| | CHICAGO -- It's been so long since Hersey Hawkins sat out a
game he wasn't quite sure what to wear.
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| Hawkins |
Hawkins missed the Chicago Bulls' 71-69 victory over the New Jersey
Nets on Friday night with a torn left calf muscle, ending his
streak of continuous games played at 527. Only A.C. Green, the
all-time iron man who's played in 1,048 games, has a longer active
streak.
The Bulls placed Hawkins o the injured list Wednesday and
activated guard Fred Hoiberg.
"I don't remember the last time I wore a suit. So it's going to
be odd," Hawkins said before the game. "I'm disappointed. I've
always prided myself in trying to play. ... But this is when I
think it will do more harm than good.
"It had to end sometime," he added. "I was thinking, 'What
the heck am I going to do?' It's an odd feeling knowing you want to
be playing."
Hawkins planned to sit on the bench for the game. He also
brought his two oldest sons, Brandon and Corey.
Hawkins' streak began almost seven years ago on Jan. 19, 1993. The opponent? In a little bit of irony, the Nets. During the span, he's played for four teams -- Philadelphia, Charlotte, Seattle and Chicago.
"I've always thought of it as just going out and playing every
night," he said. "I love to play basketball."
Hawkins has played through sprained ankles and other injuries.
The biggest threat to the streak came a few years back, when Shaquille O'Neal stepped on his leg and twisted the knee and ankle
in the process.
The SuperSonics had another game the next night, and Hawkins
didn't think he'd be able to play.
"I woke up the next morning and felt pretty good," he said,
laughing.
But when he got hurt at Cleveland on Wednesday, Hawkins knew
that was it. A doctor in the locker room told him after the game
he'd play again, but it would be a week or two.
"So I knew the streak was going to come to an end," said
Hawkins, who hopes to be back in two or three weeks.
Besides Green, the players with the longest active continuous
streaks now are: Terry Porter (351 games), Michael Finley (318),
Howard Eisley (297) and Gary Payton (252).
"A.C.'s safe," Hawkins said. "I don't think anybody would
ever catch A.C."
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