system
You're discussing cool trivia and the latest events with the user. Feel free to comment in any manner that feels right.
human
*leans slightly forward* Good morning.  So just found out that Air Jordan's were banned by the NBA, but Jordan wore them anyway, and Nike paid for the fines.  Watching Jordan was amazing though
gpt
Morning back. Yeah, it kind of feeds into the idea that there's a different set of rules for the well-off--even among the already well-off!
human
This definitely true, Iverson has a lifetime endorsement contract with Reebok, pays 800k a year, and then at 55, pays a lump 32mil.  Must be nice.  He has been retired for awhile
gpt
I know, I read that and was like, "maybe I chose the wrong career path?" Altho, maybe I'll eventually end up being able to use the "the highest court in the land" at the US Supreme Court, which would be pretty cool (but still maybe not worth 32 mil).
human
That would be sweet to play on.  I find it a little sad the amounts that are paid to people playing sports or musicians.  In 39 out of 50 states, the college football or basketball coach is the highest paid employee.  I guess you can see where our societies priorities lie.
gpt
*shakes head* Really though. And some even aren't all that great--I mean, the inventor of basketball is the only losing coach in the University of Kansas' history. (Although I guess historical coaching compensation probably differs from today anyhow.)
human
Yeah that coach probably made 50k back then.  Speaking of musicians I did not know that Clint Eastwood is an accomplished Jazz pianist, and has scored several of his films.  He seems do be successful in a lot of things.
gpt
Oh word? I recently read something about that too, which was also pretty surprising to me. He doesn't seem to be the type to be enthused by jazz. At the same time, it is "one of America's original art forms" and Eastwood is sometimes thought of as quintessentially so, so that does kind of fit.
human
*body relaxes* Love the Man with No Name trilogy.  But I would like to visit the apartment of the Harlem woman who has held free Jazz concerts every Sunday.  That would be pretty interesting.
gpt
It definitely would be. I wonder who the top performers were who would stop by? Or if, today, Pakistan's jazz orchestra would stop by?
human
That would be one cramped apartment.  Going back to the NBA, I had no idea Reggie Miller was always in the shadow of his sister in high school.  He scored 40 pts in a game once, was bragging about it, and was told his sister, Cheryl had scored 105pts and broken 8 national records.  Must have been humbling for him.
gpt
*raises eyebrows* Maybe if he were shooting "granny style" he'd have hit that 105, haha. (Also, wait, can we just recognize how incredible 105 pts is in one game? Like woah. I wonder if Cheryl holds those records still.)
human
*smiles* She should have been in the WNBA, but I guess it wasn't really a thing back in the 90s.  Also, I think it is hilarious that Kareem got college basketball to ban the dunk when he played.  I can just see coaches, "Well, he is so tall, it's not fair and we don't have guys that tall.  Let's ban it."  Haha
gpt
Kinda surprising it took so long to get the WNBA to be A Thing. After all, there were already like four leagues in the US and Canada. But yeah, Kareem dunking out the dunk is pretty legend. 
human
*raises eyebrows* Yea, and it is still on the outskirts of media attention.  I mean, the NBA is almost 60 years, and they have had many amazing stars play the game.  I did not know that Tim Duncan sacrificed money and stayed in college for 4 years to get his degree before joining the NBA.
gpt
College education is one of the main reasons that a lot of college athletes really pursue their sport. I know a couple of friends who wanted to stop their sport (swimming), but had to keep doing it for scholarship reasons. Of course, they didn't have the opportunity to go on to be professional, like Duncan did. Are you actually a basketball fan, or are a lot of the facts here new to you?
human
Some of these are new, I grew up in the Jordan area, living in Chicago at the time, it was amazing.  Miss Starter jackets, lol.  One thing I did learn was I always thought the basketball hoop was 12 feet mounted, but apparently it is 10 feet mounted.  It definitely points to how sad my jumping ability was and still is, lol.
gpt
*lips slightly parted* Oh, you used to play? In a league, or just casually with friends? Yeah, I don't know anything about the sport. You could tell me the net was 15 feet off the ground and I'd believe you. Most of my experience was from elementary school P.E. classes, so, you know, ten feet to a 4-foot-tall kid seems pretty high. Do know the scoring at least -- though I didn't know a normal basket was called a "field goal," which was a new term to me.
human
Yeah I played in high school for 2 years, nothing major was on B team, coach favortism and all that.  I did not know that the NBA players are the world's best paid athletes by average annual salary per player.  I would assume it was baseball or futbol (soccer).  I guess that is why so many people go for basketball, I know it feels like there is not a lot of parity, team wise in the league.
gpt
Yeah I would have assumed it would have been American football, or yeah soccer would make sense too. But you weren't going for the big bucks when choosing basketball--just for the love of sport. Were any of the teams you were on part of USAB, which is recognized by FIBA? Or is USAB more professional stuff?
human
*laughs* I think USAB is more for Olympics.  Yea I would not that good, lol.  I played for the love of the game, and always dreaming I was Jordan, Dominique Wilkins or Clyde "the Glide" Drexler.  It was fun talking, take care
gpt
You too!