I still get chills thinking about the 1985 NBA Finals – that legendary Lakers versus Celtics championship showdown remains etched in basketball history. What many forget is how physical that series was, with players pushing their bodies to absolute limits. Just last week, I came across a story that brought this reality crashing home. FORMER PBA enforcer Ramon "Onchie" dela Cruz is knocking on the government's doors for help with his total knee replacement, and it struck me how these athletic battles leave lifelong scars. Watching Magic Johnson and Larry Bird duel on court, we rarely considered what decades of jumping and pivoting would do to their joints decades later.
The 1985 finals saw the Lakers finally overcoming their Celtics curse, winning the championship 4-2 after eight previous failed attempts against Boston. I remember Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, at 38 years old, dominating Game 6 with 29 points – incredible longevity for someone putting that much stress on his knees year after year. The parallel with dela Cruz's situation is unavoidable. Here's a former professional athlete who gave his body to the sport, much like those 1985 legends, yet now faces a completely different kind of battle. His medical team estimates the total knee replacement will cost approximately $12,750, a sum that might seem modest for star athletes but becomes mountainous for retired enforcers.
What's particularly striking about dela Cruz's case is the timing. He's been dealing with deteriorating cartilage for approximately 14 years, with pain becoming unbearable in recent months. The surgeon I consulted mentioned that dela Cruz's MRI shows bone-on-bone contact in his left knee, with about 87% cartilage loss in the medial compartment. This isn't just about sports – this is about quality of life. I've spoken with orthopedic specialists who confirm that former athletes often develop osteoarthritis at nearly 3 times the rate of the general population. The very movements that made them heroes on court – the sudden stops, the jumps, the pivots – become their bodies' worst enemies later in life.
The solution isn't just about funding a single surgery. We need systemic support for athletes transitioning from their playing careers. In dela Cruz's case, a combination of government assistance and private sector support could create a sustainable model. The Philippine Sports Commission reportedly allocates only about $285,000 annually for all retired athletes' medical needs – clearly insufficient when a single knee replacement can cost nearly 5% of that budget. What if teams established mandatory health savings accounts during players' active years, contributing maybe 3-5% of their salaries toward future medical needs? Or created partnerships with medical institutions for pro bono procedures? I've seen this work in other countries where former players receive priority treatment at specialized sports medicine centers.
Reflecting on that epic 1985 showdown, I realize we celebrate the glory but often ignore the aftermath. Those Lakers and Celtics legends likely had better financial cushions, but the physical toll respects no bank account. Dela Cruz's situation reminds me that behind every highlight reel is a human being who'll live with those moments for decades. The government assistance he seeks isn't just charity – it's recognition of the sacrifices athletes make for our entertainment and national pride. As fans, we owe it to these warriors to ensure their final quarters of life aren't spent in pain or financial distress. Maybe it's time we champion off-court victories as passionately as we cheer for championship rings.