Here are the answers to today's "Stump the Dizzle", er, NBA Trivia Challenge (just kidding, Dizzle, but man do you know your stuff!):
Tier 1 Answers:
1. Who was the last player before Kobe Bryant to win regular season MVP? Answer: Shaquille O'Neal, for the 1999-2000 season.
2. The Lakers' division title last season was their first since what year? Answer: The 2003-04 season, when they went 56-26 and made the Finals.
3. Lamar Odom (everyone's favorite Laker) was one of three players the Lakers got for Shaq in 2004. Who were the other two? Answer: Caron Butler and Brian Grant. Both only lasted one season, as Grant was released, and Butler was traded to Washington for Kwame Brown.
4. Who were the Lakers playing when Kobe scored 81 points? Answer: The Toronto Raptors. Who doesn't remember that game?
5. Who was the only player to play on both the 2000 champs and the 1988 champs? Answer: A.C. Green. The NBA's Iron Man returned in 1999-2000 after leaving the team in 1993.
Tier 2 Answers:
6. What playoff opponent in 1988 allowed James Worthy to record his only career triple-double (bonus point if you give me his stat line)? Answer: The Detroit Pistons. In game 7 of the 1988 Finals, Worthy recorded 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists as L.A. won 108-105 and claimed their second straight title.
7. When did Pat Riley win his only Coach of the Year award while with the Lakers? Answer: The 1989-90 season. The Lakers won 63 games, but were eliminated in round two by Phoenix, the shortest playoff run by a Riley-led Lakers team. How ironic.
8. Who was offered the coaching job of the Lakers after Paul Westhead was fired in 1981, only to refuse the post? Answer: Jerry West. West, who had coached the team from 1976-79, didn't want to coach again, but he did sit next to new coach Pat Riley early on to ease him into the job.
9. From what team did the Lakers acquire Bob McAdoo on December 25, 1981? Answer: The New Jersey Nets. McAdoo averaged double figures in points in four of his five seasons in L.A. and helped the team win two NBA titles.
10. What current Eastern Conference coach was a reserve on the 1982 championship Lakers? Answer: Eddie Jordan. The Wizards coach spent two full seasons and parts of two others with the Lakers from 1980-84.
Tier 3 Answers:
11. Who did the Minneapolis Lakers beat in their first ever playoff series in 1948-49? Answer: The Chicago Stags. They beat them 2-0, then beat Rochester (now the Sacramento Kings) and the Washington Capitols to win the BAA/NBA title that year.
12. Before Michael Jordan broke it in 1992, Elgin Baylor held the record for most points scored in a half in a Finals game. What was the record, and against whom did he set it? Answer: 33 points against the Celtics in game 5 of the 1962 Finals. The Lakers won at the Garden 125-121 but lost the series in seven.
13. When was the first year that the Los Angeles Lakers won at least 50 games (not including the Minneapolis years)? Answer: The 1961-62 season, when they went 54-26. The Minneapolis club did have a 51-17 record in 1949-50, though.
14. How many times has a Lakers/Celtics Finals gone the full seven games? Answer: Four times; in 1961-62, 1965-66, 1968-69 and 1983-84. Unfortunately for Lakers fans, Boston has won all four times.
15. True or false: Jerry West once led the league in assists? Answer: True. In 1971-72, West led the league with an average of 9.7 APG, one tenth of a point better than runner-up Lenny Wilkens of Seattle.
10-point bonus question
Name the four players the Lakers traded to Milwaukee to acquire Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975. Answer: Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman. Only Bridgeman had any true success in Milwaukee, while Kareem won five NBA titles, three league MVPs, and became the all-time leading scorer. What a trade!
Here are the scores from the three people who attempted all 16 questions: Ubershorty: 7 points goTo: 12 1/2 points (I gave half credit for the second question in tier 1) The Dominator, er, J-Dizzle: 36 points (gave out 5 points for getting two of the four playerds right in the bonus question)
And thanks to everyone who did attempt some questions; I'm just not trying to make anybody look and feel bad here. I really do appreciate the effort, and maybe I'll make this more of a bi-weekly thing to save some questions. But anyhow, thanks for playing, and join us next time for more "Stump the DIzzle!".
As I promised yesterday in a comment on another blog, I have some more trivia today. But this time, I'm formatting it a bit differently. After receiving some grief that my trivia was a bit too far back in time, I decided to have tiers of trivia worth varying degrees of points. The beginning tier is some 'easy' questions worth 1 point each, the second tier is a bit harder and worth 3 points each, and the top tier is harder trivia and worth 5 points each. There will also be a 10 point bonus question that will really put the head to work! To ease into this realm, I picked a category many are familiar with. Here goes!
Category: Los Angeles Lakers history
Tier 1: 1. Who was the last Laker before Kobe Bryant to win regular season MVP? 2. The Lakers' division title this past season was their first since what year? 3. Lamar Odom (everyone's favorite Laker) was one of three players the Lakers got for Shaq in 2004. Who were the other two? 4. Who did the Lakers play when Kobe scored 81 points? 5. Who was the only Laker to play on both the 2000 champs and the 1988 champs?
Tier 2: 6. Against what playoff opponent in 1988 did James Worthy record his only career triple-double (bonus point if you give me his stat line)? 7. In what season did Pat Riley win his only Coach of the Year award while coaching the Lakers? 8. Who was offered the Lakers' coaching position after Paul Westhead was fired in 1981, but refused? 9. From what team did the Lakers acquire Bob McAdoo on Decmber 25, 1981? 10. What current Eastern Conference coach was a backup on the Lakers 1982 championship team?
Tier 3: 11. Who did the Minneapolis Lakers beat in their first ever playoff series in 1948-49? 12. Before Michael Jordan broke it in 1992, Elgin Baylor held the record for most points scored in a half in an NBA Finals game. What was the record, and against whom did he set it against? 13. What season did the Los Angeles Lakers first win over 50 games (I emphasize, it does not include the Minneapolis years)? 14. How many times has a Lakers/Celtics Finals gone the full seven games? 15. True or false: Jerry West once led the league in assists?
10-point bonus question: Name the four players the Lakers traded to Milwaukee to acquire Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975.
Well, that's the trivia for today. Hopefully, we'll get some more participants, but anyone who tries is welcome; it's not like I'll judge you whether you score good or not. This is just for fun! Take care!
My personal bio on the right may not tell the entire side of me, but it does capture (in a nutshell) what my essence is all about. I love sports. Why else would I write a sports blog? And sports have been a big part of my life, mostly because my homelife has been less than ideal (I lost my mother in 2001, and never really had a relationship with her, and my dad has had his problems with his life, though he hasn't done anything bad to me). So, sports have been there to be my guide.
