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Zydrunas Ilgauskas - Game #724 - Cavaliers record

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Rabman, yea when noone defended Z after he got elbowed in the head by sheed, that really bothered me. Noone had his back back then. I remember feeling bad for him back then.
 
My memories of Z aren't even game related. It's just my perception of Z as probably the one player I look at, as having given more of themselves just to get back out on the court again, than any other player I've ever been around in my life.

People that watch Z play today, really don't appreciate what skill level, and athletic ability he brought to the game before all the foot issues.

He was a 7'3 highly athletic center, with excellent ball skills, and a soft shooting touch. If Z didn't have all the foot issues that he did, he would have gone down as one of the greatest centers of all time. He was robbed of virtually all of his mobility, which was one of his greatest strengths.

If Z had the makeup of the normal human ...he never would have played NBA basketball again after the great number of surgical failures that littered his career early on.

He was a kid that at certain times in his life had spent 35% of his life on crutches. People remember all his issues as a Cavalier, but don't even know about all the issues he dealt with as a child, and having to go through never ending pain, not only with his feet but legs as well.

The degree of pain that he lives with on a day to day basis, and will continue for the rest of his life ..is something only he truly knows about and we can only imagine. But, Z has his feet in buckets of ice after every single game. Even when he gets back to his room or home after each game.

He deals with issues where the pain is so intense it's robbed him of nights upon nights of sleep.

Nobody realizes that on many a road trip, where accomodations aren't readily available to help him ...he may go successions of days and nights with no sleep at all, and still suit up and play to the best of his abilities every night, without complaint.

For this man to have lasted as many years as he has, and given as much as he has given to this franchise is unequalled by any other athlete that I've ever been associated with in my lifetime.

His personal sacrifices for this franchise will never be equalled.

Long after his playing days are over, he will continue to endure the aches and pains that are the result of doing whatever it took to get out on the court and play the game.

The thing that really is the measure if this man, that just really reflects what he is about is ...he was a very rich man very early on in life. He had the huge contract, and more money than he'd ever spend in his lifetime when the foot issues piled up on him in his early 20's.

He had the longterm contract worth over 100 mil. He didn't HAVE to put himself through all this, and could have lived the life that he leads today whether he ever suited up and played ever again or not.

But, he's not built that way.

He felt a debt of gratitude to this organization that you never ever find in today's athletes. He did whatever it took, and has lived a life of endless pain because of his love for, and gratitude to this franchise.

Not only did he go on to be one of the top players in our history as a franchise, but ... to me ...when his number gets risen up high into the rafters at the Q, it should stand higher and taller than all others.

Not as a measure of the level of player that he was and is ...but, of having and exhibiting the greatest strength of character, courage, tenacity, and perseverance of any athlete I've ever come in contact with in my life.

In those aspects, he's the greatest of all time, in my book.
 
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Phills1 said:
How about his 1st ever NBA game.
16 pts, 16 rebounds (8 offensive), 2 blks vs Hakeem Olajuwon

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199710310HOU.html
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I was certainly a fan of the player from that night. But as time wore on, apart from how important he was and still is to this franchise, I respected the man for all the hard work and dedication he has shown this franchise. I certainly appreciate the way the guy has bought into the teams systems throughout his career even though may not have been in his best interest.

Great player, great Cavalier, great example.
 
i remember the nights i spent watching Cav's games. :pop: I had to wake up at 3 am if i wanted to watch live games, then go to school and 7 am.
 
W&G Do you anticipate any sort of long term fallout from this event?

Such as a downgrade in overall team play due to Brown 'losing' the team? Even stretch it as to LeBron leaving because he does not like Mike Brown?

I'm very concerned right now after reading some of your previous posts.

Thank you
 
Well I couldn't provide a tear-jerker like W&G did, but like Jon I decided to follow suit and give the big fella his well deserved praise. Here's a little write-up setting the tone for his big night.

Cornerstone of the Franchise.


