So it's been a while since I've made a post. Apologies to all who have been waiting especially since this was a week ago, but with school back in session, I've had to hit the books.

Your boy will be graduating this December so I'm doing everything possible to make sure that happens.

Since there's been a gap, I figured I'd come with something huge.

Last Saturday, the New York Knicks came to Orlando and I was able to obtain a press pass to do a story for my school paper on a former high school teammate of Eddy Curry.

Definitely not trying to self promote, but if you want to check out the story here you go:

http://media.www.usforacle.com/media/storage/paper880/news/2007/02/06/Sports/CourtSide.Friendship-2699820.shtml?sourcedomain=www.usforacle.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com

First time I get a press pass to any professional sport, it's to see the team I've worshiped since I found out about basketball.

Before I begin I just want everyone out there to know if you have to cover a game, hope it's with the Orlando Magic, their front office was great and easy to work with. The Knicks front office was just as nice but it took awhile for them to get back to me.

Not talking trash, but I every time my phone rang I was disappointed that a 212 area code wasn't popping up for about five days straight.

So here's a timeline of what went down.

7:00 a.m.- Wake up because I have a long drive from Tampa to Orlando, was told to meet up with the Knicks when the team bus arrives at 10:30 for a media session before morning practice.

7:45 a.m.- Hit the road after taking shower and brushing my teeth three times (want to make sure I don't have stank breath when talking to NBA players).

9:00 a.m.- after the 80 mile drive on I-4 to Orlando finally arrive outside of the arena. Takes me about 30 minutes to figure out which entrance was the one I was told to go through.

9:30 a.m.- Orlando Magic security doesn't know who I am because my press pass is coming through the Knicks, was told to wait outside until the team arrives.

9:45- hanging outside with some of the janitors on their cigarette break, they tell me they've been working for 24 hours straight because of the Nets were in town on Friday night. They make fun of me for being dressed up to talk to a bunch of guys.

10:00 a.m.- darkness sets and it starts pouring rain, now I'm drenched. Magic security still won't let me inside. Of course I don't pack an umbrella. About to graduate college, live in Florida, still don't have enough common sense to carry an umbrella.

10:15 a.m.- Matt Guokas, SunSports color commentator for the Magic arrives. I hold the door for him and walk behind him like I'm his friend but immediately get thrown back outside by security.

10:30 a.m.- Knicks team bus pulls up. First person off is Herb Williams, trying not to laugh. Next comes Isiah with one of those 'oh crap please don't let everyone make fun of me for giving up on Trevor Ariza too quickly' looks on his face. Then the whole team comes out.

11:00 a.m.- Knicks public relations director comes out and remembers I'm supposed to interview Eddy Curry but tells me to come back at 5:30 because the media session is over. I'm restraining myself from punching everyone in the face.

11:15 a.m.- get in my car after paying $8 to park and told I'll have to pay again because there is no re-entry. Trying not to punch anyone in the face but it's really tough.

11:45 a.m.-drive around Orlando, where I don't know anybody, looking for a movie theater to kill some time.

12:15 p.m.- finally found one and really pumped because 'The Departed' is still in theaters. Really wanted to see that one for a long time.

12:30 p.m.- Officially dubbed the 'weird guy' for seeing a movie that's coming out on DVD this Tuesday by myself by the other two people sitting in the theater. So I fart and waft it in their direction.

3:45 p.m.- movie ends, even better than I thought. Definitely a must rent if you haven't seen it.

4:00 p.m.- Show my stub for the parking garage from before. Get in without having to pay again. Things start looking up.

4:15 p.m.- camp outside the Knicks locker room staring at the questions I have lined up for Eddy Curry. Getting really antsy but not trying to show it.

4:45 p.m.- most of the Knicks start walking by, most notably Rendaldo Balkman, he's the only one that says 'what's up' to me. I'm trying not to scream 'Thanks for getting drafted' at him. Honestly he's not a horrible player, just the embodiment of every Knick draft pick since Marc Jackson was selected.

5:00 p.m.- Jamal Crawford comes running by, stop him real quick and ask him if I can talk to him about Eddy Curry. He says that he's in a rush and find him after the game. Starting to get frustrated.

