HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: rns@deakin.OZ.AU (Robert Sturrock)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Australias would heve beaten dream team
Date: 26 Dec 1992 15:52:11 +1100
Organization: Deakin University
NNTP-Posting-Host: rastaban.cc.deakin.oz.au

bewillia@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Maj. Devon McKnight) writes:

>>lucian J. Longley : college star for new mexico, drafted 7th in NBA last
>>season, and is now playing in the NBA with the minessotta t-wolves.

>	And getting some pretty serious sores on his bum from sitting on the
>bench behind Felton Spencer.  At this point, Longley has not proven by any
>stretch of the imagination that he can play at the NBA level.

I don't agree with this.  I think that Luc Longley, by his performances
this season, has proven beyond doubt that he deserves to be in the
league.  He is averaging around 9ppg, getting plenty of boards and
a fair number of blocks.  He has scored in the 15-20 on a few occassions,
and has been a starter for the Wolves.  As for bench sitting, most of
the BOX's I've seen has shown Longley to be getting 20-30 minutes per
game, which is hardly the stuff splinters are made of...  I'm not saying
he is (or ever will be) an all-star, and he obviously still has a long
way to go (reducing his fouls to start with); but I think he has
shown that he can play in the NBA.


Comments Welcome


Rob
From: haghighi@handy.usc.edu (Manouchehr Haghighi)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Teams out of blocks
Date: 21 Dec 1992 08:43:59 -0800
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: handy.usc.edu

Chicago 45-7     .865

Portland 39-8    .830

San Antonio 39-8    .830

Phoenix  40-13    .755

Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: kennedy@asuvax.eas.asu.edu (Ralph Kennedy)
Subject: Re: Phoenix Suns
Organization: Arizona State Univ, Tempe
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 17:02:26 GMT

<KHDLC@ASUACAD.BITNET> writes:
> My problem..the only Phoenix Suns I am familiar with are Charles Barkley
> and Danny Ange (sp?). Could somehow tell me the other team members and
> possibly their numbers and what positions they play.
> 
> I'd like to keep up with them...

     Your problem is that you are either lazy
and want everyone to do your work for you, or
else you're completely unresourceful.

     Why don't you try reading the Phoenix
newspaper every day?  That should at least solve
your immediate problem.

--Ralph Kennedy      {ames,gatech,husc6,rutgers}!ncar!noao!asuvax!kennedy
                        {allegra,decvax,ihnp4,oddjob}--^
                                          ^---------------The Wrong Choice
                             internet: kennedy@asuvax.asu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: dmd39855@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Daniel DuBois)
Subject: Re: Culture comes to USENET (was Re: Jordan & Pippen: No Olympics)
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 18:15:40 GMT

koehnema@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (Harry Koehnemann) writes:

>And Utah dosen't have the exact same scenerio except that they played
>one less week (missed the finals).  They don't seem to be whinning.

Does he mean "winning" or "whining"?

>Tell Jordan to shut up and play ball - he's making what 30 million

Ok, next time Im having a casual chat with Mike, I'll tell him
you said to 'shut up'.

-Dan
From: davidy@sumax.seattleu.edu (Stimpson J. Cat)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Sonic Injuries 12-21-92
Date: 21 Dec 1992 17:05:18 -0800
Organization: Seattle University
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: sumax.seattleu.edu

	Shawn Kemp is out against Portland and probably the Laker game
this week according to George Karl. His knee had more swelling than they
expected when he hyperextended it during garbage time against the L.A.
Clippers Saturday night. He may return after X-mas. 

	Michael Cage also has a groin strain that limited his minutes 
against the Clippers, and he will not be at 100% strength either. With
Benoit Benjamin questionable due to an ankle injury, this leaves Seattle
extremely thin on the front line for two important games against their
Pacific Division rivals. They will have a very hard time matching up with
Portland, and will have far less depth on the front line than the L.A. Lakers.

