duncan228
12-29-2009, 01:51 PM
So long, farewell to some NBA stars (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=farewells/nba/091229&sportCat=nba)
As we get ready for 2010, we also look back at 2009 -- specifically the players, coaches and other sports figures who called it a career in the past calendar year.
On Monday, we said farewell to some NFL stars (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=farewells/nfl/091228&sportCat=nfl). Today, we turn to the NBA.
This isn't a comprehensive list -- just a few of our favorites. The greats, and those whom you may have already forgotten.
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/1228/pg2_a_bowen_300.jpg
Bruce Bowen was a pain in the neck for many top NBA scorers.
BRUCE BOWEN
Many NBA fans will remember Bruce Bowen as a defensive pest or a dirty player.
They might recall someone who played on the edge of the rules and had the audacity to shut down, or at least contain, many of the league's biggest stars. Worst of all, he was a big part of making us sit through three championships by the humdrum, boring San Antonio Spurs.
The nerve of the guy.
Upon closer inspection, Bowen was the opposite of the coddled, gifted players who take physical talents for granted and fritter away their careers. Instead, Bowen fought, kicked, scratched and clawed for everything he achieved in basketball and in life.
He overcame an unstable family situation as a youth in Fresno, Calif. -- his mother battled drug addiction, and his father wasn't around -- to ascend to a career millions of kids dream about. He starred at Edison High and earned a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton. After going undrafted in 1993, he bounced between the CBA and France for several years.
Bowen got his first break in the NBA when he signed with the Miami Heat in 1995. Then he was cut before the season started. He signed again with the Heat the following season, playing one minute before ultimately being cut a second time. He finally stuck with Boston in 1997, followed by a stop in Philadelphia and a return to Miami.
By the time he joined the Spurs in 2001, he was becoming one of the best defenders in the league. He fit perfectly with San Antonio, as he didn't need the ball to be effective. That's crucial when your teammates include Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
In addition to winning those three titles with the Spurs, Bowen was named to the NBA's All-Defensive first team five consecutive seasons -- and to the All-Defensive second team the three seasons prior to that. Easily overlooked is the fact he also worked to become one of the league's most efficient 3-point shooters, leading the league in accuracy beyond the arc in 2002-03.
You can mutter and swear about Bowen's dirty style of play all you want … as long as you admit you would have loved if someone played defense that hard for your favorite team.
-- Thomas Neumann
BRENT BARRY
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/1228/pg2_a_barry_200.jpg
Here's Brent Barry on that famous dunk attempt.
Daaaaaaamn, that white boy can jump.
Kind of a silly thing to say about a professional basketball player in a dunk contest -- and yet, I remember watching the 1996 All-Star slam dunk contest with my boys, and there was a collective "what what" when Brent Barry took off from the free throw line.
"Daaaaaamn, that white boy can jump."
If you remember, it wasn't a great year for dunks. Doug Christie was in the contest, but didn't make it to the finals because his possessive wife heard other women might be watching (just kidding). And Darrell Armstrong must've misread the sign-up sheet because he shot a layup (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPAh40LD4D0).
Still, Michael Finley and Jerry Stackhouse were legit that year, and -- well, the gangly Barry, nicknamed "Bones," took the brothers out. Some cried reverse racism, some cried favoritism because of his last name, and some cried overrated because Barry did step over the free throw line when he took off. I just gave the dude his props while also feeling slightly ashamed at my own surprise that he had those kinds of hops.
It was as if Barry was exorcizing the "white men can't jump" demon from the hoops world, and everybody's head started spinning around like Linda Blair's.
The following year, Bobby Sura entered the contest but didn't make it out of the first round. Eventually Kobe Bryant won the contest and, well, things went back to "normal." For whatever reason, Barry remains the only white player ever to win the slam dunk contest. He is also only one of only three players to win the contest and a championship ring. The other two are Bryant and Michael Jordan.
But if there was ever a player defined by one meaningless shot, I guess it would have to be Brent. The best of the Barry brothers. The dunk didn't win a big game against a rival, or stave off elimination in the playoffs. It wasn't even on someone. Still, it was good enough to make the nation stop, take note and say "Daaaaaaaaamn."
-- LZ Granderson
*********************
Hit the link for the rest.
