To the now-generation basketball fans, excuse me for being more than 30 years old. When I played hoops, or anything else for that matter, I wore Converse “Chuck Taylor” canvas sneakers. The first time I bought “basketball shoes” was circa 1969. They were Adidas. And while I thought they were cool, they were also too damn heavy. So when ranking my greatest NBA players of all-time, I actually took into consideration players pre-1980. Hell, pre-1960. After all, the list is “all-time.”

As I read today’s columns and blogs about the game’s greatest players, I’ve concluded that writers are either aiming at the younger-than-30 crowd or have little knowledge of the truly great players from yesteryear. Many in the now-generation actually include Kobe and LeBron in their top 5 list of best ever. Of course, that’s nonsense. Maybe LeBron will soon be included (once he wins a championship or two), but he’s not there yet. As for Kobe, he’s certainly a great player and could be in the top 10 by the time he retires, but forget the top 5.

I realize athleticism plays a role in comparing NBA players of today to those who wore Converse canvas sneakers but, rest assured, Russell, Wilt and The Big “O” take a back seat to no one in today’s game. Maybe the game has changed, but great basketball players endure. Larry Bird was a good athlete, but he was a great basketball player.

So, if you’re younger than 30 or living in Chicago, you might want to click off now, as I give you my top 5 greatest NBA players of all-time.

5. Larry Bird
4. Wilt Chamberlain
3. Oscar Robertson
2. Michael Jordan
1. Bill Russell

Tough to keep off the list: Kareem, Magic, Dr. J. and Jerry West.

Were has the time gone?

If you were watching NBA basketball during the JFK, LBJ, and Nixon presidential era, you must have fallen off your chair when ABC/ESPN broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy recently proclaimed Kobe Bryant the greatest Lakers’ player of all-time. Hell, he doesn’t even make my top four (yet).

What makes Van Gundy’s comment even more surprising is that he was born in 1962 and comes from a basketball family. His father, Bill, was head coach at Brockport State University, so I know he recalls the names West and Baylor – not to mention Magic and Kareem.

Truth be told, I’m not a big fan of Kobe. However, there’s no doubt he’s a great player – and, arguably, the best player in the NBA today. However, the greatest player in Lakers’ history? C’mon Jeff.

Being a Celtics’ fan since the Russell era, I’ve seen or listened to all the great Celtics-Lakers match-ups. Young NBA fans believe it was the Bird-Magic confrontations that made this rivalry what it is today, but it started long before that duo were even out of diapers. From the 1961-62 to 1968-69 seasons, they played each other in six of the eight NBA Finals. They also matched-up in 1959, when the Lakers played in Minneapolis. The Bird-Magic era was indeed exciting and helped save the NBA, but it was just a continuation of the game’s greatest rivalry.

So, after 50 years of NBA history behind me, I offer my Top 10 Lakers of all-time. However, two things to note about my list: Wilt Chamberlain only played four full seasons for the Lakers (he was hurt during the 1969-70 season. Plus, I consider Wilt more a Warrior/76er). And, I never saw George Mikan play.
1.    Jerry West
2.    Earvin “Magic” Johnson
3.    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4.    Elgin Baylor
5.    Kobe Bryant
6.    Shaquille O’Neil
7.    Gail Goodrich
8.    James Worthy
9.    Wilt Chamberlain
10.    George Mikan

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame recently announced its 2009 Induction Class – and it could be one of its greatest classes ever. Hell, anything in basketball including Michael Jordon’s name has to be considered one of the best. Joining Jordon are fellow players David Robinson and John Stockton, plus Coaches Jerry Sloan and Vivian Stringer. And while all may be deserving of this great honor, I continue to wonder why Artis Gilmore has been the forgotten man in the Basketball Hall of Fame process.

Let me first admit; Artis Gilmore is my friend. I have known Artis since he arrived on the Florida campus of Jacksonville University in 1969. He became my fraternity brother, and remains my friend today. So, while my comments may be somewhat prejudiced, they are no less factual.

