Indy Pete - Go Blue

January 1st, 2021 at 11:11 AM ^

Hunter Dickinson‘s face is super-imposed on Michael Jordan from a recent mega documentary (The Last Dance).  The 10 episode Michael Jordan documentary was released early on in the pandemic and became some of the most compelling sports television in my lifetime. Much of it was interviewing Jordan on his luxurious sofa next to $1000 glasses of spirits as he revealed that he manufactured slights from every angle to motivate him to kill everyone on his quest to basketball immortality.  His pathological competitiveness was evident on the court, but in this documentary, you truly see just how all-encompassing was his need to win by whatever mental process necessary. 
 

Hunter is from the DMV, and he longed to be appreciated and noticed by Maryland. They never even formally offered him. He was hurt by that, and he used it as motivation - a la MJ. 

Joined: 01/23/2018

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Hail to the Vi…

January 1st, 2021 at 11:20 AM ^

Perfect summary. For additional context, Hunter was seen flexing towards the Maryland bench during the broadcast and was even tee'd up during the game for taunting. 

The broadcasters didn't capture the subplot very well during the game, but it was believed that Hunter was showing his disdain for Maryland's lack of interest during his recruiting process and letting them hear about it.

Joined: 09/13/2010

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gustave ferbert

January 1st, 2021 at 11:42 AM ^

Michael Jordan competitveness story:

I was a kid and Sam Vincent (who played with the bulls at the time) had a basketball camp at Lansing Eastern High School.  Jordan showed up one day and he gave his clinic then offered some of the campers for their once-in-a-lifetime chance to play against him one on one.  I still remember the kid.  A nice kid by the name of Maurice.  Probably the best kid in camp.  Anyway, Maurice actually took a lead.  4 to 3 or something playing by ones. MJ is beyond pissed.  Next out, tongue comes flying out, did his what he called "the cobra move" blew past Maurice and soared to an easy layup (he refused to dunk the ball in camp) and then declared that he won 5-4.  Everyone was like "no you didn't it's tied." He got really  obdurate and made Maurice sit down.   The Lansing State Journal was there and published the story and interviewed Maurice but was very careful to say anything about Jordan's behavior.

 

it was interesting to observe. 

Joined: 06/21/2011

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WindyCityBlue

January 1st, 2021 at 12:42 PM ^

Chicagoan here. Jordan is/was generally known as a complete dick here in Chicago. And your story is one of many about him.  Perhaps its an unfortunate by-product of being super competitive and successful. The fact that he was a winner in Chicago made it all very tolerable.
 

With that, Jordan rarely comes back to Chicago and we don’t really roll out the red carpet when he does. 

Joined: 07/23/2008

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Sam1863

January 1st, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^

Even the ones who aren't GOATs have that competitive nature that isn't hard to find.

Example: 2004 Detroit Tiger Fantasy Camp (one of the greatest weeks of my life.) One of the former Tigers on hand was Dave Rozema. If you've ever met him, you know: a more relaxed guy you'll never find. A perpetual teenager, always good for a story and several beers, and one of the most popular Tigers in camp.

But the first day of camp, he was throwing batting practice. One big guy slammed a couple of shots off him - they would have been hard singles or maybe a gap double. Rosie stepped off the mound a second, rubbed up the ball, stepped back on, and threw three straight pitches high and tight. He didn't knock him down, but each one was chin music - up, in, and a lot harder than before. Mr. Big Guy never got another good swing.

Doesn't matter who the ex-pros are. Put them on the field (or the court), and you don't have to scratch very deep to find their competitive nature.

Joined: 04/27/2014

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buddhafrog

January 1st, 2021 at 12:14 PM ^

Well done.

I think it is important to add that these hard feelings caused Hunter Dickerson to stare down the MD bench repeatedly after made baskets. So much so that the bench (coach?) talked back to Dickerson, leading to techs on both benches, and then several possessions later a tech on Hunter after again mouthing something to the bench after another and-one basket. 

This is a freshman acting like Bill Laimbeer on the court, but with tons of skill.

Joined: 09/28/2009

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uncle leo

January 1st, 2021 at 11:33 AM ^

As someone who is big into non-verbals, body language, etc...

I know it's always easy to say "we are having fun" when we are winning. If Michigan was 1-7, I am sure the bench would PROBABLY not be as pumped up as they are.

But my lord. When I watched the replay of the game last night, the bench went bananas for every play. Even a guy like Nunez, who now doesn't play at all, is going nuts for every play. That says a lot about the mindset of this team.

And because I have to take a shot at the football program when possible, take a look at their body language. When big plays happen, the players on the side aren't leaping up and down. Against MSU, their first home coming coming off a big win, the team BARELY ran onto the field; seemed like a casual jog to me. You can just sense the lack of energy.

 

Joined: 07/29/2012

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buddhafrog

January 1st, 2021 at 12:18 PM ^

Interestingly it's not just enthusiasm on the bench - it's communicating things especially on defense. It's like they have a dozen coaches on the sidelines talking on defense. It was pretty crazy / awesome at some moments yesterday. And then after they were yelling something, and the player responded with the play, the bench went wild. I'm pretty sure they feel like they are a part of the game more than other benches, because they actually are.

Joined: 09/28/2009

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Blue Vet

January 1st, 2021 at 12:09 PM ^

Going by the title, I clicked, thinking I'd see a complaint about about someone else on the blog.

Soooo glad it was a much better post than that. Thanks.

Joined: 05/08/2012

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JetFuelForBreakfast

January 1st, 2021 at 12:32 PM ^

Don't know that this is relevant, but I went to a function recently and definitely overheard Izzo commenting to someone that Hunter was too slow and they would hand him his lunch.  Hunter probably shouldn't know this though.

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