Players like Mahorn, Laimbeer, and Rodman were so good at getting into the opposing players' heads. Laimbeer got Larry Bird to go ballistic and get thrown out of a game once. Rodman made these gay-looking "I want you" eyes at an opposing player, and got him to react, got him thrown out of the game. They were nuts.
Laimbeer was a nice guy off the court, heavily involved in charities. But he was such a pr*ck on the court.
I remember once he said, "If you want to see a great player, look at Isaiah. If you want comic relief, look at me."
Believe it or not, he grew up here in L.A., white dude neighborhood of Pacific Palisades. Grew up to hate the Lakers as I watched a KTLA intermission one night years ago and they were interviewing him and Cooper from the 80’s Showtime Lakers.
The late, great coach Chuck Daly once said “Laimbeer never started a fight by physically hitting you. He just says something in the other guy’s ear and they are the ones who go nuts.” But I do miss those Rodman vs Pippen highlights.
Laimbeer was a dirty player. He deliberately would try to hurt guys. When someone would go up for a jump shot, he would stick his foot under the player so they would land awkwardly on his foot.
Laimbeer was a dirty player. He deliberately would try to hurt guys. When someone would go up for a jump shot, he would stick his foot under the player so they would land awkwardly on his foot.