As told by MIKE, aka Mike Raffone.

As the sports world’s ultimate talking head, MIKE has plenty to say.

In this FREE book, MIKE shares 25 of his favorite NBA comics.

MIKE’s clever comics capture iconic players, shots, teams and nicknames that NBA fans have long admired.

Enjoy this FREE book on NBA comics.

MIKE’s author profile can be found at www.theemike.com. This FREE book is filled with 25 NBA comics.

In every chapter, MIKE shares a bit of history behind each comic and offer readers the opportunity to purchase a jersey, hat or sports memorabilia of their favorite team or player.

Enjoy these comics. Memories of what they stand for will have you admiring, pondering, laughing, wincing and, in some cases, scratching.

Here’s why . . . .

You’ll want to immediately scratch some body part when you read about one of the NBA’s most accomplished - but irritating - defenders known as The Rash.

You’ll wince while recalling the recklessness of a ridiculously wayward team, The Jailblazers, and the thuggery of an NBA Championship Team’s center called His Heinous.

You’ll revel in memories of the Los Angeles entertainment juggernaut The Showtime Lakers and laugh when remembering Chocolate Thunder’s female interest from Planet Lovetron.

But there’s more.

Admire the consistent delivery on the court of Karl The Mailman Malone and marvel how the immensely athletic Doctor J operated with a ball, rather than a scalpel, in his hand.

Get seasick thinking about Hakeem Olajuwon’s Dream Shake and wax nostalgic ruminating assorted Signature Shots like The Sky Hook, The Finger Roll, The Fade Away and The Step Back Jumper.

Shake your head trying to understand how a 5’3” guard named Muggsy could possibly play the same sport as the 7’1” Big Shamrock.

Ponder what all basketball fans missed by never witnessing this Helicopter play in the NBA. Gush over the brilliance of Magic and the dominance of The King.

You may go mad remembering how one of Vinsanity’s insane, last second shots beat your team.

And, you’ll probably get agitated recalling how the NBA Playoff heroics of Bird, LeBron, Durant, Magic or Kobe eliminated your favorite squad.

So, before The Black Mamba bites you or The Microwave heats up in a hurry, check out this book.

It’s funny and, better yet, it’s FREE!

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports! MIKE is a registered trademark.

MIKE as well as all of the artwork in this book are the property of New Vision Entertainment LLC in Clearwater, FL.

No part of this book may be reproduced without the express written consent of NVE’s Publisher Maura Sweeney.

For permission, contact [email protected] Throughout this FREE Sports Comic Book, names, teams, events and references to the NBA are underlined and highlighted in blue.

As a convenience, you can click on the links and be immediately connected to sports related sites for products that specifically pertain to the athlete, team, play or event referenced in each chapter.

You can find a Fat Head, a Lids hat or a jersey from Champs of a player or team. Plus, you can locate sports memorabilia of your favorite sports moment, athlete or home town squad.

You can also visit the NBA Store for merchandise or visit the ESPN Shop for your favorite apparel.

Former Atlanta Hawks Dominique Wilkins jumps onto my list for the non-stop, jaw-dropping highlights he provided on the hardwood.

Wait, let me clarify - from ten plus feet above the hardwood!

Wilkins regularly rose above NBA peers as that one special athlete whose extraordinary athletic achievements merited the moniker Human Highlight Reel.

This NBA legend’s hardwood exploits brought instantaneous expectation whenever and wherever he played.

Wilkins never limited his game to just one incredible play per night. He consistently produced a lengthy film reel full of incredible plays, just as his nickname suggests.

Wilkins currently works with his original NBA team, the Atlanta Hawks.

Atlanta fans hope Dominique can transform his on-court success into a future off-court Human Highlight Reel as an executive who regularly assembles teams that compete for NBA Championships.

Now that would be an ESPN highlight reel worth watching!

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

This talented tinsel town team perfectly fit the Hollywood hype of its Showtime nickname.

With an energetic style of basketball, the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s electrified NBA fans. Their play regularly entertained the many movie, music and television celebrities who attended their home games at the old Great Western Forum in LA.

Much of the Showtime nickname is credited to Lakers star Earvin Magic Johnson. This 6'9" guard and overall number one pick in the 1979 NBA Draft became famous for his no look passes and extra bright smile. He led the Lakers Showtime fast break like an expert director of a major motion picture.