MATT HARPRING
ALONZO MOURNING AND DIKEMBE MUTOMBO
ERIC SNOW
BILL WALTON
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=farewells/nba/091229&sportCat=nba
As we get ready for 2010, we also look back at 2009 -- specifically the players, coaches and other sports figures who called it a career in the past calendar year.
On Monday, we said farewell to some NFL stars (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=farewells/nfl/091228&sportCat=nfl). Today, we turn to the NBA.
This isn't a comprehensive list -- just a few of our favorites. The greats, and those whom you may have already forgotten.
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/1228/pg2_a_bowen_300.jpg
Bruce Bowen was a pain in the neck for many top NBA scorers.
BRUCE BOWEN
Many NBA fans will remember Bruce Bowen as a defensive pest or a dirty player.
They might recall someone who played on the edge of the rules and had the audacity to shut down, or at least contain, many of the league's biggest stars. Worst of all, he was a big part of making us sit through three championships by the humdrum, boring San Antonio Spurs.
The nerve of the guy.
Upon closer inspection, Bowen was the opposite of the coddled, gifted players who take physical talents for granted and fritter away their careers. Instead, Bowen fought, kicked, scratched and clawed for everything he achieved in basketball and in life.
He overcame an unstable family situation as a youth in Fresno, Calif. -- his mother battled drug addiction, and his father wasn't around -- to ascend to a career millions of kids dream about. He starred at Edison High and earned a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton. After going undrafted in 1993, he bounced between the CBA and France for several years.
Bowen got his first break in the NBA when he signed with the Miami Heat in 1995. Then he was cut before the season started. He signed again with the Heat the following season, playing one minute before ultimately being cut a second time. He finally stuck with Boston in 1997, followed by a stop in Philadelphia and a return to Miami.
By the time he joined the Spurs in 2001, he was becoming one of the best defenders in the league. He fit perfectly with San Antonio, as he didn't need the ball to be effective. That's crucial when your teammates include Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
In addition to winning those three titles with the Spurs, Bowen was named to the NBA's All-Defensive first team five consecutive seasons -- and to the All-Defensive second team the three seasons prior to that. Easily overlooked is the fact he also worked to become one of the league's most efficient 3-point shooters, leading the league in accuracy beyond the arc in 2002-03.
You can mutter and swear about Bowen's dirty style of play all you want … as long as you admit you would have loved if someone played defense that hard for your favorite team.
-- Thomas Neumann
BRENT BARRY
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/1228/pg2_a_barry_200.jpg
Here's Brent Barry on that famous dunk attempt.
Daaaaaaamn, that white boy can jump.
Kind of a silly thing to say about a professional basketball player in a dunk contest -- and yet, I remember watching the 1996 All-Star slam dunk contest with my boys, and there was a collective "what what" when Brent Barry took off from the free throw line.
"Daaaaaamn, that white boy can jump."
If you remember, it wasn't a great year for dunks. Doug Christie was in the contest, but didn't make it to the finals because his possessive wife heard other women might be watching (just kidding). And Darrell Armstrong must've misread the sign-up sheet because he shot a layup (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPAh40LD4D0).
Still, Michael Finley and Jerry Stackhouse were legit that year, and -- well, the gangly Barry, nicknamed "Bones," took the brothers out. Some cried reverse racism, some cried favoritism because of his last name, and some cried overrated because Barry did step over the free throw line when he took off. I just gave the dude his props while also feeling slightly ashamed at my own surprise that he had those kinds of hops.
It was as if Barry was exorcizing the "white men can't jump" demon from the hoops world, and everybody's head started spinning around like Linda Blair's.
The following year, Bobby Sura entered the contest but didn't make it out of the first round. Eventually Kobe Bryant won the contest and, well, things went back to "normal." For whatever reason, Barry remains the only white player ever to win the slam dunk contest. He is also only one of only three players to win the contest and a championship ring. The other two are Bryant and Michael Jordan.
But if there was ever a player defined by one meaningless shot, I guess it would have to be Brent. The best of the Barry brothers. The dunk didn't win a big game against a rival, or stave off elimination in the playoffs. It wasn't even on someone. Still, it was good enough to make the nation stop, take note and say "Daaaaaaaaamn."
-- LZ Granderson
*********************
Hit the link for the rest.
MATT HARPRING
ALONZO MOURNING AND DIKEMBE MUTOMBO
ERIC SNOW
BILL WALTON
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=farewells/nba/091229&sportCat=nba