I don't watch many non-Blazer NBA but here's my list: Jalen Rose Wilt Tayshaun Prince Shaq Ricky Rubio JJ Barea Khalid El-Amin Kevin Durant (don't hate!) Tim Duncan (not in that 4-0 WCF) Cookie Belcher (+1 to Rasta and because "Hey, I actually know this guy")
Reggie Miller I was born in Portland, but we moved to Indianapolis when I was 3. I lived there for 4 years. The first games that I watched were Pacers games. I had a hoop in the backyard and I would pretend to be Reggie. He was a rookie the year I moved there. Then in 1990 I moved back to Portland. His shot was so fun to watch. Plus with Reggie being in the Eastern conference I didn't feel guilty rooting for him. I even rocked a Reggie jersey all through middle school.
Wilt Bob Love Norm Van Lier Jerry Sloan Tom Boerwinkle Clifford Ray Hakeem Bobby Jones Larry Bird Kevin McHale Tim Duncan BNM
I agree with Brian, there is a difference between the "respect" list and the "like" list. A "respect" list would have to include Jordan, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robinson, David Robinson, Bird, Parrish, even god forbid Kobe Bryant (based on game, not him as a person). For me a "like" list is not the greatest players but the ones whom, for some reason, I personally like. I liked John Amaechi a ton BEFORE he came out, and even more since. I like Manute Bol for his work for the Sudan and Adonal Foyle for his community involvement and intelligence. I like Steve Nash for being Canadian (admit I have a thing for Canadians) and for his "shooting for peace" T shirt. I like Hakeem for, in the wake of 9/11, calmly and reasonably explaining what the "fundamentals of Islam" really are.
BINGO! I'm looking for players you liked. That "like" you can't really explain.... but just liked them. Not players you think were good... that's not the question. I like the 2nd tier player answers the best. Jordan, Le Bron, Magic etc = boring answers. How can someone, a Blazer fan, have Magic Fucking Johnson on their "like" list? That's just baffling to me.
Hakeem - For being the best center I have ever seen. Gary Payton - Backed his smack. Jack Haley - Dude forged a 12 year career out of being tall. Watching him play made me laugh every single time. Reggie Miller - Same as Gary. Barkley - Funny as hell
Michael Jordan, of course. I was also a big fan of Magic Johnson, despite the fact that he was a Laker. His passing and court vision was the best that I've ever seen. He made watching games fun because he always did crazy passes that worked. I also like Penny Hardaway because he played kinda like Magic. Larry Bird was awesome as well. Other than that, I have only been a fan of the Blazers.
Good topic. I was partial to shooters since I was one myself growing up in the NBA on NBC era. Since the Pacers were always on, I loved Reggie Miller. And Allan Houston was also fun to watch, his game was smooth and I tried modeling my game after them. And during the 80s, being under 10 years old and being unaware of the hatred to the Lakers yet, I was a big Bryon Scott fan. Went to the Great Western Forum on a family trip to LA and had to get my picture taken with a Byron Scott photo on the wall. Others I loved watching since they always did the dirty work and little things: Charles Oakley and Derrick McKey.
First of all, I'd look up the definition of "hypocrisy" if I were you. (And the spelling of it ) Second, It's a discussion for goodness sakes. If I asked a guy at work who is favorite basketball player is and he answered "Bill Laimbeer" I'd laugh my ass off and ask why and then we'd discuss. Do you not understand message boards? I never said he was not a good player. I find it a tad bit strange when a Blazer fan lists Magic among their favorites, that's all.
My Bad! You have me on the spelling error. Thanks for the correction. As for definition, Yes I know it deals with moral issues. But since you asked a straightforward question, got a straightforward answer, then finding the answer not to your liking, retorted that you found it "baffling" why a Blazer fan could have "Magic Fucking Johnson" on their "like" list. I saw no facial gestures or body language and heard no laughter to indicate humorous bewilderment, Instead, I saw only verbiage which I construed to be filled with anger, hatred and chastisement coming from a self-proclaimed morally superior position. This in no way endears one to or opens doors for a discussion.
I answered that because I confused the question that was asked. The OP wasn't really clear in what they were seeking, so I confused "like" with "respect". I did LIKE watching Magic play basketball, however, more than I LIKED watching any non-Blazer. That said, I don't have a FAVORITE non-Blazer, but I really LIKED Terrell Brandon in his prime with the Cavs.
The one I liked the most, without any doubt - the Dream. He was a banger center with guard moves. A really amazing guy to watch in his prime - and that finals series where he took Shaq behind the shed and beat him senseless despite the fact that he is 4 inches shorter and who knows how many lbs was epic. I enjoyed Barkley a lot as well. It's a shame that by the time they were playing together for the Rockets they were pretty much past their sell-by date.
Yep. Hakeem was amazing. Remember when he killed David Robinson in the playoffs in Robinson's MVP year? That 1995 Rockets team was my favorite non-Blazers team ever. That was a great run. Won the championship as a 6th seed. Great fucking run. My other favorite teams would be the 94 Nuggets, 94 Pacers, and 99 Knicks.
Remember Mario Elie's kiss of death? <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OnIy_NhcDFg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OnIy_NhcDFg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
