Drama loves company. This was one of the few statement games by the older and wiser MJ. With rookie Stackhouse mouthing off to the press about how he held his own against MJ during his summer-UNC warmup sessions, MJ was quietly enraged. To add to that, Vernon 'Mad' Maxwell was upset that the Bulls were getting so much press with MJ's return after retirement that he spewed nonsense to the press as well. It awoke the sleeping giant.With cool and calm efficiency, MJ destroyed the two in this game as their comments were unacceptable. Toying with Stack the whole game, MJ frustrated him into shooting 4-11 for 13 pts. Smothering Mad Max the other half of the time, MJ ruined him into shooting 1-8 for 4 pts. On the other end, MJ chose to hit 64% with a butter-like J to go 18-28 in 3 quarters for 48 pts and 10 rebounds. With his exploits responsible for a 30 point lead, MJ rested the 4th, iced his knees and asserted his physical and mental mastery of the game while marching his way to a record 72 win season that year."You do not look at Michael Jordan in the eye because he'll take that as a challenge and he'll dominate you. You do not make him mad. Whenever I played against him, I just looked at the ground." (Jayson Williams, NJ Nets.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUMHZbvnMAA
Nice thread. Damn it; that quote was from Jayson Williams' book. I've said it before and I'kk say it again: one of the best NBA related books there is out there, and it makes me sad when I think of what Williams has done a couple of years back. And MJ: wow. In the beginning of the clip he pump faked at the three-point line, Stackhouse fell for it, but instead of going to the rim, Jordan still stood there, as if he said: "Yeah I got you, I can do whatever I want." MJ remains the GOATI always wished he stuck to retirement after the '98 championship.
Dumb move by Stack. You should never aggravate the god of basketball. He will simply seek wrath on you. If someone made fun of Jordan right now, today, Jordan could easily go play a game and get 30-40 points. That's just how good he is of a basketball player. It would be awesome if Jordan made one final comeback with the Bobcats to help them out.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Oct 2 2006, 05:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Dumb move by Stack. You should never aggravate the god of basketball. He will simply seek wrath on you. If someone made fun of Jordan right now, today, Jordan could easily go play a game and get 30-40 points. That's just how good he is of a basketball player. It would be awesome if Jordan made one final comeback with the Bobcats to help them out.</div>He somewhat hurt his legacy with his Wizards comeback (although he did have his moments, and still dropped 20PPG after a few years of absence in an overweight, old body). If he came back again it'd just be stupid (although I agree it would be pretty damn cool just because he's MJ).
Yeah, MJ aint the GOAT but, he's still untouchable. And I aint talking Dwyane Wade untouchable either.
