[Chron]Rockets & NBA to honor Mutombo tonight; Isiah Thomas comment

scv_rockets · Mar 26, 2008

A great read on Dikembe on the Houston Chronicle website. Also, an interesting comment by NY Knicks head coach.

Rockets, NBA pay tribute to Mutombo tonight
Finger might wag at retiring
By FRAN BLINEBURY
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

They were going to hold a retirement party for Dikembe Mutombo tonight at Toyota Center.

Except he won't stop.

Last year when Yao Ming broke his leg, Mutombo picked his venerable body up off the bench and helped the Rockets hold their season together with a 20-12 record.

Last month, when Yao went down again with a stress fracture in his left foot, Mutombo, 41, stepped up once more, and the Rockets have remained in the hot playoff race with 12 wins in 15 games.

"He's done more for us than I would ever have expected," said coach Rick Adelman. "I can't think about next year. I'm sure he'll decide when it's time."

That time keeps getting pushed back over the horizon every time Mutumbo steps onto the court, blocks a shot, wags his finger, grabs a rebound and lopes down the floor with unbridled glee.

Senior citizen
The NBA's oldest player said back in training camp that this — his 17th — would be his final NBA season.

But now, with the Rockets and the NBA planning a halftime tribute during tonight's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he's not so sure.

"It is a celebration of Dikembe Mutombo's career as it's getting close to saying goodbye to the game," Mutombo said, laughing. "Am I putting it correctly or not?"

NBA commissioner David Stern and Rockets owner Leslie Alexander will honor the league's second-leading shot-blocker of all time and its foremost humanitarian. The Rockets will present Mutombo with an oil painting that depicts many of the key moments in his career, and Alexander will make a $500,000 donation to the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center, the 300-bed hospital named after his late mother that he built in his hometown of Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of Congo. Each fan will be given a commemorative foam finger in honor of his trademark finger wag after a blocked shot.

"I think it's a good ceremony and a great effort on behalf of the Rockets organization to dedicate a special night for me and the (17) years of my career," Mutombo said. "It seems like a long journey.

"I'm feeling like I've been invited to another State of the Union. I didn't think the commissioner was going to come."

Neither did Mutombo think he would get to this point in the season and still be feeling the pull of his teammates, the front office and the game he loves to return for another season.

"People are trying to get me to say, 'OK, I'm coming back,' " Mutombo said. "I don't want to say that right now.

"I want to play this year and go home. If I change my mind, I'll let you know. At some point, I have to come to the decision that I'm going to walk away from this game. If it doesn't happen today or tomorrow, someday it has to happen."

After one season with New York in 2003-04, Mutombo was told by then-general manager and now head coach of the Knicks Isiah Thomas that the day had come, and that blunt message has driven him for the past four years.

Wounded by Thomas
"It's still a wound," Mutombo said. "My wife and I still talk about it. It's still a bit sad to see the commissioner coming and all those people coming to celebrate the 17 years of my career and accomplishments and you look back and say that about (four) years ago, I had a guy tell me that I couldn't play basketball no more, to go to the beach and onto vacation. That's the same guy who's losing his job tomorrow.

"I never said nothing (to Thomas)," Mutombo said. "The last time we played at the Garden (Jan. 9), my wife asked me to go shake his hand, to just forgive him. I went and shook his hand and I told him, 'On behalf of my wife, I want to shake your hand and I forgive you for everything you've done to me.'

"He said, 'Tell your wife I said thank you so much.' That was the way to put it behind me.

"I think it helped me a lot. You might not be appreciated by everyone. But you have to fight your own war."

The Knicks traded his rights to Chicago in August 2004 and one month later he came to the Rockets, where he quickly became beloved.

"What can you get the man who could be the reincarnation of Mother Teresa," teammate Shane Battier said. "I don't think there is anything we could give him to signify how much we love him as a teammate and how much he means to the NBA. Honestly.

Hibernation over
"What he is doing is miraculous. Almost an old bear waking up from hibernation after a long winter's sleep and coming out and running up and down the court like a young bear again. I don't really think anybody expected him to repeat his success after Yao went down last year."

In a league and sport where offense is the focus of most attention, Mutombo carved out his career at the other end of the floor.

"I want to be remembered as one of the greatest defensive players to ever play this game," he said. "Right now, as we talk about it, I see myself falling into that class with Bill Russell, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, (Patrick) Ewing, (Alonzo) Mourning, David Robinson, Gary Payton and all those guys that were considered being a stopper. I feel like I'm in that class.

"There will be kids coming into the NBA that want to follow the footsteps of Dikembe Mutombo — being a great shot-blocker and a great defender."

There might also be kids coming into the NBA in another year or two who get to learn from him firsthand.

"Knowing him and knowing his heart," Battier said, "it's going to be very, very, very difficult for him to sign his retirement papers when the time comes."

If it ever does.
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5648730.html

RiceDaddy7 · Mar 26, 2008

What amazes me is that we got him for Adrian Griffin and Mike Wilks. The Rockets have a pretty positive history on getting the good end of trades, and that one might have been underlooked as one of the better trades in franchise history.

