A thoughtful, well-written reflection on the many ways that 'Sheed signified for a whole generation of basketball fans. Highly recommended. http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id...s-writer-look-back-rasheed-wallace-nba-career An excerpt from near the beginning:
Great article. I do think it is interesting that Sheed is loved or hated, but never dismissed as an average player, despite his very average 14 point, 7 rebound career numbers. As Pistons fans, I think we always dismissed those numbers as his "regular season stats," and trusted that he was saving himself for the playoffs. His numbers actually went down in the playoffs. In fact, Rasheed Wallace's numbers in Detroit were very close to another former Blazer with a reputation for smoking the tweeds: Cliff Robinson, but if you asked me who was a better player, I would say Rasheed without hesitation. I guess I'm not sure why...
Sheed is one of the most entertaining basketball players that I've ever had the pleasure of watching and following. He's on my short list of favorite players of all time. He was a unique figure in a league where being robotic and boring is most often encouraged. I'm thankful for the fact that I got to see and hear him play up close one night in Denver when the Pistons played the Nuggets a few years back. I had seats that were very close to the action and being able to hear Sheed was awesome. If Sheed had ever allowed somebody to mic him during a game, you could release a best-selling comedy album with the audio.
It was a good article. I also agree that he was an under-rated defender and didn't get enough credit in general. I think I appreciate his game and qualities more than others do, however I don't see myself sticking up for Rasheed at all costs to his detractors. I am happy to just appreciate him myself. Judgements about him were made long ago in most people's minds and trying to change them now would be an exercise in futility. Thanks for the memories and 'ship.
That's what the numbers say. It's hard to explain why he's one of my favorite players of all time. Certainly personality has something to do with it, but it's much more than that...
When I get frustrated with people, I mutter "both teams played hard, my man, both teams played hard" to myself. It's like the new counting to 10.
I still find myself yelling "ball don't lie" to the TV every time an opposing team's player bricks a FT.
Between that and the Both teams played hard masterpiece Sheed really did make a contribution that will probably outlast us all. That "Good night and God bless" at the end of the both teams speech kills me for some reason. I think they could float an internet rumor in 2016 that Sheed was planning on coming back to the NBA and I would scour the internet for days seeing if and hoping it was true.
Yeah, me too. Hopefully, Sheed will find his way into some color commentary. If they can find a place for Ricky Mahorn (another personal favorite), I don't see why Rasheed can't do it.
I also use to like it whenever reporters asked him specific questions about a game. 9 times out of 10 his answer was "...jus hoopin'".
I wonder the same thing and I honestly was in love with him too. He was definitely one of a kind. I miss everything about him. "Straight Up"
