Andrew Bynum: Rocky Balboa (Rocky)
“’Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody’s ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I’m still standin’, I’m gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren’t just another bum from the neighborhood.”
Before Mr. T.
Before frolicking in the ocean with Apollo.
Before Tommy Gunns.
There was just Rocky, a gritty dude from South Philly who no one expected to make it to the final bell. He was overmatched and beaten down, but he would never give up. No matter how many times Apollo thought he delivered the knock out blow, Rocky refused to go down. In one of the most unexpected outcomes in movie history, Rocky showed more guts in the ring than anyone thought he had.
Andrew Bynum is facing a similar challenge.
Admit it, you expected Andrew to quit by now. Once you heard about the torn meniscus on Big Drew’s knee you didn’t think he’d make it to the end, did you? With all his injuries over the past few years, you expected Drew to shrivel up and disappear once things got tough.
When you heard he had a bum knee (again), you got on the phone with Mitch Kupchak and begged him to trade Bynum for Bosh.
You didn’t think the kid had any heart. You didn’t think he could play through pain. You didn’t think he could hack it.
Well ladies and gentleman, it’s Game 7 of the NBA Finals and Andrew Bynum is still standing. I can’t say the same about Kendrick Perkins.
Bet you didn’t think you’d read those words two weeks ago.