With that in mind, here is a different My List. This list is a collection of sports stuff that I hold as the most memorable I've ever been involved in (I'm also doing this to avoid the sameness of the blogs about Lamar Odom and the Olympics). So, here's the list:
10. High School Football Camp (1999): Actually, it was more like a bootcamp for kids who did nothing wrong. Despite the fact that I attended Cass Tech High School, a well-known Detroit school, they were so cheap that they couldn't spring for an actual camp, deciding instead to go to the middle of nowhere (Jackson, MI) in farm country. On the first night, we had to run in the country at nighttime. Imagine running in shoes a size too small, and not being able to see your own hand! I got a blister on my heel from the running, and was never able to keep up at practice without my cleats. Finally, after three days, we left, but not before spitting on the field as we left! I could probably do the entire blog on this camp, but let's move on.
9. Going to an Arena League game (1991): This was memorable for the fact I got lost in Joe Louis Arena! Fortunately, nothing bad happened to me, and my parents recovered me. We also decided not to sit in our seats, prefering to stay on the steps for a better view. In case you're wondering, we are thrifty!
8. Seeing a Pistons/Hornets game at the Palace (2000): If you see the Palace today, you'd never recognize it in 2000; the place was nearly half empty as the Pistons faced the then Charlotte Hornets in 2000. I had gotten my ticket at school after a counselor I worked for had a friend get sick the night of the game, and she knew I was a sports fan. The night was memorable not for the game (Charlotte won the game by 7 I believe) but for the near-riot I caused over nothing. During a timeout, when the Dunkin Donuts race that many arenas do took place, my section (the nosebleed section) won. They gave out the tickets for the win, and with practically nobody around me, I put the tickets down and continued watching the game. The next day, I found out from my counselor that some fans wanted to pick a fight with me because they wanted their dollar off a donut! Sadly, this tradition continues... after every Lions game.
7. Watching the 1994 Finals when O.J. made a run for it: Wasn't that the most bizarre game (it was game 4) to watch; Tom Brokaw reporting on O.J. while updating the score of the game? I bought the DVD collection a year ago, and watched that game again; the footage from MSG was in there, and Brokaw was nowhere to be found. It was weirder than the actual game, in my opinion.
6. Wanting to scream during a football running drill (1999): My most memorable moment from a not so memorable camp. There were garden snakes in the grass where we did running drills. The team so wanted to avoid the drill that they said "We can't run with snakes in the grass!". Our reward; the coaches made us run twice the laps as normal! I put it best when I yelled "Nice work, dumb####s!".
5. Seeing my first Lions game (2004): The Lions game in question was against the Raiders (yeah, great buildup, huh?). The Lions won by ten I believe, and I did get to see Jerry Rice (albeit an aging one; he fumbled during the game, and the Lions recovered and scored a TD). That, and the fact that my dad and grandfather were there, made the game special. Even though the Lions were in the game.
4. Watching the 1991 Finals: The 1991 NBA Finals were the first sporting event I can remember watching, and what a Final; Magic Johnson vs Michael Jordan. Though the event saw the Bulls win 4-1, I remember during game 3 being asked who would win the game. I said "Lakers!"... and Chicago won. After that, I realized that I would never win big in Vegas.
3. Getting Lions season tickets (2007): Why only #3? Because it's the Lions! Need I say more? But it's fun going to the games and wondering "Will the 'Fire Millen' chant begin today?". And they do occasionally win, which is great for them, I suppose.
2. Beginning this blog (2006): Before I began blogging here, I would talk sports with my grandmother and aunt, and I knew I'd be just as effective talking about nuclear physics! Here, I can express my sports opinions, and get feedback from people who also love sports (though I expect this one to be ignored). I really enjoy this, and thanks to everyone else who makes this fun to do!
1. Going to the opener of the 1994-95 NBA season: The first game for the Pistons in 1994-95 was against the Lakers, two teams that had fallen onto hard times. The Pistons had just drafted Grant Hill, and that made this game very important at the time. The Lakers, led by Nick Van Exel, Vlade Divac, Cedric Ceballos, and Eddie Jones, beat the Pistons handily that game (en route to returning to the playoffs after a one year absence), but what I remember most is attempting to channel my inner commentator and "call" the game (from the nosebleed section). Afterwards, some fans told my dad that "He really knows his stuff!". Although today I know that I was too excited about going to my first real pro game, that experience made me realize that I was a sports nut. And it has stuck with me even after 14 years.
I hope you enjoyed my look at some sports stuff that really isn't relevant to pro sports, but I just wanted to do something different and share why I love sports so much. After all, isn't that why everyone is here on Fox blogs (contrary to popular belief)? Take care, and I'll be back next week with stuff that actually relates to the pros!
I have had a very interesting week on these blogs, to say the least. I have been the subject of glowing praise, and I have seen Greenspire switch the draft time for one of the fantasy football leagues I'm in to yesterday, just hours after I had to wring my hands at the Detroit Public Schools records office to obtain my high school transcript (btw, if you want to see gross incompetance, go to this records office; they are swimming in red tape there), so I couldn't draft. Yes, it has been very interesting.
But most people know that it takes a really annoying topic to make me show my sarcastic and cold side. The one that I have been able to keep under control since I signed on to blog here in November 2006. For the most part (bugs like lil pest, er, fly, not withstanding), I like the material here because I can tell right away (most times) that the people who post really care about sports. And that they are talking about real sports. That's why I have enjoyed blogging here (even with 'g-a-r-b-a-g-e D-a-T-i-N-g.C-o-M' comments).
But today's post is my way of venting some fumes about an all too familiar 'foe' of these posts; the continiung saga (as Keith Jackson might say) of the de-evolution of ESPN's programming. What brought this about? Well, to put it bluntly, I turn on sports channels (on my ####ing box; I'm sorry, the service stinks!) to watch sports. But everyone's 'favorite' network has found ways to eschew sports in favor of non-sports and other 'sports' that I couldn't care less about. Here are some vents about these particular sore spots:
Little League World Series: As sad as it is to say, it was the kids who inspired me to write this post. All week (and really since Friday), the LLWS has dominated ESPN 1's programming. They pushed aside all MLB action (during the run to the September races) to show these games. And boy, I wouldn't want to miss a 13-0 mercy-rule ended game (do the Lions know there is a mercy rule?). Isn't the LLWS what ESPN2 was invented for? I wouldn't mind if the U.S. and International finals and the title game were televised, but the whole thing? It's overkill.
World Series of Poker in primetime: Speaking of World Series stuff that doesn't belong on a sports channel, the WSOP is back getting vaulable air time on ESPN. I have stated (more than once) that all poker shows should be relegated to GSN and networks that have nothing to do with sports because there is nothing athletic about poker. Where's the athleticism of throwing down the Ace of Hearts? And besides the prize money, why watch? Poker's popularity has slipped in recent years, and frankly, the WSOP should be shown on ESPN2 in the late-night hours only. I don't want to see it on ESPN or ESPN Classic ever again.
