One of the good guys hangs 'em up; good call for all

We’d all be standing around the middle of the Raptors locker room after games a bit awkwardly, maybe 10, 20, sometimes 25 beat grunts and camera operators and drop-ins, waiting patiently for whichever Raptor got dressed first so we could get some passable quotes to use in whatever story we were working on.

Chris Bosh was always the last – he had to get the earrings in and the tie knotted just so because you can’t do TV while looking slovenly – and the seconds would turn into minutes and the deadlines would be rapidly approaching.

And then, without fail, TJ Ford would be done, he’d approach the middle of the room where everyone was gathered and he’d catch someone by eye, stop for a second and say:

“Anyone need anything from me.”

It didn’t matter if he’d played well or poorly or at all, he’d stand there and answer questions honestly and with candor until the last questioner was gone; didn’t matter if they fled to talk to someone else or what, he’d wait and do whatever he had to do.

It was just the kind of guy he was, and is, and of all the Raptors to come down the pike in all the years, the tiny point guard was among the most honest, self-critical and forthcoming of them all.

News yesterday that Ford is going to have to retire from the game he loves so much because of neck/spine/back fears hit like a bolt of lightning, out of nowhere but not entirely unexpected because of the clouds that had been gathering for a while.

I wasn’t there the night he collided with Mark Madsen of Minnesota Timberwolves to cause the first injury that brought his genetic spine flaw to the forefront. TJ was playing in Milwaukee at the time and was as fearless as anyone in the game and the fact he and Madsen developed a friendship afterwards speaks volumes, I think, to TJ’s credit.

I wasn’t there the night in Atlanta when Al Horford smacked him and he fell so hard, so many of us at home holding our breath hoping he’d be okay.

But it was always like that with TJ. He’d go in there, looking to get hit and he didn’t care. He knew about his neck and his spine and his future and he’d do what he had to do. And we’d cringe. Always. If there was one trademark to the style of Ford’s play, the only way to describe it was “fearless.”

He was slight – maybe the tiniest Raptor ever – and he didn’t care. We’d hold our breath – as would his teammates and coaches – every time he’d attack the basket, knowing that the next hit could be his last. Never deterred him, though. He’d get in the paint among the giants of the game and take his hits as they were dished out. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew the next collision could be his last but he didn’t care. It’s the way he was.

It’s probably good that TJ hung ‘em up when he did, the last hit, from New York’s Baron Davis a week or so ago, got him a “stinger” and the realization that he was tempting fate pretty much every time he stepped on the court.

I can only imagine his sadness, deep in his heart, that it’s over; that all his speed and agility and uncanny knack for getting to the basket among far bigger men is not something he will get to do again.

Now, there can be no question, in his time in Toronto at least, that TJ had some issues. He didn’t handle the competition with Jose Calderon all that well – although I will tell you without question that the two remain friends today – and TJ had a tendency to sulk when things didn’t go his way. But he was a relative kid and in the grand scheme of things, I guess hindsight should give him a pass. He was TJ, and the stubbornness wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Oh, and one more thing:

On so many of those nights when he’d make sure he was available and accountable and would stand there and take whatever we had to dish out, there’d be a really cute little fellow over by the locker.

That’d be TJ Junior.

And that’s the guy TJ Senior needs to worry about now.

The decision he made today is the best for both of them.

 

Comments

[D-Mac Ottawa]

A fine tribute, Doug. Best of luck, TJ Ford.

[Diego]

Very well said.

[SheikYurbouti]

Did Horford ever receive any punishment for that hit? Did he ever own up to how senseless and dangerous it was?

[james]

Very well said. Long after the Horford hit (which marked the real end of the Sam & CB Raptors, with Garbajosa's crushed leg as a denouement), they were playing the Lakers on the road and T.J. got a clear break with Kobe back, and you could almost see him say to himself, "Oh, what the hell" and then try to dunk over Bryant. It didn't quite work, as I recall, but just making the attempt was eye-popping. As you say, fearless.

