Robinson is truly one of the more decorated players in NBA history.
Harvey also forgot to mention that Robinson is actually taller than Jordan.
I am surprisd that some of Robinson's best friends here in ST -people that dine chez the Admirals at least once a week- have not pointed out this essential piece of information.
We don't always agree whott, but I am in 100% agreement with you on this one. As you mentioned Hakeem, I remembered that he even fasted due to his religious beliefs, and that made his game suffer, so why does Dave always get called out for being more than a professional basketball player?
Dave saved a franchise. The Bulls wern't moving with or without Jordan.
Jordan was a of a player, but like you stated so well, who would you like your kids to grow up like,,,Mike, or Dave?
There is a ton of people who believe that Jordan's gambling debts got his father killed....can't be proven, but rumor is that Stern called him into his office and asked Jordan to law low (retire) for a year for everything to calm down then come back.
This is one of Harvey's best articles ever!
Nice article by Buck, pretty close to what I thought after watching the two speeches. MJ seems to have been on a slow decline ever since he stopped playing, whereas David is still rising, building the community he cherishes.
Jordan wasn't a coke head he was a degenerate gambler!
i wonder what would happen if drob was 6'9 instead, would he be the greatest SF/PF?
This is the second time (a Charley Rosen article being the other) in which its been stated that Robinson didnt even like playing basketball all that much.
While Spurs fans will use it as a testament to how smart he was or what a great guy he was, the rest of us ardent fans will look at him as a waste. Such a naturally gifted athlete with no love of the game? Sad.
MJ was Mr Bitterman
I look at it this way, if MU hadn't been there and it had just been Stockton and Robinson, they probably wouldn't have even bothered sending a camera crew.
I really liked that article. Well written, Mr. Harvey.
What waste? He took his talents, worked hard to improve them, and turned them into one of the most successful careers of any NBA player ever. I wish I could find that poster that came out the night the spurs won the 2003 championship that was of David Robinson. It was him, and a listing of all of his accomplishments. The poster was completely full of accomplishments (basketball related only). It was ridiculous, even I was unaware of exactly how much David was declorated until seeing all of them in one place.
You are a Suns fan. You want proof of how hard David worked on his game? Go back to the 1993 playoffs, look at the lineup that the Spurs had and ask yourself "How in the heck was that team able to hang with such a talented suns team?" We were one uncharacteristic shot from Charles Barkley away from forcing a game 7. How indeed did we make it THAT far. The answer is David.
I believe that the difference in David's life versus that of Michael Jordan is that David seeks to serve the Lord and help others while Michael Jordan's primary goal is his own success.
Obtaining success, if that is all you have, is an empty victory even when it can be realized. The lives of many celebrities has proven that.
I think there is still hope for Michael, if he will let the Lord give him a new dream and will reach out and help others instead of dwelling on the past.
So I guess you have that in common then.
David Robinson is 1000 times the man MJ ever was.
Knott: Be like David Robinson, not Michael Jordan
By Tom Knott
The decency of David Robinson was lost amid the petty bombast of Michael Jordan last weekend.
That is how it always has been with Robinson, and how it came to be on the night Robinson, Jordan, John Stockton, Jerry Sloan and C. Vivian Stringer delivered their Hall of Fame induction speeches in Springfield, Mass.
Robinson never was a star's star in the NBA. He was too gracious to be that, too straight-laced, too much the friendly next-door neighbor.
Robinson never worried about keeping it real because of his comfort with who he was. He never felt compelled to project an image, to win converts to his side, to be a contrivance.
He was the accidental elite player, after all. His destiny was not the NBA, not when he was in the final year of high school in Manassas, Va. His destiny was the military. The experience shaped his at ude and grounded him.
He grew five inches after arriving at the Naval Academy. He became a 7-footer, which is no way to be if you plan to spend part of your life on a submarine. He met his two-year military obligation after graduating from the Naval Academy and soon became the face of the Spurs.
He was not flashy or controversial or edgy. He sometimes played with a smile, which runs counter to Flip Saunders' directive to the ever-grinning Nick Young. Yet he was a compe or. He did not have to dream up imaginary slights to turn on the emotional fires, as Jordan did.
Robinson's ability to see beyond the basketball floor mostly escaped the NBA chroniclers of his time, perhaps because they were obsessed with all things Jordan.
Robinson raised money to start a school for underprivileged children in San Antonio. He gave back to the community in a profound way, not in a meet-and-greet, photo-op, five-minute way intended to burnish the "We Care" program of the NBA.
