Elder statesman?!?!

While driving home this even, I heard a news story on the radio about NBA player Chris Webber deciding to retire. The story referred to him as an "elder statesman" of the NBA. Elder statesman?!? He was born 3 years after me! What's with that? I remember when the guy was still in college and called the infamous time out during the championship game. It wasn't THAT long ago...geesh!