What’s Michael Jordan doing these days?
Exactly.
It’s getting to be decision time for LeBron James, and already that’s a problem.
We just witnessed it with Travis Kelce.
Arguably the greatest tight end in NFL history might have played his last game Sunday. And if so, that’s too bad.
This has nothing to do with deteriorating skills or the number of cut-aways to Taylor Swift in the luxury suite. Frankly, I’d rather see her than Andy Reid for the 59th time.
My issue is: If we never see Kelce again on a football field, at least his fans, colleagues and admirers nationwide should have gotten a chance to say good-bye.
Not that his inevitable bulldog needs a Terrible Towel for those rainy Rhode Island winters or a silver-and-black skull & crossbones with 14-13 engraved in it to scare away Halloween visitors.
But given the lack of fanfare with which he might have bowed out, he surely has already fallen behind brother Jason in the family Q ratings, soon to be third when Miss Swift signs up.
It’s hard to imagine LeBron being second to anybody in any life endeavor. But wouldn’t you have said that about Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, among other NBA greats?
Still with a lot to offer the world, they now find themselves looking up to — of all people — Shaq. You know, kinda like Vlade Divac all those years.
More and more, it appears LeBron is headed down that same path. Is he even playing these days? Whenever I see Lakers highlights, they’re showing Luka Doncic.
Or maybe Bronny cheering on the sidelines.
LeBron needs to announce his retirement, schedule it for the final loss of the postseason, and allow all remaining hosting teams to shower him with going-away gifts and tributes while he starts planning his next career, one that will be more Shaq than Jordan.
And I’ve got just the plan …
Become the next coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Whoa now. Think about this for a minute.
There’s talk about LeBron getting into politics. Sounds good on the surface. But that’s what Steve Garvey and Brett Favre thought, too.
Remember them?
More likely, LeBron will continue in sports. But doing what?
Broadcasting? Doesn’t have the voice.
Team owner? Old pal Dwyane Wade tried that … and got stuck with the Utah Jazz.
Comedian? Uh, no.
Tennis coach? Hey, Bronny and Bryce could form a great doubles team. Dad could be the next Richard Williams.
OK, bad idea.
Given his lifetime in sports and his relationships with the likes of Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra, coaching would seem like the way to go.
Bird thought that, too, then came to find out: Coaching basketball is about building phony relationships, not about making 20-year-olds smarter. Like Bird, when LeBron gives you a pat on the back, he does it with such force, you fall flat on your face.
Let’s be honest: Basketball is for wimps. The NBA these days is all about rest management and sneakers.
LeBron is much better suited to being a football coach. Think of Bear Bryant on the tower, screaming to pick up the tempo. Or Vince Lombardi demanding his injured player get up, because you have another leg.
LeBron has football experience. But most important, he has the size of Mike Ditka, the scowl of Bill Cowher, the referee-intimidating of … well, himself.
The X’s and O’s? That’s what the 20-some-odd coordinators are there for. They’re the ones who need to know what to check to when the strongside linebacker doesn’t follow the tight end in motion.
The head coach just has to set the rules. Like: “Don’t tush-push. It’s embarrassing.”
So why the Raiders? First off, because the Cowboys’ job isn’t available … although it might be as soon as LeBron's people deliver Jerry's people the news.
If the limelight-seeking basketball star is going to switch over to football, he’s going to need … the limelight. Las Vegas can provide that.
OK, the football team stinks. But so did the Cavaliers before LeBron went there. And again before LeBron went there again.
If it isn’t already, Las Vegas is the sports capital of the world. And getting brighter.
The WNBA put a team there, and it’s won multiple championships (owned by a football guy, by the way).
Baseball is on its way with the game’s best young team just looking for some high rollers with a Dodgers-sized vault. Kelce brothers, are you listening?
Basketball flocks to the town at all ages — from AAU tournaments to prep showcases to college invitationals to the NBA Cup.
And football … for now, it has Tom Brady. Imagine if he and LeBron got hitched (not literally, but Vegas does a lot of that, too).
LeBron could be the Deion of Las Vegas: Immediately attracting the eyes of the nation to a really, really bad football team and watching as it becomes a free-agent destination.
You think the Manning family wouldn’t change its mind about returning to Texas if it could hitch its wagon to a pair of GOAT's?
And if it failed? If the LeBron L'Experience, as with Deion, fizzled out almost as quickly as it ignited?
Well … LeBron could still get into politics as things start heating up next year, and the Raiders could flop into the first pick again, this time forcing Arch to join them no matter what.
Without question, the Raiders would do it. The question is: How bold is LeBron?