Robinson seemingly always knew there was life after basketball. And he was ready to embrace it with the gusto that defined his career. He did not need a farewell tour, which was a good thing. His last season corresponded with Jordan's last season with the Wizards.
While Jordan's final go-around was discussed in redundant detail, Robinson's went largely unnoticed. By then, Robinson was subservient to Tim Duncan on the court.
He took a hit to the ego for the team, one of the overlooked aspects of his career. And Robinson had an ego - but one with a rein on it. In his final seasons, he was the former franchise player nurturing his replacement.
Robinson was appreciative in his speech, the tight-lipped Stockton showed he had a wit, Sloan noted the perspective that came his way after the Evansville basketball plane crash and Stringer talked about losing the love of her life, her husband.
Jordan dumped the names and notes that he took throughout his career on the audience, from the high school varsity player who was selected over him to Jerry Krause to the time he was left off the cover of Sports Illustrated because of Dean Smith.
It was an odd, almost uncomfortable spiel that left you thinking this one-time basketball wonder never will be as satisfied in life as he was on the court.
Robinson left no such impression. He walked away from the NBA knowing it was time. There was no angst then, no thought of a comeback.
Jordan has a rage in him that no front-office position can satisfy. He could not resist suggesting that he could have another comeback in him at age 50. That was not intended to elicit a laugh.
So, just as he did as a player, Jordan claimed the headlines, along with the evaluations of the arm-chair psychoanalysts.
The message, intended or not, lent a twist to the one-time "Be Like Mike" Gatorade campaign, which was: Don't be like Mike.
Instead, be like David: content, well-adjusted, at peace.
GOATs will always have deamons inside. They have talent but also have an insane obsession for what they do. That`s what separates legends from the rest.
In art is the obsession for perfection, in sports is the obsession for winning. So maybe Robinson is more happy and more loved, but i`m thankful for those people that deal with inner deamons to push the limit of what humans can do.
Probably true about Greatest Of All Timers. Of course it's possible at some point Jordan will reconcile himself to being over the hill, but he may not. He may throw away enormous sums on gambling just to keep chasing that winning feeling.
On a side note, I wonder if Federer is like that too? Not the gambling but the driven-ness?
Be Like David... Not Like Mike.
Voddie Baucham
One does not have to be a sports fan to know that induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor. Whatever your field, there is nothing like being recognized as one of the best ever to do it. Recently, several legendary basketball players received this honor. Among them were David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs, and Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls (full disclosure: I grew up in Los Angeles loving the Lakers and despising both the Bulls and the Spurs... and I’m still getting over it).
There was a stark difference between the two acceptance speeches. As I listened to the two speeches, all I could think of was the old commercial catchphrase, “Like Mike... If I could be like Mike.” Unfortunately, in this instance, Mike was the last person anyone should aspire to be like. This was definitely not a Michael Jordan highlight. Jordan’s Speech was self-centered, indulgent, arrogant, and at times embarrassing. In contrast, David Robinson rose to the occasion and made a brief, inspiring, encouraging speech (see his speech here) that made his family, his team, and his friends proud.
Let me say up front that I did not expect Michael Jordan, the known philanderer/adulterer (see here), to be a paragon of virtue. He is a basketball player (and Nike/Gatorade/Haynes pitchman), and has never portrayed himself as anything else. I did, however, expect some class from the man many believe to be the best to ever lace ‘em up. Instead, Jordan put on a disappointing display that looked even worse when compared to Robinson’s speech.
David Elevated Others... Mike Elevated Mike
David Robinson took the time to honor the all of the people who were there to support him. He acknowledged George Gervin as “the original Mr. San Antonio,” and a Spurs legend, Larry Brown as a “basketball genius,” Avery Johnson as the spiritual force behind the Spurs rise to prominence, and Tim Duncan as “the greatest Power Forward to play the game.” Here was a man who saw himself as the recipient of a great legacy, surrounded by great players and coaches, and grateful to have had personal success in the process.
On the other hand, the theme of M.J.’s speech was, “If you want to know where my legendary ‘fire’ comes from... here it is.” For example, M.J. thanked Pat Riley, but he did it in a backhanded way, recounting a story about a resort in Hawaii where the hotel put Pat Riley out of M.J.’s suite when he arrived. This was just one example of many where M.J. shone the light on himself by putting others down. He stepped on players, coaches, and the guy who took his spot in High School all in a self-serving fashion.
