NBA players usually maintain their cool despite the insults hurled towards them when they play. However, there are exceptions to that, especially if the rant is out of line.
Dan Majerle , playing for the Phoenix Suns during the 1989-90 season, had one forgettable incident during a game held at The Forum.
“Hey Majerle, bronze medal,” an unidentified fan shouted his way.
For some reason, the taunt caught Majerle’s attention. He stopped his dribble and paused for a moment.
Unforgettable Olympics
The taunt was about the bronze medal finish of Team USA during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Majerle was part of that team, which had names such as Stacey Augmon, Danny Manning, J.R. Reid, David Robinson, and Mitch Richmond, among others.
The Americans took out one country after another at the time. However, they lost a crucial match to the Soviet Union, 82-76, depriving the United States of a chance at snagging the gold medal.
It was the first time in history that the U.S. did not reach the gold medal game. They pummelled Australia, 78-49, to salvage the bronze.
“For some fan to say something like that -- I haven't heard many people talk like that. That's why I reacted. It was out of character,” Majerle said in reaction to that fan’s rant via UPI.com .
Striking a nerve
With high expectations on Team USA, it is only to be expected that some fans would use that failure as a means to earn an individual’s goat. However, in the case of Thunder Dan, that fan was not aware of the sacrifices behind the scenes and how the team worked hard for that event.
“I thought we played very hard and tried our best. For some fan who probably has never competed to say something stupid ... it got on my nerves,” the three-time All-Star quipped.
It appears Majerle took that loss so hard that it continues to haunt him at that point. He felt that the team tried its best to win it all, but the Soviets were just better.
Regardless, Majerle was able to shrug it off and focus on his NBA career. He made a name for himself as a rugged defender and someone who could shoot it from the outside.
“He's the kind of guy every coach wants on his team. He comes to play every night,” former Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons said back then.
Majerle spent eight seasons with the Suns , averaging 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 steals in 595 regular season games.
In that span, the 14th overall pick of the 1988 Draft made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team twice (1991 and 1993). He also played one season for the Cleveland Cavaliers and five seasons with the Miami Heat.
Majerle returned to the Suns in 2001 and led the team in three-point field goals with a 33.6% clip. The 6-foot-6 guard-forward would retire on April 17, 2002, to cap his pro basketball career.
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