ESPN Classic's programming: Speaking of Classic, whoever is in charge of its programming should be fired! Who decides the #### that I see on its lineup each day? Look at some of the choices; WSOP, pool/billiards, bowling (lots of it), bull riding, Street Ball, pro wrestling reruns, American Gladiators! And the biggest folly; tons of meaningless boxing! Listen, ESPN; showing a boxing match between two unknowns/neverweres is not classic! If that's classic, then my high school football games are classic! Whoever is in charge of that network must be addicted to boxing, because it makes up at least half the programming on it. I want classic GAMES, not classic ####!
The 'personalities': Today, during the live SportsCenter, I heard something I thought I'd never see; Bill Walton making a valid basketball point (the U.S. baksetball team shouldn't get overconfident)! Amazing that the commentators can make points that make sense, isn't it? Then, I flipped over to ESPN2 and caught 1st and 10, and the voice of nonsensical points, Skip Bayless, does his usual Manu Ginobili dance and criticizes the U.S. team for not hitting their threes and not shooting FTs well. Maybe they didn't, but they still whipped the Aussies, and so far, they have looked very good and are looking to prove the Baylesses wrong! So give them some credit, for pete's sake! I suppose Skip would rather have the Spurs sent to Beijing so everyone can catch up on their Z's! The more I listen to these 'experts' moan, the less credible they become. It's gotten so bad that I mute the sound and just watch the scroll bar to get my sports info! Memo to ESPN central casting; hire some more subdued people to report news.
Stephen A. Smith: Sorry, I just had to single him out because he's the posterchild for what ails the network. Although he has tried to tone down his style, first impressions are quite profound; even he said as much in an ESPN the Magazine article ("I've recognized that I was very loud in the past (and have) toned it down considerably). Sorry, Stephen, I'm still gonna skewer you as much as you skewer Kwa-ME Brown!
Well, I am glad that I was able to vent some of my BSPN issues to you. What issues do you have with the worldwide leader? Feel free to leave them here. Until then, I'm back to figuring out why the hell ribbons and gymnastics are combined into an Olympic event!
1. Who is the only player ever to win both ABA and NBA MVP honors? Answer: Julius Erving for the Nets (1974-76) and 76ers (1981)
2. Who was the NBA's first ever regular season MVP? Answer: Bob Pettit. The Hawks forward won it for the 1955-56 season.
3. True or false: The Clippers franchise has had one player win the MVP award? Answer: Technically, true. When they were the Buffalo Braves, Bob McAdoo won the award in 1974-75.
4. Who are the only two players to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season? Answer: Wilt Chamberlain (1959-60) and Wes Unseld (1968-69).
5. Who was the only player to win MVPs in two different seasons for two different teams? Answer: Moses Malone (1982, Rockets; 1983, 76ers). For those who said Kareem, he didn't win it in his final Milwaukee season in 1974-75.
6. When was the first season that the MVP was voted on by the sportwriters and not the players? Answer: 1980-81. (lots of half-points there)
7. Who was the first player to win MVP and the NBA title in the same season? Answer: Bob Cousy, with the 1957 Celtics.
8. Who are the only three players to win three straight MVPs? Answer: Bill Russell (1961-63), Wilt Chamberlain (1966-68) and Larry Bird (1984-86).
9. Since the 1999-2000 season (including that season), what players have won MVP and the NBA title in the same season? Answer: Shaquille O'Neal (1999-2000) and Tim Duncan (2002-03).
10. Between 1960 and 1980, centers won 20 of the 21 MVPs awarded therein. Who was the only non-center to win the award, and as a bonus, what year did he win it in? Answer: Oscar Robertson, in 1964.
So, here are the scores for the three (big number, huh?) entrants!
So, Dizzle wins again! He must own an encyclopedia (like I do!). Anyhow, thanks to all who played, and I'll have some more trivia next Monday (though I might blog later today). Take care!
Last week, I did a trviia blog post to relieve my boredom over the lack of exciting sports topics to talk about. I liked the post so much, I am now going to make it a regular of my post. So, without further ado (and still lacking a prize), here's the next batch of trivia questions about the NBA!
Category: NBA regular season MVPs
1. Who is the only player ever to win ABA and NBA regular season MVP? 2. Who was the NBA's first ever regular season MVP? 3. True or false: The Clippers franchise has had one player named regular season MVP? 4. Who are the only two players to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season? 5. What player won back-to-back MVPs on two different teams (won it with one team, then won it the next year with another)? 6. What season marked the first year the MVP was voted on by the sportwriters and not the players? 7. What player was the first to win both MVP and the NBA title in the same season? 8. Who are the only three players to win three straight MVPs? 9. Since the 1999-2000 season (including that season), what players won both the MVP and NBA title in the same season? 10. Between 1960 and 1980, centers won the MVP in 20 of the 21 seasons therein. Who was the only non-center to win the award, and as a bonus, what year did he win it?
There are the questions. Tomorrow, I'll post the answers (just to see how many respond). Take care until then!
It's been awhile since my last post went up in flames, as I quickly realized that trying to get technology to work for me was an impossible task. So, instead of struggling, I'm going to stick with my usual low-tech #### and just write my prose. But, what would I write about? There's so little, and yet so much, that can be talked about. Thus, the return of the recurring series of posts that look a lot like Larry King's writing style is the result! Here are my thoughts:
Michael Phelps won eight gold medals. Now that he's through, what will Costas and the gang talk about to fill time?
By the way, does anybody else think Cris Collinsworth is out of place in Beijing?
Brett Favre debuted as a Jet and was decent in limited time. Expect a thorough breakdown of his perfromance... for 15 straight days.
I know I'm ready for the NFL regular season to start. Now, if only the Lions could win this century...
My grandmother couldn't believe that there was an Olympic sport that invloved a ribbon, and gymnastics. And frankly, neither could I.
The U.S Olympic basketball team has looked dominant so far in Beijing. I would watch them more, but they never are on in primetime. Thanks, Donaghy.
Speaking of the Olympics, why is NBC so protective of their coverage? I mean, you never see the actual highlight on ESPN! That stinks, and it should be revised.
NBA TV has been showing a bunch of classic games as part of their "Classic games in HD" series. If 78-74, boring and low-scoring is your idea of classic.
Speaking of the NBA, who is the latest no-name to bolt for Europe? My hope is that it will be Eddy Curry. Or any other New York Knick.
And to add on to the last one, how about sending some Detroit Tigers over there as well? Send the enitre bullpen; they can't do much worse than they are in Detroit.
I just read in ESPN the Magazine that Hulk Hogan is going to be in an MMA flick. You though Kimbo Slice was scary (speaking of which, Slice is rumored to be featured in that film, as well)?
And finally, what is up with all the blogs recently that have had a negative tone to them? Did everybody get forced to watch all of Shaq's film without leaving for a pit stop? Cool the jets, everybody, and just get along.
