Disabato: Thornwood grad Eddy Curry receives a second chance

• Reprints

Miami Heat's Eddy Curry poses for photos during an NBA basketball media day in Miami on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. (AP Photo/El Nuevo Herald, David Santiago) MAGS OUT

Want More
Disabato?

Watch his Coach’s Corner Show each Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. on WJYS-TV (Channel 62). Disabato will break down the week in prep sports.

This week’s guest is St. Rita hockey coach Craig Ferguson.

Miss a week?

Watch it online at
www.coachscornershow.com

Article Extras

Updated: January 14, 2012 8:09AM

Like an aging left-handed pitcher or a strong-armed but erratic quarterback, 7-foot centers seemingly always find their way onto an NBA roster.

Hence, the Miami Heat signing Eddy Curry, the 2001 Thornwood graduate and former first-round pick of the hometown Chicago Bulls, on Saturday.

The same Heat who, under president Pat Riley, prides itself on tough defense, physical fitness and hard work. Intangibles Curry has been allergic to since his days at Thornwood.

“I don’t know what to expect,” commented Heat coach Erik Spoelstra to Florida’s Sun-Sentinal on the signing of Curry.

Here’s what to expect, coach. A half-hearted attempt on defense and full-blown effort at the postgame buffet.

The good news is Curry has lost 70 pounds during the offseason. The bad news is he’s still 330, some 25 pounds from peak condition.

“He’s always been very good around the basket,” said Kevin Hayhurst, who coached him at Thornwood. “He could always score. He could catch the ball in traffic and finish.”

Finishing isn’t a problem, especially if’s it requires membership into the clean plate club.

But defense? Only if it demands an elbow and a box out for that last biscuit in the buffet line.

I once watched Curry fail to record a single rebound against Shepard during his senior year at Thornwood.

At 7 feet, you would think a ball would have bounced accidentally into Curry’s soft hands.

Unless the Heat somehow stuff the basketball with a cheese or fruit filling, it’s unlikely Curry will develop into a rebounding force.

He’s now 29, some 10 years removed from when the Bulls made him the fourth pick in the 2001 NBA Draft.

He’s made more than $68 million dollars during his underachieving career.

SIXTY-EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS for a guy who has averaged 13.3 points and 5.3 rebounds during his career.

He’ll get about $1.3 million from the Heat. I don’t know if that’s enough cabbage to motivate Curry.

The last three seasons, he’s played 10 games, due largely in part to various injuries and permanent residence in New York Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni’s doghouse.

Of course, the Heat hope “good” Eddy overshadows “bad” Eddy.

That would be like Olive Oyl overshadowing Bluto.

“Obviously, when he was healthy and playing at peak form, he was a power in the paint,” Spoelstra said. “We struggled with him at times when we played New York. He’s very skilled, soft touch; does a lot of things you can’t teach.”

Can the Heat teach Curry to love the game? I always got the impression from him that playing was more an avenue to riches, not an opportunity to do something he had a passion for.

Granted, he won’t have the pressure of being “The Man,” not with LeBron and D-Wade on the floor.

And he’s allegedly blown through most of his money, which could motivate him.

Sadly, he never found in his heart to donate some dough to his alma mater, which catered to his every need during his prep career. Believe me, it was a media circus wherever Curry played. Thornwood provided structure and limited access to its star player.

Curry has returned to the school on a few occasions the past 10 years. Not with the intent to motivate or inspire students or provide some game gear for members of the Thunderbirds basketball program.

He just stopped by.

Curry will never be confused with his fellow professional alumni from the Southland who give back to their communities and high schools.

Ironically, the most generous of them all, Wade, is now his teammate.

I guess $68 million only goes so far.

Especially when you have seven children to feed from three different women and mortgage lenders to avoid. He foreclosed on a house in 2009.

“His potential is what (Pat) Riley sees,” Hayhurst said. “If he puts the effort in at both ends of the court and takes care of himself off the court, he can be a difference maker.”

Those are big ifs.