Across the Boards Pilot Episode

Lebron's Selfless Act Before Breaking Kobe's Record

Lebron James as he scores his 20,000th career point  (Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images)

King James proves his selflessness prior to becoming the youngest player to 20,000

Lebron James became the youngest player to reach 20,000 career points at 28 (Previously held by Kobe Bryant), but not before pulling yet another unselfish move. With about 4 minutes left in the second quarter of Wednesday night's game in Golden State, Miami ran a play specifically to isolate James for him to accumulate his 20,000th point.

Right when it looked as if he would make his move for the milestone, he dished the ball to the corner for a Ray Allen 3 point attempt. Allen uncharacteristically missed the shot, but it was another showing of just how selfless James is. 

The key trait that continues to separate him from many of the other greats is his willingness to concede to his teammates for the greater good. And if the greater good continues to be championships, I don't think anybody in Miami will be complaining.

This is not the first scoring milestone this season he did not seem too interested in.

James started off this season on a 33-game streak of 20 points or more. When he was notified of his streak in an interview with espn.com, James had this to say:

"If I wanted to, I could lead the league in scoring, but that's not my job here," James said.

"My job is to do a lot of everything -- rebounding, passing and defending so that takes away from my scoring. I've done (the scoring title) before. I'm capable of doing it, but my game sometimes doesn't allow me to have those big nights."

I can't argue with that. In fact I believe if scoring was in the forefront of his mind, we would be witnessing him maybe reaching 25,000 points this season. 

All "ifs" aside, James has to be considered one of the most unselfish superstars in the history of the game. Especially when you consider the skills he possesses to score the ball.

"The greatest athlete in the history of the league," said Dave Pasch during the NBA on ESPN broadcast of Wednesday night's game, and athleticism definitely helps in the art of scoring.

As for the game, the Miami Heat routed the Golden State Warriors 92-75. James led the way with 25 points and 10 assists. With Curry sitting out and Klay Thompson struggling, Jarrett Jack led the Warriors with 16 points. 

The Warriors have now lost 4 out of the last 5, and the Miami Heat improved to .500 on the road this year (9-9). 

The Heat have been struggling as of late, and they are going to need their surrounding cast to execute around the most unselfish superstar in the league today. 

Nick Saban: Best Coach Ever

(Photo: John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports)

Nick Saban is surging to the top after his 4th BCS Championship

After Alabama head coach Nick Saban captured his fourth national championship Monday night in a blowout win over Notre Dame (42-14), it is premature but justified to predict Saban will go down as the greatest collegiate coach of all time.

Two heavily regarded coaches Bobby Bowden and the late Joe Paterno have many more wins than Saban, but also have both coached 40+ seasons each. The area Saban shines in is the one that really matters -- championships.

In their combined 86 seasons, Paterno and Bowden have won the same number of championships together (4) as Nick Saban alone in the past 8 years. And in his 4 championships there were little to no dispute due to his teams annihilation of their oppositions.

Saban coached teams have outscored opponents an astonishing 121-49 in BCS national championship games. This creates terrible ratings but proves his Alabama Crimson Tide as a dominating dynasty.

When you bring up dominance and Alabama, it is hard not to mention the legend Paul "Bear" Bryant. Here is how Saban matches up with Bryant all-time:

Nick Saban

Paul "Bear" Bryant

                      Record
323-85-17                              154-55-1*
                    Winning %
.780                                          .733*
                   Bowl record
15-12-1                                      8-6
                  Championships
   6                                               4
           Winning % at Alabama
.808                                            .839

                                                                * 5 wins vacated in 2007 season, stats according to sports-reference.com


He is currently sitting 2 championships behind the legend Bear Bryant, and the way his tide have been rolling, it is definitely not a stretch to believe he can get three or four more. Saban has many young players returning next season including quarterback AJ McCarron and playmaking receiver Amari Cooper.

Coach Saban is also prolific at the most important aspect of college football. Recruiting. Alabama has the 2nd best recruiting class falling short to only Notre Dame according to ESPN. This will come in handy for Saban to keep up the dynasty that he has created.

Nick Saban is definitely the best active coach, and if he can continue to keep his teams focused, there will be no force that could stop the Crimson Tide.

Bar in Green Bay Cleverly Taunts Peterson

Photo by: (@KeithLeventhal)

An unnamed bar in Green Bay has decided to tease Adrian Peterson for falling 9 yards short of the season record for rushing yards in week 17. Peterson's 199 yards came in a winning effort as he dismantled the Packers for the second time this year in a win that propelled the Vikings to the playoffs and cause the Packers to lose their shot at a first-round bye.

It does not seem like the brightest idea to upset Peterson who has a strong candidacy for MVP this season, but since when have clever moves been made in Green Bay bars?

Of course the chances of Peterson stepping foot in this bar are little to none, but it is the playoffs and I'm sure Peterson needs no motivation to go into Lambeau Field and defeat the Packers.

I previously predicted Adrian Peterson to do away with Eric Dickerson's record and was wrong, but I do believe he will have another huge game tonight. The Packers will most likely come out on top with Joe Webb starting for the Vikings and the game being in Green Bay, but I expect it to be a good game.

Peterson and the Vikings will attempt to get the last laugh as they take on the Packers tonight in their wildcard playoff matchup in Green Bay at 8:00 pm Eastern time.