Dream Teamer

Yesterday marked one of the proudest moments I have had as a fan of professional sports. My all-time favorite basketball player - and maybe athlete in general - Scottie Pippen, was inducted into the Hall of Fame. I know for every fan of Pippen there are just as many detractors, who would say he would have been nothing without Jordan. This may very well be true, but the fact still remains that Jordan didn't have much success without Pippen either. Scottie's poster may not have been on the walls of every young boy in America, but he was the type of player a young man like myself could relate to. Scottie seemed human, when Jordan appeared to be superhuman. Scottie was complimentary, while Jordan was extraordinary. But what drew me to Pippen was his will to win and the glimpses of a “swagger” that would appear when he was posterizing opponents before the word “posterizing” even existed.


Even though Pippen was seen as the supporting player behind arguably the best in the history of the game, it was clear to me that he was perhaps the more important. He became one of the the most underrated defensive players in NBA history, was always prepared to take a game over in case MJ was double-teamed, and did all the little things that superstars of this era just don't do. Granted, the game has evolved since the Bulls' title reigns, but hustle never goes out of style. I believe the six rings currently adorning Scottie's trophy case are a testament to that statement.

So, congratulations to you, Scottie Pippen. Your playing career was an inspiration for my childhood aspirations, on and off the court. You may not ever receive the recognition you deserve, but the faded, black and red, number thirty-three jersey hanging in my closet is just a small example of how much you are appreciated.