Dikembe Mutombo is done with the NBA. After he went down with a leg injury last night, Mutombo declared with tears in his eyes that he is officially retiring from the NBA.
"Nobody ever thought they'd be carrying the big guy out like a wounded soldier," he said in an article by the Associated Press.
Man, that really hits me hard. Here is a guy who has been in the league for 18 years. I'm a huge NBA fan, and this guy was one of the only bridges left from the old dream team to the new dream team. I don't know basketball without Dikembe being a part of it in some way. It is a sad day for basketball indeed. I hope Dikembe doesn't think less of himself for leaving the game because of an injury. The fact that someone that large had such an amazing and long career is a testiment to him. Greg Oden has twice as many injuries in 1/18th of the time.
It may not seem like a big deal to the average fan, but to real NBA fans, if this doesn't touch you in some way, maybe you should wonder if you are a real fan.
Nobody will ever forget the finger he wagged at players after blocking the hell out of them. To this day, that is one of the most degrading and awesome things the NBA has experienced. Kids for years to come will be wagging the finger at sullen and downtrot children who were just embarassed in front of everyone.
Here's to you, Dikembe.
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