Latest news with #Drexler
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"I have a real problem with that" - Clyde Drexler thinks putting only Michael Jordan and LeBron James in GOAT debate is an insult to the game's history
"I have a real problem with that" - Clyde Drexler thinks putting only Michael Jordan and LeBron James in GOAT debate is an insult to the game's history originally appeared on Basketball Network. Over the years, the conversation around the greatest basketball player of all time has tightened its focus into a narrow spotlight. Advertisement In most debates, the names Michael Jordan and LeBron James dominate the podium as if the hardwood history of the NBA began and ended with them. However, for Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, that's not just incomplete but borderline disrespectful. The 10-time NBA All-Star, Olympic gold medalist and 1995 NBA champion recently pushed back against what he sees as a diluted version of basketball memory. Problem with the GOAT debate To Drexler, there's a whole generation of icons who not only carried the league before Jordan took flight or James redefined longevity, but also set the standard for what excellence in basketball looks like. Advertisement "I have a real problem with that," Drexler said on narrowing the GOAT debate. "For all these guys who played the game, for you to have a conversation, are these two guys the GOAT when you got Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, two of the greatest players that ever lived, you start with those two." Drexler's tone isn't bitter but protective of legacy, memory, and what it took for the league to evolve into today's global phenomenon. His point isn't that Jordan and LeBron don't belong in the conversation; it's that reducing the entire discussion to just them misrepresents what greatness has looked like across decades. Wilt Chamberlain once scored 100 points in a single game and still holds records that seem cartoonish by modern standards, averaging 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds during the 1961-62 season. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's resume is stacked with six MVP awards, six championships, a scoring title that stood for nearly 40 years and the skyhook, which is arguably the most unguardable shot the sport has ever seen. Advertisement Between the two of them, they set statistical bars so high they can only be whispered about today. Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar played in eras with different styles, but both dominated with such consistency that entire rule changes were enacted to slow them down. Yet somehow, in today's debates, their names often fall to the second row. Related: "That kind of talent simply doesn't happen" - Del Harris said 17-year-old Kobe was 'slightly better' than 24-year-old Eddie Jones Recognizing legends Drexler sees the narrow debate as an injustice not just to the legends, but to the game itself. As a key member of the legendary 1992 Dream Team and a contemporary of both Magic Johnson and Michael, Clyde's perspective is earned from the thick of competition, not distant admiration. Advertisement Beyond Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain, Drexler opened the floor to a roll call of giants whose resumes still echo through NBA lore. "And then you've got guys like Dr. J [Julius Erving], Larry Bird, George Gervin, Elgin Baylor, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West… all those guys are in the conversation," Drexler said. "For people bringing this up today, to me, it's unbelievable. And I love Michael and LeBron, but let's not take something away from those other guys who played." Each name brings a different chapter of greatness. Julius Erving was the prototype of modern athletic flair, bridging streetball magic and NBA finesse. Advertisement Larry Bird was the deadeye marksman with the coldest trash talk and three MVP awards in a row to back it up. George Gervin floated across the court with the smoothest finger roll ever seen. Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double before it was ever trendy, doing it across a full season in 1961–62, a feat not repeated until Russell Westbrook decades later. Elgin Baylor dropped 61 points in an NBA Finals game while juggling military duties. And Jerry West remains a symbol of NBA excellence, both in name and silhouette, bringing 10 Finals appearances and a career scoring average north of 27. These players didn't just play; they shifted paradigms. They forced defenses to adjust, made the league more marketable and laid the groundwork that allowed superstars like Jordan and James to thrive. Omitting them erases legacies. Advertisement Related: "Show some love and some respect for the people you played with and against" - Clyde Drexler says 'The Last Dance' was a true reflection of Michael Jordan's negative character This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What does Amari Williams bring to the Boston Celtics rotation?