	Rumor has it Seattle will start Steve Scheffler at center because of
the thiness. Rich King, Seattle's 7'2" 2nd year center, who was having an
excellent pre-season, is still out with a foot injury and will not be ready 
for a few more weeks.



					David L. Yee
				email to:davidy@sumax.seattleu.edu

Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: khansen@staff.tc.umn.edu ()
Subject: Wolves Top Performances thru 12/26
Organization: University of Minnesota
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 21:26:39 GMT

                	Minnesota Timberwolves
		Top Individual Performances 1992-93
		     (through December 26, 1992)


Points				Steals
------				--------
35 Laettner 12/15 - BOS		5 Williams  12/18 - LAC
29 Laettner 11/25 - NY		4 West      12/5  - SEA
28 Person   12/12 - HOU		4 Person    12/3  - UTA
26 Laettner 12/26 - ATL		4 Longley   11/17 - CHI
26 West	    12/23 - SAC		4 Williams  11/17 - CHI

FG Made				Rebounds
-------				--------
12 Laettner 11/25 - NY		17 Laettner 12/15 - BOS
12 Person   11/27 - WAS		14 Laettner 11/7  - GS
11 Laettner 12/26 - ATL		12 Person   11/17 - CHI
11 Laettner 12/15 - BOS		12 Person   11/14 - PHO
11 Person   12/12 - HOU		12 Person   11/12 - NJ

Turnovers			FT Made
---------			-------
8 Laettner  12/23 - SAC		13 Williams 11/21 - DEN
7 Williams  12/15 - BOS		12 Laettner 12/15 - BOS
7 Person    12/6  - LAL		11 Williams 12/23 - SAC
7 Laettner  11/20 - WAS		11 Laettner 12/8  - HOU
7 Person    11/7  - GS		10 West     12/23 - SAC

Assists				3 PT FG Made
-------				------------
14 Williams 12/15 - BOS		5 Person    11/10 - DAL
14 Williams 11/12 - NJ		4 Person    12/10 - DAL
13 Williams 11/7  - GS		4 Person    12/23 - SAC
12 Williams 12/12 - HOU		3 Person    12/26 - ATL
11 Williams 12/6  - LAL		3 Person    12/15 - BOS

Blocks				Minutes
------				-------
5 Laettner  11/10 - DAL		53 West      12/5  - BOS
4 Longley   12/15 - BOS		52 Person    12/5  - BOS
4 Longley   11/12 - NJ		51 Laettner  12/5  - BOS
3 Spencer   12/23 - ATL		51 Laettner  12/23 - SAC
3 Longley   12/12 - HOU		50 West      12/23 - SAC


		TIMES LED TEAM		DOUBLE FIGURES
					10+    20+    10+    Double   Triple
		PTS  REBS  ASTS		PTS    PTS    REBS   Double   Double
Person		10     10     7		18	13	 5	4	0
Laettner	 7     10     0		20      10       6     	6	0
Longley		 0	2     0		 7	 0	 2	1       0
Williams	 0	1    15      	18	 3	 1	6	1
West		 6	0     1		19	 9	 0	5	0
Bailey		 0	1     0		 8	 0	 0	0	0
Smith		 0	0     2	 	 1	 0	 0	0	0
Spencer		 0	0     0		 2	 0	 0	0	0
McCann		 0	1     0		 4	 0	 0	0 	0
Blanks		 0	0     0		 1	 0	 0	0 	0
Sellers		 0	0     0		 0	 0	 0	0 	0
Maxey		 0	0     0		 0	 0	 0	0 	0

-----------------------------
-Kevin Hansen----------------
-Minnesota Twin Family Study-
-University of Minnesota-----
-khansen@staff.tc.umn.edu----
-----------------------------
Contact: University of Minnesota Women's Basketball
From: werstln@berlioz.nsc.com (Michael Werstlein)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Phoenix is absolutely scary...
Date: 28 Dec 92 23:46:15 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara

Remember what happened to Portland in the 90-91 season?
They started 19-1.  Enough said!

