CLASS OF '96 OUTSCORES ALL OTHERS
Some of the most historic teams ever in sports boosted their worldwide reputation in 1996.
The New York Yankees claimed the World Series. The Green Bay Packers were Super Bowl Champions. The Chicago Bulls won 70 games - a single-season record - and eventually hoisted the NBA Finals trophy (the first in their second three-peat). The Kentucky Wildcats' men's basketball team cut down the NCAA Championship nets. Dream Team II took home the gold medal in Atlanta. Heck, even Tiger Woods - who is basically his own franchise - became the first golfer to win three consecutive U.S. Amateur golf titles.
More? Well, how's this - some of the biggest names in today's sports were drafted in 1996. I was browsing through a recent Sports Illustrated issue (Dec. 5, 2005) and came across an article about the class of 1996 NFL wide receivers who are currently some of the best in the league (Bobby Engram, Terry Glenn, Marvin Harrison, Joe Horn, Keyshawn Johnson, Eddie Kennison, Eric Moulds, Muhsin Muhammad, Terrell Owens and Amani Toomer). That got me thinking about other league drafts and I realized the NBA wasn't too bad either that year (Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Steve Nash, Jermaine O'Neal, Peja Stojakovic and Antoine Walker).
In short, 1996 cracked open a leak of talent, which in the last few years has peaked into a consistent waterfall of points and yards. Here are some front-page snapshots from the NBA and NFL players' standout careers:
NBA
Allen Iverson (1st pick) - 1996-97 Rookie of the Year...2000-01 MVP...four-time scoring champion (1998-99, 2000-01, 01-02, 04-05)
Shareef Abdur-Rahim (3) - career 19-point scorer...2000 Olympic Gold Medalist...2002 All-Star
Stephon Marbury (4) - career 20-point scorer...two-time All-Star (2001, 03)...only player to rank in the top 10 in points (23.9) and assists (7.6) in 2000-01
Ray Allen (5) - 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist...five-time All-Star (2000-02, 04-05)...third all-time in three-pointers made (over 1,600)
Antoine Walker (6) - career 19-point scorer...three-time All-Star (1998, 2002, 03)...led the Boston Celtics in scoring (17.5 ppg), rebounds (9.0 rpg) and blocked shots (53) as a rookie
Kobe Bryant (13) - three-time NBA Champion (2000-02)...seven-time All-Star (1998-2005)...recently became the youngest player in history to score 15,000 points (currently the scoring leader at over 34 ppg)
Peja Stojakovic (14) - career 18-point scorer...three-time All-Star (2002-04)...one of the greatest international players ever (from Serbia-Montenegro)
Steve Nash (15) - 2004-05 MVP...three-time All-Star (2002, 03, 05)...currently ranks first in assists (over 11 apg)
Jermaine O'Neal (17) - four-time All-Star (2002-05)...Gold Medal winner in the 2001 Goodwill Games...2001-02 Most Improved Player (raised his scoring average from 12.9 to 19.0 ppg)
Zydrunas Ilgauskas (18) - career 15-point scorer...two-time All-Star (2003, 05)...named MVP of the Rookie Game in 1998 (he officially began his NBA career in 1997-98)
NFL
Keyshawn Johnson (1st pick) - 2002 Super Bowl Champion...three-time Pro Bowler (1998, 99, 2001)...co-MVP of the 1998 Pro Bowl
Terry Glenn (7) - 2001 Super Bowl Champion...1999 Pro Bowler...finished seventh in receptions (90) as a rookie
Eddie Kennison (18) - tied for ninth place in receiving touchdowns (9) as a rookie...gained 1,801 total yards (924 receiving, 454 kick returning, 423 punt returning) as a rookie...led the Kansas City Chiefs in receiving yards (1,102), average (16.2 ypc) and touchdowns (5) this season
Marvin Harrison (19) - seven-time Pro Bowler (1999, 2000-05)...recorded most ever receptions (143) in a season (2002)...two-time single-season leader in receiving yards (1999, 2002)
Eric Moulds (24) - three-time Pro Bowler (1998, 2000, 02)...ninth among active wide receivers in receptions (675) and 10th in receiving yards (9,091)...ranked in the top 10 in receptions (100), receiving yards (1,287) and touchdowns (10) in 2002
Amani Toomer (34) - helped lead the New York Giants to the Super Bowl in 2000...finished with five straight 1,000-plus yard seasons from 1999-2003...ranked in the top 10 in receiving yards (1,343) and touchdowns (8) in 2002
Muhsin Muhammad (43) - two-time Pro Bowler (1999, 2004)...tied for the league lead in receptions (102) in 2002...league leader in receiving yards (1,405) and touchdowns (16) in 2004
Bobby Engram (52) - led the Seattle Seahawks in receiving yards (778) this season...finished seventh in receptions (88) in 1999...gained 1,251 total yards (389 receiving, 580 kick returning, 282 punt returning) as a rookie
Terrell Owens (89) - five-time Pro Bowler (2000-04)...fourth all-time in receiving touchdowns (101)...20th all-time in receiving yards (10,535)
Joe Horn (135) - four-time Pro Bowler (2000-02, 04)...led the New Orleans Saints in receiving yards from 2000-04...ranked in the top 10 in receptions (94), receiving yards (first with 1,405) and touchdowns (11) in 2004
About Me
- Jared and Alex
- Once upon a time, a writer from a faraway land named Jared liked to ask questions. But there was one fellow named Alex who got annoyed at his questions. He would say "Jared, stop asking me so many questions!" But after a while, and a few drinks one night, he realized that his questions led to great answers, and he gave Jared his best idea yet -- start a "QUESTION OF THE DAY" e-mail thread. Within a few days, word got around and more and more of their friends wanted to join. Now, to honor the legend of Jared and Alex, we bring you the "QUESTION OF THE DAY" blog. The concept is simple: Every day we'll ask a question, and every day you'll answer the question. It's up to you to keep their legacy alive.
6 comments:
check out the college quarterback draft of 1983 also - including Marino, Elway, Kelly, etc. some years are 'vintage' like a great wine. your 'thirst' for the facts is refreshing. keep blogging.....
Don't forget the 1999 NBA Draft--Baron Davis, Stevie Francis, Shawn Marion, Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, Rip Hamilton, Corey Maggette, Andrei Kirilenko, Ron Artest, Jason Terry, Wally Szerzbiak--all All-Stars or near that level.
The 1999 NBA draft was definitely solid, but the 1999 NFL draft was not as strong (although it featured Torry Holt, Donovan McNabb and Ricky Williams). The arsenal of offensive players from 1996 stands out above the rest. In addition, most of them are just coming into their own now. Whereas, guys like Ricky Williams, Steve Francis, Ron Artest and Daunte Culpepper (who was drafted in '99 as well) are on the decline.
Your extensive knowledge of basketball is impressive. Each year top magazines highlight the most important events of that year. It would be interesting to have a review of how sports changed each year to open up more opportunities for athletes (both nationally and internationally) to be noticed and drafted. I enjoy reading your column.
king james, melo, wade, bosh, heinrich, ridnour, etc, etc. now that was a draft
Some of the NFL players from the 1996 draft may have had produced lower numbers this year, but that was partly due to off-the-field issues. Joe Horn had to deal with Hurricane Katrina relocation (not to mention, a subpar quarterback) and Terrell Owens got caught up with his contract. Most of the guys from '96 had, at the very least, above average years offensively. In fact, some of them had one of their best seasons, such as Terry Glenn and Eddie Kennison.
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