Amari Williams is the Boston Celtics' latest project. The British-born big man was selected with the 46th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Entering the NBA, his best asset is his playmaking, both from the post and in the half-court. Williams is also a reliable offensive weapon, capable of being a solid screener, rebounder and interior scorer. However, his defense has plenty of room for improvement. His limited hip flexibility and heavy feet mean quicker guards and forwards could target him. Williams, a five-year collegiate product out of Drexler and Kentucky, will likely spend his first professional season with the Maine Celtics in the G League. Boston has enjoyed strong success with their developmental pipeline in recent years. Brad Stevens will undoubtedly be hoping that the pipeline continues to pay dividends for the franchise. If you haven't seen much of Williams' game, Tomasz Kordylewski posted an eight minute compilation of his best moments in college, showcasing all aspects of his game. From passing to interior scoring and even his ability to bring the ball up the court, Kordylewski captures a well-rounded view of Williams' skill set. You can watch the full highlights by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Website:
Chicago Tribune
27-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Aurora World War II hero Dick Miller dies over Memorial Day weekend
Growing up as a kid squirrel hunting next to World War II Navy veteran Richard (Dick) Miller, Ed Huss never heard his neighbor on Hankes Road in Aurora talk about the horrors he'd been through when Japanese kamikazes sunk his ship near Okinawa, killing 158 sailors on board and wounding another 52, himself included. It would be almost 70 years before Miller, who died this Sunday of Memorial Day weekend a month shy of his 99th birthday, would open up to others about the ugly battle in 1945 that sank the USS Drexler in less than a minute and blew Miller into the oil-soaked water as his friends died and the ocean burned around him. It was around 2012 that Mike Eckburg, commander of Roosevelt-Aurora American Legion Post 84, along with the late Herschel Luckinbill, who himself survived a direct hit to his ship during the Vietnam War, decided to make this nearly-reclusive World War II vet, who was grieving the loss of his bride of 64 years, one of 'our projects.' That is, help those veterans of the Greatest Generation, who rarely spoke of their war experiences, share those stories with the community. No one could doubt the success of this particular quest. Miller, who had been struggling with wife Dorothy's death, was reluctant at first to talk publicly. But he finally agreed to be part of a veterans panel at a school in North Aurora, where even Eckburg was 'floored' by his compelling tale of death, survival and heroism that had been kept hidden, even from Dorothy and their two children, for almost seven decades. And as he got out even more into the community, it became 'a beautiful thing to watch Dick open up … I think he was just so relieved to get it out there,' said Eckburg, adding that Miller, who was personnel director at the Aurora Post Office, had heard so many horrible stories from other vets, he 'did not realize how bad his own experience was.' Miller, who had begged his widowed mother to let him enlist in the Navy after graduating from East Aurora High School at age 17, had been on duty as a spotter on the Drexler in the early morning hours of May 28, 1945, when two enemy suicide planes attacked his ship and the USS Lowry. The first Japanese plane was downed by the combined firepower of the two destroyers and from combat air patrol. The second kamikaze tried to crash into the Lowry but instead hit Miller's ship, cutting off power and starting large gasoline fires. According to Naval accounts, despite heavy damage, the Drexler kept firing, helping bring down three Japanese planes. But another enemy suicide plane crashed into the destroyer, causing a huge explosion that rolled the ship on its starboard side and sank it within 50 seconds. After Miller was thrown into the water, he tried not to swallow oil and diesel fuel while bobbing in a burning ocean and watching as many of his shipmates, trapped below deck, went to their watery graves. Eckburg says Miller credited his many hours as a kid swimming in the Naperville quarry with keeping him from drowning in the couple of hours it took for rescue. He also hung on to an ammunition can floating by, later giving it to – then eventually sharing it with – a fellow sailor floundering in the water. With that harrowing narrative and his charismatic personality, Miller over the last few years not only became one of the last few World War II vets remaining in the Fox Valley he also became the most visible. He was a fixture at many community events, from patriotic parades and golf outings and luncheons to school assemblies to museum and street dedications. Miller also was a guest on an Honor Flight and made the trip to Midway Airport multiple times to welcome home other vets who took part in the program. He visited Washington, D.C., on a 'Vets Roll' bus trip, was honored by the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field and flew by private jet to an Army/Navy football game. Closer to home, I had the honor of interviewing Dick two years ago when he drove his John Deere tractor down Hankes Road to the backyard of his longtime neighbor Ed Huss, himself a combat Vietnam veteran, who was hosting a Memorial Day picnic. Because this old-but-somehow-young (my words) vet always had a smile on his face, a twinkle in his eye and a story – or joke – to tell, Miller was surrounded the entire afternoon by plenty of other fans, who never seemed to tire of hearing about his war experiences, his love for the United States of America and his hope for this country, no matter how 'disheartened' the headlines can make all of us. State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, a Marine veteran, was an Aurora City Council member when she first heard Miller speak at an Aurora Historical Society event, putting so much feeling into his narrative 'you felt like you were there,' she told me. And from that moment on, she became a huge fan. 