I know this isn't the place for it...

[pbeall100281]

But I have to say this to my respected friends here at the cafe.

Regarding our pathetic Olympic basketball team and as seen in a LONG thread at http://forums.espn.go.com/espngames/thr ... ortBy=null :

I am embarassed by the performance of our basketball players in the most recent Olympics.
I fault the NBA big whigs and more specifically the way they have altered the rules and manipulated the refereeing. I'm not going to make many friends here, but Michael Jordan was great, but not that great. Put his performances in a college game where the refs don't give a darn who you are and/or objective refereeing and I GARUNTEE that Michael Jordan would have had significant reductions in his scoring, eligibility in games (fouls called against) and overall greatness. (still probably would have been the best even though his title winning shot over Bryon Russell was an offensive foul)

For too long the NBA has allowed and promoted anti-fundamental basketball by allowing traveling, bail-out fouls for stars and no calls against premier players while promoting selfish, impure and boring basketball. Finally this lazy and pompous attitude has come back to disgrace our country. No wonder myself and most of America has turned away from the NBA and to the NFL and MLB(among others)for quality, pure sports play.

[Pokey]

I agree with you completely, the NBA is pathetic these days.

[bleach168]

I agree.

[Fireball Express]

I stopped watching NBA years ago.
I'm into NCAA basketball though. Those kids go out there and play their hardest for the love of the game. It's more of a team sport and they stress fundamentals.

NBA lost it when the dunk became a bigger play than the jumper. I'll take "nothing but net" over a rocking backboard anyday.

[KolbSaves]

I don't agree but hey why waste our time with a long post. (edit: of mine)

[Mugrila]

maybe its just me but i really don't see what the big deal about dunking is. its cool if somebody is like 5'10" and doing it but for somebody 6'8" its really not that difficult. now for somebody to hit a round ball coming at 90 mph from about 60 feet with a round bat out of a ballpark is something to cheer for. i don't watch the NBA and i have little to no interest in doing so in the future.

[Strasil42]

i dont agree at all and i actually think this is one of the dumbest things ive ever seen on the board and thats counting fatguywithamullets posts. The points about the nba going downhill are fine and i agree but i cant get over this.

I'm not going to make many friends here, but Michael Jordan was great, but not that great.

Thats boarderline mental retardation.

[DK]

I'm not going to make many friends here, but Michael Jordan was great, but not that great.

Jordan WAS great. He could never have dunked in his career and he'd still be the Black Jesus in Sneakers (or so proclaimed by multiple NBA players). Jordan and Chamberlain were playing another game. They were that good. These two, Ruth, Ali, and now Bonds are transcending their respective sports.

Saying that Jordan wasn't great is like saying Mets fans are happy with Fred Wilpon. It's simply a dim-witted, unintelligent, untrue statement.

[bleach168]

The original poster's point was that Jordan would not be near as great if he didn't receive all the referee bias. He never said Jordan wasn't great.

[raiders_umpire]

i dont agree at all and i actually think this is one of the dumbest things ive ever seen on the board and thats counting fatguywithamullets posts. The points about the nba going downhill are fine and i agree but i cant get over this.

I'm not going to make many friends here, but Michael Jordan was great, but not that great.

Thats boarderline mental retardation.

i agree with strasil also...as i would love to know what basketball games u saw that michael jordan was not great in.......MJ was hands down twice as good as about any other basketball player we will ever see.......