Webber's mood brightens

[panvc (Hewitt 要和 Kim 結婚了)]

  http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/
         8028057p-8964000c.html

   Webber's mood brightens 
  As he resumes team workouts, he reports progress 
  with his knee rehabilitation.
  By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
  Published 2:15 a.m. PST Wednesday, December 31, 2003

  The best part of Chris Webber's workout Tuesday afternoon? He made a late-
  practice three-pointer, thereby earning a pass from slogging downcourt for
  another wind-sprint  gasser with  Vlade Divac.  Webber was in high spirits
  during his second team workout of the season.  The Kings' All-Star forward
  beamed at the progress of  his surgically repaired left knee,  although it
  has come slowly  and gingerly  and has given all indications  that it will
  continue on that pace for a good while.

  After engaging in shooting drills, some half-court sets and a spirited if
  not half-paced  one-on-one against  reserve center  Jabari Smith,  Webber
  reported that his stamina and quickness are encouraging,  that his three-
  point stroke is trust worthy in a pinch, that part of his healing process
  from the only serious  injury of his  decorated NBA career  is just being
  able to be with the guys.

  "I feel pretty good,"  the 11-year  veteran said.  "I'm just glad to be
  participating, to be doing something. I needed to make that three, but I
  told Vlade I can still beat him in a race."

  Webber wasn't able to beat his fall timetable of a December return to game
  action,  his injury m ore serious  than he  anticipated. But  progress now
  includes  another day  working with  his teammates  and an  all-systems-go
  report  from his  Monday physical.  He still has no idea  when he might be
  cleared to scrimmage, never mind see time in a game.

  Webber, it turned out, has given new meaning to "wait and see."

  "It's been a really long time in coming," said Webber, whose knee gave way
  during the Western Conference semifinals last spring. "I'm excited, but at
  the same time, I'm trying to be smart about it. You've got to crawl before
  you can walk."

  Webber, who with Kevin Garnett of the  Minnesota Timberwolves was the only
  NBA player to lead his team in scoring, rebounding and assists last season,
  said some of his most encouraging results  have been in his tussles against
  Smith.

  Webber can dribble, post up, spin and jump a little. He said he hasn't been
  an anchor to the floor, nor has he used a knee brace. Webber said two weeks
  ago that Smith was regularly taking him to task. He has an update.

  "Now the tables are turning," Webber said. "I'm doing a lot better. He's
  been good for me because he's so quick. He's the best big fellow we have
  who can challenge me with quickness.

  "I'm just trying to see how much I can do and what I can't do. I want to
  help the team but not hinder it. I don't want to go through all this and
  not be healthy."

  In addition to his Kings practice duties, Webber continues to do myriad
  exercises and drills to strengthen his legs.  He and team trainers Pete
  Youngman and Manny Romero  monitor Webber's efforts and progress daily.
  Webber ices his knee regularly and talks daily with the trainers, coach
  Rick Adelman and orthopedic surgeon James Andrews in Alabama.

  "So far there hasn't been any swelling,  and that's a good sign," Webber
  said. "There's really not much more we can do now. It's been a very slow
  process. But it's been the right moves so far. We're all being cautious."

  Webber said the time away, 29 games and counting, has taxed him emotionally
  . He hasn't flown with the team on any road trips.  He has mostly worked in
  solitary torture, or with Romero.  He hasn't slept as well as he'd like, in
  large part  because he hasn't  had a chance to work  himself into a playing
  lather.

  "I've never missed this much ball in my life, for any reason," Webber said.
  "It feels like  it's been a year  since I've played.  It's definitely been
  hard, with all types of emotions. I'm really consumed with basketball right
  now, and it's hard  because I can't even play.  When the team's on the road
  and I'm not, it's not enjoyable."

  Webber's father, Mayce, visited him over the holidays, offering support and
  plenty of words of perspective. Webber has always been close to his father,
  from his  prep days  growing up  in Detroit,  to his  college tour  at the
  University of Michigan, to now.

  Mayce was the one who threatened bodily harm on his son if he didn't report
  to the  Kings after  being traded  from Washington  to Sacramento  in 1998.
  Mayce is the father  who reminds his son  how rough it really was  when he
  grew up, picking cotton in Mississippi.

  "I heard all those stories again," Webber said.  "He told me to be patient
  with this. He talked about his life, how he didn't really have a chance to
  get a job he enjoyed,  how he dropped out of  school in the sixth grade to
  pick  cotton  in the  fields.  Those things  in my life  have always been
  serious.  He helped ease my mind.  Am I doing enough?  Don't overdo it. He
  told me to trust my instincts."

  Webber grinned and continued.

  "My dad always tells those stories over the holiday. You hear about walking
  to school, in the snow, uphill. It was very serious, and we were brought up
  to appreciate things.  We've come a long way,  but it still doesn't make my
  situation any better today. This is what I'm living now. I am grateful."

  According to Adelman, Webber reveled in his workouts Tuesday, especially
  after making the three-pointer.

  "It's good to have him involved with the players,"  the coach said.  "The
  work he put in today was easier than what he'd been doing. He should have
  missed that three if he really wanted to get his conditioning up."

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