Reliving the Epic 1985 NBA Final: Lakers vs Celtics Championship Showdown

I still get chills thinking about that legendary 1985 NBA Finals. You know, when Magic Johnson's Lakers finally broke the Celtics' curse in Boston Garden? As someone who's watched basketball for over three decades, that series represents everything great about sports - the rivalry, the drama, the sheer physical toll these athletes endure. Which brings me to something that's been on my mind lately while watching old games - how these incredible athletes manage their bodies years after retirement.

Just last week, I came across a story that really hit home. Former PBA enforcer Ramon "Onchie" dela Cruz, who was known for his physical playing style back in his prime, is now knocking on the government's doors for help with his total knee replacement. It struck me how similar this situation is to what many of those 1985 NBA veterans must have faced. Think about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar playing through migraines in game 6 or Kevin McHale's legendary foot injury - these warriors pushed through pain that would sideline most people permanently.

The connection between dela Cruz's current struggle and that epic championship showdown goes deeper than you might think. Both represent the physical cost of greatness. While we remember Magic's 14 assists in game 6 or Larry Bird's 28 points in game 1, we rarely consider what those explosive movements did to their joints over time. Dela Cruz's situation mirrors what countless athletes from that era experienced - the body eventually sends the bill for all those heroic moments. His specific case involves needing approximately $15,000 for the knee replacement surgery, a sum that's surprisingly difficult to come by even for former professional athletes in some leagues.

What really gets me about dela Cruz's predicament is how it highlights the gap between an athlete's public glory and their private struggles. Here's a man who gave his all to basketball, probably playing through injuries we never knew about, and now he's struggling to get basic medical care. It reminds me of stories I've heard about some players from that 1985 finals - guys who could barely walk up stairs in their 50s but never complained publicly. The data suggests that former basketball players undergo knee replacements at roughly 5 times the rate of the general population, though exact numbers are hard to come by since many cases go unreported.

From my perspective, the solution isn't just about throwing money at the problem, though adequate funding certainly helps. It's about creating sustainable systems that support athletes throughout their lives, not just during their playing careers. We need to think about preventative care during playing years, better financial education, and post-career health support programs. In dela Cruz's case, a combination of government assistance, league support programs, and perhaps even fan-funded initiatives could make the difference between chronic pain and quality of life.

Watching that 1985 finals now, with the benefit of hindsight and stories like dela Cruz's, I see it differently. Every fast break, every hard foul, every landing - they all accumulate. The Lakers won that series 4-2, with game 6 ending 111-100, but the real score is still being tallied in the bodies of those who played. As fans, we owe it to these athletes to remember that the highlights we rewatch come with lifetime consequences. Maybe supporting former players like dela Cruz is part of being a true basketball fan - acknowledging that the show must go on long after the arena lights dim.