Comeback

Looking back on this past NBA season, there were many things to consider writing about for my first article.

From the soap opera in Philly to the magical season of the New Jersey Nets.

The one thing, the one person, that stuck out in my mind, though, was the Boston Celtic's young, up-and-coming player, Paul Pierce.

This guy is amazing. He came back from a life-threatening knife attack, an attack which left him so badly scared and marked all over his body, that he often changes in private in the locker room after games.

It happened on a regular night in Boston. With no game to be played, Pierce visited a local club. After noticing some girls whispering, he said, "There is no need to whisper." According to Pierce, the next thing he knew, he was on the ground being attacked.

That night he had Celtics' fans holding their breath. The history of fallen Celtics' stars, like Len Bias and Reggie Lewis, is still in the minds of the fans in the city. Another fallen star would be devestating.

He is back now, though, and playing better than ever. At his age, there is no better player in the game right now.

He is stronger on the block and his jump shot is more accurate.

It was raining in Philly one night this season, and inside the First Union Center was the only game on the NBA card that night.

If you listened, you would hear the cuff, and blah, blah, blah. Those were the sounds of Pierce stroking a shot, and then in a matter of seconds, talking smack with his opponents.

You saw it in the preseason, too, when Pierce and Michael Jordan were jawing in a game.

You saw it before his rookie year in pickup games at UCLA, when he had Magic Johnson yelling, "I got five rings, you got nothing!"

Many see it as cockiness, but he sees it as confidence. He has always been this way.

It all started in California. From Inglewood High School to heated battles with Gary Payton on the playground, Pierce learned to play the game on the streets of Oakland and has carried that style of play all the way to the NBA.

When you look at the way he moves, everything looks so natural and smooth. He was born to do it, plain and simple.

Paul Pierce's story is the story of a comeback -- from hospital bed to the NBA All-Star game, he is back and ready for anything.