Dale Brown Reconsidering---May Run Against Byron Dorgan (U.S. Senate Seat from North Dakota)

Grand Forks Herald ^ | August 19, 2003 | Associated Press

[Coop]

If they ever called the game as the rules intended it to be played, O'Neal would have been cut after his rookie season.

Perfect center? Please.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"If they ever called the game as the rules intended it to be played, O'Neal would have been cut after his rookie season."

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I don't know how the rules "intended" basketball to be played, and believe that the NBA officials are better judges of that than you or I. Have you ever read about how George Mikan played basketball when his Minneapolis Lakers ruled the BAA (and later the NBA)? He would throw elbows until he got into a good low-post position and then would shoot a hook shot or bank shot. That's how the game was called back in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and Mikan took advantage to the best of his abilities.

Since the mid-1990s, the NBA has allowed a lot more physical play to take place, which for the most part has resulted in lower FG percentages and less scoring (check out the stats from the 1980s and see for yourself how much shooting and scoring has decreased). Shaq has been able to take advantage of his unique physical skills (in the history of basketball, the only other player who has had as much agility, footwork and hand-eye coordination while being over 7 feet tall and over 300 pounds was Wilt Chamberlain) to be in the top 3 or 5 in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage year in and year out for over a decade. As Dean Smith famously said, "tell me what the rules are and I'll play by them"; Shaq has taken what they have given him and put up Ws for his team. You can't ask for more from a player.

[dfwgator]

Sadly I think Shaq's days in the NBA are numbered. He has taken so much punishment that the injuries are really beginning to take their toll. I give him maybe 2 or 3 more years at the most before he is forced to retire.

[Coop]

You can't ask for more from a player.

Sure I can. But since this is a ND political thread, let's just agree to disagree, okay? :-)

[Coop]

I give him maybe 2 or 3 more years at the most before he is forced to retire.

Now stop teasing right now!

[Last Dakotan]

I don't know what you are talking about.
?

[fieldmarshaldj]

ND Senate race *ping*

My concern in this race all along is Coach Brown's age and health. I feel somewhat hypocritical railing against Arloon Specter on those grounds while touting Coach Brown. This really ought to be Ed Schafer's race, and shame on him for not rising to answer his party's call and run. We haven't won a federal office in ND since 1980, and that is a disgrace.

[Impy]

I think Tom Osborne could have beat Ben Nelson in 2000 if he had run for the Senate and not the House.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"I think Tom Osborne could have beat Ben Nelson in 2000 if he had run for the Senate and not the House."

Absolutely. This was one of the dumber moves, as we could've easily held that House seat with another candidate. Though Nelson is one of the better 'Rats, a Senator Osborne would've kept the GOP in control of the Senate.

[votelife]

I think Osborne can STILL beat Nelson in 2006!