NBA Archives Debunked: The Jordan Saga

Chapter 38 Sweet Dreams (2)

The selection committee asked the head coach Daly to make a big list first, and list the players he wants according to the position. There can be about 6 candidates for each position.But more interesting than the big list is Daly's own wish list, which lists some players that Daly believes are essential to success.

Until his death in May 2009, Daly never really made his wish list public, but according to "Sports Illustrated" reporter Jack McCarron, the first few names on this small list are: Jordan, "Magic" Division", Pippen, David Robinson, Chris Mullin, Karl Malone, Ewing.

No Isiah Thomas, no ace on Daly's own team.

The loss of "Smiling Assassin" Thomas was the most controversial topic in the composition of the US team in 1992.Why didn't Daly insure his own players?Later, Daly kept peddling his rhetoric to the outside world: I am just a coach, "it is the selection committee that selects players", which is the same as in the NBA, where players are brought in by the general manager, and the coach is only responsible for the coaching part.This is certainly true, but if Daly told the selection committee "I want Isaiah" with a strong attitude, wouldn't the committee members consider it more seriously?

New York Daily reporter Jan Hubbard, who was extremely sharp and aggressive in his coverage of the national team selection process, said: "Chuck was the one who really downplayed the Isaiah issue with a slap in the face. people who have been."

In the selection committee, Thomas also has a natural supporter, Pistons general manager McCloskey.If Thomas wasn't willing to talk Daly out, he could have told McCloskey he wanted to be on the team.According to USA Basketball official Dave Gavitt: "Isaiah didn't feel like he could put pressure on Chuck, but he put a lot of pressure on Jack."

In the end, Thomas still failed to fulfill his wish. In the historic national team in 1992, there was no place for him.Bill Lambiel believes that Thomas' loss has something to do with the timing.Lambiel said: "At that particular time, we were a thing of the past. Had that Olympics been two years earlier, at our peak, I'd be interested to see what would have happened. The Olympic team is a political struggle. . If ever there was one team, one player, that couldn't win a political fight, it would be the Detroit Pistons and Isaiah Thomas."

In fact, Thomas should not have lacked political capital.He was one of the best basketball players in the United States in his age group since he was a child, and he quickly became a first-line star after entering the NBA.If Thomas is as tall as "Magic" and Bird, or even as tall as Jordan, he may be the fourth largest in the league, just at the same level as those three.But later, one after another, Thomas lost his capital bit by bit. In the 1985 All-Star Game, Thomas led the "freezing incident" against Jordan, and had a grudge with Jordan.Two years later, he offended Bird again in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals.

In the fifth game of the 1987 Eastern Conference finals, the battle of Tianwangshan, with five seconds left in the game, the Pistons led by 1 point and took control of the ball. As long as Thomas successfully sent the foul ball to his teammates, the Pistons could basically win Kyle away But at that critical moment, Thomas' pass intention was seen through by Bird. Bird rushed towards Lambir who received the ball, snapped the ball off, and then rushed out of bounds. In an instant, he assisted his teammates to score, and the Celtics miraculously came back to life, turning defeat into victory.Although this ball was a major mistake by Thomas, it would not cause major damage to his public image, and the real evil is yet to come.

After the game, Rodman, who was still a rookie in the Boston Garden visiting team's locker room at the time, made rude remarks, saying that Bird was "overrated."Rodman said Bird was named MVP three times in a row "just because he's white."Immediately, someone asked Rodman what Rodman said to Thomas. Thomas obviously short-circuited his brain at that moment. He said that he "had to agree with Rodman" and added: "Larry Bird is a very, very good player. A basketball player, but if he's black, he's just another player." He finished with that characteristic half-angel, half-devil smile.

Freezing Jordan, offending Bird, and years of rough play by Detroit's Bad Boys have made Thomas less positive in people's minds.As Gavitt puts it: "Isaiah wasn't the most popular guy, and that quickly became apparent."

In the spring and summer of 1991, the selection process of the American Basketball Association attracted much attention. From time to time, inside information leaked out, but it was often inconsistent with the facts. For example, the Chicago Tribune once reported that Thomas won a team spot, but Actually not.

