2009 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Thread

Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan, John Stockton, and C. Vivian Stringer all being inducted on Friday.

ESPN put together a really cool video package of Michael Jordan's career this morning on SportsCenter. I figuerd I'd post a thread to see what memories you all have of the five whom are being inducted.

 

Jordan — Too many memories to mention
Robinson — His playing days at Navy and seeing him in uniform
Sloan — None
Stockton — Short shorts
Stringer — The Imus debacle

 

Jordan — Fuck him. Most talented player in the game, but got more breaks than Tebow.
Robinson — Great talent; a one-man band in college
Sloan — None
Stockton — Short shorts
Stringer — Don't care

 

Jordan — Greatest ever in the game. Kobe Bryant is great, but he's not Michael Jordan great.
Robinson — Remember when Olajuwon shredded him in the '95 playoffs after D-Rob was named MVP. As a Rockets fan, greatest performance that I've seen.
Sloan — Consistent winner; great organization; extremely underrated head coach.
Stockton — Behind Magic, the second best PG of all-time. His shooting numbers were extraordinary. My most fond memory of Stockton: In Game 5 of the Western Conference 1st round against the Rockets in '98 (Drexler's last game), he passes to Greg Foster on a fast break, Foster bumbles the pass and turns it over. Rockets miss, and it's another fast break and Stockton finds Foster again, who AGAIN bumbles the pass and turns it over. Rockets miss or turn it over, and Stockton goes on a controlled fast break again, stops FT line extended, waves the first forward running the right lane through as Foster comes in, passes to Foster, who then slams it in emphatically. Back down the court, Stockton was cheering him on, and the crowd goes nuts, realizing Stockton never lost faith in Foster and kept going to him as to not let his confidence slide.
Stringer — Don't care

 

Jordan has asked David Thompson to be his presenter.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-thompsonjordan090709&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

i know the peter vecsey speech was/is being talked about on the journalism topics board, but who saw jordan's speech?

it had some humor, light-hearted moments and some emotion from jordan at the beginning, but adrian wojnarowski nailed jordan for the pettiness of the speech.

here's the column:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-jordanhall091209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

and a sentence from the columm:

you can watch jordan's speech at nba.com:
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/hall_of_fame/2009/09/11/nba_20090911_hof_jordan_speech.nba/

 

Wojo had a great column on Jerry Krause a couple days ago:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ao3Z2SzhxCqmKuwHGQwsvxDTjdIF?slug=aw-krausejordan090909&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

No doubt Jordan fans loved the speech. To me, it was arrogant beyond belief. There's no I in team, but there's an I in win...good for you, Mike. So classy.

 

Den,

Stockton the second best point guard ever?????? funny......Stockton wasn't on the same planet as isaiah thomas....not. on. the. same. planet

 

Many of us are thankful to be in the same position.

But seriously, there are many arguments to be made as to who's better between the two. To say Stockton isn't on the same planet is absurd, however.

 

your right about the same planet. it is closer than that.

But stockon was not a better player than thomas. Thomas did everything stockton did, playmaking wise, and could still hand 40 on you....there's a reason malone intentionally elbowed thomas that night...it's because he lit stock up for 44 the last time the two played.

 

Jordan's speech is fun to watch. Makes for a great drinking game.

Every time he says "competitive" or "competitor," take a drink. When he sneers at someone who slighted him, take a drink.

He is so sainted by so many, it's interesting to see him ramble like he did. And without David Falk coaching him these days, his delivery of mean-spirited jokes leaves something to be desired.