What
I would like to impart to Mr. Foster, is the fact that I have collected
every issue of SLAM, (which is by far my favorite basketball mag and the
best there is as far as I'm concerned,) which I think in most states would
make me a reader. I love SLAM and the way they present each story with
passion and grace. But are all their articles on the young guns of the
NBA? No, any reader of SLAM, as Mr. Foster claims to be, would know that
the boys at SLAM feature just as many runs on the "old-school" as they
do anything else and appreciate the foundation that was laid by the legends
of the league. Mr. Foster must have skipped those articles because he didn't
recognize any of those players from the guys he's seen on a NIKE commercial.
I work in the newspaper industry, and I would like Mr. Foster to try running
an article with SLAM-like "flava", by his editor for approval. He'd be
looking for another job. This is unfortunate, but just the way it is. The
writers at SLAM have journalistic freedoms to do things that regular sports
writers like myself are not allowed to do (Editor's cheap yet validated
plug: and as for internet media, thank god for InsideHoops.com). That
is part of the reason you don't see more articles like that in other publications
and periodicals. Plus, SLAM would be out of business if they didn't write
articles the way they do. How many exclusive interviews do you think that
SLAM would get if they weren't so adept at printing the players point of
view. Case in point is an article in the current issue of SLAM with Rasheed
Wallace. Wallace, who I would agree with SLAM is one of the most misunderstood
athletes in the world, but Wallace wouldn't even acknowledge any of the
other writers after the game. Just the writer from SLAM. Why do you think
that is. Without the attention and "love" that NBA, college and high school
players give the mag, SLAM would be just another magazine. Again, its just
about the money. How often do you see SLAM write anything critical, however
justified it may be, about anyone unless it's someone that's dissed them
like Bobby Knight. As far as the mentioning of Wilt Chamberlain and Magic
Johnson's sexual exploits goes...Mr. Foster can be naive if he likes but
I'm not so easily convinced. If readers wish to think that players in today's
league aren't out "gettin theirs," and doing the same types of things attributed
to Wilt and Magic that is their concern.
By
the way, I love KG. He's from South Carolina as am I, and there is no player
in the NBA that works any harder or loves the game any more than he does.
The point is that you could point to specific players from any era to make
these points valid.
My
problem with the NBA has several concerns.
Yes,
those concerns range from David Stern to the front office and all the way
down to the players. I have nothing against the players of today, other
than the fact that fundamentally they could be much better. And contrary
to what Mr. Foster says, I believe players should start learning the fundamentals
much earlier than in college. However, I agree with Mr. Foster that players
like Darius Miles should take the money and run. Hell, I sure would.
But
the fact remains that it is detrimental to the league and to the sport
of basketball in general. NBA commercials tout its players as the 'worlds
best athletes', with which I would agree, but at the same time I don't
want to watch the NBA just to see the world's greatest athletes. I want
to see the best basketball in the world. There is no doubt in my mind that
if today's players were to take defense more seriously and learn the game
from a mental standpoint, that the NBA would be perfect. Michael Jordan
or no Michael Jordan.
Mr.
Foster can love the NBA in its current state all he wants, and if he wishes
to be satisfied with the product then fine. But I know that the league
could be so much better than it is, and I don't think that the best is
too much to ask of the NBA.
But
the final straw is Mr. Foster liking the 6 foot white guys of the past
to Brent Barry. Whose "Hatin" now? Those 6 foot white guys helped pave
the way for the players of today to sign these crazy contracts in the first
place. And I don't accept Mr. Foster's age as an excuse either; has anyone
ever heard of ESPN Classic? Evidently, Mr. Foster has never seen Bob Cousy,
or even the elder Barry, who is the only player in history to have led
the NCAA, the ABA, and the NBA in scoring, in action because if he had
he would understand how ludicrous that statement is.
And
anyone that thinks today's players play better defense obviously doesn't
understand what proper defense even looks like. Mr. Foster can watch all
the Lakers vs. Pacers and Pacers vs. Spurs finals he wants. I'll stick
with the 80's Lakers vs. Celtics, the 70's Knicks vs. Lakers, and any game
of Bill Russell's Celtics I can get my hands on. Oh, by the way, if its
defense Mr. Foster wants to see I recommend he start with Russell and work
his way down.
Again,
the NBA is good.
I
just know that it could be, and should be much better.
