And people never actually liked basketball for basketball's sake in those 77 or so years. League would be MLS status, and maybe even not in existence if Magic and Bird never come along.
That's ridiculous.
The NBA had a bad few years in the '70s because of the ABA & the perceived drug culture (which really was racism)
People still are waxing poetic about Wilt vs. Russell & Jerry West & Elgin Baylor in the '60s to this day.
Only the idiot 25 year olds who listen to Nick Wright & JJ Reddikk out and out dismiss the history of the game.
No. As long as money can be made by hating on Jordan that mystique could never survive in today's social media landscape.
Plenty of people hated Jordan back then.
That's how I know you young folks don't be knowin' what the fukk you're talking about.
He just kept winning. That shut everybody up,
He basically owned an entire decade & only didn't win when he retired.
People talked about his gambling.
People said he shot too much & was selfish.
But once he won & kept winning, what else could they say?
You idiots don’t realize that
you are directly responsible for the current day culture of the game. You old heads became so obsessed with protecting MJs legacy that you reduce every player down to ring count and can’t appreciate a great player if he doesn’t have the hardware. So the players stopped caring about anything that isn’t the playoffs. Hence the load management, trash all star game effort and up and down regular szn effort. And now you complain they’re “disrespecting paying customers.”
See again, you young motherfukkers don't know what you're talking about.
Jordan was kept out of GOAT discussions for years because he had no rings.
Dr. J, Bill Walton, and a bunch of old heads hated on Jordan & said he wouldn't win shyt because he scored too much.
At that point guys like Rick Pitino were already saying he was the GOAT in '88/'89.
It was the OLD HEADS then who said, "he got no rings, so he can't be in this discussion".
That's how the RINGZ discussion came about, to keep Jordan OUT.
But once he started winning & kept winning, there was nothing anybody could do but say
Mike was 30 years ago. At what point do you let go?
At what point does MLB let go of Babe Ruth?
Willie Mays?
Lou Gehrig?
Hank Aaron?
See how dumb that sounds?
You'll never see players today disrespecting George Herman Ruth, even though there weren't Black players playing & even though he literally was obese
Outside of the steroid era & Pete Rose, baseball never stops talking about it's legends.
Categorically false. The game is unquestionably more popular now of its global presence. You may not like it as much, but that doesn't change facts.
It's not more popular in the country, it's based in,
America is by far the NBA's biggest market & it aint more popular here.
. These NBA guys are very sensitive and feel that they have millions so they shouldn't be questioned.