USA Basketball's Olympic selection is no different from a party for college girls.They want to invite the most handsome boys to participate, but if the most handsome boys can't make it, they have to call in the second-tier boys who are not as good-looking to make up the number.But sometimes, the most handsome guys have ambiguous attitudes, vague words, and refuse to say whether they will come or not, so the girls have to let the boys in the second tier not expect too much, and at the same time let them know that there is still a chance.

Fortunately for the selection committee, "Magic" Johnson was unambiguous.The magician received a call from NBA Vice President Granik early in the morning and said without hesitation that he wanted to join. In this way, he also became one of the recruiters. "Magic really helped us," Gavitt said. "He set the tone, and being on the Olympic team is something worth doing."

The most important task is given to Rod Thorne: to get Jordan to join.Jordan was selected by Thorne to the Bulls, and the two had a friendship. In the summer of 1991, after the Bulls won their first championship, Thorne called Jordan himself.

What did Jordan say in the first phone call?
Jordan said at the time: "Rod, if Isaiah is on this team, I don't want to play."

For a long time afterwards, Jordan always more or less denied that Thomas' loss was related to him, but 20 years later, in the summer of 2011, he personally admitted to "Sports Illustrated" reporter McCarron: "I told Rhodes, if Thomas If Seiya is on this team, then I won’t play.”

Thorne understood Jordan's position.He may not have made it clear, but he was very clear in his heart: If Jordan doesn't want someone to enter this team, that person will definitely not be able to enter this team.

On this point, there is no need for the selection committee to communicate with Daly, because Daly knows it well.Jordan told Daly on the phone a long time ago: If Isaiah fights, I won't fight.And Daly also made it clear to Jordan that I will not fight for Isaiah.

In Game 1991 of the Eastern Conference Finals in [-], Thomas led several teammates back to the locker room early without congratulating the Bulls.It was a critical time for Olympic selection, and Thomas' lackluster performance gave the selection committee one final reason to drop him.

Despite ensuring that Thomas would not join the team, Jordan was still reluctant to give a positive answer.The American Basketball Association wanted to announce the team lineup in September 1991, but until August 9, Jordan went to participate in the magician's summer charity star game, and his attitude was still ambiguous.According to McCarron, in fact, Jordan knew that he would join for a long time—since he confirmed that Thomas would not be invited and that Daly would leave him enough time to play golf, Jordan knew that he would definitely join.

Another issue to address is Bird.This task is not as important as attracting Jordan, but it is equally significant.The selection committee didn't "need" Bird as much as they "needed" Jordan, but they did "want" Bird just as much as they "wanted" Jordan.Jordan was 28, Bird was 34; Jordan was in his prime, Bird was past his prime—the selection committee needed Jordan, needed him to revive American basketball, and to do that, they didn't necessarily need Bird.However, Magician, Bird and Jordan were the "golden trio" with the highest status in the NBA at that time, and no one could replace any of them.Therefore, recruiting Bird into the team and letting him fight side by side with Magician and Jordan is far more symbolic than actual combat value.

The task of inviting Bird fell largely to Dave Gavitt.Gavitt was the CEO of the Celtics at the time. He had just sat in this position for a year and got along well with Bird.The first time he talked to Bird about the Barcelona Olympics was at Bird's house.

"Larry, we want you on the Olympic team," Gavitt said.

"I'm old, it's a young man's thing," Bird replied.

Gavitt didn't force it.There is still time.

Bird didn't expect the national team to be just a decoration. At that time, he was suffering from back injuries and was worried that his career would end. If he entered the national team, it might be just a decoration.

In the middle of the 1990-1991 season, "Sports Illustrated" magazine was going to do a cover article on the US national team. The magician told McCarron that if Bird wasn't with me, I wouldn't be on the cover of this magazine.McAllen told the magician, "But Larry said he wouldn't." The magician replied, "I'll check it out myself." After many phone calls, the magician finally agreed to be on the cover because he confirmed it, Burr. De did not go to Barcelona.

Outside of the "golden trio", the selection committee has several candidates that can be easily determined.David Robinson and Ewing are certain, because good centers are scarce; Malone and Pippen are also certain; some people in the selection committee don't like Mullin as much as Daly, but Mullin's mind and he can play both The attribute of the location still locked a place.Barkley is a troublesome man. There have been many discussions about his eligibility. In the end, the selection committee paid more attention to Barkley's ability on the court and accepted him.

