Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
As noted by idjpg85 in the comments to the Miscellany post, it's confirmed Corliss Williamson will announce his retirement tomorrow in Arkansas.
Big Nasty isn't the typical StR mancrush -- his stats aren't very good, he's not a wild-eyed youth we dream a team can be built around. He's a cagey-ass old dude who seamlessly alternates between scruffy robot and Keith Sweat. Some of those post moves he pulls are downright silky; other actions, like driving the lane or rolling off a screen, come off like Gheorge Muresan's balky soul. This improbable YouTube capture involving John Salmons sums the sentiment more than words could:
Beyond his 'outsider art' game, part of my... empathy for Nasty revolves around the actual logistics of his Sacramento stay. He enjoyed modest success during the budding of the Kings empire (and might have been Jason Williams' second favorite target behind Chris Webber), but got shipped out as contention hit fever pitch. He made his way back to Sactown... in time for the Kings to get stomped by the 2005 Sonics. Even early in his career, he was unfairly absent from the high excitement of the 1996 Seattle series (which I watched with a skinhead Frenchmen sitting in my living room, I might add -- another story for another time).
The guy played 485 games in a Kings uniform the past decade... and missed all the Game 7s, almost every important Laker game, the nights when the Pacific Division banners got hung, the myriad goosebump ovations from the clackers and the cowbells. Big Nasty will go down as a Sacramento King through and through, and he missed all of that. (Of course, he won a title in Detroit and a big contract in Philadelphia, so I won't exactly cry for him...)
He had such a polemic career -- one that could probably last two or three more campaigns, if he had an All-Star game on his bio. We knew his time here had ended, but I'm pretty damn sad I'll never turn on the TV and be surprised to see that big-ass elbow pad angling into someone's chest again. Hats off to a great Sacramento King and a tremendous dude. He'll always have a fan in me.

UPDATE: The Associated Press reports Corliss will be an assistant coach with Arkansas Baptist College this season.
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17 comments
Comments
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
by chupacabra on Sep 25, 2007 1:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
by Ziller on Sep 25, 2007 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
1st '90's guy not named Mitch Richmond willing to take the big shot -
Strengthened us even in trade (Doug Christie) -
Played hard when in the rotation -
Played hard after consecutive DNP-CD's -
Played hard, played hard, played hard -
God bless you, Corliss. You always played as though you knew how expensive my tickets were.
by section214 on Sep 25, 2007 1:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
by Ziller on Sep 25, 2007 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
by moproblemz on Sep 25, 2007 2:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
(Kings fans+Corliss retirement)*(Elliot+ET boarding spaceship)=universal sadness
by chupacabra on Sep 25, 2007 2:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
by DB on Sep 25, 2007 3:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
by kingsfaninjapan on Sep 25, 2007 3:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
God bless you, Corliss. You always played as though you knew how expensive my tickets were.
Amen. If you only knew how many times I've already wanted to quote you on other sites since I heard the news.
The NBA should hire this guy to provide training on how to be a player and not a playah.
I am sorry he couldn't find another NBA home for a few more years.
Sorry for the lack of quotes, I need to figure out what html tags this site recognizes. Long time reader, first couple of posts (but I hope I won't be making many.) I enjoy reading the site as it is with the great regulars you have here!
by KK on Sep 25, 2007 5:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
by section214 on Sep 25, 2007 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
by CrownUs93 on Sep 25, 2007 6:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
When Richmond won a ring with the Lakers, it hurt even though I knew he couldn't have won it with the Kings.
When Horry hit that shot, it hurt even though I knew Divac should've pulled down the board.
When I heard Big Nasty was going to retire, it just hurt. No "even though".
by Exhibit G on Sep 25, 2007 9:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
Thanks for all the nastiness Corliss!! If you had to retire, I am at least honored you retired a King. Very fitting!
by dalt99 on Sep 26, 2007 8:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
by Murf on Sep 26, 2007 8:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7267972
by section214 on Sep 26, 2007 4:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
by pookeyguru on Sep 26, 2007 8:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Corliss Williamson Will Retire, And I Am Sad
by pookeyguru on Sep 26, 2007 8:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

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