boisesuns
Standing Tall And Traded
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/15025490.htm
Stoudemire will be the subject of injury documentary
By Shannon J. Owens
The Orlando Sentinel
(MCT)
LAS VEGAS - Fans whipped their heads around briefly as Isiah Thomas looked for a seat in the Cox Pavilion arena on UNLV's campus Monday night as he prepared to watch his New York Knicks summer-league team.
But even his presence wasn't enough to detract fans from watching one of the biggest story lines of the NBA offseason unfold: Will Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire be healthy enough to dominate next season?
That question has become the backdrop of a documentary Stoudemire is shooting with commercial director-turned-independent filmmaker David Zimmerman. Zimmerman said he will follow Stoudemire - a former Orlando Cypress Creek High standout - for a year. He plans to get footage leading up to, during and after the 2006-07 NBA season. Zimmerman hasn't set a release date but could start showcasing the piece at independent film festivals as early as next year.
Stoudemire's 2005-06 season was derailed shortly after he returned from knee surgery that had caused him to miss the season's first 66 games. That first surgery, on Oct. 11, came a week after he signed a five-year contract extension worth more than $70 million.
"This film is going to show how that affects you, not just as an athlete but as a human being," Zimmerman said. "He gets asked 10,000 times, `How's your knee; can you come back?' After a while, you start thinking, `Can I come back?'"
In Stoudemire's mind, he must come back. He asked Phoenix coaches for permission to work out at the rookie/free-agent camp, which ends for the Suns on Friday, as part of his rehabilitation process. Then, he and teammate Shawn Marion are set to compete for Team USA in the World Championships next month.
"Injuries are a player's worst nightmare. I just want to get better," said Stoudemire, who had 21 points and eight rebounds in his first game, against Minnesota on July 7. "Whatever it takes."
Zimmerman said the documentary will be an intimate look into Stoudemire's personal life as well, from the scheduled birth of Stoudemire's second child next month to dealing with his mother's recent three-year prison sentence for a drunken-driving case. Zimmerman will go overseas with Stoudemire in September.
"It's cool for him to do it, because he believes in himself," Zimmerman said. "We want to explore the adversity he's been through in his life in order to achieve greatness."
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© 2006, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.).
Visit the Sentinel on the World Wide Web at http://www.orlandosentinel.com.
Stoudemire will be the subject of injury documentary
By Shannon J. Owens
The Orlando Sentinel
(MCT)
LAS VEGAS - Fans whipped their heads around briefly as Isiah Thomas looked for a seat in the Cox Pavilion arena on UNLV's campus Monday night as he prepared to watch his New York Knicks summer-league team.
But even his presence wasn't enough to detract fans from watching one of the biggest story lines of the NBA offseason unfold: Will Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire be healthy enough to dominate next season?
That question has become the backdrop of a documentary Stoudemire is shooting with commercial director-turned-independent filmmaker David Zimmerman. Zimmerman said he will follow Stoudemire - a former Orlando Cypress Creek High standout - for a year. He plans to get footage leading up to, during and after the 2006-07 NBA season. Zimmerman hasn't set a release date but could start showcasing the piece at independent film festivals as early as next year.
Stoudemire's 2005-06 season was derailed shortly after he returned from knee surgery that had caused him to miss the season's first 66 games. That first surgery, on Oct. 11, came a week after he signed a five-year contract extension worth more than $70 million.
"This film is going to show how that affects you, not just as an athlete but as a human being," Zimmerman said. "He gets asked 10,000 times, `How's your knee; can you come back?' After a while, you start thinking, `Can I come back?'"
In Stoudemire's mind, he must come back. He asked Phoenix coaches for permission to work out at the rookie/free-agent camp, which ends for the Suns on Friday, as part of his rehabilitation process. Then, he and teammate Shawn Marion are set to compete for Team USA in the World Championships next month.
"Injuries are a player's worst nightmare. I just want to get better," said Stoudemire, who had 21 points and eight rebounds in his first game, against Minnesota on July 7. "Whatever it takes."
Zimmerman said the documentary will be an intimate look into Stoudemire's personal life as well, from the scheduled birth of Stoudemire's second child next month to dealing with his mother's recent three-year prison sentence for a drunken-driving case. Zimmerman will go overseas with Stoudemire in September.
"It's cool for him to do it, because he believes in himself," Zimmerman said. "We want to explore the adversity he's been through in his life in order to achieve greatness."
---
© 2006, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.).
Visit the Sentinel on the World Wide Web at http://www.orlandosentinel.com.
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