In the end, both Jordan and Bird said "Yes." On September 1991, 9, NBC TV broadcasted the special program "Dream Team: American Basketball Draft Show". The selection committee announced the 21 selected NBA players in the program, leaving two places temporarily vacant. The 10 people were announced in this order: "Magic" Johnson, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Larry Bird, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, and finally the ultimate suspense-Michael Jordan.

Immediately after the draft, Johnson issued a statement through Lakers public relations expressing his "disappointment" that Thomas was not selected.Pistons general manager McCloskey resigned directly from the selection committee as a "protest", but Hubbard of the New York Daily later revealed the fact that McCloskey never made a strong appeal for Thomas.

Thomas himself has not publicly expressed outcry, but he is hurt inside.That summer, when he met Pistons publicist Matt Doback at a wedding, Thomas said, "Your guy Chuck dumped me."

Daley has never liked to talk about it, but admitted: "Can I guarantee it won't affect them during the season? I don't think so. I know Isiah is hurting, it's not going to go away. "

Years later we found out that even the magician's support for Thomas was just superficial. In 2009, Magic and Bird co-authored a book, "When the Game Belongs to Us," by renowned journalist Jackie MacMullan.In that book, Magic reveals: "When it comes to the Olympics, Isiah murdered his own chance. Nobody wanted to play with him on that team...Michael didn't want to play with him, Scottie didn't want to play with him." He played together, Bird wouldn't fight for him, Karl Malone didn't want him. Who's going to say 'we need this guy'? Nobody."

In the same book, the magician also reveals why his friendship with Thomas fell apart. The two remained close friends throughout the 80s, even leading their respective teams to meet in the NBA Finals in 1988 and kissing publicly before tip-off.However, when the magician told the world that he was infected with AIDS, Thomas began to question his sexuality, which greatly hurt the relationship between the two.Magician said in the book: "When I got my HIV diagnosis, he questioned me. How can a so-called friend question your sexuality like that? I know why he did it, because we used to be in Kiss before the game, now, if people are curious about me, it means they are curious about him."

After the 10-man roster was announced, there was speculation that Thomas would become the 11th player nine months later.But those who really know the inside story know that so far, Thomas has completely lost his chance.Thomas failed not only at the hands of his enemies, but also at the hands of those who should have been his friends.

On May 1992, 5, the selection committee announced the names of the final two inductees: Clyde Drexler of the Trail Blazers and Christian Laettner of Duke University.That completes the roster, with Drexler nominally the 11th pick.

At that time, whether to absorb Drexler, the main controversy is: he is too much like Jordan.Of course, this may also be the best reason to absorb him into the team, because playing like Jordan is never a bad thing.In fact, by this time, it doesn't matter what style of players to absorb and which position to add. For rebounding, there are David Robinson, Ewing, Barkley and Malone; for outside shooting, there are Mullin, Jordan and Bird; for individual defense, there are Pippen and Jordan; for scoring, everyone can score ; for entertainment, Buckley alone is enough; for coffee and donuts?There is Lightner.Therefore, only the best one among the remaining players needs to be selected.In other words, you only need to choose the best player among the remaining players except Isiah Thomas.

For years, the media has drawn comparisons between Jordan and Drexler, a comparison Drexler avoided as much as possible, but at the same time he was full of ego.He would sometimes ask reporters privately: Is there anything Michael can do that I can't?There are two answers to this question.One is: no!What Jordan can do, you can do with Drexler.The other is: No... It's just that Jordan does everything better than you Drexler.Jordan shoots better, drives better, passes better, defends better, rebounds better, and even, even though Drexler seems to have a higher flight height, Jordan dunks better than him.

In any case, in 1992, Drexler led the Trail Blazers to the best record in the Western Conference of the NBA, and later entered the finals. In the eyes of many people, he was indeed the best player in the league at that time except Jordan. players. In the first game of the 1992 Finals, Jordan scored 6 three-pointers in the half, and included the famous shrug. When asked about Jordan's three-pointer feast after the game, Drexler said so The: "I said before this series that he has two thousand strokes. I was wrong. He has three thousand strokes. I can tell you this: I am very happy that I went to Barcelona and was on the same team as him."

This men's basketball national team, which brought together almost all the top elites of American basketball at that time, got a loud and great name: The Dream Team (The Dream Team).

(End of this chapter)