For whatever reason, I woke up today with a peculiar desire to watch old basketball videos on YouTube. You know what I mean right? Like all of a sudden - and you don't know why - you just have to watch sick hoop clips? Well, in my deranged state of mind full of oddities, here is what stood out.
My Memory:
Stanford was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country. Arizona was still Arizona, and these two fought back and forth all game long. One of my best friends was a freshman at U of A, so I kind of adopted the Wildcats as a semi-favorite team capable of winning another title. A few years later, a friend of mine whom I later met, informed me he was at the game as a student of Stanford, sitting three or four rows behind Tiger Woods, who infamously stormed the court along with the rest of Cardinal nation. All of these elements combine to make this one I'll never forget.
USC comeback:
My Memory:
I couldn't have been more than 13 or 14, but I remember seeing these highlights on SportsCenter in my room, absolutely shellshocked. I know this because I specifically recall holding off on my Sega Dreamcast "Madden 2K" exploits for at least 15 minutes, which is something to be said at that stage of my life (later that year I actually held a birthday party in which I hosted a 12-man 2K tournament in my basement, complete with brackets and seeding. How in the hell we determined seeding for such a thing boggles me to this day). Needless to say, I didn't make it past the second round, not because of "stick skills," but rather because of sleep deprivation. Hey, 3 a.m. for a 14-year-old is pretty damn late! By the way, how about the announcer's call? "Oh, ohhh, ohhhhhh, a miracle!" Great stuff. Also, how badly were you hoping the camera would break to show that kid's cutthroat sign to the Ducks student section?
Kentucky dunk:
My Memory:
There is none. I wasn't alive yet, but when I came across this dunk, I had to share it with you. Also, and I hesitate to say this, but how talented was Dick Vitale's call? "Secretariat out of the gate!" Love that.
Okay, all for now, but more coming soon. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. If not, then you're simply not as much a junkie loser as I am. Probably not a bad thing.
The NBA has given us some pretty special moments. Here are some of the best from the decade. To quote the one and only Adam Sandler in "Billy Madison," "let's go!"
Best Performance Under Pressure
2006 NBA Finals, Dwayne Wade
In averaging 27 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals, Flash led the Heat back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Dirk and his vaunted Dallas squad. I’ve seen some pretty great performances over the years, but never have I seen such a willful and determined effort, where a player took over an entire series for such high stakes. Wade was downright dominant during these Finals - driving, dishing, pulling up, getting in passing lanes, orchestrating the comeback of comebacks. Kobe and Shaq were quite the duo in LA, but Wade carried his big man through this series. He was the culprit of it all.
Best Upset
2007 First Round, Warriors beat Mavericks
I remember thinking to myself how glaringly better Golden State matched up. Baron Davis abused Dallas time and time again, turning the fans at Oracle into a dramatic frenzy, unlike any other early-round series I can recall.
Avery Johnson’s press conferences added an entirely new dimension to this series, as he seemed lost and confused, like he had no idea of the freight train that just hit him.
Biggest Story
Tim Donaghy - Is there really any doubt?
The Donaghy fiasco is the runaway winner here. His antics and controversy have left a damaging perception of the NBA, and his recent book will only make matters worse. Naturally, fans will always criticize officials. It’s a part of the game, but never would we expect a story like this to surface, which is why I refuse to give credence to what otherwise would be my vote for best game-winner, Robert Horry’s three in Game 6 against Sacramento in the 2002 Western Conference Finals.
I was at an AAU tournament in North Carolina watching this with my teammates. All we kept talking about was the free throw discrepancy in the fourth quarter, which saw the Lakers go to the line 27 times in 12 minutes, a statistic I still cannot fathom. Which leads me to …
Best Game-Winner
D-Fish!!! The diminutive class act out of Arkansas Little-Rock - and a guy whose pivotal role during the Lakers title runs cannot be understated - hit an improbable flick shot in San Antonio with 0.4 seconds left on the clock to beat the Spurs in Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference Finals. The Spurs had all but won, as both teams battled back and forth all game long.
But Fisher – who was clearly the third or even fourth option – came out of nowhere to sink a ridiculous, off-balance, running leaner. I remember watching this game at home. I was about to turn it off and head to the gym, but for whatever reason I stayed for the final play, and this is what I was blessed to witness…
Worst Draft Night Trade
2006, Timberwolves
Minnesota traded Randy Foye to Portland straight up for my former AAU teammate Brandon Roy. (Side Note: During my junior year of high school when Brandon was a college freshman, the Seattle PI ran a story on him and his quest to qualify academically at Washington. Anyways, we were working out together that night - as we often did - and the next morning I woke up with quite a surprise. Sure enough, there was a big picture of us joking around in between drills, with a couple captions talking about me as one of the premier guards in Seattle. Needless to say, I saved that paper (just let me know if you want a copy. I'd be happy to accommodate you).
