Just My Type

DP: Does that hurt more than his running hook at the Garden in Game 4 of the '87 Finals?

LB: Oh, yeah.

DP: Would you trade one of your NBA rings for a national title?

LB: Yeah. Sure would.

DP: Why was that so painful?

LB: I knew a lot of people in [ Terre Haute ]. I knew what it meant to them. I stayed an extra year [at Indiana State ] to try to do something and had an opportunity to do it, and I let it slip out of my hands.

DP: Are you rooting for a Celtics-Lakers Finals?

LB: I'd like to see the Celtics back in there. I root for them except when we play them. I know how important it is for [their fans] to have an opportunity to win a championship.

DP: Do you put Kobe in Michael's category, at least as a closer?

LB: Kobe is the best player in our league and has been for a long time. When someone told me the other day that Kobe hadn't won an MVP trophy, it sort of made me feel like I wanted to throw mine away. But to say he's another Michael Jordan , I can't do that.