Somewhere, Grant Hill must be wondering where it all went wrong.
He just made yet another exit in the first round of the playoffs, he may need surgery yet again and now he sits at home and watches his two former teams — the Magic and the Pistons — play for the right to go to the Eastern Conference finals.
Apparently, Grant Hill re-injured himself again for another time this time around and couldn’t lift his team past the first round of the playoffs. Sounds repeatedly redundant? Yes, it does.
Despite the accolades and the good guy image, it’s always been like there’s a blanket of jinx over Hill since he left the Detroit Pistons on the summer of 2000.
He electrified the Orlando Magic fans when he came in with Tracy McGrady, hoping to build a dynasty in Florida. But that was just all false hope. McGrady bolted out to Houston, while Hill remained injured most of his stay with the Magic.
When he became an unrestricted free agent last summer and signed for less than US$4M to get a chance to play on a contender, the Phoenix Suns, the Magic fans were furious and still unforgiving to Hill for not getting return on their $93M-invested superstar.
Hill recently won 2008 NBA Sportsmanship Award but suffered another early playoff exit even though he teamed up with mid-year acquisition Shaquille O’Neal. Least to say that the San Antonio Spurs gave him more than a groin injury.
Turning 36 this year, with just 1 year left in his contract, Hill’s quest for a ‘chip looks bleak. People are giving up on him (again) and his body as well (again). So gracious exit is inevitable for Mr Hill.
You can even notice his frustration from this interview.
With all of these facts and stats, people like me and Mike Bianchi still finds the time to talk about Grant Hill. Why?
Bianchi’s recent commentary about Hill is right on the money. Although he sounded like he and the Magic fans are still bitter about Hill and would like to see his fall more than they want to get past the Pistons.
And I don’t know Hill personally or even have seen him but on tv, although there’s something more to him than this.
I am a big fan of Grant Hill since he was a piston. He made me like the Pistons in the era where Michael Jordan was god. When he moved to Orlando, I became a Magic fan. The same effect when he moved to Phoenix.
When he got injured and showed everyone that he can overcome all difficulties, it made me think that if Hill can do it, so can others.
Business is business and it just seem fit that Hill can say that it’s all business when he moved to Phoenix as to Mike Bianchi to print that they get the last laugh when it comes to Hill.
In time, hopefully everyone just moves on and things end up happily for Grant Hill and the Magic.
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King of the Hill?
7 05 2008Orlando Magic get last laugh when it comes to Hill
Mike Bianchi | SPORTS COMMENTARY
May 5, 2008
AUBURN HILLS, Mich.
Somewhere, Grant Hill must be wondering where it all went wrong.
He just made yet another exit in the first round of the playoffs, he may need surgery yet again and now he sits at home and watches his two former teams — the Magic and the Pistons — play for the right to go to the Eastern Conference finals.
What’s the old song from Hee Haw?
Gloom, despair and agony on me,..
More >>
[Excerpt from orlandosentinel.com]
Apparently, Grant Hill re-injured himself again for another time this time around and couldn’t lift his team past the first round of the playoffs. Sounds repeatedly redundant? Yes, it does.
Despite the accolades and the good guy image, it’s always been like there’s a blanket of jinx over Hill since he left the Detroit Pistons on the summer of 2000.
He electrified the Orlando Magic fans when he came in with Tracy McGrady, hoping to build a dynasty in Florida. But that was just all false hope. McGrady bolted out to Houston, while Hill remained injured most of his stay with the Magic.
When he became an unrestricted free agent last summer and signed for less than US$4M to get a chance to play on a contender, the Phoenix Suns, the Magic fans were furious and still unforgiving to Hill for not getting return on their $93M-invested superstar.
Hill recently won 2008 NBA Sportsmanship Award but suffered another early playoff exit even though he teamed up with mid-year acquisition Shaquille O’Neal. Least to say that the San Antonio Spurs gave him more than a groin injury.
Turning 36 this year, with just 1 year left in his contract, Hill’s quest for a ‘chip looks bleak. People are giving up on him (again) and his body as well (again). So gracious exit is inevitable for Mr Hill.
You can even notice his frustration from this interview.
With all of these facts and stats, people like me and Mike Bianchi still finds the time to talk about Grant Hill. Why?
Bianchi’s recent commentary about Hill is right on the money. Although he sounded like he and the Magic fans are still bitter about Hill and would like to see his fall more than they want to get past the Pistons.
And I don’t know Hill personally or even have seen him but on tv, although there’s something more to him than this.
I am a big fan of Grant Hill since he was a piston. He made me like the Pistons in the era where Michael Jordan was god. When he moved to Orlando, I became a Magic fan. The same effect when he moved to Phoenix.
When he got injured and showed everyone that he can overcome all difficulties, it made me think that if Hill can do it, so can others.
Business is business and it just seem fit that Hill can say that it’s all business when he moved to Phoenix as to Mike Bianchi to print that they get the last laugh when it comes to Hill.
In time, hopefully everyone just moves on and things end up happily for Grant Hill and the Magic.
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