In all the years I have done sports talk radio, there has only been a handful of players who you cannot have a rational conversation about. Cannot. No chance. Open the phones, and watch the idiots rush in.
That list includes (but is not necessarily limited to) Shaquille O’Neal, Barry Bonds, Brett Favre, Allen Iverson, and Michael Vick.
Let me try to give you the "thumbnail" sketch on what happens when you talk about each / any of them on a radio show.
SHAQ
On the one hand... He’s the most dominant big man in the game when he wants to be, and when he’s healthy. Also, that was probably about 30 pounds ago.
On the other hand... He seems to care more about his emerging career as a cop, has never shown an interest in expanding his game by adding a move other than his existing trademark of "knock you over and dunk," and refuses to admit that his weight is leading to chronic injuries that are robbing him of the last 5 good years of his career.
CONCLUSION: He’s somewhere between legend, and loafer. And taking calls on the matter never gets you anywhere.
BARRY BONDS
On the one hand... He’s the most spectacular power hitter the game has ever seen. And even before he became the Michelin Man, he was a lithe and dangerous 5-tool player.
On the other hand... There’s that whole thing about his head size, and that creepy trainer of his who is willing to go to jail protecting whatever secrets about Barry he thinks he needs to protect. Oh yeah, Bonds might also be the single biggest pro sports asshole since Ty Cobb.
CONCLUSION: He’s somewhere between the greatest baseball player who ever lived, and the antichrist. Lots of room in there for an opinion, so jump on in.
BRETT FAVRE
On the one hand... He’s the only player to ever win 3 straight NFL MVP trophies. His streak of games started is an historical feat that nobody will ever live long enough to witness being broken. Has authored countless fourth-quarter comebacks.
On the other hand... His 3 years and running "retirement drama" smacks of narcissism, and noted unwillingness (until this year) to change his hi-risk style indicates he’s always ready to look out for ol’ No. 4 first. Feels like he can make any dumb play, knowing the announcers will say: "That’s just Brett Favre trying to make a play!"
CONCLUSION: He’s an iron-man/hillbilly, who quite often saved the team when they needed it, but was also coddled by the coaches and the media. Had a tough time figuring out the answer to the question: "So, am I done yet?"
ALLEN IVERSON
On the one hand... Easily the most electric scorer the NBA has ever had under 6-2. Fearless and tough, he sets the bar for what every kid on the schoolyard tries to do with the basketball.
On the other hand... A certified wannabe punk, with very little sense of T-E-A-M. (Insert "Practice!?" rant here). doesn't really make his teammates better. The Sixers would trade him for value tomorrow, but know they'll never get a fair offer.
CONCLUSION: There is no conclusion. he'll be talked about forever by basketball fans, but nobody will ever agree on anything about him.
Which brings us to the current Mike Vick "blame game" going on in the media.
MICHAEL VICK
On the one hand... There’s never been anything like Vick. Never. Forget pipsqueak whitey Fran Tarkenton. Forget other runners like Bobby Douglass. Not even Randall Cunningham, who was great with his legs, but not quite the jaw dropping Houdini that Vick is on any given week.
On the other hand.... Vick’s passing numbers are abysmal. Barely over 50%, he lacks touch on shorter throws, tends to sling it and thus misses guys who are open. Also, his read progression often gets short circuited by the impulse to "make something happen." You can't game plan against him, but you often can't game plan with him either.
CONCLUSION: There is none. Not yet. It'll take another 3-5 years. Right now, it’s not looking good. But then again, you could have said that about a number of quarterbacks who became All-Pros. Do his receivers suck? You bet. Is it all their fault? No chance. Otherwise, it would be an easy fix. And trust me, the Falcons have tried.
That list includes (but is not necessarily limited to) Shaquille O’Neal, Barry Bonds, Brett Favre, Allen Iverson, and Michael Vick.
Let me try to give you the "thumbnail" sketch on what happens when you talk about each / any of them on a radio show.
SHAQ
On the one hand... He’s the most dominant big man in the game when he wants to be, and when he’s healthy. Also, that was probably about 30 pounds ago.
On the other hand... He seems to care more about his emerging career as a cop, has never shown an interest in expanding his game by adding a move other than his existing trademark of "knock you over and dunk," and refuses to admit that his weight is leading to chronic injuries that are robbing him of the last 5 good years of his career.
CONCLUSION: He’s somewhere between legend, and loafer. And taking calls on the matter never gets you anywhere.
BARRY BONDS
On the one hand... He’s the most spectacular power hitter the game has ever seen. And even before he became the Michelin Man, he was a lithe and dangerous 5-tool player.
On the other hand... There’s that whole thing about his head size, and that creepy trainer of his who is willing to go to jail protecting whatever secrets about Barry he thinks he needs to protect. Oh yeah, Bonds might also be the single biggest pro sports asshole since Ty Cobb.
CONCLUSION: He’s somewhere between the greatest baseball player who ever lived, and the antichrist. Lots of room in there for an opinion, so jump on in.
BRETT FAVRE
On the one hand... He’s the only player to ever win 3 straight NFL MVP trophies. His streak of games started is an historical feat that nobody will ever live long enough to witness being broken. Has authored countless fourth-quarter comebacks.
On the other hand... His 3 years and running "retirement drama" smacks of narcissism, and noted unwillingness (until this year) to change his hi-risk style indicates he’s always ready to look out for ol’ No. 4 first. Feels like he can make any dumb play, knowing the announcers will say: "That’s just Brett Favre trying to make a play!"
CONCLUSION: He’s an iron-man/hillbilly, who quite often saved the team when they needed it, but was also coddled by the coaches and the media. Had a tough time figuring out the answer to the question: "So, am I done yet?"
ALLEN IVERSON
On the one hand... Easily the most electric scorer the NBA has ever had under 6-2. Fearless and tough, he sets the bar for what every kid on the schoolyard tries to do with the basketball.
On the other hand... A certified wannabe punk, with very little sense of T-E-A-M. (Insert "Practice!?" rant here). doesn't really make his teammates better. The Sixers would trade him for value tomorrow, but know they'll never get a fair offer.
CONCLUSION: There is no conclusion. he'll be talked about forever by basketball fans, but nobody will ever agree on anything about him.
Which brings us to the current Mike Vick "blame game" going on in the media.
MICHAEL VICK
On the one hand... There’s never been anything like Vick. Never. Forget pipsqueak whitey Fran Tarkenton. Forget other runners like Bobby Douglass. Not even Randall Cunningham, who was great with his legs, but not quite the jaw dropping Houdini that Vick is on any given week.
On the other hand.... Vick’s passing numbers are abysmal. Barely over 50%, he lacks touch on shorter throws, tends to sling it and thus misses guys who are open. Also, his read progression often gets short circuited by the impulse to "make something happen." You can't game plan against him, but you often can't game plan with him either.
CONCLUSION: There is none. Not yet. It'll take another 3-5 years. Right now, it’s not looking good. But then again, you could have said that about a number of quarterbacks who became All-Pros. Do his receivers suck? You bet. Is it all their fault? No chance. Otherwise, it would be an easy fix. And trust me, the Falcons have tried.
Steve is a native Washingtonian and has worked in sports talk radio for the last 11 years. He worked at WTEM in 1993 anchoring Team Tickers before he took a full time job with national radio network One-on-One Sports.
A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Steve has worked for WFNZ in Charlotte where his afternoon show was named "Best Radio Show." Steve continues to serve as a sports personality for WLZR in Milwaukee and does fill-in hosting for Fox Sports Radio.
