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| one thing I love about going to a Christian school is how no one craps on the toilet seat and leaves it because they think it's funny.
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| i've decided to separate symbiote self from the original. I've decided to separate my sports stuff, from everything else. so while this xanga stays personal, the blog will be all business.
you can find me at...
http://hibachi-gs.blogspot.com/
sizzle sizzle.
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| 2/28/08
"love is what overcomes all things... I'm trying to digest all of the things i'm learning here at this conference, but i can't seem to focus on anything besides the stain on this guy's shirt and the half-crumbled up paper by the waste basket. My mind and my heart aren't synchronized. I'm surrounded by a myriad of spiritual innovators and scholars, yet meeting this one gentle woman is swiftly becoming the highlight of my intellectual espionage.
We shook hands. "Phoebe" she said. I chuckled at the stupid reference to "Friends" I intended to joke at. I refrained thankfully. She told me of her church, her husband, and her family. I was impressed at her ability to keep something nuclear so cohesive. I replied with a cynical anecdote about divorce. She was unfazed. She smiled to herself as if she didn't know how to contain herself, looked away for just a second... and told me something so simple perplex i'd never forget. "love is what overcomes all things." love? i understand but love isn't really tangible. my whole life i've been practical. I try my hardest to give proper advice at... "what people need isn't answers, brother..." she interrupted. "love isn't rational... it's irrational actually. But genuine love is at the core of any and every human being. Love miraculously, irrationally overcomes all things." dizang. love? i've been trying to out intellectualize mankind's irrational need for love. I guess that heart is pretty important huh? i wrote it down. now i just have to practice it."
p.s. the entry apparently has a double meaning. Kevin Love and the rest of the crew overcomes all things!
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| In honor of my favorite nba.com column, I decided to follow in Maurice Brooks' footsteps and write a "Race to the..." article of my own. Inspired by a rigorous argument i had with a friend that Shaq changed the game more than Bill Russell (that i conceded) which led to who would be the top 10 ballers EVER. There were so many factors other than stats that had come into play, that i couldn't wrap my mind around it without putting a pen to it. It seemed like an interesting journey that we could go on together.
Now i realize that i haven't lived to see all these players play, but from research and old school videos, i've concocted a list. A list of the 10 best of the best. and there were a lot of factors in determining this.
Factors in determining Best baller ever. (not in order of importance)
- Stats, Rings, Wins, Clutch, Awards, Dominance, Game Changing, Revolutionary/Transcends Time, Importance to the team, Does more with less. and then some.
10. Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Philidelphia 76ers
Stats - fg%: .506 ft%: .777 ppg: 24.2 reb: 8.5 ast: 4.2 stl: 2.0 blk: 1.7 to: 3.4
Resume - NBA champion (1983); NBA MVP (1981); All-NBA First Team (1978, '80,
'81, '82, '83); All-NBA Second Team (1977, '84); 11-time All-Star
(1977-87); All-Star MVP (1977, '83); J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship
Award (1983); One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996).
ABA Honors: ABA champion (1974, '76); ABA MVP (1974, '76);
co-MVP (1975); All-Star First Team (1973, '74, '75, '76); All-Star
Second Team (1972).
Current NBA Equivalent: Old Vince Carter
Dr. J made the dunk. He revolutionized showmanship with 360's, free throw line dunks, windmeels, statue of liberty... gosh. he's ownage. He's the fifth leading scorer in history. He was an mvp, a champion, but what he's known for most was being a great ambassador of the game. "As a basketball player, Julius was the first to truly take the torch and become the spokesman for the NBA," said friend and former coach Billy Cunningham. "He understood what his role was and how important it was for him to conduct himself as a representative of the league. Julius was the first player I ever remember who transcended sports and was known by one name -- Doctor."
