senior comebacks

[post on BartonHallBenchWarmers]

i am not sure if it is the summer heat getting into the hot heads of middle-aged male or just the atrocious sight of the Cavs getting whipped mercilessly by the Spurs that inspired a renewed fire of competitiveness in old and broken down bodies, but the recent announcements of many
bygone stars of the 90's to come back one last time for the ultimate glory is both understandable and pathetic at the same time. granted, shooters like Reggie Miller and Allan Houston are still better shooters than 90% of the current NBA crop, but the players are bigger and faster, and i am not sure how easily they can get their shots up like the good old days when they lighted it up w/ ease. (come to think of it, i don't ever remember Houston lighting anyone up, even as the lone gunman in the crippled offense in NY Knicks). More doubtful are players like Penny, who had relied on superior athleticism to outquick opponents to the rim, to return to form in the now congested half-court of oversized giants. Even more unlikely is the likes of Oakley, Shawn Kemp, who had relied on strength, size and guile to collect rebounds in the rough-'em-up NBA 90's. NBA has since made a concerted effort to reduce grab-and-hold physical plays, and at 6-9, he will be one of the smallest PFs in the game. know that Yao Ming can bench 310, Dwight Howard can do even more -- a sign that players are now specially trained and conditioned by an army of specialists around the clock to optimize their performance.

if we learn anything from MJ, it is that father time catches up to anyone, no matter how spectacularly talented one used to be in his youth. understandably, letting go is one of life's most difficult lessons --- one that we will all experience eventually. besides, it ain't so bad w/ spending time w/ family and playing golf?