Well, there are my takes for Sunday. Take care, and please, keep out of Hogan's way!
Here's the moment some have waited for since early this morning: it's time to reveal the answers and the winner of the trivia contest! The answers follow the question in blue font:
1. Who did the Bulls trade on draft night 1987 to acquire Scottie Pippen? Answer: Olden Ploynice. And boy, did Seattle (which got Olden) miss the boat!
2. What draft pick was used on Kobe Bryant in 1996? Answer: #13. The Hornets chose Bryant #13, then traded him to the Lakers for Vlade Divac.
3. True or false: The Lakers have never lost 50 games in a season? Answer: False. They finished 30-52 in 1974-75.
4. When was the first year that no Lakers or Celtics made the All-Star team (hint: it was in the 1990s)? Answer: the 1993 game.
5. Which three teams had the most regular season MVP winners? Answer: The Lakers, Celtics and 76ers each have had four players win MVP. The Lakers had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant; the Celtics had Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Dave Cowens and Larry Bird, and the Sixers had Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone and Allen Iverson.
6. How many times has Shaq won the scoring title? Answer: Twice; in 1995 (with 29.3 PPG) and 2000 (29.7).
7. Who was the first player to win Finals MVP on the losing team? Answer: Jerry West. In 1969, West won the first ever Finals MVP as the Lakers lost in seven games to the Celtics.
8. Of the coaches selected as the Top Ten Greatest NBA Coaches in 1996, who is the only one who hasn't won an NBA title? Answer: Don Nelson, though he did win a bunch as a Celtics player. The other coaches were Red Auerbach (9 in Boston), Lenny Wilkens (1979 in Seattle), Phil Jackson (9 with Bulls and Lakers), Pat Riley (4 with Lakers, 1 with Miami), Chuck Daly (2 in Detroit), Red Holzman (2 with Knicks), John Kundla (5 with Lakers), Jack Ramsay (1977 with Portland) and Bill Fitch (1981 with Boston).
9. Lenny Wilkens and John Wooden are two of the three people inducted into the Basketball HOF as a player and a coach. Whose the third? Answer: Bill Sharman. He won a handful of titles with the Celtics, then won an ABA title in 1971 (Utah Stars) and an NBA title in 1972 (Lakers), one of only two coaches to do so (Alex Hannum).
10. Who was the first team with a losing record to reach the NBA Finals? Answer: The 1957 St. Louis Hawks, who went 34-38 during the season. They lost in seven to rookie Bill Russell and the Celtics.
After all of that, the winner of the contest is.....
J-DIZZLE! He answered all ten questions correctly (I'll give him credit on the All-Star one because it has 1993 in it). Congrats to Dizzle, and all who participated in the quiz. Maybe I'll make this a recurring theme... or not. But it was fun, so expect more of it in the future. Take care!
P.S. Nique, I'll change my profile tonight, but don't expect a change until tomorrow. Thank you.
As you can see from the lengthy title of this post, things are really hot in the world of sports. The Olympics are here, but I'm not really interested because of all the unrest that has engulfed the games. The NFL preseason is here, but wake me up when the regular season starts and the results count. And in the time that I wrote the above, Kyle Busch won five more NASCAR races! So, to put it mildly, I'm bored.
In that vein, to attempt to relieve my boredom (and unload some basketball stuff that I've been itching to put up, but haven't been able to because I am too cheap to start my own site), I'm going to have a little trivia on the post today! There will be ten questions posted, and after I tally up the entries (assuming there are any) I'll post the answers and the winner(s) later today in another post (that tells you how bored I am; I'm doing two posts!). So, here is the first question:
Category: NBA history
1. What player did the Bulls trade on draft night 1987 to acquired Scottie Pippen? 2. What draft pick was used on Kobe Bryant in 1996? 3. True or false: The Lakers have never lost 50 games in a single season? 4. What year marked the first time no Lakers or Celtics made the All-Star team (hint: it was in the 1990s)? 5. Which three teams boast the most players with regular season MVP awards (most individual winners)? 6. How many times has Shaq won the scoring title?
Now, to throw in a few trickier ones:
7. Who was the only player to win Finals MVP on the losing team? 8. Which of the coaches chosen as the Top Ten Greatest NBA Coaches in 1996 has not won an NBA title? 9. Lenny Wilkens and John Wooden are among the three people chosen to the Basketball HOF as a player and a coach. Whose the third? 10. Who was the first team with a losing record to make the NBA Finals?
There are the questions. As I stated earlier, I'll be back later on to post the answers and see who got the most right. Of course, if no on replies, there will be no need for it! Take care, anyhow!
Well, as everybody knows, the Brett Favre soap opera finally reached a conclusion early Thursday as Favre was dealt to the New York Jets. While I am relieved to see this 'story' finally end, it just feels weird to see Favre hold up a Jets jersey in Jersey (pun intended). And Favre certainly won't be the first superstar to switch jerseys in sports history. Even Wayne Gretzky was traded in his prime, so Favre isn't that special.
But, this blog is devoted to other cases that are similar to Favre. Cases where players have switched teams, and as a result, looked as solid as booking Amy Winehouse at a temperence meeting. Here are some cases (not numbered off, because there are more than 10) of great players looking awkward in another uniform, starting in the NBA:
NBA
Michael Jordan from Bulls to Wizards (2001): Was there anything more disturbing than Jordan playing in Washington? This experiment began when Jordan, still itching to play, put his executive role on hold to return in 2001. While Jordan made the All-Star team both times, it was purely on acclaim, and his final year was injury-riddled and disappointing (the Wizards went 37-45 both years) as Washington merely cashed in on his name. When he quit for good in 2003, the Wizards rewarded him... by saying he couldn't go back to his executive role. This was one case of people not wanting to be like Mike.
Patrick Ewing from Knicks to Sonics (2000) to Magic (2001): You can't say Ewing didn't try hard to win a ring, but seeing him scuffle in Seattle and Orlando was sad. Ewing was traded to the Sonics in a three-way trade (Glen Rice went from the Lakers to Knicks and Horace Grant left Seattle for L.A.) that was perplexing for Ewing backers even then. He played way below his standards that one year, then bolted for Orlando, thinking the Grant Hill-Tracy McGrady team would be the ticket. When Hill got hurt again, that ended, and Ewing wallowed as a reserve until he retired in 2002.
Dominique Wilkins from Hawks to Clippers (1994) to Celtics (1995) to Spurs (1997) to Magic (1999): When Wilkins was in his prime in Atlanta, few could match his athleticism. But that had started to fade when he was dealt to the Clippers for Danny Manning in 1994. Wilkins played O.K. in L.A., then was signed by Boston in one of many curious moves by then-GM M.L. Carr. He led them in scoring in 1995, then played in France in 1996. He returned to the NBA with the Spurs in 1997, hoping for a title run, but David Robinson got hurt, and the Spurs finished 20-62. Wilkins made one more very painful return in Orlando in 1999 before finally retirng after that season.
