MASCULINITY DISPLAYED: WHO IS OLD ENOUGH FOR OLD SCHOOL SPORTS

I heard masculinity displayed on sports talk radio. It wasn’t the same version shared by Kareem and Coach Wooden.

(Do you know their story?)

Jason Whitlock recently explained how the Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance appealed to him: Jordan was just an old school, manly, sort of guy doing old school and manly things.

He saw it as a throwback from politically correct culture, even though PC Culture seems ingrained after years and years of guys complaining about it.

Here I am, killing it by complaining about ‘Old School’ and lack of masculinity displayed.

Old school guys, men who claim some kind of stake in their memories, loved Jordan’s antics, behavior, bully stuff.

Guys agreeing with Jason Whitlock had their masculinity displayed on sports talk radio with Doug Gottlieb. It didn’t go well for old school.

On-Air personalities need to do one thing to stay On-Air: dish on something controversial.

Was The Last Dance controversial enough? Are the 1990’s old school enough?

The two guys chatted it up like the pros they are. When it came to a question of who’s the greatest closer in NBA history, they settled on two answers.

The host, Gottlieb, basking in the afterglow of watching Jordan light everyone up, said Mike was his guy.

Whitlock named Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and they were off defending their picks.

The masculinity displayed depended on their old school ties. Gottlieb is 44, Whitlock is 53. This writer is 65. I believe anyone younger than me can’t be old school enough to wear the tag.

Masculinity Displayed Too Much History

Or lack of history.

Men hit forty and suddenly they’re Old School. They grow beards and slip into reading glasses to confirm their status. Hunting clothes as casual wear seals the deal. Maybe a robe.

There’s something about looking like Moses with the tablets that lends true old school authenticity. But it’s not enough.

Jordan was the greatest closer based on The Last Dance? Video don’t lie.

But Whitlock said Jabbar. Gottlieb wanted to see the video of Kareem closing games, because the tape he’s seen shows Magic Johnson getting it done.

Kareem is the greatest scorer in NBA history. All of those points didn’t come in the closing seconds of every game he played.

Whitlock’s take was based on evidence we all know: No one could stop Kareem’s sky hook. Dump it into Kareem and stand back? That’s two.

Gottlieb asked about the visual evidence, and the backtracking started, which is what defines most Old School propositions.

“I remember players before television,” isn’t a valid point. Neither is the complaint that says the original teams in the league played a harder schedule than the watered down, expanded, thirty team league.

Both sides are blinded by the current light from ESPN’s best doc.

Remembering Old School Age

I was a kid in the 1960’s, a six year old in 1960, a sixteen year old in 1970. (Math. You’re welcome. lol)

After the UCLA Bruins, Boston Celtics, NY Yankees, and Green Bay Packers, other teams played catch up to the big dogs.

I cut my teeth reading Al Hirshberg books.

John Devaney was on my library card.

Through early reading experience I learned about underdogs, about the not-good-enough players, the rejects, who turn out to be barely good enough to win big games.

Old school reaches back further than our lifetimes. It looks for the unusual, the surprise. Early middle-aged guys running it down for twenty and thirty-somethings could do better.

For example, The Rifleman was a television staple of my youth. There was something reassuring about Chuck Conners and his son Mark. While Chuck looked like an ass-kicker, as a farmer he took criticism for being a ‘Sod Buster’ in stride.

For more serious matters he twirled his rifle like a cheerleader’s baton and cranked rounds like a Gatling gun. Pow, pow, pow.

What was it about Lucas McCaine?

Chuck “The Rifleman” Connors scored 4.6 points per game for the 1947 Celtics. Photo via Bill McCurdy.Chicago Stags

Old School Masculinity Displayed As Sports History

People generally understand the idea of history as being old, from the past; they can tout their favorite player or team and get it wrong. Old school has one answer for them:

SCOREBOARD

Like scientist logging results of their important work, historians keep the record straight.

Who is the greatest closer in NBA history, Jordan or Jabbar?

In true old school tradition, I pick the older guy. And here’s why: Jordan demanded the ball, deserved the ball, and delivered in memorable flash against double and triple teams inside, and canned it when it counted from outside.

If he’d been a Laker teammate of Kareem, he’d still be a great closer, and I’d still pick Kareem. Why? Because of defenses working to stop the unstoppable Sky Hook, other Lakers came free for the last shot.

Jordan has the most points in NBA playoff history, LeBron second most, Kareem third. Everyone else in the top ten is retired.

Kareem got a title for The Big O. Then he carried his team through turbulent times waiting for magic to happen.

Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.