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NBA Whatever happened to Harold Miner, the original 'Baby Jordan'?

timdog — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:08:31 GMT

Harold Miner has to just laugh about some of the rumors about him floating around on the Internet.

Like the ones about Miner being in the witness protection program. Or working at a Jack in the Box in Los Angeles. Or being a member of the LAPD and becoming an ordained minister.

"Oh my goodness, it's crazy," said Miner, now 39.

Heading back to the Far East The truth is much less sensationalistic. Miner now resides in Las Vegas with his wife, 7-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. He currently isn't working, and still lives off the over $20 million he made during a brief NBA career which -- unlike many pro athletes -- he managed and invested very diligently.

Miner says the biggest misconception about him is that he's a recluse, but such speculation about his whereabouts has become common since he last appeared in the NBA in 1996 because he hasn't been interviewed in over a decade.

He has rejected countless requests to speak with the fan favorite who earned the nickname "Baby Jordan" by winning two NBA Slam Dunk contests and dazzling crowds with his highlight-reel dunks. Even now, he only calls from a blocked phone number in an interview arranged through a former USC sports information director.

"I'm really kind of dumbfounded as to why people would be interested in reading a story about me," Miner said. "I haven't played in almost 15 years and I haven't done anything significant on a national scale since my junior year at SC almost 20 years ago. It's a trip, actually."

Seeing how he hasn't spoken publicly in so long, there's a couple things he wants to get off his chest. Specifically, he thanked his fans for all their support over the years, gave props to fellow Inglewood legend Paul Pierce for becoming an NBA star and even apologized to writers that covered him in Miami -- Ira Winderman and Shaun Powell -- for not being himself there because of his disappointing stay on South Beach.

So why now is Miner finally ready to speak?

"I just think it's time," Miner said. "It's been a long time."

It certainly has. Miner became a household name almost two decades ago as a junior at USC by piling up points and dunks during the 1991-92 season. Miner had the shaved head, No. 23 jersey, MJ mannerisms and the spectacular slams that reminded many of "His Airness." Suddenly, the "Baby Jordan" nickname he picked up on the playgrounds of Inglewood had spread across the nation and made him a star, something he always grappled with.

"I probably never got used to being in the spotlight," Miner said. "I'd say it's always been uncomfortable for me, not natural for me."

Miner led USC to a No. 2 seed in the 1992 NCAA Tournament, becoming USC's all-time leading scorer (a record he still holds) and earning Sports Illustrated's college basketball's Player of the Year award over LSU's Shaquille O'Neal and Duke's Christian Laettner. But the storybook season came to an abrupt end when Georgia Tech's James Forrest knocked the Trojans out of the second round on a legendary buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Weeks later, Miner held an emotional press conference to announce he would be turning pro.

Taken 12th overall in the '92 draft, the lefty swingman was expected to become a scoring and marketing machine. He signed a five-year, $7.3-million contract with the Heat as a rookie and an endorsement deal with Nike reportedly worth $14 million. But he never came close to reaching expectations, averaging under 10 points a game in his three years in Miami. Hobbled by injuries, Miner was criticized for his poor defense and wayward outside shooting.

He still had marketability after winning the 1993 and 1995 NBA Slam Dunk Contests (he could've had a three-peat if a knee injury didn't sideline him in 1994), so Cleveland took a chance on Miner with a trade in June of 1995. But he rode the pine there as well and his '96 season ended with knee surgery after averaging just three points per game.

Given one last shot by the Toronto Raptors before the 1997 season, Miner says he slipped on a wet spot and severely sprained the same knee, leaving him with no mobility and the writing on the wall.

"For the whole two weeks I was in Toronto I couldn't sleep -- I didn't sleep at all," Miner said. "I think I knew that that was it."

And just like that, Miner's career was over at the age of 25.

"A lot of people don't understand why I stopped playing was because I had two knee surgeries and I had a degenerative joint in my knee, so it was just too much wear and tear, and I ended up with very little cartilage in my knee," Miner said.

After returning to Southern California following his career, Miner found a new home in Las Vegas and dabbled in buying and selling real estate. His new fix is nutrition. Miner says he's lost 25 pounds with his personal trainer in the last year after reaching 280 pounds.

That's not the only change he's made recently, as Miner's now finally reaching out to old friends and even USC to try and reconnect to his "basketball roots." Miner says he's even considering seeing a USC game or two next season.

Given the current state of Miner's scandal-ridden alma mater and the way fans have longed for years to hear from the Trojan legend, it could be the loudest ovation in the Galen Center all year.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketb...n=ncaab-268162

Nas I am is the most underrated CD ever.

