One of my best rants was ignored by those fools in GDP

[taterguy]

Therefore, I have no choice but to subject you guys to it.

Enjoy:

Did the Obama campaign hold last night's victory rally at Reynolds Coliseum because of that building's history?

That's where NC State brought down the UCLA dynasty in 1974. In the process they changed the game of basketball forever. Before 1974 basketball was a relatively simple and boring game: Get a giant like Bill Walton or Wilt Chamberlain and surround him with competent role players to pass him the ball.

David Thompson and NC State did for basketball what the Wright Brothers did for transportation. They demonstrated that using the air is more efficient, more beautiful and more fun.

Basketball used to be a game of brute strength. It was transformed into a game dominated by creativity, grace and athleticism.

Here's what I was thinking while I watched Obama speak last night:

Sometimes the biggest, meanest and baddest doesn't win.

Never be afraid to leap for the rafters. You might hit your head on the backboard and fall to the floor in a crumpled heap. However, if that happens just get back up and continue fighting.

What were you thinking?

[DarkTirade]

1. I was thinking "Boy, I haven't heard a good rant from taterguy in a while."

:P

[taterguy]

2. The muse comes and goes

[TZ]

3. Hey asshole..

You need to put "spoiler" in your header.....;-)

[taterguy]

4. Why?

[TZ]

5. ...

Who wants to read leftovers from GDP.....:P
(actually that was pretty good but I just want to yank your chain a bit..)

[JVS]

7. I hadn't gotten around to reading that thread yet!

[taterguy]

19. Why would you read a thread posted by someone you have on Ignore?

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. You totally spoiled the 1974 college basketball season for me.

I'm only up to 1957, you meanie head poopy pants.

[taterguy]

9. Sorry

Good thing I didn't tell you that Duke upset UNLV in 1990.

[JVS]

6. Uh oh. Sounds like someone voted for Obama.

WELCOME TO IGNORE, ASSHOLE!

[taterguy]

10. Sounds like someone spends too much time in the Dean Dome

Or wishes they could afford UNC tickets

[tonkatoy57]

11. Ignoring politics...

I have to instead take issue with your basketball history.

First, I have nothing against David Thompson. He was one of the most exciting players I've ever seen. Secondly, I'm a Tar Heel fan so I want to get my bias right out in front.

Now. I take issue with your presumption that college basketball "was a relatively simple and boring game: Get a giant like Bill Walton or Wilt Chamberlain and surround him with competent role players to pass him the ball", and that "Basketball used to be a game of brute strength". I don't think that is the case.

Was David Thompson an exceptional player who changed the dynamics of college bastketball? Sure he was, but I don't think that guys like Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, Connie Hawkins, Charlie Scott,Julius Erving and Len Elmore were standing around making bounce passes and taking two handed set shots.

The game was changing. David Thompson was just another rung on the ladder of basketball evolution.

(Too bad about his pro career. Bad teams, bad knees, and a bad coke habit kept him from being one of the all time great ABA/NBA players.)

[taterguy]

12. That's like saying Elvis didn't start rock and roll

Technically others were doing similar things before he did them.

However, he took things to a whole different level.

[tonkatoy57]

15. Elvis started rock and roll?

When I was 10 years old in 1967 I attended a summer camp run by Larry Brown and Doug Moe. In the evenings all of these NBA and ABA players teaching at the camp would play pick up games. I saw Connie Hawkins, who had just been named ABA MVP and had led the Pittsburg Pipers to the ABA title, do things with a basketball, without a basketball, and to other top tier professional basketball players that I remember to this day and did not see again until Michael Jordan took flight.

In 1971 I saw Dr. J play one of his first professional games against the Carolina Cougers. I remember him taking off near the top of the circle, jump over Billy Cunningham, (who was a pretty fair player himself), and slam one home.

Could David Thompson do those types of things? Sure he could, but others had done them before, and by the way, there was rock and roll before Elvis.

[taterguy]

18. You're missing the point

Facts should never get in the way of a good rant.

[Midlodemocrat]

13. I was thinking. Shit, I wish the ignore function was back, so I wouldn't have to read

shit by that asshat taterguy.

:P

[taterguy]

14. So that's why you haven't responded to all those PMs I send you

I was wondering about that

[Midlodemocrat]

16. *smooch* you know I lurves you.

[taterguy]

17. Smooch all you want, I'm not gonna let you ride my bike. :)

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

20. Well, there's your problem right there......

....you failed to call anyone a racist or a woman-hater. No wonder the herd ignored it.

[taterguy]

21. I'll never make that mistake again