Untamed Might

Since it's inception, there have been many Youtube all-stars. Players who exist for the 30-second highlight. Players who once would have been lost in obscurity even 15 years ago, now find themselves cult heroes.

Captain of the Youtube All-Stars as of 2010? Blake Griffin.



By now, most of you have seen the way he ruthlessly murdered a Russian. But how about poor DJ Mbenga? Jeff Green, Blake Griffin. Scouring Youtube, one would think Griffin has been playing for ten years -- there are just that many insane highlights. One more, full embed:


"It's an unbelievable dunk, but based on all the other dunks..." Yes, Griffin's dunks are compared to one another. In the same game.

The phrase "Griffin on the break" is enough to elicit euphoria from even the most mild-mannered announcers, in the most one-sided of contests. That was laughter you heard in the above clip. Some things are impossible to describe with words.

I found myself gasping at the prospect of Griffin throwing one down on a three-on-two the one time I've been able to watch the Clippers this season. Shawn Kemp, a young Amare (who himself realizes this kid is something), whoever Griffin is compared to, there is always one common thread: power. Unlike the next Jordan or Magic or Bird, Griffin is not compared to greatness, but to unbridled strength.

Griffin is what makes the NBA great. And it's more than the myriad highlight reels. It's his ability to astound multiple times on a nightly basis, to take your breath away at the idea of what might be. Football games have their high-octane violence, but rarely display feats of amazement outside of wide receiver catches (and those guys all wanted to play in the NBA anyway). Baseball has it's pastoral appeal and "no margin is big enough" tension, but nothing compared to even one alley-oop.

You can bet I circled March 19th -- the one game the Clippers visit the Celtics this season -- as a must go-to game. Because while he will live forever in Youtube highlights, it is almost certain that those who see Blake Griffin in person will not soon forget it.

I am reminded of Kanye West: No one man should have all that power.

Also, he's a motherfucking monster.