Bob Cousy from Celtics to Royals (1970): Yep, even Cousy made a brief comeback. After the legendary Celtic retired in 1963, he stayed out of the NBA until he was named coach of the Royals in 1969. Almost from the start, he and another legendary PG, Oscar Robertson, feuded over the direction of the team. To show up Robertson, Cousy suited up for 7 games in the 1969-70 season for the Royals (he averaged about 1 assist per game in limited time). After the season, he never played again, and traded Robertson to Milwaukee.
Hakeem Olajuwon from Rockets to Raptors (2001): 2001 must have been the year of great NBA players going else where, with Jordan, Ewing and now OIajuwon appearing with this year. Olajuwon knew he wasn't in Houston's long term plans, so he departed for Toronto in 2001. Like Ewing in Orlando, Olajuwon wasn't the same player he once was, and was benched in favor of Keon Clark by the time Toronto made the playoffs. And like Ewing, Olajuwon wrapped up his career after that one embarassing season.
MLB
Babe Ruth from Yankees to Braves (1935): Yes, the tradition goes back a long ways. Ruth's power numbers had steadily declined over the previous five years, and the Yankees of the Great Depression era could no longer justify his league-high salary, so they released him. Ruth then decided to return to Boston... with the Braves. Though one of his last games in the 1935 season saw him have a multi-HR game, it was largely a forgetable stint for Ruth.
Willie Mays from Giants to Mets (1973): Mays was like many ballplayers who aren't ready to admit they've declined; he wanted to show the Giants (who had moved him to the infield) he could still patrole the outfield. The Mets gave him that chance, but he was terrible in the outfield and at the plate, and his stumble in centerfield during the World Series that year (the Mets lost to Oakland) was the sad end of a legendary career.
Hank Aaron from Braves to Brewers (1977): Aaron should have ended his career with the Braves as the HR king, but like Mays, Aaron wasn't ready to quit, and he became a DH with Milwaukee (in a homecoming for Hank, since he won his only World Series in Milwaukee) in 1977. He hit his last HR in July of that year (#755) before retiring. Doesn't it feel sad when you realize his last owner was Bud Selig?
NHL
Gordie Howe from Red Wings to Whalers (1980): Admittedly, it was the inept Red Wings management who made Howe bolt from a figurehead role with the team to the WHA in 1973 (to play with his sons Mark and Marty), but as a Red Wings fan, I can only imagine how painful this was. Gordie played for the Houston Aeros and the New England/Hartford Whalers of that league until it folded in 1979, then joined the Whalers in the NHL in 1980. In the greatest irony, he played his final All-Star game at the new Joe Louis Arena in Detroit that year (he got an assists on the last goal) and played with the Whalers in the playoffs before retiring at the age of 53 following that year!
Bobby Hull from Blackhawks to Whalers (1980): Like Howe, Hull (who, unlike Howe, was still active in the NHL) was whooed to the WHA in their inagural season of 1972 with a then-record $1 million contract (paid for by ALL the teams!). Hull was brilliant on the WInnipeg Jets before injuries caught up to him, and shortly after the Jets joined the NHL in 1979, he was traded to Hartford. Though that produced a tender moment when Howe and Hull, the once great rivals, played on the same line, Hull did little with the team before he retired in 1980.
NFL
Joe Namath from Jets to Rams (1977): Maybe the reason the Jets got Brett was remembering how they let go of Namath. "Broadway Joe" had spent most of the 70s injured and not very effective when he did play, and the team let him go to L.A. in 1977. There, he limped through one game before Pat Haden replaced him. Too bad the knees just weren't willing.
Emmitt Smith from Cowboys to Cardinals (2002): This must have been like a shot to the gut for all Cowboys fans. But the Cowboys were convinced that Smith was finished (and that Troy Hambrick was ready, so take it with a grain of salt) and let him go. The Cardinals (the graveyard of the NFL West) signed him, and though he wasn't terrible, he certainly wasn't the all-time rushing leader, either. After two forgetable years, he retired in 2004.
Jerry Rice from 49ers to Raiders (2000) to Seahawks (2005): Rice should never have donned anything but Niners colors, despite the fact that his early years with the Raiders were productive. Rice played very solid ball in Oakland until age and a collapsing team caught up to him. He was traded in mid season in 2005 to Seattle, where he was just about average before retirng in training camp 2006 in Denver.
Joe Montana from 49ers to Chiefs (1993): How can any list of painful team switches not include Montana? The lava had been bubbling for several years (as Joe fumed behind Steve Young) before the Niners dealt Joe to K.C. in 1993. He did lead the Chiefs to their first conference championship since 1969 that first year (and to the playoffs both years) before calling it quits, but Montana is #16, not #19.
Eric D(i)(c)kerson from Rams to Colts (1987) to Raiders (1992) to Falcons (1993): Before Eric (to avoid sensitive sensors) became known as a bumbling sideline reporter on MNF in 1999-2000, he saw his career slide downward after leaving the Rams in a dispute in 1987. Eric did lead the AFC in rushing in the strike shortened 1987 season, but became merely average as a Colt, before being buried in L.A. and forgotten in Atlanta (let's just say if you can't beat out Tony Smith, you should retire).
Coaches:
Bud Wilkinson from Oklahoma to Cardinals (1977-78): At Oklahoma, Wilkinson put Sooners football on the map, with a 55 game win streak (please correct me if I'm wrong) and mulitple national titles. But by the time he went to the NFL in 1977, he hadn't coached since 1961 (he had served in Congress). So the hiring raised eyebrows. Wilkinson struggled in his first season (I think only 4 wins), then got into a dispute with the Bidwells over using Steve Piscarkerwicz (I don't know how to spell this frickin name!); when Bud refused to play him, he was fired, ending a circus that Bud should have never entered into.
Other brief mentions:
Karl Malone from Jazz to Lakers (2003): Well, he was hurt by the end!
O.J. Simpson from Bills to 49ers (1978-79): Yes, he's dirty now, but back then, this was painful.
Thurman Thomas from Bills to Dolphins (2000): Many Bills will be on here.
Bruce Smith from Bills to Redskins (2001): Just for the sacks record? What a shame.
Andre Reed from Bills to Redskins (2001): See, I told you so.
Tim Brown from Raiders to Buccaneers (2004): Not even Jon Gruden could save him.
Scottie Pippen from Bulls to Rockets (1999) to Blazers (2000) to Bulls (2003): Should have stopped in Portland... in 2001.
Chris Webber from Kings to Sixers (2004) to Pistons (2007) to Warriors (2008): Should have stopped... in Sacramento.
Eddie George from Titans to Cowboys (2003): A replacement for Smith? I doubt it.
