Today is a sad day in sports. Four time Defensive Player of the Year, incredible Shot-Blocker and wonderful Humanitarian, Dikembe Mutombo's career has come to an end.
In the second quarter in game two of the first round of the 2009 Playoffs against Portland, Mutombo landed awkwardly and had to be carried from the floor. His leg appeared to shift to unnatural positions and after the game, he said that "it’s over for me for my career".
Beyond simply putting a wrinkle in the Rocket's playoff plans and hopes this year, Mutombo will truly be missed. His career was nothing short of prolific and there is no doubt that the player with the 2nd most blocked shots of all time has a ticket punched straight into the Hall of Fame.
This Georgetown alum spent 18 years in the NBA with 6 different teams, ending his career here in Houston with the Rockets as the "Yoda of the Locker Room" and the man who could give Yao Ming a rest. Even in his early 40's, Mutombo was very successful in doing that.
More notable than his incredible career on the court is his Humanitarian efforts off of the court that even earned him the honor of being invited and included President Bush's 2007 State of the Union. In 2006, his foundation opened the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital (named for his mother) in Mutombo's native town of Kinshasha in the Congo. It was a process that took him nearly 10 years from concept to completion, but through his efforts and a big chunk of his bank account the Hospital has become one of the first modern facility built in nearly half a decade.
On the court, his signature finger shake and wild elbows had him as one of the most feared defenders to face, but off of the court Deke is truly an incredible human being.
Thank, Deke, for all the good games. You will most certainly be missed on the court, but I'm sure we will know you are still around.
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