I find Chris Webber to be one of the most compelling figures in sports. In all of life there are people who excel under pressure and people who crack. Some people test well, and other don't. And it isn't a question of how hard you try or how much you practice. Some people thrive off the buzz, and other choke on the pressure.

In sports people tend to identify the ability to perform under pressure with effort or toughness. If you're talented enough and just try hard enough you'll be like Mike.

Webber is the example that proves just how wrong this is. He's so talented and he really does try hard. If you watched him tonight drive hard to the basket on his bum leg and limp off in pain afterwards, and then a minute later dive on the ground after a loose ball, you can see that the man really really wants it. But the fact of the matter is that unlike the Jordan's of the world, Webber is just bad under pressure.

But still, he's so good and tries so hard that every time you desperately want to believe, for his sake, that this time he'll step up. Just this once, cause he deserves it.

And when he gets the ball with that second on the clock and it looks good, you believe he's finally going to pull one off. And for that one second you really really believe it. And then, bounce, bounce, game over...

And you see him sink to the ground... And you feel sorry for the guy. And that's what makes him so compelling, there aren't many sports stars you ever pitty.

And the worst part is, next year it'll happen again. And I know it, and all the other hundred King's fans packed into La Val's know it, and Chris Webber knows it too.