[Nasko]

excellent piece, Doug. Good luck to TJ in whatever he does next.

[larrylukeeborg]

That was a great article.

[m]

Very nice write up. We can only thank T.J. for some exciting play for Toronto and to wish him the best in the future.

[511]

I remember some terrific basketball played by TJ Ford when he was a Raptor. When Smitch would say he was the second best player on the team beside Bosh, I never doubted it. I hope he enjoys his retirement.

[Grant]

Sad news but a good decision. Thanks TJ for the only good year of Raptors basketball that I've watched.

[Ted S.]

Great read Doug. The fans will never forget the TJ - Jose saga, nor TJ's speed and fearlessness - especially given his size and condition. Wish him all the best in his new life.

[SR]

Very nicely said. Best of luck to him.

[Cluck Kent]

Wonderful tribute to TJ. I really enjoyed watching him play. He was incredibly fast and even if he was the tiniest Raptor to play the game, he was still nearly 6 foot as I recall. Even if he was 5 10, I can't fathom anyone that big having the speed TJ did.

[TLI]

A great tribute to an exciting Raptor, Doug!
Through all the noise and drama that preceded his departure from Toronto, we might have forgotten a bit of how much fun it was to watch the Raptors "two-headed point guard" attack and what a thrill it was to see TJ slashing through the paint.
Thanks for bringing it all back.

[sam]

TJ was fearless and a good compliment to Jose. It's a shame he didn't recognize it at the time. I wish him well....

[DH]

Doug that is without a doubt one of the best blogs I've read. Raptor fans had a negative view of TJ. You referred to his attitude as stubborn but 1 has to realize that at 5'10" maybe 160 he had to come to the NBA with something more than just talent. TO Fans don't realize it takes a certain swagger / attitude / arrogance if you want to call it that way to be successful in the NBA. Had he been 6'3" 200 pounds little doubt he could've been an impact player. He possessed some serious talent to be named Naismith and College player of the year his junior year. But yes the 1 thing that lingered in the back of everyone's mind the spine finally caught up with him.

[RD]

Brilliantly said, Doug.

[Jamie]

I just wanted to add my voice to the many commending this piece Doug, very well written and a fitting tribute to TJ. The 06/07 season was my first following the Raptors (and basketball altogether), and I'll never forget the impact TJ had on that team. I wish him all the best for the future.

[TLI]

@Sheik - As I recall, Horford's hit was considered unintentional but Horford himself was a bit shaken up by the impact on TJ. Horford went to the hospital right from the game and waited there for TJ to finish the tests so he could see TJ personally. TJ said he knew it was accidental. In the game, Horford was called and ejected for the flagrant then suspended for a game.

[doug]

good article on TJ, I never realized you had written it as I was busy and never checked back on the blog yesterday...I always remember T.J. for something I had never seen before on a court or since, in a game once he was in one of those moods and miffed at someone or something and he did something like I said I have never seen before....he commenced to take at least 8 consecutive shots on 8 straight possessions without a pass, he was finally pulled as I was forget who was coaching but I think they were in shock along with anyone else....he made the right decision here though, it's easy for us to say it was and is just a game for him it's his life...hopefully he will get back into coaching as his personality etc...seems like a good fit there....

[DAFJr]

Not only was this a fantastic take on TJ's career but I'm also incredibly pleased in the comment section. All too often we see senseless comments made regarding honest stories. TJ has made a decision with his head - in this day and age that says a lot about a person. I wish him continued health.

[Dagger]

Thanks Doug. Well said.

[Chris Nick]

Great article. Really appreciate reading a piece like this rather than a tweet. I saw TJ go toe-to-toe with Steve Francis early on in his career during one of his first games back in Houston. I noticed his quickness and fearlessness then; thanks for the insight on him as a basketball player and as a person.

[PB]

Will miss TJ. Was my 70 Y.O. mom's favorite Raptor (never a basketball fan before).

Shame the injuries hampered what could've been an amazing career (still ended up pretty darn good).