Stephen Curry: Sometimes the Young Guys Rule Too!

March 4, 2016

Stephen Curry, the all-world point guard for the Golden State Warriors and reigning MVP, is becoming one of those athletes relished for being a good ambassador for the sport. He carries himself with confidence and pride, but it also looks like he is playing with a lot of joy. On the contrary, in the media, more and more quotes and articles are attributed to ex-professional basketball bemoaning his skill set, style of play, and overall ability to compete in their era. These guys can't help themselves from sounding like bitter old men. Can it be they want to have an opinion that they think is indeed debatable?

I can understand fans giving it their best shot and comparing their beloved team and athletes of days gone by to the current crop of offerings. This type of bar top analysis is just what it appears to be, a hypothetical mish-mash that is better served with more beer. The backlash from some current ex-basketball players saying that Stephen Curry would not be as successful in their era is embarrassingly false. Stephan Curry would be good, possibly great in any era, hands down because he possesses the skills that make other players great. He is a proficient shooter, very quick and hard to defend, a fantastic ball-handler, and a skilled passer. I don't see how that doesn't translate to any court, anytime, any era. Nonetheless, the whole Golden State Warrior team also gets scrutinized because they are so good, which is another reason the old guys feel threatened and need to stick up for their eras.

The breakdown and comparison of eras across all sports; It crosses all cultures, upbringing, and past days of glory, and every older person will defend their time in the sun. I am no different in saying how I played baseball every day during the summer when I was a kid and didn't need an adult to organize it. Now kids need a league to play in, and they also are playing year-round. We could play any sport anywhere, and then there were the games we made up because we didn't have the proper equipment. We were self-sufficient, rode our bikes to the park, not in Mommy's SUV, and played until we were done, not when their parents said so. We developed our sports skills with our buddies, and we also learned by watching the great athletes on TV. There, you have my bitter old guy appeal for my era.

If Stephen Curry was around when I was ten years old, you be damn right I would try to copy his game. Just think, I would be shooting 20-foot jumpers and dribbling behind my back. Oh wait, we did have guys like that, Pete Maravich, Dr. J, Nate Archibald, Jerry West, and best of all, we had the Harlem Globetrotters. After all, isn't sports supposed to be joyful to watch? If a player is so fun to watch or a team plays with great precision and skill, that is the sport in its finest moment.