In Honor of Michael Jordan

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Over at By the Horns, my good friend and colleague Matt McHale is celebrating Michael Jordan’s induction into the Hall of Fame. He’s compiling a list of links to all the posts where people are celebrating the achievements of the player many consider to be the greatest of all time.

Well, Mr. McHale, let this video serve as my dedication:

I love that highlight. Any excuse to post it is a good one.

Although I have all the respect in the world for Jordan’s game, I don’t actually like to refer to him as the greatest player of all time. I think it makes sense to discuss the greatest wing of all time, or the greatest big man. But at a certain point you’re talking about players with dramatically different skill sets, the similarity of whose roles on the floor are limited to their both being “first options.” When we’re comparing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan, I’m not exactly positive what we are trying to compare.

The only player that, in my mind, overcomes that divide is Magic Johnson, who in his day could have played four positions on the floor and still been one of the best in the league at that spot. His versatility makes it possible to compare him to the three broader roles that a player assumes (point, wing, big). But I still don’t think that makes him the greatest of all time.

  • http://www.goodtimescomic.blogspot.com Jordan

    D-Rob was the reason I began liking the Spurs back in 1998. It was the summer before they won their first championship. What compelled me about him was how gracious he was and how professional. I still appreciate that. A guy who can work his hardest and at the same time show that basketball is still a game.

    Watching highlights, seeing stats makes me wonder just how dominant would he be in today’s league with fewer great centers. 5 blocks a game is ridiculous though. Especially considering that’s twice what Howard averaged.

    I hope to meet him someday. He’s definitely someone I want to sit down and have a beer with.

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  • http://www.bullsbythehorns.com Matt McHale

    Awesome. Hey, I loved the hell out of D-Rob too…so it’s a fitting tribute.

  • http://atxsports.net Andrew A McNeill

    @Jordan

    I’m not sure if David will drink a beer with you. Maybe a soda or something.

  • Daniel B.

    Back in the early 90’s, I was just one of those folks who followed the herd on basketball, and so I liked Jordan and the Bulls. Not because I knew anything about them, but because they were “the” ones to like. And then I watched a game in which Robinson and the Spurs absolutely dominated Jordan and his Bulls. Which didn’t make me a fan of Robinson right off, since, after all, he did just crush “my” team. But then I started reading about him, his background, his commitment, his character, his faith in Jesus. And I started paying attention to how well he played ball. And that’s when I became a Spurs fan. No more marginal fandom, either-more of the raving lunatic variety, with my room bedecked in Robinson posters, clothing bearing Spurs emblems, and all my spare cash going toward picking up Robinson cards (alas, all 110 of them are now worth a lot less than they apparently were when I forked over the hard-earned grass-cutting cash). Been a Spurs fan ever since.

  • Latin_D

    When we (when I) say that MJ is the GOAT, we’re comparing gut feelings. How did you feel when that player was in his prime? How unstoppable did he seem? How much did he inspire you? I watched him play as a kid and I just _knew_ he couldn’t lose - even though he’d lost before. It was an odd but great feeling, and one I haven’t felt again in basketball.

    Then again, I didn’t watch Bird play, and I only caught the end of Magic’s career. Sometime when I read Bill Simmons wax poetic about Bird, he seems to describe what I felt watching MJ. But since it’s a subjective title, I’ll pick MJ and don’t worry about the rest too much. In the end it’s meaningless.

  • Bentley

    If he isn’t the greatest, Michael Jordan sure is up there somewhere at the top, and I can say the same thing about David Robinson, who not only was on of the best players this game has seen, but probably had the best character as well.

    Plus I never realized how quick he was, I don’t even think Dwight Howard can move that fast right now. 2.3 steals for a 7’1″….wow

  • Bentley

    If he isn’t the greatest, Michael Jordan sure is up there somewhere at the top, and I can say the same thing about David Robinson, who not only was on of the best players this game has seen, but probably had the best character as well.

    Plus I never realized how quick he was, I don’t even think Dwight Howard can move that fast right now. 2.3 steals for a 7’1″….wow

  • g

    When I was growin up and I played basketball with friends, I didn’t understand why what I did was a foul and what they did wasn’t - it was the same thing. I pretty much just got frustrated and didn’t want to play because it didn’t make any sense to me. So before seeing David Robinson play, I wasn’t that interested in the sport. But he was so good. Here was this 7 footer who was so athletic and fast and dominating (he scored, blocked shots, rebounded, assisted). The Admiral got me into basketball. I started watching it and listening to the commentators and learning and playing. Basketball sportswise became my first love and I got to be pretty good at it while having a lot of fun playing it. I would tape games and try to emulate the wing players (Jordan, Grant Hill, Joe Dumars, Isaiah Thomas) because I’m short but David Robinson was my favorite player. So neat that his character was even greater than his athleticism, and how his focus is and has been upon those around him and those coming after him. His basketball Hall of Fame speech was a testimony to the great person he is. David has very much been an inspiration to me. So cool to see him give honor and thanks and words of praise.