T.J. Ford considering retirement

[Cry Havoc]

I realize that Yahoo isn't the most reliable source for sporting news, but I came across this.

"Ford won't even rejoin the team until after Christmas, and it's unclear how much basketball activity he'll be allowed to do at that time. "We are consulting with a number of specialists to get as much information as possible regarding T.J.'s condition. Once enough information is compiled, we will chart a course for his return to basketball activity," Raptors president and GM Bryan Colangelo said Thursday. Although no one in the Raptors organization really wants to think about it right now, retirement could be a serious option for Ford."

I kind of expected it, but it's still sad to see it in writing.

All the best, T.J. Get better ASAP.

[boutons_]

"Get better"

... doesn't happen with congenital spinal stenosis.

[dallaskd]

say it aint so. :depressed

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

This guy just has bad luck.
I really hope he's able to overcome this.
I hate to see people forced into early retirement, especially a nice guy like TJ.

[lefty]

I hope he won't have to retire.

Talented PG, nice guy

[ploto]

An uncertain future-- TJ Ford


After consulting with two prominent specialists in the U.S. concerning the state of his back, neck and arms, Raptors point guard T.J. Ford is back home in Houston, contemplating his now precarious future in the NBA.

Ford, who missed the entire 2004-05 NBA season after undergoing neck surgery, has already suffered two related arm 'stingers' since last year's playoffs, and a head injury after a fall on Dec. 11 in Atlanta, and has not returned to action since.

Ford had an appointment with back/neck specialist, Dr. Patrick O'Leary in New York on Wednesday, after previously consulting Los Angeles specialist Dr. Robert Watkins, on Monday. Ford departed New York yesterday. He will not join the team for the remainder of the club's current four-game west coast swing (with games tonight in Seattle and tomorrow in Phoenix), but is expected to meet up with the club when they convene on Dec.26 in San Antonio. The Raptors will practice for two days in San Antonio in preparation for their game against the Spurs on Dec.28 at the AT&T Center.

"We are consulting with a number of specialists to get as much information as possible regarding T.J.'s condition. Once enough information is compiled, we will chart a course for his return to basketball activity," Raptors President and GM Bryan Colangelo said, adding that the club will probably send Ford to even more specialists to get a clearer picture of his condition.

The fear within the organization is that Ford's back/neck problems may eventually result in his premature retirement from the NBA.
Uncertain (http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Basketball/2007/12/21/4735361-sun.html)

[Cry Havoc]

"Get better"

... doesn't happen with congenital spinal stenosis.

Wow, you're an optimist. People have recovered from worse. Look at Kevin Everett before you start talking shit about someone's chances for recovery. And don't be an ass.

[boutons_]

GFY, CH

How do you "recover" from a congenital skeletal condition in your 20s?

He's had 20+ years to recover, why hasn't he recovered by now?

The stenosis, and risk of re-injury including paralysis, is permanent.

He's had 2 injuries now, why doesn't the article talk about getting his stenosis "fixed' as one of his options? Because in his case, it's apparently not fixable (or he would have had it fixed after his first injury a couple years ago). Stenosis/laminectomy operations are to relieve chronic pain and prevent paralysis, NOT to fix a pro athlete into good as normal, or even playable, condition.

[Cry Havoc]

GFY, CH

How do you "recover" from a congenital skeletal condition in your 20s?

He's had 20+ years to recover, why hasn't he recovered by now?

The stenosis, and risk of re-injury including paralysis, is permanent.

He's had 2 injuries now, why doesn't the article talk about getting his stenosis "fixed' as one of his options? Because in his case, it's apparently not fixable (or he would have had it fixed after his first injury a couple years ago). Stenosis/laminectomy operations are to relieve chronic pain and prevent paralysis, NOT to fix a pro athlete into good as normal, or even playable, condition.


How do you get "fixed" from complete paralysis? You don't. Our best doctors were clueless. But Everett is walking again, against nearly impossible odds.

The human body is amazing and can heal beyond anything we can replicate with science. Or perhaps in 20 years we will have a new procedure which can avert the worst of the condition.

In any case, I've never heard of anyone getting better from pessimism. This was an "all the best," T.J. thread, not a "hey look, you have one foot in the grave" thread.

So if you want to continue bringing such negativity, I invite you once again to refrain from posting further in this thread.

[TDMVPDPOY]

imo he can still ball

seriously all he needs to do is only bring the ball down, set plays, play defense....like those 1 dimensional players who have no offensive game but play defense only, and still get paid

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Dude should hang 'em up.

[some_user86]

How do you get "fixed" from complete paralysis? You don't. Our best doctors were clueless. But Everett is walking again, against nearly impossible odds.

The human body is amazing and can heal beyond anything we can replicate with science. Or perhaps in 20 years we will have a new procedure which can avert the worst of the condition.

In any case, I've never heard of anyone getting better from pessimism. This was an "all the best," T.J. thread, not a "hey look, you have one foot in the grave" thread.

So if you want to continue bringing such negativity, I invite you once again to refrain from posting further in this thread.

He was born with the disease. You don't recover from that. It's set; specifically, his spinal column cannot enlarge (the bones are set, and they are too narrow). He will always have the risk of paralysis whenever he steps onto the court. Basketball is a physical sport, and it already looked like he was gone this time. He needs to take care of his body. There are more important things in life than basketball.

[BonnerDynasty]

Early-retirement ftw.

[ploto]

T.J. Ford was at practice this morning in street clothes, giving us a first chance to quiz him on his recent round of visits to spinal cord specialists. He said he was pain free and 90 per cent recovered from his neck injury, and that he will travel with the team for the remaining three games of this road trip.

Ford said the specialists didn’t tell him anything he doesn’t already know – nothing better, nothing worse – and that it is basically his decision on when to resume basketball activities.

“My body just needs to recover and relax and that’s all I want to do right now is relax,” Ford said. “It’s tough being taken out on a stretcher. It is definitely tough to just hop right back into it a week later, just knowing that your body went into a big shock. I think right now, I need to let my body calm down and when I feel like my body is right, we’ll go to the next step.”

What it sounds like is that Ford is spooked from his latest injury, which happened on Dec. 11 in Atlanta when a hard foul by Al Horford sent him off on a stretcher. Ford said he watched the highlight, his head slamming against the floor, from the hospital that night and that a fear factor certainly hit him.

The point guard admitted that he tried to come back from previous neck injuries too soon, and that he will not make that mistake again. He even let on that he may need to change the way he plays, usually fearlessly among the big bodies in the paint, when he does return.

“The key now is longevity,” Ford said. “It’s still early in the season and we still have a lot more games left. Next time I come back, I want to be able to finish the whole season and not have to break it down into pieces like I have been doing so far.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/wbbasketball

[T Park]

Oughtta retire and get into coaching.

One more bad hit and hes prob a quad.

Good lucky TJ, Good guy that deserves a break.

[makedamnsure]

Poor TJ. I'll be praying for him. He's a classy guy.

[BeerIsGood!]

The thing is that this injury didn't occur from TJ going banging around in a crowded paint, it occurred while taking a layup on a fast break. There is no way to play less aggressive and guard against injury. If that's his mindset he needs to hang 'em up.

[m33p0]

i can't blame him if he does retire. playing in the NBA is great. but having that sword hang over your head everytime you step on the court? that's tough, knowing that everytime someone comes over to you aggressively, you could turn you into a cabbage.

[jacobdrj]

I love watching TJ Ford play. But he has got to retire while he can still walk.