ birth. Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem. They find shelter with a family whose separate guest room is full, and are accommodated among the family in acceptable village style. The birth takes place there on the raised terrace of the family home, and the baby is laid in a manger. The text is cryptic and begs for some additional information. Yet, if we assume the perspective of a Palestinian reader, the present form of the verse makes good sense. The author records, “And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger.” The (Palestinian) reader instinctively thinks, “Manger—oh—they are in the main family room. Why not the guest room?” The author instinctively replies, “Because there was no place for them in the guest room.” The reader concludes, “Ah, yes—well, the family room is more appropriate anyway.” Thus, with the translation “guest room,” all of the cultural, historical and linguistic pieces fall into place. This brings us to a further question, namely, did simple one-room homes have guest rooms? The objection could be raised that a one-room home was surely too simple to have a guest room. The assumption here is that no one wanted animals in the house, and anyone with the resources to build a guest room would surely have first built a stable, but such was not the case. The traditional Middle Eastern farmer lived close to nature and in fact did want the animals in his house for at least two reasons he could verbalize. First, the animals helped heat the house in winter.25 Second, keeping them in the same room the villager slept in assured that they would not be stolen. Surely the head of the synagogue in Luke 13:15 could be classed socially a bit above the average farmer. Yet, as we observed, the text assumes that he has animals in the house. It is we in the West who have decided that life with these great gentle beasts is culturally unacceptable. The raised terrace on which the family ate, slept and lived was unsoiled by the animals, which were taken out each day and during which time the lower level was cleaned. Their presence was in no way offensive. Furthermore, Dalmann gives a number of detailed drawings of village homes which precisely document our point. In his plate n.31, the family room is a great long room requiring three sets of pillars to support the roof. Still, the home is one room, consisting of the family living room terrace (Wohnterrasse) and a lower level (Hausboden) with mangers (Futtertroger) built into the floor of the former. This same house has an adjoining special guest room (Gastehaus). Such a home precisely fits the requirements of Luke 2:7.26 This leads us to ask whether this option has been considered by modern scholars other than Bishop, Dalmann, Thompson and Miguens. Scholarship has long noted “guest room” as a primary meaning for kataluma. Moulton and Milligan suggest “lodging place” for Luke 2:7 and observe, “Elsewhere in Biblical Greek, e.g. I Kings 1:13 (sic. 1:18), Mk 14:14, it has rather the sense of ‘guest room’.”27 Plummer long ago questioned the translation “inn” for kataluma. He writes: It is possible that Joseph had relied upon the hospitality of some friends in Bethlehem, whose “guest chamber” however was already full when he and Mary arrived. See on xxii.11.28 Leaney used the translation “lodging house,” but does not discuss the question.29 Marshall and Danker reject “inn,” preferring “room in a house,” but then affirm the birthplace to be some place for animals.30 Brown leaves the question unanswered and translates “lodgings” for kataluma.31 In short, Luke’s own meaning of “guest room” has long been recognized but not used in translations due to an inadequate understanding of the wider cultural background of the Palestinian village home with its mangers in the family room. This brings us to an important final question: how has the text been understood in the Middle East itself? Presumably, the cultural origins of the text would be understood here in the Middle East and reflected in translation and commentary. What then do we find? We have observed that Justin allows for time spent in the village and then insists that Joseph found nothing and resorted to a cave outside the village. The cave tradition we have accepted. But why the insistence by Justin and the Protevangelium of James that the birth took place outside the village rather than in it as Luke simply states? After reading a number of Arabic and Syriac fathers’ writings on the question, one has the distinct feeling there is an unspoken subjective pressure to understand the birth as having taken place without witnesses because of the sacred nature of the “mother of God” giving birth to the “Son of God.” Even as the sacraments are consecrated in utter seclusion behind an altar screen, so the eyes of even the faithful might not look on the holy event, even so Middle Eastern Christology, Mariology and piety seem to combine to insist that the birth took place where no eye beheld the divine mystery. For this to be possible the story must take place outside the village in some secluded spot. Is it not possible to assume Justin’s outside-the-village account coming from this kind of theological pressure? We can add to this the early allegorization of the text of the New Testament, where attention is focused on the mystical and allegorical meanings behind words,



And the exegete is not interested in the humanness of the incarnation in its Palestinian setting.
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The people of Judah saw this arrogant attitude and

followed the example of their leader. [Who said character does not matter?!] In the second chapter of his book, Isaiah addresses the deep-seated problem in Jerusalem and Judah, the sin of pride. He demonstrated the proper use of prophecy by describing the “latter days” (2:1) and encouraged the people to walk in light of what it shall be like some day in the future (2:2-5). There is a day coming when Jerusalem will be exalted (2:2), yet the people were exalting themselves (2:11, 17). There would be a day coming when the people would learn the Word of God (2:4), yet the people were neglecting to apply the word of God to their lives (2:6-9).There would be a day when there would be no more military activity because the people would beat their swords into plowshares (2:4), yet the expansionist policies of King Uzziah dictated he build up his military forces (2 Chron. 26:6-15). In light of what it shall be like some day in the future, the proper response of the people should have been to live in light of the Word of God today. The Apostle John sets forth this same principle for the Church today (1 John 3:1-3). Isaiah predicted that a strong earthquake would be used as an instrument of God’s judgment, if the people did not humble themselves and turn back to the Lord (2:19, 21, “…when He arises to shake the earth mightily”).When Dr. Austin sent me his conclusions on the geology of this earthquake, he included a map with a proposal that the epicenter was a point north of Hazor with the isoseismal lines emanating from it.My mind immediately went to Isaiah 2:13-16 and wondered if Isaiah knew of the direction of the shock waves. These verses reflect the north-south progression of the shock waves emanating from this earthquake. “Upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up [the territory of Lebanon], and upon all the oaks of Bashan [the Golan Heights], upon all the high mountains [Upper Galilee], and upon all the ships of Tarshish [those ships anchored at Ashdod, now controlled by Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:6), and destroyed by the seismic sea wave (tsunami)]. I cannot be dogmatic on this point, but it is a possibility.Isaiah, the (biblical) political activist, composed a song expressing God’s displeasure with His people after all He had done for them. They had neglected the two pillars of social concern, justice and righteousness. Instead, there was oppression and weeping (5:7). In his explanation of the song he pronounced “woes” against the people of Judah (5:8-25). He singles out the pleasure seekers (party animals), among others, for their excessive drunkenness because “...they do not regard the work of the Lord, not consider the operation of His hand” (5:12).My only experience in an earthquake was on April 23, 1979 while studying at the Institute of Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem. It registered a 5.1 magnitude on the Richter scale (Amiran, Arieh and Turcotte 1994: 284). As I recall, I was sitting in my room listening to the afternoon news broadcast. It was an eerie feeling as the quake hit and I watched the walls sway as if elastic. When I realized what was going on, I got out of the building as quickly as possible. The “party animals” (5:11, 12) probably saw the walls of their houses swaying the morning of Yom Kippur, after a night of feasting and drinking, instead of fasting, as they should, and thought nothing of the swaying. They reasoned, “The walls always appear to sway when I am drunk!” Not recognizing the hand of the Lord, they stayed in their houses as the roofs collapsed and killed them. Sheol, the place of the departed dead, is pictured as enlarging itself (5:14, 15), indicating that a considerable number of people were killed as a result of this earthquake. During the reign of Jotham and Jeroboam II, a census was taken (1 Chron. 4:17), probably to determine how many people survived this devastating tragedy.Some time after the earthquake, possibly around 735 BC, Isaiah reminded the people in the Northern Kingdom of their pride and arrogance by describing the aftermath of the earthquake.“The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stones; the sycamores were cut down, but we will replace them with cedars” (9:8-11; Hayes and Irvine 1987: 184-86).The Psalms of the sons of Korah, in my opinion, were composed in the 8th century BC, probably during the reign of King Hezekiah. The psalmist may be referring back to this earthquake in the beginning of Psalm 46. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with swelling. Selah.” This could be a description of the shock waves as well as landslides around the Sea of Galilee. There appears to be evidence for ancient landslides on the eastern and western shores of the Sea of Galilee.The prophet Zechariah, more than 250 years after the earthquake, states: “You shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah” (14:5). Recent studies of the Mount of Olives by Israeli geologists may be able to shed light on this passage (Wachs and Levitte 1984: 118-21). They think a landslide might be connected with the “splitting” of the Mount of Olives. In an extensive note by the editors, it was observed, Regarding this passage there exists two conflicting interpretations. The more common reading of the text following the mention of splitting of the Mount of Olives is "And ye shall flee to the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azel..." as in the Masoretic text...The Revised Standard Version (King James) Old Testament gives instead, "And the valley of my mountains shall be stopped up for the valley of the mountains shall touch the side of it..." The source of this discrepancy lies in the confused reading of the Hebrew word for "shall be stopped up"..., and for "ye shall flee"...The vowels in both words are identical, but when the diacritical points were added to the Hebrew Bible at a later period to facilitate reading, the text was apparently misunderstood and the meaning changed in this case...The present authors, relying on their geological knowledge as elaborated in this article, have adopted the "shall be stopped up" reading as more plausible in relation to the natural phenomena described (Wachs and Levitte 1984: 119-20 editor note). This is something to consider.The earthquake in the mid-eighth century BC served as a warning of a greater judgment to come, captivity by the Assyrians. It confirmed the messages of the prophets Amos and Isaiah.Yet the people did not respond in a positive manner to the message of God. EARTHQUAKES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION The book of Revelation, written about AD 95, mentions at least five earthquakes (6:12-17; 8:5; 11:13, 19; 16:16-21). The final earthquake, mentioned in the seventh bowl of wrath, is described as “a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath” (Rev. 16: 18-19).The first-century readers of the book of Revelation would be “shaken” (no pun intended) by the statement “a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.” Some of the elderly people of the cities of Asia Minor would have remembered the earthquake of AD 17. Pliny described this earthquake in his Natural History. “The greatest earthquake in human memory occurred when Tiberius Caesar was emperor, twelve Asiatic cities being overthrown in one night” (2:86:200; LCL 1: 331). Tacitus, in his Annals, described this earthquake as well. “In the same year, twelve important cities of Asia collapsed in an earthquake, the time being night, so that the havoc was the less foreseen and the more devastating.


