Chamillionaire talks about meeting Michael Jordan
- Thread starter AleksandarN
- Start date
Trueblood
Bench
Major props to Chamillionaire for exposing one of the biggest frauds around. I wish San Antonio had never traded Rodman for Will Perdue. Do you really mean to tell me that they couldn't get a better deal for Rodman? If he doesn't go to Chicago, I'm betting that they only get one more title, if that, instead of the 3 peat.
est.1999
Starter
I was in vegas a couple years ago and saw lebron James at tryst at the wynn. The next day I was eating at the hard rock and when I went to get my car from valet I tipped the attentend $1 like I usually do. He then told me that that was 1 more dollar than lebron had tipped him. The point I'm trying to make? Well these guys roll with entourages and they try to get in and out of places as quickly as possible. So he may have just jumped in the car and got outta there. It doesn't make me view him a different way. And when it comes to Jordan the only incident I remember hearing about is when he was with magic and I forget who and they came across a homeless man and michael refused to give the guy money. I have never heard of him not tipping servers and such.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
There is a difference between "fraud", and "jerk". MJ was most definitely not the first, but even during his playing days there were all sorts of stories about how he might have been the latter. And it appears that instead of retirement having a mellowing effect as it does on some athletes, allowing even notorious jerks to go on and rehabilitate their images in the broadcast booth or whatever, its just made Jordan worse. A grumpy old man clinging to past glories and without a place in the world now that he's no longer playing.
I really couldn't possibly care less what Chamillionaire (whoever or whatever the heck that is) has to say about Michael Jordan. He revoluntionized the game I love; he put it all out there on the court every single time he played; he set a standard that people will talk about for decades.
There are a lot of jerks in the NBA, and in other pro sports. None of those people are perfect. As long as they're not out committing felonies I think that's about the best we can hope for in exchange for the entertainment value they give... you know?
There are a lot of jerks in the NBA, and in other pro sports. None of those people are perfect. As long as they're not out committing felonies I think that's about the best we can hope for in exchange for the entertainment value they give... you know?
Trueblood
Bench
I can go with that. I guess it's a matter of semantics. When I say "fraud", I'm talking about how everyone deifies him like he's this awesome person on a level with God or something when in reality, all I hear about is him refusing 98% of interview requests, not acknowledging people who want to talk to him, rejecting almost all autograph requests, being a home wrecker, wrecking his own home and being a hard core gambler amongst many other accusations.
There's no way any of us can possibly understand what it's like to recognized in every corner of the globe. MJ can't go ANYWHERE without being accosted by fans, autograph seekers, etc. I'm sure over the years it has gotten very tedious. If he refuses autographs, so what? It's not like he owes them to anyone. He delivered on the court. That's what mattered. He's no longer in the game so why should he continue to put on a public face?
As far as the home-wrecking goes, it's not like he's the only spouse who has cheated on his wife. It's almost pandemic in professional sports. You cannot single him out simply because you don't like him. You'd be amazed and very sad to learn of some of the other players who have been less than true to their marriage vows.
He's ego-driven and more than a bit of a jerk from what I've heard but that doesn't make him a fraud.
Trueblood
Bench
Like I said, it's a matter of semantics. Maybe fraud is the wrong word to use. Admittedly, I'm no english major. And I agree with the fact that LOTS of athletes do the same things.
The difference is, and the point that I tried to make in my last post, is that most athletes that act that way get bashed and justifiably so by the media and general public. For whatever reason, MJ seems to be the only one who comes away with his image unscathed. That's why I use the word "deify" because people act like he's bigger than the game and is some God like figure when in actuality, he's the same as most athletes and worse than a lot.
As far as home wrecking is concerned, I have to assume that all athletes cheat on their wives. That's why I used the term "wrecked his own home". By "home wrecker", I'm saying that there are numerous accounts of him hitting on married women, in some cases right in front of their husbands, but for whatever reason, it gets slid under the rug because of who he is while other athletes have to face the music.
Whether or not his game revolutionized the NBA is up to interpretation. He is probably the best that ever lived but, and I will say that this isn't necessarily his fault, his presence led to the generation of dunkers first and cerebral players second. I prefer thinking of Magic and Bird as guys that people should pattern their games after but due to the marketing machine that is Nike, the high flying dunk era came to be and it set the team game back some. Again, this I won't blame on MJ but rather his marketing people but I wouldn't necessarily say that he revolutionized the game.
AleksandarN
Starter
I guess if it was Kobe who reacted that way towards Chamillionaire you would be singing a different tune.
6th
Homer Fan Since 1985
Nah! It's Kobe. I expect him to be a jerk...just like I have learned to expect Michael to be a jerk.
est.1999
Starter
thank you
Did you miss the part where I said I couldn't possibly care less about what Chamillionaire had to say? And if you seriously think I pay any attention to anything Kobe Bryant says or does, you truly have not been paying attention to me these past 8+ years.
6th
Homer Fan Since 1985
8+ years? *runs to check on my starting year*
OMG - I've been a member here for over 7 years already. Crap! No wonder I'm feeling old.
PLEASE RETURN TO YOUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING.....errrr, topic!
Aenadin
Starter
I guess if it was Kobe who reacted that way towards Chamillionaire you would be singing a different tune.[/quote]
if it was about Chamillionaire and Delonte west's run and gun issue it would be "Riding Dirty"
JSin
Bench
If I can misinterpret your words, some might consider general kindness to you fellow man to "matter" a little more than putting a leather ball through a hoop on TV.
kennadog
Dog On It!
