<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">HOUSTON (AP) -- All-Star weekend has come to Houston during one of the worst times of Tracy McGrady's life. The 26-year-old Rockets star, who'll play in his sixth All-Star game Sunday, won't divulge what's bothering him, but said his personal crisis is as trying as anything he's ever faced. "I'm human, I'm going through some things in my life, things I've got to deal with, and I'm just trying to handle it the best way I can," McGrady said. "It's wearing and tearing at me. This weight has gotten heavy for me and it's taking a toll." McGrady has missed 13 games this season with back spasms and left another game in late December to see his fiancee, Clerenda Harris, give birth to their second child, a son. But McGrady wouldn't say whether the issues were health-related or who they involve. "I've dealt with family members passing away, best friends getting killed," McGrady said. "This is a lot worse than that because it's a combination of things in different areas. "I'm in a tough stage of my life right now." Whatever is bothering him, it's affected his play. In his last 12 games, McGrady has shot worse than 32 percent from the field six times, including a 4-for-15 night in Houston's 109-75 loss to Phoenix on Thursday. He went 3-for-20 against New York last Sunday and refused to speak to reporters afterward. "At times, I don't even want to be in the arena or a uniform," McGrady said. "It's just been so frustrating. In the past, I've usually done a great job of keeping things to myself and really not letting things affect me. "I am going through some things and it does affect my professional life. I try not to let it, but I can't really control it." McGrady had planned to skip Friday's media availability. Friends convinced him to go and McGrady said he hopes the weekend festivities in his backyard will take his mind off the personal problems. "It really took a lot for me to come down here with the things that are going on," McGrady said. "They told me it was the best thing for me and I realize this is in the city I perform in every night." Even Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy is concerned, making a recent unscheduled visit to McGrady's house to talk to him about his issues. McGrady told Van Gundy he was considering taking some games off and disappearing from public life. "I told my coach that's how I felt -- that I really felt like leaving and not tell people where I was going, just getting away for a few days and just clearing my mind," McGrady said. "I need peace of mind right now. It's all just piled up on me and broken me down." McGrady said friends are helping him work through the issues, and he feels better than he did a few days ago. "There, for a while, I wasn't really myself in games, after games, and everybody noticed it," he said. "I just felt like sharing with people what I was going through -- things that wear and tear on me physically and emotionally."</div> Source
they said a similar thing during the game yesterday during the game i think after the all star break he will be fine atleast i hope for the teams sake
oh man that sounds serious..he won't even tell! It's understandable that now his main focus isn't getting to the playoffs, personal life is much more important. hope he gets over it soon!
Wow, this really sounds serious for T-Mac. He won't even tell what it is that is bothering him... hopefully for his sake everything works out for the best, and he can get back to playing basketball the way he is capable of playing. Obviously, his personal life is much more important than basketball, and again, I hope everything works out for him and his family.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Adrenaline:</div><div class="quote_post">Maybe someone in the family might be dying or his new baby..any ideas?</div> Personally i'd rather not speculate, just hope whatever it is has a positive resolution as soon as possible. What seems weird to me though is that he commented on it, but refused to mention any specifics. Given he obviously wants to keep it quiet (which is his perogative), there seems no point to even comment on it.
Well I don't know when this article was written . . . but I DO BELIEVE I called this. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mag:</div><div class="quote_post"> Who cares, we were on the road, our defense sucks right now, and you can tell something is bothering Tracy. </div> Yes, let's all listen to Mag now.. I pwnz0r3d. Anyways, let's hope McGrady's problems will die down before the break is over, we don't want him to be balancing basketball and outside issues. Maybe this cues Yao to totally take over games now. . . Come on Yao, we've been waiting for a 40-18 game from you.
if it was really serious i dont think he would be playin in the all star game so it must not be that big of a deal
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">if it was really serious i dont think he would be playin in the all star game so it must not be that big of a deal</div> I think if you get in, you have to, its mandatory. The dunk contest is the only thing you don't have to go to if you're invited if I remember correctly. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mag:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes, let's all listen to Mag now.. I pwnz0r3d. </div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">I think if you get in, you have to, its mandatory. The dunk contest is the only thing you don't have to go to if you're invited if I remember correctly. </div> There are actually cases where player's can be excused. I just read that Raja Bell was excused from the 3 point contest because of a family illness. I'm sure T-Mac could be excused from the all-star game if there is a very serious issue he had to deal with. And I just realized I used the word "excused" in each of my three sentences. I'm great.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting evolidiot:</div><div class="quote_post">There are actually cases where player's can be excused. I just read that Raja Bell was excused from the 3 point contest because of a family illness. I'm sure T-Mac could be excused from the all-star game if there is a very serious issue he had to deal with. And I just realized I used the word "excused" in each of my three sentences. I'm great.</div> Congrats. Agree with Jerry West. If McGrady doesn't want to talk about what was bothering him, why bring it up in the first place? Maybe he felt he owed an explanation for his poor play, but I hate it when people are so vague like that.
