Alright, here's the ultimate OC stumper.
Which Birmingham Detroit Country Day SUPERSTAR hoopster alum's career would you rather have: Chris Webber ('91) or Shane Battier ('97)?
It's a tough one isn't it?
Both were McDonalds All-Americans and won three straight state titles to end their high school cage careers at DCD under Kurt Keener.
Both were AP College All-Americans and NCAA Player of the Years, CWebb at Michigan and Battier at Duke, before going on to become NBA lottery picks.
That's when things start to diverge.
CWebb is an NCAA icon, the No. 1 player on the groundbreaking, razzle-dazzle Fab Five, a genuine cultural touchstone in the world of sports in the last quarter of the 20th Century.
Battier was the captain of a National Championship squad with the Dukies, CWebb will forever be haunted by two losses in the National Title game, capped with the infamous "T.O. that wasn't," leading to embarrassment in the closing seconds of the 1993 final against North Carolina.
CWebb made more money than almost any pro athlete of his era (over 200 million in combined NBA salary) and was a frequent NBA All-Star – never appearing in the NBA Finals though.
Battier has made a very respectable NBA salary in his 12-year career in the League (he'll be a millionaire for the rest of his life several times over), but has come away with a pair of World Championships, where although not a star, he has been a major contributor (6-of-8 from 3-point distance in Game 7 of this year's finals with the back-to-back NBA champ Miami Heat).
CWebb dated Tyra Banks and Nia Long (point for him in Burney's book on that fact alone).
When Battier retires soon, he will depart with a sterling reputation in every regard, leaving the pros known universally as a true gentlemen of the game. On the other hand, CWebb's legacy is a complicated one, a lengthy career in the league marked with highs and lows on and off the court.
The question of CWebb or SHANE the BRAIN is so vexing, Burney honestly can't give a decisive answer either way. Gun to head, I might lean Battier.
What do you think?
I don't need to talk about the pros and cons of each, you did that perfectly.
ReplyDeleteBut one will be remembered by many, for a long, long time - for good and bad. That's the difference-maker for me. C-Webb won't be forgotten.
He's my man!