<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Amar? vows to be All-StarPaul CoroThe Arizona RepublicSept. 11, 2006 12:00 AMWith his daily workout done and his shaved scalp drying, Amar? Stoudemire unwinds on a misplaced couch.He folds down the tongue on an early model of his still-to-be-released Nike shoe, unveiling purple script that reads, "Still I rise.""That's my motto," said Stoudemire, who often has cited Tupac Shakur's raps as a guiding force since his teens. "No matter what obstacles come my way, still I rise."advertisement If he rises again, to his pledge of All-Star status this season, it would rival the improbability of the rise that first got him there from a childhood maze. This time, he is rising from microfracture surgery, performed on his left knee 11 months ago.But Suns training camp is fast approaching at the end of the month, and the title hopes that accompany it are pinned on Stoudemire's comeback. He tried a return last season but cut it short to have a cyst and debris removed from his right knee in April."I'm like the Phoenix bird," he said. "I'm kind of reincarnating myself. I'm looking forward to being in Vegas on All-Star weekend and playing on Sunday."To that end, Stoudemire has worked out almost daily since he left USA Basketball's tryout camp early in August because his body was not ready.His managers then hired former Suns athletic trainer Robin Pound. Pound guided Jason Kidd after his 2004 microfracture. Kidd might be the procedure's most successful NBA client.Stoudemire said his work with Pound focuses on strengthening.He said he is at his usual 245-pound playing weight but feels leaner, with 10 percent body fat.Stoudemire has been coming to the arena three times a week to work on basketball skills with Suns coaches and weight training, corrective exercises and manual therapy with the Suns athletic trainers. He also is assessed weekly by Mike Clark, president of the National Academy of Sports Medicine.On off-days, Stoudemire swims three different strokes for 15 laps in a 25-meter pool."He's been progressing and getting himself more mentally and physically ready to play," Nelson said.His only recent setback was swelling in the right knee last month. That dissipated with two days of rest. He said his left knee is perfect."I'm definitely getting my explosiveness back and agility," Stoudemire said. "It's a lot better than when I played with USA and summer league. It's night and day."I'm back to a windmill dunk off one leg. I'm taking off outside the paint. My creativity in the air is coming back. I think I'm going to gradually improve throughout the season. I'm not quite sure if I'm going to be 100 percent by the regular season. But wherever I start the season, I'll gradually improve and next year will even be better."On the court, Stoudemire focuses on improving his lateral movement, ball handling, shooting ("He's focusing and getting even better than he was," Suns assistant Phil Weber said), one-on-one defense and defensive closeouts."He's made strong progress but I think we have to make sure he doesn't do too much so he doesn't have setbacks," Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni said."The urgency in his mind to get better, I know he feels it," Weber said. "It's one thing to do something in July with camp months away and it's another on Sept. 8 when you leave for camp in three weeks. It hasn't changed his work ethic. He's been dedicated all summer."There have been sightings (of vintage Stoudemire). He's got some of the pop."</div>Good to see he's working hare and getting better. I'm not dumb enough to believe that everything's 100% but I love the article. He's very motivated to prove himself and I can't wait to see what he can do.
haha what's with all the analogies? but this is good to hear. I'm an amare fan, I hope the best for him.
Awesome. I'm getting that feeling I do when I read a great article. Excitement. Awe man, let's hurry up and start the new season.
I love Amare, and I wish him the best of luck. He's a very hard worker and dedicated and he has so much talent it's not even funny. I am optimistic about his return, I think he'll be successful this season. He might not be as explosive, at first anyway, but his finesse game is going to flourish, and he will be using his 11 foot jumper more often. I can't wait to see him on the floor again. But are you guys buying or selling Amare being an All-Star this year? I am buying it, I think he's going to come back strong. You?
I don't think he'll be an all-star but by the end of this year and next year I think he'll be playing really well. I don't see this ruining his career. Maybe shortening it but he'll have a few strong years.
Wow, thanks for posting the article, ASUFan. I am a huge Amare fan, when he is healthy he is the most exciting big man in the game. If he really is doing windmills off of one leg, that is a much better sign than in march when he could barely get a 2 hand dunk down (and he had to hold onto rim for like 10 seconds so he could brace for landing). By the time the season rolls around, and after he gets some of his confidence back, he will be just as effective as he was in 2004-2005.
I think he will bounc eback this season and become a dominant player again eventaully. How can anyone not love the way this guy plays and thinks. He thinks WIN and plays with his heart.
Not to be a critic of my hometown team, but this is WAY to bold of a statement for right now. If they want to win they have to take things one step at a time with Amare being an All-Star should be the last thing on his mind.
