Chris Webber to Announce Retirement Wednesday
(Photo:Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
One of just six players (Bird, Wilt, Billy Cunningham, KG and Elgin Baylor) in the history of the NBA to average 20, 9 and 4. All but he and Garnett are in the Hall of Fame.
One of the most talented power forwards of all time has decided to hang up his kicks. I just got word from my peoples on this so, I’ll have more later. I think it was apropos his career came full circle and he’s going out as a Warrior. Although I’ve interviewed him personally in the past, my only regret is I didn’t get to interview him in a locker room setting. Yeah it’s selfish, but so what. Appreciate what he has given the game over the course of his career instead of what the media tells you. Even though it was a huge moment in sports history, one must not judge the timeout as the defining moment of his very stellar and IMO Hall of Fame career. Chris Webber is a winner–period. He will be referenced long after all of us are gone because of the Fab Five…for they changed the game.
Much love Chris. Thanks for the memories dawg. See you in July.
but let’s be clear… that UK team he talked about? Sheesh. 2 Straight national titles, and just for fun, an Olympic Medal? Wow. That would be really impressive if it didn’t come in an era where the NCAA was ssegregated.
Whatever on Nantz…he still sucks. I hate the way he says Billy. Dude you are not on the links, this is basketball. The game has moved away from the mainstream and should be judged accordingly. And regarding Gus, Tirico sucks as well. He is all about pandering to the masses and that is no way to be. Either be objective and reference ALL the facts or shut the hell up.
umm….. you ok dude? Like seriously…. I’ve been on this board for a while and I’ve never seen you like this.
Well it’s a simple question: What do you want Tirico to do exactly as a play-by-play man? His main job is to call the action of the game, unless we’re talking about his radio show.
Exactly Okori thats why I said code word when he brought that UK team up. I new that was just icing on the cake.
That god@mn texas western team messed everything up for UK. With their show boating playing like the harlem globetrotters.
With their me first attitude and fancy dribbling.
I think that UK team might be prime example No. 1 of the team i’d like to see in the modern era, just to see if their achievements were a byproduct of segregation or if they weren’t. And before anyone says that they’re positive they were: Fallacy of the pre-determined outcome.
That’s the problem with these wonderful sites with great, in-depth discussion (another reason why so many of us love TSF!) — the convo goes on even while we’re away! Good stuff.
Michelle –
Thanks for karate chopping what i said, so lets get back to some clarity…
I am not a member of the “soundbite” decision-makers of america club. I did pose the CWebb coaching question with those fools in mind, however, after constantly following this recent string of events political theater and finding out that there are plenty of the types out there. Obama receives much too much flak for the soundclips created by folks he calls his “folks”. There are people out there who’d judge both Obama and CWeb by the 1 decision of their lives — hence, my wondering aloud if “the timeout incident” would be something knucklehead kids he’d coach would bring up… and get busted upside the head for. (Short answer: yes. Aren’t they wrong for it? Heck. Yes.) I’ve read quite a few glowing pieces about CWeb (quite a bit from mizzo’s work, actually) being a great person in the community, and an all-in-all great person, and agree (as much as one from my outsider’s perpective can). Sounds like he’d be a great coach. He’d just have a few kids to punch out!
Even during his “get high” days in DC, CWeb still smiled, signed autographs and did all the other good stuff for the community. I respect the socially conscious athlete and hold him in high regard for being one.
And when I pointed out C-Web’s stats, that was to point out that his career dominated Coleman, and he wasn’t “quite” (an obvious understatement) in the “wasted talent” category, as had been mentioned by rashad.
Okori do not dismiss the concerns of others as a means to validate your own.
Tirico cosigns on the meanderings of whoever he’s partnered with. That’s foul. Be your own man. Dude lives in Ann Arbor but shits on the Fab Five every chance he gets…or anything else considered Black for that matter and it’s utterly disgusting. He has a responsibility to remain objective. That’s it. Anything else is out of line.
Understand something about me right now…I have a sense of urgency that is like no other. I will no long pull punches or mince words for the present. Trust me, I see it every day covering games for the NBA. I’m tired of the pack.
I’m headed to cover the game tonight. Be Peace my people. Keep it flowing…
Someone send me the TSF archive link on the Tiger Woods incident — tim@mindritesports.com. I know all about it, but missed the TSF discussion (i’ll head over to TSF writer DWil’s site to check there in a sec, too) and don’t want people to have to repeat their old arguments too much… with that said….
michelle — It’s foul to start name-calling with Tiger because he didn’t feel as if he should make a bigger deal out of something you might have. doesn’t mean he “hates his blackness”
perfect example: “republicans wear sneakers too”
*someone send me another link or michelle shoot me an email to discuss the tiger woods topic elsewhere, not here on the cweb spot*
Tim you mean this? Hit me up Tim. You have my number rignt?