5:15 p.m.- Isiah Thomas holds a mini-press conference in front of the Knicks locker room. He is honestly the lowest talker I've ever heard. Imagine the lady in the Seinfeld episode magnified by 50 times. I think it's really cool to see some familiar faces: Marc Berman (New York Post) Howard Beck (New York Times) and Frank Isola (New York Daily News) talking to Isiah. Hope to be there one day.

5:30 p.m.-It's go time. Knicks locker room is open to the media and I need to ask Curry about his former high school teammate. I walk in and everyone is just sitting around joking. The Nets-Magic from the night before is on the big screen tv.

5:35 p.m.-No sign of Eddy Curry so I just watch the game and not say anything to anyone. Really awkward, not sure what to do. The tension is broken.

5:36 p.m.- Feel a hand grab my shoulder, turn around and Steve Francis says "What's up man, who are you looking for?" In my memory I don't stutter like a nitwit but I'm sure that's what happened. Here's a summary of the exchange:

Me-Eddy Curry, but I'm pretty sure he's not here because he's pretty hard to miss.

Francis-Yeah, he's with the trainer so you'll have to come back later (not sure if he's joking). He isn't.

Me-(depressed and trying not to cry/rampage) Oh, ok. (turns back to the tv)

Francis-First time, hunh?

Me-yeah how'd you know?

Francis-You're dressed up too nice, like you're going out on a date. You look to good to be a regular reporter. Hey Steph, don't talk to this guy he's new!

Me- So when are you coming back?

Francis- I should be back in the next week or two, still a little banged up.

Me- why are you wearing Nike shoes? What happened with Reebok?

Francis- Man, I'm still bitter about that, one down year and you're gone. Me and Kenyon.

http://www.rbk.com/us/basketball/

Click on Ballers and notice who isn't there.

(Notice no Steve Francis but Marty Collins??? You get sucker punched by the leading scorer in the league and land a shoe deal instead of Stevie Franchise???)

Me-But Mo Peterson is there.

Francis- making the 'I can't believe Morris Peterson is signed with someone to a shoe deal and not me face' and refusing to talk about it. He shakes his head and walks away. Thanks to Bill Simmons for the face game and the running diary idea. I read him way too much.

5:45 p.m.- Channing Frye sitting at his locker watching the Magic game commenting on how much it stinks trying to guard Dwight Howard. "Man that guy is a beast. He is unbelievably strong and you don't realize how quick he is. That man does damage."

5:48 p.m.- Renaldo Balkman upset because he can't get tickets to some of the members of his friends/family.

5:49 p.m.- Stephon Marbury fills out about 15 ticket requests for his friends/family and has them approved immediately. I'm not laughing yet, still kind of nervous.

5:50 p.m.-Nate Robinson on the slam dunk contest- It's going to be in Vegas, I've got something big planned out.

5:55 p.m.- David Lee on the Rookie/Sophomore game (genuinely honored to be included) I can't wait, I really don't believe I was selected. I want to go out there and show what I can do.

6:00 p.m.-Media session in the locker room is over, one hour before tip off.

6:00 .1 seconds p.m.- walk out of the room absolutely in disbelief about how incridably nice everyone on the team was. I talked to Frye, Robinson, Marbury, Francis, Lee, Jared Jefferies, Quinton Richardson and Isiah Thomas with no problems. All of them were the definition of great people. Honestly.

6:15 p.m.- find my seat for the game make small chit chat with everyone around me.

6:30 p.m.- make a good connection with two writers from local universities (UCF and Valencia). The writer from Valencia is doing a piece on Marbury so we all make bets about his numbers for the game.

6:35 p.m.-everyone baffled when I say 14 points, five assists and three rebounds.

6:40 p.m.- I focus in on Dwight Hoard and realize he has to be the scariest player in basketball to guard right now. I feel for Frye.

7:00 p.m.- I make my first of many "Can't wait for Hedo to start chucking it up jokes" doesn't really land like I had hoped.

7:15 p.m.- tip off, fighting off exhaustion.

7:30 p.m.- surprised that the Knicks offense jumps out to an early lead. Curry having a good first quarter, I'm amped because he'll want to talk. After one, Knicks 23 Magic 18.