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A Critical Analysis of the Evidence from Ralph Hawkins for a Late-Date Exodus-Conquest

Tags: egypt, exodus, conquest, jubilee, ebal, sabbatical, gerizim, chronology, 1 kings 6, shechem--> In a recent issue of JETS, Ralph Hawkins sidestepped the insurmountable problems associated with a late-date exodus-conquest[1] and offered five arguments which he suggested “may open up the possibility of a renewed consideration of the Late Date Exodus-Conquest as a viable choice for evangelicals.”[2] Three of the arguments are textual and two are archaeological. The present paper addresses these five issues. I. HAWKINS’S TEXTUAL ARGUMENTS: THE 480 YEARS OF 1 KGS 6:1 ARE SYMBOLIC OR ARTIFICIAL 1. First wrong textual argument: the 480 years are inconsistent with the chronology of Judges. The 479 years of elapsed time indicated in 1 Kgs 6:1[3] are entirely consistent with the chronology of the book of Judges, as Paul Ray, Andrew Steinmann,[4] and other authors have shown, whereas a thirteenth-century exodus cannot be reconciled with its timespans and sequences. The various pericopes of Judges can be divided into two classes, the sequenced and those that might be called unprovenanced, to use a term familiar to archaeologists. Sequenced stories are those that are connected to what immediately precedes or follows by a time-sequence phrase (some are connected at only one end). An example is Judg 10:1–2 (NIV), “After the time of Abimelech a man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. . . . He led Israel twenty-three years.” Unprovenanced pericopes are those which are not related by a sequence-expression to either what precedes or to what follows. Examples are the story of Samson (Judg 13–16), the story of Micah and the Danites (Judg 17–18), and the final three chapters of Judges. The only chronological marker in the history of Samson states that he judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines (Judg 15:20; 16:31). This could have overlapped a part of the judgeships of Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, or Abdon, who also were active in the days of the wars against the Philistines.[5] Judges 13–16, then, provides an example of a pericope which is not in strict chronological order with what precedes and follows, and the proper way to determine the chronology of Judges is to distinguish between these unprovenanced sections and those that are sequenced. Sequences of years can be constructed from the latter, and the interpreter must then seek the most reasonable time to assign to the unprovenanced passages. It is completely improper to just add all the numbers together without this consideration, as Hawkins does in order to discredit the testimony of Judges as a chronological witness.[6] For Hawkins, it is essential that the credibility of the numbers in Judges be negated, because the numbers exceed the time that proponents of a late-date exodus can afford to give to the time of the judges. This is true even with a judicious approach to the chronological data instead of Hawkins’s and Hoffmeier’s artificial adding up of everything. The proper approach to Judges, then, is to carefully study which sections are sequenced and which are unprovenanced, taking note of the exact meaning of the various bridge passages and considering whatever extra information is available, such as the 300 years of Judg 11:26. Advocates of a thirteenth-century exodus cannot afford to take this approach, and so they must discredit the data. Or, in the case of Kitchen’s treatment of Judg 11:26, he defames poor Jephthah.[7] But with the proper literal approach to the text, the pericopes in Judges are compatible with the 480th-year datum of 1 Kgs 6:1. They cannot be made compatible with an entry into the land in the late thirteenth or early twelfth (per Hawkins; see below, sec. II.2.a) century bc. 2. Second wrong textual argument: the 480 years represent twelve generations. Hawkins repeats the familiar argument that the 480 years of 1 Kgs 6:1 are a symbolic representation of twelve generations of forty years each. He gives as his basis van Daalen’s comments in The Oxford Companion to the Bible.[8] As supporting evidence for 40 years = one generation, van Daalen cites Exod 16:35; Num 14:33, 32:13; Ezek 4:6 and 29:11.[9] The first three of these citations refer to the forty years that Israel wandered in the desert, while the Ezekiel passages refer to other forty-year periods that are irrelevant to the discussion. For the present purposes, Num 32:13 can be taken as representative of the texts that are sometimes used to support the equation of forty years with a generation (others that can be cited are Deut 2:14, Ps 95:10, and Heb 3:9–10). These texts relate that the Lord was angry with that generation (dōr in Hebrew, genea in Greek) for forty years while they wandered in the wilderness (in Deut 2:14, thirty-eight years, i.e. from the time of leaving Kadesh Barnea). In the passages cited the word “generation” is not equated with forty years, nor is it equated to the thirty-eight years in Deut 2:14. Instead, the forty or thirty-eight years are given as the time necessary for that dōr to die, excepting those under twenty years of age (Num 14:29). The word dōr in these passages does not refer to a lapse of time, such as the time from the birth of a father to the birth of his son, although that is one of its meanings elsewhere. This could not be the meaning in the case of Israel in the wilderness because every parent who had children twenty years old or older died together with those children; this would have been two generations dying in the wilderness if the meaning were a time lapse between the birth of the parent and the birth of the child. The lexicons recognize that there is another meaning of dōr, which is “simply ‘contemporaries.’”[10] An example is Gen 6:9, where Noah was a righteous man among his dōr. In the NT, the genea that tempted God in the wilderness in Heb 3:10 and the genea that sought a sign in Matt 12:39 indicate the same meaning: a group of contemporaries, not a measure of elapsed time. By failing to recognize the specific meaning of “generation” in these passages and taking it to mean a period of elapsed time, rather than a group of people, van Daalen and others have reached an erroneous conclusion. Moreover, Hawkins fails to deal with the arguments previously presented showing the incorrectness of this conclusion.[11] The reduction of the 480 years into twelve generations of forty years fails because of this wrong practice of equating the “generation” with a period of forty years. This does not mean that the number forty in general and a forty-year timespan in particular are not significant in the Scriptures. Nevertheless, there is no indication in the text of 1 Kgs 6 that the reader was supposed to derive a hidden meaning by dividing 480 by forty to get twelve generations. When 1 Kgs 6:1 states that Temple construction began in the 480th year of the exodus-era, the only conclusion that the reader was intended to draw was that 479 years had passed, and unfortunately many commentators and translators miss even this meaning of the verse.[12] 3. Third wrong textual argument: the 480 years are an artificial construct designed to put the Temple at the center of Israelite history. a. The attempt of Burney to show that the 480 years are artificial. In a further attempt to discredit the 480 years of 1 Kgs 6:1 as unhistorical, Hawkins appeals to the work of Charles Burney, published in 1903.[13] Burney repeated the notion of earlier authors that the author of 1 Kgs 6:1 artificially constructed the 480 years based on a “known” period from a later time in Israelite history: “[T]he author of our verse [1Kgs 6:1] . . . may thus have purposely approximated the length of the little-known period from the Exodus to the building of the Temple to the chronology of some subsequent period for the knowledge of which he possessed available sources.”[14] The theory that the 480 years are derived from the regnal data contradicts Hawkins’s first argument that they symbolize twelve generations of forty years each, but he seems to want it both ways.

