Ok so I was thinking about the NBA today, and why the hell do guys not play with passion. I mean I understand this is a job to guys, and they're in it for the money (which I feel is completely wrong in the first place), but still, its a team sport, the goal is to win the championship. Too often today you see guys who could care less if they win or lose and just about the size of their check. The league needs more guys who are passionate like KG and Paul Pierce is and are dedicated and loyal to their teams. I really don't know where I'm going with this thread, just something I felt that was good to bring up and discuss.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yankshater213 @ Feb 19 2007, 10:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Ok so I was thinking about the NBA today, and why the hell do guys not play with passion. I mean I understand this is a job to guys, and they're in it for the money (which I feel is completely wrong in the first place), but still, its a team sport, the goal is to win the championship. Too often today you see guys who could care less if they win or lose and just about the size of their check. The league needs more guys who are passionate like KG and Paul Pierce is and are dedicated and loyal to their teams. I really don't know where I'm going with this thread, just something I felt that was good to bring up and discuss.</div> Whats a definition of passionate? A player who shows it verbally and with his body language? Or a player who is displeased with his game and goes to the gym to workout all day? Just because you see KG and Pierce (wonder how he came into the thread ) do it on TV, doesn't mean they are the only ones in the NBA that are passionate. I was watching a documentary on the spurs sucess, and the topic about how Duncan was so quiet on the court. It turns out, Duncan is the most talkative person on the Spurs, always talking, joking, being a locker room leader. Don't get fooled because players like Duncan, Bosh, Kidd, dont shout out loud when they dunk it or make a good play, its about whats their intentions really.
Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett may be loyal, but they are some of the few players that don't have to worry about being traded, there is no loyalty in professional sports because it's about making money. Players are property. Players know this and know they could be dumped by the way side, fans bi*ch that players are not loyal, but with the way sports are can you blame them?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ Feb 19 2007, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Whats a definition of passionate? A player who shows it verbally and with his body language? Or a player who is displeased with his game and goes to the gym to workout all day? Just because you see KG and Pierce (wonder how he came into the thread ) do it on TV, doesn't mean they are the only ones in the NBA that are passionate. I was watching a documentary on the spurs sucess, and the topic about how Duncan was so quiet on the court. It turns out, Duncan is the most talkative person on the Spurs, always talking, joking, being a locker room leader. Don't get fooled because players like Duncan, Bosh, Kidd, dont shout out loud when they dunk it or make a good play, its about whats their intentions really.</div>Just because they were the only two I listed doesn't mean I think they're the only ones at all. KG and Pierce are two guys who both struck me as passionate and loyal. I didn't feel the need to go through all of the guys in the NBA who fit into each category. I don't get why you gotta come with the assholeish attitude.
AI+KG are the most loyal people ever. With there gm's never giving them enough to win.Were is AI's name? This dude was sorta on the block more then any bench players in the league every freakin year yet he always said he want to stay. The gm never put enough around him to win. And even worse was how he was treated being on the block pretty much every year. His kids, his wife, and him you know how much they were asked every season if he is leaving, or don't leave, or w/e they had no peace with the trade stuff awful for a player who is that good.And KG should have asked for a trade a while ago yet he is being loyal like AI, but at some point he will also have enough and wanna leave.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yankshater213 @ Feb 19 2007, 10:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Just because they were the only two I listed doesn't mean I think they're the only ones at all. KG and Pierce are two guys who both struck me as passionate and loyal. I didn't feel the need to go through all of the guys in the NBA who fit into each category. I don't get why you gotta come with the assholeish attitude.</div>No seriously, no pun/insult whatever you call intended, but I believe thats just a problem with people watching the NBA. I just see everyone going nuts when they talk about KG, Pierce, etc... just because thats the body language they give off. Im an example of that, I rarely talk on the court, or talk when people speak basketball about who's the best in my school such. Its such a bigger statement for to use their actions as words on the court, thats what moves me, just going to the gym everyday, working relentlessly, not giving up, those specific players I have serious respect for. Like Gilbert Arenas, he didnt talk much last year, but in a sense, this year, he 'earned the right' to talk. He worked on his game, fixed his shot, and now is a top-tier player in the NBA. Sure he is mouthy now, but Ive developed a respect for the Hibachi Chief. My other example is Steve Nash, who lets his team and his passing skills do the talking for him. Nash completely perfected the jump shot, and his passing ability. Ive seen numerous documentaries on him, and saw how his chances to even making it to the NCAA were seriously 1 to a 1000000, and he shut his mouth, blocked out the negativity, and persevered, something I aspire to do myself, didnt mean to offend you or nothing. But to me a player that has true passion for the game, inspires others to do the same thing.
I can't believe you guys are listing superstars as the most passionate players. I bet every twelfth man in the NBA is more passionate than any superstar. Guys like Ben Wallace, Marquis Daniels, Darrell Armstrong, Gilbert Arenas, Rashard Lewis...who had too work their way up are just as passionate. But every guy who rides the bench, was a second rounder or undrafted, is on the DNP-CD list every night, works his bottom off in every practice... Those are the guys who are most passionate.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Feb 20 2007, 07:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I can't believe you guys are listing superstars as the most passionate players. I bet every twelfth man in the NBA is more passionate than any superstar. Guys like Ben Wallace, Marquis Daniels, Darrell Armstrong, Gilbert Arenas, Rashard Lewis...who had too work their way up are just as passionate. But every guy who rides the bench, was a second rounder or undrafted, is on the DNP-CD list every night, works his bottom off in every practice... Those are the guys who are most passionate.</div>Or those could be the guys less passionate and may be the reason why they sit on the bench so much because they don't give.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Feb 20 2007, 08:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I can't believe you guys are listing superstars as the most passionate players. I bet every twelfth man in the NBA is more passionate than any superstar. Guys like Ben Wallace, Marquis Daniels, Darrell Armstrong, Gilbert Arenas, Rashard Lewis...who had too work their way up are just as passionate. But every guy who rides the bench, was a second rounder or undrafted, is on the DNP-CD list every night, works his bottom off in every practice... Those are the guys who are most passionate.</div> How and the hell do you know that? Saying a starter is less passionate than a bench player because a bench player isn't as good makes little sense at all. It doesn't matter what level you are at on a team, some guys on the bench don't give a sh*t and some starters don't give a sh*t.
Kevin Garnett immeditely comes to mindjust watch CB32's video about Garnetthttp://youtube.com/watch?v=x1HDJYlTUCI
Its really hard to see guys who have the most passion, because some of them dont really get the chance to play. But out of the guys that play alot, and contribute, I would say Paul and KG have a hell of alot of passion. KG is definitely first in my book. He is such a hardworker. And I think AI has alot of passion as well. He has played his ass of every game of his career, and puts his heart and soul in to basketball. I love him for it.
