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Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

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  • #1

    Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

    There has been some discussion over the years about Bender's physical condition. Was he really injured, when did he injure himself. Those types questions. So I thought I'd post this column


    ://www.nypost.com/php/pfriendly/print.php?url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/03232007/sports/a_knee_jerk_reaction_sports_peter_vecsey.htm



    A KNEE-JERK REACTION
    By PETER VECSEY


    March 23, 2007 -- REGGIE Miller has it upside- down and inside-out on Bob Costas' HBO show. Miller says Shaun Livingston's seemingly ruinous knee injury should provoke players to stay in college and get a degree so they'll have something to fall back on.
    In fact, it should stimulate them to snatch a mega-million-dollar contract the moment they're guaranteed to be drafted in the first round.

    No matter what becomes of Livingston, he'll have made $14.2 million (a fragment more than the majority of those with framed graduate degrees will fall back on in their lifetime) from the Clippers over four seasons.

    Jonathan Bender, another ideal illustration to challenge Miller's cagey advice, was forced to retire last season due to chronically ailing knees. By the time it's paid out, he'll have pocketed roughly $55 M from the Pacers over the span of two contracts.

    If earning a diploma is so meaningful, both players (just to name two) own the independently wealthy wherewithal to take whatever college courses interest them. Or buy one. Or buy a business. Or launch one. Or "wisely" invest in movie making.

    Hasn't that been one of Miller's pet projects since his (personally) uneasy retirement? Reports a few weeks ago about him being tempted to come back to play games (versus doing something constructive with your brain training or accrued assets) were indeed true.

    At the same time, had Livingston or Bender suffered debilitating injuries in college, or, worse yet, in high school, their options would be reduced by, well, millions. In actuality, the 7-foot Bender needed knee surgery in high school. Doctors (Pacers, NBA or otherwise) failed to recognize its enduring effect on a youngster experiencing excessive growth spurts. Imagine had he bypassed his golden opportunity to turn pro.

    Meanwhile, Miller's "valued" four-year education apparently didn't help him differentiate the front from the back on this issue.

    Then again, Miller never would've been in position to jump start a new career as an NBA analyst and worldly TV commentator following retirement, I concede, without all that indispensable groundwork he put in as a UCLA undergraduate.

    *

    This just in: James Dolan has seen enough; he has decided to reward Lawrence Frank, Rick Carlisle and Brian Hill with contract extensions.

    Since the inception of the Orlando franchise in '89-'90, the Magic have won the pick of the liter three times with Pat Williams on the dais holding or massaging lucky charms. We're talking Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Webber (traded to the Warriors for Penny Hardaway and three first rounders) and Dwight Howard.

    The Magic's senior VP also was on the stage representing the 76ers when they won the right to pick Brad Daugherty No. 1 overall June 16, 1986 and trade him moments later to the Cavaliers for Roy Hinson and $800G.

    I viewed that as particularly sound thinking. What's more, I highly endorsed Williams' other deal that day - Moses Malone, Terry Catledge and a pair of first rounders ('86 and '88) for Jeff Ruland and the original (USC) Cliff Robinson, who took time off during his career, as best as I can recall, to mourn the passing of seven or eight grandfathers.

    At any rate, with another lottery attendance looming large, how happy Williams must be he didn't sell the Secaucus condo he used to co-own with Elgin Baylor.

    *

    This just in: Before the Lakers played the Grizzlies last night in Memphis, Kobe Bryant denied contacting Elvis on behalf of Nike. He also claimed contact with Kevin Durant was either consensual or incidental.

    I'm guessing Durant won't see half as much contact once he actually gets to the NBA. After beating the Ray Allen-less Sonics at the buzzer Wednesday night, Gilbert Arenas felt compelled to punctuate a 42-point performance by leaving his jersey near the free throw line. Between throwing himself a seven-figure birthday party, hopping on a trampoline during an All-Star Game timeout, and now acting like a space cadet at the Space Needle, you think Arenas might be craving attention?

