kjb wrote:What's the trend that you're seeing? Talented basketball players have failed since forever, haven't they?
It's all-too-easy for the NBA-types at the top of (today's) totem pole to look down on everybody else & call them Failures. The league today actively seeks to make stars of European-oriented players & younger Yao Mings, but shows scant interest in African-origin players despite the retired examples of Olajuwon & Mutombo.
Ron Artest's career may rebound to win a title or two as a Laker, but a principal reason he "failed" the night the Pacers were given a Win over the Pistons in a game that never reached the end of regulation was that Larry Bird, instead of running the team, was gallivanting around Europe "scouting" talent like Jasikevicius. That fiasco nearly ruined Artest's career; a good book might also be written about players like Artest who overcome great odds & persevere.
Rather, the game has gone Euro & will increasingly go Sino if scouts can find players there. The NBA has shown astonishingly shallow desire to import African players, who it would appear lack "the essentials" in a way Europeanized players do not. Seems rather odd in this modern day & age, doesn't it?
Ben Wallace throttled Artest & picked him up by the throat while the referees watched. Then the officials spent a cool several minutes not-deciding what to do, as the Palace fans increasingly howled for more blood. Then the fan-eruption happened & Ben Wallace's brother joined in the melee, punching Pacers at every opportunity.
Larry Bird, the face of the Pacers, was "in Europe scouting" (read sipping French champagne) rather than in Africa looking for the next Olajuwon or Oscar. He had plenty of egg on his face when he came back to Indiana w/ Jasikevicius in the bag.
Again, it was easy to rip Ron Artest as a "failure" for liking rap music but a courageous & inspiring sports-related book might instead examine his perseverance -- & note that Artest stands far more likely to win an NBA championship than Bird's team does in 2010.
kjb wrote:...
Kwame Brown "failed" in Washington, but has approx. $46 million in earnings with another $4.1 million on the way next season.
etc.
Many would love to "fail" so well.
Coach wrote: Luther Wright failed in basketball, but financially he is set for life.
Luther isn't really set for life. He is living with his family and does a volunteer radio show. He gets a small income from an annuity that was set up for him that is mid-five figures. He is just trying to keep his life together and enjoys the radio show (small few mile radius).
Coach wrote:Instead of 'trend' I should've used the word, 'epidemic' in my topic above. Larry Bird once said, 'I just don't understand it. These young, talented players come into the league and within 5 years they are gone'. ..
years Reb Pts
1950s 14 6
50s-60s 6 2
1960s 5 2
60s-70s 20 24
1970s 17 17
70s-80s 8 11
1980s 4 8
80s-90s 7 7
1990s 2 4
90s-00s 9 7
2000s 3 3
years Reb Pts
1950s 12 10
50s-60s 6 4
1960s 7 3
60s-70s 5 3
1970s 13 11
70s-80s 13 14
1980s 7 9
80s-90s 9 11
1990s 3 5
90s-00s 12 10
2000s 5 5
Ron Artest's career may rebound to win a title or two as a Laker, but a principal reason he "failed" the night the Pacers were given a Win over the Pistons in a game that never reached the end of regulation was that Larry Bird, instead of running the team, was gallivanting around Europe "scouting" talent like Jasikevicius.
Larry Bird, the face of the Pacers, was "in Europe scouting" (read sipping French champagne)...
Keith wrote:
... & note that Artest stands far more likely to win an NBA championship than Bird's team does in 2010.
...as a Pacer fan am bitter about Bird's whereabouts on the night in question. He showed his priorities...
... Head-Case Failures like Ron Artest, which I consider coded language for something more sinister.
Consider the case of Dennis Rodman. He was kept in line by Jax, Pippen, & Jordan. We saw Chicago's leaders clamp down on The Worm any number of times in the latter Nineties. Kurt Rambis couldn't achieve same in easygoing LA, Kobe was too young, & Shaq was too self-absorbed.
... amazingly, the league office gave Indiana the Win even tho the game never concluded, to divert attention from what should have been a forfeit or a tie...
Maybe going to Europe for scouting junkets is all about business, but I've travelled for commercial reasons a few times & have seen that, for some, the fancy cuisine & haute couture are compelling side-benefits.
Country boys like Bird are certainly not alone in falling into such a trap, but he should've known better w/ a team on the verge of a title.
Coach wrote:...any athlete will tell you you never run into the stands after a fan. ..
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