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[Times Leader] It's time for ailing Sura to consider future

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Yaowaming, Dec 14, 2005.

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  1. Yaowaming

    Yaowaming Contributing Member

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    Wed, Dec. 14, 2005
    JERRY KELLAR
    It’s time for ailing Sura to consider future

    Pat Kennedy once described Bobby Sura’s life story as a “rags to riches” tale. That was about a half-dozen years ago. Few people gave the self-described gym rat much of a chance to pursue a career in basketball when Sura left GAR in 1991.
    Not that he didn’t have the skills or talent, mind you. It was the attitude that was destined to be his biggest enemy. Now, it’s his health.

    Some background first. This was the kid who scribbled the words “Prime” and “Time” on the backs of his sneakers. This was the kid whose temper helped foul him out of a high school state championship game in Hershey.
    But, make no mistake, Bobby Sura could play. And the temperament that everybody believed would drag him down turned out to be one of his greatest assets as a player.

    “Some people call it cockiness,” Sura told me years ago. “I call it self-assuredness.”

    Whichever label you choose, it’s worked. Sura was named ACC Rookie of the Year while playing at Florida State for Kennedy, one of only a handful of coaches willing to give the kid a shot at the major college level. Three years later, he left Tallahassee as FSU’s all-time leading scorer with 2,130 points.
    After he was taken in the first round of the 1995 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the doubters emerged again. At best, they argued, this 6-foot-5 guy from Wilkes-Barre would be a one-hit wonder in the pros.

    Eleven seasons and five teams later, Sura is still on an NBA roster, currently with Houston’s Rockets. His career totals – 10.3 points per game, 5.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds – in one of sports’ toughest games make Bobby Sura’s story perhaps the most remarkable of any athlete that has called the Wyoming Valley home.

    Those of you familiar with our sports heritage know that’s a heavy-duty compliment.

    But someone once said that all good things must come to an end. And I respectfully submit that Bobby’s time has come.
    This has nothing to do with the man’s skills and everything to do with his health.

    Though he’s just 32, Sura’s body parts – particularly his creaky back and arthritic right knee – have been sending him messages that enough is enough.
    Surgeries to both areas have kept him on the sidelines this season. All told, Sura has had four operations in 14 months – two both to the knee and back. The back surgery was to repair a herniated disk, while the knee procedure dealt with cartilage damage.

    Even if doctors clear him to play again this season, as Sura hopes, he’s likely facing a lifetime of nagging aches and pains.

    “I don’t want to keep (having surgeries), but the doctor was very encouraged about my back,” Sura told the Houston Chronicle.

    The knee problem aside, any time one messes around the spine it’s serious business. But that’s a decision only he can make.

    All I ask is that Bobby Sura considers his options. He’s got nothing left to prove on the court – or to his critics. It’s time to think about the future.
    He owes himself that much.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To read more columns by Jerry Kellar, click
     
    #1 Yaowaming, Dec 14, 2005
  2. dookiester

    dookiester Member

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    one of the few well-written and thoughtful sports articles I have read all year. thanks.
     
    #2 dookiester, Dec 14, 2005
  3. droxford

    droxford Member

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    Bulls**t.

    Put your jersey on and get on the fu**ing court, Bobby. We love you too much here in Houston to see your career hobble away on crutches. You came here full of piss and vinegar, and you're gonna leave that way.
     
    #3 droxford, Dec 14, 2005
  4. Xenochimera

    Xenochimera Member

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    may be he can play with painkillers or something, unless thats illegal.
     
    #4 Xenochimera, Dec 14, 2005
  5. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    sounds like another rockets pg whom he replaced. I guess when your sura its cockiness.
     
    #5 pgabriel, Dec 14, 2005
  6. Harrisment

    Harrisment Member

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    Right on cue!
     
    #6 Harrisment, Dec 14, 2005
  7. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    so are you, in regards to me you're living up to user name. you're obsessed with me. its not healthy. I haven't mentioned steve in three months in this forum and when I do you're the next person to post with the same tired posts.

    send me your address, I will send you an autograph in the mail.
     
    #7 pgabriel, Dec 14, 2005
  8. Cohen

    Cohen Member

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    Just depends on how the attitude is 'used'. E.g, if you act cocky and don't appear to be listening to others who are trying to teach you, or let's say you hog the ball, then it will gain a negative connotation.


