Didn't see a thread on this one yet. http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/8628140/McGrady-needs-to-shut-up-and-play Let's start by saying Tracy McGrady has always been a good guy to be around and one of the most gifted basketball players of this generation. No major issues there, save the temporary insanity he had quitting on the Orlando Magic some time ago, or this thing about not getting out of the first round in the playoffs, or his love of sleeping, or even the sleepy eyes that go along with the demeanor. He's always proven to be a gracious star and his teammates tend to love him for it. But after the way the Houston Rockets' training camp began this week, you have to wonder. Is he the guy that blows out somebody else's birthday candles? Will he walk in on a roommate who happens to be alone with the girl of his dreams for the first time? How many times has he ratted out a Christmas gift? There's no other way to explain what came out of his mouth on media day with the Rockets this week. Keep in mind these are the same Rockets, who on the heels of their surprising 22-game winning streak last season, welcome the healthy return of Yao Ming and have added Ron Artest to slip into the conversation when it comes to favorites in the NBA's Wild West. And then McGrady responded to a question about his health with a diatribe about his body that was the ultimate buzz-kill. The arthritic left shoulder will need surgery after the season. The surgically repaired knee still hurts. That's before he even got to his chronic back. Geez, you'd think he was seeking sympathy even if we didn't know better. That's not to say his candor isn't appreciated. It's a big part of what's lovable about him. But they don't need this. The Rockets have been trying to find some semblance of ballast after failing to meet expectations year after year. With McGrady unfurling his litany of physical concerns into the night, it does nothing for the confidence of the team. Undoubtedly, that is the real issue here. Despite his glowing statistics, and his fabulous play down the stretch last season after Yao again went down with a broken foot, he's got to be the rock of stability. Yes, it's true you can't change your personality. To be sure, T-Mac's personality is to say what's on his mind and stand by it. However, he also could have said, "I'm still getting my strength back, but by the time the season starts I'll be 100 percent." Would that have been stretching the truth, or is his "off-shoulder" too much of a problem to play at 100 percent? Is his knee still enough of a concern to take another look, or does the leg just need to regain its strength? And what about the back? The thing is, he's not just a precocious kid anymore. McGrady is 29 and incredibly enough in his 12th season in the NBA. He knows better. He knows that until he takes his team deep into the playoffs, his toughness will be questioned. So if he starts whining about maladies before camp even starts, what's everybody to think? Granted, this team is better equipped now to be serious contenders, provided Yao and McGrady stay healthy of course. Rick Adelman certainly has proven to be the right mix of theory and experience to help them get to that next level, and was a legitimate coach-of-the-year candidate last season. They've got some depth, and toughness up front, and a slew of guards who are trying to figure out what it takes to be the guy running the show. Mercurial Rafer Alston even might have figured out how to be a steady point guard. Neither will Yao, even if everyone wants to make it about him. Indications are that Artest, always on the best of his always bizarre behavior in his first season with a new club, won't make any waves. He'll help tremendously on defense, on the boards and on the break. So that brings us back to McGrady, he of the marvelous array of shots, increased ability to get easy shots for his teammates, and penchant for making the big play when it matters the most during the course of the NBA season. But we're not talking about snapshots during the regular season here. And that's not something he should be concerned with either, unless we're just talking about setting the tone early. This is about the big picture. It's about McGrady obliterating the ghosts of first-round playoffs past, and leading this team toward the conference finals. And to do that — shoulder, knee and back be damned — if you can lace up your adidas, don't talk about it, don't think about it, and just do it (so to speak). Over the next couple of seasons, you have a chance to become one of the top five in NBA history to reach 20,000 points in fewest games, so your status as one of the great scorers of all time is set. It's about winning now. You know and so does everybody else. So drop the whine, it's time for some champagne. Said pretty much what I was feeling/am feeling after McGrady's words. Yao/Landry's words were very comforting, and that's the kind of attitude we need. I'm not a McGrady basher, I'm always rooting for him, but Kahn's right. I'm not so sure that McGrady understands that he's the single most important piece to making this whole thing work and by him throwing a huge red flag out there this early is going to alarm some (read: a lot ) of people.
Couldn't agree any more than that. There's nothing wrong with letting us know that, but on Media Day? Especially after everyone let out so many good news and things couldn't have been better.
T-Mac being flamed for being honest in a World full of lies. What else is new? I guess T-Mac should just sugarcoat everything and tell people what they want to hear, not whats really happening.
Is it just me, or is it extremely hypocritical for a reporter/journalist to criticize an athlete for responding honestly to a reporter's question? Media, if you don't like the answer, stop asking the damn question.