David Honored His Family... Mike Honored Himself
David Robinson took the time to speak words of encouragement and praise to each of his sons, honored his wife in an appropriate, heartwarming exchange, and paid homage to his parents who “planted a seed of faith” in him. He talked about the “Robinson family name” that he is obviously serious about passing on to and through his sons without portraying himself as a man worthy of adoration.
Jordan did mention Scotty Pippen, but only to say that Pippen was there “for every championship I won.” He mentioned the other recipients, but only to allude to the fact that he learned something about them, but can’t imagine what the audience doesn’t already know about him. He did make mention of his siblings and their contribution to his compe ive nature, and Dean Smith’s legend as a coach. Unfortunately, that all-to-brief section of the speech paled in comparison to what followed.
Jordan eventually got around to mentioning his wife (who divorced him in 2006) in passing, and his children merited little more than that. Clearly, Jordan’s speech was little more than an opportunity to remind everyone how great he was, and to do so at the expense of others. Addressing the coach who picked the mythological Leroy Smith (who was present in the audience) over him in High School, he said, “You made a mistake, dude.“ On the issue of Dean Smith failing to name him as a starter his freshman year (so he could be on the cover of Sports Illustrated), M.J. declared, “I deserved to be on that Sports Illustrated [cover].” Later, in response to a Bulls exec (with whom he had a rather rocky relationship) who used the cliche, “Organizations win championships,” M.J. retorted, “I didn’t see ‘organization’ playing with the flu in Utah...” All I could think as I listened was, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2 ESV)
David Was Brief... Mike Was Indulgent
M.J. spoke for well over twenty minutes; David Robinson was done in less than seven. Moreover, the brevity of David’s speech had less to do with the time than it did with it’s timeliness. Had Robinson spent twenty minutes doing what he did, it would have been fine. Everyone in the room would have been glad to listen to “The Admiral” heap praise on those who meant so much to him. However, he did not need more time in order to say thank you and honor those who made him who he is, and came to support him on his big day. Twenty-three minutes is not a long time to speak. However, when the speech is an arrogant, self-serving display, half that time would be too much.
David Honored God... Mike Honored Basketball
David Robinson ended his speech with a moving reference to the story of the ten lepers in Luke’s gospel. It was so refreshing not to hear the old standard, “First, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who made it all possible by making me so good” cliche. Instead, Robinson actually referred to the Bible (book and chapter), used it in context, applied it to the situation, and was completely appropriate, God-honoring, and not at all cheesy. Praise God!
David Robinson presented himself as a man who had a great career, but didn’t let it define who he is. Michael Jordan, on the other hand, presented himself as a man who loves, needs, and craves basketball and the attention it brings. He even alluded to the idea of coming back and “playing at fifty.” I doubt he was serious, but the point was clear. Jordan is defined by what he did on the court. He needed this moment to snatch his throne back from the likes of Kobe Bryant if only for one night. He needed the bright lights, and the attention again if only for twenty-three minutes. And in the end, it was quite sad. A man who has “everything”; the most recognizable figure on the planet at one time, looked as empty as the United Center (where the Bulls play) two hours after a disappointing loss.
David sees His Legacy in His Family... Mike sees His Legacy in His Highlights
David Robinson’s personal words to his three sons were about the most poignant, moving, inspiring words from a father I’ve heard in a long time. Here was a man receiving the highest honor in sports, and he turned it into a father/son moment that his boys will never forget. He spoke to each son, acknowledged their unique gifts, and his unique relationship with each of them.
M.J. also acknowledged his children, but the theme was the same... ‘It’s all about me.’ At one point, M.J., said to his kids, “You guys got a heavy burden... I wouldn’t want to be you guys if I had to.” (This was right before his absolutely classless remarks about the $1,000.00 ticket price for the event) While this may be a true sentiment (Jordan was referring to the unfair expectations on his children), the context was unfortunate. Instead of a loving father sympathizing with the plight of his children, M.J. came across as an arrogant superstar admiring the magnitude of his own shadow and using his kids as no more than a punch-line.