Scott Mitchell from Dolphins to Lions (1994): Sorry, I had to take a shot at Mitchell aka the great fraud!
There are some mentions of players who should have stuck it out with the team they played best for. If you have any inclusions, put them here. Take care, and whatever you do, don't wish to be Ted Thompson!
Yesterday, in my post, I mentioned Brett Favre and the mess that is the Green Bay Packers. In the humor post before that, I ridiculed both sides. Let's look back at what I said yesterday:
Brett Favre is finally back. Do you feel sorry for the networks (ESPN, NFL Network)? I mean, they do have 55 of 60 minutes to fill! But hopefully, this Favre-a-Mania will (finally end).
Well, as many of you can tell, the networks were granted a reprieve; Favre and the Pack are once again at odds. The lies and annoyance made me think about other possible lies in the world of sports. With that in mind, I decided to rip off another late night host (the My List feature of my blog was from Letterman) and do the Truth in Advertising that Leno does... but as related to sports. For those who are confused, I'll state a sports item, and then will state what it really would mean if there was actual truth in the advertising. You'll see once I get started.
Here's the first item:
What it says = What it should say
NFL (National Football League) = TBFADEDL (The Brett Favre All Day Every Day League)
Brett Favre = Michael Jordan (he of many retirements and unretirements)
Green Bay Packers = The Power of Moldy Cheese
Aaron Rodgers = Steve Young (not in as good as Young, but how he'll never be accepted like Young wasn't by SF fans who loved Montana)
And let's not limit it to the Favre fiasco. There's plenty to choose from:
Manny Ramirez = Jim Rome's boyfriend
Tony Kornhesier = The guy who rarely works, even on MNF.
Charles Barkley = Jose Canseco's next opponent (in case you're confused, Barkley is taking up boxing to get in shape).
John Madden = Most distraught announcer in the world
The cover of the new Madden 09 game = A little too late, and a collector's item (the last time you'll see Favre in green unless it's the Jets).
NBA = League that hopes Spurs dissolve.
The Olympics = Something that's not interesting
Beijing = L.A, only with more polluted air
Prince Fielder and Manny Parra = Best buddies (not)
And now, to finish, some hometown truths:
Tigers & Kyle Farnsworth = The only people who thought Farnsworth for Pudge Rodriguez was a great deal.
Pistons = a broken record (they're still the same; brace for a decline)
Red Wings = Best team in Detroit
Lions = Buccaneers... if this was 2003 (I mean, how many did they sign in the offseason, seven?)
Matt Millen = Man with a smoking gun on William Clay Ford
Lions success in my lifetime = No chance in hell
Well, now I've vented. If you've got any prose, just leave it in the comments. Until next time, may the Favre situation get resolved so we can get to real sports.
It's been a little over a week since I last wrote a post, which is a long time for me to not vent about sports topics. But I was feeling burn out coming on, so I decided to take a break. Now, I'm energized again, and ready to go. So, I'm set to do another post of just random thoughts about the world of sports. But before I do that, let me address the picture that is now on my profile.
Admittedly, I've rangled with the idea of a picture for awhile. Simply having the Fox logo (no offense, guys) left me feeling empty. But, as you can see, photos really don't capture me very good. Look at it! Either I inherited Tracy McGrady's eyes, or I had too many at the bar! Nonetheless, I figured that I could rid the empty feeling if I put a photo up there, and voila! As for the profile info, it has been stubborn to change, even though I have tried at least 10 times to change it. Hopefully, I can get it changed by tomorrow at the lastest. It basically just an altered form of the statement that's up there right now, and it should also have a counter (if the damn thing will load!). So stay tuned!
Now then, let's get to sports:
Brett Favre is finally back. Does anybody feel sorry for the networks (ESPN, NFL Network)? I mean, they do have to fill 55 of 60 minutes now! But hopefully, this Favre-a-Mania will tone down now that he has been reinstated.
Michelle Wie once again failed to make the cut. Somewhere, her parents and 'managers' are crying... all the way to the bank!
This one is homerish, but have you noticed the Tigers have really stunk since trading Ivan Rodriguez? And the bullpen hasn't improved; it may have actually gotten worse. I thought Farnsworth was the savior? (I turn around and laugh)
Watched Jim Rome today. His obsession with Manny Ramirez borders on John Madden's obsession with Favre! Think Jim and Manny will have more fun now that he's a Dodger?
NBA TV showed a classic game today; Spurs/Nets game 6 of the 2003 Finals. Because if anything is classic in the NBA, it's slow, half-court, low-scoring basketball.
Steve Smith punched a teammate and broke his nose. Bad stuff... for one of my fantasy teams on another site, which has Smith. Oh well, at least I have Randy Moss to fall back on.
The Lions' preseason kicks off against the Giants on Thursday. I'll be at Ford Field and will regularly report when the games mean something. Which means maybe once or twice this year.
Liked Nique's tribute to Tophatal yesterday. I really like reading her stuff, and hopefully, someday, I'll get a tribute lol! (Nique, I'm not kissing behinds).
Seriously, do I look drunk in that photo? That happens every time I take a picture! But I'm not going to complain.
Well, there are my rants for today. Now that I've shaken off the rust, I'll have a better piece to write the next time I write! Until then, live by the mantra "looks can be deceiving"! Take care everybody!
Prior to the events of yesterday, I was all set to continue the My List special and reveal team #4. However, the recent developments in the now ex-Seattle Supersonics episode inspired me to stop the series for today, and instead give an opinion and show a post I did earlier this year. The title of the post was "Welcome to the Cleveland Browns of 2008!", and I wrote it on the eve of the Sonics' last game in Seattle (April 16th):
Don't be confused by the title. I'm referring to the Seattle Supersonics, who may very well be playing their last (official) game tonight. Many bloggers are well aware of the acrimonious relations between majority 'owner' (I use that loosely) Clay Bennett and bestest buddy David Stern against practically the entire state of Washington. So I won't go into details. However, this being the first time I've talked about this topic, I'll state my feelings about it.
This situation has been disgraceful from the start. From the moment the Sonics were sold to Bennett's company, the feeling must have been "When", not "If" they were/are going to move. The e-mails that came out recently only solidify that assesment. I'd have more respect if Bennett had said "I really want a team in my hometown, so I'm moving the team there.". At least then he would have a little more of his dignity. But Bennett's position pales in comparison to Stern's.
I commented a while ago on a blog about this topic that Stern needed to consider stepping down as commish because his grip on what's right or wrong was slipping. I comnpared him to Pete Rozelle, who was a broken shell of himself by the time he stepped down as NFL commish in 1989. Well, his actions this morning (on Mike & Mike in the Morning) only confirmed those fears; he actually said the owners had negotiated with the city in good faith! How do you call conspiring to move a "good faith effort"? Isn't that what Art Modell said when he moved the Browns to Baltimore?
