"What does Magic say about him?"

Interesting question. Johnson is a lot closer with Bird than he is with Jabbar. He'd prefer the company of a man who played on the team that was his most bitter professional rival than a man with whom he won five championships. Does that tell you anything?

While we're bursting bubbles here, have you ever heard of Sam Gilbert?

http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/11757857

forsberg_us wrote:

Max wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

I think you seriously over-value Wooden's opinion.

I have been very forthcoming that I found his video really moving, transformational.  Have you watched it?

No

It's pretty inspirational stuff.  The people who imagine that Wooden's respect for Kareem came from Kareem's help in securing a couple titles clearly know nothing about Wooden.

http://www.amazon.com/John-Wooden-Values-Victory-Peace/dp/B0000AR6MB/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1302835121&sr=8-6

artie_fufkin wrote:

"What does Magic say about him?"

Interesting question. Johnson is a lot closer with Bird than he is with Jabbar. He'd prefer the company of a man who played on the team that was his most bitter professional rival than a man with whom he won five championships. Does that tell you anything?

That Magic, a guy who contracted AIDS from basketball groupies, is more compatible with Bird than with Kareem?

My question is what does Magic say about Kareem?  Does he criticize him similarly to you?

forsberg_us wrote:

Please don't take this personal, but I find motivational, self-help type material akin to snake oil. For $19.95, I'll tell you the secret to success. The secret--get a bunch of people to pay you $19.95 to hear storiesabout yourself.

Don't get me wrong. My philosophy of life is that the moment you start reaching for self-help books, change what you are doing.  If your love life is going wrong and you find yourself reaching for a book on how to fix a broken relationship, skip the book and ditch the relationship.  If you're dissatisfied with your financial situation and you find yourself reaching for "Rich Dad, Poor Dad", skip the book and change your financial ambitions.

But on the other hand, what's wrong with reading books that are interesting to you?  My last book was "This Hebrew Lord" by Archbishop John Shelby Spong, and my current book is "Buddha" by Deepak Chopra.  I don't see those as self-help books, but that's pretty much what the message of Jesus, and the church, is.  Ditto for the Buddha.  That's pretty much what Wooden's message is about, too.  It's about the examined life versus the unexamined life, and maybe that's why I think I would enjoy the company of a guy like Kareem, and why I am unmoved that many of his peers in the NBA found him standoff-ish.

Nothing wrong with reading a book that interests you. But John Wooden doesn't interest me.

"That Magic, a guy who contracted AIDS from basketball groupies, is more compatible with Bird than with Kareem?"

They're friends. It doesn't mean all their interests are similar.
I watched the HBO special to which you're referring. It's interesting that Jabbar wasn't among the former UCLA players who were interviewed. I think the only clip of Mr. Warmth in which he speaks is one from when he was an undergrad complaining about how bothered he is when people refer to his height.

"I think I would enjoy the company of a guy like Kareem"

Here's his contact info. Offer to meet him for a cup of coffee the next time he's in the Seattle area for a book-signing or a personal appearance. I'll be interested to see what kind of reaction you get.

Contact
Wendy Hirdler
Offices of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
work: 310-762.1001
mobile: 802-458.0404
wendy@kareemabduljabbar.com

artie_fufkin wrote:

"That Magic, a guy who contracted AIDS from basketball groupies, is more compatible with Bird than with Kareem?"

They're friends. It doesn't mean all their interests are similar.
I watched the HBO special to which you're referring. It's interesting that Jabbar wasn't among the former UCLA players who were interviewed. I think the only clip of Mr. Warmth in which he speaks is one from when he was an undergrad complaining about how bothered he is when people refer to his height.

"I think I would enjoy the company of a guy like Kareem"

Here's his contact info. Offer to meet him for a cup of coffee the next time he's in the Seattle area for a book-signing or a personal appearance. I'll be interested to see what kind of reaction you get.

Contact
Wendy Hirdler
Offices of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
work: 310-762.1001
mobile: 802-458.0404
wendy@kareemabduljabbar.com

is that really his info???  does it belong online?

artie_fufkin wrote:

"Are you trying to tell me that what ever was going on at UCLA in the 60's was unusual?  Or even anything that the NCAA did much about?"

I think winning 10 championships in 13 years is a little bit unusual. You'd think with all the time the NCAA spent trying to nail Jerry Tarkanian for winning one title, they could have at least asked around to try and figure out who this Gilbert guy was. Especially since his involvement in the UCLA basketball program wasn't a well-kept secret. Instead, they waited around until after Wooden retired.

Lenny Bruce committed suicide in 1966 in order to avoid going to jail for saying the word 'cocksucker' in public.  Within a few years comedians were routinely using obscenity on stage.  The climate of opinion can change very quickly.  Tarkanian won his title in 1990, 15 years after Wooden retired.

Alz, I don't think anyone here is arguing that Rasmus' defense couldn't/shouldn't be better.  As Tk pointed out, Rasmus isn't great going back on balls and probably would benefit from playing deeper so he can play to his strength--coming in on balls.  I'm not sure that makes his defense it sub-par, but it isn't as good as was advertised. 

Having said that, I simply disagree that any of his defensive deficiencies are the result of a lack of hustle.  You asked for video evidence of Rasmus making diving catches or catches against the wall and they've been provided.  Perhaps you can find video evidence where Rasmus did something like this

http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/video_bj_upton_and_evan_longoria_get_into_argument/2807112

or maybe this:

http://guyism.com/sports/video-hanley-ramirez-benched-for-jogging-after-ball.html

alz wrote:

This type of thinking is not uncommon for me, I tend to fall in love with amazing play, and then end up fucking hating the poor bastard who's only real fault was having to be the heir to that position.

Examples:
Dan Marino -- Anyone since
Scott Rolen -- Anyone since
Jim Edmonds -- Anyone since

If that's the case, the Cardinals next first baseman (whether its next season or 8 years from now) doesn't stand a chance.    (grin)

forsberg_us wrote:

alz wrote:

This type of thinking is not uncommon for me, I tend to fall in love with amazing play, and then end up fucking hating the poor bastard who's only real fault was having to be the heir to that position.

Examples:
Dan Marino -- Anyone since
Scott Rolen -- Anyone since
Jim Edmonds -- Anyone since

If that's the case, the Cardinals next first baseman (whether its next season or 8 years from now) doesn't stand a chance.    (grin)

No indeed I wouldn't assume he does. To be honest I hated Tino Martinez too, mostly because he wasn't Mark McGwire.

Juiced or not, McGwire was a show, and my god he was fun to watch.

Max wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

http://kareemabduljabbar.com/?page_id=74

love of history and jazz.  writes books.  does charity events.

sounds like my kinda guy.

Did you call his agent?