    Correction on Monday's quiz. Reggie Theus and Gary Payton unconscionably were omitted from my list of five NBA players who amassed more than 19,000 points and 6,000 assists. About 100 people caught my mistake and were, ahem, kind enough to point it out. One was George Andrews, Chicago-based agent for Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas (and a ton of others) at the outset of their careers.

    "Had I not represented Reggie for most of his career I would have remembered him most for his flashy passes and turnovers, plus his even flashier wardrobe. He often said, 'I'll be a great coach, I've played for 19 (???) of them.' To which I replied, and you got almost all of them fired, too."

    Theus, of course, prepped by Rick Pitino at Louisville before moving on to New Mexico State, obviously knew what he was talking about.

    "He's perfectly suited to be a super big-time program college coach," Andrews underlined in an e-mail. "We knew the players, their families, fans and media would love him. Reggie craves being loved due to his depressing childhood and high school years. He was the most insecure player I ever represented and among the very nicest."

    This just in: Ruland wants a chance to defend his ouster from Iona, but the White House refuses to let him testify.

    peter.vecsey@nypost.com
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

    And we still took him over Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, and Andrei Kirilinko
    House Name: Pacers

    House Sigil:


    House Words: "We Kneel To No King"

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    • #3
      Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

      Originally posted by Diamond Dave View Post
      And we still took him over Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, and Andrei Kirilinko
      Yeah. Wish Walsh had hindsight 20-20 like we do.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

        It was a bad pick then... hindsight not necessary. And keep in mind he 'earned' that money over TWO contracts.

        -Bball
        Nuntius was right for a while. I was wrong for a while. But ultimately I was right and Frank Vogel has been let go.

        ------

        "A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork."

        -John Wooden

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

          IMO, Reggie's wrong on this one and Vescey's right.

          If you are a sure lottery pick, it would be foolish not to go. As long as you are somewhat wise with your money, you are set. You can always go back to college later if you decide that the NBA is not for you or you blow your knee out.
          You're caught up in the Internet / you think it's such a great asset / but you're wrong, wrong, wrong
          All that fiber optic gear / still cannot take away the fear / like an island song

          - Jimmy Buffett

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          • #6
            Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

            Originally posted by Bball View Post
            It was a bad pick then... hindsight not necessary. And keep in mind he 'earned' that money over TWO contracts.

            -Bball
            One of which came after the kid played in 70+ games "despite" the career ending injury he got in high school. Whoops.

            DW drafted a kid that until his 2nd deal was capable of playing a full season. Not drafting him is like the Suns trading Amare last summer because his injury will end his career 2 years from now. Right now that choice would look stupid as Amare appears to be fine.

            But sure enough Vescey and plenty of PD posters will be right there in 3 years to say "we told you Phoenix". And if nothing happens to Amare they'll all keep their mouths shut instead of speaking up and saying "boy, I was an idiot for not thinking Amare would be fine after his surgery".


            If only hindsight judgement went both ways and we could call out all the people that WOULD speak up if only things had gone the other way. But we can't. If it doesn't happen they don't say anything about thinking it was going to.


            Sidenote - just how bitter does Vescey sound regarding Reggie. Not just on his Bender comment (though it obviously upset him too), but apparently on Reggie getting his commentator job. Did Miller hold out on him for some Pacers info or pee on his shoes or something?

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

              Originally posted by Naptown_Seth View Post
              One of which came after the kid played in 70+ games "despite" the career ending injury he got in high school. Whoops.

              DW drafted a kid that until his 2nd deal was capable of playing a full season. Not drafting him is like the Suns trading Amare last summer because his injury will end his career 2 years from now.
              Did you look at the players we passed up to take Bender??

              Don't include me in the hindsight argument because I thought it was an absolutely horrible pick and was the wrong pick at the wrong time anyway. And it went downhill from there.

              This magical, mystical 70+ game season for Bender was nothing to raise him to a level of deserving the extension he got.

              It's not just that Bender was just a blown pick... we traded a key player for that blown pick which made it extra important we chose wisely. But we didn't choose wisely. We blew it. So we got the double whammy. ...And then compounded it by extending him with a generous offer he did not deserve. Then we made it even worse by not making him the amnesty player and IIRC (and I'm sure I do) also made him protected in an expansion draft.

