The All Mike Nurse Team--Take One

So I'm not sure how many of you know this, but mid-'90s THS basketball Mike Nurse is the standard by which I judge all athletes. And that's only a bit of a hyperbole. In essence, what he represented for me was an athlete who:

A. Came up big and played his best in big games. To me, the true measure of a player is how honed and focused he is when the pressure's on. Anybody can put up 30 in game 40 of 82. Only the big boys bring their "A" game when it's needed. Just ask Joe Johnson and the cornball Atlanta Hawks.

B. Wasn't afraid to take the big (sometimes ridiculous) shot. To say he had confidence in himself is an understatement. I recall--correctly or incorrectly--countless times where he pulled up without hesitation from 35 feet and rained threes on the other team. Then he'd backpedal and turn in rhythm to run back on defense with this half disinterested smirk that said, "I KNEW that sh** was going in the whole time." Which brings me to my next point...

C. Always acted like he'd "been there before" when he had success. In other words, he wasn't clapping himself up when he made a big shot or got a big steal. He was clearly pumped up because he was in the zone and he translated that energy into pressure defense, rather than crying out for attention from the crowd. It was him and his competition, and HE was going to win; that's it. There was no one else in the gym. As much as I love a guy like Chad Ocho Cinco, he's no Mike Nurse when it comes to this...

D. Was uber-competitive to the point where he took winning and losing PERSONALLY. I admit I'm projecting this one onto Mike from my very limited interactions with and observations of him, but he struck me as this type. I love an athlete who responds to challenges on the court as though they are a PERSONAL test of their worth as an individual human being. Too many athletes take the "that's the way the ball bounces sometimes" outlook to failure. The ones with the real cojones respond to getting dunked on or getting the ball stolen from them by taking the next 3-5 possessions out on the other team. THAT is what I'm talkin' about...

So just today, I was thinking about how Rajon Rondo has elevated himself to Mike Nurse status in my mind.

This inspired me to create an All Mike Nurse Team. Here goes:

PG-Rondo (of course). Just look at his mug. Have you ever seen him smile? Even in interviews? Clearly, he's thinking about who he's going to beat (or embarass) next. All the time. Supposedly during the regular season when the Celtics were playing the Hornets, he almost made Chris Paul cry by barking, "you know you want to be me, but you never will" (referring to the fact that Paul was trapped on the Hornets and would probably never win a ring). Heartless. The guy's a killer. Incidentally, even though I love Chris Paul, this is why I couldn't pick him over Rondo.

SG-Dwayne Wade. See D Wade post from last month...Wade needs to be here, because NO ONE takes a challenge more personally than him. This year I watched Danilo Gallinari elbow him in the mouth in the 4th quarter. Wade checked to see that his teeth were still there, gave him the death stare, and you could just see the whole countenance change. He didn't complain or yap. He just took over the game and embarassed the Knicks with the basketball. You need a guy like this in the foxhole with you.

SF-Artest. If you don't know how I feel about Ron Ron by now, just ask me when I see you. No All Hall team will exclude him. He's nuts, but that's what you gotta love about him.

PF-I gotta play Lebron here to clear a spot for Ron Ron at SF. I think he's a peg below D Wade and two steps below Jordan in terms of competitive fire (because he cares too much about putting on a show for the crowd) but he's still way up there.

C-I almost constructed this team without a center because I didn't think anyone was worthy of an All Nurse nod, but if I have to pick one, I'll put Joakim Noah here. He ain't ready yet, but he has potential to get there in the next couple years. I put him on it because I love how he's not afraid to yap at the other team. The smack talking between him and Cleveland this postseason was priceless. Love how he gets in the other team's head. He has potential to develop into this generation's Dennis Rodman.


In short, know this: If anyone could get me a Mike Nurse #53 T-Neck jersey, I promise to wear it to every sporting event for at least the next 15 years.

**Disclaimer: Granted, my memory may be tainted by time, and with each passing year, Mike seems to get better, but whatevs...