If you are under the age of 30, you will not like this column. If you are from Chicago, you'll be much happier clicking somewhere else. And if you're under 30, from Chicago AND black, too...well, don't say I didn't warn you.

Being nearly 50 years of age, whenever I'm asked who is the best basketball player of all time, I answer thusly.

1. Wilt Chamberlain set all the records;
2. Kareem Abdul Jabbar broke many of those records;
3. Bill Russell won 11 NBA titles, but;
4. All of those men claimed that Oscar Robertson was the baddest MF to ever step on the court.

Do the math, Bulls' fans -- all of the above would tend to place MJ as no better than a distant fifth place.

In all of the MJ-mania, I've been aghast and irritated by how so many people can get it so right in football and so wrong in basketball. Why do people believe that Jim Brown is the greatest football player of all-time, but then -- in the same breath -- also believe that his contemporary, the Big O, somehow played in the olden days?

I bring up this rant in context after reading Ellioitt Kalb's book, "Who's Better, Who's Best in Basketball." Kalb lists his own rankings for the top 50 hoopsters of all-time with a collection of face-offs to make his point. He gives often compelling and frequently amazing arguments, rating each player against their contemporaries and the all-time best at their respective position.

For his part, Kalb places MJ in 3rd place behind Wilt. His all-time best? Shaquille O'Neal!

My problem with rating MJ or the Shaq Diesel as the all-time best is that I can remember seeing Wilt play. I remember Oscar and Bill Russell. I also saw Elgin Baylor and Jerry West play too and I'd argue that they both deserve a place in this argument.

That last statement inexorably leads to a total disconnect with the under-30 crowd. To the younger generation, Baylor and West are little more than a couple of old dudes that you see every year at the draft lottery.

In fact, Elgin was MJ before MJ was a gleam in his late daddy's eyes. Jerry West might have been the best pure shooter the game has ever seen. Both men had 50 point nights -- long before the advent of the 3 point hoop, I might add. But Baylor never won a title and West never won an MVP. The Celtics won all the championships and Wilt won everything else.

To my mind, calling MJ the all-time greatest is akin to naming Emmitt Smith the greatest football player of all-time and nobody thinks that.

I'd also argue that MJ and Magic Johnson are penalized in the ultimate all-time rankings -- we can't say for sure that their respective missing seasons would have resulted in more championships.

Still, nobody has ever gotten close to Bill Russell's eleven rings, so he gets the first place at the table.

If the Big Aristotle can win another title with the Heat, then Kalb's case becomes more sound.
And yet, I can't help but think that much of Shaq Daddy's dominance is the result of the dearth of physically demanding contemporaries. Wilt had Russell, Thurmond and Walt Bellamy. Kareem faced the tail end of those giants' careers and then fought off the likes of Jack Sikma, Bob Lanier, Bill Walton, Kevin McHale/Robert Parrish, Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon.

Who does Shaq have? Tim Duncan? He's not a center, but you can make a strong case that Duncan is already better than Larry Bird, Moses Malone or Charles Barkley. (That's another column for another day.)

Back to the countdown. Wilt Chamberlain was a statistical cyclone -- blowing down all the records and preconceptions of the game in his wake, slicing what came before him like so many strands of wheat on the Kansas prarie.

From Kalb's book on Wilt vs. MJ.

Games needed to reach 30,000 points:
Wilt 941
MJ 960

Scoring average after 1,045 games:
Wilt 30.1
MJ 30.3

Wilt also averaged almost four times as many rebounds as Jordan. Try these next couple stats on for size.

Most 50 point games:
Wilt 122
MJ 37

Most 60 point games:
Wilt 32
MJ 4

Most 70 point games:
Wilt 6
David Thompson, Elgin Baylor, David Robinson 1
MJ 0

In 1962, Wilt "AVERAGED" 50.4 points a game including that 100 point night in Hershey, PA. In fact, Wilt scored 50+ points in 45 different games in 1962- more than any other player did in their entire career.

Whereever Wilt is now -- working on his next 10,000 sexual conquests, he deserves the next seat at the table.

