the LeBron question, and tacos

As a grad student, most of my life occurs during the PM hours of the day. There are pros and cons to this, but for the most part I enjoy staying up a little later at night, sleeping in, and being able to watch ESPN First Take on ESPN2 in the mornings. I especially like their "First and 10" segment featuring lively sports debate with their in house commentator, Skip Bayless.

The debate that ensues seemingly most often on the show concerns the greatness of NBA star LeBron James. Skip Bayless consistently takes the position that James is overhyped, does not live up to the legends of the great players that have come before him and is not the NBA's current best player. And most, though not all, of the debaters that sit on the other side of the table argue that LeBron is all the things that Skip says he is not.

Personally, I side with Skip, even though I cringe every time he attempts to hold James up to the standard of Michael Jordan. For comparison's sake, LeBron James reminds me far more of Dominique Wilkins than any other past NBA star, and I honestly believe James would be at his absolute best if he handled the basketball far less.

I don't mean to discredit LeBron James. He is without doubt the most incredible and unique athlete to ever step on a basketball court. He is without doubt an All-Star, an MVP-caliber player and a sure Hall-of-Famer. History will remember him as one of the very best NBA players of all time. I simply do not see that innate trait of greatness, that trait that Jordan had, that Kobe still has and that Durant seems like he will have, in LeBron James, and I do wish that fans and analysts alike would cease and desist their efforts to manufacture this trait within him.

Returning to Skip Bayless for a moment, he fascinates me. He appears so enraged debating sports topics that I worry about his blood pressure. Seriously though, he has a unique passion for arguing sports that is highly entertaining. I also find it interesting that his brother is Rick Bayless, a famous Chicago restaurateur and one of America's greatest chefs. Rick Bayless specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine, the taste of which I've not been able to experience for quite some time.

A big part of the adjustment that I had to make living with dilated cardiomyopathy was with my diet. I ate quite healthily before, but now that I'm on the "salt is the devil" diet and try to keep my sodium intake as low as possible, there are a lot of foods, including healthy ones, that I've given up. Thus, it's been a while since I've had Mexican food. Most Mexican restaurants heavily season their food, and a lot of the ingredients used in Mexican cooking contain naturally high levels of sodium - or at least higher than what I typically eat.

Somehow, contemplating Skip Bayless' opinions on LeBron James started me thinking about his brother and food. While I'm developing some laudable abilities in the kitchen, I'm yet to attempt recreating a Mexican dish low sodium style. I'm confident I could if I can find a workable recipe to use as a basis - definitely something I'll have to research and perhaps report back on at a later date. I should also try to see if there are any Mexican restaurants in the Boston area that appear to offer heart-healthier options. I should get started...