1990's NBA on NBC

When Prof. Newman spoke in class about growing up on shows with Scott Baio and his interest in the new reality shows featuring the actor, he made a great point. He grew up on Happy Days and Charles in Charge, and so it makes sense that he identifies with the shows today. It's probably a way of reminiscing about childhood, surely a simpler if not happier time for all of us.

To me, 1990's NBA on NBC brings back the memories. Back then, there was no worrying about full-time college classes, a job, paying bills, or trying to pursue a career. Instead, the main issue was who played on Saturday afternoon, and perhaps how to replicate Clyde Drexler's glide on the cracked pavement outside my house after the game.

The theme music alone gives me the good kind of shivers.

Today, the guys at TNT do a great studio NBA show. E.J., Charles, and Kenny make a great team and are highly entertaining. Still, there is no comparison to Ahmad Rashad, Bob Costas, Hannah Storm, and most importantly, Marv Albert in his prime.

Reggie Miller and Charles Barkley are in the booth themselves today, but they did their best work on the court in the 1990's. Mitch Richmond, Kevin Johnson, Tim Hardaway, and some classic matchups and uniforms only add to the mystique.

Above all though, 1990's NBA on NBC meant Michael Jordan's Bulls, usually tearing out the Knicks' hearts.

Since it happened right in the middle of the 90's, and I'm probably not the only one who remembers this with such fondness, I'll leave you with MJ's (first) return to the game: