He’s perhaps the most perplexing figure in sports, the aging superstar, the man whose resume reveals excellence and championships, but whose reality finds that in a photo album. He can be the hope and anticipation for a franchise, though more often it’s tumult and turmoil.
It has been for so many, and not because they had any ill intent, other than being unable to overcome time as they had opponents.
No one else could defeat Michael Jordan, defy Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Elgin Baylor, Dave Bing, wall after wall, room after room of them from the Basketball Hall of Fame.