Why did the Lakers not retire George Mikan's #99?

[Abraham Lincoln]

Yet they still call themselves the 15 time world champions, without recognizing the greats from Minneapolis. T'would be better to see #99 amidst itself, instead of on the tiny unoticable blue banner with the likes of Martin, Lovellete, amongst others. Both men wore numbers 22 and 34 respectively, one of which is retired for Elgin Baylor and the other of which will be retired for Shaquille O'Neal.

Does this mean a hopeful could wear #99 on the Lakers today? What makes the Lakers different? Oscar Robertson's #14 be retired by the Sacramento Kings, despite playing for them whilst being the Cincinati Royals, Wilt Chamberlain's #13 be retired by the Oakland Warriors, despite playing for them in Philadelphia and San Francisco. This be worse than the 76ers not officially retiring the #2 jersey of Moses Malone.

Is #99 unofficially retired? What be the status?



http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/watchdog/blog/george-mikan.jpg

[globarticles]

It's not retired.

[monkeypox]

From what I remember, at some point after the move the franchise tried to seperate itself from it's minnisota history, to try to create their own identity apart from it's previous iteration. Now they have a unified banner for the minni championships and a single banner to represent the minni players, including Mikan who's name is on the banner.

[bagelred]

Actually, they did retire Mikan's number. But George is so old, it was done in Roman Numerals.

[Maniak]

Actually, they did retire Mikan's number. But George is so old, it was done in Roman Numerals.
That was amazingly unfunny.


They did retire it, here's a clip from the ceremony:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_moia-oVI

Go back to your kiddy websites where people actually find that funny.

[Harison]

From what I remember, at some point after the move the franchise tried to seperate itself from it's minnisota history, to try to create their own identity apart from it's previous iteration. Now they have a unified banner for the minni championships and a single banner to represent the minni players, including Mikan who's name is on the banner.
Yet they say Minni championships are LA's, isnt that hypocritical? They should at the very least respect Minni superstars as much as they do current Lakers.

[KKittles30]

From what I remember, at some point after the move the franchise tried to seperate itself from it's minnisota history, to try to create their own identity apart from it's previous iteration. Now they have a unified banner for the minni championships and a single banner to represent the minni players, including Mikan who's name is on the banner.

If they wanted so badly to move away why didn't they change their name from the Lakers? There is no lakes in L.A. if I recall...and also like Harison said they need to renounce the rights then to the Minneapolis Lakers NBA championships. The only reason they claim them anyways is to try to compete with the GOAT Dynasty in the Celtics you take away the early ones and L.A. is way behind Boston in terms of Rings!

[97 bulls]

If they wanted so badly to move away why didn't they change their name from the Lakers? There is no lakes in L.A. if I recall...and also like Harison said they need to renounce the rights then to the Minneapolis Lakers NBA championships. The only reason they claim them anyways is to try to compete with the GOAT Dynasty in the Celtics you take away the early ones and L.A. is way behind Boston in terms of Rings!
exactly. not to mention, in my opinion wilt should not have his jersey retired. he wasnt the same wilt when he was in la. but the lakers retire anybodys number. and its because they want to compete with boston.

[G-Funk]

exactly. not to mention, in my opinion wilt should not have his jersey retired. he wasnt the same wilt when he was in la. but the lakers retire anybodys number. and its because they want to compete with boston.

The Lakers have more players in the hall of fame than jerseys retired, and have the most top 50 players jerseys retired than any other team and its not close...thats all u need to know.

[TheBigVeto]

Because they're a bunch of phaggits.

[9512]

That was amazingly unfunny.

It's ISH, it's already a childish site.

But in memory of Mikan:


MIKAN

XCIX

[JerryWest]

Actually, they did retire Mikan's number. But George is so old, it was done in Roman Numerals.
miss :facepalm

[Psileas]

exactly. not to mention, in my opinion wilt should not have his jersey retired. he wasnt the same wilt when he was in la. but the lakers retire anybodys number. and its because they want to compete with boston.

On the contrary, given their level of success, the Lakers are pretty stingy when it comes to retiring numbers. They are all numbers of legends, with the possible exceptions of Wilkes and Goodrich, unlike other teams like the Blazers who decided to retire the numbers of all the starters of the 1977 squad (talk about pessimistic expectations!) or the Suns who retired 4 different special jerseys for non-players. The Celtics have way more retired jerseys than the Lakers, so I don't know how you got to the conclusion that the Lakers try to catch them.

And Wilt definitely should have his number retired. Even in 5 seasons, he still achieved more than most players who did have their numbers retired did.


(I know the message is over 3 years old, but I guess you haven't changed your mind since then).

[G-Funk]

The irony of 97 bulls is hilarious, the Celtics will retire any players jersey if they can, tif they have a 6th player of the year he would get his jersey retired.

[DMV2]

What's funny is, he wears number 99. How many players have we seen with that No.? :oldlol:

[kNicKz]

07-19-2009

:biggums: :biggums: :biggums:

[Ne 1]

From Wikipedia:

Honored Minneapolis Lakers: Next to their retired numbers, the Lakers have hung a banner with the names of six Hall-of-Famers who were instrumental to the franchise's success during its days in Minneapolis:
o 17 - Jim Pollard, F, 1948-55
o 19 - Vern Mikkelsen, F, 1949-59
o 22 - Slater Martin, G, 1949-56
o 34 - Clyde Lovellette, F-C, 1953-57
o 99 - George Mikan, C, 1948-56 (did not play in 1954-55)
o John Kundla, Coach, 1948-59
* Except for 22, which was retired for Baylor, these "honored numbers" are still available.