8:00 p.m.- Half time comes, Knicks, behind outside shooting from Frye (13 first half points), jump to a 49-34 lead. In the media room, Rudy Tomjanovich walks in and starts chowing down on some popcorn. He's a scout for the Lakers. I'm holding back making any '94 Finals comments. I hated Mario Elie. Stupid Rockets stealing MY title. That one was mine. Let's move on.

8:10 p.m.- Jerome James, a starter for this game, absolutely swats the crap out of Howard for the second time. I'm amazed. Jerome James actually playing.

8:45 p.m.- Knicks hold a sizeable lead, decide to get a jump and try and camp outside of the Knicks locker room to find Eddy Curry. Mini tv shows a mini Magic comeback. Too little, too late.

8:50 p.m.- Realize that Curry is having too good of a game. After being snubbed (yes I'm serious) for the All-Star game, Curry posts 27 to Howard's 15. Even more incredible, Darko leads all Magicians with 19 points. I was there when Darko balled out. Unbelievable.

9:00 p.m.- Knicks 94-Magic 86, New York improves to 21-28 (never thought I'd be saying that) while the hot start from Orlando is long forgotten as they drop to 25-23.

9:10 p.m.- The other writers realize I won the "What's Steph going to put up" bet, they all said in the range of 22-30 points because Jameer Neelson was guarding him. I knew better. Steph is is still a decent scorer but not the team's main option. Starbury finishes with 14 points (exactly what I said) two assists and six rebounds. Pretty good at the prediction game.

9:15 p.m.- Thomas holds a press conference outside of the locker room. Amazingly the most quiet person of all-time. Choir boy references are no joke, this guy needs a bullhorn to bring it up to a whisper.

9:18 p.m.- Here's the question posed to Isiah Thomas, 'Do you see a little of yourself in Stephon?' Without missing a beat, he smiles and says "Well Stephon is a good player, and I can say I see myself in him because of that. If there's a bad player, than I don't see myself in him." Awesome. Didn't know Thomas had a sense of humor.

9:30 p.m.- Knicks locker room opens up, barrage of reporters and camera men run in. Curry's taking his time in the shower and reporters rush to Frye, who finished with 18 points.

9:31 p.m.- Jamal Crawford sees me and nods, saying it's ok to talk to him. I tell him I'm doing a story about Eddy so he dosen't think I'm short changing him for his six point effort. (Crawford has always been one of my favorite players and that 52 point outburst against the Heat just showed why)

9:32 p.m.- I'm talking to Jamal Crawford!!

9:33 p.m.- After hearing a question about Curry, the MSG Cameraman runs over and gets in Crawford's face. I change gears a little and ask questions he wanted to hear for tv, Crawford doesn't miss a beat. Great interview.

9:36 p.m.- Back to my questions about Curry in Chicago and Curry in New York and he's just talking and talking. He sensed I was new and was helping me out a little. Crawford just cemented his legacy as 'guy who I'll always defend even if he's not the most consistent player ever' title ex: John Starks. Crawford is now my favorite player in the league.

9:40 p.m.- Curry comes out of the shower but is just wearing a towel and wanting to change. I give him time but all the other reporters have no problem with the towel tuck. (See the episode of the King of Queens where the guy answers the door in a towel and Kevin James dreads going to his house)

9:45 p.m.- Curry has pants on now but also a bunch of reporters surrounding him, so I decide to wait because my questions are definitely off topic.

9:50 p.m.- It was like when Moses parted the Red Sea, the group of media surrounding Curry all run away to other various players around the room, I move in.

9:51 p.m- Hand Curry a media guide with his buddies picture on it and printed out his stats from this season. Curry's happy to see this.

9:52-10:05 p.m.- spend time talking about his friend. He answerers literally 25-30 of my questions while making jokes and not letting Marbury's incessant yelling be a distraction.

10:06 p.m.- Marbury thinks it's funny I didn't turn around, here's the exchange:

Marbury-Why didn't you turn around?

Me- What are you talking about?

Marbury- I was yelling out loud trying to distract you, since you know, you're a rookie and all.

Me- Oh I didn't hear you. I was way too focused.

Marbury- I yelled about three times then stopped, you passed, good stuff. Just try and get your questions out a little quicker, Eddy usually doesn't spend that much time with someone.