When asked about Zydrunas Ilgauskas and his upcoming milestone for most games played in Cavaliers history, Mike Brown called Ilgauskas “the cornerstone of the franchise.” And, while Brown appeared to be the only deterrent to Ilgauskas passing up Ferry on Saturday night against the Mavericks, he’ll undoubtedly give him his moment to shine tonight in front of a Cleveland crowd that has watched him play since 1996. The only Cavalier still on the team from the nineties and the only player to play in Cleveland for the last seven seasons other than LeBron James, Ilgauskas epitomizes Cleveland. A young injury-prone center early in his career, Zydrunas could’ve called it quits after several grueling foot surgeries. But after a risky reconstructive foot surgery, he decided to give it one last go.

And it turned out to be for the best. The 20th pick of the 1996 draft, Ilgauskas has played in more games than 42 of the 58 draftees from that year. Also, with the recent retirement of Allen Iverson, Z is one of only nine active players out of those 58 drafted in ‘96. Thirteen years later, the tall, lanky Lithuanian turned out to be a very solid pick.

It’s only convenient that the man he’ll pass up for most games played as a Cavalier is the same one working day and night, trying hard to end Ilgauskas’ career off with a much deserved Larry O’Brien trophy. With Danny Ferry and Zydrunas Ilgauskas playing a combined 1,446 games for the Cavaliers, it may be their work this season, Ferry as a GM and Ilgauskas as a reserve center, that shapes their legacies.

Regardless, we will all remember Z for the great times he gave us over the span of a decade and a half. He will always be seen as a cornerstone of this franchise and will forever have a special place in our hearts. However, if he can play a significant role in bringing the Cavaliers a championship, he will be a timeless legend in Cleveland sports history.
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There's also a nifty rabman-like table on the site showing every team's leader in games played -- http://numbersdont.com/?p=316

And of course leave it to Allen Iverson to wreck something that was a true statement when I typed up the draft last night. Asshole.
 
One of your best posts ever, W&G.

I'd like to add to that the fact that Ilgauskas and his wife Jennifer lost twins a few years ago. This guy has dealt with more issues than many of us would in a lifetime and he still shows up and does his job. He is incredible and we should all appreciate what we're about to see tonight. I wish I could be in the Q for this record breaking moment.
 
Anybody remember when Z grabbed the rebound, went full court, dribbled the ball between his legs, around his back, did a 360 in the air, threw the ball off the backboard and did a between the legs dunk? That's my fondest memory of Z.























:chuckles:. I love Z.
 
rabman_gold said:
Oh, come on Jon... are you really trying to make this into a tribute. You must've been flamed, burned, charcoaled, and broiled in the other thread pretty badly.
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Hardly sir. I stand by everything I said in that thread, and if you want to discuss anything I said further feel free to pm.

The last thing Z would ever want to see happen is something involving him harm the team or bring grief to her fans, that's why I called for that thread to be closed. Creating "Z-gate" is not what Z would want to happen, heck, he'd probably be embarrassed to see this thread; but if someone does point him to the board - I'd much rather him see this thread then the other.

This thread is about not whiffing. Not missing the boat. Not letting Z's big game slip by the board. It's about giving Z credit and the respect for his careerthat he deserves that will be recognized tonight when he takes the floor in his 724'th game.

Thanks for your comments regarding his career.
 
my favorite Z moment happened at the wine and gold game 5 years ago. My now 8 year old daughter had just turned 3 - the game was the same week as her birthday, not sure now if it was the same day.

They had player autograph signings after the game - we had the right program to get an autograph at Z's table. Instead of just signing it and moving on like most of the players, he took a minute to joke around with her. She still remembers him because of that. I'm taking her to the game tonight for his big night.
 
I remember that phoenix game where Z made the 3 and we went into overtime like it was yesterday. I remember i still lived in Ohio at that time, its weird that I can only remember that shot though and nothing else.
 
Let's wait for this game to unfold before we discuss our favorite Z moments.

This whole MB oversight/snub story has me wondering more than a few things.

I want to see how Z reacts to the record and ovation. Then I'll tell you my favorite Z moment.

Moo
 
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