Kareem stayed in the game long enough to break many of Wilt's records, so he must be included in the discussion. At the expense of being a shameless homer and lifelong Milwaukee Bucks fan, I bump up the Big Fella's rankings because he sublimated his game with the Lakers late in his career so that Magic could help him win a few more championships.

That's one thing MJ never did -- take team accomplishments over personal vanity. Here's another thing MJ didn't do: lead a team to an NBA title in his second season for an expansion team in its third season.

Here's one last nail in that coffin : They actually changed the rules of college basketball because of Kareem. Lewis Alcindor (aka Kareem) was so dominant as a sophomore -- they didn't allow freshmen to play varsity back then -- that the NCAA outlawed the dunk. In retrospect, Jabbar insists that it ironically made his game better by forcing him to create more shots.

Oscar only won his sole NBA title -- one of the highlights of my youth, I might add -- after sublimating his game to match the Big Fella in Milwaukee. There's only one number I can give you to demonstrate how the Big O dominated the game at guard long before MJ.

Triple Double Games:
Oscar Robertson 181
Magic Johnson 138
Wilt Chamberlain 78
Larry Bird 59
Jason Kidd 46

MJ is nowhere to be found. The Big O practically invented the triple double by "AVERAGING" a triple-double season. Think MJ with the bulk of a linebacker, truly the Jim Brown of the hardwoods. Mr. Robertson can now sit down.

So that's my prosecutorial case for my top four -- Wilt, Kareem, Russell and Oscar.

Over the years, I've run into a good many fans who make the case for someone other that MJ in fifth place with a bullet. Magic gets a lot of write-in votes and I can see the argument. He did win an NBA title and Finals MVP in his rookie season. (Kalb rightly notes the award should have gone to Kareem but the press freaked out after Magic's 42 in Game 7.)

Magic brought back the memory of Oscar by establishing his talents for the triple double. He embodied that shopworn cliche -- Magic actually made the players around him better. I'd argue that he made it his mission and therefore, I much enjoyed Magic's game over MJ's.

My Magic moment came, ironically enough, in Kareem's final NBA game in Milwaukee. Kareem was doing a sort of farewell tour and each city was presenting Jabbar with a gift.

(So, of course, Milwaukee shocks Kareem with a custom built, creme-coloured Harley Roadster. How sweet is that? A big bike for the Big Fella!)

(Kareem looked, for all the world, like a kid on Xmas. He had this beautific grin on his face that seemed to say, "can I keep it?" Jabbar also confided that he'd owned a cycle in his days with the Bucks, using it for tooling around the 'burbs in Ozaukee County, adding, "I got rid of that thing when I moved to LA.')

Anyway, back to Magic. Seated in the court-side press table, I could hear what the players -- some of the all-time best -- were saying.

In the 2nd quarter, Kareem takes a seat and Mark McNamara enters the game, fresh off signing one of those 10-day free agent contracts. In less forgiving and less politically correct times, Mac would have been uncharitably called a big white stiff -- less than 2.0 in points and rebounds.

First time down the court. Magic spots that no one is taking the big lug seriously as an offensive threat, and so he snaps a marvelous pass through two defenders...that clanks off MacNamara's hands out of bounds.

The big kid purposely turns his head away from the court, feeling coach Pat Riley's eyes glaring at him when Magic grabs Mac's head, shushes him and merely points to his own eyes with both hands. Just look at me, kid, and you'll be fine.

Can you even imagine how to cool it was to play with Magic Johnson? If you run the court and keep your eyes open, the man will somehow get you the ball. Doesn't matter, if you just walked off the street. The total antithesis of a Scottie Pippen, who once refused to enter a last second playoff game because the play wasn't drawn up for him.

By the way, let's stifle the Pippen in the Greatest all-time fifty players list garbage right now. If it wasn't for MJ, Pippen would be a high school coach in rural Arkansas. Okay, maybe, he might have gotten a shot at coaching the Razorbacks by now.

All of the people mentioned so far are lightyears ahead of Pippen, and if it's rings that make the champion, then all of those Celtics rate above Pippen too.

Magic Johnson's actions that night in Milwaukee told everyone - from his team to his coach to the fans in the stands to the entire league -- you WILL guard everyone on my team or I'll take this lug and make him a star. For me, I'll take that over MJ's game anyday.