Marbury's giving me pointers. Good stuff.

10:10 p.m.- Call my brother in New Jersey and tell him to put on MSG and see if Crawford's being interviewd. Of course there's stupid Ranger highlights. They lost to Tampa Bay 3-2. They don't even show any Knicks stuff for the rest of the night, just replay the Ranger game.

I didn't get it because the Rangers game was on MSG 2 but my brother said he didn't see any Knicks/Magic stuff that night.

Who cares about hockey? Is that sport still even remotely relevent? I should have been on TV.

For the Super Bowl it was all college basketball and Ranger highlights, so I don't think I ever made it onto tv.

Obvisouly I haven't deal with the team on a day-to-day basis but anyone who thinks the Knicks are over paid punks are wrong. Yes, most of them are over paid but it was unbelievable how down to earth everyone was. I got everything I needed for my story times 1,000.

No way was I expecting that. You can make fun of their play (as I have for about four years straight) but I found out you can't make fun of them personally. Anyone who does then we have a problem. Talk to them and you'll see what I mean.

Absolutely the best day of my life. Just want to genuinely want to thank each and every one of the New York Knicks players and staff for allowing me to do that. And all of you for reading.

Back with more posts sometime.

The latest installment of the Throwbacks nobody owns.

I want to thank everyone who sent in their favorite horrible players. Apologies if your player didn't make the cut, but if you look through the posts about five of these players came from your suggestions.

Thirty teams in the NBA and 15 throwbacks have been listed. Only two more posts remain.

Portland, Vancouver, Orlando, Utah, San Antonio, New Jersey, Milwaukee, Denver, Atlanta, Cleveland, Seattle, Sacramento, Miami, Phoenix and Toronto have been included so check the previous posts if your team is there.

One thing I am thoroughly disappointed about is I can't include Jamie Feick on this list because he was selected in the second round of the 1996 NBA Draft. When I would play NBA Live 2000 with my friends I talked some trash that Jamie Feick would stomp anyone thrown at him.

I'd be yelling '28 or bust' because that was the minimum amount of points he could have in a game.

Please someone out there tell me you've done something like that too with video games.

Feick wasn't the only one, I'd kill you with Matt Geiger in the post in NBA Live 1999.

As you can tell, I get off track a lot.

One more note, I show a picture of the player and then the jersey. If someone you know (like Tim Hardaway in the last post) is in the picture, it's just to show the jersey, I wasn't ragging on Tim Hardaway. So if your boy is pictured just know I'm not making fun of him.

With this post we explore two of my favorite bad jerseys. Let's get it started.

Center- Geert Hammink, Golden State Warriors

Geert Hammink can be summed up as Rik Smits gone wrong. Fredrick Weis saw his career and decided not to come to America. Especially after Vince Carter posterized him. If you're a Knicks fan, I'll kill the anticipation, Weis is not the jersey I'm going to use, trust me being a

Knicks fan I got something special but it'll have to wait to the final post.

Alright, I got way off topic, my bad. While the Pacers got the Dunkin' Dutchman, the Orlando Magic would have been better off getting one of the crazy doctors from Hostel. Hammink was supposed to be Shaq's backup but that really didn't work. He played in the league for three seasons, but only played in eight games.

Shaq must have put in a good word for him because they were teammates at LSU, and Orlando drafted him the year after they picked up O'Neal. I think he played Z-Dog in Kazaam.

Hammink only played 10 minutes with the Warriors and scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. The most amazing statistic of all time is someone went an entire career in the NBA and only committed two fouls. Craziness.

Power Forward- Tom Hammonds, Washington Bullets

The ninth pick of the 1989 draft balled out in his third year in the league when he pumped in 11.9 points per game in an injury plagued season.

Plus with Washington I refused to include the Wizards jersey because I still refer to them as the Bullets. No idea why, any other team name change is fine, but the Bullets should have been able to stay. Forget the high crime rate in Washington D.C.

Hammonds bounced around the league playing with the Hornets for a season then in Denver and Minnesota. For some reason every basketball card I have of him is when he played for Charlotte.

Aside from that one decent injury riddled season, Hammonds didn't do anything in the league. He never again topped seven points a game and never cracked over five rebounds per night.

