Is there anyone like Julius Erving in sports these days?

[Russ]

I have always thought that Julius Erving was something special, but recently it has occurred to me just how special. In the midst of an NBA season that I stopped watching, and an NBA playoffs with the lowest ratings ever, and with NBA stars that I have either no opinion or a negative opinion of, it made me think recently about how there is no one in the NBA now that inspires anyone as a class act.

In his day, Julius Erving inspired people not just by how he played basketball, but by how he carried himself and got those around him to carry themselves. People on the opposing teams clapped for Dr J. People in opposing cities had halftime celebrations for Julius during his last year in the NBA. Has anyone on an opposing team ever clapped for LeBron James? Will Stephon Curry get a halftime celebration in opposing cities during has last year?

Even in other sports I think that there are no more "class act" players. There are talented players, but they use there talent to get more money and more camera time and intimidate their head coach, not inspire anyone. The time of "class acts" appears to be over.

I'd be interested if anyone on the board can think of a class act player in the NBA, NFL, or any other sport. Any nominations?

https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1363291136l/16248152.jpg

[Gunny]

I have always thought that Julius Erving was something special, but recently it has occurred to me just how special. In the midst of an NBA season that I stopped watching, and an NBA playoffs with the lowest ratings ever, and with NBA stars that I have either no opinion or a negative opinion of, it made me think recently about how there is no one in the NBA now that inspires anyone as a class act.

In his day, Julius Erving inspired people not just by how he played basketball, but by how he carried himself and got those around him to carry themselves. People on the opposing teams clapped for Dr J. People in opposing cities had halftime celebrations for Julius during his last year in the NBA. Has anyone on an opposing team ever clapped for LeBron James? Will Stephon Curry get a halftime celebration in opposing cities during has last year?

Even in other sports I think that there are no more "class act" players. There are talented players, but they use there talent to get more money and more camera time and intimidate their head coach, not inspire anyone. The time of "class acts" appears to be over.

I'd be interested if anyone on the board can think of a class act player in the NBA, NFL, or any other sport. Any nominations?

https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1363291136l/16248152.jpgI agree completely. David Robinson is like that. He was a jerk when he was a rookie:laugh: He turned out to be someone you could point out to your kid as someone who conducted themselves as men.

Not to take away from Dr J. I've figured out the seniority to who is the biggest Dr J fan here ... I'm older, you lose :)

[Russ]

I agree completely. David Robinson is like that. He was a jerk when he was a rookie:laugh: He turned out to be someone you could point out to your kid as someone who conducted themselves as men.

Not to take away from Dr J. I've figured out the seniority to who is the biggest Dr J fan here ... I'm older, you lose :)


Hahahahaha, I love this post. I'm not sure you're older, though, so maybe you lose. Great nomination with David Robinson, although he's only slightly younger than Dr. J. Are you agreeing that there is no current player to nominate?

[Gunny]

Hahahahaha, I love this post. I'm not sure you're older, though, so maybe you lose. Great nomination with David Robinson, although he's only slightly younger than Dr. J. Are you agreeing that there is no current player to nominate?I think are are some out there. We don't and likely won't hear about them. Instead, we get LeBron's take on politics which seems to hover intellectually a little lower than my 8 years old granddaughter's.

You're setting a pretty high bar though with Doc. He was from a time when (besides the obvious most of us had manners and some modicum of intelligence) players understood that their job was to entertain the fans with their skills, not their mouths and politics, on the court. Conducting one's self as a gentleman for all of us was just part of life and whining, crying babies were shunned.

Which brings to mind the question how would doc handle today's media and their contrived issues? He is from a time when racial discrimination DID exist and was everywhere. I think I have heard him speak on the issue of race before but I don't recall him crying like a baby nor making excuses. He let his ability on the court speak for him. Not to mention he was well-spoken, and well-mannered vs listening to uneducated ebonics of today.

I won't even watch today's players play ball because their mouths tuned me out off the court.

[jimnyc]

Just gotta know where to look for the greats!