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10 Mar 11 Priyanka Chopra in “Gandhi”

Priyanka Chopra in “Gandhi”By: Pawan Kumar .... Click author's name to view profile and articles!!!Retargeting by ChangoTweet Priyanka Chopra, former “Miss World 2000” started her career as a model, soon after gaining the crown of Miss India World and Miss World 2000, she became the charm of the nation. This one night turned her dream into reality. Like most other winning models she also preferred to enter into the everlasting industry of Bollywood. She made her first debut film in Tamil language called “Thamizhan” and since then she has acted in many Bollywood films. Among her filmy career Priyanka Chopra has signed many movies, among which there was one movie which was signed by her in her initial stage of career. Three year back, she signed a film called Gandhi, opposite Sunny Deol which actually was supposed to be her debut film. The project however got shelved and Priyanka was cast opposite Sunny in The Hero including Preety Zinta. That was the time when Sunny was a big star and Priyanka was just a newer.But today, the situation is the other way round. After giving a number of hits, the latest being Bluffmaster and Krrish, Don, Aitraz and Salame-Isque Priyanka Chopra is now a famous Bollywood superstar. On the other hand Sunny Deol isn’t much in news since a long time. Therefore, to maintain this munication gap was tough for her. But she did so.When director Guddu Dhanoa who was to direct the movie “Gandhi”, decided to revive the project, it came as a humble gesture when Priyanka Chopra agreed to do the film and gave her dates. The film now has the entire original cast including Sunny Deol and Priyanka Chopra but the title and plot of the film have been changed. The movie will again take a new formation. Now let’s see how Priyanka Chopra is going to represent herself in this movie.REPRINT RIGHTS statement: This article is free for republishing by visitors provided the Author Bio box is retained as usual so that all links are ActiveLinkable with no syntax changes.Article Source: abcarticledirectoryAuthor Pawan Kumar is associated with Priyanka Chopra, click here for hot Priyanka Chopra pictures.Note: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, Pawan KumarRetargeting by ChangoDid You Like This Article? Share It With YourFriends!Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 of Ratings = 1 Rating = 55 Click the XML Icon to Receive Free Articles About Movies Film via RSS!Additional Articles From - Home Arts Movies FilmWhy Calibrate your High Definition TV?- By : Robert ShefferSweet Phone - By : Tim Webb.Find out Home Theater Methods! What You have Been Missing in Your TV and Movie Encounter.- By : Joesph MellbergPreparing and Setting up a Home Theater system is Easier Than you Think!- By : Zachariah DivensGrown Ups 2010 Movie In Review- By : Elenor CherryCamera Crew Hire- By : Mark A. WilsonReview of Drive Angry Movie- By : Gursel BatmazReturn Of The Horror Legend: Scream 4- By : Gursel BatmazMovie Review: Clash Of The Titans Leaves Audiences Wanting- By : Elenor CherryRed Riding Hood The Movie- By : Gursel Batmaz Still Searching? Last Chance to find what you're looking for. Try using Bing Search!

5 Mar 11 Online Affiliate Marketing Improves Product Offerings

Online Affiliate Marketing Improves Product OfferingsBy: Michael Laleye .... Click author's name to view profile and articles!!!Retargeting by ChangoTweet One of the advantages of online affiliate marketing programs is that your visitors are already online and are willing to look and shop online for many items. Whether through necessity or with discretionary income, online shopping is gaining ground each year and more people are spending more money online than ever before.As online security continue to improve using credit card numbers or NHL Shop
checking account information is being more freely entered and in order to tap the online market, internet sellers need to have what their visitors are looking for. It is unlikely that any one site will be able to offer everything for everybody, but by using online affiliate marketing, you can probably come pretty close to that goal.Even if you only carry one item on your own website, visitors will probably not come back if they are not specifically looking for that one item. Additionally, if it is not a disposable item, repeat sales may be few and far between. Instead of adding products to your mix, you can become affiliated with other online stores to offer a wider variety of products and services without the expense of carrying them yourself.It is considered good business to have any affiliates you sign up with be relevant to your core business to entice your visitors to look at the additional offerings. If they are coming to your site for a specific type of product, seeing offering for similar offerings gives them more of an incentive to click on the ads for the other sites.Not only will it give your visitors something else to consider, if they end up buying something from the other sites, you receive a sales commission on the purchase, which will improve your bottom line. Different online affiliate marketing plans exist that offer a different type of payout, but commissioned sales leads the pack for profitable offerings.Some sites will pay per thousand impressions, meaning every time your page with their ad on it is loaded, you get credit for an impression. Other offer a small payment Vancouver Canucks jersey
when someone clicks on the ad and visits their page and still others will pay you if your visitor goes to their site and fills in specific information. The majority, however offer the incentive of giving you a percent of the total sale, not including tax and shipping, to give you a reason to get more visitors to your site.The benefit of online affiliate marketing to the sites is that they get advertising that they only have to pay for if it results in a sale. This performance-based advertising is unique to the internet as costs to put an ad on the site is minimal, and since most website owners are promoting their site anyway, adding another graphic or text link can be done virtually for free.Article Source: http://www.shop-on-sale.com Michael Laleye Is A Plug In Profit Site Member As Well As An Authority On Developing Home Based Affiliate Businesses Online. Get more Information On How To Build Your Own Home Based Internet Business. For Internet Business Ideas To Make Money Online, Visit: www.MyAffiliateStarter.comNote: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, Michael LaleyeRetargeting by ChangoDid You Like This Article? Share It With YourFriends!Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 Not yet Rated Click the XML Icon to Receive Free Articles About Affiliate Programs What Cloth Diaper Provides The Top Match For Newborns?- By : mirtagaylWhat is Affiliate Marketing and Why You Should Do It?- By : James A AndersonEarning Money Quickly With Email Marketing - True Canucks jersey
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24 Jan 11 Wisconsin Football: Weak Out-Of-Conference Games Hurting Badgers?

When the Badgers run out onto the field Saturday to face Michigan State, will they be ready?Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesFor years now, the Wisconsin Badgers have been scheduling weak out-of-conference games to powder puff their way into Big Ten conference play. Some would argue this hasn't been beneficial. The other day, I was listening to a Bill Simmons "B.S. Report" podcast, and one of his guests picked their Super Bowl teams, suggesting that one of them would be 9-7 or 10-6 on the NFL season, and sneak in as a lower seed and blow everyone away. Now, why was it he reckoned New England Patriots jersey
that the low seeded team would blow everyone away? He predicts that the teams who would normally go about 11-5 or so, that face a tough schedule, will lose a few games due to the grind of their year. He also suggests that the team will be better prepared for the later season games and the playoffs, if they have a tougher schedule, provided that they get through their schedule and into the playoffs. Simple enough argument, right? It's not hard to see where Simmons' guest is coming from, either. Just a few years ago, the New York Giants ran through the playoffs and beat the "Best Team in the NFL", the 18-0 (including playoffs) New England Patriots in the Super Bowl which was one of the biggest upsets of all time. Why is it that the 10-6 Giants, who started the 2007 season 6-2, and stumbled into the playoffs going 4-4 the remainder of the year, were so able to perform against the Patriots, while other teams failed?Strength of schedule, which is beaten to death in college football discussion shows, will illustrate this nicely. The Giants' opponent record that season? Tied for the eight hardest in the NFL, at .514 percent winning percentage by the season opponents. Simmons' guest believes that the Giants played better teams, and lost games they would have won against weaker teams, and were better off for it. In the college football world, there are two schools of thought. Either schedule the Weak Kneed Nuns of Holy Father Seminary Catholic School, and win by 80, or you could spend these early games in the season playing legitimate teams who could challenge and push players to earn every yard, score, or tackle. I'm not in any position to pass judgment on others here, but that's exactly what I'm about to do. The University of Wisconsin Athletic Department and Barry Alvarez need to start scheduling real tests for the Badgers in out of conference play. If the Badgers Want To Return To The Rose Bowl AsThe Did Under Former Coach And Current Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, They Need To Schedule Better OpponentsThe Badgers proved very little in beating Austin PeayNew Orleans Saints jersey
70-3, the largest win in school history. What did the team learn, besides the fact that you could put up numbers found only playing the video game NCAA Football 11?Nothing, because the team was on autopilot from the first snap. Look, I'm not saying for Wisconsin to schedule Alabama, Texas, Boise State as your out-of-conference tune up games. More accurately, I'm suggesting the staff in the Athletic Department at UW should consider better opponents. Maybe schedule a team like Connecticut, a team who is for the most part turning their team around. Or schedule LSU or another SEC team to get some early respect in the polls. LSU, because they aren't exactly title contenders like a few years back, but they are still a respectable team in the tough SEC. The Badgers played four teams this out of conference season, totaling a combined record of 6-10 this season. Yeah, that's going to impress a whole bunch of people. Quarterback Scott Tolzien Will Look To Lance Kendricks As Nick Toon Will Return To Action and Likely isn't 100% Yet For The BadgersEspecially when you tell them that not a single team you've played so far has a winning record, and that you've nearly lost twice. I understand the need to beat up on smaller schools. Fine. How about actually doing it though? The Badgers should have been winning by 20-plus points in all of their out-of-conference games, but struggled to get in rhythm at times, and the running game hasn't been as dominant as expected coming into the season.Sure, John Clay and Co. are doing well with running the ball, but I'd have expected bigger numbers against such soft competition. This should be a cautionary tale, as the Badgers enter Big Ten play against Michigan State on Saturday. It'll be their first real test of the season, and I'm assuming the coaching staff doesn't want to have unpreparedness rear its ugly head in the first important game. To be fair, the Badgers have had some significant injuries this season, with Chris Borland, a stud linebacker out for the rest of the season and quarterback Scott Tolzien not having two of his better passing options in Nick Toon and David Gilreath, the latter being out again for this week. However, that means other players need to step up and make their presence felt in the absence of these players. The lack of a player stepping into their shoes and making an impact should be a concern for the Badgers. Back to the main point though. If the Badgers want to do well in conference and bowl week play, they better start scheduling (and playing better against) tougher opponents. For coach New York Giants jersey
Bret Bielema and the Wisconsin Badgers, the 2010 season is really starting this Saturday. If the team has any hopes of going far this year and ascending the ranks of the elite teams in the BCS standings, they better start playing like BCS contenders, or they'll do as they've always done; start the season hot, and limp to the finish line.

