Not Miller Time yet?

I'm just as shocked as you
Reggie

As far as I'm concerned there are just three great Reggies in all of sports. Baseball has one, Reggie Jackson. Football has one, Reggie White. Basketball has one, Reggie Miller. Two of the three are in the hall of fame for their respective sports. This week, the third was denied a chance to even be considered for the hall. Now while Reggie Miller not being named a finalist on his first try at the NBA hall doesn't mean he will never be a hall a famer, it's still a huge injustice to a great player.

By all accounts, Miller should never have had as good a career as he did. Yet with a tireless work ethic, Jordanesce competitiveness and with what seemed like a career long chip on his shoulder (quite possibly stemming from constantly being compared to his... sister) Miller turned his lanky frame and unorthodox jumpshot into one of the greatest NBA careers ever. Until Ray Allen's recent passing of Miller's most 3pt field goals made record, Miller was considered the most prolific 3pt shooter of all time. His great career extended far beyond the box score. Miller is probably one of the most clutch players ever to play the game. There is a reason that despite Miller being an extremely common last name, when some one says, "It's Miller Time" just two things come to mind, beer or the Indiana Pacers' Reggie Miller. He played an entire career in a region of the country that knows basketball probably better than any where else and was consistently loved. Consistently showed up at big times and on the biggest stages and never backed down from anyone. He’d even go toe to toe with Jordan in Jordan’s heyday.

Without disrespecting any of the other finalists, at least one of them isn't as deserving of a spot as Miller. Chris Mullen, Maurice Cheeks and Denis Rodman are all notable players who were selected over Miller. A referee was even selected over Miller! While Mullen, Cheeks and Rodman all had excellent careers, did any of them out do Miller's career?

Rodman was an excellent rebounder and defender and played pivotal roles on championship teams, so you could certainly make a case for him over Miller who was never able to climb that championship mountain. However, this is where I'll give baseball some credit. Despite the NFL's dominance, baseball still holds claim to the title of America's pastime. The biggest reason for this is the sports steep traditions. While maintaining many of these traditions have made the game slightly boring in today's sporting landscape, it's these same traditions that keep issues like Rodman over Miller almost non-existent.

PED issues aside, if the baseball hall of fame had one spot open and had to choose either Manny Ramirez or Ichiro Suzuki, baseball’s traditions dictate that Ichiro would most likely be the selection. Ichiro, Reggie, Manny and Rodman are all similar. Both Ichiro and Reggie will never be considered an all time great, however, both excelled in one aspect of their respective game. Ichiro can get hits and Reggie can make threes. Both played for one team their entire career and both players became transcendent despite all odds. Every baseball fan knows who Ichiro is; every basketball fan knows who Reggie is. Manny and Rodman both have had great careers, yet often times their on field accomplishments take a back seat to their off the field antics. Both plays were vital pieces on championship teams and both players bounced around a few teams. While voters are supposed to only take into account a player’s body of work in the game itself, a player’s character has to be examined as well. I applaud hall of fame voters for looking past the hair dye and wedding dresses to recognize Rodman for the way he played the game, however, if I have to choose Rodman or Miller, its always going to be Miller time.