Nearly 30 years later and NBA 16 titles to their credit, the Lakers remain one of the NBA's most successful franchises. Thanks in good part to Magic Johnson and his Showtime Lakers teammates, the Lakers are ranked as the league's most valuable team.

With an estimated worth of nearly $1 billion, the Lakers’ Showtime teams of the 1980s helped create a Hollywood blockbuster by any industry standard.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

Everything about this retired player is big - extremely big.

His size, personality and basketball accomplishments all contribute to his big nickname, or in Shaquille O’Neal’s case, his big nicknames.

Originally called The Big Fella when the Orlando Magic selected him as the top overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft, Shaq’s stable of nicknames has grown. They have all started with or carried big expectations.

Shaq’s last nickname, Big Shamrock, earned during his 1-year stint with the Boston Celtics, ranks as my all-time favorite.

However, other Shaquille O’Neal nicknames like the Big Diesel, Superman, Big Aristotle and even Big Cactus for his time with the Phoenix Suns, have all matched this 7-footer’s personality and equally big game on the hardwood.

May the Luck of the Irish continue to follow this Big Shamrock, Big Cactus, Big Aristotle, Superman and Big Diesel wherever he goes and in whatever he does in his post NBA days.

And, most importantly, may Shaq always continue to be big!

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone - thee ultimate talking head on sports!

During the late 1990s, a Vinsanity craze completely intoxicated NBA fans.

The spectacular play of University of North Carolina product Vince Carter regularly drove basketball fans crazy. At 6’6” and 220 lbs., Vince Carter initiated the original Vinsanity craze with his high flying dunks, acrobatic finishes and improbable shot making while playing for the Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets in the NBA.

Famous for his windmill dunks and fantastic finishes off alley-oop passes, Carter produced an intensely loyal fan base. Carter’s rabid fans so adored Vinsanity’s exploits that they also dubbed him Air Canada and Half Man Half Amazing during his time with the Toronto Raptors.

Today, Carter plays for the Dallas Mavericks. He’s one of only 37 NBA players to ever score more than 20,000 career points.

Vince Carter’s insanely athletic play during his peak NBA days not only entertained basketball fans around the world. This eight-time NBA all- star’s sensational play memorialized his Vinsanity nickname.

MIKE - aka Mike Raffone - thee ultimate talking head on sports!

The mocking nickname this 10-time NBA all-star received early in his career motivated him to become an outstanding shooter and one of the greatest three point shooters in NBA history.

The second overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft, Jason Kidd was destined to be a star for the Dallas Mavericks. At 6'4" and 210 lbs. Kidd demonstrated overall excellence on the court as a leader, passer, rebounder and defender. These talents overshadowed his otherwise marginal shooting ability.

Kidd's shooting woes quickly earned him the less than complimentary Ason Kidd nickname. Fans and reporters removed the first letter from Jason’s name to highlight the fact that Kidd had no or “J”.

Kidd worked hard at getting the “J” added back into his name. Today, Kidd ranks third in league history for most three pointers made, trailing legendary sharp-shooters Ray Allen and Reggie Miller, the league's best ever long range marksmen.

Also, Jason Kidd radically improved his free throw shooting. Now, he consistently averages better than 80% from the charity stripe each year, leaving no doubt that Jason Kidd got the “J” back in his name.

MIKE - aka Mike Raffone - thee ultimate talking head on sports!

Uncommon cool on the court, coupled with an icicle thin stature, earned this NBA Hall of Famer his iconic nickname The Ice Man.

Silky-smooth possessed a feathery shooting touch and repeatedly made very difficult shots look easy during his high scoring ABA and NBA playing days.

One of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, The Ice Man’s brilliant stroke and dizzying array of shots made him impossible to guard.

At 6’7” tall, Gervin was too long for shorter guards to cover, and he easily shot over them. At just 185 lbs. Gervin was also too quick and athletic for taller players to guard. Gervin easily drove by bigger opponents and finished his drives with a stop-on-a-dime pull-up jumper, a fluid reverse lay-up or his finger-roll signature shot from just about anywhere in the lane.

Gervin helped transform the pro game into fast-paced, high-flying sport played by today’s highly skilled athletes.

