Quote:
PHILADELPHIA -- Todd MacCulloch's mysterious foot disorder has cost him the last 1½ seasons with Philadelphia. A comeback doesn't seem likely.
While MacCulloch isn't ready to announce his retirement, the 76ers center knows he may never play again.
"There have been no significant improvements, unfortunately," MacCulloch said Wednesday in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "I'm hoping for a miracle, really."
MacCulloch has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a genetic disorder that disrupts his balance and causes problems with his feet. MacCulloch had surgery in January on his left foot to free a crushed nerve, leaving him hopeful of a recovery and perhaps a similar procedure on his right foot.
Instead, there has been no progress and MacCulloch is still searching for alternatives.
"They said give it six months and I've done that and it hasn't really helped," said MacCulloch, who last played Feb. 2, 2003. "The summer hasn't been all that healing."
MacCulloch said he has not talked with Sixers president Billy King since the end of last season. He knows the Sixers can't wait forever and a decision about his future will come soon.
"I'm not anywhere near feeling like I can go through training camp," he said. "The whole thing has been extremely difficult. The thought of another year without playing has been extremely difficult. I keep hoping for a happy result."
MacCulloch was Philadelphia's second-round draft pick in 1999. After two seasons with the Sixers, he signed with New Jersey, then was traded back to Philadelphia in 2002 along with Keith Van Horn in the deal that sent Dikembe Mutombo to the Nets.
He had his best season with the Nets in 2001-02 when they reached the NBA Finals. He averaged 9.7 points and 6.1 rebounds in 62 games.
The Sixers kept a locker for MacCulloch last year and he did some radio announcing. He'd like to remain with the organization in some capacity.
"The best thing would be playing, the next best thing would be to be involved," he said.
|
LINK
It's best for this team that he doesn't get back, but it's sad to hear the operation he had last year didn't do much in terms of helping out his condition. He didn't do too bad as the color guy next to Tom McGinnis, hopefully he stays on for next year.
Off topic... I wish they'd let McGinnis do the broadcasted games as well, I think he does a much better job than Zumoff and Mix, which is insane considering McGinnis covers both color commentary and play by play.
__________________
Who cares about a championship drought?:
My teams will never win a championship anyway, so why don't you discuss everything else at my forum? Good idea, right? Yeah, I thought so. It's called..
Booing Santa Claus. See you there.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Henry Rollins
“The average is the borderline that keeps mere men in their place. Those who step over the line are heroes by the very act. Go.”
|
Retirement becoming more likely for MacCullouch..
Linear Mode