What did you guys think of Charles Barkley's comments? He said, McGrady owes it to the Rockets to be the leader of this team. All these players want the fame and the money, but when their team needs them the most they are full of excuses. He said sympathizes with TMac, but said other people in the working world have to go back to work the next day. TMac not being able to handle this is a cop out.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">What did you guys think of Charles Barkley's comments? He said, McGrady owes it to the Rockets to be the leader of this team. All these players want the fame and the money, but when their team needs them the most they are full of excuses. He said sympathizes with TMac, but said other people in the working world have to go back to work the next day. TMac not being able to handle this is a cop out.</div> I sorta agree with Barkley. This is one of the first time I 've heard of where an off-court issue effected a player's performance so negatively. Like Magic said, most players look forward to being on the court when they have off-court issues because it gives the player an oppurtunity to get their minds off wahtever is troubling them. Two instances I am reminded of are Kobe Bryant's rape trial saga and Michael Jordan and his father's death. Both seemed to play with more emotion whent they had those issues. I get the feeling that T-Mac is losing passion for the game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Adrenaline:</div><div class="quote_post">Maybe someone in the family might be dying or his new baby..any ideas?</div> i dont really care what issues he is dealing with, if doest wanna tell, then why bother trying to figure it out... but i hate to see t-mac struggle, i hope he can get through whatever hes dealing with, and start playing like a superstar hes naturally made of
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">What did you guys think of Charles Barkley's comments? He said, McGrady owes it to the Rockets to be the leader of this team. All these players want the fame and the money, but when their team needs them the most they are full of excuses. He said sympathizes with TMac, but said other people in the working world have to go back to work the next day. TMac not being able to handle this is a cop out.</div> I hate when the sports media play the role of therapist. Charles Barkley is all of a sudden an expert on how one should lead his life? No one knows what McGrady is going through. He appears to be seriously depressed. So how can anyone even comment on how he should deal with it? Certainly, that Phoenix loss didn't help matters any. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting evolidiot:</div><div class="quote_post"> Two instances I am reminded of are Kobe Bryant's rape trial saga and Michael Jordan and his father's death. Both seemed to play with more emotion whent they had those issues.</div> Are you suggesting that McGrady take a season off and play minor league baseball, like Jordan did?
I'm just wondering, how bad can this thing thats bothering him be? He's said he's dealed with family members and friends dying so I really can't think of anything worse than the big ultimatum- death. Besides, I sort of agree with what Magic Johnson said, that the court is basically your sanctuary. Whenever I play, regardless of whether or not I have say, a big test the next day, for that hour or so I can get everything off my chest and leave it on the court. If anything, games are a vacation from whatever's bothering him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm just wondering, how bad can this thing thats bothering him be? He's said he's dealed with family members and friends dying so I really can't think of anything worse than the big ultimatum- death. Besides, I sort of agree with what Magic Johnson said, that the court is basically your sanctuary. Whenever I play, regardless of whether or not I have say, a big test the next day, for that hour or so I can get everything off my chest and leave it on the court. If anything, games are a vacation from whatever's bothering him.</div> It may not be any specific thing. It sounds like it is a combination of a lot of factors (his past tragedies, the stress of having a newborn child, not knowing on a game-to-game basis whether or not his back will go out) that have just beaten him down mentally. He could be clinically depressed. It's easy for a Kobe Bryant or Magic Johnson to look at the game as a sanctuary. They were on perenniel winning teams that won championships. McGrady has been branded a loser by the media. I'm not sure how playing NBA games, where his character is torn a part by his coach and the media after every loss (no "competitiveness", no "passion"), is going to help him relieve stress.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post"> Are you suggesting that McGrady take a season off and play minor league baseball, like Jordan did?</div> I wouldn't mind seeing Mcgardy take his shot at hitting a curveball. To be serious, I was only bringing up Kobe and Michael's situation because they were going through problems that were as difficult as it gets. One was facing possible jail time and divorce, and the other had to go through the death of a father. Kobe performed well even on court days, and Michael led the Bulls to the championship. All we're getting from T-Mac is the inconsistency of we would expect from Swift. I believe Jordan and Kobe really enjoyed the game of basketball so it was a sanctuary for them. An oppurtunity for them to escape their harsh reality for a few hours and just do something they really enjoy. I don't think Mcgrady, at this point, actaully enjoys basketball right now. Maybe that is a result of the Rockets current record. If T-Mac had passion for the game he would be relishing the time on the court and taking his fustration out on the Rocket's opponents, but all we're seeing is a player with as much passion as a Rocket-era Vin Baker. This is my stab at a psychological analysis of Mcgrady. I could be completely wrong though, since no one but him knows what he is going through and what he is feeling.
If something is bothering him this much, it's serious. Some people perform well under times of crisis (Bret Favre, Michael Jordan) and some don't. It's simple. If this issue is serious enough to effect his court play, give him some space. It could be numerous reasons, his child could be very ill, a family member really close to him could be very ill, for all we know, McGrady could be very ill. It could be something very serious with his wife, or even his back. There are so many major issues, especially health, that can effect someone.
