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So, it looks as if Michael Jordan, John Stockton, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan and Vivien Stringer are going to make it into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Congratulations to 'em.

But every time I hear of a Basketball Hall of Fame vote, I actually get annoyed. I don't want to get annoyed, but I get annoyed.

I'd like nothing more than to stroll down memory lane, reliving some of the good times of the past. Maybe even have an argument or two over who deserved to get in and who didn't.

As the large print above would indicate, the list of finalists for 2009 induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame is filled with huge name no-brainers. (That is not a commentary on any recent Bobcats moves.) The NBA released the list today; the finalists will be formally presented on All-Star Friday this week in Phoenix. (UPDATE: The NBA release didn't exactly name the finalists -- it mentioned everyone who is likely to be a finalist in order to drum up interest in the official unveiling Friday.)

Michael Jordan's induction is the easiest vote of all-time; if any joker leaves him off to make a point or the headlines, his head will be served up for dessert at MJ's Hall ceremony. I figure the same can be said for David Robinson and John Stockton, but people with quills often take idiotic stances surprise me.

Here's original footage from TBS Sports covering the 1987 draft. Just how long ago was 1987? Well, I was about to enter the third grade, the NBA had only 23 teams, David Stern still had more pepper than salt in his hair and the draft lasted seven rounds.

At 9:25 minutes, the video is long, but once you get past the ridiculously cheesy intro, it's worth it, from the unintentional humor of Patrick Ewing's blatant goal-tending "highlight" (1:05) to the shots of Reggie and sister Cheryl shooting hoops in his backyard (6:50).

Kudos to YouTube user 1987Hawkeyes, who also posted the entire first round. Seriously, it's like cracking open a time capsule, going back to a time when drafting Dennis Hopson (3rd overall) over Scottie Pippen (5th) and Reggie Miller (11th) actually made sense.