Michael Jordan is out legacy protecting again

[Rush]

Jordan had a recent interview with UDAToday's gamehunters about his role in NBA 2K11, and in typical Jordan fashion, looked somewhat insecure and legacy protecting in his quotes:How has the game changed from your playing days?It's less physical and the...

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By: Doug Thonus

 

[Lex L.]

Thonus is way off the mark on this one. People can pound Jordan all they want but he was asked a question and he answered it. Is he not supposed to be honest? Is he supposed to spare the Kobe fans' feelings? Get real. If thats how Jordan feels then theres nothing wrong with admitting it. False modesty is much worse than honesty.

And btw, has anyone ever noticed how much Jordan is criticized for not following a script that everyone else thinks he should be reading from? I guess thats what happens when everyone else is supposed to raise your kids and be PC.

 

[Kush77]

And btw, has anyone ever noticed how much Jordan is criticized for not following a script that everyone else thinks he should be reading from? I guess thats what happens when everyone else is supposed to raise your kids and be PC.

I disagree with DT on this too. I don't think MJ feels insecure lol. The man was just made the centerpiece of a basketball video game in 2010. That shows right there shows the man's legacy needs no "protecting."

As for sticking to the script, yep, kinda like how everyone got their panties in a bunch over the HOF speech. Give me break. Apparently everyone just wants MJ to keep telling the story of how he got cut from the varsity team and can back more determined than ever. Well, I've known, and heard, that story since I was 10 years old. I like to hear MJ speak more candidly like this.

But it's like you said Lex, he was asked a question. And he answered.

But there are people that just like to rip Jordan for any reason. Even if they have to really really reach.

MJ was an athlete that really couldn't be bashed during his playing days (like Kobe was and LeBron is now). You couldn't ever bash him for his play, because he was almost perfect. And once he started winning titles, he never lost, so you couldn't call him a choker or a loser. People who don't care for MJ really couldn't say much, because they would sound like a fool.

But now since we're pretty far removed from his playing days, people like to take their shots at MJ. It kinda started when he was playing with Washington. Since he's no longer the king of the game, people like to take their shots when they can because they couldn't do it in the 90s.

I think it's pretty silly myself. The overreaction to the HOF speech drove me nuts.

People seem to have a problem with MJ the person. And the fact that MJ has a loyal following (myself included). He has the following for good reason, he's the greatest basketball player of all-time and helped produced the greatest stretch of winning this city has ever seen.

 

[houheffna]

I don't believe that Jordan believes Kobe is just a top 10 guard, his downplaying Kobe's standing shows that he knows how good Kobe really is.

As far as PC goes, not being politically correct does not mean you have to be a jerk. Nothing he has done in his career excuses that type of behavior. And according to certain members of the media, nobody practiced "fake modesty" more than Jordan. Why do you think he was so incensed when "Jordan Rules" came out?

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

I don't believe that Jordan believes Kobe is just a top 10 guard, his downplaying Kobe's standing shows that he knows how good Kobe really is.

As far as PC goes, not being politically correct does not mean you have to be a jerk. Nothing he has done in his career excuses that type of behavior. And according to certain members of the media, nobody practiced "fake modesty" more than Jordan. Why do you think he was so incensed when "Jordan Rules" came out?

Jordan being a jerk is news to no one. But he's a lovable jerk, and we Bulls' fans should appreciate it because, without it, Jordan wouldn't've been as great as he was.

And as for Kobe being a top 10 guard... yes, that is a tad laughable. Not as laughable as picking up Adam Morrison and Kwame Brown (twice) but yeah. There are only 3 guards undisputedly better than Kobe Bryant: MJ, Magic, and Oscar Robertson.

 

[Kush77]

I don't believe that Jordan believes Kobe is just a top 10 guard, his downplaying Kobe's standing shows that he knows how good Kobe really is.

As far as PC goes, not being politically correct does not mean you have to be a jerk. Nothing he has done in his career excuses that type of behavior. And according to certain members of the media, nobody practiced "fake modesty" more than Jordan. Why do you think he was so incensed when "Jordan Rules" came out?

Jordan knows Kobe is more than a top 10 guard. Jordan probably just misspoke. People are blowing this WAAAAY out of proportion.