22 Jan 11 LSU Defense Stifles The Bulldogs With 5 Interceptions

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesIn their home opener, the Fighting Tigers of LSU displayed, once again, the stellar defensive play that will determine the fate of the Tiger's season. In the 29-7 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, the Tiger defense intercepted the Bulldog quarterbacks, Chris Relf and Tyler Russell, 5 times thanks to the athletic play-making abilities of Patrick Peterson (2), Mo Claiborne (2), and Drake Nevis (1).The Tiger defense, led by All-SEC linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, has now allowed a total of 10 points in SEC play, and has shown the Cincinnati Bengals jersey
ability to punish and confuse opposing quarterbacks with constant quarterback hurries and sacks. Rarely, has an opposing quarterback been able to throw comfortably as Defensive Coordinator John Chavis' athletic front seven flies to the ball.The Mississippi State Bulldogs were able to exploit the Tiger defense's aggressiveness at times. Bulldog quarterback Chris Relf, was often able to break free before a punishing hit at the end of the first half sent him to the sideline. Relf rushed for a total of 52 yards on 7 tries for a 6.6 yard per carry average. This is certainly something John Chavis will need to address as athletic quarterbacks Cam Newton and Jerimiah Massoli await on the horizon.Offensively, the Tigers still have not found a rhythm. While Quarterback Jordan Jefferson was efficient, this was far from a break out game. Jefferson's 10-16 for 97 yard passing performance obviously will not strike fear into defensive coordinators. Jefferson did find the end zone with 5:16 left in the third quarter with a beautiful 16 yard run.Jefferson finished the day with 10 carries for 40 yards. The Tigers' leading rusher, once again, was Stevan Ridley who finished the day with 19 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown.The offense on a whole runs as if it's trying not to make mistakes, rather than score. Against Mississippi State, the offense relied on specialist Josh Jasper's LSU school record 5 field goals. While an excellent day for Jasper, the Tiger offense cannot function in this way even with a defense as good as LSU's. The offense has to find a way to find the end zone, as the Cleveland Browns jersey
stronger opponents are still to come.In the LIne of FireGary Crowton, Offensive CoordinatorHow does an offensive coordinator nicknamed "The Wizard" direct such a painfully obvious offense. Yes, Russell Sheppard is an extremely talented athlete, but how many times in one game can you possibly call an end around? Crowton seems to call this play at least 3-4 times a game. It's becoming obnoxious. If the fans know it's coming, the you can bet, opposing defensive coordinators know it's coming too. I do not understand why the offense never opens up. Yes 4 yard passes move the ball, and yes the wide outs are extremely athletic, but you honestly have to throw the ball deep occasionally.Tweet of the Night"I wonder if John Chavis looks down at Gary Crowton and thinks....if only you could do what I can do, they'd be touting us a BCS championship contenders." Fletcher MackelAmazing Play of the NightToss up: Patrick Peterson's interception in which he tipped it to himself, or Drake Nevis' interception. Nevis is a big man that can move and he is quickly working his way into the First Round of next year's NFL draft.The "You're So Money and You Don't Even Know It" Player of the GameLSU Kicker Josh JasperJasper kicked a school record 5 field goals including 4 in the first half. Jasper hit on field goals of 44, 32, 51, 37, and 21. Jasper is a real weapon in close games and looks comfortable on 50 yards plus.Way to Early ObservationThe 2010 Tigers are beginning to look like a team that can be a national championship team in the way that the 2002 Ohio State Dallas Cowboys jersey
Buckeyes were. Great defense that overshadows a mediocre offense.Next Up For the TigersThe #21 ranked West Virginia Mountaineers come to Death Valley bringing an offense that features talented running back Noel Devine. Devine comes into the game having rushed 73 times for 354 yards with a 4.8 yard per attempt average and 2 touchdowns.

18 Jan 11 Alabama-Arkansas: Can the Razorbacks Pull the Upset Over the Tide?

Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesAfter winning the national championship last year and starting the season with three impressive blowouts wins, the college football odds for the Alabama at Arkansas game this weekend show the Crimson Tide -7 over the Razorbacks.Both teams are playing well in the early going, with Arkansas also opening Jacksonville Jaguars jersey
the year 3-0.These teams last met on September 26th of last season, with Alabama winning that contest 35-7.The Crimson Tide opened the season with a 48-3 victory over San Jose State, beat then-No. 18 Penn State 24-3 the following week, and last Saturday Alabama crushed Duke 62-13. This team has wasted no time letting everyone know that they are trying to repeat as national champions, and they are letting nobody stand in their way.Their stiffest test yet will come this Saturday at Arkansas, and if they post another dominant performance, it would be hard to see any team knocking off Alabama this year.Alabama put up 28 points in the first quarter against Duke, and their 62-point total is what you would likely see from a Crimson Tide basketball team.Heisman Trophy-winning running back Mark Ingram was awesome in his return from injury, rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries. His backfield mate, Trend Richardson, rushed for 61 yards on seven carries with a touchdown. Richardson also returned a kickoff 91 yards for a score.It was great to have Mark back, Alabama coach Nick Saban said. He certainly gives us another weapon and he did a fantastic job in the time that he played. Saban went on to say, But I think the offense deserves a lot of credit. Greg did a good job. Trent played well today. Julio played well. The latter is Julio Jones, who caught five balls for 106 yards in the win.McElroy did throw his first interception of the season, but he has been mistake-free for the most part all year. Kansas City Chiefs jersey
With so many weapons offensively, all he has to do is take care of the football and Alabama will be a very tough team to beat. But with three ranked opponents coming up, including Arkansas, Florida, and South Carolina, the Crimson Tide will be tested.The Razorbacks made a big statement last week, going into Georgia and winning 31-24. Arkansas is now 3-0 after taking care of Tennessee Tech 44-3 in Week 1 and Louisiana-Monroe 31-7 in Week 2.Heisman Trophy candidate Ryan Mallett had another big day last Saturday, proving himself as a clutch performer by hitting Greg Childs for a 40-yard game-winning touchdown with 14 seconds left to beat the Bulldogs. His numbers have always been there, but many have questioned whether he could make the big play in a big game. He finished 21-of-33 for 380 yards and three touchdowns against Georgia.Arkansas is now 3-0 for the first time since 2003, and the Razorbacks are now the No. 10 team in the nation. A win Saturday would cement them as legitimate national title contenders. They already took a big step in that direction last week with their first win in Athens since 1993.This Razorbacks offense has been extremely efficient in the red zone this season, scoring on all 10 of their trips inside the opponent's 20-yard line. That could be huge Miami Dolphins jersey
against Alabama, because scoring touchdowns instead of field goals is the only way theyll have a chance to pull off the upset.Jack Jones will have several college football picks for Week 4 starting Thursday as he continues his 76-54 (58 percent) football run. He will also have several more game previews available on the top contests this week.

