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| 'MY LAST=20
10 DAYS OF TRAINING CAMP' |
Posted on=20
October 21, 2007
BY Allan=20
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Houston | |
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WHAT A=20
WEEK! Training Camp: Start to =
Finish.
I was=20
so excited to sign back with the Knicks. I =
started=20
getting flashbacks of when I used to play in the =
Garden.=20
What would it be like this time? How would the =
fans=20
react to me being back? How much time would I =
get? Would=20
I be able hear the crown again as the seconds =
expire=20
with a game winning shot? How would it be =
wearing no 7?=20
(which I really wasn't disappointed about. The =
number 7=20
in the bible signifies perfection, completion, =
and=20
victory. I felt like this was symbolic since the =
condition that forced me to leave has been =
restored to=20
the point that I could play again. Check out the =
meaning=20
of this on the 'Numbetr 7' blog.).
As my =
wife, my=20
mother-in-law sat and watched the game vs. =
Maccabi Tel=20
Aviv, I started to wonder if I had done the =
right thing.=20
I knew I was physically and mentally ready, but =
as I=20
watched the team and its lineup, I questioned, =
'where do=20
I fit?' I had been SO focused and determined to =
get back=20
in the NBA lineup that some of the realities of =
playing=20
in the NBA again hit me like a ton of bricks. It =
JUST=20
hit me right then. I was about to really do this =
again.=20
WHY? What do I need to prove? I kept thinking =
about=20
everything I went through to get here. All the =
training;=20
and how my knees kept feeling better each week. =
After=20
the game, MSG showed the 30 minute profile on =
me.=20
Sometimes we take for granted the things we have =
been=20
blessed to experience. That was me. I though why =
am I=20
going back, when I could ruin this legacy? God =
would not=20
have gotten me this far had he not wanted this =
to=20
happen, so I stopped thinking too much. =
There=20
was definitely an adjustment for me in my first =
NBA=20
practice in 3 years. I had to used to the =
intensity and=20
speed of the game again. My movement was fine, =
but=20
playing pickup and summer league is a much =
different=20
intensity than and NBA training camp practice. I =
knew=20
since I came in later to camp I would have to =
show that=20
I was in shape. I didn't want to think about if =
I was=20
doing too much too soon. At the end of the =
scrimmage I=20
made a couple of shots. That ended the day well =
for me,=20
but I wasn't satisfied with that. I guess that's =
what=20
got me here.
Probably the most significant =
question=20
I had to have answered was =91how would it feel =
the day=20
after?' I wanted to bring myself back at a =
slower pace=20
so my body would adjust properly, but I didn't =
have a=20
choice. I had to prove to myself and everyone =
else that=20
I could do this again. I strained my quad =
slightly while=20
scrimmaging. I thought, this could be a blessing =
in=20
disguise because it could give me a day of rest. =
I=20
needed the court time, but I needed to be my =
best as=20
well.
I was trying to mentally get ready =
for my=20
1st game in 3 years. Three years!! Wow. We flew =
to=20
Boston Tues afternoon. Being back on the road =
with the=20
team was a funny feeling. Was I going to have to =
=91bump'=20
someone on the bus or plane for a good seat?, =
because I=20
was definitely the oldest on the team! =
This team=20
is highly misunderstood. In the past I have =
constantly=20
had to defend the character of the players on =
this team,=20
and I probably will continue to. This team =
consists of=20
good people. Yes, they are young. But they want =
to get=20
better and learn.
Game vs. Boston I didn't =
know what=20
to expect. How would I feel out there? How many =
minutes=20
would I play?
We didn't play that well. I =
finally=20
got in the game in the 3rd quarter. My body felt =
good,=20
except for my quad. Even it was feeling a little =
better.=20
Once you get in the game, the adrenaline starts =
flowing=20
and you sort of forget about little soreness. I =
missed a=20
couple shots. I rushed them a little again. It =
was great=20
being back on the court again. Of course I =
wasn't happy=20
with my 1st game back, even though it was very =
limited=20
time. I tried not to put too much pressure on =
myself,=20
because I had been out for so long.
