No, not Michael Jordan. Let me clear that up right now, this is not the place to come for anything Jordan. A Jazz fan and a Knicks fan will never combine to say one kind word about the master of push-off: Air Mike.
Instead, let’s talk about Michael Beasley. This guy is raw talent. On November, 9, 2007, BEASTley comes out a freshman in his first game and puts up 32 points and 24 rebounds. It was the first time a K-State baller had put up a 30/20 game since 1957. No jokes here.
It goes without saying that Beastley is the talk of the town. Everyone in Manhattan (by the way, Manhattan, KS is the worst play on words since Bradgelina) wants to know what his plans are, and every two-bit writer for the K-State Collegian is writing op-ed pieces begging him to stay.
Now for the blast: should he stay? “Beasley can help win a championship and become a K-State legend; His talent is still raw. Look what happened when Kobe, KG, and McGrady hit the league hardwood. It took them a few years to come into their own. Magic stayed four years and came out and led the Lakers to a championship his rookie season.” And blah blah blah!
Do you want to know the difference between Kobe/KG and Magic/Bird? Kobe and KG got paid! So his talent is raw, who cares? What better way to come into understanding raw talent than to hit the floor with the big-boy bangers and find out what it takes to cut it in the league. Yeah, Beastley is going to take his licks just like his boy Durant, but the fact of the matter is he’s going to do it with a $13 million contract.
It is selfish and naïve for anyone here to think Beastley won’t take his paycheck and move his mom to the next big city. When you're the potential #1 draft pick, there's nowhere to go but down. No one should have anything negative to say about that especially not privileged college kids from Kansas who have no clue what it’s like to rough it on the streets of DC. Take your money, son, and thank you for the memories.
-end-
Charlie Utah