15 Jan 11 Detroit Lions Rod Marinelli "Madden" Commentary

All right, everybody knows that the vantage point of a journalist or couch jockey quarterback is an easy one from which to make off-hand judgment calls. The actual duties involved in NFL coaching are surely unimaginably myriad and the job is insanely difficult. Fair enough, but at 1-6 and in the midst of that four-decade rebuilding program known as the Detroit Lions, you'd think Rod Marinelli would be willing to take advice from all corners.Now this is not to suggest that some RealFootballer such as myself should be imparting wisdom to the man (although Os Davis did enter the 2006 season having run up as many games in the head coach position as Marinelli had). Instead Marinelli should spend some quality time during the bye week constructively, dedicating a few dozen hours to a guy who's been there, Seattle Seahawks jersey
who has that ring: John Madden.It's a bye week. Are you ready, coach Marinelli, for some Madden? Heck, the old marine could even play "coach mode," and thus really gain some tips for his team other than "hit the X button, then A, then juke the stick in rapid progression."Right now, this PC is in the throes of a Lions simulation, in fact. Though still using the 2006 version of the game, the silver-and-Honolulu blue's core is essentially the same. Since Jeff Garcia retires after 2005, we've got a Jon Kitna clone at QB. We're even using the Cover 2 defense as a default. Just trying to help you guys in Detroit. And check out what you can learn:First, please, run with Kevin Jones. The game against the Minnesota Vikings was a classic chicken-and-egg situation: Did Jones run for under one yard per carry, because he wasn't getting the ball enough, or was Kitna not giving him the ball because he was continually being hit for a loss? Madden says it doesn't matter. If the offensive line is adequate (and let's generously say the real-life 2006 Lions' is), you've gotta make that back find the holes! As Madden's buddy Al Michaels says, "They're gonna continue with the running game, no matter how ineffective it is." And it may be this simple: When Jones runs, you win. Jones goes for 127 yards against Buffalo, you win. When Jones gets 93 yards against St. Louis, you ... well, you should have won. In Madden, you give him carries like real-life Edgerrin James and he amasses 1,600 yards-plus for the season.Um, about that passing on third down ... The greatest cliché in all of Madden is "Now, that's the kind of play that just drives me crazy. Does the receiver not know where he needs to go to get the first down?" Well, does he not? A couple of microcosms of "Lions Football" re: third-down success. Against the Seattle Seahawks in St. Louis Rams jersey
Week 1, Detroit was 5-of-14 on third-down conversions. In 11 of these situations, a pass was called. Just twice was first down gained by air. You score six points, you lose. Last week against the New York Jets, the Lions gained a pulse (not to mention some proper route running). When playing desperate, the Lions went 3-of-5 with one TD on third down and 2-of-2 on fourth down. "Just let your receivers go out and fling it in there."Maybe Madden - like real-life football - shouldn't be played so conservatively, but kick the field goal, man! The real-life Lions mostly sit Jason Hanson. Dude's got a 92 ranking in my version of Madden. Twice for the Lions he's nailed kicks of 57 yards and once for 58; his kick even made that satisfying "plunk" sound off the bottom of the crossbar to bounce in. Sorry, what's that? So he's one out of three from 50-plus ... when the special teams play is as lacking as Detroit's, you might want Hanson teeing off from 63 yards every game.Seriously, now, let's talk about that defense. In the 1990s against Elway and long bombers, great defense. Today, in the day of "Bradyball," not so good. Perhaps it's time to admit that the Tampa 2 may simply just not work. A "bend but don't break" philosophy is fine, but without a serious all-pro secondary, it's going to break. And aside from exploiting the potential of above-average quick and below-average size like Ernie Sims, the Tampa 2 allows short-yardage and hurry-up game plans way too much liberty for today's style of play. Tampa 2 adherents in the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 18th and 27th in total defense. Mike Tomlin's schemes for the Minnesota Vikings are succeeding this year to the tune of No. 7 'D' in the league. Marinelli et al might want to try a different offense with a bigger Madden playbook or see if there Tennessee Titans jersey
are any 85s hanging around in the free agent pool.Finally, ditch the uniforms. The fewer ties to the present, the better. Don the throwback blues with the white helmet. Or check out the sweet, seldom-used black versions of the Lions' uni. Why are they not used more often? When my Madden Lions are in the Honolulu blue, we're 1-3. Too bad you can't hit RESET in real-life, eh? Happy Maddening!(PS: If you play the Lions on Madden, you don't even have to fire Millen. Though you probably should pretend to, anyway.)RealFootball365.com: Where we cover virtual and actual Detroit Lions. (3)

14 Jan 11 Seattle Seahawks Shaun Alexander Steve Hutchinson

In the course of two regular-season games to start the 2006 campaign, Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander has gone from uncontainable league MVP to just another stoppable ball carrier. Though Seattle's currently 2-0, the offense hasn't looked anything like itself from last year, when the unit finished tops in the NFL, helping lead the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl bid. Well, Alexander was at the forefront of the offensive output last year, and now he's standing out again, but not in a good way.After a pair of contests against mediocre-at-best defenses, the 29-year-old Alexander has gained just 140 ground yards on 45 carries, good enough for an awful 3.1 per-carry average. His one total touchdown? Enough to make those who spent high first-round picks on him in fantasy leagues Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
vomit. Last season the former first-round pick from Alabama set an all-time league record, with 28 total touchdowns. It was expected to be much of the same this year, but not so far. So, why is Alexander having such difficulty? The reason for his struggles are twofold. One of those excuses sounds quite ridiculous, but it's actually becoming a proven fact. The second is, indeed, very obvious.First off, there's the dreaded "Madden curse." Yep, that's right. There really is one, so stop laughing. Of course, said curse refers to Alexander being among a list of unfortunate names to take the bait and appear on the cover of the Madden video game franchise. The last few Pro Bowlers on the box - Eddie George, Daunte Culpepper, Marshall Faulk, Michael Vick, Ray Lewis and Donovan McNabb - have Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
all experienced misfortune in their respective cover years, whether by uncharacteristically poor play or injury. So far, Alexander's clearly suffering from the former. Every year the wide-eyed Madden star insists there's no curse. And every year they're proven dead wrong. It can't be coincidence, can it? Doubt it.If you aren't one to believe in what's perceived as a silly superstition, then take a look at the suddenly vulnerable line in front of Alexander. The unit used to be dominant in terms of run blocking, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Seattle had to part ways with arguably the best left guard in football, Steve Hutchinson, during the offseason, and it's clearly hurt the formerly tremendous O-line. No longer is the group dominant, and now Hutchinson's replacement, Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack, is sidelined up to six weeks with a knee ailment. Taking his place will be green second-year man Chris Spencer, a 2005 first-round pick. Perhaps he, like Hutchinson, can quickly become a first-round star. At least, that's what those in the Pacific Northwest are hoping.It doesn't matter which excuse you use. The bottom line is, the 5-foot-11, 225-pound Alexander hasn't been himself this September. Maybe it's all an aberration, but struggling against the less-than-mighty run defenses ofReebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
the Detroit Lions (19 carries, 51 yards) and the Arizona Cardinals (26, 89) is certainly quite alarming. If Alexander had difficulty against those two units, he might have an even tougher time this weekend against the New York Giants' defense, even though it's far from dominant.The Seahawks' offense obviously wants to regain its marvelous form, but the wheels won't begin turning until Alexander becomes himself again. This Sunday, it's high time he steps up for the first time since last January.--Got feedback? Connor J. Byrne responds to readers' comments and questions each day: cbyrneGet more on the Seattle Seahawks .

13 Jan 11 Boston-Atlanta: Celtics Coaches Lack Trust in Bench, Lose to Hawks

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesIt would be easy to blame the referees for what was essentially another collapse by the Celtics. The Atlanta Hawks came into the Garden and swept the season series.Tom Thibodeau was put in charge of leading the troops after a flagrant foul was called on Glen Davis and Doc Rivers was ejected for protesting the call.Brian Scalabrine, the consummate role player, was having the best offensive and defensive game in a Celtic uniform. The refs robbed him of a great play on an attempted layup by Josh Smith. His ensuing fourth foul forced the Celtics to insert Davis.Thibodeau rode the starters in the fourth quarter with Davis.The only offensive threats were Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Rondo was exhausted, team injuries had forced him to think score. The game screamed for Buffalo Bills jersey
Thibodeau to put Scalabrine back in the game. It would have balanced the floor and opened up driving lanes for Pierce and Rondo.None of this was done.The coaching staff had collective gridlock as the cameras continually scanned the bench for any signs of life. The usually animated Celtic bench simply sat there and watched the team's collapse. Eddie House, Tony Allen, andScalabrine were all fourth-quarter DNPs.Not once did Thibodeau so much as looktheir way. He sacrificed "ubuntu" because he assessed his best chance was to ride the starters. The team failed miserably without them.

12 Jan 11 Agent No-No: Gilbert Arenas' Actions Hurt Recuperating NBA Image

Brendan Smialowski/Getty ImagesWhen a sports fan thinks of the most out-of-control, least manageable, and arguably the most dangerous sports league in North America, the National Basketball Association comes to mind.Whether it revolved around Dennis Rodman, the Portland Jail Blazers, or an Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
astonishing brawl between athletes and fans at the Palace, the NBA has, for better or worse, been viewed as a league of delinquency and misbehavior.While the NBA has been plagued with unfortunate incidents the past couple decades, there is no denying the league attempt to clean its image and make it more marketable to outside developers and fans who pay to help maintain credibility.And after all the work that has been done, from stricter guidelines like proper dress attire before and after games, one incident could derail any effort and make outsiders say I told you so.Such is the case with Gilbert Arenas.The Washington Wizards $111 million-dollar man brought a gun into the locker room, and then proceeded to threaten a teammate with it. There are just so many things wrong with this scenario.First off, Arenas is making over a $100 million over a six-year time frame. Whether he deserved such a large contract in the first place is debatable, especially when one considers his injury history and lack of success in the postseason. Players like LeBron or Kobe warrant such huge contracts, but Arenas should not be mentioned in the same breath as those guys.Then you have the issue of actually bringing a firearm into a building and, jokingly or not, threatening another person with itlet alone your own teammate. Didn it once cross Arenas mind that this was, in essence, a bad idea? Apparently not.And for a player as widely known as Arenas, this was and continues to be a PR nightmare for Washington and the NBA as a whole. His suspension for the remainder of the season hurts his team (as does that of Javaris Crittenton), not to mention makes upper management really take a step back and begin having second thoughts on that monster contract.Maybe changing the franchise name from the Bullets to the Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
Wizards was a bit premature.This may end up being the sword in Arenas NBA coffin, but the NBA will get over it over time. The league achieved success despite drug use, brawls, and the Tim Donaghey saga. Sure, it will not be the easiest distraction to overcome, but time does heal all woundseven in professional sports.Although in many cases, athletes aren so lucky.