The =
next day=20
I wondered if I was doing the right thing again. =
As I=20
was in my basement lifting weights, getting =
ready for=20
the game vs. the Nets, I started to wonder if =
the timing=20
and the situation with the Knicks is best for =
me. The=20
roster spots were full. I wouldn't feel =
comfortable=20
resting my knees and body when I needed to if I =
had to=20
make the cut. It wouldn't be fair to everyone. =
Maybe in=20
a different team and different time, but not =
here and=20
not now. And who knows if I would even want to =
do that?=20
I don't know.
God orders our steps. I =
believe=20
that everything happens for a reason. And if we =
trust=20
the plan for our lives, everything that happens =
is=20
always for our good. I knew the challenges I =
would face=20
going into the situation with the Knicks. I made =
the=20
choice to be home with my family and to attempt =
to wear=20
that uniform again. I knew that Isiah had his =
roster=20
set. I could have waited until December or later =
in the=20
season to see if there was a need for me from =
another=20
team, but I was ready.
I also know me. I had =
worked=20
too hard to wait. I wasn't going to be any more =
ready=20
than I was. I wanted to bring myself back at a =
slower=20
pace so my body would adjust properly, but I =
didn't have=20
a choice. I had to prove to myself and everyone =
else=20
that I could do this again. Of course, I also =
had to=20
make the team. It didn't really bother me like =
it=20
bothered others that I had to make the team. I =
truly=20
felt that if I didn't command a presence in =
training=20
camp and stand out, I didn't need to be there =
anyway.=20
Whatever happens now, I have peace of mind. =
At times=20
I think, =91Man, I told everyone I was coming =
back, and=20
now look!'
One thing I can be content with: =
God is=20
faithful and true. I always believed I would be =
able to=20
play again and be healthy. I didn't want my last =
remembrance to be=85.great player, bad knees. I =
can look=20
back and say this is what is meant to be. =
When I=20
questioned what I was doing a lot, I went to the =
book of=20
Romans, chapter 4, verses 18 through 22, when =
Abraham=20
believed in a promise. Faith is a gift, but it =
is always=20
our choice.
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Posted by Allan Houston |=20
(3)Comments
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AC's=20
Comment |
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I was happy you came back to NY =
but after=20
what happened with only 6 minutes of playing =
time and=20
Isiah not suiting you for the Nets game I went =
to watch=20
(hopeing to see you in action) I hope you join =
with=20
Boston and win a championship. I think Isiah is =
the one=20
that needs to go. Best of luck and hope to see =
you=20
signed with a team soon. |
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Posted on October 21, 2007 BY=20
AC |
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rcoolc's=20
Comment |
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I admire your outlook. I wish you =
would=20
sign with the Nets. You know better than anyone =
how the=20
long season can create the rest your knees need =
and the=20
opportunity to seize the moments and be the =
player we=20
remember you as. If this is it...I'll always =
remember=20
how you gave everything you had day in and day =
out to=20
win us all the championship. You are a shining =
example=20
of how faith and total belief can reward us. =
Thank you=20
very much and God Bless You. |
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Posted on October 21, 2007 BY=20
rcoolc |
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andy from=20
Ireland's Comment |
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i was really looking forward to =
seeing you=20
in the regular season this year with the knicks =
and i=20
cant help thinking that if Jeff van gundy were =
coaching=20
the knicks you would still be there and not =
retiring=20
again. i hvae read your blog and you say not now =
not=20
this time, then at waht time.. surley this is =
your last=20
chance to make an nba team in your career, =
please join=20
the nets (even though i hate them im an avid =
knick fan)=20
i just want to see the great H2o pure aws water =
light it=20
up in teh nba again... :) |
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Posted on October 21, 2007 BY andy =
from=20
Ireland |
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POST A =
COMMENT
Please be=20
respectful of the opinions of others. Do keep in =
mind=20
that children will be reading this blog. We =
reserve the=20
right to edit or remove comments.=20
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Blog=20
Topic
Main=20
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'MY LAST 10 DAYS OF TRAINING =
CAMP' |
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HIGHLIGHTS |
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MY TRIP TO UGANDA, =
AFRICA |
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As we approach 7/7/07 |
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GET IN ON THIS =
DISCUSSION!! |
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Cleveland rules this =
ranking |
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Detroit needs some =
doctoring |
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AI still elevating his =
game |
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Dear, Friends |
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Allan may take another =
shot |
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I AM FINALLY IN THE BLOG =
GAME |
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![3D"The](3D"http://www.allanhouston.com/images/thecitizen_off.jpg"=20)
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