Secondly, let’s remember that it’s the Basketball Hall of Fame – not the National Basketball Association Hall of Fame. Nowhere in the Hall of Fame eligibility rules do I read anything relating to the NBA. Therefore, shouldn’t a player’s entire professional and college career be considered by voting members? And that includes American Basketball Association (ABA) numbers.

For those who snicker at the mention of the ABA, lest you forget some of the great players of that era (1967-1976) came out of the “outlaw” red, white, and blue league. Along with Artis (voted #2 greatest ABA player ever), there was its greatest player, Julius (Dr. J.) Erving; plus: George Gervin, Connie Hawkins, Rick Barry, George McGinnis, Dan Issel, David Thompson, Spencer Haywood, Charlie Scott, Moses Malone, Billy Cunningham, Maurice Lucas, Marvin Barnes, Louie Dampier, and Roger Brown. So, there should be no doubt about the quality of play in the ABA.

Therefore, ABA numbers not being included in a player’s overall professional career is questionable. Remember, the ABA didn’t actually fold. In June 1976, the two leagues made peace, and four ABA teams merged into the NBA (New York Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs). Comparably, the ABA was not the World Football League. It should be considered more like the American Football League, which merged with the NFL.

Including Gilmore’s ABA stats of 22.3 points and 17.1 rebounds per game, and 750 total blocked-shots, Artis would be ranked 4th all-time in rebounding (only behind Chamberlain, Russell, and Jabbar), 9th in blocked shots, and 14th in total points. Even without ABA stats, Gilmore’s NBA numbers rank him in the top ten in rebounds, blocked shots, games played, and minutes played…and among the top 25 all-time in points. He also ranks first overall in field goal percentage. No other player with comparable statistical accomplishments has been omitted from the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Artis is now ineligible for enshrinement until 2012.

Regarding Artis’ college career, he led the NCAA in rebounding both his junior and senior years while at Jacksonville. He holds the Division I college rebounding record of 22.7 rebounds per game and is one of only a few players in college basketball history to average 20 points and 20 rebounds for his college career. He also led tiny Jacksonville University to the 1970 NCAA finals against mighty UCLA.

Take a look at some of Artis’ individual accomplishments – and if you can, tell me why this man is not in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

•    ABA All-time team
•    ABA MVP 1972
•    ABA Rookie of the Year 1972
•    5x ABA All-Star
•    5x ABA First Team
•    5x ABA All-Defensive Team First Team
•    6x NBA All-Star
•    1x NBA All-Defensive Team
•    NBA Career Leader in Field Goal Percentage (59.9%)

Artis Gilmore is the most glaring omission to a respective Hall of Fame. The Basketball Hall of Fame should see the error of its way and allow Artis to have his rightful place among his peers when once again eligible in 2012.

It was easy for basketball purists to be appalled by the NBA All-Star fiasco that occurred in Phoenix. However, I’ll go beyond simply the purists – and suggest even the average basketball fan thought the game and pre-game show was a farce.

I realize all-star games are solely for entertainment purposes and another cash cow for professional leagues. Of the four major sports, MLB is the most pure all-star event, with the NFL and NHL simply a half-speed showcase for their stars. The NBA event used to fall somewhere in the middle, as it was usually a show in the beginning – then players would get more competitive as the game progressed.  The game in Phoenix started as a joke – and concluded as an even bigger mockery of the game.

What happened to actually watching the greatest players in the world play the NBA game? If I wanted to watch schoolyard ball, I’d go to one of the inner-city courts in New York and get fully-entertained by some kids. But, when I put on TNT, I expect to watch organized ball being played with some sense of competitive integrity.

And the pre-game show?  Now, I don’t mind watching cheerleaders perform, as they’ve been part of basketball since Naismith rolled out the first ball. However, those dancers and Shaq?  Spare me. Are the players there to entertain us … or themselves?

I couldn’t watch the entire game, but I did keep going back with hopes it would get better. No luck. It was pathetic and an embarrassment to the NBA.