Back to the trade though. Foye is a decent NBA guard who can provide energy and a spark off the bench, but B-Roy is a legitimate top 12-15 NBA player, who is already a two-time NBA All-Star well on pace for number three. Bad move, Mr. McHale.
Worst Trade
2003, Hornets
New Orleans traded Baron Davis to the Warriors for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis! Whooo, this was a bad one.
Diddy re-established himself as an All-Star and top tier point guard, while orchestrating Golden State's monumental upset over Dallas in the 2006 playoffs. On the contrary, Speedy Claxton ate up cap room, while Dale Davis spent more time in ice than a polar bear, soon being forced to retire.
Honorable Mention: Bulls trade Elton Brand to Clippers for Tyson Chandler and Brian Skinner (2001), Rockets trade Richard Jefferson and others to the Nets for the now late Eddie Griffin (2001), and the Lakers trade Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins to Wizards for Kwame Brown and Laron Profit (2005).
Side Note: I'm not including the Vince Carter trade by Toronto because VC admitted to "tanking" games and had an extremely volatile relationship with the Raptors front office, not to mention the fact he was often booed by his home fans. Clearly his presence at Air Canada wasn't working anymore, and a change needed to be made. The rest of the league knew this, and because of all these factors, Carter's trade value had plummeted.
“Bad Trade” That Really Wasn’t Bad At All
2008, Lakers-Grizzlies
It is annoying how this one gets misperceived. The Grizzlies traded Pau Gasol to LA for brother Marc Gasol, the expiring contract of Kwame Brown and others, and two first-rounders from the Lakers, including their 2010 pick.
Clearly Memphis knew something nobody else did. The younger Gasol can play, as in really play. He's averaging a career-best 15 points, 10 rebounds, and more than a block and is a fringe All-Star. Better yet, he's only 24 years old. But perhaps most importantly in this league, the Grizz got a ton of cap room. Obviously, Pau helped anchor the Lakers title last season, so in essence, both parties walked away a winner. Bottom line? People need to stop referring to this as one of the most lopsided trades in history.
Biggest Bonehead Play
2006, Ricky Davis’ Triple-Double Rip-Off
To me, this was indefensible.
How can anyone rationalize such an idiotic move? For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, Davis was one rebound away from a triple-double during the Cavaliers' blowout against the Utah Jazz. Instead of being the classy guy he clearly isn’t and walking the ball up the floor, Davis proceeded to purposely miss a lay-up – on his own basket – get the rebound and then act like nothing happened. Good news is he wasn’t credited with the rebound. Of course, after seeing an injured Davis sipping on a certain brand of beverage during halftime of a Clippers game last season, I shouldn’t be surprised. But still, come on, man. Think Jerry Sloan appreciated this?
Most Annoying NBA Head Coach
Ron Jeremy - I mean Stan Van Gundy
His pitiful antics and berating of the Magic has become unbearable. By far, he’s my least favorite coach in the league today. And that says a lot considering that Larry Brown, Mike Brown and Mike Dunleavy are all roaming the sidelines. Imagine what Van Gundy would be like coaching a bad team. Dwight Howard said it all when he told reporters that Van Gundy needed to tone it down and be more positive with the young Magic squad. Uh, ya think?
Message to Stan: Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, buddy. Without Superman, you’re working for the Maine Red Claws of the NBDL … as a video coordinator. He only made matters worse for himself when he told ESPN that he “actually feel(s) sorry for people who have nothing to do on Christmas Day other than watch an NBA game.”
(See, there are striking similarities between these two dreadfully handsome individuals. Sorry for the large pic of Van Gundy. I just felt it added effect.)
How can NBA caliber athletes even take this tubby seriously?
Strangest Stories (All Sports)
Andre Agassi, anyone? Crystal meth, check. Toupee, check. Hating tennis, check. This is just too much.
Plaxico Burress – What is wrong with you, bro?
Tiger Woods – What is wrong with you, bro? I know you have more you're hiding man!!!
Duke Lacrosse – The DA in this case should forever be reprimanded from the justice system.
The Michael Vick bonanza. I’m an animal lover, so this struck an especially rough chord for me. Second chances are great, but this is too difficult for me to either accept nor forgive.
Kobe Bryant – Does anyone even remember the rape case? Paging anyone, Bueller, anyone? Have we ever seen an athlete recover from anything as potentially damaging and harmful as this story? This should be best comeback.
Brett Favre – Is there a more maligned future HOF than my least favorite character in “There’s Something About Mary?” “I’m coming back, no I’m not, wait yes I am, okay hi Jets, bye Jets, bye football again, Minnesota? Hell yes”… and those damned old Wrangler Jeans commercials. Seriously, they’ve been on the air for the entire decade. Enough!
Well, there you have it. Three entries of the best off-the-wall and often irrelevant moments of the decade. I hope you enjoyed it, and if you didn't, well, I don't blame you.
Here's to another wonderful 10 years my friends, and as always, thanks for the read . . .
