"I was thinking that after this year, I'm done with basketball."-McGrady

"I was thinking that after this year, I'm done with basketball."-McGrady

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/bask...ports-headlines

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting :</div><div class="quote_post">The Orlando Magic lost their sixth consecutive game Saturday night, but at least Tracy McGrady says he's stopped thinking outrageous thoughts.

"Over the last five games, I've had some crazy thoughts, man," McGrady said. "I was thinking that after this year, I'm done with basketball.

"Done with basketball, period. That's how frustrated I've been."

This figures to be a frustrating and looooooong season for McGrady and the Magic, who were beaten 96-86 by the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.

McGrady said he even had questioned whether he had lost his "passion for it. ... if I lost my love for the game.

"But I realize I have too much pride for this to be going on," he said, speaking of his struggles as well as the team's.

"I'm taking it day to day. I'll do my best and put this team on my back."</div>

Thats crazy. Theres no way he would give up basketball after a bad week.

I guess hes used to everything coming easy but he needs to suck it up and adjust his attitude.

 

Just play and don't say anything tmac. Just shut up and instead of thinking about quitting, think about how you can beat the zone.

 

Why would you even consider retiring? You get payed a bunch of money for playing a fun game, and you're good at, have people that look up to you, people wearing your merchandise, and people who idolize you. Why give that up? It's not like he can get a good job now because he left right from high school. This is going to be hanging over his head all season, stupid. It would be a waste of talent if he does this. I'm sure he won't though.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting twolvefan11:</div><div class="quote_post">It's not like he can get a good job now because he left right from high school. </div>

I'm guessing T-Mac's covered financially. Those 90 mil he's getting from the Magic would meet my needs for life, not to mention his endorsement $$.

Hey Barry Sanders walked away, what's stopping Tracy?

I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hades that this happens, but hey, makes for interesting convo. McGrady's just frustrated. Winning cures all ills

 

No he isn't retiring anytime soon. I think all those L's got to him. You know how you would want to quit when your team losses that many games. I know i would want to quit. But there's the rest of the season for t-mac. Maybe him and the magic can get there act and game together ang bring home some w's for me and all the other magic fans.

 

NBA CONFIDENTIAL
T-Mac really feeling absence of Hill this year

By Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted November 10, 2003




Tracy McGrady's evolving brilliance the past three seasons with the Orlando Magic somehow has made Grant Hill's absence tolerable. Even, at times, acceptable.

And for entertainment value, there wasn't a better show in the league than watching T-Mac blossom.

Hill's injury saga allowed McGrady to have the floor to himself, but T-Mac always has missed Hill -- no matter how fast a track his career has taken. Because pairing McGrady with Hill was the original plan, the grand 2000 free-agent blueprint to contending in Orlando.

And now, with T-Mac struggling mightily for the first time as a pro, he misses Hill more than ever. Now it really hits home -- not to mention on the road -- everywhere he turns these days.

The loss of Hill is now truly felt as McGrady's loss, the ghost of Grant haunting T-Mac through a dismal 1-6 start.

"Other teams have two max [maximum salary] players. Well, we do, but unfortunately, Grant's not here," McGrady told me said Saturday night, baring his soul like few superstars do.

McGrady talked of stepping away from the NBA (kids who have $93 million contracts say the darndest things) and questioning his love for the game.

He says these things because the pressure of carrying this team -- not only now, but perhaps the next four years by himself, pending a miracle recovery by Hill -- is finally getting to him. The mental aerobics are exhausting.

"Before, I always used to say, 'I don't feel pressure.' . . . There's pressure now," said McGrady, who can opt out of his seven-year contract after next season. "I have to put this team on my back again and carry them and try to get over this latest hump.

"I've been frustrated, and then I think, 'Four more years of this?' . . . Mentally, it's tough."

McGrady reiterated his desire to bring a title to Orlando. Maybe Hill's last comeback can save the day -- and T-Mac's sanity.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/bask...ports-headlines





Well here you see that money isn't everything. I'm sorry Twolvefan11 but I'm going to have to go with Liberty 30 in saying that finding a good job is not T-Mac's biggest concern. He's got cash. What he doesn't have is support. It's too bad that the situation in Toronto was handled so badly. It would have been magical (sorry couldn't resist) to have T-Mac and Carter playing together. I'm sure that he'll get over this. It looks like he's just growing up and figuring himself out.

 

Thats terrible for Orlando fans, having your team leader even address that to anyone is a bad thing. Hes not showing any leadership by thinking of quitting because of their lack of success. He should understand that those things take time, and you can't just have the success at anytime.

 

How High 78 - "It's too bad that the situation in Toronto was handled so badly. It would have been magical (sorry couldn't resist) to have T-Mac and Carter playing together."

Its not that it was 'handled' badly, T-Mac wanted out, he didn't want to be a shadow in vince's life, and the way that vince was playing THEN, that's what it appeared to be. Tracy decided to leave, no one asked him to.

 

damn right warez_333 !! ..
Vince always wanted to play with him .. he didn't mind to share the spotlight with him ..
but tracy wanted his own team .. and if u guys want to accept it or not .. T-Mac is never a leader and will never be .. T-Mac has never had such heart !

