B.J. Armstrong played six seasons and won three championships with Michael Jordan, which gives him an up-close, personal and unique perspective on the psyche of the player widely regarded as the greatest of all time.Armstrong, 48, does not believe it impossible for a current player to surpass Jordan, so it was with great interest that he read comments made by LeBron James that appeared Tuesday in a Sports Illustrated article.Now that he has delivered Cleveland its first championship in 52 years, James said his chief motivation is catching or eclipsing Jordan as the best player ever: My motivation is the ghost Im chasing. The ghost played in Chicago.Armstrong, now a player agent who represents Derrick Rose, has some advice for James.Chasing a ghost is in make-believe land, Armstrong told ESPN.com in a telephone conversation. Thats far-out, thats unattainable, thats something you cant achieve. This aint no ghost. If you want to do it, theres a blueprint. Its possible. Theres only one way to get there. Its not possible for him to do what Jordan did because the circumstances are different, everything is different. What is possible for him is to be bigger than every situation thats put in front of him, to dominate every situation thats in front of him.Armstrong, who won titles in Chicago in 1991, 1992 and 1993, said James has to adopt the mentality that comparing himself to any other player, including Jordan, is an insult.This is to LeBron James: If you want to be the best, get rid of the comparisons, Armstrong said. Get rid of all the comparisons that are out there. Thats what Michael Jordan did. Jordan realized that in order to be the best, you had to get rid of all the comparisons.When you compared Jordan to somebody else, it made him more and more upset. That was with guys who played before him, guys he was playing against and guys in the future. He got upset every time [the media] got on TV and started comparing him to other people. When you compared who is the best 2-guard --?Jerry West or Michael Jordan -- he was upset. When you talked about who was the best player in the NBA, he was upset. When you talked about who had the most championships, he was upset.I remember vividly him getting upset. Hes mad right now that somebodys even thinking a guy can get to his level. Jordan tackled them all -- Wilt [Chamberlain], everyone. Everyone from 1946 on, he went after them until there was no one left to compare him to. So my challenge to LeBron is: This ghost has a face to him. So get rid of all the comparisons because Jordan, unequivocally, did not want you to compare him to anyone.Jordan told ESPN.com on Tuesday that he had not read the Sports Illustrated article. When shown LeBrons quotes, he said he would not comment because he had not seen the entire article.When asked how James can eliminate the comparisons to other players, Armstrong said he has to be obsessed with dominating every moment hes on the court, whether in practice, games or summer competition.Every time he steps on the floor, LeBron has to establish that hes the best, said Armstrong, who briefly worked in Chicagos front office after retiring in 2000. Every year is an opportunity for him to raise his level to the best of the best. When another player raises his level and has a great year, LeBron has to move his game to an even higher level. Jordan used every opportunity to establish whos the best. He didnt go to the Olympics to hang out. He went there to establish who was the best.I dont know LeBron, but what I do know in watching todays game is that Michael Jordan was a very unique character -- not physically, but mentally. Jordan never stepped out on the court to have a good time. He stepped out there to establish that he was the best. Every great player he played against. he went after them -- in practice, in games, in the 1984 Olympics, in summer league, in a workout, in the 92 Olympics. He went after me every day in practice. He went after every player every day in practice. He went after every coach -- until, when it was all said and done, there was no one left standing.Armstrong, who played 11 NBA seasons, hopes James is not the only current player who heeds his comments.?Im saying this because this next generation of young players, every time you step on the court, there needs to be a sense of urgency, he said. No joking around. Michael Jordan was the greatest practice player Ive ever seen. He could go and play 40 minutes the night before and then go practice the next day like he was the rest of us -- guys who didnt play.I want these young kids to have that mentality. Jordan had phenomenal talent. He had phenomenal understanding. But he also had a mentality that I havent seen. He had a sense of urgency every time he stepped on the floor. These guys now need to take on that challenge. At the end, well know whether LeBron did it or not when yall stop comparing him to other players. Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Cheap Nike Baseball Jerseys .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. http://www.cheapmlbjerseysbywholesale.com/ . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. 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Hammel gets a $2 million buyout.While Jason is healthy and primed to have another effective season in 2017, we have decided to consider other internal and external options for our starting rotation next year, President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein said in a statement. Our hope is that by giving a starting opportunity to some younger pitchers under multiple years of club control, we can unearth a starter who will help us not only in 2017 but also in 2018 and beyond.The 34-year-old Hammel went 15-10 with a 3.83 ERA in 30 starts this year. The 6-foot-6 right-hander is 33-22 with a 3.59 ERA in 78 starts over two stints with the Cubs.Hammel did not pitch in the postseason. The Cubs got left-hander Mike Montgomery in a July trade with Seattle, and he could replace Hammel in the rotation.Hammel first signed with the Cubs in February 2014. He went 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 17 starts before he was traded to Oakland in the deal that sent shortstop Addison Russell to Chicago.The pitcher re-signed with Chicago in December 2014, foor $20 million over two years.ddddddddddddThe option was included with the intent that it would be exercised if Jason was going to be a Cub in 2017. The intent was never to exercise the option and then trade Jason, so we will not consider that path, Epstein said. Instead, Jason will have the opportunity to enter free agency coming off an outstanding season and the ability to choose his next club. Meanwhile, the organization gains some flexibility and the opportunity to use a rotation spot to develop a younger, long-term starting pitcher.Montgomery was on hand when the Cubs were honored at Sunday nights NHL game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars. 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