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Great, another old fella trying to jump on a championship bandwagon. It never works (eg Malone, Finley, Payton (till he had a 2nd crack at it))
The Heat aren't repeating as champs this year anyway i guess.
Pippen hot to play for the Heat
Says being on team with O'Neal and Wade would be his ideal
Published February 17, 2007
LAS VEGAS -- It was 13 years ago when Scottie Pippen was the stars of stars, when Pippen in the first All-Star Game after Michael Jordan's "retirement" was the MVP in a big Eastern Conference win.
"I remember Michael was not there," said Pippen, who'll participate Saturday in the Shooting Stars contest with the Bulls' Ben Gordon and Candice Dupree of the Chicago Sky in one of several contests leading up to the slam dunk contest. "I was the veteran guy. A lot of the guys had stepped down, Magic [Johnson], Michael, Larry [Bird], Charles [Barkley, who was injured], guys who I had taken a back seat to. It was a time I was in my prime and could step forward."
Pippen did with a game-high 29 points and 11 rebounds, and you remember Pippen holding that trophy aloft that cold day in Minneapolis. The same, warm satisfied smile seemed to comfort Pippen again Friday while he was surrounded by media asking him about his intention to return to the NBA.
In a weekend of entertainment and the bizarre, where golfer Mic e Wie strolled around during the media session doing her own interviews, there is little news. There was the usual workup to Sunday's All-Star game with Dirk Nowitzki moving into the West starting lineup and Shaquille O'Neal saying he won't stay long in the East's.
So, against that backdrop, a sure future Hall of Famer who hopes to return to the NBA at 41 stood out.
Pippen, never shy about stating his opinions and intentions, made it clear he'd love to play for the Miami Heat.
"I'm looking at teams like Miami, Cleveland, Dallas, San Antonio. I feel there are a few teams I could help," Pippen said.
Sitting at a nearby table later on, Kobe Bryant said he'd call Pippen and ask him to consider the Lakers.
"I'd like an opportunity to help a team contend for a championship," Pippen said. "I'd like to go play with Shaq. That would be the ideal place. He's probably the best in the game, he and Dwyane Wade. Teams in the East still are bunched up, but [the Pistons and the Heat] will be fighting it out in the Eastern finals.
"I don't see anyone really a threat to them. Indiana is going in another direction, the Bulls still are lacking that inside presence."
Though O'Neal said he hadn't heard about any Pippen interest in Miami, Wade was excited.
"I'm already playing with [Gary] Payton and Shaq; Scottie and Michael are two guys I used to play with on video games," Wade said. "To add Scottie to the mix, that would be crazy. It would be a dream."
But through it all, you could still feel the specter of Jordan hanging over Pippen.
So Pippen never hesitated when he was asked—once again—about not being appreciated as much as he should have been.
"I know that, but I think people love me just as much as they love Michael," Pippen said. "The fans who understand the game, the GMs and coaches. I think they'd rather have a Scottie than a Michael."
There was an awkward, shocked pause after Pippen answered—Pippen over Jordan?—and someone finally asked why.
"Because I'm an all-around player," Pippen added. "Coaches would rather have a Scottie-type player than a Michael. I was an all-around player. I made people around me better."
It's not to say Pippen wished he hadn't played with Jordan. But they never were truly close; they were fierce compe ors who never wanted to be second. Though Jordan is on hand to help judge the dunk contest Saturday, they haven't spoken lately.
As for Pippen's quest, he appears to be in terrific condition and knows today's players and game well. But he also understands his time could be past.
"I'm not betting on it, anyway," Pippen said. "If nothing falls the right way I won't be returning, and that's OK."
But he would like one more chance again to get to that final game. Maybe just because Jordan returned and couldn't.
All-Star media day is like the NFL's with all sorts of ancillary media and entertainment reporters. One guy came up to Pippen and showed him a Jordan rookie trading card, saying it was the 20th anniversary and asking if Pippen had one.
Pippen looked at him curiously and evenly said no. The guy asked then if Pippen collected anything.
"Championship rings," Pippen said.
Would one more be enough for Pippen's serenity? He'd like to find out.
The Heat aren't repeating as champs this year anyway i guess.
Why not because of their record we will finish top5 at worst
The Heat aren't repeating as champs this year anyway i guess.
I guess anything is possible when you have Dwhistle on your team
lol at "dwhistle"
What idiotic egotistical comments. Hey Pipsqueak, think Jordan was an "all-around player"?
Lol wow what a y bas what coach would rather have him than Jordan? And how does he figure that he was a better all around player than Jordan when MJ was the best all around player ever.
considering how he did crap w/o Jordan that;s just stupid
yea i know
It won't make a bit of difference. Looking at the East I think Detroit will be making thier way to either Dallas,Phoenix or San Antonio for the Finals.
Great I hope the heat sign him. Prince will light him up.
With him or without him Detroit will still beat DWhistle and the Heat.
most of the time we will probally play posey or wright on him
Any point for the Heat to have 6 forwards. Only 2 can play at a time.
You talk a lot of for a team that hasn't won a ring yet
Yeah the same 2 players he lit up last year in the ECF for career highs in scoring.
If we had DWhistle we would have won one by now. Enjoy your one hit wonder championship team.
no instead you guys are getting your asses beat the wcf aganist spurs ass whoppin wcf aganist the mavs they shoulda beat you in 5 but the refs help you guys win game 1 so good luck this year getting your asses beat by the mavs,spurs,rockets or lakersIf we had DWhistle we would have won one by now. Enjoy your one hit wonder championship team.
This is ironic a Heat fan saying the refs help the Suns win a playoff game. I can see you still can't write to save your life.
I can see your still gay you know what just shut up and win a ring and then talk until then i will just ignore you
wow your a complete dumbass wright didnt even play last year in the ecf dumbass
I thought you were ignoring me. BTW Prince scored career highs of 24 and 29 in Games 2 and 5. Why don't you go back to the Heat message board? The other bandwaggoners are waiting for you.
Is that even a sentence?
the heat are like a retirment center for old washed up players....payton, jones, posey, walker, and now pippen...please, please
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