Iced_Sama — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:23:14 GMT

Shit is a classic and people sleep on it till this day. Theres only 2 tracks I skip, str8 heat. I know jigga has people confused by claiming it was a avg album but if you listen to this through u will realize how brillant it is.

undying love>>>

Favor for a favor>>

Small world>>>

Kissing>>>

:applause:

Jearsy shore officail theme song and future episode

Blinkness — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:01:46 GMT

YouTube- Jersey Shore Parody Song: Key Of Awesome #11

YouTube- jersey shore as kids

enjoy

Canibus & What He's Got In Mind For The Rest Of The Year...

Future — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:35:42 GMT

Acclaimed and controversial rapper Canibus is all set to release his 10th studio album titled C Of Tranquility on October 5th via Interdependent Media. The album will boast of production from DJ Premier, Jake One, Scram Jones, Tha Bizness and more.

A sampler for Canibus' upcoming release "Lyrical Law" which was originally a compilation of remixes from his last album "Melatonin Magik" remixes, but the project has evolved and there's a lot of new material on this. There is production from Reverse Polarity, Sicknature, Charlie G, Vherbal, DJ Kru and more! And guest features from Planet Asia, Copywrite, K-Solo, Diabolic, Ruste Juxx, Ras Kass, Mark Deez, Presto, LMS, Flawless, Chopp Devize, K-Rino, Killah Priest, Inspectah Deck, Immortal Technique, Thirstin Howl III, Rock (Heltah Skeltah), Buddah Monk, DZK, Popa Wu, Digable Planets, Pilot Rai, Damo, Passion, Skarlit Rose, Hugh Hayes and more!

YouTube- Canibus - "Lyrical Law" [2010] {Sampler}

NFL 9/13/10 Baltimore Ravens (0-0, 0-0 away) @ New York Jets (0-0, 0-0 home)

Big R — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:15:36 GMT

9/13/10
Baltimore Ravens (0-0, 0-0 away)
@
New York Jets (0-0, 0-0 home)

NFL 9/12/10 Dallas Cowboys (0-0, 0-0 away) @ Washington Redskins (0-0, 0-0 home)

Big R — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:14:04 GMT

9/12/10
Dallas Cowboys (0-0, 0-0 away)
@
Washington Redskins (0-0, 0-0 home)

NFL 9/12/10 Green Bay Packers (0-0, 0-0 away) @ Philadelphia Eagles (0-0, 0-0 home)

Big R — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:12:08 GMT

9/12/10
Green Bay Packers (0-0, 0-0 away)
@
Philadelphia Eagles (0-0, 0-0 home)

NFL 9/12/10 Indianapolis Colts (0-0, 0-0 away) @ Houston Texans (0-0, 0-0 home)

Big R — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:09:57 GMT

9/12/10
Indianapolis Colts (0-0, 0-0 away)
@
Houston Texans (0-0, 0-0 home)

NFL 9/12/10 Carolina Panthers (0-0, 0-0 away) @ New York Giants (0-0, 0-0 home)

Big R — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:07:47 GMT

9/12/10
Carolina Panthers (0-0, 0-0 away)
@
New York Giants (0-0, 0-0 home)

NFL 9/9/10 Minnesota Vikings (0-0, 0-0 away) @ New Orleans Saints (0-0, 0-0 home)

Big R — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:04:19 GMT

9/9/10
Minnesota Vikings (0-0, 0-0 away)
@
New Orleans Saints (0-0, 0-0 home)

MLB :) :wave:

Prof. Slim — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:27:48 GMT

May 30 to September 7, 2010 the Bravos we're sitting pretty in the NL East, now there one game away from being swept by the Pirates and being in the same boat as the New York Mess. Bobby better right the ship...

:)

New Playa J music video

$_T_$ — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:28:40 GMT

http://www.worldstaruncut.com/uncut/26583

that dude sounds just like him ......

:wtf:

Is this the worst rap video ever ?

$_T_$ — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:22:45 GMT

Video: Lil Chuckee (Young Money) - Tourcha

:smh: @ lil chuckeee dude aint bad but this video is horrible...

and im not saying he is a good rapper but i like his flow :shrug:

il ike this song by him & weezy :nervous:

YouTube- Lil Wayne and Lil Chucky - Too Clean

Serious Cat fight

$_T_$ — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:17:02 GMT

Video: NY Female Blood Member In Her Late 30's Deck's Chubby Girl In Front Of Her Apartment! (Rolls On The Floor)

Icedout Martial Art Videos

$_T_$ — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:13:19 GMT

Video: This Is A Joke? The "Seize Testicles" Technique! (Self-Defense Instructions On Seizing Your Enemies Testicles)[2007 Clip]