But how was MJ being a jerk Hou? Because he's giving his opinion?

 

[Kush77]

Jordan being a jerk is news to no one. But he's a lovable jerk, and we Bulls' fans should appreciate it because, without it, Jordan wouldn't've been as great as he was.

And as for Kobe being a top 10 guard... yes, that is a tad laughable. Not as laughable as picking up Adam Morrison and Kwame Brown (twice) but yeah. There are only 3 guards undisputedly better than Kobe Bryant: MJ, Magic, and Oscar Robertson.

Throw Jerry West in there, MJ has a love affair with Jerry West. He always mentions him as one of the greats. I personally think Kobe is the 2nd best player of all-time. He took over Larry Bird on my personal list. I think MJ was just speaking in general. It's not like he woke up thinking "let me get my all-time NBA list together in case a reporter asks me to rank Kobe."

But this whole MJ is a jerk thing...let's put this in perspective. Who he's being a jerk to? Is he turing away kids with cancer for autographs? No. He's pissing off media-types because they didn't approve of his HOF speech, and now they thinks he's out of bounds for saying he COULD - COULD, not would, COULD, score 100 in a game.

I posted the stats in another thread. When Wilt scored his 100 he took 63 shots. If MJ took 63 shots, or Kobe or LeBron, they could score 100 points. But I don't see a player doing what Wilt did. It's never said, but Wilt Chamberlain is one of the most selfish players of all time.

In the 1961-62 season (which is the year he scored 100 and avg. 50ppg), Wilt took 39.5 shots per game. And played 48.5 minutes per game. 48.5. There's only 48 minutes in an NBA game. This guy played every minute of every game and every OT, win lose or draw. 20 point lead, or deficit, in the 4th quarter. But you never hear that. Just like you never hear that Bill Russell's career shooting percentage is 44%. And he shot 41% in 1966.

 

[houheffna]

While this was not as blantant as in the past in the history of jerkdom...and yes, that HOF speech was absolutely torrid, but he sounded more like Pippen than Jordan. Many times in the past he has been asked a question and has given an answer that showed modesty and did not downplay another era or player. He thinks Kobe is better than Lebron, that is wrong but I knew why he said it. Does he believe right now Kobe is better than Lebron? If he does that explains drafting Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison...I don't believe he believes that, he was taking a shot at Lebron.

Maybe since that speech was made, and it was bad enough to make me want to light a random building on fire, I am on edge with what he says. He has always been boringly consistent with his political correctness. I was always used to Kobe's arrogance and his being a jerk, I thought that was one of the things that made Jordan superior to him...now? Not so much...being the GOAT doesn't exempt you from being scrutinized for acts of idiocy, or criticized for foolish statements. Muhammed Ali has caught hell in recent years too for his past indiscretions which have come to light. Being the greatest carries a lot of responsibility and a huge spotlight.

 

[houheffna]

Jordan being a jerk is news to no one. But he's a lovable jerk, and we Bulls' fans should appreciate it because, without it, Jordan wouldn't've been as great as he was.

And as for Kobe being a top 10 guard... yes, that is a tad laughable. Not as laughable as picking up Adam Morrison and Kwame Brown (twice) but yeah. There are only 3 guards undisputedly better than Kobe Bryant: MJ, Magic, and Oscar Robertson.

I am waaaay past the Jordan is lovable stage. His game was lovable, I don't think his attitude was very lovable. I also have a hard time believing that he had to be THAT much of a jerk to others just because it drove him to greatness on the court. I think that is a poor excuse for some of his actions.

 

[Lefty]

And btw, has anyone ever noticed how much Jordan is criticized for not following a script that everyone else thinks he should be reading from? I guess thats what happens when everyone else is supposed to raise your kids and be PC.

No, you know what Jordan is criticized for? Being a ****** bag to everyone he came into contact with during his time in the NBA. For punching Steve Kerr and Will Perdue during practices, openly complaining to the media about the system his coach (you know him, big tall guy, mustache, likes to read books and shit) tried to implement, complaining about his teammates not being good enough, gambling incessantly and fraternizing with known mobbed-up gamblers, trying to get the general fucking manager of his team fired on more than one occasion, for ensuring that teammates he didn't like never got the ball and ostracizing those same teammates off the court, for complaining about and bashing the team when they didn't make a move he wanted or made one he didn't like, for staying out partying until 6 a.m. during the playoffs and finally for taking the time during his HOF induction speech to bash people he still held a grudge against.

This isn't a case of "well, he's raw, and people just don't like it when people don't follow the same old script." That plays a part of it, to be sure, but there are bigger issues at work here, mainly the fact that the guy is a complete asshole. Always has been, and always will be. He's a selfish, womanizing, degenerate gambler that purposefully stepped on a lot of toes on his way to the top, all to serve his massive ego and daddy issues. This isn't a case of people criticizing someone that runs their mouth yet somehow sneaks in a kernel of "the truth" now and again, this is people criticizing an asshole player that can't open his mouth without inserting his foot. There's a pretty large difference.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

Throw Jerry West in there, MJ has a love affair with Jerry West. He always mentions him as one of the greats. I personally think Kobe is the 2nd best player of all-time. He took over Larry Bird on my personal list. I think MJ was just speaking in general. It's not like he woke up thinking "let me get my all-time NBA list together in case a reporter asks me to rank Kobe."

But this whole MJ is a jerk thing...let's put this in perspective. Who he's being a jerk to? Is he turing away kids with cancer for autographs? No. He's pissing off media-types because they didn't approve of his HOF speech, and now they thinks he's out of bounds for saying he COULD - COULD, not would, COULD, score 100 in a game.

I posted the stats in another thread. When Wilt scored his 100 he took 63 shots. If MJ took 63 shots, or Kobe or LeBron, they could score 100 points. But I don't see a player doing what Wilt did. It's never said, but Wilt Chamberlain is one of the most selfish players of all time.

In the 1961-62 season (which is the year he scored 100 and avg. 50ppg), Wilt took 39.5 shots per game. And played 48.5 minutes per game. 48.5. There's only 48 minutes in an NBA game. This guy played every minute of every game and every OT, win lose or draw. 20 point lead, or deficit, in the 4th quarter. But you never hear that. Just like you never hear that Bill Russell's career shooting percentage is 44%. And he shot 41% in 1966.

Wilt Chamberlain also led the league in assists one the seasons he played... that sort of contradicts the notion that he was a selfish player.

And to say the guy played 48.5 minutes per-game one season and not admire that is crazy... it wasn't about him being selfish. (and to play that many minutes and never foul out is a great accomplishment)

He was unbelievably conditioned as an athlete. He was a successful long-jumper and track athlete in high school. The guy had a (by some accounts) 50-inch vertical leap. And, on top of that, he had a near 9'6'' reach. He was, simply, a beast... He DOMINATED a 23-year old Lew Acidnor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) as a 37-year-old man... He averaged an insane amount of rebounds... Sure, the lane was 4-ft thinner, but there was a shot clock and there was an offensive 3-second rule back then.

I am 100% positive that he would have bullied basically everybody the same way as he did in the 1960s.

 

[Lefty]

But this whole MJ is a jerk thing...let's put this in perspective. Who he's being a jerk to? Is he turing away kids with cancer for autographs? No. He's pissing off media-types because they didn't approve of his HOF speech,

You mean the one where he swore on live television and went out of his way to bash people as far back as some jamoke of a coach that cut him in high school? The one where he then went on to bash people from every level of basketball he played since then, during his, you know, Hall of Fame induction speech, essentially making a mockery of the whole night and even lambasting some of the people that were in the audience to honor him? Yeah, people are totally misreading that one.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

I am waaaay past the Jordan is lovable stage. His game was lovable, I don't think his attitude was very lovable. I also have a hard time believing that he had to be THAT much of a jerk to others just because it drove him to greatness on the court. I think that is a poor excuse for some of his actions.

Haha welcome to the world of professional sports. There's a reason why guys like John Stockton, David Robinson, and Grant Hill were so admired... because they were a rarity... NBA superstars who weren't absolute pricks...

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

You mean the one where he swore on live television and went out of his way to bash people as far back as some jamoke of a coach that cut him in high school? The one where he then went on to bash people from every level of basketball he played since then, during his, you know, Hall of Fame induction speech, essentially making a mockery of the whole night and even lambasting some of the people that were in the audience to honor him? Yeah, people are totally misreading that one.