Mike Werstlein
Go Blazers...
From: dougs@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Doug Steele)
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 18:42:28 GMT
Subject: Re: Team Standings and Stats
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
From: mbn@greyskul.hf.intel.com (Mike Northam)
Subject: Re: NBA Salaries '92
Reply-To: mbn@greyskul.hf.intel.com (Mike Northam)
Organization: Shorter Software Solutions
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 15:29:22 GMT

>>>>> "greg" == Greg Dodd <gsd@unislc.uucp> writes:

greg> The report also showed that four members of the U.S. Olympic
greg> basketball "Dream Team" aren't amoung the league's financial elite.

greg> Phoenix's Charles Barkley($2.4 million), Utah's Karl Malone($2.85
greg> million), Portland's Clyde Drexler($1.37 million) and Minnesota's
greg> Christian Laettner($2.1 million) don't rank amount the five highest
greg> paid players athe ther positions.

There may be more here than meets the eye.  Drexler, for example, has one
of those balloon payment contracts, so in a few years, he gets $7-8M in
the last year of his contract.  (This type of contract restructuring is
becoming quite common as teams try to be creative to get under the cap.)

If you averaged his total package over the life of the contract, the
figures would look a bit different.  Barkeley also restructured his
contract to enable Phoenix to sign Danny Ainge, I believe.  Laettner is in
a different category, as the "designated college guy" on the Olympic team,
he is not a proven NBA All-Star.
--
Mike Northam, Shorter Software Solutions, on contract to Intel Corp.
(h) (503) 324-1831 (intel office) (503) 696-4860 (shorter) (503) 357-1010
mbn@greyskul.hf.intel.com
"You ducks are really trying my patience...but you're SOOO cute. --Apu 9F01
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: lej@pdn.paradyne.com (Leo James)
Subject: Re: Bulls vs. Knicks!
Organization: AT&T Paradyne, Largo, Florida
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 14:08:45 GMT

In article <1992Dec27.211805.11740@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu> u_nique@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Jerray Wei) writes:
>I was rooting for the Knicks the entire way and was exasperated at every turn.
>Patrick Ewing is an overrated player!!

Sir, I want to thank you for making this, ah, "statement"  towards the
beginning of your article.  By doing so, you have clearly demonstrated
the amount of thought that went into its writing and saved me the time
and, I'm sure, the emotion that I would have wasted if I had continued
reading it.  Thanks again.
--
+---------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
|Leopold E. James     | "A heart, a soul, AND | AT&T Paradyne         |
|ph: (813) 530-8425   |  a mind are terrible  | P.O. Box 2826, LG-132,|
|lej@pdn.paradyne.com |  things to waste."    | Largo, FL 34649 (USA) |
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: u_nique@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Jerray Wei)
Subject: Re: Shaq vs. Wilt
Organization: HAC - Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 22:37:22 GMT

In article <1992Dec23.211336.12938@ll.mit.edu> nates@ll.mit.edu ( Nate Smith) writes:
>
>ok - certainly, you lose your starting center and your chances go south
>real fast.  no argument.  what i am saying is that Russell made the team
>more than a simple sum of its parts.  remember, russell was also the coach
>at the end there.  now when was wilt ever a coach?  what does this say
>about understanding team chemistry?

Given the fact that a lot of star players don't become coaches until much
later, are we saying that they didn't help the team out by being a leader,
etc.?  As for Russell's coaching ability, wow, look at the way he wrecked
the Sacramento Kings when he was there a few years ago.

>i disagree.  i think wilt made his team LESS than the sum of its simple
>parts.  admittedly wilt is a Very Huge Part in that simple sum.

First of all, Wilt's teams almost equalled Russell's teams.  They did make
the finals however many times and went to game 7 however many times too.
Now surround Wilt with Russell's cast where Russell was simply one of the
guys...