9. Shaquille O'Neal, LA Lakers
Stats - fg%: .580 ft%: .524 ppg: 25.9 reb: 11.5 ast: 2.7 stl: 0.6 blk: 2.5 to: 2.9
Resume - Four-time NBA Champion ('00, '01, '02, '06) Eight-time All-NBA First Team ('98, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06), Two-time All-NBA Second Team ('95, '99), Three-time All-NBA Third Team ('94, '96, '97), 13-time NBA All-Star, NBA MVP (2000), NBA Finals MVP (2000, '01 and '02), Two-time All-Star Game MVP (2004, co-MVP in '00), Three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team member (2000, '01 and '03), NBA Rookie of the Year (1993)
Current NBA Equivalent: Dwight Howard
The Big Fella. Shaq Fu. The Big Aristotle. The Diesel. Big Daddy. Wilt Chamberneezy. The Big Baryshnikov. The Real Deal. Doctor Shaq. The Most Dominant. Superman. This guy made people look like rag dolls. He was a 350 pound 7'2 monster who was agile, mobile, hostile. His post moves involved some sort of shake, pound, spin along with DUNK. He tore down the rim and shattered the glass before. He is arguably the greatest center of all time. His combination of strength, speed, and mobility is unmatched. In his prime, he would make David Robinson look like a child. He freakin tore down baskets http://youtube.com/watch?v=y5jMOK87N7A&feature=related. He has a career .697 win percentage. His popularity monumental. He knew how to give the people what they want. He puts on a show whenever there was a mic or a ball around. He's winding down, but if he wins another championship, he's gotta move up on this list.
8. Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers
Stats - fg%: .453 ft%: .838 ppg: 24.8 reb: 5.3 ast: 4.6 stl: 1.5 blk: 0.6 to: 2.9
Resume - Three-time NBA Champion ('00, '01, '02), Five-time All-NBA First Team ('02, '03, '04, '06, '07), Two-time All-NBA Second Team ('00, '01), Two-time All-NBA Third Team ('99, '05), Ten-time All-Star ('98, '00-'08), Five-time All-Defensive First Team ('00, '03-'07), Two-time All-Defensive Second Team ('01, '02)
Current NBA Equivalent: Kobe Bryant.
This was the hardest person to place. Here's a guy who scored 81 points in a game. He scored 50 points in 4 consecutive games. you know what I'm gonna say it. really. I'm gonna say it. He is the most complete player to ever play the game. He is a dunker, fast breaker, championship taker. He can shoot, fadeaway, hang, switch hands, cross you up. He can shoot the three from 25 feet, 30 feet, 35 feet. He can shut down anyone, block shots, steal balls, hustle. He can and will do anything possible on the floor to win. Is he the greatest player ever? no. Will he be? There's a very very good chance. The way I did this isn't what his career would look like at the end, but what his career looks like now. And if his career ended right now, he wouldn't crack the top 5 of greatest players. But with every individual award he recieves he'll be bumped one spot, and for every championship he wins, he'll be bumped up 2 spots. The committee is indeed ready for the Black Mamba to make his mark in history.
7. Oscar Robertson, Cinncinati Royals
Stats - fg%: .485 ft: .838 ppg: 21.9 reb: 6.4 ast: 8.1 stl: 1.1 blk: 0.1
Resume - NBA champion (1971); NBA MVP (1964); Nine-time All-NBA First Team
(1961-69); All-NBA Second Team (1970, '71); Rookie of Year (1961);
12-time All-Star (1961-72); All-Star MVP (1961, '64, '69); Olympic gold medalist ('60).
Current NBA Equivalent: LeBron James
This guy was considered one of the baddest motha lovas in the whole damn town. "He is so great-he scares me," Celtics Coach Red Auerbach once said. The Big O was a fantasy lovers dream. He averaged a triple double in a season and was mere decimals from averaging 4 more. This wasn't no Jason Kidd triple double at 10-10-10. It was a 30-12-11 monster. He took the league by storm from his rookie season and dominated statistically... propelling him to stardom. The only reason he didn't win more MVP awards was because of Wilt's gaudy scoring numbers, and He... like wilt... fell victim to the rampaging Celtics of the 60's which lost him more rings. This guy was as tough as nails, and played bigger and badder than his size. And... he was already a big and bad dude. He redefined what it meant to be a guard in the NBA and is still the measuring stick to players who even begin to think about being called "versatile".
6. Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
Stats - fg%: .496 ft%: .886 ppg: 24.3 reb: 10 ast: 6.3 stl: 1.73 blk: .84 to: 3.14
Resume - NBA champion (1981, '84, '86); NBA Finals MVP (1984, '86); NBA MVP
(1984, '85, '86); Nine-time All-NBA First Team (1980-88); All-NBA
Second Team (1990); All-Defensive Second Team (1982, '83, '84); NBA
Rookie of the Year (1980); Olympic gold medalist (1992).
Current NBA Equivalent: Tracy McGrady
Larry Legend personified what it mean to have the will to win. He wasn't exactly
the most physically imposing player. He didn't have the hops or twitch
fibers in his calves but what he lacked in physical capacity he made up
for in hustle, heart, and work ethic. He was a dead-eye shooter that
practiced his jump shot so much that no matter how contorted his body
was, his arms and shoulders were always square. His jump shot was the
definition of consistent and is widely considered one of the greatest
shooters EVER. But he didn't stop at just shooting... he
rebounded, passed, dove for the ball, defended, and best of all...
delivered in the waning seconds of the game. If it wasn't for his pesky buddy Magic... you can fill in the blank.
5. Bill Russell, Boston Celtics
Stats - fg%: .440 ft%: .561 ppg: 15.1 reb: 22.5 ast: 4.4
Resume - Eleven-time NBA
champion (1957, '59, '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '68, '69); NBA
MVP (1958, '61, '62, '63, '65); Three-time All-NBA First Team (1959, '63, '65);
Seven-time All-NBA Second Team (1958, '60, '61, '62, '64, '66, '67, '68); NBA
All-Defensive Team (1969); 12-time NBA All-Star (1958-69); All-Star
Game MVP (1963);
Olympic gold medalist (1956).
Current NBA Equivalent: Marcus Camby
He won 11 championships. ELEVEN. He has more rings than fingers. He won 8 championships in a row. He dominated the game with his amazing defense. He was a natural shot blocker and his desire to grab every board was better than Rodman. It isn't his fault that he was surrounded by 6 hall of famers and the greatest coach of all time, but I can't rate this monster higher because he wasn't considered the best player even in his own time. He won 5 NBA MVP's but didn't crack the All-NBA First Team 3 out of those 5 years. It's the old adage of awarding the best team's best player the award. Which doesn't make him THE best. But it's hard to drop a guy who won 11 championships below this. It's still ELEVEN. I'll be the first to say it, that will never be done again.
4. Wilt Chamberlin, Philidelphia Warriors
Stats - fg%: .540 ft%: .511 ppg: 30.1 reb: 22.9 ast: 4.4
Resume - Two-time NBA champion (1967, '72); NBA Finals MVP (1972); NBA MVP (1960, '66,
'67, '68); All-NBA First Team (1960, '61, '62, '64, '66, '67, '68);
Second Team ('63, '65, '72); All-Defensive First Team (1972, '73);
Rookie of Year (1960);
Current NBA Equivalent: Kevin Garnett
Wilt
"the stilt" Chamberlin carries some of the most ridiculous stat lines
in history. He scored 100 points in a single game! He averaged 50 ppg
and 25 rebs in one season! He's the only player ever to score 4,000
points in a season (Kobe's highest is 2800)! He had a double triple
double 22-25-21! He has the rebounding record of 55 in a game! And
this is all of course double and triple teamed. He averaged 37-27 his
rookie season! They had to change RULES because of his dominance.
But, the offensive juggernaut's only knock is that he didn't translate
his magnificent offense into championships. He ran into a Boston
Celtics team that left his resume empty and his legacy in question.
3. Earvin "Magic" Johnson, LA Lakers
Stats - fg%: .520 ft%: .848 ppg: 19.5 reb: 7.2 ast: 11.2 stl: 1.9 blk: 0.4 to: 3.9
Resume - Five-time NBA champion (1980, '82, '85, '87, '88); NBA Finals MVP (1980, '82,
'87); NBA MVP (1987, '89, '90); Nine-time All-NBA First Team (1983-91);
All-NBA Second Team (1982); 12-time All-Star; All-Star MVP (1990, '92);
J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (1992); Olympic gold medalist
(1992);
Current NBA Equivalent: Chris Paul
Is there any player in the history of the game to have more fun than this man? Arguably one of the most versatile players ever, could play 5 positions (as proven in the 1980 NBA finals where he played center for Kareem... as a rookie) but in his position of choice... he was the greatest ball distributor in the history of the game. He single handedly created an era, better known as "showtime", with his slick no look passes and his million dollar smile that donned every single ad on the planet. He might have been the greatest player of all time if the HIV virus had not cut his career short. It was the day that the world mourned. Magic Johnson would retire from basketball early. He'll just have to settle for being the best point guard of all time and number 3 on this list.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LA Lakers
Stats - fg%: .559 ft: .721 ppg: 24.1 reb: 10.9 ast: 3.5 stl: 1.0 blk: 2.6 to: 2.9
Resume - Six-time NBA champion (1971, '80, '82, '85, '87, '88); NBA MVP (1971, '72, '74,
'76, '77, '80); Ten-time All-NBA First Team (1971, '72, '73, '74, '76, '77, '80,
'81, '84, '86); All-NBA Second Team (1970, '78, '79, '83, '85);
All-Defensive First Team (1974, '75, '79, '80, '81); All-Defensive
Second Team (1970, '71, '76, '77, '78, '84); Rookie of the Year (1970);
19-time All-Star;
Current NBA Equivalent: Tim Duncan
Kareem
Kareem Kareem. No player has been more recognized than Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar. In his movie cameo's... oh and of course in the NBA. He scored more
points, blocked more shots, has won more mvp's, and went to more
all-star games than anyone in history. His sky hook was unguardable.
He was clutch. He was popular. He was GOOD. He was the best. He was
a champion. He played on both sides. Magic
Johnson said there's no one he'd want taking the last shot besides
number 33 with the bald head and the goggles. He is a scoring
machine. He might not have been the cog running "showtime", but he was
the number one option. Kareem played at such a high level for a
very long time. 19 times he was an all-star?? He was a beast to put it lightly. His numbers may not have been as gaudy was wilt, but players were getting bigger, faster, stronger and Kareem was at the top of the food chain. He would easily be number one, if it wasn't for the next guy. The icon at number one robs someone of a championship again...
1. Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
Stats - fg%: .497 ft%: .835 ppg: 30.1 reb: 6.2 ast: 5.1 stl: 2.35 blk: .83 to: 2.73
Resume -
Six-time NBA champion (1991-93, 1996-98); NBA MVP (1988, '91, '92, '96,
'98); Ten-time All-NBA First Team (1987-93, 1996-98); All-NBA Second
Team (1985); Defensive Player of the Year (1988); Nine-time
All-Defensive First Team (1988-93, 1996-98); Rookie of the Year (1985);
14-time All-Star; All-Star MVP (1988, '96, '98); Two-time Olympic gold medalist (1984,
'92).
Current NBA Equivalent: Kobe Bryant.
The most revolutionary basketball player of all time. His airness dominated the league in an era when stars roamed on just about every team. He's the reason why NBA greats such as Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, Gary Payton (till the jump on the miami bandwagon) don't have a championship ring to add to their own legacy.
Let alone the moments that left us holding our breath countless times; The shrugging of the shoulders against portland, the heroic preformance with the flu, the monster playoff game against the celtics his rookie year, the free throw line dunk, the amazing double clutch hand mid air hand switch lay up, and the oh so famous tongue that hung out as he shot clutch jumpers over and over and over again.
"There's Michael Jordan and then there is the rest of us." - Magic Johnson
Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.
But Kobe's tugging on your cape Superman.
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let's imax this sucka.
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