Will the 'Jordan effect' diminish with time?

Michael Jordan could be one of the most effective closers of all time. Not baseball, of course. We all know how that turned out. I'm talking about recruiting. 

It's no secret that North Carolina benefits greatly from the "Jordan effect" with recruiting. I can imagine what it's like when those recruits get a letter from Air Jordan, even though I've never witnessed it or seen the letter, I still have an imagination. And if you don't get a letter from Jordan, you're could still play basketball where he did, and for some guys, that carries a lot of weight. 

But it's been a while since Jordan has played and it can be easy for some to forget just how good he was. With each passing year and each incoming recruiting class, we grow further from a generation that grew up watching Michael Jordan. What's going to happen when recruits only know Michael is the best, but never witnessed it?

Will the "Jordan effect" mean less? I think it's unavoidable. 

A letter from Jordan will always mean something; I mean, come on, it's Jordan we're talking about here. But his luster won't last forever. I think UNC may find that part of its recruitng slightly less compelling within five to ten years from now. The Tar Heels can always boast about its professional products, but by then, the program may need to sell itself a little more. 

I guess that's when UNC should be happy that it's, well, UNC.

He is who we thought he was

It's finally over. Stephen Strasburg has made his Major League debut and what a debut it was. Seven innings, four hits allowed, two earned runs and 14 strikeouts and no walks.

The fourteen strikeouts were the third most in any Major League debut, the most in Washington Nationals franchise history and only five short of the nine-innning record. It's like Strasburg told the rest of the Nationals, "Listen guys, I really only need you for a third of the time I'm in there. You guys just get me an out an inning and I'll do the rest."

It's safe to say that Strasburg is good. We knew that when he mowed through the Minor Leagues but to do the same in the Majors is another thing. Strasburg is beyond good. I'm ready to call him very good, and if he does this for much longer, he'll be pushing great. All that's left to be seen is if he can continue to be this good consistently, but he's definitely the best pitching prospect ever.

I'm not sure how careful the Nationals will be with Strasburg's arm, but if he stays in the rotation, I could see Strasburg winning up to 14 games. That would be quite a feat for a pitcher that debuted as late as he did and for a pitcher on the Nationals. Not to mention only 21 pitchers recorded more wins then that last season.

Fourteen games is a lot and it almost sounds impossible, but if there was something Strasburg has taught us it's that impossible can be reached.