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Show Thursday, April 24,1997 Page 5 Messenger-Enterpris- e What makes an MVP? High personal stats on a consistent basis, or leading an entire team to victory consistently? A player of the week in golf can look after his own stats; like- wise, singles in tennis. Even baseball is somewhat of an individual stat sport when it comes to batting averages. But in a team sport like basketball, the player of the week has to be about team stats not personal stats. Allen Iverson of the 76ers has notoriously upped his own scores while opponents contemptuously looked on after they had trounced the daylights out of Iversons team. The cause of Iverson's lack of team perspective could be found in the draft policies of the NBA itself. When high school students and second year NCAA players are yelling Show me the money!, instead of fulfilling the requirements for maturity (ex- perience, playing hours, completion of a degree), and the NBA caves in, the quality of basketball is doomed to suffer. These kids simply do not have the leadership skills to carry a team to victory, no matter how talented a player they might be. When these children face life in the fast lane with egos disproportionate with their talent, the sport ends up with players whose stats look really good, like Iverson with 40 plus points per game. At the same time there is no leadership to get the needed victory that will bring the franchise the income needed to pay those great big salaries. Call this killing the golden goose. A few years ago, another basketball ego made a public gaff about being so essential to his team that they couldnt win without him. And yes, the Bulls didnt do so hot during his shortterm detour into baseball. However, wonder if he took into account all of the assists, passes, rebounds and other team support that knew, Get the ball to Michael and they set their own egos aside so that Michael could fly to the basket so many times. Yes, Jordan is a seasoned player with size, strength and talent to carry almost any team in the NBA. But that doesnt make an MVP a most valuable is ho u one can one the court. Karl have on than more star player Malone has proven that he is an MVP for as long as there has been a Stockton and Malone phrase in sports news. I believe the defining criteria for Player of the Week or the years Most Valuable Player should come down to leadership, A team leader respects each player on his team as an MVP while that player is on the court. There will be three or four team members with scores during any given game. This leader is on a team that can play deep. Most Valuable Player is also consistent in his own performance, and can play well whether hes starting out a game, or has already logged 40 minutes or more of straight play time without signs of fatigue. He scores high on assists, rebounds, field goals and moral support to other 1 For quality printing at a reasonable price! (j 20-pl- ' players. Can the MVP candidate's team win when the MVP is off the court? The Bulls cannot consistently win without Michael Jor- dan on the floor most of the game. Yet, the Jazz have shown Malones positive leadership influence this entire year. The Jazz team is fun to watch. They look like they are having fun, instead of playing in the shadow of a star. The leagues most valuable and that player is clearly Karl Malone. player has my vote taple It is the one thing that separates all good products from cheap imitations. ' Your image is on the line every time someone reads one of your flyers, fills out one of your forms, or receives one of your envelopes in the mail. Your printer may determine the way clients and potential clients view your company. No one knows this more than Messenger-Enterpris- e. We believe that image is everything. And we know if you dont look good, we dont look good. 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