The Big Fella
You may or may not know that George Mikan passed away this past week.
Mikan was the first basketball superstar, and the first real big man.
Providing the real life inspiration for Clark Kent*, Mikan was the face of the NBA and named the first half century's greatest player.
*(a totally unfounded claim)
Whenever interviewed, he came across as a genuinely nice guy. Intelligent, respectful, and sportsmanlike.
This next bit is what burned me. Mikan played before the player's union renegotiated for better pensions in 1965. A few months ago, they had Mikan and his family on Sportscenter, as they detailed thier crusade for better pensions. The current players union has ignored requests to boost the paltry pensions of the pre '65ers, and NBA David Stern refused to meet with Mikan or ESPN in regards to this issue.
So THE face of the NBA up until 1956 was shunned by the same institution that he carreid for the better part of 20 years. They made the goaltending rule because he blocked everything. They doubled the size of the llane to help thwart him. He institutionalized the 3 point line in the ABA, which the NBA adopted. And now they couldn't throw him a few bucks.
He had a monthly pension of $1,700 which went to treating his health problems. Mikan suffered from diabetes and kidney failure. One of the NBA's greatest 50 ever couldn't pay for dialysis, and sold most of his personal memoribila. His own jerseys, sneakers, MVP trophies; gone.
And he died last week. Then the NBA pays tribute. Stern comes out with this - "George Mikan truly revolutionized the game and was the NBA's first true superstar," NBA commissioner David Stern said. "He had the ability to be a fierce competitor on the court and a gentle giant off the court. We may never see one man impact the game of basketball as he did, and represent it with such warmth and grace." (ESPN.com)
Are you kidding me? You can't help this guy as he ails away, then you publicly acknowledge him so that you seem like a good guy? That's bullshit. This makes me genuinely mad.
How 'bout you pay respect to him while he's alive? How bout you take a small slice of a hundred billion dollar empire, and Kobe Bryant buys one less Benz, so guys like him can go out gracefully?
Mikan was the first basketball superstar, and the first real big man.
Providing the real life inspiration for Clark Kent*, Mikan was the face of the NBA and named the first half century's greatest player.
*(a totally unfounded claim)
Whenever interviewed, he came across as a genuinely nice guy. Intelligent, respectful, and sportsmanlike.
This next bit is what burned me. Mikan played before the player's union renegotiated for better pensions in 1965. A few months ago, they had Mikan and his family on Sportscenter, as they detailed thier crusade for better pensions. The current players union has ignored requests to boost the paltry pensions of the pre '65ers, and NBA David Stern refused to meet with Mikan or ESPN in regards to this issue.
So THE face of the NBA up until 1956 was shunned by the same institution that he carreid for the better part of 20 years. They made the goaltending rule because he blocked everything. They doubled the size of the llane to help thwart him. He institutionalized the 3 point line in the ABA, which the NBA adopted. And now they couldn't throw him a few bucks.
He had a monthly pension of $1,700 which went to treating his health problems. Mikan suffered from diabetes and kidney failure. One of the NBA's greatest 50 ever couldn't pay for dialysis, and sold most of his personal memoribila. His own jerseys, sneakers, MVP trophies; gone.
And he died last week. Then the NBA pays tribute. Stern comes out with this - "George Mikan truly revolutionized the game and was the NBA's first true superstar," NBA commissioner David Stern said. "He had the ability to be a fierce competitor on the court and a gentle giant off the court. We may never see one man impact the game of basketball as he did, and represent it with such warmth and grace." (ESPN.com)
Are you kidding me? You can't help this guy as he ails away, then you publicly acknowledge him so that you seem like a good guy? That's bullshit. This makes me genuinely mad.
How 'bout you pay respect to him while he's alive? How bout you take a small slice of a hundred billion dollar empire, and Kobe Bryant buys one less Benz, so guys like him can go out gracefully?