Spike Lee: Larry Bird Most Overated Player in NBA History.

ESPN | 3/21/04 | CWB

[cwb]

I just caught a clip of this on ESPN and couldn't help but notice the similarities between what Spike Lee said and that of what Rush said. Not only did he say Bird was the most overated player, he said that the "white media" would make you think that there were no great players before Larry Bird. I could tell that McKindry was uncomfortable with the story and it's going to be interesting to see how other's respond. Maybe we can get a comment from Isiah Thomas and Dennis Rodman who said that if Bird was a black man, he'd be just another average B-ball player.

[cwb]

After doing a Google search, I did notice that this isn't really anything new for him. It appears that an SI writer took Spike to task (prior to 1991) for his racist remarks earlier...when he even then called Bird "overrated" and the Great White Hope who would save basketball for white Americans. Still, you'd think that with well over a decade gone by, Spike may have gained some perspective and maturity. Apparently not.

[jincarolina]

Larry Bird was my hero, I was in awe of him

[auboy]

Centers: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain
Power forwards: Karl Malone, Bob Pettit, Elvin Hayes
Small forwards: Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Elgin Baylor
Shooting guards: Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West
Point guards: Ervin Johnson, John Stockton, Bob Cousy

I'm with you!

[correctthought]

Hasn't he been shot with a Charter Arms .44 Bulldog yet?

[jincarolina]

Rush does know football, and he was right as usual.

[cubreporter]

he's not worth wasting our breath on. Simple as that.

[cubreporter]

he's not worth wasting our breath on. Simple as that.

[cubreporter]

Larry Bird. Great, great, great player and good character.

[HitmanLV]

It's all marketing. His 'act' plays with bombastic african american and latino youth. Just lob fireballs that you can't back up, act defiant, and to him, that translates to street cred.

Street cred is supposed to generate interest in his films. That interest is supposed to generate money.

It has failed. It's been downhill for Spike for almost a decade or more. If folks like that would just put more effort into making good movies on low budgets, they wouldn't need stunts like this.

[Caipirabob]

Isn't Spike Lee the guy named after that network that shows "Star Trek" all the time?

[q_an_a]

don't know if the thread started out to be about who is best, but Russell is and the answer is not only in his NBA championships, but in the unbeaten record at USF...it still stands.

Anyone that thinks Bird is over rated should go ask D. Wilkens and all of the Hawks. They played second fiddle to the Celtics because Bird learned to go right and shoot with his left hand. That shot won a championship and he worked all summer the previous year to perfect it.

[tcuoohjohn]

Rush know squat about football..He is a tout who reads others sports analysis. " he was the only one who picked The NE Patriots to win the Superbowl back at the beginning of the season"...Crap. I can think of a dozen sports columnists off the top of my head who made the same prediction along with several million Pats Fans. Wow...Rush picks the 2002 SB winner to win the 2004 SB. What a stretch!...Rush is the Sports Nostradamus!..Muwhahaaa.

Rush needs to stick to what he knows...Politics

Spike Lee needs to stick to what he knows..Filmmaking

[M-cubed]

A new plumbers first lesson:...(an Old saying)..Sh*t flows downhill ..and paydays on friday!

[Robert Drobot]

The only reason this racist has a headline is thanks to the marxist led editors of America's print and electronic media.

Pity the sheeple, for they know not the truth.

[international american]

He was amazing!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I think they could save everyone a lot of time if they just gave both teams 100 points with 30 seconds remaining on the clock"

I've always said that about Pro Basketball. Make it a 5 minute game. That's where all the strategy is anyway.

[alrea]

Spike lee is the most pitiful wanne be director in history and would not be doodoo on a stick if he didn't draw attention by constantly blaming racism for problems caused by lack of virtue.

[Robert Drobot]

Unlike Spike Jones, Spike Lee's contribution to the American fabric is soiled and of no value. He is a creation of the enemy within, and used to maintain racial distrust. He is, imho, a manipulating white man's boy.

[Paul Atreides]

What do you expect, from a living "Boondocks" character?

[stop_fascism]

I liked "She's gotta have it" and "Do the right thing" wasn't bad. Then he got a lot of flack for not being black enough, and started to make films to appeal to race haters.