You can kind of equate Wilt to Jordan a few years ago.  Jordan did everything
for his team, but Detroit, who happened to the best weapons against Jordan
smashed the Bulls three years in a row.  The Celtics happened to have the
only person capable of making Wilt look human.  And they had a lot of star
players.  You equated coaching with team atmosphere.  Well Russell sucked as
a coach.  So what other Celtics became coaches?  K.C. Jones, Don Nelson,
Tom Heinsohn...boy weren't they stacked?  And they had Bob Cousy, the ultimate
team man of that era.

It's not like Wilt didn't eventually win some titles.  He was on both teams
that won the most games ever in the NBA.  His assists climbed, his scoring
didn't lead the teams anymore, but he still grabbed more rebounds than
anyone in history.  What names do you remember from Wilt's earlier teams?
You certainly remember Jerry West and Gail Goodrich from his later ones
(not to mention forever bench player, Pat Riley).  You remember Elgin Baylor
don't you?  And when that team got together, they had to contend with a
nearly perfect Knicks team (of whom all the names most people remember)
including a younger version of Russell: Willis Reed.
From: chrisda@atlantis.CS.ORST.EDU (David Christensen)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Phoenix is absolutely scary...
Date: 29 Dec 92 05:41:05 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Computer Science Outreach Services - Oregon State University
NNTP-Posting-Host: atlantis.cs.orst.edu

In article <1992Dec29.000059.25884@cbnewsm.cb.att.com> jmd@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (joseph.m.dakes) writes:
>
>Well, it is still early in the season and anything can happen between now
>and the NBA Finals.  But then again for a team that has only been playing
>together for two months (without its all-star point guard) they certainly
>look like one of the teams to beat.  And their record speaks for itself.
>
>What do all you Utah Jazz fans, who claimed Charles Barkley couldn't hold
>Karl Malone's jockstrap, have to say now?  Or that fool Portland fan who
>claimed Jerome Kersey was better for the Blazers than Barkley when rumors
>surfaced last season about Sir Charles possibly moving to the great north
>west?  Or any other Barkley distractors, for that matter?  The guy can and
>does do it all!
>
>
>GO SIXERS!
>GO SUNS!
>
>Joe Dakes

I have to admit it... I didn't think Barkley was still this good.  His heart
certainly wasn't in it the last two years when Philly visited Portland.  He
was dogging it then.  But he's been everything advertised so far.

Still, the season's early, and a lot of teams are still getting it together.
Utah and Seattle have great defenses which will be even better by the time of
the playoffs.  Portland hasn't been too good, but they're getting used to 
playing without Drexler and Kersey, and playing with Elie and Strickland.
They'll be better later in the season.

Phoenix looks better than anyone else right now, but I wouldn't start sizing
those rings yet...

---
David Christensen
From: jberry@hpcupt3.cup.hp.com (John Berry)
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 16:38:36 GMT
Subject: Re: Best NBA Players!
Organization: Hewlett Packard, Cupertino
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro

Who's spot is Stockton going to take??????????  Certainly not Hardaway.
And don't even think about Jordan!
From: dorin@ksr.com (Bob Dorin)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Shaq vs. Wilt
Date: 22 Dec 92 10:30:08 EST
Distribution: usa
Organization: Kendall Square Research Corp.

In article <1992Dec15.005131.2847@jmb2.jmb.com> lewism@jmb2.jmb.com (Mike Lewis) writes:
>teams might have won several NBA titles.  His teams lost to Boston in the
>playoffs just about every year, except for 1967 (the only year during that
>stretch in which Boston *didn't* win, by the way).


