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March 31st, 2006
by Michael Tillery
New Year's Day, 1986. How old were you? Did you watch the ball drop with your family or were you mature enough to bring in the New Year with friends? Did you party too hard? Who carried you in the house? A friend? Your Pop? I hope for your sake it wasn't your Mom. The state of Louisiana--post Katrina--is still partying because this was the day that a cult figure affectionately named Big Baby was born. Twenty years later, Glen Davis is embarking on a Final Four trek that is festively blossoming into super stardom before he earns NBA dollar one. Louisiana finally has a reason to smile. Can you imagine if they win the Championship? How can you not cheer for such a history branding and emotion boosting circumstance?
At 6'9" 310, Glen Davis has skillfully rumbled onto the national scene. He is one of the few players you won't soon forget. The Barkley-like three late to help LSU's win against heavily favored Texas. The Savion Glover and Barry Sanders-like spins--sometimes untouched--through the lane. The Allen Iverson...What? Yes, like AI, Big Baby seems like he's always getting up off the hardwood after giving up his body to score a basket. His sweat imprint alone could make Frosty the Snowman run for the most northern Canadian border. Have you ever seen such a big man constantly sliding across the floor? He doesn't complain of non foul calls. He smiles, puts his head down and usually beats his man up the court to get in good defensive position.
All year long, we monotonously heard of the individual scoring rampages of Redick and Morisson like they were the only players in America. Isn't the college game supposed to be all about the team? They torridly did their thing, but are now hypothetically reduced to maneuvering happy drunk basketball savants at the local bar watching the rest of the tournament. They are shaking their heads in amazement as Big Baby gives them a ridiculously amazing gumbo faced " What now fellas?" wink as he completes his third consecutive three point play. J.J. stoic, motions to the bartender to close out their tab. "I can't wait to get you in the NBA!" Adam exclaims--pointing to the TV--as he spins his empty pint glass on the bar. Rodney Carney and Craig Smith pass them on the way out. As they somberly sit down to order a round, Smith grabs the still spinning glass--stopping it--but can't comment because of the pain associated with seniors losing their last game, still reflecting. Carney, looking up at the TV to see Big Baby gleefully skipping around the court after throwing freakish leaper Tyrus Thomas a perfect lob pass, says "Damn those young boys! It sure was fun though. That used to be us." Smith finally cracks a smile, and they toast to the success of their college careers as well as the limitless potential they both are looking to achieve in the waiting NBA. This should be a great rookie class.
The media failed us again, thus busting everyone's bracket in the process. Glen Davis was the Player of the Year in the SEC. How many of you knew of him a week ago? This will teach us all to watch those SEC battles and mid major games that frequent the local cable network.
Davis conjures images of Robert "Tractor" Traylor, formerly of the Michigan Wolverines in the late nineties. The differences in their overall game is profound. Traylor couldn't stay out of foul trouble, play steady defense or hit the three. Davis is masterful in all these aforementioned nuances. He could learn a lot from the Tractor's unsuccessful path to NBA stardom. Traylor was nimble on his feet, had the hops and a soft middle range jumper, but battled weight problems throughout his NBA career. Davis has the fire and determination of another southern rebound machine who became one of the best power forwards to play the game.
Alas, we have a Charles Barkley comparison. Early in Barkley's career, when Doc, Moses, Mo Cheeks, and Bobby Jones were still playing, Barkley was as funny as he was combatant. When the Sixers failed to surround him with capable players, Barkley lashed out on Philly and the NBA. He annihilated everyone in his path. Remember Public Enemy's Rebel Without A Pause? "I'll throw it down your throat like Barkley!" He simply was a monster.
When Davis gets a NBA Barkley like muse, he will become the battleship New Year's Day.
If anyone besides Shaq could eventually block Stoudemire's path, it will be Big Baby. For now, let's all enjoy the student athlete baby faced lay ups and the compliments he unselfishly gives the opposition. He is boyishly fresh. His talent is African. He is funny like your Momma's uncle who loves to tell jokes with his dentures marinating in a glass directly in front of him.
At a recent early round press conference against Texas A&M, Davis was asked if he likes being compared to a former LSU big guy, Shaquille O'Neal, Davis said loudly, "NOOO! It's always good to be compared to the big guy, but you know I want my own foot in immortality, you know. I want to be Big Baby for the rest of my life, not Baby Shaq or Shaquille or whatever. I just want to have my own stamp, you know. I want little kids to say, 'Hey, that's Big Baby.' Not Baby Shaq."
Elaborating further, Davis said, "Yeah, he's a big lovable guy. But I think personally, I look better than Shaq. I'm better looking than Shaq, and the way I use my vocabulary words, I'm on a different level than Shaq. So, there's a comparison, but I'm my own guy. I got my own twist, my own flavor, kinda like a little gumbo. You know something about that? Yeah, a little gumbo. I got all kinds of crabs and shrimps and turkey meat, spices. I got a good, you know, twist."
Commenting on what player has matched him physically, Davis said, "Dwayne Curtis of Ole Miss. He's a big load. (Laughter starts.) It just felt like I was playing one-on-one with myself. (More laughter.) I was exerting a lot of energy. I was blowed about two minutes into the game. (More laughter.)"
Asked about his days as a tailback at University High on the LSU campus, Davis said, "Yeah, I was the greatest running back ever came through Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Laughter is spreading now.) I was like 6-5, ran about a 4.9 in the 40, played tailback. Every Friday night, taking it to the house."
Tyrus Thomas and Darrel Mitchell, who were seated next to Davis, could not stop laughing. Neither could the audience the rest of the way.
"But then coach (John) Brady said I was going to play basketball only, because he told me, 'You're going to hurt your knees.' So I stopped playing before my senior year. No regrets. I hated those little corner backs, who were low to the ground, making shoe-string tackles, hurting my knees. But I'm OK now because of Coach Brady. He saved me. Thanks coach."
Coach Brady and the rest of the Tigers have laughed all the way to the Final Four. The prideful and Hurricane Katrina ravaged Louisiana masses are watching you closely Glen. Basketball is merely a game, but LSU's overall team success in the tourney hopefully can serve as a stress release to help them temporarily escape what unfortunately happened last summer. Don't give them a Big Baby hangover Glen. Represent! Have fun and enjoy your time at LSU. After all, you are New Year's Day.
