Carter "gives up" his spot and Jordan accepts? So that means Jordan was gunning for his spot from the first place? Something stinks behind the scenes in the Eastern squad, and I don't like it. They must have put a gun to Vince's head.
some how vince was "convinced" it was a better PR move to give up his spot to MJ as a show of class than it would be to play and drop 40. I'd say he made the right choice career wise.
After all the All-Stars got together, Carter probably received pressure from the rest of the East about giving up his spot. In the same manner, Jordan probably received just as much pressure to accept it. I don't think he specifically wanted Carter's spot and that was the reason he turned down McGrady and Iverson's offer. The boys got together and coerced the two UNC guys to compromise their stances.
As a Raptor fan, I think he would have been better served to stick to his guns, whether he was right or wrong. Now his original statement just looks weak. Bad PR move for Toronto (and fans in T.O. are pissed), okay for the rest of the league. I don't like it. The pressure must have been enormous from the Eastern players. Probably even threatening. I didn't like what they were insinuating in the days leading up to the game. The NBA has always been fishy behind the scenes, which doesn't help what I already suspect. Maybe it was a friendly coercing, but knowing NBA players? I doubt it.
by pressure, I meant good natured ribbing about how he really didn't deserve the starting nod. Like childish teasing... I highly doubt there's anything "fishy" going on.
Carter's body language during Sager's interview said it all. There is no way he could "stand behind what he believed in" and given up his starting spot. I don't think anyone forced Carter, but I do think there was a lot of pressure on him.
Did you see Carter during the post game ceremony? His expression and demeanor says it all.... Must have been one heck of a political situation behind the scenes.
Still lots better than Jordan. (edit: regarding SmeggySmeg's quote, it also just ocurred to me that there probably wouldn't have been a second OT without Jordan shooting 9-27) The fans voted Carter in. That's who they wanted to see. Jordan was on the ballot. They didn't pick him. So Jordan starts why? On a side note... what's with Yao getting 17 minutes, while every other starter had at least 32? Come on!
Sure, the West stepped up the defence after Jordan left. That's why nobody on the East could make a shot after the 2nd overtime. All manufactured to get Jordan in spots where he could look good. Watch the tape if you recorded it. It's pretty obvious. And VC was leading all Eastern scorers at the half before the freeze out. I feel for Pierce, Mashburn, and Walker and the rest. This game was manufactured from the start. And I'm pissed about not seeing more Yao Ming. It's a friggin All-Star Game. Let's see all of them play. Who cares who wins, let's be fair.
yeah, i think the fans voting carter in is one hell of an argument against the fans. how many games has he played this year? 13? and how mediocre has he been? it's ridiculous. but i actually do agree Carter should have stuck to his guns. because as is, i can't respect him at all. not only did he not stick to his guns, but i know he didn't actually give up his spot out of respect. we all know it. he must have given it up due to the urging of his agent, his team mates, etc etc. he obviously didn't do it for the right reasons, so he might as well have stuck to his guns so i could at least respect the fact he had the balls to stick to his guns despite the fact it wasn't a popular move. also, i never thought i could hate Michael Jordan, but after all of this hype AGAIN, i'm really so sick of him i was rooting against him every time he touched the ball. i was laughing when he missed and jumping up to cheer when he was swatted. maybe i could have cheered for him if it was this was his first last season ever, but it's his third now and it's just ridiculous. also, his first layup he got after driving around KG. Does anybody else think KG let him get around? I just can't hardly believe Jordan can fake out KG. He has so much size, speed and athleticism on Jordan and he's one of the best defensive players in the league. I just don't see Jordan faking him and driving around him at this stage in his career, especially considering how easy it looked....
If you don't play for an hour, chances are your shots will be cold. Why don't they substitute players more often?
If David Stern personally ordered Vince to step down or else he'd pay, there really is nothing Vince can do but to step down and say what Stern spoonfeeds Vince to say. I don't like that Vince did this, but I do think the league slapped down this independent thinking, so I can't blame him either.
One of the worst All-Star games I've ever seen....if not the worst. Boring for the most part, except for a play "here-and-there", terrible passing, too many calls, etc. I don't think Carter should have given up his spot, just let Jordan play the majority of the minutes, basically how ever many minutes he wants. Simple. Isiah's subsitutions after the first OT......What the ****??? And NO MORE BIG MEN UNLESS THEY ARE AS MOBILE AS A GARNETT!!!!!!!
I'll play conspiracy theorist. I don't think Vince gave up his spot. I think Stern ORDERED him to step aside. And Jordan? Well, he didn't seem to mind starting at all. The looks Stern was giving Vince, the subtle hints Vince was giving off...how can it be anything else? Of course, you could call me paranoid, but you know, it's just too much.
I really felt bad for Carter tonight. He was in a can't win situation. Jordan has always disrespected him and wanted his spot in the game. It was obvious he targeted Carter's spot, because he excepted nobody else's. Carter's choices were to commit carreer suicide or take a hit on his pride. He did the smart thing carreer wise, but you could tell he really hated it. Jordan did not deserve to be starting and really stank it up. The fans did not vote him in and the East had 18 points in the first quarter trying to run everything through him while he went 2-10 with a few turnovers. 18 points in a quater in an Allstar game is pathetic, not to mention 9-27. They play no deffense. This game, until that last shot, did more to hurt his legacy than celebrate it. Without all the hoopla surrounding him and Carter it would have been more of a celebration. Instead, I think Jordan looks like the classless one. He should have thanked Carter during his speech, but disrespected him one more time.
The NBA is getting worse and worse.....tonight was another example of rich guys kissing richer guys a$$'s. There was wayyyyy toooooo much Jordan ass kissing tonight.
I haven't paid much attention to the Jordan-Carter affair, but MJ said some awfully nice and compimentary things about Vince in the press conference after the game.
From the look on his face at the intros, I think Vince's "stepping aside" came as a surprise to Jordan. Vince was screwed from the outset. This was Jordan's last All-Star game, all the pub is about Jordan, every single frickin' even included him. So McGrady offers Jordan his spot . . . then it comes out that Iverson offered Jordan his spot, and all of a sudden the spotlight is on Vince, because the one guy who most people thought should've offered his spot to Jordan didn't. He hasn't played but a few games, of all the Eastern All-Star Starters, he's the one who's performance this year sticks out like a sore thumb from the rest. At that point, someone should have told him, "Michael Jordan will be starting for you eventually - the press, the fans, your teammates will put pressure on you, you will eventually cave. You've hardly played this year at all, you are going to eventually have to step aside - do it now, and get it over with." It would've been good advice, and what should've been a pretty big gesture, stepping aside for Jordan, looks like Vince didn't really want to do it, and was forced to do it to try and improve his image.
