Dennis 37 wrote:Sorry, not buying this crap. We are supposed to excuse Mourning because a lot of other Hall of Famers pulled similar crap with their teams? Sorry this does not help make Zo look good it just makes many Hall of Famers look bad. He told us that he was incapable of playing and then a few months later he's playing meaningful minutes for another team while we are carrying the tab. What chumps he made us into. Not only were we suffering the embarrassment of the Wiliams's being worth nothing, our other main asset from the trade is making us look like fools.
Did I expect him to play for us when he wasn't playing for NJ? Not really. Did I expect him to treat us with respect? Definitely. Why couldn't he have coached our big men while he was pretending to be suffering from a career ending medical condition? A quality person would have. He could have told us that he wouldn't play for us, but he would help our big men while he was awaiting a trade. That's what a a hall of fame quality type person would have done.
A quality person would have realized that there is give and take when you play in the NBA. The take is you get paid lots of money. The give is you honourably honour your contract and you accept that the team who pays your check is the one you owe your loyalty too. I guess my expecting that these players be men of honour is too much to ask?
Sorry, no sale.
Did Kevin Garnett, after years of playing for an inept basketball organization, ever go on strike, play half-assed to force a trade. No. Had Minnesota decided not to trade Garnett he would still be playing full tilt. Garnett is the example we should set for Hall of Famers.
Did Kobe Bryant, while in the midst of asking for a trade, ever reduce his level of play? No, he actually played better. He even went so far as to work one on one with Bynum.
In my mind.
Alonzo Mourning = Vince Carter
As for charity work, charity work does not get you into the hall of fame. If it did, Bill Gates would be there.
+1 - Great post.
2 seperate issues here:
1) Did Zo behave in a professional manner with the Raps? No chance.
2) Does he belong in the Hall? I think probably.
Personally, I'd rather be regarded as someone who demonstrates class and citizenship then have my name on a plaque in Springfield. Zo's move to Miami and winning that championship likely sealed his place in the later category - a decision he's probably quite comfortable with.
