WATCHMEN AND NBA SUPERSTARS OF THE 80′S
March 26, 2009 by Andy Socrates
The Watchmen, set in the 80s Cold War era with rampant fears of nuclear devastation in the world, was recently adapted from a graphic novel form into a blockbuster movie. So it’s a perfect time to compare the main characters to some of the NBA superstars from that period. Just as the graphic novel was a hallmark of storytelling, players from that decade set a new benchmark in the game, including the beginning of a classic rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers’ Magic Johnson and the Boston Celtics’ Larry Bird.
Dr. Manhattan, the blue man blessed with god-like powers, helped the U.S. win the war against Vietnam and hold the advantage against the Soviet Union. His enlightened state led to a detached attitude about the human race. Much like Dr. Manhattan, Abdul-Jabbar was an unstoppable force as he lead the Lakers to five NBA championships in the 80s. His scoring efficiency - almost machine-like - came through his trademark unblockable skyhook and he ended his career with the most points ever scored in the NBA.
Comedian/Larry Bird
The Comedian is ruthless and cynical, with insight to the deeper role of being a costumed superhero. Everything to him is a big joke and he has no reservations on using extreme brutality to complete any of his missions. Similarly, Bird is an extremely competitive player who will go to any lengths to will his team to victory, even if it means playing mental games like taunting his opponents. With ruthless traits similar to the Comedian, Bird would intimidate and destroy opponents with his constant trash talking and his ability to hit clutch shots that were like daggers to the heart. Bird was a versatile forward with an uncanny shooting ability and deep insight into the game of basketball. He had a knack for anticipating and understanding the strategies of his opponents. During the 80s, he won three straight MVP awards and was named Finals MVP twice.
Rorshach/Michael Jordan
Rorshach is a vigilante with an unwavering sense of justice and what is right and wrong. Highly skilled in physical combat, he continued to work alone after costumed superheroes were outlawed and his team disbanded. Similarly, back in the 80’s, Michael Jordan had no supporting cast and had to carry the team by himself on most nights. Jordan was just a one-man wrecking crew dazzling fans and awing opponents with his spectacular offensive highlights. Teams feared him but were able to contain him because his supporting cast would not be able to pick up the slack. It was not until the 90s that Jordan was surrounded by supporting players strong enough to help him win six NBA championships.
Ozymandias/Magic Johnson
One of the smartest men on the planet, Ozymandias boasted extraordinary physical and mental control. This superhero turned billionaire executes a plan to bring mankind together but kills millions of people in the process. His mentality is to sacrifice a few for the greater good of mankind. Don’t let the trademark smile fool you, Magic Johnson was one of the smartest and most vicious point guards to ever play the game, helping the Lakers dominate the 80s. His ability to see the floor allowed him to control the tempo of the game and ultimately lead his team to four NBA championships. Most notably, he won MVP during the Finals in his rookie year where he played all five positions at one point or another throughout the series. Also like Ozymandias, Johnson has become a successful entrepreneur amassing hundreds of millions of dollars through his ventures.
Hooded Justice was an old school no-nonsense kind of hero and the first to appear in the Watchmen universe. This hooded vigilante had supreme size and strength striking fear into criminals. Likewise, Julius Erving was an old-school player who ushered in the new era of basketball entertainment with his graceful drives to the basket and high-flying creative dunks. Before the ABA-NBA merger, Dr. J was the most popular player in the ABA winning three championships as he earned a reputation for bringing the “dunk” into the game of basketball.
Original Nite Owl/Moses Malone
Inspired by Hooded Justice, the Nite Owl was a former police officer whol dedicated himself to crime fighting. As one of the forefathers of the costumed heroes, he was a voice of a reason among his colleagues. Soon after retirement, the Nite Owl wrote a memoir detailing his crime-fighting exploits. Similarly, Malone was an early product of the ABA, but soon came to dominate the NBA after the merger. Malone won three MVP awards and one NBA championship in his career. Malone was one of the most dominant rebounders in the NBA and holds the NBA’s all-time record for offensive boards in a season with 587. After his years of being a dominant big man, he would later see the front lines of the Lakers with Abdul-Jabbar and the Celtics with Kevin McHale dominate the league.
Nite Owl/Kevin McHale
The second Nite Owl is a superhero who can’t perform or live his life without donning a costume. He’s only alive when he’s fighting crime. Otherwise, he maintains a mild-mannered and ordinary lifestyle. Likewise, McHale is defined by basketball and cannot live his life without it. McHale is one of the greatest low-post player to play the game. With his dazzling offensive moves near the basket, which he called a “Torture Chamber” for his opponents because they were powerless to stop him in the paint. Early in his career he came off the bench with the Boston Celtics and won two Sixth Man of the Year awards. Later on in his career, he started in one of the best front lines ever playing alongside Bird and Robert Parish, eventually winning two NBA championships. Even after his basketball career ended, he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves staff eventually becoming vice president of basketball operations, and now serves as the Timberwolves’ head coach.
Comments
Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!