              And we got nothing back. Nothing. Absolutely horrid decisions by management all compounding upon the one before it.

              -Bball
              Nuntius was right for a while. I was wrong for a while. But ultimately I was right and Frank Vogel has been let go.

              ------

              "A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork."

              -John Wooden

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

                You have to separate the flawed logic Reggie uses from his original position. His position is clear: he want kids to stay in college because statistically you've got next to zero chance of "making it" as a basketball player in a way that will provide financial independance for the rest of your life.

                A scholarship IS the lottery ticket. And 99 times out of 100 it should be cashed in for a degree. You can't even coach middle school without that.

                If you are one of the 1% who can be set for life based on your skills on the court, good for you, good luck in the NBA.
                “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” - Winston Churchill

                “If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning.” - Catherine Aird

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

                  Originally posted by Bball View Post
                  It was a bad pick then... hindsight not necessary. And keep in mind he 'earned' that money over TWO contracts.

                  -Bball
                  He was 7' tall with long arms and a 40" vertical. If you think he wouldn't be a lottery pick THIS year and EVERY YEAR you don't know the NBA.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

                    Originally posted by Doug View Post
                    IMO, Reggie's wrong on this one and Vescey's right.

                    If you are a sure lottery pick, it would be foolish not to go. As long as you are somewhat wise with your money, you are set. You can always go back to college later if you decide that the NBA is not for you or you blow your knee out.
                    Wonder what Greg Odens first words were after seeing Livingstons injury.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

                      Originally posted by Bball
                      Did you look at the players we passed up to take Bender??

                      Don't include me in the hindsight argument because I thought it was an absolutely horrible pick and was the wrong pick at the wrong time anyway. And it went downhill from there.

                      This magical, mystical 70+ game season for Bender was nothing to raise him to a level of deserving the extension he got.

                      It's not just that Bender was just a blown pick... we traded a key player for that blown pick which made it extra important we chose wisely. But we didn't choose wisely. We blew it. So we got the double whammy. ...And then compounded it by extending him with a generous offer he did not deserve. Then we made it even worse by not making him the amnesty player and IIRC (and I'm sure I do) also made him protected in an expansion draft.

                      And we got nothing back. Nothing. Absolutely horrid decisions by management all compounding upon the one before it.

                      -Bball
                      WIth some work, maybe, someday, you'll be able to view both sides of an issue.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

                        Originally posted by Vecsey
                        In actuality, the 7-foot Bender needed knee surgery in high school. Doctors (Pacers, NBA or otherwise) failed to recognize its enduring effect on a youngster experiencing excessive growth spurts.
                        Okay, does that mean he had surgery in HS, and doctors failed to realize how growth spurts combined with the surgery affected his knees? Or is he saying he should have had surgery and didnt, because the doctors didn't realize how his growth spurts would affect his knees? Or is Vecsey making it all up like he usually does?

                        I'm sure this would make much more sense if only he'd used the word "impact" instead (thanks Jay.)
                        Come to the Dark Side -- There's cookies!

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

                          Originally posted by Diamond Dave View Post
                          And we still took him over Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, and Andrei Kirilinko


                          No. Nash was drafted in 1996. You're right about the other 2 though.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

                            Originally posted by PacerMan View Post
                            WIth some work, maybe, someday, you'll be able to view both sides of an issue.
                            You mean the wrong side and the right side?

                            -BBall
                            Nuntius was right for a while. I was wrong for a while. But ultimately I was right and Frank Vogel has been let go.

                            ------

                            "A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork."

                            -John Wooden

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: Vescey reports that Bender needed knee surgery while in high school

                              Originally posted by Kegboy View Post
                              Okay, does that mean he had surgery in HS, and doctors failed to realize how growth spurts combined with the surgery affected his knees? Or is he saying he should have had surgery and didnt, because the doctors didn't realize how his growth spurts would affect his knees? Or is Vecsey making it all up like he usually does?

                              I took that he needed the surgery but didn't get it in high school. And that because he had such a huge growth spurt while he was in high school that he simply could never endure the rigors of playing NBA basketball

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