How far will America go

pockets. The game becomes lame and the enthusiasm if the crowd dies.

Remember the Chicago BuHs and all of their championships? It wasn't just because of Michael Jordan. They all played as a team and they all understood their individual role and responsibjlity to make it to the finals and win a ring. San Antonio was great in fol. lowing that same blue print. Every game I see, plays are being set up, players are moving, passing and helping each other out. Now everyone wants to be the next Michael Jordan. What they don't realize is that, he got his team involved as well and he wasn't a selfish player.

A valid point of seeing how the game isn't the same anymore is because of rivalry. There are no tonger anymore strong rivalries where two teams face each other and they battle it out to the very end of the game. You riu-ely see games where teams go shot for shot back and forth with the score fluctuating throughout the whole game. Where has that gone? Does anyone remember competitions between Knicks vs. Pacers or Bulls vs. Blaz.ers?The Lak:ersand Celtics used to get the crowd hyped. Those teams used to go head to head where the fina1 minute of the game would decide the winner. Players don't even have that exhilaration in them.

Remember when Hakeem and Ewing used to battle it out. Let"s take it back a little too when Magic and Bird used to have fun with each other. Remember when players used to pJay all positions and were a jack of aU trades? I remember Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley and Isiah Thomas were able to score, rebound, pass and occasionally block. Yeah, today we have a few too, like Gamett, Davis and McGrady, but they don't have the team chemisty like they did back then. For you 76ers fans, do you remember when Boston and Philadelphia fought it out till thermal minute? Remember Knicks and Heat. or Pistons and Lakers? Those games had everyone in the crowd on the edge of their seat or standing up silently waiting for the final shot at the buzzer.

A Jot of people switched over to watching college ball because ifs more exciting. They have fun and they play hungrily wanting to be victorious and win a championship. T faithfully watch pro-ball because I am a fan and I hope to see change. That's why I tip my hat off to Larry Bird and Isaiah Thomas who are both trying to restore the feeling of the game, by revamping their team and creating an organization that are well on their way to a championship. Sure, they have superstars present on the team, but they also have a well-rounded team that's gradually molding and becoming successful in the years to come. Bring back the excitement, rivalries and fans. Let's see the National Basketball Association. Take us back to where the players played and the teams played as a team. Bring us back to the game of basketball!