Good man, I’ll get at you in a bit.
Tim,
It is fair to call out Tiger. Whenever someone made a negative comment about his race. He had nothing to say yet he felt the need to bash Michael Vick for his problems. I was done with his caubalnaisan or whatever he is ass after that. Fuck the ESPN poll I didn’t vote. Most people don’t know the facts so they base their small minded opinions on what ESPN tells them. I have followed C-Webbs career from day 1 so I know all the facts. Bottom line if their is anyone ibn the HOF with stats less then his, then he should be there. Guess what there are.
Tim,
My bad!
Okori,
My boy a couple of things. The Fab Five were over achievers not the other way around. Mizzo made the argument for that. As far as taking money or getting gifts goes. That shit was common. White boys were left alone. C-Webb was a case of the govenrments dirty tricks we got this touble making nigger now. That’s all C-Webb is a brother with a library card and many good ole boys don’t like that. He’s handsome, he cares about were he came from and hasn’t forgotten that and he speaks out against racism. That’s why he has a big ole bullseye on his back. Mike Tirico is a puppet asshole. When the media likes someone they get a pass, when they don’t you are under an unfair microscope. How often do we see C.L. making that game winning shot against Kentucky? Too damn much. Ok, how often do you hear the sports media talk about what a joke C.L. was in the nba and that he left in shame because he kept failing drug test? Ah, never! The media is fucked up and people are uninformed. Like 1 and 5 people polled think Obama is a muslim. I don’t care about the ESPN poll about Webb. In closing there has never been an all freshman team other than the Fab Five to make it to the championship game and there never will be. People of color need their own sports and news network so that our people are covered fairly. The wa A. I was done by the media in philly was terrible yet Brett Myers beats his wife up in public they cover it for a minute and then he’s forgiven. WTF?
In case you guys don’t know what a brother with a library card is that means he’s intelligent. But I’m sure you guys all know that. LOL!
I feel old now…..I was in tears that night watching the Fab Five be denied over one little slip-up. There was a den full of folks in Tallahassee, FL who felt CWebb’s pain that night…now he’s retiring from the NBA…..time stops for no one.
Tim,
Also many people in their early 20′s were getting high, drunk and doing even harder drugs. So that means nothing to me. He was doing what most people his age were doing at a party.I don’t live in a glass house so I don’t throw stones. If I did it I’m not going to slam someone else for doing it. I doesn’t matter if you attend Duke or are someone poor in the ghetto people in the 20′s have puffed on a joint.
Miranda,
You have a heart!
I don’t think anyone has mentioned the Fab Five beating Kentucky in the tournament. That was a great game and C-Webb was all over the place. His stats were crazy sick in that game. Also the UCLA game were they came back from I think 16 or 19 down after halftime. Jimmy King made the game winner. That’s classic stuff and I will not let it be forgotten. I’m sure the clowns that voted in that poll on ESPN can’t tell you jack shit about Chris the teams he was on or his impact.
Just one more thing Sir Charles thinks C-Webb should be in the HOF so do I trust the opinion of him, some dork sport writers who bring their bias, or idiot so called fans of the game. AHH ,I think I will take the opinion of a guy who is in the HOF and plays the same position as the person in question.
*raises his hand* I wasn’t saying that it was a negative thing Mike. But the sudden switch threw me.
Michelle….. By the way there won’t be another all-freshman team like that because no more than 1 freshman of the quality needed to make a National Title contender would very much likely not go to the same school.
Okori, that’s what makes the Fab Five so special. The fact they came together, threw ego and individual glory out the window was so so special and people like you and Billy Packer will hate on C-Webb about what didn’t happen, calling them cheaters and the like, which is unfair. Damn shame Chris didn’t get the love outside of Detroit, he really deserved it
Vito do not EVER compare me to Billy Packer. I never, for one second, called C-Webb a cheater. I don’t think he did cheat at all. I firmly believe athletes in collegiate sports should be paid.
