Things done changed yall!! Before, when someone said they were retiring, they actually retired. And STAYED retired. Nowadays people, athletes in particular, just throw that word out when they want to go on an extended vacation. Michael Jordan is the ORIGINAL OG in this fake retirement scheme. His ass retired twice! First in 1993 from the Chicago Bulls in order to uhhh, play baseball. His baseball career sank faster than the Titanic and he soon returned to his real calling, basketball in 1994. In 1998 after leading the Bulls to their 2nd three-peat (91-93, then 96-98) Jordan retired AGAIN!! Someone get this man a dictionary! Did he stay down? NOO! He came back to the NBA from 2001-2003 and played with the Washington Wizards, womp. Then he OFFICIALLY retired. I don't know though. I still get a sinking feeling that he's gonna pop up again, and lead the Charlotte Bobcats to a championship. *shudders* This offseason, there is a major shakeup. Several "retired" players are coming out the woodwork frantically waving their hands in the air saying, "Pick me! Pick me!" Let me just give you some names, Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, Reggie Miller, Allan Houston and Charles Oakley. Wow, yeah, isn't that crazy!? There are more players on this list but I'm only dealing with the ones I care about.
Charles Oakley is will be 44 years old in December, and hasn't played since the '03 season. I really wonder about his stamina. Sure 40+ is good for pickup games and beating up on your adolescent children, but going against some of these young guys in the NBA? I guess if a team picks him up we'll get a chance to see. Not only that, he's refusing to come back for the league minimum! He wants CAKE, not "bullshit money!" I read in an interview that he wants a two-year, $10 million contract. But according to him, IT AIN'T ABOUT THE MONEY!! First of all, no one's gonna pay a 44 year old man that much money for n-e-thing! Michael Jordan may be your best friend, but YOU, gramps, are not MJ! Verdict: Stay retired ol' ass! Stick with car washin, they say you're good at it!
Allan Houston is serious about coming out of retirement and plans to give the NY Knicks the first crack at signing him, though he is also looking into other teams. 36 year old Houston spent 12 seasons in the NBA, and hasn't played since the 2004 season. He signed with the New York Knicks in 1996 as a free agent, and played his next nine seasons there. His last 2 seasons were limited by arthritis of the knee, the ailment that ultimately forced him to retire. The past year he's done some TV work with ESPN. Even though he hasn't played in two years, he is still under contract with the Knicks and is still getting paid to the tune of more than $20 million per season. Gettin paid, not played!! (Thanks Buju!) But uhhh, last I heard, arthritis is a chronic condition. While he may be feeling good now, once he gets back into the swing of two-a-days and the real pace of the game, does he really think he'll be able to hack it? Verdict: Stay Retired! Dude, you have ARTHRITIS!!
Reggie Miller, Mr. 3 Pointer, has been retired for 2 years, and spent his entire 18-year NBA career with the Indiana Pacers. He has also been on television as an NBA announcer on TNT's "Inside the NBA." Now he's being wooed by the Boston Celtics, a team that seems to be gettin high offa veterans. Reggie Miller's always been known for his clutch 3s and solid defense. Most of the guys on this list were forced out because of injury, but that wasn't the case with Miller. He just got older. Hell, you can't play forever! I actually think he'll have a better time at coming back than these prospects. He'll be 42 this month and would still be a considerable asset to any team, especially my Celtics. Yeah that's right, I said it. MY CELTICS! Verdict: Bring that ass on back!! Let's make it rain 3s on them hoes!!
Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway has already signed with a team, the MIAMI HEAT!! Yes people, that
means that Penny and Shaq are teammates once more!! This reunion comes more than 13 years after they both played for the Orlando Magic. That was my team back in the day!! I am very, dare I say SUPER, excited for this hookup. For those that don't remember, Penny was Shaq's ORIGINAL sidekick, way before Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. But if Penny still has it in him, I truly wish him all the best. Sure Shaq already has DWade, but it doesn't hurt to have 2 go-to guys! This was back in the day when I first really started loving basketball. I used to get Sports Illustrated mags with the tear-out posters! I had Penny all over my walls!! GASP!! Does this mean Lil' Penny is coming back too!?! YAY!! Ok, the truth? Penny left the league a hobbled veteran who had operation after operation to repair torn cartillage on his left knee. He has had at least 5 surgeries on that SAME ARTHRITIC knee! Clearly Miami saw him in action and thinks he has some juice left. One of my favorite NBA teams, I will DEFINITELY be watching. Verdict: Stay retired!! But I can't be mad atchya Anfernee! If it still works, use it. Hell, they're payin you for it...
It seems now there are more young, inexperienced players in the NBA than older, quality veterans. To counter this, the NBA, under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, instituted a rule that barred players from entering the NBA right out of high school and requiring them to be at least 1 year removed from HS graduation and/or 19 years old. The result? More college freshman entering the draft than ever before. And we've seen what happens with teams full of youngins. Not much!! I mean the Boston Celtics just traded 5 young prospects for 1, yes 1, 12 year veteran. That man? The Incomporable Kevin Garnett. And he only came onboard after the Celtics picked up another veteran shooter, Ray Allen. Garnett, Allen & Pierce - THE BIG THREE baby! Check for it! Teams for too long were interested in acquiring the hottest, youngest talent available, expecting them to come in the league and catapult them to victory. They found, instead, that without the benfit of formulative years playing in the NCAA, a lot of these young guys took several seasons to mature and develop into the type of players that could not only lead, but even support a franchise. This is if it happened at all. Not everyone can be a KG, Kobe or Lebron. Hell, just look at Darko Milicic & Kwame Brown! Now some teams are chock full of babies, and are lacking the skill, experience and leadership that veterans bring to the game.
Players that have already retired but feel they have some juice left in them, are now once again needed. They have a new role in the NBA, with their leadership and playoff experience in high demand. The league minimum for 10+ year veterans is a little over $1 million and many teams are willing to eat that cost because of what these guys can bring to the table. Some, like Houston & Hardaway, left the game due to injury. A couple of seasons off and some supersize rehab has left these guys with a lot more spring in their step! Other guys left the league without the one thing they all play for, the coveted championship. The ring baby!I mean hey, Alonzo Mourning came back after kidney surgery and refused to play with a team that wasn't going to win a championship. What did he end up with? The 2006 NBA Champions, the Miami Heat. Zo has been an invaluable treasure for that team. When Shaq was injured, Zo became the starter, and he is STILL blockin shots crazy!
Charles Oakley is will be 44 years old in December, and hasn't played since the '03 season. I really wonder about his stamina. Sure 40+ is good for pickup games and beating up on your adolescent children, but going against some of these young guys in the NBA? I guess if a team picks him up we'll get a chance to see. Not only that, he's refusing to come back for the league minimum! He wants CAKE, not "bullshit money!" I read in an interview that he wants a two-year, $10 million contract. But according to him, IT AIN'T ABOUT THE MONEY!! First of all, no one's gonna pay a 44 year old man that much money for n-e-thing! Michael Jordan may be your best friend, but YOU, gramps, are not MJ! Verdict: Stay retired ol' ass! Stick with car washin, they say you're good at it!Allan Houston is serious about coming out of retirement and plans to give the NY Knicks the first crack at signing him, though he is also looking into other teams. 36 year old Houston spent 12 seasons in the NBA, and hasn't played since the 2004 season. He signed with the New York Knicks in 1996 as a free agent, and played his next nine seasons there. His last 2 seasons were limited by arthritis of the knee, the ailment that ultimately forced him to retire. The past year he's done some TV work with ESPN. Even though he hasn't played in two years, he is still under contract with the Knicks and is still getting paid to the tune of more than $20 million per season. Gettin paid, not played!! (Thanks Buju!) But uhhh, last I heard, arthritis is a chronic condition. While he may be feeling good now, once he gets back into the swing of two-a-days and the real pace of the game, does he really think he'll be able to hack it? Verdict: Stay Retired! Dude, you have ARTHRITIS!!
