Agreed, but what is wrong with the inquiry made regarding if Optional had ever played hoops himself? C'mon TM, the guy is a self-proclaimed expert on the subject, it's a fair question to ask isn't it? And yeah, King's first step - awesome to watch! I loved that he was able to make that comeback from the knee injury and still make the All-Star team.
we must agree that the talent pool just gets better as the NBA grows its tentacles......african americans dominate this sport ( they are the majority and are far better players as a group, I mean there is always a ElCubano in the group "the great white latino hype" but all in all what can i say ) back in the day they were the minority...so yes in essence it is a much quicker game...
True, however, if some of the great athletes of the past were schooled in nutrition, advanced training, weight training, and of course the use of steroids (just look at Shaq's arms in Orlando and now), they too may have been on par with today's athletes. Not to mention how much better the travel is for today's athletes. Private planes, etc.
I totlally disagree on the Shaq issue....Steroids only work if you lift weights while on them....the only thing shaq has lifted in the last five years is his plate....but look at most of the athletes and yes, they tend to do more enhancements......speaking of old shcool, how old is John Stockton? 105??? he's still runnign cirlces around the young uns based on his mind...I thik todays players are more gifted physically but lack a lot of the basic fundamentels that were standards.....for instance, shooting has goen way down becuase of the "DUNK" all these guys grow up just wanting to dunk....In the 70's and 80's each team had not one but usually two or three sharp shooters on the team that could hit form 20....today your luck if you have one...
most sports today you have to be a better athlete to make it at the professional level especially football and except for baseball since the balls are juiced and the pitching sucks.
Pictures don't lie. Most of us, when we age, don't grow muscle without working out, or through using the "juice." Look at the "evolution" of Shaq. Look at his arms... Steroids in the NBA? Steroid use by a Laker? Not possible....right. LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Lakers backup center Soumaila Samake was suspended for five games by the NBA on Tuesday for violating the league's steroids policy. Samake, 24, a native of Mali in his third NBA season, will not be paid during the suspension, which began with Tuesday night's game against Atlanta. The league and the NBA Players Association do not disclose details regarding the testing or treatment of players in the program, but Samake issued a statement saying he had taken a dietary supplement that contained Nandrolone, a substance banned by the NBA. He said he was unaware the supplement contained Nandrolone and that it wasn't listed on the product he used. "Nandrolone is commonly found in many products sold in nutritional stores in dietary supplements used,'' Samake said in the statement, distributed by Global Sports Management. "Nandrolone has only recently been banned by the NBA and was unknown to me at the time of using the product. "The lesson for a young athlete to be learned is that all products they are going to use should be checked with a certified strength coach, trainer or doctor before using them.'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he didn't believe Samake should have been suspended because the violation occurred in the offseason. "We've known about this since October, the first two days of training camp,'' Jackson said. "He came forward. It was an innocent commission. We alerted the league.'' Jackson said Samake was tested during a physical examination at the beginning of training camp. "I'm bewildered and feel sorry for him,'' Lakers forward Samaki Walker said. "It's something over the counter. Unfortunately these type of things change every year, they add something every year. I believe his story.'' Because Shaquille O'Neal had to undergo surgery on his arthritic right big toe during the offseason, the Lakers signed the 7-foot Samake as a free agent on Aug. 23. He has appeared in six games, averaging 8 minutes, 2.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. Samake was a second-round draft pick by the New Jersey Nets in 2000. He played in 34 games for the Nets in the 2000-01 season, averaging 1.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 6.6 minutes. O'Neal, who had surgery on his right big toe on Sept. 11, hopes to make his season debut in the next week or two. "I talked to him earlier and I know he feels bad,'' O'Neal said. "It was an honest mistake. "To tell you the truth, I don't know what's legal and what's illegal by NBA standards. For example -- this is a true story -- I had a poppy seed muffin during the Olympics, right before I took the test. A couple days later, they thought I was doing coke. We later found out that poppy seeds in a muffin were the same thing as cocaine.''
I use to think that...but back in the day there were only about ten football teams.....8 basket ball teams.......too many teams means watered down versions of the game....Jim Brown could start on any team in the NFL....same with a of basket ball players too...connie hawkins, big o, bill russel....
Optional I graduated form HS at 195..... Fresh in college ( basketball) 205 senior college ( 215) age 30 : ( 225) today: ( 235) My arms are huge compared to my 18 year old picture...its called getting older and stronger
Look at the other great centers, you don't see the musculature of Shaq from their college days to present. David Robinson was cut like a rock, but no one has Shaq's upper arms. The real test will be to see if Shaq breaks down after he quits playing. One of the greatest benefits of steroids is they keep muscles strong and keep them from breaking down. Once they stop the juice, the body usually falls apart. Look at Big Mac once he stopped taking andro.
I always thought Robinson was on the juice....Evander Holyfield...theres a man who is on the juice and always has been...hair loss, heart problems...he will die of a heart illness by 50 guaranteed....Pull some pictures of holyfield and it's worse then Michael jackson...remember, he won his Olympic medal at age 27 so he wasn't;t a kid.