And I think a Cleveland-type situation may soon develop here. With the exception of a few owners (most notably Mark Cuban), approval of the move should occur. If that happens, I say "Let the BLEEPing team start over, too!". You do to the O.K. City team what the NFL did to the Ravens; allow Seattle to keep all the history and records, and give the team a new team in the future! Stern was benevolent to Charlotte when the Hornets moved, and Charlotte didn't (and doesn't) have the tradition of the Sonics.
What's right about this picture; Key Arena actually has more capacity than the Ford Center (forgive me if I don't know the O.K. arena's name)! And the situation there is better than Seattle! How is having fewer butts in the seats a better plan? And here I thought Stern wasd a marketing genius! This is more concerning than a refereeing scandal (although that's serious, as well) or the dress code. It shows a lack of logic and respect for the fans, the very same fans you claim to be going after to supoort you.
I can just see this conversation at a dinner banquet:
Year: 2010 (after lease is up)
Clay Bennett sits at dinner with some allies.
Bennett: "Boy, I sure am glad to finally be in O.K. City, now that those damn pesky Seattle people are out of the way. How did your moves go?"
Art Modell: "Oh, it was nasty initially, but after the fans got another team, it was tolerable. Hell, my team won a Super Bowl after five years!"
Al Davis (rises from rocking chair): "Be careful, Clay. My friendship with Pete dissolved quickly after my move, and I ended up back in Oakland because the golden palace had too many (c)racks."
Bennett: "I'm not worried. I duped Seattle from the start!"
ghost of Bob Irsay: "Don't believe the hype. My team was cursed until I passed and Peyton Manning was drafted. I think it was those damn Mayflower vans!"
Bennett: "It wasn't that bad, was it?"
Irsay: "You better believe it. If only I had moved before drafting Elway."
Bennett: "Oh my God! Don't let that happen to Durant!!"
Bennett runs to stop his move with Mayflower vans. Scene fades to black.
Should Seattle at least have the right to keep their team name and colors, and get at least an expansion team? Or should the NBA abandon 41 years of great tradition and pack up for Oklahoma? You tell me!
Before I continue, let me say there is an error; the Ford Center does have a higher seating capacity than Key Arena, so I apoligize for the oversight. Now then, I don't toot my own horn, but I nailed it on the head. The city did end up keeping the name, colors, and history, just like Cleveland did when the original Browns moved in 1995. So, naturally, you'd assume that a new Sonics team should be forthcoming. But let's look at that for a moment.
Let's say that the NBA does grant an expansion team to Seattle. That makes the league 31 teams and unbalanced again. Logically, you'd add another team to keep it even. But where? Vegas? Fat chance, especially after Donaghy. And they have tapped every big city I can think of. So, what's left? It would create a sticky situation, to say the least.
But that can be debated another day. Let's look at the key culprits, starting with David Stern. Did you listen to the press conference by the mayor of Seattle? He said that the NBA said a renovated Key Arena could be a viable NBA arena! Wait, didn't the same NBA say prior to the relocation vote that even if Key Arena was renovated, it wouldn't save the Sonics? That's doublespeak! And Stern's rep has taken a major beating this year, and in the last decade, really, as his iron fist has caused more harm than good. I said it in the post Apirl 16th, and I'll say it again; Stern should consider stepping down to save what's left of his legacy.
As for Clay Bennett, he was a #### before this all went down, and now he gets to play with his toys in Oklahoma. For the record, I'm not mad at Oklahoma City; if they wanted a NBA team, they can get an NBA team. But Bennett's biggest mistake is not moving the team, nor really negotiating fairly with Seattle. As I said in the original post, he ####ed up by not being honest about wanting to move; he covered it up, and as has been said, the coverup is worse than the crime! Personally, I hope his team is a miserable failure to the point he sells it, and then they start winning!
Bottom line: the city of Seattle may have harbored this problem by not doing something sooner, but Stern and Bennett really exposed themselves as sleazebags by steadfastly refusing to look at anything but dollars and cents. And the NBA looks bad, which is something I thought Dictator, er, Commissioner Stern, didn't want. I hope for a new Seattle team in the near future, and I hope when it comes around, they kick Oklahoma City's new team (here are some potential nicknames: ####holes, Scum, Liars, Dumb####s and Green, as in the color of money!) #### when they play!
As I sit at home more often than not, I am usually consumed by sports. As my recent blogs have stated (vividly), though, there's nothing going on right now that would qualify as exciting. So, I decided, for the month of July (but starting today), to run a My List special. Every list in this marathon will be devoted to choosing the best players in the history of each qualified NBA franchise.
This is not a new concept for me; I tried a similar concept in a group for this site, but I abandoned it because, well, having only one active member doesn't a group make. And when I tried to bring it to the main blog pages, I was met with questions like "I'm confused. Is it just the best players, or is it single-season teams?". Let me use this space to explain what this concept is:
I have taken 29 of the NBA teams (except Charlotte, who was too new to be ranked), and chosen the best players from each position. That means that players who were never teammates would be, hypothetically, through this.
I have chosen the teams according to what a potential starting lineup would be. That could (and probably will) mean that certain greats on one team are backups, and weaker players on others starters.
Achievements with the team are paramount, obviously, but in cases where the talent pool is weak, and a player with a good career made a cameo on the team, they are included.
I then ranked the teams 1-29 according to how strong (I felt) their lineup was. So, it's not ranked based on titles.
Now then, we begin the countdown with my #1 ranked team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Here is the lineup:
Starters:
PG: Magic Johnson: If I recently ranked him as the best NBA player ever (certainly open to debate, but still), he has to start here. To run a Cliff's Notes version of his career, he led the Lakers to five NBA titles and nine appearences in the Finals, won three regular season and Finals MVPs, was the all-time assists leader at the time of his first retirement, and helped reignite the NBA in the 1980s. This was the easiest position to pick here.
SG: Kobe Bryant: And now, for the hardest position to rank a starter. Both Bryant and the Logo, Jerry West, would have been great picks. In the end, Kobe wins narrowly (though I have a hunch he would allow West to start if problems arose). The reigning MVP has won multiple socring titles, helped the Lakers reach five NBA Finals, and has won three of them (we won't go into how or why, but he has three rings).
C: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Kareem was already on his way to a HOF career when he was acquired by the Lakers in a blockbuster trade in 1975. He added three regular season MVPs to the three he won in Milwaukee (for a record six overall), and helped L.A. to five titles during his 15 years there. He also set the all-time scoring mark as a Laker in 1984. He now currently works for the Lakers as a special assistant.
SF: Elgin Baylor: Baylor's biggest black mark as a player (let's not discuss his tenure with the Clippers) was that he never won an NBA title, but Baylor was a legendary player who was among the first to take it airborne. He won ROY with the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959 and took the upstarts to the Finals that year. He went on to be named first team All-NBA ten times and be an 11-time All-Star. He also set an NBA Finals record (still stands) with 61 points against Boston in game 5 of the 1962 Finals. He helped Minneapolis/L.A. to eight NBA Finals overall.
