Don’t look past the fact that Talib CALLED OUT TWO PLAYERS. ON PURPOSE. WITH MALICE.
All of a sudden it barely made a difference who those guys were. Talib became the little bitch.
Petty.
Having said that, a related story: my former cousin-in-law won the NIT basketball tournament in 1983 with Fresno State. It was quite a feat for them.
Ty and a couple teammates (including future Chicago Bull Rod Higgins) held a kids basketball camp every year at Fresno State. Rod had developed a friendship with young Michael Jordan when he was drafted by the Bulls a year later, and a loyalty developed.
Even as Jordan became a star player in the league, he made a vow to Rod, Ty Bradley and Ron Anderson to attend their camp, and be a part of the experience for the kids. It was a HUGE draw for the camp. It made the camp profitable. Even in 1997 just after the Bulls won the title, in the height of popularity of Space Jam, Jordan showed up to the Fresno State gym. The day after the title parade in Chicago. My five year old son and I got to sit down on the court and watch the amazing Jordan put on a show for the kids.
My son, though a year too young for the camp, was given a waiver by Ty to attend the clinic. On the last night Michael Jordan showed up. Parents, Campers and Fresno locals filled the arena.
We had been spending HOURS watching movie Space Jam, over and over again, leading up to attending the camp. Jordan. Bugs bunny. Jordan bugs bunny.
And now here he was on the court! Hundreds of my sons camp mates had to sit in the nose-bleed seats to watch Jordan, Ty, Rod, Chris Mullins and other players put on a Globe-trotter- like clinic! Thanks to Tyrone, we were able to sit right at court side, behind the players bench!
After a long stretch of great basketball, (keep in mind, DAYS after winning the title) Jordan came over to the bench to rest. Sweaty. Tired. He REALLY WAS giving his all for these kids. I will forever respect that from him.
He sat right in front of us!! I leaned over to my son, and whispered, “that is Michael Jordan right in front of us!!”
My son looked at him... looked up at the nose-bleeds...and looked back at me.
“Dad, can I sit with my friends now”.
alm:
Honest to God. We still laugh about that.
*Having said all of that, I hold no grudge toward Gurley. Nor do I like slander. Or feel players are obligated to the public. I don’t know what’s going on with Todd, but I support him. And I really hope some temporary mercenary isn’t throwing him under the bus. Not cool.
I truly hope this causes no rift with the Rams.