I loved that speech, and I :fap: to it, to this day.

 

[Lefty]

I loved that speech, and I :fap: to it, to this day.

Oh I loved it, I was laughing my ass off. But that's because I knew there were hundreds of people in attendance (and many more watching at home) that absolutely loved basketball and loved MJ but didn't know he was that much of an absolute prick, and it was funny to think about how and when their brains finally clicked to the fact that the dude is an asswipe.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

Oh I loved it, I was laughing my ass off. But that's because I knew there were hundreds of people in attendance (and many more watching at home) that absolutely loved basketball and loved MJ but didn't know he was that much of an absolute prick, and it was funny to think about how and when their brains finally clicked to the fact that the dude is an asswipe.

In all fairness, Jordan has said some rather modest things too. He is one of the more honest and intelligent players in NBA history. He has an extremely high opinion of himself, but I think that he has always been his biggest critic, too.

 

[Lefty]

In all fairness, Jordan has said some rather modest things too. He is one of the more honest and intelligent players in NBA history. He has an extremely high opinion of himself, but I think that he has always been his biggest critic, too.

That's true, but that does little to make up for being other people's biggest critic, as well (see: Cartwright, Bill; Krause, Jerry; Pippen, Scottie).

 

[houheffna]

In all fairness, Jordan has said some rather modest things too. He is one of the more honest and intelligent players in NBA history. He has an extremely high opinion of himself, but I think that he has always been his biggest critic, too.

Jordan was always modest, because modesty kept the money flowing. That was most important. He was a mastermind, or his "handlers" were at making sure certain stories and rumors didn't see ink, though the stories were true.

Brian Handley told a story about a scurrilous story that would have damaged his name, David Falk called the Sun-Times and threatened that the young superstar would never do a story with them again if they run the story. Today? Deadspin wouldn't give a damn if he didn't speak to them. Mediatakeout would laugh at such a threat. Jordan has been very kind and respectful to some, but his reckless treatment of others, including teammates at times were just unnecessary.

 

[houheffna]

Wilt Chamberlain also led the league in assists one the seasons he played... that sort of contradicts the notion that he was a selfish player.

And to say the guy played 48.5 minutes per-game one season and not admire that is crazy... it wasn't about him being selfish. (and to play that many minutes and never foul out is a great accomplishment)

He was unbelievably conditioned as an athlete. He was a successful long-jumper and track athlete in high school. The guy had a (by some accounts) 50-inch vertical leap. And, on top of that, he had a near 9'6'' reach. He was, simply, a beast... He DOMINATED a 23-year old Lew Acidnor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) as a 37-year-old man... He averaged an insane amount of rebounds... Sure, the lane was 4-ft thinner, but there was a shot clock and there was an offensive 3-second rule back then.

I am 100% positive that he would have bullied basically everybody the same way as he did in the 1960s.

When exactly did Wilt DOMINATE Kareem? I don't think that happened that way, especially not worth capital letters....

 

[Scoot26]

Wilt Chamberlain also led the league in assists one the seasons he played... that sort of contradicts the notion that he was a selfish player.

And to say the guy played 48.5 minutes per-game one season and not admire that is crazy... it wasn't about him being selfish. (and to play that many minutes and never foul out is a great accomplishment)

He was unbelievably conditioned as an athlete. He was a successful long-jumper and track athlete in high school. The guy had a (by some accounts) 50-inch vertical leap. And, on top of that, he had a near 9'6'' reach. He was, simply, a beast... He DOMINATED a 23-year old Lew Acidnor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) as a 37-year-old man... He averaged an insane amount of rebounds... Sure, the lane was 4-ft thinner, but there was a shot clock and there was an offensive 3-second rule back then.

I am 100% positive that he would have bullied basically everybody the same way as he did in the 1960s.

You need to read Bill Simmons' The Book of Basketball...He'll show you how selfish Wilt Chamberlain was. You know why Wilt led the league in assists one year? Because he wanted to have that on his resume. Simmons says that Wilt would not take open shots and would dump off to teammates hoping they would make the shot so he could get an assist. Not to say Wilt was not a good player. He absolutely was, but Wilt only cared about himself and his records....or so Bill Simmons says. That book is a great book though, you should pick it up and read it.