Best Hall of Fame Class Ever

Haven't jumped on here to do much with my blog lately, so better get back into it. I just wanted to share my thoughts about the NBA Hall of Fame class that was inducted last weekend (09/11/09)...Vivian Stringer, Jerry Sloan, John Stockton, David Robinson and the best basketball player ever Michael "Air" Jordan. What a class! I really think that the players and coaches they put into that class were spot on. Don't know too much about Ms. Stringer but after hearing her speech it seemed like she had alot to do with revolutionizing the sport of basketball for female athletes. You can't help be impressed with Jerry Sloan. He is currently the longest tenured coach with the same team in all pro sports! That is impressive especially in today's sports world with coaches getting blamed for everything that their players do or dont' do for that matter. He has his Utah Jazz teams ready every year and to compete like they do in the West each season is impressive in itself.

Now as far as the players go, Stockton, Robinson and Jordan. Stockton's speech was really good. I don't know if I liked it more because it was funny and sincere or if it was better because we never hear Stockton talk. That kid never did interviews or public appearances or nothin! I tried to go back and look for Stockton interviews and things online and the only thing I could find was interviews when he was with the Dream Team in '92. He was awesome as a player and a person. He was quiet, never hardly missed a game, kept the short shorts going his whole career and dished more assits than anyone in the history of basketball. He holds that record by more than 5000 from second place on the list! He also holds the NBA record for steals too! Whenever you hear the name John Stockton you normally hear the name Karl "Mailman" Malone. Now it's probably because I can't stand that guy, but Mailman would be nothing without Stockton. He made those teams what they were no matter if Malone thought he was the man. I never thought Malone could hold a candle to Barkley, or Dennis Rodman or even Tim Duncan and I am a huge hater on Mr. Fundamentals. Stockton is the man. He was the best point guard to play the game. Magic, I love how you play man, but I can't say something good about a Laker!

Robinson's speech was nice, slow and kind of boring. Mr. Robinson was an awesome player and an extremely talented ball player. Plus anyone that serves our country deserves recognition. I remember back in the day when he was fighting for the scoring title in 1994 with Shaq and ended up scoring 71 points in his final game (against the Clippers I might add) to win the title. David had it all, athletishm, carisma, he could shoot the 6 to 8 foot jumper, knock down his free throws and dunk like no one's business. Also, to watch David Robinson run the break makes me feel bad for anyone that wanted to get in his way! He tore that rim down on each dunk he did. And I will say it now...we will never see another basketball player as ripped as Robinson was. He had muscles I didn't even know normal people had!

And last but not least...Mike. Wow, what can you say about the best basketball player who has ever laced up a pair of basketball shoes...mostly HIS shoes! Air Jodan was amazing from North Carolina to the Chicago Bulls. I don't really want to say anything about his Wizards days...let's just block that out of our minds. Number 23 never stopped competing from the jump ball to the last shot each and every night. I was into the NBA with Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Magic, George Gervin, Bernard King, etc...when Jordan came into the "L," but never had I seen someone take over like he did. I don't care who it was (trying) to guard him, no one could compete with that guy. I know that it's hard to say that he is the best basketball player to ever live because of course we haven't seen everyone yet, but come on...who is going to beat what he did. 1982 National Champs with UNC, lead the league in scoring TEN TIMES with seven consecutive, All NBA Defensive First Team nine times, five regular season MVPs, and SIX titles (two three peats) to just name a few. I know there are alot of people out there that are head over heals with Lebron James or Kobe Bryant, but there will never ever be another Air Jordan. No one will be able to accomplish what he did in his career. As far as his speech last Friday went...I found it to be very heart felt, except about Jerry Krause, but also very cocky! But can you blame him? I don't. When you know you are the man...mind as well talk about it!

If anyone has any opinions on the speeches or careers of the above mentioned people, please let me know. I could talk basketball all day! BK...OUT!