NBA BEAT - MICHAEL JORDAN IN HALL OF FAME

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

Jordan overcame the adversity of being cut from his high school team to suck that disappointment up and turn it into a power driving force to inspire him to greatness and become an NBA five-time NBA MVP and a member of six title winning Chicago Bulls teams - IVERSON DEFAULTS NBA TITLE?

Monday September 21, 2009

DAVID ROBINSON, JOHN STOCKTON, JERRY SLOAN ALSO INDUCTED

There is no doubt the Michael Jordan is one of the greatest if not the greatest NBA player of all time. His selection in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame this season is fitting since he was inducted the same year as David Robinson, John Stockton and Utah coach Jerry Sloan all of whom are top notch people with class. The 2009 induction ceremony was the 50th anniversary for the Hall of Fame.

What stands out about Jordan is that he overcame the adversity of being cut from his high school team to suck that disappointment up and turn it into a power driving force to inspire him to greatness and become a five-time NBA MVP and a member of six title winning Chicago Bulls teams. At his induction he pointed out that story and noted that he wanted to prove to the coach who cut him that he made a mistake.

He also noted that he is a friendly guy but when the game starts he becomes competitive. His niceties and respect for others stands out from our experience as him being the most cooperative NBA player to give us one on one interviews. Since our radio production focus is on features which are supposed to be done before a game in order to leave the post game interview time for questions regarding the game, one Jordan story stands out in our mind.

Having interviewed him several times in the past he was familiar with our work and style. On one occasion prior to a game we approached him and requested an interview and he said no that he wanted to warm up and requested that we return after he did so. When he returned to the locker room he said he had only 15 minutes to do it and if that was enough time. It was more than enough and our job was done.

You can measure a man's greatness by how he handles it either with dignity and class or has an attitude about it. Jordan has an ego but can back it up with performance. He doesn't let his ego get in the way of being a person who is respectful of others.

Former teammates Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen were in attendance at the ceremony held at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. Pippen was on all six Bulls title winning teams with Jordan. After Jordan left the team to pursue a baseball career we asked Pippen who became the teams leader about being the supporting cast for Jordan during their three peat NBA title winning seasons. It was a statement Jordan often made. "Supporting cast," Pippen replied in a disgruntled manner.

The Bulls failed to win a title during the two seasons of Jordan's absence. It seems at the time that there was some animosity towards Jordan but three more titles with Jordan after his return and time apparently healed all of Pippen's wounds.

When Jordan returned Rodman became the replacement for Horace Grant at the power forward position and they won three more titles in a row. Though Rodman had been a member of two title winning teams with the Detroit Pistons his attendance at the ceremony was a testament of his respect for Jordan.

During the ceremony Jordan commented that he may return to playing at the age of 50. When the chuckles went around the room he said, "Don't laugh. Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion."

OLDER THAN DIRT

You know you're getting old when the first sports story you attempted to get was with David Robinson at the Summer League at Loyola University in Los Angeles, California prior to Robinson's 1989-90 rookie season. The opportunity never arose but across the way was Elgin Baylor who in our opinion is another player who can challenge Jordan as being the greatest of all-time.

Not to our knowledge at the time Baylor was known not to grant interviews. He gave us one and it was our first ever one on one sports interview that launched our sports features for radio business.

Robinson had a 14 year NB career averaging 21.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game and was a member of two Sours NBA title teams 1999 and 2003. Baylor was never a member of a title team though he spent his entire 14-year NBA career with the Lakers averaging 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. Due to knee injuries he retired after playing nine games in 1971. Ironically that team led by Wilt Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich and Jerry West went on to win the NBA title that season.

At the ceremony Stockton directed a comment to the Spurs in attendance that Karl Malone was the greatest power forward ever on the NBA. Obviously Stockton never saw Baylor play during the prime of Baylor's career

IVERSON DEFAULTS NBA TITLE?

It seems sad that Alan Iverson will finish his Hall of fame like NBA career without being on an NBA title winning team. He came close with the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers who lost to the Los Angles Lakers in a best of seven series 4 games to 1 in the finals. Since that time Iverson has been somewhat of a journeyman who has spent time with the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons where it just didn't work out. His nickname as the Answer proved to be a misnomer.

Last season at Detroit he was injured and sulked because he felt he wasn't given the respect or playing time that he deserved and became a free agent. The now 34-year-old guard who has been rookie of the year, the league MVP in 2001 and a four-time scoring champ wasn't highly sought after. He recently signed a one year $3.5 million contract with the Memphis Grizzlies who aren't a title contending team that finished with a 24 win 58 loss record last season.

The 13-year NBA veteran has been annoyed about the criticism that he has lost a step but given the mileage on his legs over NBA career there is little doubt that he has seen his better days.

Should he finish his career without a title it is likely that he will be in the Hall of Fame. He will also join a list of NBA grates who are in or had Hall of Fame careers but was not on a title winning team that includes Elgin Baylor, Dominique Wilkins, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and Stockton

NATIONAL RADIO PUBLISHED IN 5 LANGUAGES

National Radio text is published in five languages, English, Thai, French, Russian and Khmer (Cambodian language). Any of our foreign language material and our Roman Wanderaugh columns is legally available ONLY on our National Radio site. Our sports, entertainment and feature programming has been broadcast on over 1000 radio stations.