That could have been the last NBA All-Star game I’ll ever watch.

When did ABC/ESPN become the PR team for Kobe, Inc?

How tired are you of the references “the best player on the planet,” or those silly comparisons to Jordon? Please. Kobe hasn’t even been the best player on the floor. That distinction belongs to Paul Pierce. Even more sickening…how many times are we to be subject to the piece on Kobe at home portraying the good family man? Are we to dismiss his admitted adulterous sexual encounter in Eagle, Colorado on July 1, 2003? I know that incident is old news and should be put to rest – and it would be, if not for the “family man” campaign imposed by Kobe’s ABC public relations team. He’s trying too hard to convince the pubic he’s something we all know he’s not. Maybe if he bought me a $4M diamond ring, as he did his wife after his Colorado indiscretion, I’d forgive him, too.

It seems apparent that Kobe wants and needs to be liked. With apologies to LeBron James, Kobe is the best player in the league…but, likeable? Magic or Jerry West he’s not. First, he runs Shaq out of town – then he wants out of LA himself. Even Lakers’ fans had enough of Kobe prior to the start of the season. However, it’s amazing what a few W’s can do for fickle fans.

As the Finals heads back to Boston for game six, let’s hope we’ve seen the last of the Kobe campaign and just see a great game.

We’ve all seen and heard enough about the rich Celtics - Lakers traditions. Well, almost. How can this championship round go on without hearing the names Chick Hearn and Johnny Most? It can’t.

Considered the two greatest basketball radio-broadcasters of all-time, Hearn and Most were the voices of these two great franchises - and as much a part of their glorious history as Russell, West, Bird and Magic.

Johnny Most announced Celtics games “high above courtside”� (his traditional opening remark), from 1953 to 1990. Chick Hearn could be heard calling Lakers games from 1965 to 2002, including a consecutive-game streak of 3,338. Between the two, there were 25 championships (16 by Most and 9 by Hearn), and nearly 90-years of radio-broadcasting. Most passed away in 1993. Hearn in 2002.

Hearn was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. He was also inducted into the American Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 1995 - and has a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. Most was inducted into the media-category of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, and was awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Basketball Hall of Fame trustees. That he’s not an actual Hall of Famer is a travesty.

Hearn is credited for numerous basketball sayings - called “Chickisms,”� including “slam dunk,”� “air-ball,”� and “no harm, no foul.”� My personal favorite was “ticky-tack”� foul. Most was best known for his raspy voice and villainizing of Celtics opponents. His famous call: “Havlicek stole the ball”� lives in NBA and Celtics lore.

I grew up listening to Johnny Most - and grew old admiring Chick Hearn. There will never be anyone like them again.

Celtics versus Lakers just isn’t the same without them.

I don’t know why the national media are afraid to say it. Okay, so it has something to do with television contracts, but where are the print media? All these questions as to why there’s a major advantage for NBA home teams in the playoffs is quite simple…it’s partly due to referees’ “home calls.”

Forget the fans who always blame officials for their favorite team’s loss. That has been happening since Naismith invented the game. However, watch games in which you don’t care who wins. Are there not obvious home-town calls that are infuriating?

To be honest, I don’t know what a foul is anymore. I see players mauled in the low post – then a foul is called on a ticky-tack hand-check. How about a player driving to the hole? I know the playoffs are at a higher intensity level than regular season games, but this isn’t rugby. No, I don’t want the game played at the foul line, but there needs to be more consistency with calls.

Everyone (but the NBA) admits to “star calls” and “rookie calls.” It has been happening since black and white television, but appears more obvious today. You can’t tell me Kobe and LeBron don’t get most of the calls at home. If the NBA wants to protect the stars to keep them in the game, change the foul rule and give players 7 or 8 fouls. Hell, why have a foul limit at all? Just give the opponent 3 foul shots, or two foul shots and the ball, if fouled by anyone playing with six or more fouls.