Moreover, I'd rather place Magic at No. 5 because I'd love to have seen him play point guard with Wilt, Kareem, Russell and Oscar. Let MJ have next game and he can take the next four in line to play against my all-time five.

Now that MJ's slipped to 6th place, there's another inconvenient truth for Bulls' fans. Jordan's ranking could soon be in jeopardy from the current generation of players.

I mentioned earlier that Tim Duncan may be the game's finest all-time forward already. He's got three rings and enough time to get three more to match MJ's six titles.

Don't look now, but we've come to Mr. Kalb's argument. Shaq has four rings now and a couple more would move him up the list. As of now, Timmy and Diesel get the next seats at the table.

A couple years ago, I thought Kobe Bryant could someday become the all-time greatest, but I don't think that way anymore. Maybe, he'll get his act together and more emulate Mike Jordan and not Mike Tyson, but I also wonder more lately if Kobe's not another Darryl Strawberry waiting to happen.

The last invitee to the party is Lebron James. After an MVP-worthy regular season, he showed he could be just as good in the playoffs by recording two triple-doubles and averaging 30.8 points -- Jordan averaged 43.7 in his first playoff season. James also became the first player to average at least 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the playoffs since Oscar Robertson (1963).

Add that to Lebron's 2003-04 NBA Rookie of the Year award -- becoming the first Cavalier and youngest player to ever receive the award as one of three rookies in NBA history to average at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in one season (O. Robertson, M. Jordan) -- and the case is made for the youngster to eventually become the all-time greatest.

In this, James' third season, he ranked

#3 in the NBA in Points Per Game,

#12 in the NBA in Assists Per Game,

#2 in the NBA in Minutes Per Game,

#2 in the NBA in Minutes Played,

#2 in the NBA in Field Goals Made,

#2 in the NBA in Field Goal Attempts,

#6 in the NBA in Free Throws,

#3 in the NBA in Free Throw Attempts and

# 2 in the NBA in Points.

Having seen all of the above players, I'd argue that Lebron's season -- and especially his first playoffs -- bears some consideration. He's the Joker in this deck -- we simply cannot say how good this guy could become.

As for those still on the Good Ship MJ, I see him being squeezed between the old schoolers and the newer kids on the block.

Michael Jordan, the all-time best? I don't think so.

MJ-Maniacs? Do your worst!

For the life of me, I can not understand why so much of the national press vehemently lambasted Brett Favre for doing essentially the same thing as Roger Clemens. Think about it and ask yourself, what's the big diffrerence?

Clemens is a future Hall of Famer, considering whether to play one more season. He's won a championship and would like another to top off his legacy.

Favre is another future Hall of Famer who is also considering playing one last season -- if he has a shot at another title.

So why did the media piss and moan about Favre's pursuit while giving Clemens a reletive free ride? You don't see writers in Texas ripping Clemens for holding not one, but FOUR teams hostage with his own version of "will he stay or will he go."

A closer look at just who had a problem with Favre's indecision might be instructive. Aside from a few contrarians, who doesn't want Brett Favre to play for the Packers this fall? Given the alternative -- an untested 2nd year mystery -- if Favre showed up on Opening Day and wanted to play QB, you'd say no?

So why did we see that flurry of "Favre has to make a decision" stories? Blame it on the media. The people who cover the Green Bay Packers are sick and tired of Favre's constant retirement threats. Moreover, they're mad as heck and they don't want to have to take it anymore.

Truth be told, I've sat in press boxes with most of these people and I can sympathise. They'd all rather cover pro football and not feel tethered to the attendant celebrity worship of No. 4.

Trouble is, unlike Barry Bonds, no one else is in a real hurry to see Favre leave the stage. Face it, guys and gals. Until he himself decides, the Wisconsin media will have to keep supplying us with Brett Favre stories.

As for my own opinion of Favre, it's a two-part question:

a) does Favre still deserve to play QB for Green Bay, and

b) does Favre help the Pack by sticking around?

To answer the former, let me answer by stating the obvious; Brett Favre doesn't own us a thing. He doesn't me anything and he doesn't owe you anything.

