Sticks and Stones may Break Bones

The great debate will always continue! Who is the GOAT, Jordan or King James? Can the teams of Yesterday, beat today’s teams? So many questions and so many variables, that you and I will never know. However, I’m going to tell you why I think the players of yesterday, were much durable than the players of today. I am the GOAT! Just messin!

Kobe said it best! He mentioned that some people save hard earned money to buy NBA tickets for friends and family, and it’s a big disappointment to come to a game to find out the star player will not be performing tonight. These crazy terms such as “Load Management” and some players missing games due to pinky fractures on their off shooting hand is reducing the love for the game. Yes, I can agree the skill set of today’s players are out of this world. It was not often seen of a seven-footer to have handles or shoot the long-range shot consistently. Today, over half the league has a big man that can fill it up! Unfortunately, most of those players today cannot put a resume of 75 plus games in one season, without the consideration of “Load Management”. However, I can name some top performances that will never be topped today!

We cannot forget the incredible performance of Isaiah Thomas in game 6 of the NBA Finals on one ankle and the controversial loss (yes, Laimbeer did not foul Kareem) to the Lakers in the 1988 season. What about the time Larry Bird broke his cheekbone and came back out of the locker room and continued the game? Players were just built different those days and more durable! This list goes on regarding these priceless performances. I think it has a great deal of nutrition and upbringing is the major difference.

The typical kid in the 80s food diet was not dominated by fast food. Yes, we had our moments, but traditional mothers made home-cooked meals. Single mothers or not, having fast-food was not a part of her plan. Most of these players today, grew up with fast-food, poor health decisions and sloppy off season regiments that causes pain to their bodies during seasonal play. No milk, no working out and too many vegans today. Nothing against vegans, but where are the body building techniques and most of these players fail to condition their bodies to be fit for an 82-game season, plus the playoffs.

It was common for Karl Malone and John Stockton to set the tone and be the best in shape at the start of camp. Even the well-known story of Michael J. Jordan going to the back of the bus and crying after a grueling series loss handed to him by the infamous Bad Boyz; his Airness knew that a better off season regiment was needed to get him to the next level. Kobe was the last one who knew that putting in the extra effort meant that results will show when the time counted.

The debates and arguments will continue. People pay good money to see talented players and not the scrubs. I am the last to want anyone to play injured. However, I criticize today’s players for not putting in the effort and not properly taking care of their bodies and providing quality play. Above the minimum half-court play that is fading, there is a lack of spirit in the game when we see a player not pressing on due to a thumb injury. My sons will continue to differ because they are fans of today’s game. Give me the Dream Team 96 over any team out there today. The talent was limited, but the durability and spirit of yesterday has today’s players beaten by far