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Air Canada:</div><div class="quote_post">damn right warez_333 !! ..
Vince always wanted to play with him .. he didn't mind to share the spotlight with him ..
but tracy wanted his own team .. and if u guys want to accept it or not .. T-Mac is never a leader and will never be .. T-Mac has never had such heart !</div>


Whoa whoa whoa angry raptors fans. I'm sorry to rain on your "T-Mac left pity party" but guys... he's good, he's a leader and he's got heart. Stop crying about him leaving and get on with it. Rally behind your own "fearless leader" Vince Carter and just face it, those guys could never have worked together. I know some of ya'll might not agree with me, but give me the choice and I'll take Tracy ANY DAY against Vince. Bottom line: T-Mac is the game's best player, that's it.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Liberty30:</div><div class="quote_post"> Bottom line: T-Mac is the game's best player, that's it. </div>

...well that's a brash statement. He's good. No one doubts that. The games best player...um...maybe... anyway you'll be able to have your own pity party after T-Mac retires next year! just kidding. T-Mac is an outstanding player. As far as being a leader... I've only heard him trash his team mates, so...I don't know. Maybe I should listen more closely but all I hear from him is how they suck and how he's the greatest thing ever. MJ did the same thing in Washington so it's not like T-mac is all alone up there. It's tough to be in his position.

I still hold that the situation in Toronto was dealt with badly in that T-Mac was not used properly and was not treated as he should have been. The "shadow" thing was only an issue because it was never dealt with. I'm sure that T-mac is starting to feel like he'd love to have a team mate that he could count on. Any way that's the past. I wish T-Mac well but he's going to have to do something other than whine for me to see him as anything other than a very talented basketball player. I reserve the term leader for those who earn it

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting How_High78:</div><div class="quote_post">...well that's a brash statement. He's good. No one doubts that. The games best player...um...maybe... anyway you'll be able to have your own pity party after T-Mac retires next year! just kidding. T-Mac is an outstanding player. As far as being a leader... I've only heard him trash his team mates, so...I don't know. Maybe I should listen more closely but all I hear from him is how they suck and how he's the greatest thing ever. MJ did the same thing in Washington so it's not like T-mac is all alone up there. It's tough to be in his position.

I still hold that the situation in Toronto was dealt with badly in that T-Mac was not used properly and was not treated as he should have been. The "shadow" thing was only an issue because it was never dealt with. I'm sure that T-mac is starting to feel like he'd love to have a team mate that he could count on. Any way that's the past. I wish T-Mac well but he's going to have to do something other than whine for me to see him as anything other than a very talented basketball player. I reserve the term leader for those who earn it</div>

Very good points. He has had some issues down here with the team. For instance, the Horace Grant situation of last year. I hope that that is one area where he continues to improve the older he gets. We shall see. I also understand some of the frustration of drafting a kid like Tracy and then seeing him leave you for more money elsewhere. Understandable why the Raptors fans boo when he comes back (I don't blame Tmac, I think we'd all follow the money), but I understand where you all are coming from.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Liberty30:</div><div class="quote_post">Very good points. He has had some issues down here with the team. For instance, the Horace Grant situation of last year. I hope that that is one area where he continues to improve the older he gets. We shall see. I also understand some of the frustration of drafting a kid like Tracy and then seeing him leave you for more money elsewhere. Understandable why the Raptors fans boo when he comes back (I don't blame Tmac, I think we'd all follow the money), but I understand where you all are coming from.</div>

I agree we all would follow the money. But i really think T-mac is only frustrated that it's just up to him. He's all alone now and I think we need to get him his space and see what he makes out of it

 

Thing about T-mac is that, he always says things that are on the top of his mind. It might be the truth but its not the rigt thing to say. I doubt that Tracy stays in Orlando . He will opt out. He wants a championship, and Orlando is too small of a market to bring in major players. Their payroll is 42 million comapared to 90 million of New York. That 42 million includes Grant Hill, without Hill they would be at 28 million and have 14 million to spend on say Kobe or some one else.

 

I think T-Mac will stick around for a few more years, at least, if forward progress is being made. He's from the Orlando area and his little brother goes to Dr. Philip High, here in town. Also, he is appreciated down here and people now realize the value of a superstar since Shaq's left. I just don't think he'll bolt.

 

I sure hope you are right Liberty. I sure hope he doesn't bolt. I think though that when Grant Hill opts out, that would give us enough money to max another player, preferably a center or pg, which would be forward progress.(as long as they don't get injured). I think Tmac is going to stay and not opt out, but if we aren't progressing, he will leave after his full 7 years is up. I think Tmac is going to look at the opt out year as the Magic's last chance to make them a contender, if not he will leave 2 years later.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Liberty30:</div><div class="quote_post"> Whoa whoa whoa angry raptors fans. I'm sorry to rain on your "T-Mac left pity party" but guys... he's good, he's a leader and he's got heart. Stop crying about him leaving and get on with it. Rally behind your own "fearless leader" Vince Carter and just face it, those guys could never have worked together. I know some of ya'll might not agree with me, but give me the choice and I'll take Tracy ANY DAY against Vince. Bottom line: T-Mac is the game's best player, that's it.</div>

trust .. I'm more than happy cus he left for many reasons ..

one of them .. is that Vince had his own spotlight and turned out to be the player he is now .. !

I take vince over t-mac 24/7 ..

 

Is this a favorite player battle. Slow your rolls and have peace between one another. I like both players. But everyone is entitled to t hier own opinions i was told so i have nothing to do with this

 

I guess it's my fault for bringing up the Toronto situation up in the first place. TimFlem is right no more hating. I Love Vincanity and would take ?Tmac back in a second. But that?s not what this thread is about this thread is about a young, talented, rich basketball player who is becoming disenfranchised by fame and fortune to the point where he is publicly declaring his doubts and fears and insecurities. I hope that he doesn?t leave and faces this uncomfortable situation and prevails. I brought up Toronto in part because I felt there was a connection to this situation in that it seems that T-Mac?s way of dealing with tension is to walk away.