Small Forward- Dickey Simpkins, Chicago Bulls

Absolutely the best suggestion sent in from the Fox blog community. I wasn't thinking about the Chicago Bulls just yet, but when Ian2813 suggested him it was perfect.

The worst Bulls jersey.

The goofiest guy ever drafted by Chicago.

And his name was Dickey.

This is the Perfect Storm for a horrid throwback jersey.

Simpkins was billed to be one of the biggest keys to help extend the Bulls dynasty.

That wasn't the case.

Simpkins played seven seasons and averaged 4.2 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game.

Easily the one jersey not wanted by Bulls fans of the 1990's.

Shooting Guard- Rodrick Rhodes, Houston Rockets

There is absolutely no doubt the worst jersey change in my lifetime was when the Rockets went from their cool red and yellow jerseys to these acid trip induced pinstriped pajama vommity weird symbol jerseys.

In other words, this was the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76'rs edition of NBA jersey design.

And if any player was born to rock this jersey, it had to be Rodrick Rhodes.

Rhodes was supposed to be the swingman the Rockets needed to return to the Finals. Three years in the league and Rhodes only pumped in 5.3 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per outing.

His rookie card came to personify the Rockets jersey for me.

Point Guard- Cory Alexander, Charlotte Bobcats

I thought it couldn't be done...but it happened. I found someone who isn't in the league, drafted in the first round and spent time with the Bobcats before retiring.

Cory Alexander was the final first round selection of the 1995 NBA Draft and put up disappointing numbers just like the rest of the players on this list.

He spent 16 games with the Bobcats after being out of the league for four seasons and finished his brief career with 5.5 points, 2.7 assists and 1.6 rebounds per game.

I can finally sleep at night.

Up next week: Philadelphia, Boston, LA Clippers, Detroit and Indiana.

Being a Knicks fan there is all this talk about Nate Robinson being the "best little big man in the game" because he is being coached by Isiah Thomas, the best "little big man" ever.

I disagree with both statements.

To me the best little man in the game right now is Earl Boykins. The best little man ever was Kevin Johnson.

Sure Isiah won two NBA championships with the Pistons and helped delay Michael Jordan's dominance on the league.

Granted Johnson was dealt away from the Cleveland Cavaliers in order to hold onto Mark Price. Thomas was with Detroit his entire career.

 

But what seperates the two for me is that Johnson is pretty mellow compared to Zeke. Johnson never cried like a little girl after Jordan beat him.

Remember when Thomas and the Pistons left the court when the Bulls finally knocked them off en route to their first NBA Championship? What did the Suns do when they lost in the Finals? They gave Jordan his props and then tried to climb back to the big stage.

Isiah is in the Hall of Fame, as he should, he was a great player. But so was Kevin Johnson. At 6'1 Johnson could posterize you at any time and he did that often.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9EGMSETJUks

For his career, Johnson averaged 17.9 points per game but stepped up his game in the playoffs to 19.1 ppg. Thomas' numbers were 19.2 ppg total and 20.1 ppg in the playoffs.The two players assist numbers are about equal (9.3 for Thomas, 9.1 for KJ).

I think both players were great, but for some reason Thomas is considered one of the greatest ever while Johnson is just another player.

Thomas played wonderfully in the Finals and was able to beat Magic Johnson and the Showtime Lakers on a bad ankle, but when Jordan began to peak could he beat him? No but KJ scored 17.8 points per game as the role player to Charles Barkley the star. Johnson put up the same types of numbers as Thomas while taking less shots per game.

Where's the love for KJ?

It was recently announced Kobe Bryant's No. 24 jersey is the highest selling in the league midway through the 2006-07 season. Tough to complain after the numbers he's been putting up and the damage he did to the San Antonio Spurs was incredible.

Now it's time to unveil the latest set of jerseys with sales totaling in the teens (and even that is being generous) because it's five more throwback jerseys no one owns.

All these guys you saw on the end of the bench and to identify these guys you'd have stare at the game program for at least three quarters of the game.

From the last post there were many great suggestions but only two made this cut. In the first 'throwback' post outlined the selection process I created.

One name that would be perfect for this list in Brad Lohaus but he can't make the cut because he was drafted in the second round. Only once in his 11 seasons did Lohaus score in double figures.