Reggie Miller, Mr. 3 Pointer, has been retired for 2 years, and spent his entire 18-year NBA career with the Indiana Pacers. He has also been on television as an NBA announcer on TNT's "Inside the NBA." Now he's being wooed by the Boston Celtics, a team that seems to be gettin high offa veterans. Reggie Miller's always been known for his clutch 3s and solid defense. Most of the guys on this list were forced out because of injury, but that wasn't the case with Miller. He just got older. Hell, you can't play forever! I actually think he'll have a better time at coming back than these prospects. He'll be 42 this month and would still be a considerable asset to any team, especially my Celtics. Yeah that's right, I said it. MY CELTICS! Verdict: Bring that ass on back!! Let's make it rain 3s on them hoes!!
Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway has already signed with a team, the MIAMI HEAT!! Yes people, that
means that Penny and Shaq are teammates once more!! This reunion comes more than 13 years after they both played for the Orlando Magic. That was my team back in the day!! I am very, dare I say SUPER, excited for this hookup. For those that don't remember, Penny was Shaq's ORIGINAL sidekick, way before Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. But if Penny still has it in him, I truly wish him all the best. Sure Shaq already has DWade, but it doesn't hurt to have 2 go-to guys! This was back in the day when I first really started loving basketball. I used to get Sports Illustrated mags with the tear-out posters! I had Penny all over my walls!! GASP!! Does this mean Lil' Penny is coming back too!?! YAY!! Ok, the truth? Penny left the league a hobbled veteran who had operation after operation to repair torn cartillage on his left knee. He has had at least 5 surgeries on that SAME ARTHRITIC knee! Clearly Miami saw him in action and thinks he has some juice left. One of my favorite NBA teams, I will DEFINITELY be watching. Verdict: Stay retired!! But I can't be mad atchya Anfernee! If it still works, use it. Hell, they're payin you for it...It seems now there are more young, inexperienced players in the NBA than older, quality veterans. To counter this, the NBA, under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, instituted a rule that barred players from entering the NBA right out of high school and requiring them to be at least 1 year removed from HS graduation and/or 19 years old. The result? More college freshman entering the draft than ever before. And we've seen what happens with teams full of youngins. Not much!! I mean the Boston Celtics just traded 5 young prospects for 1, yes 1, 12 year veteran. That man? The Incomporable Kevin Garnett. And he only came onboard after the Celtics picked up another veteran shooter, Ray Allen. Garnett, Allen & Pierce - THE BIG THREE baby! Check for it! Teams for too long were interested in acquiring the hottest, youngest talent available, expecting them to come in the league and catapult them to victory. They found, instead, that without the benfit of formulative years playing in the NCAA, a lot of these young guys took several seasons to mature and develop into the type of players that could not only lead, but even support a franchise. This is if it happened at all. Not everyone can be a KG, Kobe or Lebron. Hell, just look at Darko Milicic & Kwame Brown! Now some teams are chock full of babies, and are lacking the skill, experience and leadership that veterans bring to the game.
Players that have already retired but feel they have some juice left in them, are now once again needed. They have a new role in the NBA, with their leadership and playoff experience in high demand. The league minimum for 10+ year veterans is a little over $1 million and many teams are willing to eat that cost because of what these guys can bring to the table. Some, like Houston & Hardaway, left the game due to injury. A couple of seasons off and some supersize rehab has left these guys with a lot more spring in their step! Other guys left the league without the one thing they all play for, the coveted championship. The ring baby!I mean hey, Alonzo Mourning came back after kidney surgery and refused to play with a team that wasn't going to win a championship. What did he end up with? The 2006 NBA Champions, the Miami Heat. Zo has been an invaluable treasure for that team. When Shaq was injured, Zo became the starter, and he is STILL blockin shots crazy!
All I can say is good luck to all the rest. Hell, who am I to judge?
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