PF: Wilt Chamberlain: Before you say "He's not a PF!"; there were so many great C's and fewer great PF, that I've included the C's at the PF position. Anyhow, Chamberlain wasn;t the magnificent scoring machine of his prime, but the Lakers didn't need him to be. Chamberlain showed how far he came in 1971-72, when he led the league in rebound and FG% and helped the team win 33 straight games en route to a then-record 69 victories. Overall, he led L.A. to four Finals (winning the 1972 Finals MVP).
Reserves:
PG: Gail Goodrich: Goodrich was the key scorer for the Lakers of the early 1970s, and actually helped his team land Magic when he signed with the New Orleans Jazz in 1976 (the Jazz gave up the pick that L.A. would later use on Earvin). But Goodrich was a solid player in his era. After being a bit player for the Lakers from 1965-68 and then emerging in Phoenix, Goodrich returned to L.A. in 1970, and in the Lakers' brilliant 1972 season, he led the team in PPG (25.9). He went on to average over 20 PPG in four straight seasons.
SG: Jerry West: I kinda alluded to this earlier, but West wasn't called Mr. Clutch for nothing. West personified grace and fire on the court, and was consistently brilliant for the Lakers in the 60s and early 70s. West won the first ever Finals MVP in 1969, and in doing so, is the only player from the losing team to win the award. He also won the scoring title in 1970 (the first year it was awarded on PPG average and not total points). He averaged at least 20 PPG in every season after his rookie year, and led the Lakers to nine NBA Finals and the elusive brass ring in 1972.
C: George Mikan: People today tend to forget Mikan, but in his era, he was the player of the NBA. His star was so big, Madison Square Garden famously put up "Geo Mikan vs Knicks" before one game there. Mikan was the Bill Russell of his day; he won an NBL title with the Chicago Gears, then after joining the Lakers, led them to an NBL title, and after they moved to the BAA/NBA, they won five titles in six years. Mikan won three scoring titles, and was the first player for whom the rules were changed to counter him (they widened the foul lane). That personifies dominance.
SF: James Worthy: Worthy was the spark plug for the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s. His swoops to the rack fired up the Forum crowds and his team, and Worthy always saved his very best for when it mattered the most; the playoffs. Drafted #1 overall in 1982, fresh off an NCAA crown, Worthy missed all of the 1983 playoffs with an injury. The next year, he bursted on the scene, and his zentih occured in 1988, when he won Finals MVP (he also got his only career triple-double in game 7 of that series, with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists). For his career, he averaged 17.6 PPG and 5.1 RPG.
PF: Shaquille O'Neal: For all he has done recently to look foolish, O'Neal did have a great run with Kobe and the Lakers early in this decade. After coming from Orlando as a free agent in 1996, Shaq won his first (and only) league MVP in 2000 after Phil Jackson took over. Shaq also won the scoring title that year (going with one won in Orlando). Shaq was the unstoppable force (unless he took free throws) of those Lakers as they won three straight titles from 2000-02.
Coaches:
Head Coach: Pat Riley: Riles may have sullied his rep a bit in Miami, but as the coach of the Showtime Lakers, Riley was dominant. He won no fewer than 54 games in every full season with the team, won four titles and made eight Finals during his run. He also won COY in his final season there in 1989-90.
Assistants: John Kundla, Phil Jackson: Jackson is pretty obvious; three titles with the Lakers, five Finals berths, and nine overall titles. But Kundla was a great coach with Minneapolis, winning five titles in six years. He also is in the HOF (though it took him nearly 40 years after retiring in 1959 to get there).
Honorable Mentions:
PG Slater Martin: He did win five titles with the Minneapolis team, but wasn't a key figure despite his HOF selection.
PF Vern Mikkelsen: Another HOFer, and a true PF, but which of the C's can you leave out here?
any Lakers from the 1990s except Shaq and Kobe: They didn't win consistently enough to get here.
There are the Lakers. Tomorrow, I'll unveil their archrivals, the Celtics.
I said in a recent blog that this period of the sports year is the most wretched time of the year. A time when golf, tennis, and soccer try (and fail) to get noticed. A time when we wish football was a year-round sport. A time to catch up on sleep. Well, as the month lurches to the end, it's still boring. So, I will write some random thoughts down in this post, just to shake off some rust (I haven't written since posting my humor contest entry) and to have something to wirte about. Here goes nothing:
The Euro Cup Final is on ABC. Thank goodness. I hope it ends in a penalty kick finish, so ESPN/ABC can see why this sports absolutely ####s!
Speaking of which, isn't there an ESPN 2099 this #### can go on?
Michelle Wie failed yet again at the LPGA's U.S. Open. The novelty was gone years ago; she either isn't that good, or needs a major overhaul (step one: lose the parents!).
The U.S. Open preempted my favorite ESPN shows yesterday. Then, on SportsCenter, they condense it to two minutes. Why not do that for the coverage? Just as effective, less time devoted.
Wimbledon has begun, and everybody but Roger is falling fast. In the U.S., it must be rating as high as a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie marathon.
Or a All-Night Poker marathon.
The NBA draft passed. O.J. Mayo went from purgatory (Minnesota) to, well, more purgatory (Memphis). Kevin Love now gets to play for his best buddy McHale. And Joe Dumars makes me scratch my head (seriously, he has more misses than hits in the draft, and don't give me Maxiell and Prince).
I can't wait for football season. I'm already on two FOX bloggers fantasy leagues, and I renewed Lions tickets (It looks stupid, but I want to be there when the "Fire Millen" chants are renewed about two minutes into the opener!). Prediction for the Lions: Pain (for their fans).
Speaking of which, here's some Lions critiques: How can you say you'll run more when your line stinks, and the RB is a work in progress?
Shaq vs Kobe is renewed. I've created some nicknames for Nique's contest, and here are a few more: The Big IHOP, the Big Ribeye, the Big Kwame Kilpatrick (Detroit's mayor; both have foot-in-mouth disease), The Big Titanic and The Big Real Burger King!
Whew! That was some work. As a side note, starting on Monday, in a continuing effort to avoid boredom, I'll begin a series of NBA-related lists. These lists will feature 29 of the 30 NBA teams (except Charlotte; too new) and will list their best players (according to me). Think of it as their Dream Teams (not a given year's team, but the best all-time). So, watch for that. Until then, may Shaq enjoy his lastest new name: The Big Dodo!
I am David Downs, and I'm a sports nut who loves basketball and football and am open to good discussion about any sports subject. I am a Detroit sports fan, but I not a homer. Expect frequent vents on subjects that irritate me, and also expect the utmost respect for anybody's opinion, even if they disagree with me. Because, after all, that's what these blogs are all about, aren't they?
