completely agree with rockbox, verse and tinman...... Cat is certainly on of my favourites, what does it say about a guy played so hard when had this condition the guy just flat out loves to ball and i just loved the way he worked hard to get better each offseason and add something to his game, his first step was amazingly quick... remember him v iverson once...... and from the elbow unstoppable for a while there..... verse - great samantha reference the DownUnder Cuttino Club is very proud of the Cat and very sad at this news
I'm glad Cat made it past the first round when he and Sam Cassell teamed up. At least we now know what would happen if Cuttino and Sam ever played together. They took a crap Clipper organization and gave it that Clutch City heart. And Brand wasn't a winner before Cat and Sam.
I know it will not happen but I wish the Rockets organization would have some kind of tribute to Mobley. His play was a big part of why the rockets where fun to watch even in the rough years.
There was great article about that posted a while back Here is the peice LEADERSHIP! [With the Clippers] ". During the team's first official practice, when they were scrimmaging full-court, Mike Dunleavy stopped the proceedings for a water break. Everyone went to get a drink except Cassell and Mobley, who remained on the court to shoot free throws together. The next time, it happened again. And the next time. They never said a word, just kept shooting those free throws. Within a few days, nobody was getting water during water breaks; everyone remained on the court." http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060407 Rocket River NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE HEART OF A ROCKET!!
I'm currently busy initiating the new gf to the rockets, in order to be green lit on watching more games. I have to tell her stories that she'll listen to that don't really involve bball. So far, she can name two Rockets. Yao Ming and Cuttino Mobley. His obvious sexy good looks, Millionaire Dollar House episode and Samantha has catapulted Cat to the top.
There was the one year Cat was the 2nd leading scoring 2-guard in the NBA behind Kobe... not bad for a mid 2nd round pick. Sometimes I have the Clipper game on the local TV channel when I'm surfing the web. Only catching game action in the corner of my eye, someone receives a pass with his back to defender on the right side of the paint. Looks down, left foot pivots right then pivots left of the defender. Then looks up at the basket and does a lean-back left hand jumper. Just seemed a familar sight. Looked up at it was unmistakingly Mobley putting in work Makes it seem that more compelling that Cat with Rockets was always among the league leaders in minutes per game. Kinda weird to think about now, but out of anyone in the league he could have done bad to himself on the court like the (RIP) Jason Collier situation... Some dreary times in the late 90's-early 2K period with unmet expectations. Sometimes every once in a while though you just see Francis and Cat out there just balling like anyone else who love to, appreciatively living the dream in ugly pinstriped uniforms.
What I rememeber vividly abouy Cat during his time in Houston was his work ethic. To me, while he was here, Cat was one the most underrated defenders in the league. Night after night Rudy T would ask to Cat to defeneding the opposing team's BEST player. I remember Cat doing a NUMBER on our own Tracy (Orlando days), Kobe and every other shooting guard who thought a win in Houston was no problem. I also remember how Cat played a number of seasons with Plantar Fascitis (sp?), and never complained. If he did complain, it was because the TRAINERS asked him to sit one out. Cat is and was the ultimate NBA warrior. Unforunately, he is only recognized by loyal Rockets fans like us to be a significant pair of shoes in NBA history. I agree with the poster who said "Cat still has a lot of game left." He really does. When given the opportunity to play, Cat can still put up 20/5/2 on a nightly basis. The Clippers situation didn't do him justice. Maggette/Brand/Cassell limited Cuttino in showing the Clips would he could STILL do as a former Rocket. Anyway, enough of my rambling. If Cat does indeed retire, he will be sorely missed, especially by me. When he came to Denver, I got his autograph on 3 different basketballs and 2 different hats. Other than Dream and Charles, Cuttino, to this day, is still my favorite player. Underrated, Under-appreicated, and now, hit by a life-changing heart condition. Hang in there, Cuttino. -COD PS...I still get annoyed about the poster whose former signature was CUT TINO. Are you kidding me? This was during the Shandon years. Really? Shandon over Cuttino? No.
I thought he had one of the quickest first step in the league when he was with the Rox.. he and steve was fun to watch
He did. He developed his step back jumper a little bit later in his tenure here. I also remember Cat slapping the ball away from Tmac on a consistent basis.
This is a real downer because Cat can still be a solid contributor in this league. I really hope everything turns out alright for him health-wise. The man is such a class act.
Here's an update. Maybe it all isn't as bad as it seems: MOBLEY EMOTION: The agent for Cuttino Mobley vehemently denied a published report that the Knicks' guard is "mulling" retirement in the wake of concerns over his health. "Cuttino isn't mulling anything," Andy Miller said. "We're doing our due diligence." The Daily News reported Wednesday that Mobley, acquired from the Clippers on Nov. 21 in the Zach Randolph trade, has an enlarged heart and was meeting with specialists in Los Angeles and Minnesota. For the past two weeks, Mobley has faced a battery of tests to determine if he can continue his career. The results will not be known until next week at the earliest and yet one newspaper insisted that Mobley's retirement announcement could come as early as Friday. Mobley signed a waiver when he played for the Clippers and Rockets acknowledging that he had a heart condition. The Knicks' medical staff and front office want to be sure that Mobley is not at risk before clearing him to play. Link :NY POST
Was it Shandon Anderson or Michael Dickerson? Man it's been so long I can't remember. Dickerson's first step was no joke either. It seemed like he was at the basket in that first step sometimes.
Steve Francis Speaks on Mobley's Heart Condition http://www.nypost.com/seven/12072008/sports/knicks/francis__mobley_is_likely_to_retire_143012.htm Steve Francis said he spoke to former Rockets back-court mate Cuttino Mobleyand confirmed The Post's report he seriously was mulling retirement with an answer coming very shortly. Mobley was supposed to meet with president Donnie Walsh and Knicks doctors Friday to review all the heart-testing results and make a decision, but some of the results weren't to be available until Tuesday. MORE: Knicks Blog "It looks like he might (retire)," Francis told the Houston Chronicle. "It's close. That's the same ailment he has played his whole career, even here. It's terrible. He didn't sound too good today (Friday)." Mobley, 33, failed his Knicks physical, but the Knicks approved the trade anyway because they obtained him more for his short-term contract that will clear cap space in 2010. Mobley went to see a handful of specialists. The Post and New York Times reported Mobley was tested by the renowned Dr. Barry Maron, the director of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at the Minneapolis Heart Institute with whom Eddy Curry refused to take tests, prompting his trade from Chicago to the Knicks in 2005. The Knicks diagnosed Mobley as having signs of the fatal heart disease that claimed the lives of Hank Gathers, Reggie Lewis and Jason Collier. "It's tough," Francis said. "I know how much he loves playing basketball. I don't know how he'd react. He's close to a decision." Because this was a preexisting condition, Mobley's contract may not be insured for a heart ailment and the Knicks would have to pay his $18 million pact. Francis said Mobley would have thrived in coach Mike D'Antoni's system. "I thought he'd play better than I played in New York," Francis said of his shoddy Knicks stint.