I can seperate the player from the man. A person would have to be blind, deaf, dumb and living in a cave in the Himalayas, if they don't know that MJ may be the greatest to ever play basketball (someone will take his place someday). To watch him play basketball was a thing of beauty and amazement. You had to wish he was on your team.
That said, I just can't get too excited about him, because he is so clearly a jerk of a human being, at least by his outward, public behavior. I doubt that he's much better in private. And now he's just become a resentful, angry former player, who can't let go of the main spotlight, the adoration and acclaim in any sort of graceful way.
Even if I miraculously had the chance, I wouldn't want his autograph.
That said, I just can't get too excited about him, because he is so clearly a jerk of a human being, at least by his outward, public behavior. I doubt that he's much better in private. And now he's just become a resentful, angry former player, who can't let go of the main spotlight, the adoration and acclaim in any sort of graceful way.
Even if I miraculously had the chance, I wouldn't want his autograph.
I really dislike vilifying or deifying celebrities and athletes based on random accounts and pieces of information. None of us knows the man. He's obviously done some a-hole things, and he's displayed some unbecoming traits of his personality, so I suppose there's certain conclusions to be drawn, but no one knows him.
I'd say the same thing for any other celebrity or athlete, too. Whether it's Kobe Bryant (whom I played a strong devil's advocate for on this very board during his legal issues), Ron Artest, Jason Kidd, or anyone else. I just find the whole think sort of ridiculous. I guess it's the whole TMZ generation, but I can't dig it.
I'd say the same thing for any other celebrity or athlete, too. Whether it's Kobe Bryant (whom I played a strong devil's advocate for on this very board during his legal issues), Ron Artest, Jason Kidd, or anyone else. I just find the whole think sort of ridiculous. I guess it's the whole TMZ generation, but I can't dig it.
Supes, I think its just that some people are concerned about double standards. His "jerky" behavior is very well documented and not just a few random encounters and yet it is largely ignored and occasionally even celebrated by the major sporting press while others are villified on account of much more random accounts. I mean nobody likes to see their favorite guy picked on while somebody else gets a free pass, and it does seem that nobody is immune from criticism these days.
I goes both ways for me. I try not to view any of these people as heroes, and so I'm not quite as disappointed when they turn out to be less than heroic. I don't look to them as role models or good examples, because I don't know them.
I wonder if Michael Jordan's kids think he's a jerk. Someone else mentioned that he refused to give a homeless man money. My dad would never give beggars money when I was little, but I don't think that makes him a jerk. All I'm saying is that we don't know any of these people. We might think we know enough about them to cast aspersions, but I think that's pretty unfair. And, on the other hand, when you think someone is a saint and then they get caught in a hotel with their mistress, it really proves that we don't know these people.
I wonder if Michael Jordan's kids think he's a jerk. Someone else mentioned that he refused to give a homeless man money. My dad would never give beggars money when I was little, but I don't think that makes him a jerk. All I'm saying is that we don't know any of these people. We might think we know enough about them to cast aspersions, but I think that's pretty unfair. And, on the other hand, when you think someone is a saint and then they get caught in a hotel with their mistress, it really proves that we don't know these people.
I tend not to go for the hero worship/role model thing myself, which I guess for me its always been about the double standard and not the actual nit pick issue of the day. I get frustrated when at the end of every football game my favorite team plays in they analyze the coaches handshake when they don't do this for 31 other coaches. And I don't get bent out of shape over what charities you donate to or who you sleep with unless you tell me my business.
I think I've actually softened up on Jordan over the years because the comeback proved he wasn't totally immune to criticism and he's certainly more prone to it now as several threads this off season have proven.
I think I've actually softened up on Jordan over the years because the comeback proved he wasn't totally immune to criticism and he's certainly more prone to it now as several threads this off season have proven.
kennadog
Dog On It!
I don't hero worship any of these people either. Possibly they are all very different, if you know them personally. It doesn't matter though, because with most every one you encounter in life, the only thing you have to base any judgement on is their public behavior.
I know every one is human and makes mistakes. But I can base my personal feelings about a person on the basis of what I see them do or what it is reported they did, if a credible source. I expect most people judge me the same way.
Even as an adult, I look in my family and at public figures to find models for what I would like to strive for or achieve. That doesn't mean they don't have faults.
Unfortunately, young folks don't have the discernment yet to distinguish that you can choose heros to emulate certain characteristics of, not the whole. They still tend to think in black or white. It doesn't matter if they should be or want to be a role model. For many young folks, they simply are. That's a responsibility all adults have.
I know every one is human and makes mistakes. But I can base my personal feelings about a person on the basis of what I see them do or what it is reported they did, if a credible source. I expect most people judge me the same way.
Even as an adult, I look in my family and at public figures to find models for what I would like to strive for or achieve. That doesn't mean they don't have faults.
Unfortunately, young folks don't have the discernment yet to distinguish that you can choose heros to emulate certain characteristics of, not the whole. They still tend to think in black or white. It doesn't matter if they should be or want to be a role model. For many young folks, they simply are. That's a responsibility all adults have.
It's not like he owes them to anyone? He owes them to EVERYONE! Everyone who has ever bought his shoes, bought his jerseys, cards, memorabilia, watched him on tv and bought tickets to see his games. Jordan is a millionaire because of us fans. Not solely on his basketball skills alone. You can be the best basketball player in the world, but if you don't have fans supporting you, then you aren't gonna make jack. So stop defending the mans rudeness. Every celebrity should be thankful anytime a fan comes up to them asking for a picture or an autograph. If it wasn't for those fans, they wouldn't have a job and they'd be just like the rest of us. If you don't like being recognized everywhere you go, then give up all your money and fame and live like the rest of us. Otherwise shut your mouth and be thankful for what WE have given you.
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