I just read an annoying article by Bob Young. Discussing the pros and cons of moving Amare Stoudemire, Young confidently states of the power-forward’s health prospects: “A surgically repaired knee may work fine right now, but it’s still a surgically repaired knee. It’s never quite the same.” It always irks me when basketball writers ominously refer to players’ limbs as “surgically repaired,” as though Scotch Tape and Robitussin were employed to set bones and repair torn ligaments. Injuries are unique, and so are their prognoses.
Tim Hardaway tore his ACL, lost a step, and never returned to All-Star form. DeJuan Blair has no ACLs and he was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft – you just never know. Has Young done ample research on the long-term risks of microfracture surgery, and consulted orthopedic surgeons who might shed some light on Amare’s prognosis? No way. He does nothing to indicate that he has, or that he has a clue. All that we can know, without more information, is that Amare is still an ultra-quick high-flying force of nature, and Bob Young is a hack.
2 responses so far ↓
1 HJ // Aug 13, 2009 at 3:10 am
Maybe its selective memory but I remember Amare being much more explosive pre-surgery. Considering he’s not exactly a mental player and he relies more on his athleticism its not exactly a unfair question to ask. No I haven’t done some extensive 10 year study on it. But isn’t it just common sense that a guy that hasn’t had a major knee surgery will have a better chance of A. Playing longer B. No having another knee injury?
2 mmandlin // Aug 13, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Hmm, not common sense to me.
And I don’t know anything to suggest that Amare isn’t a bright guy.
Leave a Comment