Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 'Slighted' By Lakers Without Statue At Staples Center

Sporting News:

But for all of Abdul-Jabbar's influence, for all of his accomplishments, the man feels "slighted" by the Lakers organization, as he explains in a six-page interview in the magazine.

Why? There are multiple reasons---and we're not going to spoil all the goods here---but one of them has to do with the statues that have been erected outside Staples Center.

Read the whole story: Sporting News

Comments

[directfitz]

04:08 PM on 05/23/2011

Please go to Facebook

BUILD KAREEM ABDUL JABBAR A STATUE AT STAPLES CENTER

Post something so we can get him a stature NOW!

[JacksonHts]

01:13 PM on 05/22/2011

He also believes he was never given the opportunity to coach by the Lakers.

[jflorish]

03:11 AM on 05/22/2011

I think its kind of neat having sports franchises add statues of legendary players. Its also something to go visit and see when going to a game, I love the monument park the Yankees did.

[Paul The Octopus]

12:47 AM on 05/22/2011

I want a statue, Waaaah! Me want statue, waaaaaaaaaah! I feel slighted, waaaaaaah! Oh, wait. I already have a statue: http://counter.thestar.topscms.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/article/925134--paul-the-octopus-monument-created-in-germany

[Ty LaRue]

03:54 AM on 05/21/2011

After hearing him on Mike & Mike (I can't stand Mike Greenburg), it's more than just the statue. It seems like Kareem had issues with them for awhile. In his defense, Kareem is one of the greatest players of all-time, period.

[Caryn Moss]

02:00 AM on 05/21/2011

Great Article
"C’mon Kareem, Can’t The Clippers Get a Statue?"
http://bit.ly/iFUYrz
By
Sam Saletta
Actor/ Recording Artist/Songwriter/Composer/ Prod & now Sports Writer
http://bit.ly/SamSaletta

[Tone67]

09:18 AM on 05/20/2011

The trouble with recognizing individuals is someone always gets left out. Like where i work, my new boss decided to single folks out for going above and beyond. I went above and beyond to learn to so something outside of my dept. because we were short handed. Well we hired someone for that position and i trained her, no problem. He chose to call her out for going above and beyond for basically doing her job as if she had trained herself. During the meeting i never said a word aka what some of you call whine. Never said a word to my boss after the fact, i just took the L on that one. Later someone asked me how i felt (much like an interview) i said i felt "slighted" my doing that job for a year outside of my normal duties and training her was a figment of my imagination.

So for all of you folks who actually read the article, Jabbar was simply answering a question in an interview, he was not whining and he is definitely more of a game changer than De LaHoya, c'mon de la hoya before jabbar. GTFOH

[MissMel10]

10:09 AM on 05/20/2011

faved and fanned!! EXCELLENT post!

[leorangerie]

01:50 AM on 05/20/2011

Being a champion is more than winning rings. It is how you conduct yourself. Kareem has always been this way, for reasons unknown.

[cookerman45]

09:04 AM on 05/20/2011

he has always been a champion ....he never "cowtowed to your racist perceptions"

[leorangerie]

12:30 PM on 05/20/2011

indeed, Kareem has been a champion. But I really don't the think the majority of black Laker fans are racists.

[cookerman45]

09:05 AM on 05/20/2011

besides thoughtless posts what are YOU a champion @????........ thought so.

[jflorish]

12:57 AM on 05/20/2011

It is kind of confusing though if the others have statues and he doesn't, he may be the greatest center ever to play in the NBA.

[dekethortonsarmy]

08:43 PM on 05/19/2011

As I recall Roger Murdock only gets angry when someone actually recognized him
What gives?
- sincerely Joey

[NeverRepublican]

06:37 PM on 05/19/2011

Here's your statue...

A giant liquid filled bag with a plastic hose attached...

Put it in front of the arena with a plaque that says...

A cry baby with a decent hook shot.

[cookerman45]

07:58 PM on 05/19/2011

spoken likem a true racistrepblican

[NeverRepublican]

10:00 PM on 05/19/2011

Really? I'm commenting on his behavior... not his skin, fool.

You never should have dropped out of school. That argument had no merit what-so-ever... chump.

[leorangerie]

01:48 AM on 05/20/2011

guess you don't know much about pro basketball, do you.

[sloreader]

03:53 PM on 05/19/2011

The fact that Oscar De La Hoya is one of the statues brings to mind Groucho Marx's famous line that he wouldn't want to be part of any club that would have him as a member.

[mun15ey23]

03:00 PM on 05/19/2011

That's where Kobe and Lakers learned how to be whiners!!! Kareem, you're cool, but stuff like this takes time...patience is a virtue.

[Steve1976]

02:58 PM on 05/19/2011

I always thought Abdul-Jabbar was better than this.

[HWBB]

02:08 AM on 05/20/2011

Better than what?
You looking for a role model?
Kareem was one of (if not THE) greatest NBA centers of all time.
show some respect.

[SonnyBono]

04:42 AM on 05/22/2011

How quick you forget Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlin - if you are going to rank Kareem in the history of NBA centers, the highest he could go is Number Three after Russell and Wilt. Besides the Lakers paid him millions of bucks for his sky hook but I don't believe any of his contracts called for the Buss family to spring for a statue.

[Bados]

09:19 PM on 05/21/2011

What was he supposed to say. "I was terrible. I didnt change the game. I'm not a champion and am not considered the best center of all times"?

There's nothing wrong with speaking on what honors you feel you've earned. A closed mouth doesnt get fed.

[rodeman]

12:07 PM on 05/19/2011

Kareem, I couldn't agree with you more. However, carping about it in the media is less than attractive. You'll get your statue for sure. You're probably next. You have to admit the first two guys to get theirs weren't to shabby (Johnson and West)

[FloridaLAW]

12:59 PM on 05/19/2011

what's shabby is the Lakers' response to this, which is that Kareem will be next but it may be many years before they get around to giving him a statue. The man has been battling cancer for several years so you would think there would be a greater sense of urgency.