Scottie Pippen smiles onstage during festivities leading up to Friday night's Hall of Fame induction. (Reuters)
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- With his family and friends looking on, former Bulls star Scottie Pippen sat on a stage at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame with his fellow 2010 inductees Friday morning, talking eloquently about his humbling honor.
"For all these Hall of Famers here today, thank you for paving the road for me to have something to challenge myself every day," Pippen said at a news conference. "It's an honor."
Pippen formally enters the Hall of Fame at a Friday night ceremony at this city's Symphony Hall. Michael Jordan will serve as his presenter. In a wide-ranging, 45-minute interview following the news conference, Pippen touched on a number of subjects:
On whether the 1992 Dream Team gold medal or the six Bulls championships are more special: "Listening to these guys elaborate on the Olympics, it was truly an enjoyable moment in my life that I will never forget. But I think nothing sticks out more than winning a championship in 1991 for me. When you're with your teammates for so long and so many years and you have that one common goal and you finally achieve it, it's definitely much more special to me than winning a gold medal. I went through ups and downs as a young player dealing with criticism and to finally win that first NBA championship, it was definitely a relief of a lot of pressure and frustration."
On playing for the Dream Team: "It was a great experience for me. Even though they sort of saw me as a rookie to some degree, I got a lot of opportunity to play and defend and to be that one guy. I knew my position on that team. I worked hard. I knew a lot of the players were older players. The knowledge they had in the game was so strong. Their athleticism had diminished a little but they could still play. When I say that, I speak of guys like Larry and Magic who were great leaders for that team. It was a perfect moment for me because I felt I was still developing as a young player. And to have an opportunity to take my game on an international stage, it was one of the best things that happened to me. It really kept me hungry."
On making the playoffs his first 16 NBA seasons: "That's what I'm about, winning. When I look back on my career, I want to be remembered for that."
Too bad 'No Tippin' never was too thankful for the service he received in bars & restaurants in Chicago. Though, Wayne 'Alligator Arms' Messmer and Chet 'I'm Comp'd' Coppock give him a run for his money.
17 seconds left until the presentation? I'm not going first? I don't want to be inducted. Pippen, while talented and a good "second man," will always be remembered as a whiner, not a winner.
Scottie,
In 1991 I was in the Air Force stationed in Japan. During the playoffs I remember a Laker fan there calling you a scrub and that you would be a bench player on any other team. I rubbed our championship in his face then and I hope he is remembering what he said as you go into the hall of fame. You were one of the best ever and today you get your props "officially". Thanks for all the memories.
PIP,
If my mother were alive tody, she would be singing your praises.....she loved you. I have your #33 jersey that she never wore......Thanks for the many years of joy and excitement that centered around every Bulls' game you ever played.
It was so special to see Pippen grow up and mature into such an awesome offensive and defensive force. To watch him drive that lane and throw down those monster dunks with those long arms was amazing. The power he had was incredible. He always just seem to explode to that basket. Pippen I am your biggest fan and so happy for you today. Congratulation, today you get what you deserve. You are one of the best ever in my book. Simply amazing!
Looking forward to Pip's speech. Hope it is more gracious than MJ's disgraceful, Hall-of-Shame attempt a year ago.
U are truley one of the Greats. In my book, the BEST defensive/offensive (combined) forward in NBA history.
Thanks for all the memories, Pip! You are one of the best ever - and I am proud to be a fan! Congratulations!