When a player's career ends, the first question that comes to my mind is: "Is he a Hall of Famer?" Is he one of the best players to ever play the game? With the retirement of two recent NBA players, that question came to my mind.
The most recent one is Tracy McGrady, who announced his retirement after a solid 16 year career playing with seven pro teams. After winning the Most Improved Player award in 2000, he went on a torrid seven year run when he made the All-Star team every year (career 17ppg avg.) and won two scoring titles. His scoring averages during that run were 26.8, 25.6, 32.1, 28, 25.7, 24.4, 24.6 and 21.6. My best memory of him was him throwing a alley-oop dunk to himself from half court in one of those All-Star games in live action. As of today, he winds up 57th in points scored (18,381), which is more than current HOF's Julius Erving, Chris Mullin and Magic Johnson.
A year before T-Mac was the Answer. Allen Iverson, a #1 pick overall, was a success at every level. In high school, he led both his football and basketball teams to state titles while earning AP High School player of the Year in both sports. At Georgetown, he averaged more than 22ppg for his career and was a first team All-American. Until Otto Porter, he was the only player to leave Georgetown early (after two years).
In the NBA, the beat kept going on like the Whispers. I'll let his career do the talking: Rookie of the Year, league MVP (2001), eleven time All-Star including winning the game MVP Award twice and four time league scoring champ. His 24,368 points ranks him in the top 20 players lifetime and his 26.6 career scoring average ranks him at #6 lifetime. What I will remember about him was how he went to the rack on everybody while just weighing 160 pounds and standing just six feet. He did play like this was the game that he would die for. And he wasn't talkin about practice.
My concern is how he will be looked at for more than his on the court performance. I personally feel that AI was the first player that brought the word swag into vogue in the league. This was a guy who was totally anti-establishment and defiantly came from the Frank Sinatra school of attitude. Having said that, I considered him, pound-for-pound, one of the top players that I have seen in my lifetime.
So, Hall-of-Famers? Holla @cha boy.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
Transitions
Today's blog is about the kids. I am old enough to see the offspring of my friends who I grew up and went to college with. Seeing their sons and daughters reminds me of the The Jackson's song, "Time Waits for No One." In talking with the parents, they talked about how some of them are into sports. Pop Warner football here, junior varsity football there and summer league basketball as well. I just want to give these kids some advice regarding participating:
Participate.
As the rap song goes, "...get into it...get involved." I am from the corny school which says that participation in sports builds character and promotes teamwork. While I got into sports initially because that was the thing to do in my neighborhood while growing up, I didn't really appreciate it's value until I got to high school.
Here I was, a kid from the hood who got a break to go to one of the top private schools in the city and I wouldn't know anybody when I got there...if not for football. Again, because it was the thing to do in my hood, I tried out for the varsity football team (no, I didn't get there on a athletic scholarship). While the great story would have been to say that I made the team as as walk-on sophomore, I didn't. But what I did gain was much more important to me at the time as I later found out. While the "hood" thing may have been working for me in the background, I also gained a measure of respect, or at least some un-official credits with the upper classmen when I started classes that fall. That did help in my transition for a guy that didn't interact at all with other races until I got there.
Just understand that the impact of athletics goes much farther that what happens on the field. At the least, you can build camaraderie. You may even be able to pay for your education. I know that would be great for some parents I know.
Participate.
As the rap song goes, "...get into it...get involved." I am from the corny school which says that participation in sports builds character and promotes teamwork. While I got into sports initially because that was the thing to do in my neighborhood while growing up, I didn't really appreciate it's value until I got to high school.
Here I was, a kid from the hood who got a break to go to one of the top private schools in the city and I wouldn't know anybody when I got there...if not for football. Again, because it was the thing to do in my hood, I tried out for the varsity football team (no, I didn't get there on a athletic scholarship). While the great story would have been to say that I made the team as as walk-on sophomore, I didn't. But what I did gain was much more important to me at the time as I later found out. While the "hood" thing may have been working for me in the background, I also gained a measure of respect, or at least some un-official credits with the upper classmen when I started classes that fall. That did help in my transition for a guy that didn't interact at all with other races until I got there.
Just understand that the impact of athletics goes much farther that what happens on the field. At the least, you can build camaraderie. You may even be able to pay for your education. I know that would be great for some parents I know.
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