Today we got the news that LeBron James wants to doff his #23 in order to facilitate the number being retired by the league. Instead, James claims he will soon switch to #6. James says the move isn’t about marketing or merch, it’s about remembrance. About honoring the legacy of Michael Jordan.

One small problem: #6 was worn by a NBA player every bit as influential as Jordan, a player who won nearly twice as many championships as Jordan and who changed the way the game was played. The player? Bill Russell. Oh yeah, and there’s the little matter of Julius Erving’s personal digit too. Like he didn’t have something to say about how the NBA game is played today?

Jordan’s number should not and will not be permanently retired, because if it is, you can get busy mothballing dozens of numbers of players who were just as influential as Jordan. And it goes without saying that Jordan is no Jackie Robinson, something that is apparently lost on the embarrassingly myoptic James.

James’ numbers game is one more fake news story that he’s manufactured for the sadly dogmatic media. Much like his recent, ridiculous claims that he’s tired of the speculation regarding his impending free agency. Jim Rome had an epic take on that yesterday, via ESPN’s Jim Rome is Burning:

As we wait here in Los Angeles for the titanic tilt between USC and Ohio State in three weeks, we need something to keep us entertained. (The Trojans eating Virginia on Saturday just will not do.)

(Maybe L.W. was just talkin’ bout OSU sucking down his favorite, In-N-Out?)

Enter former Trojan and current Tennessee Titan LenDale White. Tomorrow night White will appear on ESPN’s “Rome is Burning” (4:30pm ET) as part of a correspondent piece by Kevin Mawae. In the segment, Mawae attempted to interview White about the upcoming season. After Mawae’s opening, standard question, White responded, “Ohio State sucks!” (audio after the jump). Read more…