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.

[JoeSchem]

Personally, I think the whole idea of worshiping idols in the Temple of Professional Sports is a bit overrated.

[Mr. Mojo]

And the team Larry had was nowhere near as talented as the Lakers.

Let's take a look:

Point guard: Magic Johnson vs. Dennis Johnson -- Magic is obviously better, but DJ is a borderline Hall of Famer and much better defensively.

Shooting guard: Byron Scott vs. Danny Ainge -- Slight edge to Ainge, although I can see calling it even.

Small forward: James Worthy vs. Larry Bird -- both Hall of Famers, but Bird is one of the top 5 to ever play the game, so he gets the edge.

Power forward: Kurt Rambis vs. Kevin McHale -- McHale by a mile.

Center: K.A. Jabbar vs. Robert Parish -- Two Hall of Famers. Kareem has the obvious edge when both careers are compared as a whole, but Parish's biggest battles with him came during the downside of the former's career, so it's about even in that regard.

6th man: Michael Cooper vs. Bill Walton -- Considering that Big Red was barely functioning (by his high standards) by that point in his career, I'd call this matchup even.

All in all, I'd call the Lakers vs. Celtics matchups in the 1980's fairly even.

[SendShaqtoIraq]

"If they were playing by 1955 rules, and dunking was discouraged, and traveling was forbidden, Michael Jordan would have been a mediocre player."

Thank you.

[cubreporter]

Hmmm, didn't know that. Well, great bb player anyway. :)

[Utah Binger]

I'm with you sir! However when I watch the b-games lately I get a feeling of nostalgia for those days when Jerry West and Robertson were going head to head. Lately I feel that American white kids have given up on the game. Seems the foreign players from South America and Russia still have the passion while the American kids have quit trying. Or is it they are all too fat and lazy? No passion for the greatest game! (next to baseball)

[MizzouTigerRepublican]

Why hasn't anyone mentioned this? I called into my local sports talk station and they acted like they didn't want to touch this subject with a 10 foot pole. I hope someone can get this out there. I have e-mailed everyone I know about this and also sent e-mails to Rush, Drudge, O'Reilly, Boortz and Hannity hoping that they find a way to mention it on their shows.

[cwb]

"Why hasn't anyone mentioned this?"

I don't know. I haven't even seen it played again on ESPN (anyone else?). I have a feeling that since Spike has been saying this exact same thing since at least 1991, people are just going to blow it off. I want to see if ESPN even runs the commercial in its entirety.

[NonValueAdded]

Anyone who watched the Boston Celtics during the Bird era knows Spike Lee is a bigger Clymer than Clymer. His impact on the game was undeniable.

[NonValueAdded]

Thomas and Rodman knocking Bird? If that isn't the pot ... oh, never mind.

[BlackRazor]

I think a letter/e-mail to ESPN is appropriate asking them what the difference is between Spike's comments and Rush's other than the race of the accuser and the accused.

I don't think there's any comparison here, unless Spike Lee is an employee of ESPN. One of the goals of a journalist is to try and get provocative responses from the interview subject. Apparently, they got that from Spike Lee in this interview. I don't have a problem with that, nor do I expect ESPN to necessarily challenge Lee on it. Leave it to the viewer to draw their own reaction to the comments. That's the fair, even-handed way to handle it, IMO. My only bone to pick with ESPN is why they're giving Spike Lee a platform at all. He's not an athlete, coach, or owner. He's just a famous fan, right? So who cares what he thinks.

[Cooter]

"I think he's God disguised as Michael Jordan."
-- Larry Bird, after Jordan's 63-point playoff game in Boston (Chicago Tribune, April 21, 1986)

[wordsofearnest]

Larry Bird was a basketball player, not an atha-lete.

[r9etb]

A point guard playing center in an NBA championship series?

A 6'9" point guard -- which is pretty incredible in its own right, when you get right down to it. Magic Johnson was/is an incredidibly gifted athlete.

Physically, Larry Bird was a very good athlete, but his real gift was that he had an uncanny eye for what was going on in the game. He knew his team mates, he could see how the play was shaping up, he knew how to be at the right spot at the right time, and (most important of all) he knew whether to be the shooter or the passer.

My favorite Larry Bird highlight reel included a string of him making about 20 blind or otherwise incredible passes....

[wayoverontheright]

I don't think there's any comparison here, unless Spike Lee is an employee of ESPN. One of the goals of a journalist is to try and get provocative responses from the interview subject. Apparently, they got that from Spike Lee in this interview. I don't have a problem with that, nor do I expect ESPN to necessarily challenge Lee on it.

I agree.

We must note a another distinction here, however, and that is that Rush said that THE MEDIA overrated McNabb because they so wanted a black quarterback to be successful. Even if he had said that HE felt McNabb overrated it would be no more RACIST than Spike's comment.

Those who are saying Spike Lee's opinion is RACIST are opening the door to painting Rush with the same brush.

[wordsofearnest]

Have you ever watch him coach?

[FlyVet]

Who, Bird? A few times. He pretty much admitted that he wasn't good at it, and relied on his assistants a lot. Johnson wasn't good at it, he didn't have the patience, and didn't want to do it anyway. Superstars don't make good coaches very often, but some are good managers, like Thomas, Dumars, Westphal, Dave Bing.

[Skooz]

Personally, I think Magic was over-rated ....

My goodness! I think Magic may be the best player to ever strap on a pair of basketball shoes. The man was phenomenal (as was Bird, btw).

[wordsofearnest]

No, Thomas. He really managed the CBA, didn't he?

[FlyVet]

I think he did, since you mentioned it. Manager though, not coach. Hmmm...another old Piston, Laimbeer, coached the WNBA championship team. Maybe he'll try to make the next step.

[Skooz]

Magic had more triple doubles than any player in history, by far, and played all 5 positions during a game in the finals.

If I were starting a team and had all the players in NBA history to choose from, I would choose Magic #1. I wouldn't even hesitate. A 6'9" point guard who can always find the open man, play superb defense, raise the level of everyone around him, is a coach on the court and can also shoot and drive to the basket? Are you kidding me?