A rock star who could make #1 hits any time he wanted, sell the most albums, but decided that being that popular wasn’t cool so kept his music more obscure. That is fine if you are a rockstar, but so damn annoying if you are so extremely talented as Sheed was, and an athlete.

Athletes are supposed to want to be the best and win. THAT is what’s cool. Sheed just wasn’t about getting the most out of his talent.

A telling quote from Sheed from the beginning of this season was about how he worked out for the first time this offseason, EVER—running, lifting weights, etc, to compensate for his age. The fact that he had played so well for so long without having a real work ethic or drive to be the best showed how talented he really was… and how frustrating he is.

I agree with Charles Barkeley… Sheed coulda’ been the best player in the NBA if he wanted to. He didn’t want to. Blazers’ management was mistaken to think a guy with that much talent would grow into the role he SHOULD want, but alas, Sheed is a rockstar and trying isn’t cool.

I got a soft spot for Sheed, even if I know I shouldn’t. He’s a tough guy to figure out.

His legacy will go down as a popular player, winning a title will really help, but ultimately he is a disappointment. He coulda’ been a lot, lot better. I wish he’d regret not getting the most out of his ability, but I don’t think that’ll be the case. He seems okay with being less than he should.

Mortimer

He masked those with bravado and all the conspiracy talk (re/ the officials, the “Man,” etc.).

In a way, I think ‘sheed’s championship with the Pistons was a fluke. Because he joined them in midseason that first year, they didn’t depend on him. That was his ideal situation: as a glorified role-player on a strong team. Once a team begins to lean on ‘sheed, they’re in for a fall. Fortunately for the Blazers, LMA has all the gifts and none of the baggage.

P.S. Typo alert, Dave: “He was had one of the best all-around games.” Also, I believe ‘sheed only won one championship with the Pistons (you have it plural).

during the transition period. The Blazers were losing their “old school” veterans and Wallace was suppossedly expected to step up and fill their role. Except Whitsett ended up bringing in new veterans, Pippen, Sabonis, Dale Davis, Kemp, Schremp, Steve Smith.

How much that contributed to Rasheed not wanting to be the centerpiece of the team, I can’t say. But it seemed pretty obvious that the Blazers were not a cohesive unit. (Trading away Brian Grant certainly didn’t help.)

Personally, I did not have as much of a problem with Wallace not wanting to be the “star” of the team. You either have that drive or you don’t. Instead I preferred to focus on his willingness to play any position asked or to come off the bench rather than insist on starting. I only wish he would have had a strong role model. Perhaps had we kept Buck Williams and Terry Porter a couple years longer, that team would have had the rudder and keel it needed.

I believe Wallace’s legacy will be, in part, a reflection of that of Tim Duncan’s legacy. One of the two most skilled and talented big men in the game, with Wallace being a pale light in comparison to what Duncan accomplished.

I’ll never forget the interview ‘Sheed gave to the Oregonian, the one where Sports editors needed to warn readers that they had not cleaned up his language nor toned down his crazy talk about basketball players being modern-day slaves.
I loved ‘Sheed as a player, sometimes. And Ioved him as a person, sometimes. But man, what a downer he could be. What a selfish brat he could be. What a … what the hell is this commercial for a dating service doing here?
Back to the point. I still where my #30 Blazers jersey around the house, but more with Portland pride than any real fond memories of Rasheed Wallace.
A tormented soul, he always seemed.

When he’s the front-runner he’s solid and he meets adversity he reverts to a spoiled child.

Rasheed was somewhat successful as a basketball player, but he never made it over the hump as a person. I think that about sums it up.

The Pistons didn’t win that series so much as the Lakers lost it, with Kobe sulking about Shaq being The Man and Shaq ticked off at Kobe. It irks me that Rasheed nonetheless has a ring that he loves to flash whenever he plays the Blazers in Portland. That’s why, whenever I think of Rasheed, folks who know me call me Irkle. At least, I think that’s the reason…

Zach better than Rasheed? Some games maybe, but who would you rather have on your team? Rasheed’s teammates have always loved him, and he has always been a solid second-tier player. Too bad he couldn’t have had someone like Brandon Roy to play with in Portland.

Without a doubt sheed is better than zbo. Everyone likes a big man who can shoot, that has flare and vivid temper, and despite the whole showing his pistons championship ring to the portland crowd, he is always fun to watch. Sheed does make others around him better, that is why he hasn’t breached the 20 ppg mark. Take a look at the pistons this year, they had 4 players averaging over 12 ppg, but aside from that he is a great player, hardly turning it over, and playing solid defense. Some have said his defensive game is slowing down, but if you look at the numbers, he is still top ten for blocks, and top 40 for steals ahead of our very own BROY. (all numbers from this season) I am anxious to see the NBA Finals next year, Blazers v. Pistons. Enough said

Sheed has to be one of my favorite Blazers of all
time, but the Towel to Sabas was the first time I really
saw him get into a teamate. I always hated his constant
beefs with the refs, but felt that he respected other players,
especially his own players. As a long time athlete and
coach, nothing in my opinion is worse than showing up
your teamates/coaches.
Sheed’s major triumphs came from his well rounded
coaching, which taught him that beautiful “Top of the reach”
jumper, ball movement and superior defense. In his
early years, he frustrated me with his reluctance to be more
aggressive with his shot & rebounding. That being said he
proved game after game to have a wonderful grasp of
team and a developing ability to move his game away
from the basket. With the rivalry developing with the L@%^&s,
we saw him develop that low post turnaround game to answer
Shaq’s power game. Was anything more beautiful than watching
Sheed turn on the low post for the fade away bank shot, then
post again to hit the rolling left handed hook. Amazing. He kept
us in most of those playoff games because nobody could stop
him. He even took his turn guarding Shaq and played him
as well as could be done. Million dollar player, One nickel
attitude. Oh, what could have been.

http://fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/52474

The first three fan comments on that page are hilarious.