The top modern day NBA players may be cultural icons who exude super cool personas. But, let’s never forget that there will always be just one finger-rolling, rail thin NBA Hall of Famer known for playing his game ultra cool. That’s The Ice Man.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

For those who watched this player elevate off the asphalt in New York City’s famed Rucker Park during the 1960s, the origin of his Helicopter nickname became immediately apparent.

Hanging higher in flight than Michael Jordan ever did, and leaping loftier and lingering longer than LeBron James ever could, Herman Helicopter Knowings hovered above all other players he faced on a .

With a purported 50” vertical jump, the 6’4” Knowings cultivated his cred on the legendary courts of Rucker Park.

A 6’4” whirlybird of a player, Knowings frequently appeared suspended over the action taking place below the rim.

This asphalt god seemed to breathe the same rarified air of Michael Jordan. His heightened level of play also pre-empted the Human Highlight Reel that Dominique Wilkins was to later become.

Sadly, Herman Knowings died in 1980 at the age of just 37. He’s widely recognized as the greatest basketball player to have never played in the NBA.

It’s ironic that the phenomenon known as Helicopter would be killed in a car wreck on the same city streets he so easily flew above while playing the game he loved.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

Uttering his name instantly sparks agitation in basketball circles everywhere – except maybe in the state of Michigan.

One would think words like champion, all-star, terrific rebounder, rugged defender or great teammate would best describe this player. After all, he owns two NBA championship rings. He also amassed 10,000 points and 10,000 rebounds during 12 solid NBA seasons.

But, mention of the name Bill Laimbeer immediately starts heated basketball debates about this delish player with the evil sounding nickname His Heinous.

The nickname His Heinous, meaning evil, rotten, awful and beastly, perfectly describes Bill Laimbeer for his well-documented nasty play on the basketball court.

Laimbeer was a member of the Detroit Pistons’ NBA World Championship teams in 1989 and 1990. At times, his brutal play looked more like that of a smash mouth NFL offensive lineman than a valuable NBA starting center on a gifted basketball squad.

Along with rough and tumble teammates Dennis Rodman, Rick Mahorn and John Salley, Laimbeer embodied the Pistons’ Bad Boys style of play that so angered the rest of the league.

Basketball fans bristle at the notion of Laimbeer’s punishing, physical play. But, nobody argues that this Detroit Bad Boy helped the Pistons earn two NBA Championships.

MIKE – aka – Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

Standing just 5’3” tall, Tyrone Bogues had to be really tough to excel in a sport dominated by much larger athletes.

Bogues was a great ball handler, a terrific passer and a fantastic defender. His aggressive, mugging style of defense led to this tiny player’s tough guy nickname, Muggsy. Plus, his speed and quickness resulted in steals or in a complete disruption of the other teams’ plays.

At Wake Forest University, Bogues enjoyed a fantastic ACC career. In his senior season, Bogues received the 1987 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the best NCAA college basketball player in the nation shorter than six feet tall.

Bogues’ basketball success did not stop in the college ranks. He became the first round pick of the then Washington Bullets and went on to play 14 seasons in the NBA.

He was the NBA’s shortest player ever.

The tiny and clever Muggsy just didn’t make a lot of steals and dish out a bunch of assists as a player. Bogues was a fan favorite. His ever- present smile and tough, energetic style of play captured the hearts of NBA followers.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone - thee ultimate talking head on sports!

Just mention the name Bird to any basketball fan and memories immediately come to mind. Step back jumpers, swishing nets, non- stop jabbering, long white legs in short green shorts and multiple NBA banners hanging above a parquet basketball comprise Bird's legend.

Larry Joe Bird, also known as Larry Legend or the Hick from French Lick (IN) or simply Bird, ranks as one of the most revered basketball players in history. No first name or nickname is needed to identify the species of this Bird.

Bird's ascent in the NBA was instantaneous. He not only lived up to his initial billing; he soared past the Celtics' and NBA fans' expectations.

The blue collar Bird battled against his college nemesis Magic Johnson during his entire NBA career. During the 1980s, Bird's Celtics and Magic's Lakers played as if their clubs were the only two NBA franchises competing for an NBA title.

The storied rivalry between Bird and Magic is memorialized in books and television documentaries. This same rivalry is credited with transforming the NBA into the wildly popular professional sports league it's become.

The intensely private Hick from French Lick might have been averse to the media during his playing days. But there's no doubt this immediately recognizable, single named athlete has left an indelible mark on the sport. This is one Bird who soared above his competitors.

