Big Pippen wrote:My 11 year old wanted to watch this with me, it was really special seeing him take interest in something that was such a formative part of my youth.
I've always wondered how I would view Jordan and this documentary as a teenager now? Would I despise him being a LeBron fan, or would I have a level of appreciation for him? I'm not entirely sure. I'm just glad I got to experience and be a fan of Jordan and the Bulls especially through the second 3peat.
A few observations and thoughts:
- I miss the old NBA... I do believer players are generally more skilled these days. But there used to be a greater mix of styles (in individual player skill and team schemes) and I miss those beautiful contrasts.
This is what I miss the most. There was a clear distinction between Western conference brand of basketball and the Eastern conference. The Easetern conference seemingly played the defensive, lock down, slow type of basketball, where the Western conference were usually the high octane fast paced offensive style game.
Nowadays, every team seemingly plays the same brand, or looks to immulate each other, and there are no real distinct differences - it's mostly just the talent level between teams which makes the real difference.
- Rewatching young MJ and young Pippen reminds me that the league in the mid and late 90s was packed with elite athletes. Even I forgot, a little, how those guys could fly.
As far as athletes go, there were plenty of elite athletes back then for sure, just look at some of the uniquely athletic players who were playing then, Robinson, Barkley, Kemp, Jordan, Pippen, Larry Johnson, Rodman, Shaq, Drexler, Dream, to name a few, these players would still be considered great top tier athletes even now.
Don't get me wrong, I feel there are more athletic players now, but that's a given with the evolution of sports technology, etc. But 90's athletes get disrespected by many of the young NBA fans, like they were some joke.
- Krause is really hard to like and defend. He did some good, he did some bad, I'm not going to get in to that deep dive. But from a charisma perspective, the guy was really, really deficient. A smile, a joke, a wink.. would have gone a long way for the guy. Even when Jerry R and team staff are trying to say nice things about him, their comments are very terse and coded.
As much as I despised him during the time I was a fan growing up and even through my adult years, I still didn't fully appreciate the fact that many in the documentary seemingly took shots while the man was down (dead). I think you can state things in a matter of fact way, about the issues and what not, but show a little more respect.
They did seemingly respect him at some points, but Krause did things which eventually did rub them the wrong way, and especially during the latter part of their tenures together, there was a clear divide between players/coaches and management, which makes it not all the surprising that even with all the winning Krause wanted a clean slate. There is no arguement from me about whether it was the right decision (it was the wrong decision as far as business decisions go), but on a human level, I do understand - when you know everyone hates you, doesn't respect you, and you have the backing of the owner, I guess you do what you feel the start over which he did.
I sugguest anyone who doesn't know much about him to listening to the podcast he had with Woj, the guy wasn't a total bonehead and entirely unlikeable. He had a great passion for the game and what he did, it's just his personal relationship skils were lacking and clearly he felt a huge grunge against how people treated him.
- Lebron is great, I have nothing bad to say about him, but this doc cements in my mind that Jordan had a "bigger" impact, brand, presence, and charisma. Talent wise, I can't compare, just too different styles of players. But MJ was a global icon, there hasn't been anything else like it.
There is absolutely no doubt that Jordan had a bigger impact, that goes without saying.
MJ and the Bulls effectively turned the NBA from a national game, to a international game and they effectively catapulted the league to where it is now. Were they the only reasons? No, of course not, but they were one of the biggest reasons.
They were literally like the Beatles and Michael Jackson (who were the greatest stars back then world wide), and the Bulls and Michael Jordan was on par with them.
- This doc needs some Barkley!
He was on the teases for the series, so I'm certain he will have his part. I have a feeling it will be to talk about his and Jordans relationship, before and after the fall out. Because though I know it was partially due to Barkley calling out the people Jordan had around him, where he felt they were just 'yes-men', but I'm certain there are other reasons. It's a shame, because they seemingly were two great friends.
- I love Phil. The modern bloggosphere killed him when he half ran the Knicks. But he is an all time great NBA personality and I get that he rubs some the wrong way, but I really loved the "Pre L.A. Zen Guru" Phil. He was getting there by 97... but you still see a really grounded, intelligent, coach you would love to play for
I have nothing but respect for him, and he is one of the greatest coaches of all time, but he was also very fortunate to have had some truly all time great players in his tool box. Which coach was fortunate enough to coach Michael Jordan, Pippen, Shaq and Kobe. These are like 4 of the top 10 players of all time (possibly top 15, depending on where you rank Kobe and Pippen).
they are very upset. I can't help but laugh.
