Pippen > Bayless

Anyone who knows me knows that one of the things that I am downright fanatical about is basketball. especially for my adopted hometown's team the Chicago Bulls. So imagine the great pride of seeing one of my favorite Bulls and one of the best all around players Scottie Pippen get elected to the basketball hall of fame. And for the most part anyone who knows anything about the game has said it is deserved and spoke of the versatility of the consummate team player. That is except for the king of the haters Skip Bayless.

Bayless on ESPN made the ridiculous claim that because Pippen played with the greatest player of all time he was just a product of the system and had nothing but open looks. Nevermind the fact Brad Sellers and Orlando Woolridge both failed in the role to an extent, never mind that his all around game has been praised from John Wooden to Chuck Daly, two guys who know a thing or two about the game, no it was all because of Jordan. I can't make a case just by being loud like Mr. Bayless, but what I can do is use the statistics to prove it.


Bayless claims because Pip didn't even score 20,000 in his career he was just a good player. A list of players who need their status revoked from the Hall would include Isaiah Thomas, Bob Mcadoo, Dolph Shayes,Rick Barry, and Dave Bing. Oh yeah those guys were bums. He didn't win whenJ ordan left. Uh, how about 28 other teams didn't win either.Also the Bulls made it to the Eastern Conference Finals and were a Hue Hollins blown call away from making the finals without MJ. He brings up when Pippen didn't go back in the game when Phil drew up a play for Toni Kukoc to take the last shot, I can't defend it because I don't know what happened. Scottie saidhe had a migraine and I have to say I have had migraines that almost brought tears to my eyes, I would prefer to think of the moment as a temporary moment of selfishness from an otherwise selfless player.


The title Hall of famer doesn't mean one's game is without fault. Each and every member has a hole in their game that can be picked apart and made to seem like they were not an all time great. Bill Russell was limited offensively, Wilt Chamberlain was a selfish player with mediocre defense, Magic Johnson's defense was never anything to write home about. Does it take away from their greatness? Not at all.


But hey, no one can be as perfect as Skip Bayless I guess.



Tina Fey's 1st commercial? Yes.

Mutual Savings Bank - "Hi!" - Featuring Tina Fey from Purple Onion Films on Vimeo.

I miss Human Giant...

Shep Smith is dropping truth serum

So long George.

When the legacy of George Steinbrenner is decided many will credit him with the exorbatent spending of many ball clubs that has led to the current state of affairs that has his infield making more than the entire Kansas City Royals. Maybe you're right. What he should be remembered for is returning the Yankees to the mystique of being America's most hated team. After the legendary runs by teams from well the beginning of the MLB which ended after the heyday of players such as Mantle, Gehrig, Maris and Berra the Yankees were a team in limbo and subsequently baseball suffered. Don't get me wrong, teams were great but there was no Goliath to slay anymore. When he purchased the team in the 70's for a scant ten million dollars no one had any idea he would turn the team into the 1.5 billion dollar juggernaut it is today. So while you hear people yell it's no good for the Yankees to conduct business as they do just remember without them teams like the Marlins, Royals, and Pirates among others are possibly contracted. I'll end by saying that baseball will miss George, he was a true original and the last of the baseball men of yore.

My take on the whole Lebron decision

This isn’t going to be one of those rambling “Oh Lebron, where’s your loyalty?” posts. I am going to be up front about being biased as a Bulls fan and wanting him to join my team. Now with that said last night’s announcement by Lebron James that he was going to play for the Miami Heat disappointed me.

It disappointed me first of all because as I said before I am a Bulls fan and look forward to the day we hold the Larry O’Brien trophy once more and he would definitely be a good fit. But I think what disappoints me the most is that this generation of players have no assassins, no cut throat guys willing to win. Everyone now wants to be friends and sing Kumbaya around a campfire. Would Jordan or Bird or Magic tried to set up a super team? No. They took pleasure in beating the best of the best.

“But Brian, didn’t those guys have great players as well?” You bet they did. But they were built through the draft. Magic was brought in to be the 2nd fiddle to Kareem, Bird was the centerpiece and aging former stars who became role players such as Bill Walton, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish became his cast. Jordan did it alone until management drafted Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoc, and traded for Bill Cartwright.

I’m not knocking Lebron as cowardly, pathetic, or a quitter ala Dan Gilbert, but a lack of history of the NBA. If he is as concerned with his legacy as he claims he is does he wants to be remembered as an ancillary piece on D-Wade’s team? I get it that a ring is a ring, but for a player who based his entire persona on personally leading a team to a title this appears to be a curious choice.

As a Bulls fan though allow me to say this, I’m not worried. We’re a young team with a core of players all under contract. While the number of players under contract for the Miami Heat return include such all stars as Mario Chalmers, deadeye shooter Mario Chalmers, and fantastic bench player Mario Chalmers.

Did he do it for money? Did he do it because he believes it gives him the best chance to win? I can’t answer that. What I can say is that he’ll never be able to compare himself to Michael Jordan or any of his heroes. They didn’t need help from their boys, they took pride in beating them.

Check it out!

Back when the Chocolate Puma was a mere Chocolate Cub he attended Kenwood Academy. While there I met a great young writer who I am proud to say is still my friend today and has just published his first book "Lincoln Stone-The Return Of The Grim Reaper."

"Hidden away by father for his own protection, Lincoln Stone was raised in a orphanage since an infant but for years he has been hiding a secret from everyone that he knows, he has developed super human abilities. Now he is embarking on a quest to find out where he comes from, but the answers he wanted soon come to find he in ways he never expected as he is thrown into the battle of good and evil to stop a being of incredible evil...his own mother."

An interesting read, so if the mood strikes you, you can purchase a copy of this soon to be runaway hit at: http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/lincoln-stone--the-return-of-the-grim-reaper/11594019