Michael Jordan is easily the greatest shooting guard to ever play in the NBA. No one has been able to match both Jordan's point production and strong defensive skills from the shooting guard spot. On top of that Jordan is a spectacular player who is very entertaining. NBA Commissioner & Marketing Genius David Stern has bent over backwards to promote his current superstars & sell his product. Jordan is easily David Stern's biggest prodigy. The NBA is now in the entertainment business more than being a pure competitive sport.
Modern NBA officiating has become a joke. Big market superstars are given special treatment, they are allowed to travel and get away with fouls that the average player gets whistled for. Michael Jordan has been the most prominent beneficiary of this special treatment. Many sports writers insist that Jordan pushed off of Bryon Russel to get room for his last shot against the Utah Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals. That game had 2 major incidents of blown calls meant to help the Bulls (bogus shot clock violation on a Howard Eisley 3 in second quarter: replays showed the shot ball was 8 feet from the end of Eisley's hand when the shot clock expired. No call on Ron Harper shot clock violation in 3rd quarter, total: 5 point swing to Bulls). Most people did not realize that Scottie Pippen's back was in such bad shape that he was doubtful for a possible game 7 if the Jazz won game 6, and since the Jordan led Bulls had a 1-11 record in playoff games without Scottie Pippen it was imperative that the Bulls end the series in 6. There are other less prominent incidents but I have made my point here.
For years when a small market team produces a title contender they are given no respect by the officials or by NBC. Just look at how the refs treated the Milwaukee Bucks in game 5 of the 2001 Eastern Finals after they took a 16 point lead. Not to mention how David Stern was seen hugging Dikembe Motumbo after the Sixers won game 4 in Milwaukee. Stern was quoted as saying "The Bucks will get respect next year" what is that supposed to mean? The Bucks get the shaft this year (2001)? And what does Stern's hug signify? Further Scott Williams of the Bucks took a flagrant foul on Allen Iverson in Game 6, after which the officials did not feel it warranted ejection from the game. After the Bucks won game 6 David Stern suspended Williams from game 7 in Philadelphia. Why did Stern suspend Williams from game 7? The Game 6 refs felt he did not need to be tossed out when the foul occurred. The answer is simple: Stern wanted Philadelphia and not Milwaukee in the 2001 NBA Finals. Williams was the emotional leader of the Bucks and taking him out of game 7 would ensure a 76ers victory. To top it off, some of the loudest cries of this foul play against the Bucks were coming from Laker fans in Los Angeles!
Fans are told to use this logic: Michael Jordan is the best player ever, so obviously one of his teams must be the best team ever. And since the 1995-96 Bulls happened right before the NBA's 50th anniversary celebration: What a great promotion! crown a recent team as "the best ever" to attract more people's attention to the current game!
Modern NBA officiating has become a joke. Big market superstars are given special treatment, they are allowed to travel and get away with fouls that the average player gets whistled for. Michael Jordan has been the most prominent beneficiary of this special treatment. Many sports writers insist that Jordan pushed off of Bryon Russel to get room for his last shot against the Utah Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals. That game had 2 major incidents of blown calls meant to help the Bulls (bogus shot clock violation on a Howard Eisley 3 in second quarter: replays showed the shot ball was 8 feet from the end of Eisley's hand when the shot clock expired. No call on Ron Harper shot clock violation in 3rd quarter, total: 5 point swing to Bulls). Most people did not realize that Scottie Pippen's back was in such bad shape that he was doubtful for a possible game 7 if the Jazz won game 6, and since the Jordan led Bulls had a 1-11 record in playoff games without Scottie Pippen it was imperative that the Bulls end the series in 6. There are other less prominent incidents but I have made my point here.
For years when a small market team produces a title contender they are given no respect by the officials or by NBC. Just look at how the refs treated the Milwaukee Bucks in game 5 of the 2001 Eastern Finals after they took a 16 point lead. Not to mention how David Stern was seen hugging Dikembe Motumbo after the Sixers won game 4 in Milwaukee. Stern was quoted as saying "The Bucks will get respect next year" what is that supposed to mean? The Bucks get the shaft this year (2001)? And what does Stern's hug signify? Further Scott Williams of the Bucks took a flagrant foul on Allen Iverson in Game 6, after which the officials did not feel it warranted ejection from the game. After the Bucks won game 6 David Stern suspended Williams from game 7 in Philadelphia. Why did Stern suspend Williams from game 7? The Game 6 refs felt he did not need to be tossed out when the foul occurred. The answer is simple: Stern wanted Philadelphia and not Milwaukee in the 2001 NBA Finals. Williams was the emotional leader of the Bucks and taking him out of game 7 would ensure a 76ers victory. To top it off, some of the loudest cries of this foul play against the Bucks were coming from Laker fans in Los Angeles!
Fans are told to use this logic: Michael Jordan is the best player ever, so obviously one of his teams must be the best team ever. And since the 1995-96 Bulls happened right before the NBA's 50th anniversary celebration: What a great promotion! crown a recent team as "the best ever" to attract more people's attention to the current game!
