NBA: For the Love of the Game; The Good the Bad & the Ugly

I was listening to Ian Eagle and Rick Mahorn of Full Court yesterday and the subject came up about "difficult players" to keep tabs on in the NBA.

Perhaps Ron Artest wasn't traded because of his checkered past?

Then Mahorn brought up Dennis Rodman and how early in his career he had found Dennis crying like a baby after a game. Then he asked Rodman if he was ok and Rodman responded that he was just so happy and thankful to be playing basketball, a dream come true.

So I wanted to pick my memory and put together a list of those kinds of players.

Right out of the gate, my two favorite ballers ever meet the requirements.

You gotta play hurt; play with passion, be skilled, be a leader, respect the game, be humble and don't ask to be traded to a contender because you want to win a "Fast Food" Championship. Pay your dues and earn your wings.

Then there are the "bad boys" who are really good for a team.

Then there are the "ugly" who, reminiscent to a malignant tumor, kill your franchise.

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The Good - Nothing to dislike

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Magic Johnson: The day Magic announced he was retiring prematurely from the Lakers my heart was crushed. It was like Magic was everyone's best friend. 

Kevin Garnett: Plays with love and passion; doesn't belittle his teammates, his organization or the human race. And that smile! I must love smiles! They warm my soul. 

Larry Bird: A player who does so much with so little. Not athletic, playing in pain, inordinate desire to win.

Jose Calderon: I "Love" to watch this guy play! He doesn't have that smile that I adore, but "He Got Game". 

Tim Duncan: The gentle giant. The leader by example, a man after my own heart.

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The Bad - The Crazed Lovers

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Dennis Rodman: Ahhhh..."the tears of a clown." Sobbing with love, living the dream.

Charles Barkley: The overweight kid who makes good. He comes with baggage, still does, but it's oh so sweet.

Danny Ainge: The player Lakers fans loved to hate. Not great skill, or smiles, or what not.

Bruce Bowen: He's not "bad" per-se, but he gets on players nerves and has made a livin' at it. He also had to work hard to get where he is, and continues to work hard.

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 The Ugly - The antithesis of Love for the Game

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Ron Artest: Beating the crap out of fans, absorbed with his rap career, no loyalty to teammates and organizations. I'm just not smellin' what Ron Ron is cookin'.

Latrell Sprewell: "I need to feed my family!"... The P.J. Carlisimo incident...Nuff Said! Poster boy for the ugly.

Vince Carter: What a waste of God given talent. He even admitted that he didn't try that hard in his latter Raptor days. He just doesn't bring it every night and it doesn't look like he's really enjoying it. Not in the Sprewell or Artest class of course. 

Steve Francis: Refused to play in Vancouver when drafted, case closed!

Stephon Marbury: A cancer I suppose. The only player in the NBA who doesn't want to play with KG. The dude has issues I'm not even going to elaborate on.

Conclusion: If you have a "good" player on your roster you can win a championship, especially if you combine them with a "bad" player. But heaven forbid you land an "ugly" player.  

This is by no means a complete list, but it's a start. Add some comments.