i am not one to get mushy, or fall in with public displays of grief, but i think this is the greatest thing i have read about my favorite sport. it is by david aldridge. And this is mine. And you know what? Just thinking about basketball makes me feel better. And I realize I don't just need Jordan. I need to see Shaq dunk, too. Hard. I need to see Kobe's sneer when someone checks him on the wing, and I need to see him rise about it all with two hands. I need to see AI's double crossover and I need to see him playing every game like it's his last, and I need to see Walter Ray Allen stroke it smooth as sippin' whiskey and I need to see the Admiral and Duncan run the high-low toperfection, and I need to see Reggie popping off a double screen in Indy. I need to see Vinsanity running wild and I need to see Vlade throw a no-look to CWebb, and I need to see 'Zo possessed in the lane, and I need to see GP go coast to coast, picking up speed, and I need to see J Kidd pick apart these new confounded zones. I need to see KG representing the OBF, and I need to see the Kid Clippers playing like they just picked up a ball for the first time a week ago. I need to see Stevie Franchise and Cuttino breaking down defenses, and I need to see McGrady lock somebody up like they stole something. I need to see Nowitzki and Finley breaking teams' spirit with fire and ice, and I need StocktontoMalone. I need to see Spree's 'rows as he spins like a dervish in the lane, and I need to see Sheed stay in a game long enough to dominate it like he can. I need to see Mark Jackson and 'Toine shake, and I need to see Deke wag a finger. I need to see Bavetta and Nunn. I need to see Joey Crawford T somebody up, and I need to see Javie throw somebody out. I need to hear Calabro and Harlan. I need to see Marv. I need the guy that gets on his knees in the front row in Minneapolis, who "coaches" the Wolves from the other side of their bench, and I need my man x in LaLa to crank up the DMX at Staples, and I need the guy in Salt Lake City to "Bring 'em back; how 'bout this Jazz?". I need to hear the noise in Sacramento and see the noise in Philly and feel the noise in NewYork. (sigh!) when is the first pre-season game???
I agree with everything the guy has to say; except that I could really do without seeing the two bastards in Utah
The whole piece is very un-David Aldridge-like. He's either grasping for material or he is really Jonesing for some basketball. R0ckets03... Milkshakes good... Jazz bad.
I need to see Cato rise above his opponents, looking up...with a healthy gleam in his eyes. I need to see him slam dunk with the ferocity of a tiger, his muscles rippling with the intensity, with the pride of a lion. I need to see him swat the basketball away from the basket, all the while wailing, "Not in here! Not in heeere!" I need to see Kelvin Cato play the game. Thank you.
