Did anyone catch Amare Stoudemire on Real Sports on HBO

[slinslin]

Its was a follow up story to the one they did when he was a senior in HS. Go watch it, it should come on in 15 minutes. It'll come on again plenty of times throughout the month though.

 

[slinslin]

Here is what I could put together from guys who saw it


- Amare lived in poverty his entire life
- He wanted to follow TMacs footsteps after hearing how the "local boy" made it big.
- His mother was in prison for grand theft
- Amare went to 6 high schools in 8 months
- He once was in a school with only 12 students, all 12 students being basketball players.
- Lived with a coach who was basically just trying to take advantage of him.
- Nike scout and High School Coach at Mt. Zion(I think) threatened if he didnt play for them, they would make sure he didnt play for any basketball team in the nation.
- Amare wasnt able to play ball because he had a 1.7 GPA, later it was shown that he actually had a 2.0 GPA and was eligible, but his transcripts were doctored to show he had a 1.7.
- His mother was sent back to jail for violating her parole by being in NY for Amares Draft day.
- Now has a "7 figure" contract with Nike

Had advice for all HS prospects getting taken advantage of:

Dont remember the exact quote, but he said make sure the parents are there to watch over their kids, so they wont get taken advantage of like he did.

Amare looked weird with his braids, pretty weird seeing him as a HS student. It was a pretty good piece and now they said the mother got out of jail and is living with Amares little brother, Marlon, in Phoenix


--

The worst thing was how some ***** coach from Mt. Zion blackmailed Amare telling him 'if you don't play for us, we'll ruin you're basketball career.'

Those Mt. Zion *******s doctored his 10th grade transcript, changing grades, so Amare would not be able to attend HS somewhere in Florida.

They also mentioned how the different shoe companies were the driving forces behind all the summer ball BS. Reps of the summer leagues, sponsored by the shoe companies, competed to bail his mom out of jail and ****. It was all a ******* nightmare.

 

[Ryanwb]

Can't believe he went through all of that and never got into any kind of trouble. He is a pretty strong kid

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Can't believe he went through all of that and never got into any kind of trouble. He is a pretty strong kid

True. It is amazing with the fire that he plays with that he can control himself. Amare has the best controlled rage in a player that I think I have ever seen. He imposes his will on games, even at his young age. Watching the incident with Steve Francis really highlights his strength. Think Francis would have gotten the same reaction on the streets with Amare, with that elbow to the throat?

 

[George O'Brien]

True. It is amazing with the fire that he plays with that he can control himself. Amare has the best controlled rage in a player that I think I have ever seen. He imposes his will on games, even at his young age. Watching the incident with Steve Francis really highlights his strength. Think Francis would have gotten the same reaction on the streets with Amare, with that elbow to the throat?

Perhaps there is something to that phrase, "that which does not kill me only makes stronger". Amare has a strength of character that is so amazing it staggers the imagination. When Amare says he wants to become an elite player, don't doubt him.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

When Amare says he wants to become an elite player, don't doubt him.

Remember when he was drafted, and said his rookie year goal was winning ROY? Everyone laughed it off at that point, I think we have all learned our lesson.

 

[tommcnabb]

My point exactly. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don't have what it takes "inside", then you're wasting your time.

The C's did the right thing by making this Amare's team.