To all Magic fans: Boo Hill
Seven years, $93-million and a handful of bad memories; that basically sums up Grant Hill’s career in Orlando. I won’t go into detail about what went wrong, it’s too painful and you all know the story already. However, when Hill comes back to Orlando tonight, I expect fans to harass him relentlessly.
Hill left Orlando for the Phoenix Suns this offseason for a chance to compete for an NBA championship. Never mind that the franchise basically basked in mediocrity through Hill’s career because of his bloated salary and countless injuries…I can forgive that, I know Hill wish he could have played. But Hill should have made things right by re-signing with Orlando for a minimum dollar contract. Or at the very least, not have said he would retire or re-sign with Orlando.
Hill was always regarded as one of the classiest players in the league…still is. The national media barely said boo about Hill. Hell, the local media, except for Mike Bianchi telling Hill to break a leg, didn’t say much either. The only people that really seemed pissed were the fans of Orlando.
That’s why I’m hoping that tonight, Orlando fans boo Hill every time he touches the ball. All night, boo him, boo him and boo him some more. Are you guys up to the challenge? This guy set the franchise back for years, then left for greener pastures. Please, no cheers for Hill tonight, don’t let ESPN distort your view on him, he left the team he crippled…don’t let him have the luxury of getting off scott free. Make it known that he did wrong…boo Hill.
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14 Responses to “To all Magic fans: Boo Hill”
November 10th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
I’m all for that!
I wanted him off the team a while ago, or I was at least wishing he had a role coming off the bench. And even though I feel we’re a better team without him (especially when he was at the two guard). Watching him try and play the two spot was almost as painful as watching him try and shoot the 3-ball in Phoenix! The fact of the matter is, he put this franchise through a lot, and I can’t recall the Magic fans EVER booing him. Then for the first time in seven seasons he finishes the year healthy and he bails? I’m sure you’re a nice guy, and you’re still a class act; but that was a chump move! You deserve to be booed, that’s all there is to it.
November 10th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Amen.
November 10th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
I never get the idea of booing a player like that. It always seems to propel the player to have a great game against us. It seems to me that silence would be more disconcerting.
November 10th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Absolute silence? That would be amazing, but much harder to pull off. Honestly, imagine the way Hill (or any player for that matter) would react if the crowd was dead silent. Unfortunatly, alcohol and idiots are usually common at games and neither have ever helped in quieting anything.
I remember when T-Mac went back to Toronto…they were relentless…I mean they booed every single time he touched the ball, and each time seemed louder than the next; T-Mac had an awful game, so in some cases, booing does work
November 10th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
You can boo him all you like, but Phoenix are going to win the game anyway.
It is currently halftime (Suns are leading 59-43) and Leandro Barbosa has already scored 22 points.
Grant Hill has scored 10 so far, so whatever you Magic fans are doing isn’t working.
November 10th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Yeah, Phoenix was too fast for the Magic tonight. You have a team that’s key players have been together for several years now, and team with a new coach and new key players. It would have been a difficult win for Orlando tonight anyways, and you add in some awful officiating in the first quarter and Orlando was done for early on.
November 11th, 2007 at 1:14 am
I’m a Suns fan, and I love that we got Grant Hill, I think if he stops shooting the three ball and attacks the hoop, he’ll help out the Suns a lot. But, as far as leaving the Magic, and stuff, I wish I had a defense for him, but I don’t. Winning championships is a big deal, for some players, it means more than it should, but, in Hill’s case, for the amount of money the Magic paid him, I have to agree. Hill should have resigned with the Magic for minimal contract. It would have been the class thing to do. But, when do athletes ever do the class thing, not too often. Sorry Orlando, you got burned by Hill, if Karma is awake, he’ll be out with a serious injury sometime this season…
November 11th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Good post Alex, I appreciate sensability, even though I dont know how to spell it.
I am amazed at how often Hill is firing it up for three, its not his game. He will help you guys out a lot, especially during playoff time. He will miss some games, even if just for resting, but his ability to hit the mid range jumper (few are better than him) and his ball handeling skills will definitley come into play, especially if someone else on your team goes down, he can step in
November 11th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Grant Hill shot 6-18 (33.3%). Hill wasn’t their problem.
I’ll say it again; it’s painful to watch Hill chuck up 3’s. You’re 35, if you haven’t developed that range yet, you never will.
As for the playoffs, I’m sure he’ll help some, mainly because he’s another body, and pretty much the last option out there. But at the same time, Hill has never been out of the 1st round of the playoffs, EVER. So we’ll see how much he helps.
The only thing I know is that the Suns still have a bigger problem that they did nothing to address; Tim Duncan. Add in the loss of Kurt Thomas, and I think they actually got worse in this area.
If anyone goes down on the Suns, Hill can step in, if he’s not the one that goes down, but the odds are against him. However, in a twisted way, I have a feeling he’ll stay healthy now that he’s off the Magic.
November 13th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Yes, this is a late response (I have been out of town) BUT you and I look at the world through different glass. I see a Grant Hill who worked his ass off in terrible circumstances, who showed a better example of over coming difficulties than anyone I have ever observed. How would you have faired had you been the athlete and your body let you down? I am not sure anyone else could have remained positive like Grant Hill did. That he is playing basketball at all is a miracle. That he is playing with the Suns is a reward he deserves.
All you can ask of a fellow is to do his best. Grant Hill has always done that. He could be commended not booed.
November 13th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
I was in a similar position to Hill, I broke my leg in half at football in the spring my junior year in high school. I was ready to finally start after paying my dues, but instead I got a rod through my leg and three screws to boot. I never gave up though and while I still walk with a limp, I worked hard and learned how to long snap and came back and played. I thought of giving up, but if you love the game, you find a way. Hill coming back was admirable and i never had a problem with him, but he owes his the franchise and the city for the grief they went through too. He lied, saying in the middle of the season he would either come back to orlando or retire….he obviously did neither. No, he made a selfish mvoe and deserved to be booed. Im usually not a fan of booing players, but his selfish act had it coming.
November 13th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
People’s bodies and minds fail them on a regular basis. There are more people out there than most realize that have had to overcome something that prevents them from living a normal life, let alone doing what they love.
Grant Hill is privileged, just like every other professional athlete. And sure Grant was a great athlete, and he obviously loves the game. But he’s had a chance to live his dream, which is something a lot of people can’t say. If you really look at the Grant Hill situation from a REAL WORLD perspective, nobody should honestly feel sorry for him. What the worst that can happen to him? He can’t play basketball anymore, in turn; he lives a normal life with the millions of dollars he made off of playing, or should I say not playing basketball.
Grant Hill is an NBA class act, but Magic fans had every reason to boo him; because even if he doesn’t live in the real world, everyone who supports him does.
November 13th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Very well said Damien
November 13th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Thank you Brendan.
Until we have some kind of new post article…hell of a win tonight against the Sonics! It’s good to see the Magic really taking care of the teams we’re suppose to take care of!
It’s also good to see Trevor Ariza making an impact.
Something that could be a concern is the fact that the only 2 teams the Magic have lost to are contenders; but at the same time, check out the poor shooting the Magic had against them. While I could give credit to the Pistons for solid defense, I cannot do that for the Suns, pretty much because they don’t play defense.
Overall, hell of a start to the season (6-2)… Tomorrow should be a nice test against the Cavs. I expect a close game.
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