:10—First of all, my people, it’s called old school for a reason. It’s old, and it takes you back to school! Trust me when I tell you that all you’re about to read is coming to you pre-game, Spurs vs. Knicks! That being said, there are a few things that must be taught to you and a couple of them are going to hurt a few of your feelings, but as they say, “no pain…no gain!”
:09—Second of all, (wait a minute, is second of all really a thing?) here’s the part that’s going to hurt your feelings a little. Those of you who want to proclaim the New York Knicks one of the greatest Knicks teams of all time…or that you’ve already crowned Victor Wembanyama the G.O.A.T., I’ve got one question to ask you, “are you outside of your mind???”
:08—Before I get you out of, and I quote The Five Stairsteps, “world of fantasy” (for you young folks, The Five Stairsteps were known as “The First family of Soul,” a legendary family out of Chicago…a softer version of the Jacksons before the Jacksons, if you will!)….What I’m about to tell ya is I’ve been around. I’ve seen the best of the best since 1966. In Pittsburgh, the suburbs, Western Pa. and across the country. High school, college and pro. I’ve coached the game at all levels. New Castle Development H.S., Slippery Rock H.S., Point Park College women, University of Pittsburgh, the ABA Pittsburgh Explosion, and of course, the nationally recognized Connie Hawkins Pro/Am Summer Basketball League…when in fact it was rated Top 5 in the nation. So, I know of what I speak! (OK, OK, OK, I know I never won the Hawkins League…my own league…and there are reasons, just ask “Meatball,” Eddie Jefferies or “Bump Yes.” They’ll all tell ya (oh, just shutup about it, will ya?)
:07—Here’s the point. The Knicks greatest of all-time? Not even close. Michael Jordan and the Bulls would destroy them, who’s watching Jordan and Scottie Pippen…nobody! Magic Johnson’s L.A. Lakers aka “Showtime”…you only need to know the names to know better. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, James Worthy, Jamaal Wilkes, A.C. Green, Michael Cooper, and Byron Scott! Please, both the Knicks and Spurs would get swept. And yes, the Detroit Pistons would just beat them up. And they would stand little or no chance against Julius “Dr. J.” Erving and Moses Malone and the unstoppable Philadelphia 76ers.
:06—If you know the game, and some of you clearly don’t…I told ya this would hurt…but here’s the reason Jalen Brunson doesn’t crack the top 10 Knicks of all-time. And this is in order of talent. #1 Willis Reed; #2 Walt “Clyde” Frazier; #3 Dave DeBusschere; #4 Earl “The Pearl” Monroe; #5 Patrick Ewing; #6 Bernard King; #7 John Starks; #8 Mark Jackson; #9 Bill Bradley; and #10 Carmelo Anthony. If you want to put him in the second 10, be my guest, but don’t forget, nobody remembers the second 10. E-nuff-said.
:05—Lastly, for this subject matter, you love “Wemby,” I love “Wemby,” the whole world loves “Wemby.” But he needs time before he’s proclaimed the G.O.A.T. By now you can size up his shortcomings. He shoots an OK 3-pointer, but not great. He has to get stronger in the paint, you’ve got to be able to move people around out there! Truth be told, if I owned the San Antonio Spurs, I would pay Kareem Abdul-Jabbar $10 million to teach Wemby his famous skyhook, it happens to be the only unstoppable shot in the history of the game. And here are the other 10 reasons for him not to be proclaimed the Greatest Of All Time…and in order. #1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; #2 Michael Jordan; #3 Wilt Chamberlain; #4 Magic Johnson; #5 Kobe Bryant; #6 Julius “Dr. J” Erving; #7 Bill Russell; #8 Larry Bird; #9 Shaquille O’Neal/”Pistol Pete” Maravich; #10 Oscar Robertson/Connie Hawkins (and do not forget Scottie Pippen, Steph Curry, and Jerry “The Logo” West, just to name a few!). To be clear, if Wemby continues the growth, blocks more shots, gets more rebounds, develops an inside game, suffers no major injuries, and wins at least three titles, he could some day be the greatest of all-time.
:04—Oh, now you’re starting to listen to me. Now you’re thinking, Neal’s not as crazy as I thought when I first started reading this. “Okay, Hyundai, okay!” (I know you know me as a born-and-bred football player with pre-determined DNA that I had nothing to do with, but this basketball thing that I have is clearly irrefutable and uncontrollable. I love this game!
:03—To be honest, I still have the Spurs winning the NBA Finals in seven. The reason it’s going to go seven is because the NBA wants it to go seven and the fans in New York have to have it go seven or they’ll self-implode.
:02—FYI, just so you don’t think all my wires aren’t plugged in, let me be clear. Victor Wembanyama is a flat out freak of nature and there’s no telling how he’ll reshape the game of basketball. At 7’4″ and with a multiple skill set to go along with a size 20 shoe…c’mon man, I’m tough, but I’m not crazy!
:01—Speaking of “they’re playing basketball,” a tip of the hat to the AGI team, Goodrich & Geist, P.C., Ulice Payne of Cyber Athletix for a job well done at last week’s Connie Hawkins “Legends” Youth Basketball Camp. Nearly 100 boys and girls and 20 of the greatest legendary players in W. PA history coaching. A fantastic time was had by all!
:00—GAME OVER.