    As for the comment in the article 'any time one messes around the spine it’s serious business', it sounds to me like a commonly held belief among us laymen but I think that it's very case-specific. Alot of athletes have successfully continued on after back surgery.
     
    #8 Cohen, Dec 14, 2005
  9. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    but why is bob sura's cockiness such a good thing, his teams have sucked until he got to the rockets.

    what I really wanted to say is that when its a white player their cocky attitude is good, when its a black player their cocky attitude is a bad attitue. but I didn't want to go there so I just used Steve as an example.
     
    #9 pgabriel, Dec 14, 2005
  10. smoothie

    smoothie Jabari Jungle

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    i don't believe that. jordan was as cocky as they come. laetner was an a**hole because of his "attitude".

    shaq is cocky, no one cares. it goes both ways.
     
    #10 smoothie, Dec 14, 2005
  11. AstroRocket

    AstroRocket Member

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    Cause, as far as we're concerned, his cockiness doesn't come with a sh*tload of turnovers and bonehead plays. Sura's cockiness is more under control and needed by this squad. Francis' cockiness wasn't necessary. That whole team was cocky and full of themselves. It was too much, imo.

    Btw, I'm black. While the race perception comparison may be true in the NFL, it's not so much in the NBA. Shaq, T-Mac, Kobe, KG, LeBron, AI, Amare, Melo - all are "cocky" and popular. Meanwhile, most folks can't stand when guys like Brad Miller or Jason Williams behave arrogantly.
     
    #11 AstroRocket, Dec 14, 2005
  12. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    you don't think Kobe gets knocked for his cockiness and ballhogging? and jordan definitely gets knocked for his cockiness by fans, I can pull some posts from right here on this site. Amare not knocked for cockiness on this site? you haven't been paying attention.

    edit: btw, I like bob sura, i thought it was a good deal to bring him in, and he was definitely a major reason for the Rockets' turnaround last season, and part of that was his attitude. but I just find it funny that its appreciated when its sura.
     
    #12 pgabriel, Dec 14, 2005
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2005
  13. MLittle577

    MLittle577 Member

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    I actually found this kind of funny. I watched Blazing Saddles the other day and they just said whatever the hell they wanted to. This reminded me of that. Don't have too much of that these days.
     
    #13 MLittle577, Dec 14, 2005
  14. AstroRocket

    AstroRocket Member

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    Sure, they may get criticized for it around here, just like Yao is for his timidity, or Duncan used to be for his "lack of fire," or Carter for his laziness, but only when it's working as a detriment to them. (ie, Amare not passing and proclaiming himself better than certain Rockets, Kobe taking 40+ shots) Jordan is actually praised far more for is cocky attitude than criticized.

    I mean, hell, you want to talk about someone that criticized for being cocky, look at how everyone around here talks about Pau Gasol, or even Dirk last season when he was yelling at teammates.
     
    #14 AstroRocket, Dec 14, 2005
  15. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    I would say that they are criticized more for their whining. but you may be right.
     
    #15 pgabriel, Dec 14, 2005
  16. DallasThomas

    DallasThomas Member

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    ...and just like the article says, Bob Sura got knocked for his cockiness. Have you been paying attention?

    ;)

    Edit: Here's the "Classic Moment" at the bottom of this page for me:

     
    #16 DallasThomas, Dec 14, 2005
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2005
  17. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    you're right, but I was referring more to the writer of the article who thinks its a positive.
     
    #17 pgabriel, Dec 14, 2005
  18. jo mama

    jo mama Member

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    surely you jest. you bring him up any and every chance you get. i suppose you were refering to moochie when you said this?

    "sounds like another rockets pg whom he replaced. I guess when your sura its cockiness."

    and the key difference between sura and "the one you never mention" is that sura was never regarded as the leader of his team.
     
    #18 jo mama, Dec 15, 2005
  19. Cohen

    Cohen Member

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    Oh.

    TMac's cocky (and black ;) ), but it doesn't bother me since I think he does what it takes to win; he backs it up and has the right goal in mind. His cockiness does not get in the way. Sura's cockiness does not get in the way either.

    I liked Stevie, but his cockiness was not a good thing for him, IMO. He was interested more in 'showtime' than learning what it took to help his team get better.
     
    #19 Cohen, Dec 15, 2005
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