I think that's the best the Lakers can do, as none of those players played in Los Angeles?


Mikan has a statue inside the Target Center in Minnesota. He, of course, is wearing a Lakers jersey.

Personally, I think that's really all he needs. He was and is a Minnesota legend.

The funny thing is, it's really the only piece of history in that arena. You walk in for a game, and see a big statue of a guy in a Lakers jersey.

http://image1.stadiumjourney.com/images/stadiums/1287_George_Mikan_Status_Inside_Target_Center.jpg

[Rysio]

lets be honest only lakers who deserve their numbers retired are kobe and maybe magic.

[Deuce Bigalow]

From Wikipedia:

Honored Minneapolis Lakers: Next to their retired numbers, the Lakers have hung a banner with the names of six Hall-of-Famers who were instrumental to the franchise's success during its days in Minneapolis:
o 17 - Jim Pollard, F, 1948-55
o 19 - Vern Mikkelsen, F, 1949-59
o 22 - Slater Martin, G, 1949-56
o 34 - Clyde Lovellette, F-C, 1953-57
o 99 - George Mikan, C, 1948-56 (did not play in 1954-55)
o John Kundla, Coach, 1948-59
* Except for 22, which was retired for Baylor, these "honored numbers" are still available.

I think that's the best the Lakers can do, as none of those players played in Los Angeles?


Mikan has a statue inside the Target Center in Minnesota. He, of course, is wearing a Lakers jersey.

Personally, I think that's really all he needs. He was and is a Minnesota legend.

The funny thing is, it's really the only piece of history in that arena. You walk in for a game, and see a big statue of a guy in a Lakers jersey.

http://image1.stadiumjourney.com/images/stadiums/1287_George_Mikan_Status_Inside_Target_Center.jpg
http://a4.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/6/d5b13baa1f4b44ab9facde5d59943720/l.jpg

[Hittin_Shots]

lets be honest only lakers who deserve their numbers retired are kobe and maybe magic.

I think you should retire from your terrible posting career.

[Rysio]

I think you should retire from your terrible posting career.
already had hall of fame career on here i guess i could retire but why waste my prime years?

[stickfigure87]

From Wikipedia:

Honored Minneapolis Lakers: Next to their retired numbers, the Lakers have hung a banner with the names of six Hall-of-Famers who were instrumental to the franchise's success during its days in Minneapolis:
o 17 - Jim Pollard, F, 1948-55
o 19 - Vern Mikkelsen, F, 1949-59
o 22 - Slater Martin, G, 1949-56
o 34 - Clyde Lovellette, F-C, 1953-57
o 99 - George Mikan, C, 1948-56 (did not play in 1954-55)
o John Kundla, Coach, 1948-59
* Except for 22, which was retired for Baylor, these "honored numbers" are still available.

I think that's the best the Lakers can do, as none of those players played in Los Angeles?


Mikan has a statue inside the Target Center in Minnesota. He, of course, is wearing a Lakers jersey.

Personally, I think that's really all he needs. He was and is a Minnesota legend.

The funny thing is, it's really the only piece of history in that arena. You walk in for a game, and see a big statue of a guy in a Lakers jersey.

http://image1.stadiumjourney.com/images/stadiums/1287_George_Mikan_Status_Inside_Target_Center.jpg

i'd expect a garnett shortly after he retires.

[DCL]

because jerry buss is an assho!e.

[Rake2204]

This is actually kind of interesting. Never realized Mikan's number wasn't retired in Los Angeles until today. I mean, I get it, and I suppose the banner with Minneapolis-based Hall of Famers is a nice touch. Would be interesting if they handled their championships the same way (admittedly two completely different scenarios, just interesting to ponder).

[Psileas]

They should have done so, for Mikan and other greats of the era. Just raing a banner in their collective honor doesn't quite do it. After all, they do consider that they have won 16 championships, not 11, not "11+5".

[choppermagic]

They honoured the Minny Lakers.

Maybe because #99 is already retired by the STAPLES center for Wayne Gretzky? :D

Wait, did OKC retire any jerseys of the Supersonics? I dont think so.

[4 Inches]

It's probably due to that controversy with the black towel boy.

[senelcoolidge]

I guess the first five championships in Minneapolis don't count. So they have 10 championships not 16. If they counted no doubt Mikan would have his number retired and he would always be recognized. He's one of the all time laker greats.

[TheBigVeto]

Yet they still call themselves the 15 time world champions, without recognizing the greats from Minneapolis. T'would be better to see #99 amidst itself, instead of on the tiny unoticable blue banner with the likes of Martin, Lovellete, amongst others. Both men wore numbers 22 and 34 respectively, one of which is retired for Elgin Baylor and the other of which will be retired for Shaquille O'Neal.

Does this mean a hopeful could wear #99 on the Lakers today? What makes the Lakers different? Oscar Robertson's #14 be retired by the Sacramento Kings, despite playing for them whilst being the Cincinati Royals, Wilt Chamberlain's #13 be retired by the Oakland Warriors, despite playing for them in Philadelphia and San Francisco. This be worse than the 76ers not officially retiring the #2 jersey of Moses Malone.

Is #99 unofficially retired? What be the status?




http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/watchdog/blog/george-mikan.jpg

That's because the organization is racist.