MIKE - aka Mike Raffone - thee ultimate talking head on sports!

Known by his itchy nickname The Rash, undrafted Bruce Bowen didn’t need to scratch, claw or chafe his way to become an NBA champion.

Fans not only love his clever nickname The Rash, but they admire his tenacious defending on the basketball court. It helped his San Antonio Spurs team win three NBA Championships.

Bowen discovered his special defending ability when he was a free agent signee with the Spurs and established himself as a terrific, tireless defender. Spurs teammate Sean Elliott originally referred to Bowen as The Rash. Elliott cited Bowen’s irritating pressure on the other team’s leading perimeter scorer and said, “Bowen’s just all over you like a rash.”

As a five-time NBA All-Defensive First team, Bowen was vital to the Spurs’ success. Not only could Bowen knock down three pointers from the corner, but he could also be counted on to annoy, hound, harass and slow down high scoring opponents like Ray Allen, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant.

Bowen is now a well-spoken NBA talking head on ESPN. The bowtie clad announcer shares his basketball insight with sports fans about how he became a member of three NBA Championships teams.

MIKE - aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

No other team sport celebrates the unparalleled combination of individual creativity and athletic excellence like NBA basketball.

Signature shots - developed and made famous by accomplished basketball players - memorialize their impact on the sport.

They leave a lasting legacy of fun, excitement and enviable skill for NBA basketball fans to enjoy. Here are my top 10 shots and moves:

10. Cross-over Dribble – the AI and Tim Hardaway ankle breaker.

9. Pick ‘n Roll – Stockton and Malone’s unstoppable, two man game.

8. Tear Drop – Frenchman Tony Parker’s “gentle” dagger in the lane.

7. Step Back Jumper – Larry Bird’s step back with ball over head.

6. Fade Away –Michael Jordan perfected this un-guardable shot.

5. Windmill Dunk –popularized by The Human Highlight Reel.

4. Sky Hook – ESPN called it the greatest basketball move ever.

3. Finger Roll - The Ice Man’s improbable finish in the lane.

2. No Look Pass – Magic’s patented pass on a Showtime break.

1. Dream Shake – Hakeem’s spins, fakes, twists and scores.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

As the fastest and largest snake on the African continent, the black mamba is feared for his lethal aggressiveness and protective territorial instincts. Basketball fans across the globe would agree that Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant embodies his Black Mamba nickname.

The NBA’s fast and athletic Black Mamba plays with the same venomous, assertive nature as his African namesake.

Kobe has coupled incredible basketball skill with unparalleled work ethic and indomitable spirit to become one of the very best NBA players ever.

This universally recognized basketball star became the youngest player in NBA history to accumulate 30,000 career points.

Bryant’s incomparable 2012-13 NBA season has demonstrated to naysayers that Kobe shows no sign or willingness to slow down.

Around the world, basketball fans remain snake-bitten by what this Black Mamba can do with a basketball.

MIKE – Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

This NBA superstar is oh so young, yet ever so gifted.

Kevin Durant shares a warm smile instead of an icy stare. He’s comfortable with a quasi-arachnid nickname rather than that of a monarch or snake.

He’s a smaller market player, but wields global appeal.

Durant is liked and respected widely; not demonized and disrespected selectively.

He seems genuinely humble, dominating NBA games played by prideful men.

He flexes spaghetti thin arms of clean chocolate hue instead of brawny biceps brandishing a bevy of tattoos.

35 refers to himself in the first person rather than by the royal we or a global brand he’s apparently not anxious to become.

He scores effortlessly both on the court and off with fans who admire his talent as much as his approachability.

Durant’s height and length defy basketball beliefs that only those of much shorter stature can dribble, drive and dish like he so deftly does.

He still may be ring-less, but he’s already wedded to basketball fans.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

The sports world may never again witness the “pa-role model” line-up of this grousing and maladjusted group of knuckleheads that the Portland Trailblazers assembled in the early 2000s.

More appropriately nicknamed the Jail Blazers, Portland's franchise featured a team filled with NBA felons, batterers, alcohol abusers, potheads and immensely talented - yet highly dysfunctional - athletes.

These jailhouse jocks quickly antagonized the team's loyal fan base. They subsequently deflowered the City of Rose's reputation around the league as a model championship franchise.