10 Jan 11 Oklahoma City Thunder Stand Pat

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesThe trade deadline has come and gone. Oklahoma City remains unchanged.While many will be wondering why General Manager Sam Presti didn't take a shot at a big name that can "help the Thunder in the playoffs," or "make that final push," he didn't need to.Think back to the beginning of the season, Oklahoma City was projected to be a middle of the pack team in the West. Most "experts" said that a 30 win season would be a win, and everything else is gravy. Guess what? Oklahoma City is currently sitting on win number 31 and fans are already Baltimore Ravens jersey
excited about the playoffs.So, wouldn't that mean that the Thunder would want to make a trade to solidify that playoff bid? In a word, no.The main reason for the dramatic improvement over last season is the growth of the Thunder's younger players and the defense of coach Scott Brook's system.If the Thunder grabbed Amar'e Stoudemire or Brendan Haywood, how would Serge Ibaka grow? The emergence of Ibaka has been one of the pleasant surprises this season. Many believed that Ibaka would spend a year in Tulsa, OKC's NBA D-League affiliate, and hopefully contribute next year. Well, he is already impacting this team. He battles on defense, and is quickly becoming the team's enforcer.What about an upgrade at power forward? Yes, everyone and their dog has been critical of Jeff Green (myself included). Green is playing out of position, and we all know it. However, he is proving himself to be capable of defending so-called "big named fours." If you had the pleasure of watching Oklahoma City's win over Dallas on Feb. 16, you saw Green stifle one of the best Buffalo Bills jersey
fours in the league, Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki has dominated Green in the past, but Green is finally starting to figure out what being a power forward entails.Oklahoma City needs to sit on what they have, because what they have is working. There are players who might improve OKC now, but Presti isn't building a team for this season. The Thunder are a team built for the future, and the future is coming a little faster than we all thought it would.

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It that time of year again. With just a quarter of the NBA regular season remaining, the MVP race and debates are set to heat up.This season, the race seems to be between Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James, with the King currently leading the way.LeBron James is the leader of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team with the top record in the league (46-14). Meanwhile, the Magic are fourth in the league (39-20), and the Thunder are 10th (34-23).In the past 10 years, six of the MVP came from the best team in the league, two from the second, Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
and the other two from the third. That said, the chances of Durant winning the MVP are slim to none.Putting personal statistics in consideration, LeBron is the clear winner.LeBron James leads the league in scoring, averaging 30 PPG, and is among the league leaders in minutes played as well. Moreover, LeBron is one of the smartest players in the league, as he is sixth in personal fouls committed, and leads all frontcourt players in assists-turnover ratio.All around, LeBron posts the best statistics in the league, as he is the only player to nearly average a triple double every game. If that not impressive enough, LeBron is doing so on a lackluster team. James game has made the mediocre players around him much better. Mo Williams was a backup PG for the Bucks, but he helped transform him into an All-Star.Moreover, James ability to get to the basket at will and dish out passes has given opportunities for the team several sharp shooters to shine. Finally, think about what being the league most valuable player means. In my mind, part of being the MVP is being the "poster boy" for the league. LeBron James is one of the most famous athletes in the world. Furthermore, his unbelievable athleticism and creative plays makes him one of the most entertaining players in the league.James, alone, has put Cleveland on the map, Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
and he is setting the standard for how the game should be played. Meanwhile, neither Howard nor Durant have the magnitude of impact on the sport that King James does.Don get me wrong. I love Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard. They are among the top players in the league, and have very bright futures. However, as for the MVP award, this season, LeBron is the clear front-runner to repeat, and may be so for, who knows, possibly the next decade.

8 Jan 11 Week 21 Fantasy Basketball Risers and Fallers/Waiver Wire Watch

Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesMaking that final push toward the playoffs in your fantasy league?Eager to find some sleeper-type guys that could help you in some critical areas?This week, we've combined the risers and fallers with the waiver wire watch.The risers consist of five guys available in most leagues that you can expect a jump in production from.The fallers, as usual, are five guys you should be wary to depend upon as the season nears its end.RisersJrue Holiday, PG, Philadelphia 76ers (2 percent owned in Yahoo! leagues)Holiday's Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
production has been on the rise since Allen Iverson left, and is averaging 14 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds in the last five games.His numbers are solid across the board, and he can also provide a boost in the three-point and free throw shooting departments.If you're in desperate need of some guard help, Holiday may be worth a look.Courtney Lee, SG, New Jersey Nets (18 percent)The Nets are horrible, but Lee has been anything but that recently.After going through a disappointing season for the most part, he's averaging 19 points in his last five, but has also been a bit inconsistent.Snag him if you need scoring help, but do so with caution.Quentin Richardson, SG/SF, Miami Heat (4 percent)Richardson, like Lee, has been fairly inconsistent with his scoring, but when he's on, he's on.He's 18-43 from deep in his last five games, a stellar percentage that could prove to be a valuable asset down the stretch if you need help in that area.He's typically good for at least a pair of threes per game.Drew Gooden, PF, Los Angeles Clippers (24 percent)Gooden occupied this space a couple of weeks ago, but he's still widely available in most leagues.He's averaging 14 points and eight rebounds per game in March, and can be a solid boost to any frontline lacking in rebounding, especially.His Clippers may be losing, but Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
he can help you win.JaVale McGee, C, Washington Wizards (4 percent)McGee's numbers for the season aren't great, but he's stepped up his rebounding and shot blocking since the trade deadline.He's near the top of the league in blocks since then, and could be a nice pickup if you're really scrapping for help.FallersC.J. Watson, PG, Golden State WarriorsWatson thrived in the absence of Monta Ellis, but his numbers have taken an expected hit since Ellis has returned.He may be worth keeping on your roster in case Ellis goes down again, but don't put him in your lineup unless that happens.Randy Foye, G, Washington WizardsShaun Livingston's recent solid play has cut into Randy Foye's minutes in the past few games.His shooting has dropped completely off-the-radar, and he doesn't have much impact on the game if his confidence shooting the ball is shaken.As long as Livingston continues to play better, don't expect much from Foye.Hedo Turkoglu, F, Toronto RaptorsThe Raptors have been struggling mightily since a couple of their key players have suffered injuries, and Turkoglu is one of them.He tweaked his ankle a couple of weeks ago against the Rockets, and hasn't been himself since.Typically a fairly dependable player all across the board, he's averaging just over seven points on 11-28 shooting in his last five games.Channing Frye, F, Phoenix SunsFrye has lost minutes to Robin Lopez as the season has progressed, and his red-hot shooting start this season seems like a distant memory.Since a 23-point (7-10 3p) outburst against the Clippers on Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
March 3, Frye has scored just 13 points total in three games.Taj Gibson, F, Chicago BullsGibson is hampered by plantar fasciitis in both of his feet, and his effectiveness has been limited recently.Normally a solid scorer and rebounder, the fact that Gibson is having trouble exploding off of his feet makes him a major red flag for now.For NBA news, fantasy advice, and NBA Draft analysis, head over to NBA Soup.