But if I happen to think that C-Webb was just a rung below immortal, a place where 90% of basketball players would kill to be, does that make me an Uncle Tom? A Sellout? A disgrace to my race? Bottom line…. C-Webb was always this-close to being a champion. And for whatever reason he never got to the Chip in the pro’s. If I think that the Fab Five Michigan teams don’t compare favorably to the UCLA teams of the 70′s, the UNC teams of the ’80′s, the Arizona teams of the 1990′s or even the Florida teams of ’06 and ’07, am I a traitor to where I got my education?
But I guess, to be a member in good standing here, I have to think Chris Webber is a better power forward than Kevin McHale or Tim Duncan.
Oh really Okori……………..didn’t Conley follow Oden to OU????
So it is still possible. The thing is Jalen and chris were tight like Conley and Oden.
Once they got that chitown brotha Howard to go it was a rap.
King and Jackson were no where on par the players or the recruits that Howard, Webber and Jalen were.
But the man problem is you have to have some big game clutch Freshman like those guys were. Those guys played like Seniors not freshman. There are plenty of talented freshman but are they clutch like those guys. They might not have won the whole thing but they came up big in many big games.
Also sista Michelle you speak the truth as always.
If weed smoking 2 good years in the NBA can go to the hall of fame so can Webber.
But its all a joke based on the dumb @ss MSM. He11 Rodman is who of the greatest defenders and rebounders to ever play the game. Plus the dude has 5 rings and he isn’t in the HOF cause he stepped on these media fools toes as a player. What a joke.
Michelle —
Agreed. I don’t live in a glass house, and hold nothing against that man for the incidents that had the team labeling him a “troublemaker” of sorts (don’t get me started on the legality of some of these things……… the icky…… another day, another topic!)
I can’t wait until a few young young players gather up and rival the Fab Five for an all-time spot……. with these “one-tourney stand” years, i think it’s likely to happen… I thought O.J. Mayo close… but he couldn’t get USC to give both he AND Kevin Love the right aMout of incentive$$$ to go………………….. let me stop.
http://www.mindritesports.com/2008/03/26/chris-webber-hanging-up-his-kicks/
if memory serves….. it’s the Basketball hall of fame. not the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame. so if Laettner gets in it would be largely due to his time in College at Duke. Same reason there are a whole bunch of international guys in.
and the Ohio State thing isn’t fair because Lewis and Butler were there and were experienced seniors who went through the big ten wars and could caddy Oden, Conley, and Cook along until they got their sea legs.
No Okori I was refering to how you said more then one top freshman wouldn’t go to the same school together.
So I mentioned that Oden and Conley made a deal to go to school together.
And like Tim said OJ and love did try to do the same. I guess USC didn’t have enought loot for both………..LOL!!!
well yeah that’s true. it very rarely happens though. the last time this happened before OSU was Seton Hall University, and that was a disappointment.
Love the conversation guys. Good to have it back on TSF. Let’s keep this in mind most pro athletes will not win a title. My personal feeling is Chris has a higher calling in life and him not winning a title may keep him on the minds of some folks. He won 3 titles in hs against tough competiton in Detroit. Now that may not seem like a big enough stage for you but I’m looking at the entire resume. Just like the play in the Super Bowl when Eli hit the receiver on the last drive when he should have been sacked Horry hit that crazy shot to win the game against the Kings. C-Webb then went down with the knee injury when the Kings were the favorite to win the title that year. It’s like what’s happening to Dirk now no one knows why freak game winning plays happen or guys get injured at the wrong time. Titles are won when a lot of things happen and no one player in the league will get you one. Would C-Webb have a title if he were coached by Phil Jackson or Pop? Maybe, no one knows but you have to admit some players get all the luck the right teammates, coaches etc. Look at KG’s career it’s been full of disappointments and he’s been healthy. Maybe this year the ball will finally bounce his way.
Okori,
I know it’s the basketball HOF that’s exactly when C-Webb should be there. If Laetner gets in and he doesn’t, that’s really some BS. He only played well in college and was terrible in the NBA. He loses mad points for that.
well they both have to wait a while.
Okori,
Yep, that’s for certain. Good Evening mates. Thanks for the converation now I gotta go do a double at work. Ttyl.
enjoy yourself. try not to headbutt anyone.
Joe Says:
March 27, 2008 at 4:30 am
Floyd is a stupid nigger. Nothing more and a lot less. Cocky stupid, and probally has AIDS. Fuck him.
You see what we deal with people?
Damn…… just……. Damn. What a disgrace.