'I always admired him after that. His story, his strength … how he lived his life to the fullest with such joy,' Kifowit added. 'It was a blessing to me to have known him all these years. 'We all need to be a little more like Dick.' Longtime friend Dick Eberling could not agree more, noting how he never saw Miller angry or heard him complain, unless it was a brief critique of politics. 'And what a patriot he was,' added Eberling. 'If we went by a business or a nursing home and saw a flag that was tattered, he would tell them to replace it. 'He did so much for the community … he seemed to be energized by it' up until the end. So it seems. The last event Eckburg took him to was the May 9 opening of the Illinois Fallen Wall exhibit at Oswego Village Hall where, as Aurora's 'oldest living Eagle Scout,' Miller led the Pledge of Allegiance, then immediately asked his driver/friend if he should also lead the group in 'God Bless America.' He certainly loved the mic, as Kifowit noted, along with his reputation as the 'singing sailor.' And he also was known for never turning down a free meal for veterans, noted an amused Eckburg, adding that, after the Fallen Wall ceremony, he insisted upon going to the Oswego American Legion Post 675 fish fry, one of his favorite places to visit. 'There's just so much stuff that is wrapped around Dick I could go on for hours,' said Eckburg. 'The day before he died he was laughing, smiling. I wish he could have stayed around. But he checked out the right way.' Loved by many. And remembered by even more.
Daily Record
05-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Mystery deadly virus spreading silently is more dangerous than expected - and has no vaccine
A deadly virus - known as oropouche virus or sloth fever - is quietly spreading across South America and Europe as scientists fear it's more rampant than first believed. Scientists reveal Oropouche virus is more widespread and dangerous than they first believed. The virus - which is also known as sloth fever - has spread across South America over the past 18 months, as well as cases recently being discovered in Europe for the first time. The virus is transmitted by midges and some types of mosquito and it's largely contained in the Amazon region, the Mirror reports. Sloth fever was believed to be a mild infection, with headaches, rashes and nausea as the general symptoms. But, scientists have warned it could also lead to pregnancy loss or birth defects. Since late 2023, over 20,000 cases of oropouche virus have been reported across Latin America, sparked by a warming climate and increasingly frequent rain storms. Those living near the Amazon rainforest face the highest risk, with analysis suggesting up to 10% of the population may have previously had "sloth fever" - often without even knowing it. Professor Jan Felix Drexler, head of the Virus Epidemiology laboratory at the Institute of Virology at Charité, explains: "We therefore assume that the current oropouche outbreak has been fuelled by weather phenomenons like El Niño." El Niño refers to a weather pattern marked by above-average sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean. He adds: "By contrast, we have not found evidence that changing properties of the virus could provide an alternative explanation for the high case count at present." Professor Drexler has also sent an ominous warning for the rest of the world, explaining that the virus could spread even further out of the continent of South America. He states: "I think it's possible that oropouche virus will become even more widespread in the future as climate change progresses." Sloth fever was detected in Europe for the first time last year, with confirmed cases in Italy, Spain and Germany. Spain reported 12 cases of oropouche in June and July 2024, while Italy had five and Germany had two. Out of the 19 total cases, 18 had recently traveled to Cuba and one had previously visited Brazil. It is not believed any of these cases were internally transmitted in Europe, they had all picked up the virus outside of the continent. Oropouche virus was first identified in 1955 in Trinidad and Tobago, named after the Oropouche River as it was found nearby. Over the past 25 years, the virus has caused outbreaks in countries including Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, and Peru. Additionally, in June last year Cuba had reported its first case of the infection. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sloth fever symptoms start somewhere between three and 10 days after infection. Notably, there have been very few deaths among people infected with sloth fever. There is currently no medication to treat the virus and there is no vaccination to protect against it. Anyone who has been diagnosed with infection is advised to get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. No cases of sloth fever have been confirmed in the UK, and the risk of it spreading to Britain remains extremely low. However, health experts stress the importance of staying aware and seeking medical advice if there's any reason to suspect exposure. Dr Philip Veal, Travel Health Consultant at UKHSA, said: "The midge that carries Oropouche virus is not currently established in Europe. It is typically found in the Americas. There is no evidence that the virus can spread from person to person. "When travelling to affected areas, you can avoid the infection, and others such as dengue, Zika and malaria, by preventing insect bites. Use insect repellent, cover exposed skin and sleep under a treated bed net. Plan ahead and visit the TravelHealthPro website to look up your destination and the latest health information and advice, particularly if you are pregnant."
