This NBA season has been full of disappointments for me.  First of all, my Boston Celtics traded for Antoine Walker.  That is an article in and of itself, as anyone who believes that Walker is anywhere near a decent player is wrong.  Also, the Celtics are nowhere close to playoff-caliber. 

However, the biggest blow to me was when Reggie Miller and Karl Malone announced their retirements in the same week.  The last of my favorite NBA players are leaving me.  John Stockton left a while ago, as did Hakeem Olajuwon, Mutombo is falling apart with each game (seriously, watch him in his next game, he is losing body parts with each trip up the court), and Robert Pack pops up every so often to save the day for some other team (again, that’s another article itself).  But Reggie and Karl were my favorites. 

Karl:  stay with us, man.  You are obviously in playing shape, and you are arguably the greatest power forward to ever play the game.  Stay man.  Stay and play a few more years.  You are second only to Kareem in scoring, field goals, and minutes played.  Take those records.  They could be yours in two fairly productive seasons.  You can still compete with 80% of all NBA power forwards, and could easily find a place to fit in somewhere. 

Reggie:  stay with us, man.  You are almost in the same boat as Mutombo, but you are still a valuable asset to the Pacers.  You are 16^th all-time in scoring, 23^rd in field goals made, 7^th in free throw percentage (tied with your savior and mine, Larry Bird), 11^th in free throws made, 6^th in minutes played, and, of course, 1^st all time in three point field goals made.  Not only that, you are the master of moving without the ball and drawing the fouls.  Not only that, but you are arguably the most clutch shooter to ever live (at least, I’d argue it).  That sort of greatness needs a title.  Stay and go for a ring.  You have earned it.

Both of these men deserve championship rings.  Neither of them will get one, barring some miracle and the Pacers go all the way this year.  However, they are still first-ballot hall of famers that will always have my respect.  They will not stay, as much as I wish they would. 

But hey, we still had all the good times.  Stockton-to-Malone more times than should have been legal.  Knicks fans everywhere in pain as yet another Miller dagger eliminates them from the playoffs.  Those were the days.

With the NBA in a talent slump, we may be seeing the last of the true basketball players leave us.  The NBA was such a great thing to watch, but it is getting to be more and more like college level talent, as every single first round pick is coming straight out of high school.  There will never be another Reggie Miller.  There will never be another Karl Malone.  The talent just isn’t there.  Very few guys can play defense now.  Very few guys can move without the ball and draw a foul at will.  Very few guys can shoot a mid-range jump shot with any reliability.  These guys could play, and they could play the right way.  They were superstars playing in a very unflashy way.  I respect the hell out of both of them, not only for how they played and how successful they were, but for where they came from, what they have overcome to be where they are today. 

Reggie, Karl, you are leaving us.  I thank you for all the entertainment you brought me over the years.  Have fun in retirement.

P.S.  Don’t worry, Karl.  I know, as do all your loyal fans, that Jordan pushed off of Russell.  That ring should be yours.

StretPharmacist is a lot like the Undertaker:  A gimmick that should have never gotten over, but was taken to unbelievable heights.  Also, he is constantly injured.