In what is arguably the most exciting news in an already electrifying off-season, MetroNews is reporting that six-time All-Star, Sport Count luminary, and all-around stuffmaster Shawn Kemp has been offered a contract by Italian club Premiata Montegranaro.
The Count acknowledges that — justifiably — it spends a great deal of time dumping on anything that might loosely equate Europe and basketball, but after poaching Josh Childress and managing to exile Danilo Gallinari, we’re prepared to give credit where it’s due. And in the case of the wizards at Premiata Montegranaro, it is most certainly due.
The almost 40-year old Kemp has allegedly slimmed own to his playing weight once again, and is ready to spend some time in the Euroleagues in yet another bid for an NBA return. And I don’t mean to sound derisive here, just cautious: when you’re a Reignman fan, the unfulfilled hopes become exhausting. There are reasons to be excited this time around though:
- The Manchild posted 32 points a month ago as a guest celebrity playing for North in the International Basketball League All-Star Classic.
- He’s got a new bee in his bonnet: to run the New York Marathon.
- His eldest son, humbly named Shawn Kemp Jr., is making waves — which can only be inspiring for Daddy.
If Italian internet news sources can be trusted*, and Kemp can be trusted to not repeat past sins by letting his weight balloon**, we might be lucky enough to see the game’s greatest power forward*** back in action. In which case, EXPECT A LITTLE BIT OF THIS MUSTARD, EUROPE:
*Dubious.
**More dubious.
***Okay, not true. The game’s most entertaining, then.
Posted by: Alex
1 response so far ↓
Chris // August 22, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Man do I miss watching his dunks. Watching the sonics play in my childhood was off the hook.. “Not in our house” was the staple chat and they were one of the best teams in the 90″s period. I will be very interested to watch his comeback progress and if he helps in the attempt to save my team. Seattle needs basketball!!!!!!!
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