Also, the “hack-a-Shaq” foul strategy, which is now used on any player with a foul shot percentage ala Shaq, is a disgrace to the game. For non-basketball fans, a “hack-a-Shaq” is a foul committed away from the ball on anyone who doesn’t shoot foul shots well – enabling the fouling team a possible possession advantage. Any rule giving a fouling team an advantage needs to be changed.

Here are a few more things the NBA should consider:
• Add an extra foot at each end of the floor. Between the size and athleticism of today’s great players, they need more room under the basket.
• Take away the three-pointer from the corner – it’s too close.
• Go back to two officials. That’s one fewer person on the floor feeling a need to justify a job.
• Allow replay on any play/shot ending a quarter.
• Call traveling and palming the ball – as the rule reads.

The Hall Of Fame Network www.HOFn.com has a poll asking: Which major pro league has the best officiating? I’m not sure which is best, but I do know which is worst.

After a thrilling season of football upsets and an epic championship basketball game, we’re reminded why we love college sports. But, which college can boast the #1 sports program? In a HOFN.com exclusive, Jim Weber ranks this year’s top athletic programs.

See how they rank at HOFN.com …

It’s the final week of the NBA regular season, and there’s no clear-cut leader for the 2007-08 NBA MVP. At least not in the city of the candidates. Consensus has Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, and Chris Paul leading the way.

Personally, I think it’s a 3-horse race between Kobe, Garnett, and Paul. Since the Cleveland Cavaliers won’t reach the magical 50-win plateau, which appears to be an unwritten rule to be considered for the award, LeBron will have to wait another year.

Using individual statistics (alone), Kobe is this year’s winner. However, Paul leads the league in assists (11.6) and steals (2.73), plus carries a 21-point average. On the other hand, Garnett could be the defensive player of the year and has led the Celtics to the greatest one-year turnaround in NBA history.

Of the three, only Garnett has won the coveted award (2004). That, coupled with the fact that he plays with two other superstars (Pierce and Ray Allen), leads me to believe he will finish third in the voting. And, while Paul seems to have personally carried his team to a great season and the playoffs, I’m not sure he can overcome the sentiment that it’s Kobe’s time.

With all due respect to LeBron, and whether you like him personally or not, Kobe is the best player in the NBA. Granted, the addition of Pau Gasol to the Lakers has been instrumental to their rise in the Western Conference, but it has been the consistent play of Kobe that has brought the Lakers back to prominence.

I’m not a big Kobe fan, but he gets my vote.

(You can vote for the player of your choice in the www.HOFMAG.com poll.)

By the way, do you know who’s won the most NBA MVP awards? Here’s a list of multiple winners and how many trophies they’ve garnered.

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 6
• Bill Russell: 5
• Michael Jordon: 5
• Wilt Chamberlain: 4
• Larry Bird: 3
• Magic Johnson: 3
• Moses Malone: 3
• Tim Duncan: 2
• Karl Malone: 2
• Steve Nash: 2
• Bob Pettit: 2

It’s March Madness - so what better time to talk about college basketball’s greatest players? A poll by www.HOFmagazine.com provides a consensus list of the Top 10 college players of all-time from which to choose. The list consists of (alphabetically):

• Lew Alcindor, UCLA
• Larry Bird, Indiana State
• Bill Bradley, Princeton
• Wilt Chamberlain, Kansas
• Pete Maravich, LSU
• Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati
• Bill Russell, San Francisco
• David Thompson, NC State
• Bill Walton, UCLA
• Jerry West, West Virginia

Again, the poll question asks who is the greatest - not who’s your favorite. That’s an important distinction. For me, my favorite college basketball player was Bill Bradley. But my greatest Top-5 is as follows:

• 5. Oscar Robertson
• 4. Pete Maravich
• 3. Bill Russell
• 2. Lew Alcindor ( Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
• 1. Bill Walton

Choosing between Walton and Alcindor was difficult. I give the slight edge to Walton for his rebounding and more aggressive style of play. However, being a three-time Player of the Year with two National Titles, plus leading his UCLA team to an 88-game winning-streak certainly helped!