His haircut in NBA Jam was absolutely hilarious and I just read he was arrested for taking money for a fly rod on eBay and failing to send out the pole.

My personal favorite suggestion was Charles Shackleford but unfortunately he too was a second round pick.

The parameters I set up with the first post made this task a little more difficult than I had originally intended, it was supposed to be just a one time post but then I took on the challenge of trying to select an absolutely pathetic jersey for every team.

I'm pretty boxed in right now, but I've already selected jerseys for Portland, Vancouver, Orlando, Utah, San Antonio, New Jersey, Milwaukee, Denver, Atlanta and Cleveland.

About half of the league is covered so if you have any suggestions for the remaining teams feel free to send them in.

So without further ado, here's this weeks installment of the five throwbacks never made.

Center: George Zidek, Seattle SuperSonics

UCLA had two players go in the first round of the 1995 NBA Draft but both of those players ended up being on the throwbacks you don't want list.

Zidek and Ed O'Bannon led UCLA to the 1995 national championship but both players should have stopped their careers right then.

After being selected No. 22 by the Charlotte Hornets, Zidek only played three seasons in the league averaging 3 points, two rebounds and .01 blocks per game.

Zidek briefly played with Seattle in 1998 and the Supersonics went 61-21, but not because of the contributions Zidek made.

Your career is definitely in trouble when James Cotton is getting more playing time than you.

Power Forward: Malcolm Mackey, Phoenix Suns

Do you want to know how serious the research is to get on this list?

I honestly have NEVER heard of Malcolm Mackey but I was looking through recent drafts and my eyes lit up when I saw the Phoenix Suns selected someone named Mackey mmmmkaaayyyy.

There is no way there is a better jersey on this list in my opinion. If you don't watch South Park then you've really missed out.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=twcCoSWtUPQ

Let's see what your mom and dad have to say about your little poopscapade. (watch the video)

If there ever was a player whose career was a poopscapade it HAS to be Mackey. While the expectations may not have been that high for Mackey, he certainly didn't live up to any of them.

He only appeared in 22 games during his rookie year and averaged 1.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, matched Zidek with .01 blocks and 0 assists per game.

That was his whole career.

MMMkay.

Small Forward: Alec Kessler, Miami Heat

This starting lineup upfront is huge as Zidek is a seven-footer, Mackey is 6'10 and Kessler is 6'11.

It's pretty scary to think if one of these guys were to be labled as a 'pure scorer' no doubt it would be Kessler.

Since coming into the league Gilbert Arenas has seen his scoring average increase each season. Kessler did the same thing just going the opposite way.

During his rookie campaign, Kessler was part of the Heat's rotation and poured in a career high 6.2 points per game. From there his scoring average dipped: 5.3, 3.9. 2.2.

His final season was in 1994, and to think Miami had Kessler, Rony Seikaly, Matt Geiger, Manute Bol, Harold Miner AND Bimbo Coles that year.

Absolutely my favorite six-pack of NBA players ever, no team at any time could be as legendary as the '94 Heat.

Shooting Guard: LaBradford Smtih, Sacramento Kings

For one night during his NBA career, LaBradford Smith could say he owned Michael Jordan.

Early in his career, Smith not known for his scoring capabilities, (13.6 ppg in four years at Louisville) lit up Jordan for 37 points.

Jordan vowed revenge after Smith had taunted him by saying 'nice game Mike' and guaranteed to get every point back the next time the Bulls played Washington.

During the next meeting, Jordan scored 36 points in the first half and essentially destroyed Smith's career.

A few years later, Jordan admitted to making up the whole thing and that Smith never actually said anything to him. His Airness just wanted to pump himself up and shatter Smith's dreams.

A great column by Michael Wilbon recaps the whole situation in further detail:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/jordan/articles/wilbon14.htm

Smith only lasted in the league for three years and his scoring average took an extreme nosedive after the Jordan incident. He never averaged more than nine points per game and finished his career 6.7 points, 2.2 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game.

Lesson learned: never try and show up Jordan.

Point Guard: Shawn Respert, Toronto Raptors

One of the biggest busts in recent Draft history, Respert was sent in by Cuziffer almost immediately after I posted my second list of throwbacks.

