No. But it is different to me whether you talk to the media or behind one's back. You could always twist his words around. The media magnifies that a lot more. That is how I interpret his sentences. It's on me. It is actually very brave to say that to take the load all up oneself, wanting to carry the team. You could tell he was immensely annoyed that he was a 2nd round virgin. If I had Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, If I had Duncan or Shaq, I would have won the championship by now. (Paraphrasing) He answered a question not knowing he could spark such controversy. This team is special. (He said this multiple times with different rosters) That is to express how excited he was for the upcoming season. I'm going to be a fierce T-Mac. Flat out funny to boost his ego. I concede.
I personally always defended T-Mac on those grounds really until 2 incidents happened which made convinced me that the guy just really doesn't care about basketball or the team, which is all the more aggravating considering how much he gets. The Jamario Moon dunk. Aside from the fact that I'm pretty sure this game that McGrady did absolutely nothing offensively (it was either this or the Milwaukee game where he spent the entire game on the offensive end sitting behind the three point line, never driving, passing the ball back if he got it, and just sitting there being an absolutely useless guy) the Moon dunk was just a time where he simply quit on the game, to absolutely embarassing results, which really made us question his resolve to play. Furthermore, his announcement of microfracture surgery was an absolute, absolute dick move. Period. Doing it right when it was really obvious the Rockets were looking to trade him, possibly to the crappy Nets, not telling the Rockets before the public, and generally giving the finger to the Rockets at a tumulutous time just pissed me off at him. I also think this quote by Simmons fairly much sums it up: And add the Rockets seem to be perfectly fine and content without him, and... yeah, I don't like him now.
Although T-Mac Approach is not the ideal approach and he makes mistakes as much as anyone here and out there he is part of a world with Big Ego’s and I am in charge, T-Mac is a very talented Basketball player anyone who denies that does need to learn the game of Basketball. A 75% of Healthy T-Mac is way better above 85% of NBA players. Now I know that you do not miss something unless you lose it, I also know Houston fun want to win and win now, The Houston Media is not helping either because they want to glamour everything because they understand that drama sales, This is my Predication If Houston let go T-Mac and he goes to a contender team Such as L.A or Boston or Dallas, you made a city and an NBA Franchise Happy just picture Imagine if you will Kobe and T-Mac Next to Gasol. Once you have that picture in your mind talk now.
You say a lot that is truthful, even factual at times. However, I will aver in the strongest words, that internet anonymity brings out the sophomoric in too many people. This Board is not a microcosm of America, just a microcosm of the internet. Globalization has effected a seminal change in American business culture. We are not an island anymore. BTW - From what I have heard the basketball court can be a dangerous place in countries like Greece; British soccer hooligans? Sports culture (sic) has run amok transglobally.
it wasnt only the rockets doctors who said he didnt NEED surgery. it was every doctor he saw. the doctor in chicago said he COULD get surgery if he wanted. but didnt need it. he was supposed to do his rehab in the summer but DIDNT. he was in pain yes. but it was because he didnt do his rehab and playing through the pain was a good way to strengthen his knee. every doctor said this. he CHOSE to get surgery when the trade rumors started in order to make it difficult to trade him. he says things without thinking and its not the same as you or me because he is a public figure and its part of his job. he quit on his team instead of tryng to find a way to contribute. he quit because he couldnt be the mac of old. but he couldve still worked on conditioning the knee and playing point forward or drawing double teams and kicking the ball out. who knows? he prolly wouldve felt well enough to jump by playoff time if he listened to the doctors. and yes, he called this team average and made those asinine comments about playing on boston or with shaq and easily getting a ring. those were unneccessary and disrespectful to this squad. this squad that plays hard every night. this squad that pushed la to 7 games 5 games without yao. really 6 games without yao since yao was INJURED but still trying to play. that, my fellow asian, is heart. not tmacs "its on me" "im back" and then quitting cuz he feels some pain. now he wants to jump on the bandwagon b/c the team is proving to be a force? phuc tmac, shemac, kneemac, or memac watever u want to call him. if he comes back n plays within the system as an upgrade to a part of the team then fine. but if he pulls the ballstopping crap then i say good riddens when he is gone. i used to be a huge tmac fan and even defended him when he said he needed time off to rehab his knee more. but he has proven to be the same selfish guy he was in orlando. its nothing to do with culture. he is not the victim. the organization is the victim. he is/was one of the most talented to ever play in the nba but now he is just another poster child b/c of his ego and weak will. hope that clears it up a bit.
