The “Clippers Curse” Latest Victim: The King Of Park Hill
Twitter pal @Mrs__NBA, a great basketball blogger, let us snip this post from her site: Measuring NBA Kicks Since 1946.
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If you happen to be one of my twitter followers and have been loyal pre-NBA lockout, then you realize what an institution and a memorable figure five-time NBA All-Star Chauncey Billups is not only to me, but to my family, to HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of NBA fans, not to mention the citizens of Denver and the state of Colorado.
Blood is thicker than water, but Mr. Big Shot was an entity in Denver’s landscape, from a bird’s eye view of an outsider, it’s difficult to explain and perhaps to comprehend. Strictly NBA speaking, he’s comparable to that trustworthy Uncle, that so many kept close to their hearts, little children looked up to, teenagers responded to, and adults, well, we just loved the shit out of him .
When Chauncey returned to Denver, it was a homecoming, that many initially thought would be his last. He would retire here among the splendor of the Mile High, the love that only other Denverites can understand, that’s how I, you, we feel about Chauncey. That’s OUR bloodline.
I know I come across as a *badass*, but we all remember the trade that went down, and OUR Chauncey was rushed away to the place that seemed the polar opposite to Denver. I have spoken candidly about that day, I was on twitter when I heard the news, and I physically wept. That’s right. I cried.
I cried over basketball, not only that, I cried over a business proposition.
Not only did I cry, but I had so much frustration, I took it to the bag. The punching bag. With every left hook, I was cursing Melo; with every uppercut, I was telling New York to die from Rabies; with every jab, I was telling LaLa to spoon her eye out with a stiletto.
Yeah, I was just a little bit upset. So, yes,technically, I was upset over a business proposition.
However, this is something not every NBA fan can understand. Those that have a deeply rooted feeling with the NBA and are associated with this mountain-hippie-medicinal marijuana mecca are the ones that DO understand what I’m speaking of, especially those that have had personal conversations, relationships, moments with the Billups family. They can “feel” what I “feel” even if the twitterverse believes I am a cold-hearted and calculating bad ass (Which I don’t mind…..usually).
So what’s my point???
The “Clippers Curse” has struck again!!
On Monday, the Clippers were playing in Orlando and managed to get a win in overtime, but that’s where the positivity ends. Mr. Big Shot left the Amway Center in crunches and a his left foot in a boot.
Then the feeling of being hit by a freight train happened: The King of Park Hill’s test results came back…
ACHILLES TEAR!
The Achilles tendon, once ruptured, is a season ender and considering Billups’ age, possibly a career ender. According to the Mayo Clinic’s website, after diagnosis and surgery, there are 4 to 6 months of rehabilitation.
Although that is the standard time it takes, the L.A. Times reports he will be out AT LEAST 8 months, which renders him out for the rest of the 2012 NBA season and off the 2012 London Summer Olympic list.
He will have surgery and then a long and treacherous rehab stint. Will he attempt to make a comeback??? Will he be in an NBA uniform next season??
I simply don’t know. I can take calculated and informative guesses, but that’s all it is. Chauncey Billups is what the NBA has always meant to so many: He rose from Park Hill and became an NBA star. He is a leader, a hard worker, he brings ANY team together, his locker room presence and all those intangibles are what makes Mr. Big Shot so revered and respected.
He means so many things to so many people and including me. As I’m reading the news and typing, all I can feel is my heart breaking for him, my eyes are welling with tears and my mind is gubbed up with his uncertainty in the NBA.
This is for you, Chauncey Billups:
But more importantly is this video, this is how I feel and so many NBA players, critics and fans!!
MUCH LOVE, SMOOTH, MUCH LOVE!
Knowing Chauncey’s fortitude and spirit, he WILL be back!!!
This is what he told Y!Sports:
“I will be back. I’m not done. I’m not retiring….I will play again.” – Chauncey Billups
Until next time, Smooth, until next time,
Mrs. NBA