30 Dec 10 Tim Duncan's Fundamental Dominance Gives Spurs New Life, Old Hope

Phil Jackson wanted to makeanother abrupt sideline interview allabout the struggles of his Lakers, instead of the gritty, relentless play from the visitors.He cracked a joke about finding a rabbit's foot for the Easter Bunnyand then went after Bennett Salvatore and a play that caused the lead official to "T" up Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant."The referees turned against us," he told ABC's Lisa Salters.The winningest coach in NBA history seemed to know his team was doomed. His face sported a look of depressing resignation.Even with Pau Gasol playing as well as he ever has, the Spurs cruised in the final minutesto a 100-81 victory.Something else turned against the Lakersin this Sunday afternoon match. They did not get any help from the Tim Duncan of New York Giants jersey
two weeks ago.Then,in a 92-83 loss, Duncan missed chip shots, andjump hooksthree-to-five feet from the rim.He looked older than the Alamo in the process.If he had dominated since the time when dinosaurs roamed the earth, wasn't it time for his extinction?The Spurs responded to that demoralizing home defeat with wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Orlando Magic.Manu Ginobili led the charge again with his Argentina-sized cojones, scoring 17 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter. As the Spurs' guard again drove up his price, Duncan lowered the cost of the wear and tear on his knees with another dominant day at the office.Sunday, the supposed underdog was the one delivering the beatdown.When the Lakers pulled to within two in the fourth quarter after trailing by as many as 15, Gregg Popovich saw something that should convince him to cancel his latest appointment with the gastrointerologist.Then, Ginobili and Richard Jefferson decided it was time for a steady diet of Timmy. Duncan delivered and outplayed Gasol and LamarOdomdown the stretch.He contorted his bodywith Gasol molesting himfor a three-point play.Gasol swiped the ball from Duncan on a post-up attempt and ran the length of the floor for a slam. When the Spaniard tried the same play again, he missed and Duncan made him pay with an uncontested slam of his own.The significance of San Antonio's victory cannot be overstated. If the Lakers miss Andrew Bynum, the Spurslong forthe return ofstarting, All-NBA point guard Tony Parker.Only one of those players owns a Finals MVP trophy.Sophomore combo guard George Hill left the contest with a sprained ankle and did not return.The undermanned Spurs won by 19 with D-League call up Malik Hairston getting crunch-time burn. Popovich had not chaperoned a triumphat Staples Center since 2007's Rodeo Road Tripunless you count numerous embarrassments of theClippers.I don't.The building looks and sounds a lot different when L.A.'s real NBA team hosts an opponent.The aftershocks of an earthquake centered in Mexico could have been confused for the rumble of Clipper fans racing to lower their standards for that evening's game with the New York Knicks.The Spurs defeated Hollywood's storied franchise, not the one riddled by injuries and a disgraceful, racist, and cheapskateowner.They did it with the Duncan of old, instead of just an old Duncan.His new normthe product of 12-plus NBAseasons and knees as uncooperative as Ben Roethlisberger with theauthoritieswill have to do.Popovich cannot expect the Duncan who averages 20 and 11 in every month of the season to surface again.If he can post those numbers through February and recoverNew York Jets jersey
from a few statistical dips here and there, the Spurs immediate future looks less bleak.His legs ache every day, but his on-court leadership and drive to win burned longer when the Lakers threatened to pounce.Sunday marked the third straight game in which Duncanput the game out of reach with his usualback-to-the-basket command.He outplayed Dwight Howard in a tight game. He whipped the Rockets crippled front line.When the Spurs needed to extend a late four-point lead against the league-leading Cavs, Hill threw it to Duncan,and heresponded withhis agelessjump hook.Doubting Duncan, again, seems like a dangerous idea.Maybe the Spurs cannot be champions, especially since they figure to start the playoffs on the road.Can anyone like the chances of Utah, Dallas, Phoenix, or Denver more?The Jazz swept the season series, but all four games were close in the fourth quarter. In a potential playoff meeting, what happened in 2007 would matter.If the Suns continued to surge thanks to a mostly cupcake finishing schedule and happened to meet the Spurs in the first round, wouldn't Parker, Duncan, and Ginobili lick their chops?No need to start a conga line. A layup line would do.Ifthe Spursbeat much betterSuns squads in 2005 and 2007 without home court advantage, how could they lose now?The Jazzcould not stop the Lakers from scoring easy bucket after easy bucket. They weren't as competitive with L.A.a month ago at Energy Solutions Arena as the Spurs were at the ATT Center.The George Karl and Kenyon Martin-lessNuggets have looked like unarmed soldiers heading into an ambush.Playing with proper between-game rest, Denver fell behind at homeby 20 to the lowly Clippers. That they won 98-90 says more about the ineptitude of the Clippers than their own fortitude.The Mavericks may boast the edge in the I-35 series, but Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood have not turned Dallas into a defensive juggernaut. The Mavs surrendered 121 points to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a Saturday home loss.Butler and Haywood have also never tasted the conference finals. As Jefferson and Antonio McDyess recount their own NBA Finals experiences, on what will the Mavs' trumpeted acquisitions lean?They did learn the hard way what can happen when a player brings firearms into the locker room.How will that nugget of knowledgehelpDallas ina physical, seven-game series?Portland needs Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla to have a chance to reach its potential. Brandon Roy's greatness can only take the Blazers so far.Oklahoma City will either die by its youth or use the don't-know-any-better factor to strangle a veteran squad.While the Lakers' "other" challengers stumble in trying to figure themselves out in time for the postseason, the Spurs have been beating elite teams their waywith defense and ball movement.Sunday also offered other encouraging signs. Jefferson was a key part of the Spurs' third-quarter run that afforded them some breathing room.He caught a full-court pass from Duncan for a fastbreak slam. He cut to the rim as Duncan was doubled and threw down an alley-oop while being fouled.The Jefferson of Sunday looked more like the one Popovich Oakland Raiders jersey
wanted last June.McDyess played a rugged fourth quarter, securing tough rebounds and nailing a 15-footer to make it 78-71.Matt Bonner contributed eight points and some adequate defense.Hill's injury leaves the Spurs without a non D-League point guard on their roster, and that could hurt them in their quest to avoid the eighth seed.Even after Sunday's rout, Popovich knows better than to welcome a first-round date with Kobe Bryant."The ones that say, 'We don't care who we play,' they're full of baloney," Popovichsaid just before the game. "We're all trying to hide from the Lakers in the first round and that's the truth."He's right to call anyone who claims to not fear the Lakers "idiots." Raise your hand if you think Bryant will let a team with such talent bow in the first round.Still, with Ginobili en fuego, playing as well as he ever has, a productive Duncan, the return of Parker, and a revamped supporting cast, won't the Spurs always represent the Lakers greatest Western Conferencechallengers?Even if they can't win without a size upgrade next to Duncan, can't they throw the hardest punches?They boast the championship moxie lacking in most of the conference's other All-Stars not named Chauncey Billups.When the going got tough in the third quarter, it was not hard to see why GM R.C. Buford had coveted Jefferson and McDyess in a busy offseason.They found ways to help Ginobili and Duncan win a game they could not afford to lose.A defeat would have given the Lakers a 3-1 series win and even more confidence heading into a first-round matchup.Now, the Spurs and a scorching Ginobili have hope of avoiding the defending champs when the postseason begins.No one mattered more on Sunday than Duncan. After Serge Ibaka and Philadelphia Eagles jersey
Al Horford had delivered highlight reelblocks anddunks at the forward's expense, Popovich needed his foundation to give him areason for hope.The old Duncanwith moves and legs that seem todate back to the cretaceous perioddelivered.A season most would label as disappointing became immediately better than the previous two in the span of three hours.Withnew lifeborne from a season-defining afternoon of dirty work at Staples Centercame an old hope.

29 Dec 10 Spurs-Mavericks: An Early Playoff Treat

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesLast night, the Dallas Mavericks hosted the San Antonio Spurs for a good ol' fashioned, end-of-the-season rivalry game. There's no better way to end the season than playing your rival.Unless you're the Spurs, who were handed a seven point loss.Neither team was playing for much of anything, as both teams had already locked up a playoff spot, with Dallas securing the No. 2 seed and San Antonio the No. 7 seed.The interesting thing is that while Tony Parker played, he did so without his wing men Tim Duncan and Manu Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
Ginobili, who sat last night's game out to rest up for the upcoming playoff appointment with the Mavericks.What makes the loss so interesting, is that while the Spurs lost, they only lost by seven, even with Duncan and Ginobili taking the night off.The Mavericks should be terrified that their foes did so well without their complete trifecta of stars in the game.Furthermore, they should be concerned with the outstanding play of DeJuan Blair, who racked up 27 points, 23 rebounds, four assists, and three steals.Up until last night, Blair was just another spot on the roster, only averaging 7.8 points per game. Last night, he more than tripled his season average.However, the Spurs' shooting numbers should send shivers down the entire roster.The Spurs shot an abysmal 2-22 on 3-pointers, which works out to only 9.1 percent.The Spurs' Field Goals were depressing, too.San Antonio made 37-91 FGs, a pitiful 40.7 percent.Wanna know where the missing seven points were last night?Free throws.The Spurs sunk 13 of 20 free throws, a decent 65 percent. But had they made those seven free throws, they might have won.If San Antonio wants to send the Mavericks packing in Round One, Gregg Popovich needs to lock his players in the ATT Center and work on their shooting numbers until Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
Sunday.While last night's game was merely a formality for both teams, the Spurs should be both excited and worried.They should be excited because even without Duncan and Ginobili, players like DeJuan Blair stepped up and pulled their weight in their absence.They should be worried because of their shooting numbers, which need a lot of work before Sunday's opening Round One game.Hopefully Popovich won't bench Blair just because Duncan and Ginobili will be playing, but instead, uses him often to give one of those guys a breather.Blair has proved his worth to the team, and maybe he can become the fourth man in San Antonio's group of elite three.While last night's game meant virtually nothing, it showed us two things:1. DeJuan Blair is San Antonio's best-kept secret, and is a valuable offensive weapon.2. San Antonio, for the most part, was able to keep pace with the Mavericks, even without their two stars.A San Antonio-Dallas matchup is exciting all by itself, but to get such a matchup in the first round of the playoffs is even better. Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
Now that it's the playoffs, San Antonio will be an unstoppable force that will unleash their fury on the Mavericks.Leading the charge?The elite three, with their newest member, DeJuan Blair.My pick?San Antonio in five games.To read more of Jordan's work, click here.

