There is an old saying that your Old Pal New York Vinnie learned early in life and it is something that I have never forgotten; “Never Judge A Man until You Walk A Mile In His Shoes.” Each and everyone of us is a product of everything that has happened in our lives. That is what makes us individuals we each have our own strengths and weaknesses that we bring us to the table. You could show a video clip to 20 different people and get 20 different reactions. It is all based on our own perspectives.
We all react differently to pain also; some people have a very high threshold for pain yet others can not tolerate it at all. It does not mean that you are a sissy or a wussy; that is just the way you were made. Some very very tough guys can not tolerate pain at all while some frail little old ladies could go through the same pain and hardly be bothered by it.
The Los Angeles Lakers have two star players who react to pain quite differently. Kobe Bryant has been playing with a messed up pinkie finger for the last couple of years. The only way the finger will get better and the pain will stop is if he gets an operation. He however so far has decided to skip the procedure and play through the pain because he does not want to miss anytime out on the court.
Lakers big man Pau Gasol is also in a lot of pain right now but unfortunately for the team and him he has not beeen able to play though it. The “Los Angeles Times” is reporting that the All-Star is starting to get somewhat concerned about his strained right hamstring. Gasol missed the last six preseason games because of the injury as well as the first two game of the regular season. His club takes on the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday; will the big man make his regular season debut in that contest. Gasol told reporters “I don’t think Sunday is the day.”
The former member of the Memphis Grizzlies hurt himself during the preseason and has only been on the court once; three weeks ago to practice since suffering the injury. Gasol who was a major part of the team that won the NBA Title last June as well as making the All-Star team right now is some what worried. He said “I’m concerned about it, definitely. There’s no set time to return, no set date. I just don’t want it to turn into something long-term.”
New York Vinnie wrote all off-season that I do not believe that the Lakers will make it back to the Finals this June. However if they hope to remain among the top teams in the Western Conference they need Gasol back as soon as possible. However if you have ever had hamstring problems you realize it is a really tricky thing. If you rush back too quickly you can mess yourself up pretty badly and start back worse off then you were after the initial injury. If you try to be a Frickin hero you could be out for months. So Gasol and the Lakers have to be as cautious as possible to make sure this does not turn into a long term problem.