I hope he plays with us another season.

MD_in_Training · Mar 26, 2008

Wow, Isiah gave up Mutombo for nothing? Can the man do ANYTHING right?

Williamson · Mar 26, 2008

RiceDaddy7 said:

What amazes me is that we got him for Adrian Griffin and Mike Wilks. The Rockets have a pretty positive history on getting the good end of trades, and that one might have been underlooked as one of the better trades in franchise history.

I hope he plays with us another season.
Click to expand...

And I remember many folks were bashing that trade, saying Mutumbo was a stiff and his career was over. Though I never expected the production we've seen from Deke, I liked the trade because I thought the worst case scenario was he could help Yao develop defensively. But yeah, brilliant trade.

Yaozer · Mar 26, 2008

I didn't know what to think about the trade, but I never liked Mutombo till he became a Rocket. Now I'm glad I got to know the incredible person that he is and to have the top 2 all-time blockers in the league associated with the Rockets.

Isiah shouldn't have any room to talk with the way he manages his team. Some players should really just retire from the game after they're done playing. Maybe he'd make a decent commentator tho.

Sherlock · Mar 26, 2008

I'm really proud of Deke, most of all for his humanitarian heart, but also for achieving what he has from where he came. It's hard to believe he's doing what he's doing for the Rockets at his age. Just a fine example of a human being, and one more reason that the whole Rocket team is playing their best, in spite of losing Yao.

Kudos ... and I'll be happy if we have more retirement ceremonies besides this one.

... it sure would be cool if we could give him a ring ... ... if not this year, then next.

Yaozer · Mar 26, 2008

Sherlock said:

Kudos ... and I'll be happy if we have more retirement ceremonies besides this one.
Click to expand...

Why? Tmac has about 1-2 seasons left in him.

i keed i keed...

smoove shoez · Mar 26, 2008

I just don't understand why JVG didn't play Mutombo in the playofffs against the Jazz.

Sofine81 · Mar 26, 2008

He is good for the game of basketball, but he is great for the World.

Most people say they care, but he really put his money where his mouth is, which is why you can hardly understand him

startover · Mar 26, 2008

Rockets are blessed having him here with such great professionalism and humanitarianism! I know his home is in Atlanta but really wish he can move to Houston and stay with Rockets forever

macfan · Mar 26, 2008

what a man!

rrj_gamz · Mar 26, 2008

What can say about the guy...Definitely a great trade for us...

Eddie5ball · Mar 26, 2008

I know his home is in Atlanta but really wish he can move to Houston and stay with Rockets forever
Click to expand...

I think he had a home made here in Houston as well. Pretty big too.

across110thstreet · Mar 26, 2008

deke vs. zeke

zeke is such a punk. the biggest racist and sexist this league has seen in years. an absolute embarassment not only to the Knicks franchise, but an eyesore on the entire league.

then you have Deke. humble in the vein of Dream, a true humanitarian, a warrior on the court. a gentle giant off the court.

the humble man lives a better life and will enjoy true happiness.
so glad they turned it into Dikembe Appreciation Night instead of his retirement ceremony

RocketsPimp · Mar 26, 2008

jmwilliamson said:

And I remember many folks were bashing that trade, saying Mutumbo was a stiff and his career was over. Though I never expected the production we've seen from Deke, I liked the trade because I thought the worst case scenario was he could help Yao develop defensively. But yeah, brilliant trade.
Click to expand...

Yep, hard to believe that was almost 4 years ago.

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=83286&highlight=trade+mutumbo

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=83429&highlight=trade+mutumbo

tinman · Mar 26, 2008

just more proof that the old school players are awesome. any of the idiots who think the players of today especially big men can hold a candle to the old school is wrong. I'm glad yao gets to learn from deke.

HipHopSince1981 · Mar 26, 2008

MD_in_Training said:

Wow, Isiah gave up Mutombo for nothing? Can the man do ANYTHING right?
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it was actually to Chicago..he had already left the knicks..either way, wilks n griffin for Deke.. score one for the good guys!

pmac · Mar 26, 2008

tinman said:

just more proof that the old school players are awesome. any of the idiots who think the players of today especially big men can hold a candle to the old school is wrong. I'm glad yao gets to learn from deke.
Click to expand...

You don't think there are many players of today that are better than old school players? Alot of people say Duncan is the best PF ever (i disagree).

(I wouldn't really call Deke old school though, i guess it depends on the person)

Invisible Fan · Mar 26, 2008

RiceDaddy7 said:

What amazes me is that we got him for Adrian Griffin and Mike Wilks. The Rockets have a pretty positive history on getting the good end of trades, and that one might have been underlooked as one of the better trades in franchise history.

I hope he plays with us another season.
Click to expand...

NY foot the bulk of his remaining contract too.

pmac · Mar 26, 2008

pmac said:

You don't think there are any players of today that are better than old school players? Alot of people say Duncan is the best PF ever (i disagree).

(I wouldn't really call Deke old school though, i guess it depends on the person)
Click to expand...

any players not many

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[Chron]Rockets & NBA to honor Mutombo tonight; Isiah Thomas comment

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