This was a star-studded team expected to compete for an NBA title. But, the infamous Jail Blazers imploded as fast as these thoroughbred athletes filled the lane on the fast break or showed up in the local police precinct's arrest report.

Since the outbreak of the early 2000 Trail Blazers’ reputation, the Portland franchise has rebuilt its once enviable team. They drafted a cadre of gifted athletes who also possess off-the-court character.

Here’s hoping these players pioneer a trail for the City of Roses back to the NBA Finals one day. It’ll be better than blazing a path, like the ignominious Jail Blazers did, back to the local jail.

MIKE - aka Mike Raffone - thee ultimate talking head on sports!

The nickname Round Mound of doesn’t seem to fit with the amazing basketball ability of this undersized and, at times, overweight NBA Hall of Famer.

Charles Barkley was first known as the “fat guy who can play like the wind.” Former Auburn University coach Sonny Smith originally joked about the “round” in this Round Mound of Rebound when he first spotted the chubby Chuck as a high-school senior.

It turns out that Barkley’s hefty build and shorter stature for a power forward eventually defied basketball wisdom. With a 14.6 RPG average during the 1986- 87 NBA season, this five-time First Team all-star became the shortest player to ever lead the NBA in rebounding.

Named one of the fifty greatest basketball players of all time, Charles Barkley may be more popular now in the broadcasting booth than he ever was as an 11-time NBA All Star.

Today, Barkley is known Sir Charles on TNT’s Inside the NBA television coverage. He cleverly reports as a very colorful commentator.

This former Round Mound of Rebound doesn’t need to play the game of basketball in order to throw his weight around in the court of public opinion as a popular and outspoken media personality.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

Ironically, Daryl Dawkins was nicknamed Chocolate Thunder by musician and performer Stevie Wonder, a man who couldn’t see.

This 6’11” and 260 lb. freakishly sculpted physical specimen never achieved the impossible expectations that others placed upon him. But, he far surpassed the entertainment value of any person that preceded him in an NBA uniform.

Dawkins became better known for his off-beat personality and ferocious dunking ability, rather than an ability to play the game of basketball that he was expected to dominate.

Colorful and cocky, Dawkins became an instant NBA cult-hero. The media focused on his rim-rattling dunks and his growing, outer-worldly persona.

The nutty Dawkins believed himself to be an alien from Planet Lovetron. He claimed to practice interplanetary funksmanship and dated the fictional personality Juicy Lucy. Chocolate Thunder nearly always spoke in rhyme and named his dunks: Rim Wrecker, In-Your- Face-Disgrace and Yo-Mama.

With Chocolate Thunder rising above the rim, NBA basketball was always sweet to watch.

This dunk-naming practitioner of interplanetary funksmanship made the NBA a far more entertaining sport.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

His gravity-defying dunking ability earned Michael Jordan the nickname. This two-time NBA champion soared above all NBA competitors. He was a six-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player and five-time NBA Most Valuable Player.

On the court, Jordan won six NBA titles with the Bulls. He also starred on the gold medal winning USA Dream Team at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

Off the court, his Air Jordan lines of footwear and merchandised apparel account for billions of dollars in sales for the Nike Corporation. Sales of his products helped make Jordan extraordinarily wealthy.

Michael Jordan will be remembered as a sports marketing visionary. He leveraged his incredible popularity for profitable marketing deals not only with Nike, but also with the Hanes and Gatorade brands.

Over and above his business success, Michael will always be mentioned among the game’s very best players.

Fans will remember the many championships he won, the MVP awards he earned and the incredible feats of athleticism he demonstrated on and above the basketball court.

Considered by many to be the best basketball player ever, Michael Jordan certainly deserves his soaring title - Air Jordan.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

Few athletes so totally dominate a sport that the professional league in which they play must enact rule changes to make the games fair for the other 99.9% of the participants.

Such was the case with .

The NBA instituted new goal tending rules and widened the lane because Wilt overpowered basketball opponents whenever he stepped onto the hardwood.

The 7'1" and 260 lb. Wilt effortlessly prevailed over all smaller, less physically gifted competitors. His towering size, strength, scoring ability and stamina empowered him to become the greatest player the NBA ever witnessed when he entered the league in 1959.

Also known as The Big Dipper, Goliath and Wilt the Stilt, Chamberlain reigned as an unstoppable force in the pivot - in spite of being regularly double and triple teamed during games.