So this idiot expects TMac to lie? What if Tmac hadnt announced it and later on in the season, aggravates the injury even more? Would this idiot be bashing TMac for not saying anything earlier? Most likely.
He's one of the highest earning professional athletes in this nation...it's his job to learn what to say and what not to say about what can go down as a preview of the most promising season this sports team has had since Barkley was here. "I'm going to need surgery after this season" is not a good answer to give to a crowd full of hopefuls. It's called leadership man. How many great leaders give that kind of response?
as much as I like to criticize mcgrady, i have to agree. the sports media loves to make controversy because they are covering sports. they have to make a drama, so they ask dramatic questions. if an athlete gives a biggio answer (its just a game, i give 110% etc) he's bland. if he's honest, (i really don't like my coach) he's a jerk. its ridiculous
Great point. Not only that, if McGrady gave what Kahn considers a better answer to the question, Kahn wouldn't have been able to write that sensational article.
Tracy's agent might want to explain to him that his constant harping about chronic injuries could impact the size and length of his next contract. For all his talk of an early retirement, I fully expect him to want another payday; a payday that might end up being a pay cut if he doesn't 1. get his team out of the first round and 2. stop yapping about his health.
Well, Kobe himself said that he was opting till next season to get surgery on his pinky. So there you have it, another "leader" giving the same response. Anyways, this has nothing to do with leadership. Let's say T-Mac chose to be fake and says all positive things going into the season. Season starts, its obvious hes not 100%. Whats going to happen? He'll get flamed like a barbecue in Texas. "Oh, why did T-Mac lie about being healthy!?!" "Trade his untruthful ass now before he lies about his injuries again!" Blah blah blah. NBA Players are professionals. Do you really think T-Mac talking about needing surgery after the season if going to negatively affect our guys? Sure, the average fan and media may be affected by these comments but not a guy like Yao Ming and Ron Artest.
Frankly, it wouldn't surprise me much at all if Tracy retires after next season . Particularly if he doesn't manage to achieve playoff success. I increasingly get the impression that basketball simply isn't a strong passion for him anymore. Maybe it never really was.
I am sorry, but it didn't bother me at all. Better hear him say he isn't 100 percent than for him to lie about it and get injured and us all be mad and say it's because he is too fragile, he isn't 100 percent and what does it matter if the media and fans are not happy with it? We don't go out there and play, his team mates know he will play through the pain and as hard as he can, but our opinion doesn't effect his game, those 5 guys on the court could care less of what our feelings are on this issue, they just want to win, and I am sure they will all play to do so. I admire McGrady for going out and saying look guys I am not ready, I wish I was, I should have been, it didn't heel quick enough, so give me a few more weeks. Otherwise he would come out and not put up good enough numbers the first few weeks and we would flip **** because we would think that a) he was a liar and he wasn't okay, or b) he's lost it all. In my opinion with McGrady, Yao, Artest and crew we are unstoppable, the sky is the limit. Without one of the three, we are still capable of winning, we now have 3 all-stars and we can relax if we lose any to injury for a brief period of time. I don't see a problem with resting McGrady and Yao for brief periods with phantom injuries, it's all about the post season and that ring baby, do whatever it takes.
He doesn't have to lie, just shrug off any questions. Instead he opened the door wide open and already has his feet turned in preparation for his trek into the Corridor of Excuses. What he should have said was something to the effect of, "Yeah I have a few issues, but I will be fine, all that matter is that I'm out there on the court." On how much % his body parts are: "Everything's close to healthy, but you know no one in the league is 100% if they were really telling the truth. We've all got to deal with a few nicks and bruises through the course of a season." End of story. It's not like these words have never been said before. What do you think Kobe does when people ask him about his pinkie? He doesn't say "yeah it's arthritic, it may never be the same again, it will affect my shooting somewhat, I'll have to take care of it surgically next year, but (wince) I'll play through it this year."
You can't possibly compare Kobe's pinky to T-Mac's shoulder. Do you really think that when Kobe said he was going to play through that anyone in Laker-land or in the media had any sense of doubt that the guy could get it done? No. It's not what you say, it's how you say it, and in this case, T-Mac did not say it the way he should have. Period. I'm not saying to outright lie, but to say it in such a depressing manner isn't right from a player of his pay scale, status and expectations. Sorry man but this has *something* to do with leadership, he is the leader of this team. It's not naive to expect him to act like it. I didn't say it'd affect Yao or Shane negatively, it would affect our fan base though. Which it has. I've defended T-mac as much as anybody, but I draw the line somewhere.
It's always the same thing. They either want him to lie or to shut up. Its just telling of our modern society when someone is hated so much for simply telling the truth about his injuries.