For an uneducated immensely paid fellow I believe McGrady is pretty smart. I suspect had he applied himself into a formal education he would have had a great career even if he had been a hoops dud. And it appears he cares about some of the greater issues in the world. However, I thought you were asking about the culture (sic) which sees him trashed regularly here on the BBS. Assuming McGrady plays elsewhere he won't be booed by me, and I'll wish him health - and rotten games against the Rox. I believe he has good years ahead - and years to be bashed sillily right here at cf.net.
Fool me once. . . . Shame on you Fool me Twice. . . . Shame on Me Rocket River Lack of Effort [The whole quittnig thing is irksome]
I agree with the OP. People need to stop focusing on every possible microscopic detail in this situation. Its really simple. Tracy was injured last year. Period. Last year is over. Everything that is contunally harped on in the media about mcgrady and what kind of person he is...its just getting old. The only reason this stuff is coming out is because he's injured and not playing. He's a basketball player. Ill let his game do all the talking. For the love of god, please stop focusing on everything he says in the media. He's notoriously bad when it comes to being politically correct in interviews, but thankfully that's not what he does for a living. Give the guy a break, and welcome him back to the lineup.
Being honest is one thing but being professional is another. When one is a part of a organization there are certain protocols or etiquettes he has to follow. It's really common sense like you're not suppose to throw your teammate/ coach / management under the bus in the media because it disrupt the team's chemistry and trust. It's common sense to consult with management before deciding to have major surgery. Tmac just doesn't have those common sense. It's like a couple instead of discussing a problem with his/her partner, they go tell their friends instead. That's why Adelman and management don't trust him because Mcgrady act on his own as if he too big for the team.
Trust me. Yao doesn't care about anything unrelated the game and doing his part to help the team. Mcgrady's his team mate, period. Yao knows what its like to be the center of criticism and im sure he's rooting for mcgrady as we all should.
What this guy said, though, saying he chose to get the surgery with the intent of not getting traded is extrapolation. I don't see him getting anything out of screwing the Rockets by not being able to trade him... he wouldn't be in the pickle he's in, now, for one, not being able to play on a contract year. The only reason he screwed Orlando was because of Weisbrod.
Yeh....Mcgrady's "shenanigans" really destroyed our team chemistry last season all the way to almost beating the Lakers in a game 7. Please. You guys seem to be the only ones that concern themselves about every little thing mcgrady does off the court. All of this stuff that is written is stuff that keeps people in the sports media employed. Thats all it is. Its all about what happens on the court.
Houston culture: If you have an opportunity and things get tough, try harder. We forgive failure more when one tries his or her best; we forgive less when one has a big mouth and doesn't try. Sure success brings forgiveness, but more success is required with each subsequent episode of genital personification.
To the OP. If you're Asian then you understand that family is central to our culture. Think of the Rockets as a family, if you have problems within your family do you go out and complain about them to strangers? Or would you try to mediate it within? If you had important news wouldn't your family members be hurt if you went ahead and told the whole world before you told them? Your family is looking out for you, which I think the Rockets were looking out for TMac last year, he was after, still a franchise player. There are ways that he could have handled things better. I think things could have been forgiven if he made an effort to be about the "family" but he keeps acting out for himself. Sometimes you have to punish bad kids.
Lets wait until he starts playing again before we start questioning him as a team mate. Thats where the questions will be answered.
Interesting question.... I'm not sure if it's American culture exclusively, it probably isn't. We've become very self-centered and entitled. I think it's akin to jealousy in some ways. Something like: "T-mac doesn't deserve to have all that talent because his doesn't make the most of it." I really hate that we've become so tilted that way. You see it in other ways too. "So and so doesn't deserve all that money because he wastes it. We should take it (tax) and spread it around to everyone." See the parallel? There's a lot of rationalization that folks go through to get to that point. It always makes me wonder. Could we really face a challenge that required deep soul searching and self-sacrifice? Imagine the character it took for our grandparents or parents to survive during WWII. I just don't see that we have it anymore.
It's quite obvious what McGrady gained by playing the surgery card. I don't remember the trade rumors details, but the two players I remember hearing being heavily discussed for trades were Carter when he was on the Nets and Stoudamire (and remember, the Suns were a complete and utter disaster halfway through last season). McGrady didn't want to end up on either of those junk teams, so he pulls for surgery to kill off his trade value.
pretty much everything's been covered, tmac's efforts on/off the court, how he handles media, and the whole thing about injuries, but... it's true. in today's sports, it's all about "what have you done for me lately." it's the same reason why bobby bowden at florida st. could be fired after this year, after decades of work he's put into the program and the championships he's won. i bet there weren't much tmac ranting when tmac dropped 13 in 35 against the spurs. right now i don't like tmac as much as the next guy, but if he returns and averages 23/6/7 while leading the rockets deep into the playoffs, we'd be talking about the terms of his next contract. we as fans are fickle.
