Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Announced

[Andrew]

Jordan, Robinson, Stockton among 5 elected to Hall

Michael Jordan was elected to the class of 2009 on Monday, set for induction in Septemeber with his Dream Team teammates David Robinson and John Stockton. Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women’s coach C. Vivian Stringer are also part of a class announced in Detroit, site of the men’s Final Four.

I suppose there wasn't much doubt but I'm glad to see all three got the nod first ballot. As I mentioned in the other thread, Sloan's career with Utah makes him a very worthy inductee as well. I'm not familiar with women's college ball so I can't say I'm very knowledgeable about C. Vivian Stringer but her resume sounds impressive. In any event, the induction of the three former NBA greats - all of whom I assume were probably unanimous - makes this year's class a strong one indeed.

[diddy]

great, but why it took so long to elect them?

[benji]

They weren't eligible until this year.

[Oznogrd]

great, but why it took so long to elect them?

I believe its a 5 year retirement from the game before you can go in? Very worthy picks this year as if anyone doubted these 3 were first ballot..but still grats to them

[The X]

I'd imagine only Jordan & Stockton were unanimous, probably not the rest....

[Andrew]

Possibly David Robinson as well, but certainly those two if no one else.

[Bodz]

Complete Coverage of Jordan's enshrinement

[TheOriginalCandyMan]

I think this is gonna be a record crowd for this year's HOF

[Bodz]

I'm not surprised, given that there has been a huge increase in interest for Jordan's induction ceremony, they've moved from the Hall’s 1,200-capacity Center Court room to Springfield Symphony Hall, with seating for 2,611.

[Andrew]

Thanks for the link, I haven't checked it all out yet but I'll probably look over the videos sometime in the next day or so. Always on the lookout for something new to watch while taking a break for lunch.

[Bodz]

You may want to check out NBA.com as well. They're currently featuring some video clips of a rookie Jordan dominating the Bullets, Bucks and Knicks... and Remembering: Jordan's 1998 Finals, I'll try to post the vids here if I can.

[Andrew]

I'm sure I'll be giving them a look in the near future.

[TheOriginalCandyMan]

Hey Andrew, u soon gonna need a photo of Jordan's HOF induction for your sig

[Bodz]

Here's another one

Class 2009: Interactive Career Timelines of HOF Inductees

[Andrew]

Hey Andrew, u soon gonna need a photo of Jordan's HOF induction for your sig

Perhaps. I'm in no rush to change the current one though.

[Bodz]

Sam Smith's Top 23 Michael Jordan memories

The article features from #23 to #19 as Sam counts down daily to his #1 MJ memories.

[Andrew]

I was reading that yesterday and watching some of the videos. The videos posted on BDL are worth checking out too:

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Finally, looks like ESPN Australia is showing the Hall of Fame ceremony next Monday at 6 PM Australian Eastern Time. I'll definitely be recording and watching that.

[Bodz]

Nice videos...

Here's another one as the journey down memory lane continues...

phpBB [video]

[Andrew]

Another great one, thanks. All they need now is a 25h Anniversary edition of Ultimate Jordan with updated extras. I've got the 20th Anniversary edition, but I have to admit I'd pick up a new one.

[Fresh8]

If only the current NBA had players like John Stockton and David Robinson. Jordan changed the whole landscape of basketball, all of the current generation of NBA players want to be like Mike.

[Lamrock]

You mean like Steve Nash or Greg Oden?

[Andrew]

On some level, probably. I think most players would like to be in a position to enjoy the same level of success.

Adrian Wojnarowski has an interesting take on the situation with Jordan and Krause. I don't entirely disagree but I think he's taking it a bit easy on Krause all the same. This in particular:

For once, Jordan needs to take care of him. He should stand up for Jerry Krause now, the way that he never did as a Bull. Older and wiser, Jordan should be more than a little humbled over how hard it is to build a championship basketball team. Krause never drafted Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison.

Kwame, no question. Morrison...well, that seemed like a better pick that flopped as a fine college player isn't panning out in the pros. Happens to all GMs. And while it's true Krause never drafted either of them, he did draft Marcus Fizer, traded Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler and various other terrible moves, so it's not unthinkable that Krause could've taken Kwame or Morrison...given the chance.

This is also a sobering blog post with understandable sentiment and a decent point to make, I have to disagree with it. There's no shame in nostalgia especially on occasions such as this. I see where he's coming from, but I'll respectfully take the opposing view.

[Fresh8]

You mean like Steve Nash or Greg Oden?

Steve Nash maybe. Greg Oden if he ever starts playign like a number 1 pick. Most of the star PGs are scoring PGs today and most big men are more versatile rather than having a defined post game. However, obviously due to the change in the game of basketball, focus on certain skills reflect what teams and players deem to be needs to combat that change I guess...

[Andrew]

Another video.

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The first part is a little corny I guess but hey, a product of the times.

[Lamrock]

Greg Oden has played like a #1 pick so far. Just because geniuses like Ric Bucher (who thought Hedo was the Magic's MVP last year) say he's a bust doesn't mean he didn't have arguably the best rookie season of anyone from the 2007 draft class.

I would have to agree with it being the change in the way the game is played. The Heat should have been swept in the 2006 finals, but then Dwyane Wade embarked on by far the biggest flopping extravaganza ever and the Heat stole the title, with scrubs like Fatoine Walker in tow. Now guys like Jose Calderon are being slighted in favor of the Devin Harris-type 1's.