Just decided to check just how often Wilt faced Boston in the
playoffs.
1960 (Wilt is a rookie for Philly Warriors)      Boston in 6
1961 (Philly eliminated in first round sweep)    Syracuse in 3 straight
1962 (Eastern finals; Wilt season averaged 50.4) Boston in 7
1963 (Warriors in San Fran, i.e. Western Div)    fail to make playoffs
1964 (Wilt faces Russell in NBA finals)          Boston in 5
1965 (Wilt traded to 76ers in mid-season)        Boston in 7
1966 (2nd of 4 consecutive Eastern finals)       Boston in 5
1967 (Title for Wilt!!)                          Philly in 5
1968 (Boston 8 games behind Philly in East but)  Boston in 7
1969 (Wilt in LA; balloon game 7 in NBA finals)  Boston in 7
1970 (Wilt loses to NY in NBA finals, never faces Boston again in
      playoffs)

I guess this is one of those cases where time has not caused an
exaggeration - Wilt was in fact dominated by Russell in playoffs.

--
Name:    Bob Dorin
Company: Kendall Square Research 
Email:   dorin@ksr.com, ksr!dorin
From: mark@tc.fluke.COM (Mark D. Nagel)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: 76ers need BIG-time help!!!!!!!!
Date: 22 Dec 92 21:08:01 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA

>In article <1992Dec19.215211.20015@midway.uchicago.edu>, epc1@quads.uchicago.edu (Merlin) writes:
>|> In article <1992Dec18.225502.1@wharton.upenn.edu> reille85@wharton.upenn.edu writes:
>|> >HERE'S A TRADE....
>|> >
>|> >The Philadelphia 76ers badly need many, many, many things.  They happen to have
>|> >an overabundance of "2" guards (Hawkins, Hornacek, Dawkins)   So, here goes.
>|> >How about...
>|> >	Jeff Hornacek, Armon Gilliam, and Johnny Dawkins to Cleveland for
>|> >Mark Price, "Hot Rod" Williams, and a #1 draft pick.
>|> >

What would Cleveland do for a point guard? Not a chance this would/could happen.

>|> >     or Hornacek, Gilliam, and Dawkins to Seattle for Payton and McKey.
>|> >

Yea, like Seattle needs help! How about Gilliam for Benjamin? I didn't think so!

The best solution is to give things some time.
-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
		Is it IBM compatiable? NO - ARE YOU?
 - FUSION - FUSION - FUSION -FUSION -FUSION -FUSION -FUSION -FUSION -FUSION -
    Domain: mark@tc.fluke.COM (Mark Nagel) Voice: +1 206 356 5098
      UUCP: microsoft!fluke!mark or sun!fluke!mark
     Snail: John Fluke Mfg. Co. / P.O. Box C9090 / Everett WA  98206
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: robert@aero.org (R. S. Statsinger)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: La Lakers
Date: 21 Dec 1992 23:02:11 GMT
Organization: Your Guess Is As Good As Mine...
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: halcyon.aero.org

In article <42785@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> kompella@cs.ucsd.edu (Vachaspathi Kompella) writes:
|
|The win at Denver was as nail-biting as to be painful.  Come on, the Lakers
|should do a lot better than that.  You know it.  That's what Scott is good
|for.  A steadying influence when James is shaky.  Of course, you are a Scott-
|hater, so you wouldn't understand :)

Well, I agree that the Lakers could have - and should have - played
better. But Byron Scott a steadying influence????  You have GOT to
be kidding.....the ONLY thing Scott is good for is hitting open
jumpers on the wing......sometimes.......and he is "on" ONLY
when the rest of the team is "on" - if the team is flat, Scott
DEFINITELY won't be of any help (that's the way things have been
with him since he joined the team - whether or not that can change
is another matter)

Hell, the only reason people might be defending Scott right now is
that it's been 2 months since he's played, and you've all forgotten
how one dimensional he is..........

I look for the return of Tony Smith to help alot.....

			R.S.


Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: tmorgan@quesadilla.ssesco.com (Toni Morgan)
Subject: Re: Players under 6 feet in the NBA
Organization: SSESCO
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 17:43:47 GMT

In article <1h57coINNonb@handy.usc.edu> haghighi@handy.usc.edu (Manouchehr Haghighi) writes:

>Spud Webb 5`7

Yeah, but I think that's with his shoes on and in his dreams.  Anybody know how tall Webb REALLY is???

rgds,
  T

Toni Morgan        |   "Rock and roll is more than a haircut."
toni@zetaco.com    |                               - Nuno Bettencourt
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: claird@NeoSoft.com (Cameron Laird)
Subject: Re: BOXSCORE:  orl12sea13.01dec92
Organization: NeoSoft Communications Services -- (713) 684-5900
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 17:23:52 GMT

In article <1992Dec30.045303.1031@cheshire.oxy.edu> tamada@cheshire.oxy.edu (Michael K. Tamada) writes:
>
>orl 102, sea 116   01dec92
			.
			.
			.
>orl ( 8- 4)      min  fgm fga 3m 3a ftm fta or tr  as pf st to bk tc ej ff  pts
>scott,dennis      35   4  18   1  4   2  2   0  3   2  4  1  1  0  0  0  0   11
>turner,jeff       21   4   6   0  0   0  0   1  4   0  3  1  4  0  0  0  0    8
>o'neal,shaquille  36   4  11   0  0   1  7   4 11   1  4  0  4  4  1  0  0    9
>anderson,nick     41  13  19   1  1   1  2   0  5   5  1  4  4  0  0  0  0   28
>skiles,scott      41   9  12   2  2   5  7   0  2  13  5  0  3  0  0  0  0   25
>kite,greg          5   1   1   0  0   0  0   0  1   1  3  1  1  0  0  0  0    2
>royal,donald      13   1   3   0  0   3  3   1  1   0  6  0  3  1  0  0  0    5
>bowie,anthony     19   3   6   0  0   0  0   3  3   0  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    6
>tolbert,tom       19   2   3   0  0   0  0   0  3   1  2  0  2  0  0  0  0    4
>green,litterial    8   2   5   0  0   0  0   0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    4
>williams,lorenzo   2   0   0   0  0   0  0   0  0   0  0  1  0  1  0  0  0    0
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>orl totals       240  43  84   4  7  12 21   9 33  23 29  8 23  6  1  0  0  102
>FG, 3P, FT averages:     .512   .571   .571       team rebs 13
			.
			.
			.
Scott and O'Neal go 8/29, and the team *averages*
over 51%?  'Sounds potent.  When's the coach going
to teach them how *not* to be outscored by 18 from
the stripe?
-- 

Cameron Laird
claird@Neosoft.com (claird%Neosoft.com@uunet.uu.net)	+1 713 267 7966
claird@litwin.com (claird%litwin.com@uunet.uu.net)  	+1 713 996 8546
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: bis@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu (Bis)
Subject: Re: Jordan & Pippen: No Olympics
Organization: Bis Information Services
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 03:02:21 GMT

In article <C03K75.CrB@news.cso.uiuc.edu> dmd39855@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
(Daniel DuBois) gets defensive:
>nates@ll.mit.edu ( Nate Smith) writes:
>>well...isnt that special.  sounds like a couple of whiners digging
>>pretty deep to find the cause of the Chicago flatness to me.
>
>I'd like to see you call Pippen and/or Jordan "whiners" to their faces.

Of course.  The only true way to determine whether Jordan and Pippen
are whiners is to have Nate call them whiners to their faces and see
what happens.

>You have no concept how hard they work.  NONE.  No concept how grueling
>a season they already have to put in.  100+ games, practices every day,
>playing against the best basketball players in the world, day in and
>day out (some of whom apparently are out to injure you after watching
>the NY and Detroit games the last few years).

This is just a bunch of rhetoric with no substantive relevance.  
Do you care to explain how the amount of work an NBA starter has to
put in is relevant to whether Jordan and Pippen are making excuses?
I certainly don't see any connection.

>                                               Jordan's work ethic is
>legendary.

Funny, how come I've never heard anything about it?  His work ethic
may be decent, it may be good, it may be above average, or it may be
mediocre for all I know, but I've never heard it mentioned as one of
his particular strong points.

>'good thing.'  An ignorant statement like that makes me just want to
>pimp-slap you.

You really drove your point home with that astute observation.