It's hard to believe...

Cigamodnalro · Post #1 » by **Cigamodnalro** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:33 pm

that it was almost a decade ago that Darrell won his 6th Man/Most Improved awards.

Cigamodnalro · Post #2 » by **Cigamodnalro** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:41 pm

Also, if DA has another year left in him and we have a roster spot at the end of the bench (later Augustine! later Garrity!), I wouldn't mind bringing him back as a bench/support guy.

If nothing else, he can teach Jameer/whoever else the tricks of the trade. DA was a wily player and a tremendously talented flopper in his time.

Post #3 » by **TheGlyde** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:45 pm

flopper... c'mon... the amount of times I saw DA take a hit on a drive from a guy 3 times as big as him and bounce back up... he took contact like a man twice his size.

Flopping to me is when a guy is posting you up and he gives you a little hip and you go flying backwards.

DA was all about stepping in front of a guy when he was driving and taking a heavy hit.

tlloyd34 · Post #4 » by **tlloyd34** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:52 pm

flopper... c'mon... the amount of times I saw DA take a hit on a drive from a guy 3 times as big as him and bounce back up... he took contact like a man twice his size.

Flopping to me is when a guy is posting you up and he gives you a little hip and you go flying backwards.

DA was all about stepping in front of a guy when he was driving and taking a heavy hit.

Completely agree. He knew how to take a "charge." When someone the size of Amare takes a charge and flys back 20 feet, it looks a bit suspicious. But, when Darrell stepped in front of someone, he really was taking and hit, and at his size...he does fly back 20 feet!

Post #5 » by **Devin 1L** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:54 pm

Wow, that is kind of hard to believe.

Darrell Armstrong is one of the most loved players in this team's history. Heart and Hustle!

In fact, have we ever ran some sort of "official poll" of RealGM Magic fans' Top 10 Magic players or something of that nature? I'd be interested to see where he falls.

Cigamodnalro · Post #6 » by **Cigamodnalro** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:50 am

Darrell did more somersaults and backwards somersaults than anyone in the league. He was a small guy--I'm guessing that contact played its part, but he definitely could act. Would it be better if I changed "flopper" to "actor"?

Darrell is my favorite basketball player of all-time. Ever. The greatest. Flopping is certainly annoying when the fouls are being called on your team, but it does win games (Cavs vs. Spurs last year, for example). I loved each and every one of DA's somersaults.

Cigamodnalro · Post #7 » by **Cigamodnalro** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:52 am

I went to a basketball camp that DA was teaching at when I was younger, and his advice for defense was to stand on the foot of the player you're matched up with so that he can't get open. As far as practical basketball advice goes, it's as important as staying low to the ground.

Post #8 » by **ORL** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 1:27 am

One of my favorite memories is when he tried to reconnect the TV monitor Tim Hardaway tossed out on the court.

AdamTheGreek · Post #9 » by **AdamTheGreek** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 1:30 am

^^Flash got it to work too if I remember correctly. :rofl:

mhectorgato · Post #10 » by **mhectorgato** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 1:36 am

DA was the personification of heart and hustle.

ansoncarter · Post #11 » by **ansoncarter** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:14 am

he was a spazz

if I made the league and was on his team, I would have a sitdown meeting and calm daryl ass down. And daryl would be not only a better player for it, but a better person. Real.

Post #12 » by **ORL** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:18 am

^Maybe you don't know he does that on purpose? Drinks bunch of coffee and eats chocolate before every game.

ansoncarter · Post #13 » by **ansoncarter** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:29 am

well someone should have told him

he could have been mookie blaylock if he just ate right

Cigamodnalro · Post #14 » by **Cigamodnalro** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:58 am

DA drank two cups of coffee and ate a small box of chocolate every HALFTIME

Cigamodnalro · Post #15 » by **Cigamodnalro** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:04 am

ansoncarter wrote:well someone should have told him

he could have been mookie blaylock if he just ate right

DA got a very late start, and still has 15 years of NBA experience under his belt. Mookie was a solid player, but Darrell has completely outlasted him. As far as production, they weren't far apart either. Both averaged about 17 ppg in their primes. The difference is that DA radiated effort, and his energy rubbed off on teammates and on the fans.

I'd take Darrell over Mookie Blaylock any day of the week, and twice in the playoffs.

Post #16 » by **Devin 1L** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:55 am

ansoncarter wrote:he was a spazz

if I made the league and was on his team, I would have a sitdown meeting and calm daryl ass down. And daryl would be not only a better player for it, but a better person. Real.

What?

First, it's Darrell.

Second, being a "spazz" was the reason he experienced success in the NBA despite going undrafted.

It wasn't a fault; It was an asset, and likely his biggest one at that.

ansoncarter · Post #17 » by **ansoncarter** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:03 am

devin3807 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

What?

First, it's Darrell.

Second, being a "spazz" was the reason he experienced success in the NBA despite going undrafted.

It wasn't a fault; It was an asset, and likely his biggest one at that.

third, a calmed down daryl would be a monster. like mooke blaylock deluxe

guy would have been a hof'er if ridalin was invented back then

magicfanejc42 · Post #18 » by **magicfanejc42** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:17 am

Yeah Darrell is my favorite basketball player of all time.. I also went to a magic youth camp and he was my coach...he called me a defensive Wizard..lol. But He should easily be a top 3 Orlando magic player of all time.(To real fans anyway) He was full of class and had the heart of a bear. He never gave up and worked his all.. I remember after a heart breaking loss I think it was T-mac who had to drag him up off of the floor, as he was crying..

He was not a flopper, just a first class defensive player..(I remember when he stole the ball against philly with 2.3 seconds left and ran down to make a layup and win the game.)

The coolest thing about him was the whole hershey kisses and black coffee before every game..

I miss DA.. It's too bad he's this age..I'd love to have him as a coach/mentor for this team.

Post #19 » by **TheGlyde** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:19 am

There is no way DA would have been a 'Mookie Blaylock' if he 'calmed down'

DA made more with less, there was no way in hell he was as naturally talented as Mookie, he fought his way into the league, and eventually off the bench by being one of the best hustle players the league has ever seen.

Over the years he developed into a solid player with a very high IQ, but if you stop him flying all over for loose balls and throwing his body around and he probably never gets his start in the league.

Post #20 » by **TheGlyde** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:29 am

magicfanejc42 wrote:(I remember when he stole the ball against philly with 2.3 seconds left and ran down to make a layup and win the game.)

Ah, the life of a Magic fan in Australia.

The day of that game I was couped up in the university labs, pretending to be doing my tutorial work while watching the NBA.com boxscore... hiding in the back corner so the lecturer couldn't see me screen... we were down 1, with 2 seconds left, Philly ball... ugh, oh well game over... page refreshes and we won the game... I was like WTF? I almost jumped out of my chair and got busted :lol:

It was only later that night when I got home I got to actually see it on sportscenter.

DA was the man.