Posted on 03/21/2004 9:34:19 AM PST by 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.
Okay, time for Spike to put up or shut up. Let's get him on the court with Mr. Bird for a little one-on-one.
In today's NBA, the number would be closer to 80 points.
Byrd was not the most graceful, or the most athletic, but he knew how to win games, which is something that today's players haven't a clue, unless it means them making a solo drive to the basket to be a hero....
its all about heroes today, not players....
The person who is "overated" is:
1) a great player who never brought the rest of the team along, i.e. the team is still a poor or mediocre performing bunch.
2) A good player who was surrounded by stars, enhancing the player from good to great.
3) A great player who does not perform when it really counts, i.e. in championship level play.
4) A great player who's level of play peaks for one, maybe two years, and then just becomes a mediocre player afterwards
These are the three terms usually used to define "overated". Let's examine all three vis-a-vis Larry Bird:
1) When Larry Bird joined the Celtics, the Celtics were at the bottom of their division, unlike when Magic Johnson joined the Lakers. The Celtics immediately became contenders when Bird joined the team, where there was no Kevin McHale, an Robert Parish was just another center.
2) See #1 above.
3) No need to answer for number 3. Bird was a key player in all of the Celtic's championships.
4) No need to answer this one, especially when you see the lifetime stats of Bird.
So either Lee is delusional, a racist, or both.
Everybody was wondering how they could have missed the first 9 Malcolm movies.
Of the names you mentioned, only one holds records that will never be broken. Wilt Chamberlain. A very good argument can be made that Wilt is the greatest player ever, even though I reject the whole idea of such ratings.
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