Favre doesn't owe anything to the Packers, the fans, the media or pro football in general. He's done that much for the franchise and the game.

On the other hand, whether Favre can help this year's model of the Pack is debatable. Timid Teddy Thompson (call him, Triple T) is busy rebuilding the team in the Steelers/Bears image -- get a bunch of big-time play-makers on defense and find just enough offense to win games.

This last draft brought two much needed studs to the miserable linebacking corps, but that won't help Favre much. Darryn Colledge might become an All-Star someday, but this fall he will be a rookie from Boise State on a very young offensive line that could have problems protecting the QB.

In a way, it's sad that Favre can't pull off a Clemens and play for a contender this season. Of course, football doesn't work that way. Can you even imagine Favre suggesting that he could win a Super Bowl for the Cowboys? Or even the Bears?! The fans would scream bloody murder.

If Triple T (and the Wisconsin media) are "stuck" with Favre, we fans will still be rewarded with history. One more season of greatness should be cherished and not sullied. The real reward for the Packers might be Aaron Rodgers getting another year to learn how to be an NFL QB.

In this case, I'd say, the future can wait.

When Barry Bonds comes on my TV, I click the remote.

I change channels when I am watching a ball game of any kind and they mention BB. I wouldn't watch Bonds on Bonds, if they paid me and I have been avoiding the countdown to 714 like the plague.

And I used to like the guy.  I can only imagine what the long-time BB haters are feeling right now.

It's an ugly waltz, baseball and Mr. Bonds. Everyone but the enabling fans of San Francisco would be a lot happier, if BB took his bat and simply walked away.

Of course, BB ain't goin' out like dat! His part of the dance has always been insistance at playing by his own rules alone. When the HR's started sailing out of NL parks, BB's self-preening act was tolerated, even beloved by some.

At this point, if you're still among those defending BB, I've got three words for you -- read the book. Two reporters did what no one -- least of all, Major League Baseball -- wanted to do, connect all the dots.

"Game Of Shadows" revealed a big jerk who took a dizzying array of substances to become bigger and -- well, even more of a jerk. BB would have finished his career as one of the three or four best players all-time without all the chemistry, but that wasn't good enough for BB. So, instead, he becomes essentially the OJ of baseball -- a pariah, an annoyance, a punchline.

I said this a year ago, but it still applies: The only way BB walks away with one shred of dignity is if he quits before hitting 755. If BB said, "I respect the game and Mr. Aaron too much to break the record', he'd likely be praised by some of the same columnists who rip him today.

Still, I am not here to rip BB. I just want him to go away. I want him off my television screen and out of my beloved game of baseball. You see, as long as BB is in the lineup, baseball is his game and we just watch it. That is, of course, unless we stop watching. What if we all just said no to BB?

Angry at BB? Want to do something about it? All I'm saying is, do the American way -- economic boycott!

Don't watch Giants games. Don't watch "Bonds on Bonds" or better yet, send emails to sponsors of the games and BoB and tell them how disgusted you are with BB. Then, add that you will stop buying and/or using their products as long as they sponsor him and his team and his show.

There are two main enablers here -- the Giants and ESPN. Why are we hearing non-stop about BB passing Ruth for 2nd place in the all-time homer list? Because ESPN made their Faustian deal with the now-disgraced slugger, the network now stops all programming for every BB at-bat. BB hitting 715 isn't history so much as another in the endless stream of self-promotions that is ESPN.

Again, read the book. You'll also see how the Giants had to know what BB was ingesting from the start, but collectively decided -- from the owner to the manager to the players to the fans -- to look the other way because the HR barrage helped pay for that pretty new ballyard on McCovey Cove. The once-proud franchise of Muggsy McGraw and the Sey Hey Kid will be villified for years to come for BB. Think I'm kidding? Nearly 100 years later, some still call them the Black Sox for 1919!

Write the Giants. Write ESPN and write their sponsors. Tell them how you feel about BB.

Look, I'm not suggesting that a modest people's boycott is going to solve the problem with Barry Bonds, but it makes a hell of a lot more sense than paying good money to boo him at your ballpark.

Essentially, BB is little more than a self-important bully. Do what your mother told you. Ignore him and eventually, he'll go away.