Modern American sports serve as an incubator for the self-centeredness that resides in each of us. The better one performs, the harder it is to avoid “the big-head.” I cannot imagine how difficult it would be do handle Michael Jordan’s level of success. What else could he be? Where would he acquire humility, class, and selflessness? Ironically, many argue that these are the very character traits team sports build in young people. Nothing could be further from the truth. Nevertheless, these traits were definitely present in David Robinson. But where did they come from? Did the Spurs do a better job at fostering this character than the Bulls? I doubt it. Did the Naval Academy do a better job at fostering it than the University of North Carolina? Perhaps. However, I believe the key is in the speech. The “seed of faith” planted by his mom and dad; the ‘preaching’ by teammates like Avery Johnson, and the Christ to whom Robinson referred in his closing remarks all came together to shape the man who made that speech.
David Robinson is far from perfect. I’m sure he has as many flaws, foibles and faults as the rest of us. However, for seven minutes, he represented his team, his family, and his Lord very well. And he showed us all how attractive humility and grace can be.
Pray for David as he strives to walk with God. Also, pray for M.J. as he seeks to fill a massive void in the center of his life that basketball, money, fame, championships, and women can never satisfy. Pray that Christ saves him and turns his gaze to something loftier than his own highlights. Not because Jesus needs Jordan’s voice, but because M.J. needs Jesus (just like the rest of us).
A similar story:
Knott: Be like David Robinson, not Michael Jordan
By Tom Knott (Contact)
The decency of David Robinson was lost amid the petty bombast of Michael Jordan last weekend.
That is how it always has been with Robinson, and how it came to be on the night Robinson, Jordan, John Stockton, Jerry Sloan and C. Vivian Stringer delivered their Hall of Fame induction speeches in Springfield, Mass.
Robinson never was a star's star in the NBA. He was too gracious to be that, too straight-laced, too much the friendly next-door neighbor.
Robinson never worried about keeping it real because of his comfort with who he was. He never felt compelled to project an image, to win converts to his side, to be a contrivance.
He was the accidental elite player, after all. His destiny was not the NBA, not when he was in the final year of high school in Manassas, Va. His destiny was the military. The experience shaped his at ude and grounded him.
He grew five inches after arriving at the Naval Academy. He became a 7-footer, which is no way to be if you plan to spend part of your life on a submarine. He met his two-year military obligation after graduating from the Naval Academy and soon became the face of the Spurs.
He was not flashy or controversial or edgy. He sometimes played with a smile, which runs counter to Flip Saunders' directive to the ever-grinning Nick Young. Yet he was a compe or. He did not have to dream up imaginary slights to turn on the emotional fires, as Jordan did.
Robinson's ability to see beyond the basketball floor mostly escaped the NBA chroniclers of his time, perhaps because they were obsessed with all things Jordan.
Robinson raised money to start a school for underprivileged children in San Antonio. He gave back to the community in a profound way, not in a meet-and-greet, photo-op, five-minute way intended to burnish the "We Care" program of the NBA.
Robinson seemingly always knew there was life after basketball. And he was ready to embrace it with the gusto that defined his career. He did not need a farewell tour, which was a good thing. His last season corresponded with Jordan's last season with the Wizards.
While Jordan's final go-around was discussed in redundant detail, Robinson's went largely unnoticed. By then, Robinson was subservient to Tim Duncan on the court.
He took a hit to the ego for the team, one of the overlooked aspects of his career. And Robinson had an ego - but one with a rein on it. In his final seasons, he was the former franchise player nurturing his replacement.
Robinson was appreciative in his speech, the tight-lipped Stockton showed he had a wit, Sloan noted the perspective that came his way after the Evansville basketball plane crash and Stringer talked about losing the love of her life, her husband.
Jordan dumped the names and notes that he took throughout his career on the audience, from the high school varsity player who was selected over him to Jerry Krause to the time he was left off the cover of Sports Illustrated because of Dean Smith.
It was an odd, almost uncomfortable spiel that left you thinking this one-time basketball wonder never will be as satisfied in life as he was on the court.
Robinson left no such impression. He walked away from the NBA knowing it was time. There was no angst then, no thought of a comeback.
Jordan has a rage in him that no front-office position can satisfy. He could not resist suggesting that he could have another comeback in him at age 50. That was not intended to elicit a laugh.
So, just as he did as a player, Jordan claimed the headlines, along with the evaluations of the arm-chair psychoanalysts.
The message, intended or not, lent a twist to the one-time "Be Like Mike" Gatorade campaign, which was: Don't be like Mike.
Instead, be like David: content, well-adjusted, at peace.
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009...on-blended-in/
Darn, 228 beat me to it...
Another excellent, excellent article.
David Robinson is an awesome person and I am delighted with how he is being so rightly honored.
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