What You Talkin Bout Willis! (A Fixer Post)
There are times here in Fixer Nation I have to pass the mic. Willis, it was your turn. The best writing is the kind that comes straight from the heart and unfiltered. Here is Willis' post from the previous blog, which I am honored to give it's own entry on this blog.
Only wish Don LaFontaine was still around to read it out loud.
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Ultimate Warrior.
The Knicks Franchise ate lunch out on Patrick from the moment the envelope opened. Revolving Door at GM, Revolving Door at Coach, Revolving Door at Point Guard. And every year he made it work. All the while suffering the back stabbing pygmy hordes of the New York media. Quick fix after quick fix, over the hill star after over the hill star (if only Rolondo had gotten burn in that game!!!!) always "better do something now, because Patrick's knees are gonna go." Mountains of ice, oceans of sweat, and he was still there, waiting for a Pippen, his ill-fated boon companion, Bernard King, never to be by his side. Had Bernard not fallen - who would have stood in their way?
(Bloghost note: I've talked to enough people who agree that BK and Ewing would have never worked. The King wasn't about to give up shots and the post-up was his place for the most part. On paper, yes, Ewing as the shot-blocker, mid-range shooter and King as the No. 1 option would be a good 1-2 combo...as long as they had a decent guard. But where they were as players at the time, doubtful their games would have meshed. All hypothetical tho, so I'll let you carry on from here...)
Then more ruinous fate - Stu Jackson defends the honor of the league when PJ Brown tries to plant Charlie Ward headfirst and Patrick never gets to play out the string, and the Heat embarrass themselves against the Bulls. And then the year they go to the finals again, his achilles goes, and instead of Camby and Ewing against Duncan and Robinson, its LJ on a bum knee with Camby caddying the boards.
The True Warrior - the one who drawing his sword, throws the scabbard away, because there will be no other battle than this battle, the total commitment of self. He is the guarantor of his own word, winning and losing are already the same, because he will never, ever, give less than everything. No whining, no triangulation, no excuses - we will win - and he fought on carrying that whole organization on his back. That he didn't win doesn't make him a liar, doesn't make him less of a player, it is only that fate decided otherwise.
There is a reason Hector is lauded as a great hero - he took the field against the divine-born Achilles knowing he would not see the sun fall that day. There is a reason the story of 47 Ronin is still told, a story that begins AFTER the defeat of their Daimyo and their cause. Front running is easy, the other side takes more guts and heart, and truly tests the character of the man. I'm proud to have fallen with Patrick instead of winning with Michael - that was our fate, I wouldn't trade it for another.
Excellent reference, Willis. Well done.
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Comments (13)
WILLIS....i had forgotten about that press conference when patrick announced he would go to georgetown. what a great decision he made, to get out of the town that was the most violent opponent to integration of its public schools, and away from a culture that has always exhibited a double standard/fair weather attitude toward its black athletes: the superior jim rice scorned while the inferior fred lynn felt the love, jason varitek embraced for hitting 220, while manny had to produce in every at bat or hear the boos. the list goes on and on, kc, jojo, silas only footnotes to the "gods" mchale, cowens, heinson, ainge.
patrick got plenty of unfair criticism in ny for not winning a title, but he will always be beloved here for his effort and skills. in boston he would have been crucified.
the heart of a lion, the smile of a child. i will always remember and love him.
Truth, Sec.
love to see my comrades pouring out oceans of love for the Big Fella the way he poured out oceans of sweat for us. Willis- very moving post. wistful, yet celebratory. i dig the poignancy. i want to read it again, but think I should stop before the waterworks short circuit my work keyboard.
Alan, I see we've done away with the Steph thumbnail? A sign of things to come?
Still kind of hard to let go of that '97 semis series, isn't it? That was the best Knicks team of the Ewing era, and they lost because a couple of guys went to mid-court when their teammate got bodyslammed on the baseline. If ever there were a time in sports not to follow the letter of the law, that was it, Stu, and you blew it. '97 Knicks/Bulls would've been one for the ages.
Willis, this is one of the best blog entries ever. Very moving. Still, I remember Ewing as a player who gave it all only when his back was against the wall. Do you remember how that '97 semis ended? Pat scored 37 and grabbed 17, best performance of the series. Had he played all games like that the series would probably have been a sweep.
love that last line! only true knicks fans understand it..
Amen, my Fixer brothers. Amen.
B
Willis,
I co-sign Bronx's laudatory comments from the previous thread.
Keep it poppin'. Keep it coming.
I was at game 7 vs. the Reggie Miller-led Pacers when the NY Knicks advanced to the finals in 1994 and loved every minute of it! Leaving Reggie Miller pouting couldn't have been a better way to move on!!
Unfortunately, I was also at Game 3, when they lost at home to Houston...which basically meant the series was over. That was a great battle of centers...Hakeem vs. The Big Fella.
GET DORSEY NOW!
Waive Marbury, Waive Snacks, GET THAT MAN!
From Hoopsworld:
It seems enough is finally enough for the Houston Rockets. They've spent the better part of the summer trying to negotiate with second round picks, and it sounds like they're finally ready to move on. Yes, Carl Landry had a very good rookie season - especially the second half. Yes, it would be nice to have Joey Dorsey in camp. But both players have bigger demands than what the Rockets feel are justified, and this week the Rockets are making alternate plans.
Houston's brass has invited five big men to try out for the team, one of which is former LA Clipper Daniel Santiago. Santiago has just fulfilled a three-year contract with the Spanish ACB's CB Málaga, and is now hoping to resume his career in the NBA. If things don't work out for him to return to the NBA, he also says he'd be happy to return to Europe.
"I'm really at a point in my life where I'm letting God handle all of that," Santiago recently told HOOPSWORLD. "I've done the NBA thing, I've done the Europe thing - I just want to enjoy playing basketball and spending time with my family. I've been fortunate enough to play with some teams that are powerhouse teams, been in the playoffs with just about every team I've played for in my whole career, and that's including the NBA. I feel like anywhere I go I'm going to be blessed and be a blessing to that team. If I wind up in the NBA, great, I'll do the best I can. If I go to Europe, great, I'll do the best I can there. I just want to have a successful career and be a help for the team that picks me up."
While playing for Spain, Santiago established himself as one of the best big men in Europe. He's not an overwhelmingly gifted physical specimen, but he does more than make up for any physical shortcomings with his wide array of skills. He can score from anywhere, even has legitimate NBA three-point range. He's a double-double waiting to happen, is a smart, savvy player. He was working out at IMG a couple of weeks ago where he completely dominated Boston Celtic Patrick O'Bryant in head-to-head competition. Not that it's hard to do that, but Santiago is certainly capable of competing at the NBA level.
If the Rockets are truly committed to moving on, they could do a lot worse than give Santiago another shot at the NBA. His experience and wide array of skills would make him a great asset to the team.
Beautiful post, well done
I'm sure Alan will have more on this, but:
http://www.insidehoops.com/randolph-grizzlies-090408.shtml
Randolph for Milicic, Jaric, maybe others is still alive according to inside hoops.
I can't see how Jaric can be in on this as his contract extends to the 2010 - 2011 season at around 7 mil per year.
Willis,
It would be a start. 7 mill isn't 16 mill. and may be able to be packaged easier w/ another contract.