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Mystery deadly virus spreading quietly is more dangerous than thought - and there's no vaccine
Oropouche virus - or sloth fever, as it's also known - is a deadly virus that's quietly spreading across South America and Europe, and scientists fear it's more prevalent than first believed Oropouche virus is far more common and dangerous than previously believed, scientists have revealed. The virus - which is also known as sloth fever - has soared across South America over the past 18 months, and it's recently been discovered in Europe for the first time, too. It's spread by midges and some types of mosquito, and it's largely contained the Amazon region. Sloth fever was largely believed to be a mild infection, with general symptoms like headaches, rashes and nausea. But, it could also lead to pregnancy loss or birth defects, scientists warned. More than 20,000 cases of oropouche virus have been reported in Latin America since late 2023, sparked by a warming climate and more frequent rain storms. Anyone living around the Amazon rainforest was most at risk of infection, with analysis showing up to 10% of all people had previously had sloth fever - whether they knew it or not. 'We therefore assume that the current oropouche outbreak has been fueled by weather phenomenons like El Niño,' explains Professor Jan Felix Drexler, head of the Virus Epidemiology laboratory at the Institute of Virology at Charité. El Niño describes a weather phenomenon that causes a higher-than-average sea surface temperature in the central Pacific Ocean. 'By contrast, we have not found evidence that changing properties of the virus could provide an alternative explanation for the high case count at present," he added Professor Drexler also sent an ominous warning for the rest of the world, claiming the virus could spread even further outside the continent. "I think it's possible that oropouche virus will become even more widespread in the future as climate change progresses." Sloth fever was found in Europe for the very first time last year. It was confirmed in Italy, Spain and Germany. Spain reported 12 cases of oropouche in June and July of 2024. Italy had five cases, and Germany had two. Eighteen of the 19 cases had a travel history to Cuba, and one had previously visited Brazil. It's not believed any of the cases were internally passed on in Europe, and they all picked up the virus outside the continent. Oropouche was first discovered in 1955, in Trinidad and Tobago. It got its name after being found next to the Oropouche River. The virus has previously sparked outbreaks in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, and Peru over the past 25 years. In June last year, Cuba reported its first case of the infection. Sloth fever symptoms tend to start somewhere between three and 10 days after infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There have been very few deaths among people infected with the virus, it added. There's no current medication to treat oropouche, and there's no vaccination to protect against it. Anyone that's been diagnosed with the infection would be advised to get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. There have been no confirmed cases of sloth fever in the UK, and the risk of it ever reaching Britain or Northern Ireland remains incredibly low. But, it's vital that everyone stays alert to the threat, and seeks medical attention if they think they could be at risk, health experts have claimed. Dr Philip Veal, Travel Health Consultant at UKHSA, said: 'The midge that carries Oropouche virus is not currently established in Europe. It is typically found in the Americas. There is no evidence that the virus can spread from person to person. 'When travelling to affected areas, you can avoid the infection, and others such as dengue, Zika and malaria, by preventing insect bites. Use insect repellent, cover exposed skin and sleep under a treated bed net. Plan ahead and visit the TravelHealthPro website to look up your destination and the latest health information and advice, particularly if you are pregnant.'
