Bill Russell: Ultimate Basketball Badass. 11 Championship Rings. Played in the NCAA final four, won Olympic Gold and helped his team win their first NBA championiship in a 13 month span. First black coach in the NBA.

http://espn.go.com/classic/biography...sell_Bill.html

Never heard this one. Cool.

For the record -- Bird fed McHale alot of balls that day, and the entire team was enjoying being part of McHale's night.

But yes, Bird did have to prove he could do just as well. That game was one of the funniest/strangest I ever saw. The entire Atlanta bench was completely laughing it's ass off every time Bird hit another shot during the 4th quarter of that game. Bird could not miss that night, and even the opponents were enjoying it. :eek:

I can't remember that he needed to hit the last 3, but I do remember him walking away with his index finger up in the air, while the ball was still on its way to the swish.

Addendum to that story -- before the first three point competition (not sure if it was in '88), he told all the participants beforehand "so, which one of you guys is gonna be second?" And then, of course, he goes out and wins the competition.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas...s/02-06-88.jpg

And he drained it. That is balls.[/QUOTE]

No. There were five racks, starting in the right corner (if you're looking at the net) and working your way around to the left corner. The final shot was drained from the left corner.

The first guy that came to mind was Jim Brown. I don't agree with this guy's criteria and judging. "Bad-ass Mofo" should mean exactly that, and there wasn't a badder mother(shut-yo-mouf/just talkin' 'bout Jim) than Brown.

And I ain't talking about that Fox Sports dude. Only the Nazis and Arnold Schwarzenegger could stop Jim Brown.

Was that before or after Robert Parish beat his ass into the court?


CHIEF

That's a nice story, but anybody who has ever played any amount of roundball knows if a ball is drained the moment it leaves their fingers. I had that sense with what little bit I used to play and I can only imagine how much more heightened it is with professionals. I'm not trying to take anything away from Bird, I'm just not impressed with the whole claiming victory part before the ball cleared the net.

Do you leave construction sites with one finger held high after hammering in the last nail?

Why would Tyson make the list? The only people he ever beat up were women and Marvis Frazier.

What's this!! Bar brawl Tynes didn't make the list??

The main thing I remember about Jack Lambert's style of play was the late-hit, usually accomplished by jumping onto a pile of players like a little girl jumping on a pile of fallen leaves. He's about as Bad-ass as a tattooed My Little Pony.

Some of the list I agree with, others no. My definition of a "bad ass" is very subjective. To me, the guy either had to have a reputation for being physically tough, mean spirited, intimidate his opponent, play hurt, be an iron man, or all of the above. Here's some who come to mind in no particular order:

Football Bad Asses:
Ray Nitschke
Mike Curtis
Larry Wilson
Dick Butkus
Jack Lambert
Ronnie Lott
Jack Youngblood
Willie Lanier
Larry Csonka
Deacon Jones
Chuck Bednarik

Baseball Bad Asses:
Ty Cobb
Bob Gibson
Nolan Ryan
Roger Clemens
Frank Robinson
Jack Morris
Don Drysdale
Lou Pinella
Pete Rose
Kirk Gibson
Cal Ripken, Jr.

Basketball Bad Asses:
Willis Reed
Michael Jordan
Jerry West
John Havlicek
Kermit Washington
Bob Lanier
Bill Laimbeer
Bill Russell
Tiny Archibald
Larry Bird

[QUOTE=Mr. Rat Fink]
I wouldn't call a baseball or basketball player a bad ass either.

Nix the Bird, add George Foreman. Forget the George in his 50's, when he was in his 20's he was the hardest hitting boxer ever. He destroyed everyone he fought....

...well, almost everyone. :)

If I remember right that was Evander Holyfield's ear Tyson chewed off. And the only reason he did that is because Holyfield was beating his ass. Tyson was a badassmofo early in his career but turned out to be a freakshowmofo. :)

Exactly right. Tyson belongs nowhere near this list. Get a copy of the "Thrilla in Manila" and then tell me Tyson could have whipped Frazier. Let alone Ali.

[/QUOTE]

Before MJ Larry Legend was the greatest pure BB player of all time; IMHO he and MJ are tied as the greatest ever.
There are a thousand stories like the ones related here, of Larry telling people where he ws going to be and what shot he was going to hit. Of how he would eat rookies alive with his vicious smack. Of how he would get embarrassed/pissed when guarded by a white guy.
There are several Bird books out there, IMO one of the best is
Portrait of a Competitor by Roland Lazenby
Great read whether you love him, hate him, or don't know who he is.