Kabo wrote:
Well there is always this wrote:But interestingly both Magic and Larry would tell you that Michael was the best of all time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wcr3PR3AQw&t=5m28sThere is a great book out there waiting to be written by somebody about all of the quotes and claims throughout time regarding who said what about whom in sports, e.g., "this guy or that guy was the best". I bet depending on when you asked the same player/ person---their answers change... Yet we freeze a quote someone made and hold it up forever, like it's a permanent, fixed position.
Like if you looked back at who I said was the hottest girl when I was 16 and see how that would hold up now. I think comments in the moment like that carry some weight---but mostly are just kind, complimentary lines said that might have more to say about the person saying them and where they are in their life at that moment than they are about the target of the claim.
It's still fun to hear what people think or thought at one time.
I recall Robert Parish saying contradictory things about Jordan and Bird and their respective places in the Pantheon over time. I guess it depended on what day you caught Robert and what was on his mind.
I remember Magic, right after the Lakers beat Boston in the Finals the last time they met, saying the Kobe was the greatest Laker ever. I wouldn't hold him to that forever. I think he was caught up in the moment more than anything else and it was kind of towing the company line to say that right then and there.
I'd buy that book. Bird at one time said:
Bird once said that Moses Malone was the toughest player he ever faced. Later, after losing to the Lakers in the Finals in 1987, he said Magic was the best----and that was AFTER he said "that was God disguised as Michael Jordan".
Bird refused to be in the "If I could be like Mike" promotion/ commercial.
He was asked who is the greatest player of all-time and he said "there are 2"---but he didn't name them. He just smiled.
You'll notice he doesn't lose to Jordan in the HORSE game in the McDonald's commercial.
When he was on the Dream Team with a shot back---which forced him to retire, he stepped in between the Michael VS Magic rivalry and told Magic (who in his own mind was NOT "done") and told Magic "the league WAS ours---but it's his now (Michael's)"------mind you, Larry said this with he and Magic retired from the NBA.
If Bird was asked today, I don't know what he would say. And if he said Jordan, it wouldn't suprise me because he's already saying "LeBron could be the greatest ever eventually" and he seems uncomfortable with talking about himself.
But I really don't know why he would put himself behind Jordan based on their results in the league together".
When Bird retired, Jordan sent in a video congratulating Larry on a great career. Jordan said "I'm not sorry to see you go. I'm tired of seeing your face. You stopped me from achieving many of my goals (or something to that effect)----and this was after Jordan had won 2 titles.
Larry's older now. I could see him towing the company line----even if it's not completely true.. And that might eventually mean he'll say LeBron is greater than Michael---even if he isn't---because LeBron is the leagues 'it boy' right now.
I agree with the 'swept up in the moment thing'. Ted Williams reportedly said that if Boston had Phil Rizzuto at SS, they'd have won all those WS-----and while that's a compliment not to sneeze at, Rizzuto didn't pitch and that was Boston's problem. Sometimes people use hyperbole to say stuff that isn't entirely accurate.
I agree it's still fun to read.