28 Dec 10 Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James: Has the Torch Been Surrendered?

It is always tough to watch a young-gun snatch the stranglehold that one has on an industry and its participants, as their dominance is something both revered and admired by its followers.Observing a superstar rise into the spotlight with an array of talent and mounds of perseverance, is something that we secretly clamor for.That's why stars are stars. We pay to see them dominate the competition, and idolize their greatness.Every star has their day, but what happens when that day comes to a slow demise based on diminished physical ability and the arrival of Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
a successor?Julius Erving's attack of Larry Bird after the young-gun dominated him is what happens. Shaquille O'Neal's public verbal attack on Dwight Howard and the Superman moniker is what happens.Ego's get in the way, and the great ones don't concede easily.Kobe Bryant has long been viewed as the NBA's best overall player after the torch was passed from the greatest ever, Michael Jordan.Bryant came into the league a brash, talented, and wiry 18-year-old kid who had the moon as the limit of his talent.Capturing three NBA titles in a row, Bryant and O'Neal played leading roles in a dynasty that brought them together, but would eventually tear them apart.There was nothing on a basketball court that Bryant couldn't do, and there was no one man in the league that could guard him.Bryant was undoubtedly the single most visible player in the NBA for most of the 2000's, and the most supremely talented.That was until the arrival of a young kid from Akron, Ohio, by the name of LeBron James.From the moment ESPN televised James' high-school games for St. Vincent-St. Mary's live, the sports world wascaptivated by the athleticability James displayed, and couldn't wait for the future.Unlike Bryant, James made an immediate impact with a 25-point, nine assist, six rebound game against the Sacramento Kings in his first NBA performance.James won Rookie of the Year honors averaging 20.9 PPG, 5.9 APG, and 5.5 RPG, while Bryant averaged just 7.6 PPG in limited action.Although James had a faster ascension into NBA hierarchy, Bryant eventually worked himself into the sameconversationwith the all-time greats of the league.Once James settled into the NBA, it was clear that the torch would eventually be passed from Bryant to him as the best player in the world.Rumblings started about this a few years ago, and they have never been more rampant as James has stole the show with his freakish physical attributes combined with his impeccable talent.The question is, "Has Bryant officially lost the "best in the world" title?"After winning his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award, there has never been more steam behind the argument for James.Let's put their attributes into perspective for the sake of comparison. Both players will be compared based on five important basketball characteristics.Shooting, passing, defense,clutch performance, andleadership will be the determining factors as to who's the better player, and ultimately determining if Bryant's status as the best is no more.ShootingWhen James first entered the league, the man couldn't shoot a lick.Not to quote Mr. Outrageous Skip Bayless, but he was right when he used to call LeBron, "LeBrick."Everyone knew James could penetrate the lane with the best of them no matter who was guarding him, but his stats suffered due to him not being a feared shooter.Similarly, Bryant wasn't a great shooter either when he arrived in L.A, and had the same tendency to always drive and miss numerous jump shots.James has began to shoot the ball far better than earlier in his career, and the stats prove that he has become a more potent scorer since.Also, his ability to shoot makes defenders have to play Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
him tighter, which allows him to use his best attribute to its fullest, his power and speed to the basket.Bryant also developed into a formidable shooter, and added a fade-away from the basket jump shot similar to the one Jordan employed, and made a staple late in his career.James went from shooting 42 percent in his rookie year to 50 percent this season and Bryant went from shooting 42 percent as a rookie to 46 percent this season.James is far stronger than Bryant and gets more dunks and lay-ups than Kobe, naturally.Both players shot 33 percent from the three-point line this season, and at this point none hold much of an edge over the other.Some would argue that Kobe is more consistent and is a better free-throw shooter, but not enough to hold a significant edge here.Advantage: EvenPassingThis debate is easier settled than a man having to choose between a Lamborghini Gallardo and a Saturn Ion.Okay maybe not that easy, but James came into the league at six-foot-nine as a great passer, and averaged nearly six assists per game as a rookie, seven per game for his career and hasn't had a season below 5.5.Pretty good for a natural power forward.Bryant has had the stigma of "ball-hog" follow him since his days at Lower Merion High School, but those accusations aren't completely accurate.As a rookie, Bryant didn't play much and averaged only 1.3 assists per game, but improved that to five by 2000.Bryant averaged a career high in 2004-05 in assists with six per game, but fell under five two times after that and has a career average under five.Fora penetrating guard with the talent Kobe has, that's a little low. Jordan had a career average of 5.3, but a high of eight and second high of 6.3 in consecutive seasons.Bottom line, James is the better passer and has done it with less, until the arrivals of Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison.Advantage: JamesDefenseThis is just as easily settled as the last comparison, but in the other man's favor.James came into the NBA not a great defender, but descent enough to not earn the Steve Nash label of, "he may torch you on offense, but be prepared to give up 30 on D."Wanting to be the best player on the court every night, James quietly worked himself into a very respectable on-ball defender who could guard the other team's best player consistent enough to make some big stops.Unfortunately, he has yet to develop the patience and intensity on defense needed to shut-down the opponents best player for long stretches of Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
time.Bryant on the other hand prided himself on the defensive end of the floor nearly as much as the offensive side, and developed into a great on-ball defender.Not only could Bryant guard your best player, but he could make the game very difficult to him as he did to Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook in the 2010 playoffs.Making the All-Defensive first team eight times, Bryant has beenexceptional defensively for much of his career.James has developed a tendency to perform what I call, "demoralizing trailing blocks" that he performs when a player believes he has a fast break layup in which James swoops in like a seagull and sends the shot away.As amazing as those blocks are to witness and Bryant's aging legs, Kobe is the winner here, still.Advantage: BryantClutch PerformanceThis is a very tough category because both players have shown an ability to get it done in clutch situations.Oh, who am I kidding?At this point, I won't waste time with this debate. James is the better clutch player.Many of you reading this will scoff at that assertion, but before viciously attacking me like a K-9 dog to an evasive criminal look at it this way.Mentioned in the previous "defense" category was James' propensity to chase down players and block their shots, often in dramatic fashion.Despite that, he's not a better overall defender than Bryant. Kobe hits a considerable amount of game-winning shots, especially this past season.Clutch extends further than that. While there is no easily identifiable stat to define clutch, being able to lift your team to victory in close games under five minutes to play is close enough.If you believe in John Hollinger's PER (Player Efficiency Rating) system, then Steve Nash, Manu Ginobili, Amare Stoudemire, and LeBron James are your top players.Either way, Bryant is a great clutch player, but his final shots are like the highlight film blocks by LeBron: They don't tell the whole story.James is better at involving teammates and also being consistent in the clutch of fourth quarters, but hasn't passed Bryant individually yet.In other words, with one shot under five seconds to go I want Bryant taking it. If I need to win a close game with underfive minutes to go give me James.Okay, I wasted some time with that debate. Oops.Advantage: JamesLeadershipOne thing has been consistent about Bryant since his inception into the league: He's a demanding teammate who will not hesitate to check you to your face.Often described as fiercely competitive and intense, Bryant will's his team to victory getting the most out of them. All great players do that.Sometimes, though his aggression and verbal nature cause him to draw ire from his teammates, and early in his career he did just that.For that reason amongst others, that's what broke he and Shaq apart prematurely. Those attributes combined with a sense of narcissism can take away from team unity.Nonetheless, Bryant has transformed himself into a far more engaging teammate who can have fun with his team, but distinguish that from the task at hand, winning.James on the other hand has always had the complete respect of his teammates, and often is the most engaging, fun-oriented player on the floor.Since being a Cavalier, James has had many visibly jovial moments with his team such as dancing and different versions of high-fives and silly on-court antics.Some outlets have argued that James' demeanor isn't serious enough, and that's why he hasn't won a title yet, Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
similar to the assertions that Dwight Howard faces.James proved the type of teammate he is when he received the MVP award this season.He brought the entire team out to accept it with him, and that kind of appreciation is what makes him the ultimate teammate.James willfully distributes the basketball and openly applauds his teammates when they do well. Bryant is very hard on his teammates and extremely demanding similar to Jordan.The work-ethic example that Bryant sets and expects from his teammates makes them better, and despite his aggressive nature he has evolved into a fearless leader.So has James, except he does it in a more comfortable way.Advantage: JamesThe fact is, Bryant is still a superstar and a force to be reckoned with. Nobody can take thataway from him.Hiscurtain is just closed on being the best player in the world.Bryant's place is etched in history, but individually it's time for him to make like thefamily dog and move over foryour daughter'snew puppy.Consider the torch passed, and blazing with fire.