Back in the 90's, Gatorade created one of the most memorable commercials for Michael Jordan.  The whole campaign, for those of you who are too young to remember or don't recall, was entitled "Be Like Mike."  It was and still is one do the most recognizable, memorable and, in my opinion, best uses of a professional athlete, even a head of my beloved Steeler, Mean Joe Green's 1980 Coca-cola commercial.  But I think that this song can now be used to talk about a different Mike in the NBA.  He doesn't have a multi-million dollar shoe deal (although he may have a deal worked out for as many different pairs of glasses he has), he isn't featured on video games or products and he isn't staring in any Looney Tunes movies...yet.

You wanna be like Mike?  Look no further than the 2008-09 NBA Coach of the Year, Coach Mike Brown.  Aside from just being named Coach of the Year, receiving a total of 355 points, including 55 first-place votes out of a possible 122, he is successful in his profession.  Here's just a few highlights over what he has done in just 4 years:

• He was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month this season on 3 separate occasions and 4 times overall. 
• Led the Cavs to an NBA and franchise-best 66-16 (.805) record, becoming just the 12^th team in NBA history to win 66 or more games in a season and the fourth-youngest coach to lead a team to 60 wins in a season.
• He led us to 16 victories, tying the NBA all-time record for most victories in any month.
• In four seasons as the head coach of the Cavaliers, Brown has a .643 regular season winning percentage (211-117), the best in franchise history and third among active coaches (Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich).
• The Cavs are one of just four teams (Dallas, Phoenix and San Antonio) to have won at least 45 games in each of the last four seasons.
• Brown has led the Cavs to the postseason in each of his four seasons in Cleveland and reached at least the second round of the playoffs in each of the previous three seasons (one of just three teams to accomplish the feat along with Detroit and San Antonio).
• With a 27-20 (.574) record in the playoffs, Brown has the highest winning percentage and most wins of any head coach in Cavaliers history.

But even through all that, his character, humbleness and selflessness is what sets him a part from everyone else.  He is a dedicated father and husband.  He gives back to the community whenever he can including focusing on education for children in the Cleveland area.  He offers a smile whenever you see him and even when he was honored with the most prestigious award given to an NBA Coach this afternoon, he passed the credit to other who made it possible including Danny Ferry and his coaching staff/players.  Dan Gilbert said it best:

"There is no man more deserving and it proves to the world that, yes, nice guys CAN indeed, finish first."

Congratulations, Coach Brown.  Thank you for directing a season for the ages and for giving Cavs fans a reason to "be like Mike."