Michigan State has produced some solid NBA talent: Magic Johnson, Steve Smith, Scott Skiles, Zach Randolph, Morris Peterson and Jason Richardson.

Respert looked to be the most explosive scorer of them all, averaging 21.3 points per game during his career including 25.6 in his final season as a Spartan.

The eighth overall selection of the 1995 Draft was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers but never called the Rose Garden home.

Instead he was immediately dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks and then played for the Raptors, Mavericks and Suns.

During his four years in the league he averaged 4.9 points, 1.3 rebounds and just 1 assist. In 2005 he announced his career was cut short by stomach cancer but didn't want to use that as an excuse for his disappointing career.

Look forward to your comments/suggestions/complaints.

I already have four of my five players for the next list and yes the Charlotte Bobcats will be included.

Time to watch Wizards/Magic. And the Wizards are wearing their amazingly bad gold jerseys with Gilbert lighting it up again.

There's nothing funny about remaining safe.

Unless you're a basketball player that wears goggles.

Unfortunately I began watching basketball towards the tail end of the goggle craze back in the 1980's.

When playing basketball your eyes are constantly at danger because there are hands, fingers and elbows constantly flying at your face.

A study conducted in 1995 found in a 17 month stretch 1,902 different players suffered on the court eye injuries.

That is a crazy statistic. The best way to prevent that was through using goggles.

There were plenty of players who wore goggles, but here are my favorite.

Horace Grant

The godfather of the goggle no player embraced protective eye wear quite like Horace Grant.

He is absolutely the first person I think of when I hear goggles. One of the best moments of my life had to be when the Magic signed him and my family was driving through Orlando and there was a water tower with goggles on it.

He even had his goggles custom made. Absolutely the MVP of this squad.

It's crazy that with one players retirement, and entire trend seemed to have left with him.

Kareem Abdul Jabar

The greatest player ever to don the goggles was Kareem.

I will forever remember Kareem for three things: being the leagues all-time leading scorer, fighting Bruce Lee in Game of Death as Hakim, a fighter who had trouble dealing with sunlight, and his love of goggles. Why didn't he wear shaded goggles in that movie? It would have solved everything.

All my friends ask me why do I like basketball so much, but what's not to like when a seven-footer is running up and down the court wearing goggles.

I find it funny.

James Worthy

A long teammate of Jabar's, Worthy completes the other half of the most unstoppable goggled duo in NBA history.

This trio, including Grant, has combined for 12 NBA championhip,. and Worth is easily the most complete player to rock the gogs.

I love watching ESPN Classic and seeing the trio of Kareem, Worthy and Kurt Rambis running up and down the court in goggles. Nothing gets me more amped than that.

Ben Wallace

The newest inductee to the goggle hall of fame is Ben Wallace. Although not a completely true goggle guy, Wallace gets my vote for the extreme goofy combo of his haircut, headband and goggle usage, is absolutely classic.

I just hope Scott Skiles doesn't have a rule against goggles because I waiting at the edge of my seat to have the return of the afro/headband/goggle combo.

By far, having the most potential of makingme laugh for hours.

Buck Williams

Believe it or not my favorite part of watching the Knicks play the Trail Blazers wasn't getting the opportunity of watching Clyde Drexler.

It was watching the match up of Charles Oakley and Buck Williams.

Oakley was one of my favorite players ever but goggle wearers were definitely his kryptonite. That's why the Bulls were able to knock off the Knicks every season.

New York's key to winning was taken away because Oakley was a master of throwing bows.

Buck Williams seemed to always step up his game against the Knicks.

Why didn't Pat Reilly try ban them? I'm angry now.

Thurl Bailey

Long before Kevin Garnett was the face of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Thurl Bailey was goggling it up in the blue and white jerseys.

Bailey was a long time member of the Jazz as well, but I mainly remember his stay with Minnesota.

DISCLAIMER:

By request of numerous friends and family, Yes it is true I am a giant dork. I admit that. But to me basketball and goggles is the deal. Oh, yes. They make terrific pair. They went together like lamb and tuna fish. Maybe you like spaghetti and meatball? You more comfortable with that analogy?

Rob Schneider in Big Daddy