Thursday, March 29, 2007

Relative Greatness

A few weeks ago, a couple of buddies and I were at a sports bar talking about today's athletes versus the athletes of the last generation.

Specifically, we were talking about basketball. One of the arguments being made by my buddy who we will call "C-Mart" for the purposes of this discussion made the claim that even a second rate NBA player could absolutely dominate in the time of Bird, Jordan, etc.

C-Mart is slightly younger than myself and the third gent in this discussion (who we will call "Guns"). Both of us strongly disagreed with this notion, claiming that Jordan and Bird would still dominate in today's NBA, particularly with the way the game is played now.

It was as if ESPN was eavesdropping on our conversation that night, because just a few days ago Jemele Hill wrote an article making C-Mart's exact claim. Bill Simmons, also writing for ESPN, responded with the exact argument Guns and I were making (you have to scroll down a bit to see it: point #5 in his links).

After further debate via email, the three of us have decided to settle this nonsense once and for all.

Tonight we will be playing a game of 21 (basketball, not blackjack) at a local park. I am hereby dubbing the event:

Twenty One to Rule Them All

Featuring....

Guns as Larry Bird!


C-Mart as Kobe Bryant!


And me, Yeager, as Michael Jordan!


It will surely be a fabulous display of athletic prowess.

Don't worry Jordan, your legacy is in good hands. I'll even make sure to bet at least $50,000 on the game to get into character.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Someone needs to portray Charles Barkley so people can think you're all talking to your dad.

Sorry, Yeager. Everyone but you will get the pop-culture TV reference, there.

Yeager said...

Okay, you can be Charles Barkley.

ZING!

Anonymous said...

I need to get me a pair of Air Yeagers.

Unknown said...

Can I go as Carlos Ruiz (aka El Pescadito) and observe? I'll stand off to the side and fall down every so often (read: very often) alternating between grasping my face and shins in faux agony. Seriously though, how do we not score against Guatemala?

Sorry, off topic, Bird and MJ would dominate in today's league. Just ask Xavier McDaniel.

Unknown said...

Also, can we get a better picture of the Basketball Jesus. Both Kobe and MJ get to pimp, but Larry's hanging all chins out? C'mon, how about this:

http://www.interbasket.net/players/usa/bird.jpg

Anonymous said...

>> "Okay, you can be Charles Barkley."



Cold, man. Cold. But I am an icon.

Andy said...

Air Yeagers?

Like a pair of therapeutic loafers or something?

Everyone needs a pair of Air Bradburys...

http://www.orthoneuro1.com/images/interior/pted/ankle/replace4.jpg