As long as there is this Okori, there will be TSF. That’s why I was so passionate yesterday. I apologize if you thought you were the true target of my ire–you were not–but when some names are thrown in the mix I had to speak up.
it’s ok. happens all the time. i easily get people pissed.
michelle,
lets not confuse webber the person with webber the washington bullet/wizard. i’m not even besmirching his entire career, only his stay in DC. People who lived in DC during that era, will tell you how frustrating it was to see webber, juwan and strickland just waste talent. But I hold Webber accountable because he was the most talent. Once he hit Sacramento, he got it together, but in the words of his brother-in-underachievement, “Whoopty damn doo”.
You mean in ’96 when they lost to Mike and Pip 3-0 by a total of 6 points?
It wasn’t all bad there. Like we’ve all stated. Kids will be kids. Don’t front.
Michelle –
Though players get canonized by their high schools (rightfully) for bringing home those coveted state championships, admittedly, they don’t get much credit for it on the larger scale. Their true test comes by playing big on the national, collegiate and professional competition levels.
It’s “golf clap” vs. “standing O” in terms of recognition — see: james, lebron.
Mizzo –
As I wrote in my piece, Webber has a lot of “if only he had been healthy” moments in his playing career, which does his legacy a disservice. I almost want to compare him to Donovan McNabb at the moment, having been a great player so far in his career but having sat out because of injuries enough his legacy will have enough “but…” moments to have legitimate doubters (when speaking especially on winning championships). Though if those Iggles would give DMac a #1 receiver AND he stays relatively healthy…… big things would come.
Duly noted, but as Michelle stated, was Laettner a better player than Webber? When it comes to the HOF, who the hell you think is getting in???
It ain’t the maize and blue…
I think he might get in first, as I said to Michelle, but Christian Laettner did have a phenomenal college career. He has at least earned that much praise for what he did at Duke.
So…success on the grand stage or kiddie land? That is not all together diminishing what Duke accomplished either, but some of those calls in the UNLV game and the Michigan game were mad suspect…and not coincidental by any means.
A country of sheep…I can’t fall for the hype these cats get out of college and end up busts. They have to be held accountable for their college careers as well.
Heard talk about this on ESPN last night, said that Webber had a better chance getting in based on what he did at UM as opposed to his NBA career. And that was in jeopardy because UM erased all records during his time there.
Damn shame!
If Duke didn’t have Grant Hill, they don’t beat UNLV in 1991.
Ok fine. Laettner sucks. His stupid records mean nothing. He begged for calls in the 2 National Championships he won, and the other 2 were just superior athleticism beating out him and his white-boy teammates? That what you want to hear?
By this logic only NBA players with NBA successes get voted in. No international players who for a variety of reasons never played in the NBA, no women’s players, no college-only coaches.
He didn’t suck, I just don’t think they beat Vegas again w/o Hill. It’s the Elway Theory…you know no rings ’til Terrell Davis shows up. Hill added a running dimension that Duke did not have the prior season – the ability to have someone start and finish a fast break.
Yeah he sucks. Straight up. Thanks for saying it. If we can say the same about qb’s who won the Heisman…..Detmer, Weurfel..then we can say the same damn thing about basketball players. He didn’t beg for the calls…America did…figadeal me?
*exhales* that, Mizzo, is a bad argument. Because Detmer and Danny Wuerffel have a College Football hall of fame, where their achievements can be recognized while you and I both know they sucked out loud in the NFL. Christian Laettner does not have this luxury. His sport’s hall of fame is all-inclusive. So guys like him, whose college successes were noteworthy, are now put in the position of having to be compared to guys like Webber, who had better pro careers but not nearly as dominant of a college career.
This would be like if the NFL’s hall of fame was just the Football Hall of Fame. Then you’d have a situation where guys with dominant college resumes, but no professional laurels, get put in and ripped to shreds for being in while others get left out. It helps no one.
It’s never a bad argument to speak on the wrongs as they happen. Shaq was actually the POY that year if you remember, he just wasn’t voted to win, so there’s where my anger was sparked.
Eff Christian Laetnner. He’s made out to be some national hero–to whom?
is there a college basketball hall of fame? because if there is Laettner belongs there, not in the pro basketball hall of fame. But as long as there isn’t his college career (all-time NCAA Tournament leader in Points, FT Attempts, FT Makes, and Games Played) is worthy of at least a little bit of credit. Not what the Mass Media gives you, but something.
and that whole Sucks thing… I was being sarcastic. I was raised to be respectful to people, even those with whom I disagree. It’s the midwestern boy in me.
Whooooa you are from the belly of the beast huh?
I hear you on the sucks thing. I apologize for my choice of words, but I will not let a false legacy live on while brothas are out there catching wreck for bullshit.