Fantastic read concerning LeBron James’ request to have the NBA retire Michael Jordan’s #23.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=bryant/091124

Fortified by the most powerful marketing machine on earth, remarkable athletic talent, youth and a dazzling celebrity so outsized that 30-foot billboards featuring his likeness are commonplace, it sometimes appears that LeBron James can make things happen simply by talking.

He spoke earlier this month about changing his number from 23 to 6 — an homage to Michael Jordan, he said — and about how even that individual gesture is not enough to canonize Jordan properly. James said the league needs to retire the No. 23 in perpetuity — the ultimate honor for Jordan — as baseball did 12 years ago with Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 and hockey did in 2000 with Wayne Gretzky’s No. 99.