[外電] Fans give Jackson show of appreciation
http://0rz.tw/p8W83
Bobby Jackson knows where he belongs. He knows where he played his best,
where he won the most games, where he swiped the most passes, where he stole
the most hearts.
This is home.
This was for him.
On Tuesday night, when the visiting San Antonio Spurs rekindled memories of
the days when the economy was flush and the Kings were contenders, Bobby
Jackson was cheered, embraced, showered with appreciation. This was a group
hug, the collective thank-you card he never received for all his gifts.
The steals. The passes. The loose balls. The energy. The pure, unrefined
passion. The guts.
No King is more beloved than Bobby Jackson. None, not even Vlade Divac.
Jackson was released after the 2004-05 season, dabbled in Memphis, New
Orleans and Houston before returning to Sacramento last season. Then his body
forced him into retirement, but he never really left. There he was, running
charity events, mentoring youngsters, participating in youth clinics. There
he was, barbecuing with the neighbors in Granite Bay, checking in with the
Kings. There he was in the bleachers during summer league prep games, signing
autographs, grabbing a burger, chatting up his Kings.
"Who ever thought that I would wind up here for good?" Jackson said with a
shake of his head. "No way. When I first came here, I was like, 'Man, this is
a boring city. No way I'm going to keep staying here.' But it ended (up)
being the best place for me and my family. I never wanted to leave."
And who knows? If he establishes himself as sort of a sixth man in the front
office, those Chris Webber and Divac jerseys could be forced to create space
for No. 24. He just needs some prep work. … Get comfortable in those suits.
Chew his lip when he feels the urge to tell the truth, which as everyone
around Sacramento knows, can be too often for his own good. The thing about
BJax, though, is that he won't be ignored and he's too delightful a
personality to chase away.
"Along with the rest of those guys we had when we were really good, Bobby
brought a great spirit and competitiveness," said basketball president Geoff
Petrie, who gives his ex-player good grades for his work in the scouting
department. "He played that (aggressive) style that endeared him to a lot of
people, and he had an incredible work ethic."
Before signing with the Kings as a free agent in 2000, the 6-foot-1,
185-pound Jackson failed to carve a consistent role with the Denver Nuggets
and Minnesota Timberwolves. Though quick and fearless on the break, his shaky
outside shooting and decision-making hampered his development. His unusually
small hands often caused him to be stripped of his dribble.
Yet instead of brooding or griping about playing behind Jason Williams and
later Mike Bibby, or demanding a trade, Jackson attacked his weaknesses the
way he devours burgers. (Too many these days, he admits). He shot and shot
and shot. He dribbled and dribbled and dribbled. He watched film. He pestered
longtime special assistant Pete Carril. His improvement was apparent to
everyone, himself included. And though he always believed he was a superior
player than Williams and Bibby, Jackson flourished as an intensely
competitive, tempo-changing, crowd-pleasing sixth man.
"It's just a shame Bobby had an unfortunate run of injuries there at the
end," Petrie noted.
Jackson, 37, who is still married to Dona and the father of five children,
moves forward with a new career and few regrets. The fact he was on the bench
when Game 7 of Kings-Lakers 2002 was decided still stings. And he wonders
what would have happened in 2004 if he hadn't torn his abdominal muscle
during the Kings' last gasp at a championship.
In the past, Jackson answered both questions with a nod and a grin. He
absolutely believes he would have altered the outcome on both occasions. But
he is older and wiser and learning to play by a different set of rules.
Shhhh! "When I was a player, I always said what I thought," Jackson said,
laughing. "Can't do that anymore. I work for the club now. … But you know
me. When Geoff asks me in private what I think of a player, even if no one
else in the room agrees, I'm going to give my opinion. That's not changing."
================================================
很棒的文章，有興趣的可以翻翻看
--
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 219.70.206.103
→
04/08 22:40, , 1F
04/08 22:40, 1F
Kings 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
12
17