Chamberlain may be best remembered for becoming the only NBA player to score 100 points in a single game.

Wilt's incredible dominance as an NBA player prompted many NBA fans to root against this giant of a man. The fans treatment of him led Chamberlain to famously respond, "No one ever roots for Goliath!"

Whether you were a fan of the Big Dipper or not, no one can argue that Wilt was one dominating Goliath of an NBA basketball player.

MIKE - aka Mike Raffone - thee ultimate talking head on sports!

Mention the name Dr. J and sports fans immediately recognize this basketball legend.

Dr. J, or Julius Erving, revolutionized the game of basketball and elevated it to a much higher level. Erving’s amazing athleticism changed the NBA style of play from a below the rim pick-and-roll game to an entertaining act above the basket.

Erving’s brilliantly flashy play created a new basketball vocabulary. It featured terms that included “slam dunk,” “no look pass” and “cross over dribble.”

Julius Erving probably never sought a medical degree. He wouldn’t read a hospital chart, hold a scalpel or touch a stethoscope or perform surgery. Yet, this Dr. J knew exactly how to operate brilliantly - on the basketball court.

Dr. J’s spectacular game on the hardwood brought a new level of excellence and athleticism to the NBA. Julius’ style of play also brought new life to basketball in the same way great laboratory discoveries bring new life into the medical community.

Erving also dissected opponents on the basketball court as easily as an experienced medical professional handles a scalpel.

When it comes to basketball, no one will ever argue that Dr. J truly knew how to operate.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

This Mailman never deposited letters in mailboxes or drove a United States Postal Service truck. But, for Utah Jazz fans, his delivery was always guaranteed on both ends of the basketball court.

During an 18-year NBA career, Karl Malone lived up to his Mailman nickname. Because of his rugged dependability, he became a 2010 Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee.

Mailmen deliver in all kinds of weather. In Karl Malone’s case, rain, wind, ice, snow and even talented NBA players couldn’t keep this power forward from succeeding on both ends of the basketball court.

NBA fans will remember the stamp of excellence Karl Malone left behind upon his retirement. When it comes to basketball, they will never forget that this Mailman always delivered.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

He was every coach's dream player. This highly skilled big man introduced a unique basketball move to the NBA during the mid 1980s. It allowed him to easily shake free from all would-be defenders.

Hakeem Olajuwon, or Hakeem the Dream, used a string of spins, fakes and twists that became known as the Dream Shake. Hakeem’s Dream Shake was an unstoppable move. It resulted in either an un-guarded fade away jump shot or a fast, explosive move to the basket.

"Un-guardable," claimed rival big man and two-time NBA champion David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs when referencing Olajuwon.

Legendary basketball teacher Pete Newell praised the Dream Shake move. He called it "the best footwork I've ever seen on a big man."

Olajuwon credits the great footwork he learned as a youth playing soccer in Nigeria. This childhood skill added to the amazing success of his Dream Shake move during his decorated 18-year NBA career.

Although his athletic ability birthed the Dream Shake move, the low- key Olajuwon never appeared shaken on the basketball court.

Ironically, Hakeem's Dream Shake will forever be remembered not as a dream - but as a nightmare - for a generation of helpless NBA centers who desperately tried to defend his Dream Shake.

MIKE - aka Mike Raffone - thee ultimate talking head on sports!

Only a few years ago one of the most identifiable single named athletes in the world also ranked on most sports fans' lists as the most reviled. However, times have changed quickly.

Before celebrating his first NBA Championship with the Miami Heat in 2012, LeBron James may have been the most polarizing athlete on the planet. James' decision to announce his plan on ESPN to leave the beaches of Cleveland's Lake Erie for the sun drenched soil of Miami's South Beach back fired badly.

Since then, LeBron has worked as diligently on restoring his personal reputation as he has working on his game. Since relocating to South Florida, this basketball king has certainly earned his ring. Away from the hardwood, he also serves as a clean cut, law abiding, family oriented role model. In addition, this 2003 first overall pick in the NBA Draft has learned how to deal with the intense media scrutiny that accompanies his global celebrity.