I'm in my backyard with a 10'x10 piece of broken pavement, with a 30 year old backboard and no net in sight. Got me a sweet Wilson ball, age showing with its baldness & might have been peed on a time or 4,000 by a tiny Chihuahua. But Dr. J got nuttin on my ass!! :)

https://i.imgur.com/kj96f6f.jpg

[Gunny]

Just gotta know where to look for the greats!

I'm in my backyard with a 10'x10 piece of broken pavement, with a 30 year old backboard and no net in sight. Got me a sweet Wilson ball, age showing with its baldness & might have been peed on a time or 4,000 by a tiny Chihuahua. But Dr. J got nuttin on my ass!! :)

https://i.imgur.com/kj96f6f.jpgYou been going through my personal photo album?:laugh: Bring your game, bro. Just not that Wilson ball. I got that covered for ya :laugh:

[fj1200]

I'd be interested if anyone on the board can think of a class act player in the NBA, NFL, or any other sport. Any nominations?

The 'old back-in-my-day post. :poke:

Kobe Bryant got a send off. Dwayne Wade got a send off. Plenty of old golfers are appreciated. James will get a send off. Curry will get a send off. Almost any high level player who gets to choose when they leave (and announce it a year before) will get a send off. Fans appreciate talent even if they hated them when they were at the top of their game. "Class act" is in the eye of the beholder.

[jimnyc]

The 'old back-in-my-day post. :poke:

Kobe Bryant got a send off. Dwayne Wade got a send off. Plenty of old golfers are appreciated. James will get a send off. Curry will get a send off. Almost any high level player who gets to choose when they leave (and announce it a year before) will get a send off. Fans appreciate talent even if they hated them when they were at the top of their game. "Class act" is in the eye of the beholder.

Some of the rare players I have see treated as such, where even at other parks and stadiums the fans cheered and loved.

Michael Jordan was one of them. Sold out arenas wherever he played. Fans came often to see him even over their own teams.
Derek Jeter was revered wherever he went, and was given a sendoff at every stadium in his last year. Was loved by all mostly.
Pat Tillman. Maybe not as much at the time, but was an NFL player who took a leave to go to war after 9/11 and was killed by friendly fire.
Sweetness! Walter Payton was also a well respected man, on and off the field, and why yearly there is a "Walter Payton, man of the year" award given to someone who showed excellence on and off the field.
An arguable one in Tim Tebow. Was great in college and decent NFL player IMO. Was always interested in praising God for his abilities and success & was quite respectful.
Cal Ripken Jr. was another loved by all wherever he went. But his last year, due to his 'iron man' success, he got a great sendoff in most stadiums as well.

Apples and oranges & different sports. But all well respected athletes.

[Russ]

Good point with Jeter and Ripken. The "sendoffs in every city" is more than a list of one, although as far as I know no one else in the NBA got them. Of course, I suppose it is only possible for players that announce that 'this is their last year', but still there are very few players that are respected for both ability and character.
Michael Jordan is a good example of incredible ability but average-at-best character. And I still think he pushed off Byron Russell on that shot. ;)


Some of the rare players I have see treated as such, where even at other parks and stadiums the fans cheered and loved.

Michael Jordan was one of them. Sold out arenas wherever he played. Fans came often to see him even over their own teams.
Derek Jeter was revered wherever he went, and was given a sendoff at every stadium in his last year. Was loved by all mostly.
Pat Tillman. Maybe not as much at the time, but was an NFL player who took a leave to go to war after 9/11 and was killed by friendly fire.
Sweetness! Walter Payton was also a well respected man, on and off the field, and why yearly there is a "Walter Payton, man of the year" award given to someone who showed excellence on and off the field.
An arguable one in Tim Tebow. Was great in college and decent NFL player IMO. Was always interested in praising God for his abilities and success & was quite respectful.
Cal Ripken Jr. was another loved by all wherever he went. But his last year, due to his 'iron man' success, he got a great sendoff in most stadiums as well.

Apples and oranges & different sports. But all well respected athletes.