Off topic: Have ya ever wondered.....

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Ghost Pepper, Jan 7, 2009.

  1. hypnosmurf

    hypnosmurf Member

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    collage ball at Indiana State. You're thinking of Sue Bird, no relation.
     
  2. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    Hello darkness, my old friend
    Innate traits tend to regress to the mean over single generations. If you're taller than average, your child will most likely be shorter than you. If you are shorter than average, your child will most likely be taller than you. These are probabilities, so of course isn't true in every case. And the further from average you are, the higher the probability that your child will be shorter/taller than you.

    Same is true for intelligence or athletic ability, which is why children of NBA players are rarely/never as good as their famous parent. Plus, of course, there is the mother to consider. Her share of the bequeathed genes complicate it further.
     
  3. Ed O

    Ed O Administrator Staff Member Administrator

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    So many things have to line up just perfectly for a great athlete to be great. Physical attributes, experiences that allow the talent to flourish, an innate drive that can't be easily explained... the list goes on and on.

    There simply haven't been (by definition) many "great" NBA players. While their offspring have a much better than average chance (based on genes) to be great (even accounting for reversion to the norm tendencies) the odds are still stacked against them and I don't find it THAT surprising that we haven't seen (m)any two-generation greats in the NBA.

    Ed O.
     
  4. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    Oh.
     
  5. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

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    as I'm sure you know by now, everyone has you on ignore... jk

    STOMP
     
  6. number 10

    number 10 Our Savior

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  7. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

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    I couldn't care less about hockey but the Hulls probably beg to differ.

    STOMP
     
  8. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    Ralph Sampson lll plays at the University of Minnesota. He's not nearly as big as his dad - 6'11" 220 lbs.
     
  9. Mr. J

    Mr. J Triple Up

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    I was talking to Voodoo Child a few years ago, and he told me he played against Jerry West's kid.

    Apparently he was terrible.
     
  10. Stevenson

    Stevenson Old School

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    The players you mentioned are gifted - Wilt, Kareem, MJ, etc. Sure they pass along great genes, but to expect that a son will have the same exceptional gift is unrealistic I think.

    How many great musicans have musical prodigy children, or writers, etc? Very few.
     
  11. Ghost Pepper

    Ghost Pepper Active Member

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    I guess TV and show biz is the only place where this happens with better than average results. Would ya agree? Maybe Politics?
     
  12. hasoos

    hasoos Well-Known Member

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    Well Shawn Kemps kids will have at least 17 shots at greatness....:drumroll:

    :biglaugh:
     
  13. Ghost Pepper

    Ghost Pepper Active Member

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    That or the speed line at Krispy Kreme!
     
  14. MickZagger

    MickZagger Well-Known Member

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    One of Kemp's kids is actually a fairly high profile basketball recruit right now.
     
  15. MickZagger

    MickZagger Well-Known Member

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    One of them goes to Illinois, he is horrible. He was signed because of who his dad is.
     

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