On the basketball court, King James has reigned supreme wherever he's laced up his basketball sneakers. LeBron made a quick and fluid transition from acclaimed high school basketball prodigy to budding NBA superstar when awarded the 2004 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Many business minded sports fans speculate that James will become the sports world's first ever $ Billion athlete. A Billion dollars is one royal bounty fit for this king known simply, and singly, as LeBron.

MIKE - aka Mike Raffone - thee ultimate talking head on sports!.

This NBA Hall of Famer possessed incomparable ball handling, passing, rebounding and scoring abilities never before seen in a 6’9” player. Plus, his leadership skills were unparalleled.

It’s easy to understand why his magical basketball talent earned him the universally recognized nickname Magic.

Earvin Johnson, Jr. picked up the Magic nickname long before he started vanquishing opponents and mesmerizing fans in NBA arenas.

Simply labeling Magic Johnson as a basketball player would not be sufficient. The gifted guard with an assortment of basketball skills has also showcased varied abilities in his post NBA days.

This NBA Hall of Famer has become a businessman, media personality, investor, mentor, philanthropist, humanitarian and hero with a megawatt smile - known simply as Magic.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

According to veteran NBA.com writer John Maxwell, “The Microwave was one of the most colorful and appropriate nicknames in recent sports history.”

Vinnie Johnson earned the Microwave nickname as an electrifying scorer off the bench for the Detroit Pistons. Johnson was the for the Pistons who brought immediate scoring off the bench.

When entering the game, he never needed time to defrost. His power and energy level were always set on a microwave high.

During the 1985 NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the favored Boston Celtics, Johnson scored an incredible 22 points in the fourth quarter during the Pistons’ 102 – 99 come back victory.

Johnson’s scoring led Celtics star guard Danny Ainge to remark, “If that guy (William Perry) in Chicago is the Refrigerator, then Vinnie Johnson is the Microwave. He sure heated up in a hurry.”

Johnson was never named to an NBA All-Star team. Yet, his Microwave label will always heat up any debate about whose nickname is tops in NBA history.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

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Meet the MIKE Makers, Jim and Maura Sweeney, as well as the other contributors to this exciting sports property. Jim Sweeney – Author

Born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, Jim grew up with a passion for sports and fun. Participating in baseball, basketball, swimming, soccer and street hockey, Jim wound up playing basketball at Boston College where he captained the Eagles from 1977 – 1980 and received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the nation’s top NCAA basketball under six feet tall.

After a 20-year-career in sales, Jim closed the computer agency he founded to pursue a fun career in sports entertainment. Jim developed MIKE as an alter-ego sports personality and has penned 20+ books under the MIKE name for both kids as well as adults.

Jim also blogs regularly on national sports sites under the MIKE name and has developed dozens of MIKE Minute monologues for radio.

Now in his fifties and living on the West Coast of Florida, Jim continues to play basketball regularly and always finds time for fun. Jim is a World Masters Basketball Champion as well as a seven time USA Masters Basketball Champion in the 45+, 50+ and 55+ age groups.

For more on Jim - http://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdsweeney Maura Sweeney – Publisher

A three-time best selling publisher of Inky Winky Spider pre-school books, Maura is an author, video blogger and a founder of The State of Happiness Talk Radio Show in Florida.

Maura became the driving force in encouraging her husband out of a highly successful business and into the pursuit of his dream – to create MIKE into the sports world’s ultimate talking head.

Maura is MIKE’s co-creator and publisher.

For more on Maura – http://www.maura4u.com

Illustrator - Alex Salsberg

Cartoonist Alex Salsberg is the man behind Poke Gravy Studios in Boston. An ardent New England Patriots fan, Alex has created animation and illustration for many clients including Nickelodeon and National Lampoon.

Alex has drawn the cover and all other artwork in the book. His work can be seen at www.PokeGravy.com Kaley Sweeney - Editor

As editor, Kaley infuses youthful enthusiasm and insight into the MIKE’s Sports Comic Book series. At 21 years old, Kaley holds a Bachelor’s in Journalism from Boston University and is pursuing her Master’s at Harvard University.

Kaley is co-founder of Empowered Voices, raising awareness for women in developing countries. http://www.linkedin.com/in/kaleysweeney The MIKE sports property is expected to be seen and heard on television, the web, radio and Jumbotrons.

Special thanks to these MIKE contributors :

Kevin Riley – Animator

Greg Stauffer – Studio Production

Dave Rittenhouse – Studio Production

Amy O’Hara-Cusick – Legal