Wednesday was an emotional evening for Tim Hardaway, and he hadn't even joined Miami in mourning Udonis Haslem starting opening night on the bench yet.
Instead, one of the NBA's best point guards followed his old teammate and friend Alonzo Mourning into history when his number 10 jersey was raised to the rafters of American Airlines Arena and retired.
"Tonight, I stand before you truly humble and grateful," said Bigs, following an introductory speech from Pat Riley and a goose bump-inducing highlight reel that reminded everyone just how brilliantly Hardaway set the franchise records in three-point goals and assists that still stand (not to mention the league records, five All-Star appearances, Olympic gold, and other glories).
He was joined on the court by his family, friends, Riley, Heat owner Mickey Arison, and former teammates Mourning and -- in a big surprise -- old "Run TMC" partners Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin from his star-making early days with the Warriors. But the fans were never far from his mind, and he repeatedly thanked the Heat community for supporting him through his playing days and the oft-rocky beyond.
It's fitting, controversy be darned, that Hardaway was so honored by his former team. Though injury limited his career when he may have enjoyed an even more impressive prime than he had, his prime was unbelievable. His crossover revolutionary. His shot ever clutch. His determination the stuff from which franchises are made, and his size no matter, except to make his accomplishments that much more impressive.
And his homophobic words on a Miami radio station, the ones he'll never be able to take back? That's part of Hardaway's story, too -- a considerable issue he's worked hard to understand and overcome, the same way he worked hard to be bigger than 5'11, the same way he battled to resuscitate his career after injury found him overweight and underutilized coming off the bench with Golden State, the same way he buckled down when the Heat wanted Gary Payton and turned back to Hardaway as a last resort: he showed up at practice first, left last, worked out harder, played better, and threw himself into learning why it was, as Luke Jude, Director of Communications at the Yes Institute, an organization aimed at reducing violence and suicide among gay and questioning youth, put it, "he was being punished for saying something that he had routinely gotten high-fives for."
So yes, it's okay to mention that whole endorsements-killing business, because no one will ever look at Tim Hardaway again and think only basketball. But no one will ever look at a Heat player in his jersey again, either, and that's as it should be.
Sports
Thanks for the memories, Bigs, and all the hard work. Enjoy your "great moment." You deserve it.
Janie Campbell believes in ballpark hot dogs, the pro-set, and retiring jerseys based on on-court performances. Her work has appeared in irreverent sports sites around the Internet.
