THAT'S AMARE

'STATistically' Speaking.

By Tim David Harvey




When a forward comes right out of high school, ready and primed for the pro's. Nationally burning the association, making the NBA elite look like teenagers losing their feet. From blink and you'll miss it, lighting flash dunks, leading to action replays to thunderous applause. Thor's here, it's hammer time and the only thing baggy is the shorts. The only thing dated is the defense, the only thing fading is the doubt, and that sweet, underrated shot. STOP!

That's Amare,

When a man child, dwarfs everybody, strong arming his way through the paint while towering like a blazing inferno. You know who it is, from rap lyrics to nicknames. Jersey sales to magazine covers and posters. Between the trees, leaving double teams at their knees. Covering their eyes and grabbing their nuts. Dunks as sick as doctors notes, Julius Erving would be proud. One handers that are as hard as pimp slaps, save some talc K.G. This man dunks on everyone from Michael Olowakandi to Shaq,

That's Amare,

When a player joins Skateboard Steve and The Matrix to reload and revolutionise a struggling Phoenix Suns team, rising them from the ashes and giving them brighter days. A man making the Phoenix metaphor more than a myth, burning hotter than that INXS video 'The Gift' (look it up). A man with cold plays in the dessert, raising Arizona like Nicholas Cage with a dodgy 'tache.




That's Amare,

When a player goes from a 20 and 10 threat to a promise, whatever the number, 32 or number 1. When a player becomes one of the most imposing and dominant big men in the L and a Western Conference that includes the best, whatever the number. 34, or two 21's, the larger than life Shaq diesel, 'da' passionate kid Garnett and the machine Tim Duncan. When a guy is just as good as those advertised,

That's Amare,

When a big man goes down on one knee, but stays in matrimony with rehab and recovery for better or worse, he comes back stronger than ever. When a player overcomes career ending injuries to define a season like other former and current Sun spots, Jason Kidd and Grant Hill. No McGrady, no 'dyce. When a players strong at the knees and weak for nobody. Coming back with an Eminem 'Recovery', never to 'Relapse' again. Putting up big numbers in his first week, real STAT quo.

That's Amare,

When a man almost loses his sight, but never the vision for the game. Coming back yet again from season ending surgery, late in the game to see the playoffs out. Bracing up and strapping on his goggles, going to work with shades of Kareem, Horace Grant and Moses Malone. His eye on one thing like cyclops, a championship. A superstar, a hero an ex-Sun man. A man who in his final year under the Western sun overcame the odds and almost with his team the champion Lakers,



That's Amare,

When a free agent enters a Summer pool of players that include LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki but still commands attention like a lottery pick on dratw day. When the player becomes one of the best and the most important acquisitions of the offseason. When he becomes the first and foremost signing after the July start date. When he puts an end to the names and the games. When he's all in, like EA Sports, or Cee-Lo, the past, 'Forget You', more like 'F*** You'. All for the green, or more like the team, for that championship gold, shining through the influence of the sun.

That's Amare,

The same Amare who now pulls on a New York Knick jersey with pride and restores the same feeling in Madison Square Garden. Now that really is big. The same player who takes his team from the cellar to contention really is a stand out. A man joined by two sharp Italians, a rookie of the month and a great point on his new N.Y. team. This same man makes sure this former joke team has the last laugh. The same man is the only guy really capable of shaping up and standing next to Dwight Howard, the most imposing big in the East. This same man makes Knickerbocker, MSG fans think of playoffs like the Ewing era and even more like Fraizer or Earl the Pearl. This man knows things are going to be more than alright. When this man refreshes the rotten apple of New York basketball at the core. When this may be, M.V.P. lights up N.Y. like Time Square with a billboard as prominent as Diddy or any Broadway show. When this man takes attention off Sinatra like Dean Martin, that's amore, that's love,

That's Amare.