[Rocketfan]

One more summer league training camp, one more round of false promises and exaggerated hope, and Lance Allred(notes) found himself on the Orlando Magic’s bench honoring the final days of a useless July commitment. As the deaf son of a polygamist colony, the most improbable 7-foot prospect, an NBA front office had once more underestimated his abilities.


“I will just say this about the end in Orlando: Some people don’t understand that because my hearing is impaired, I’m really, really good at reading lips from even across the gym,” Allred said. “With some of these [team executives], it’s just like you’re in high school again with all the cliques, the way that they talk about you. I’ve seen this all before, except now the kids have millions of dollars.”

Even before this summer, a painful process of self-examination had taught one of basketball’s most fascinating journeymen the cruel truths of his life. From a childhood in a Montana utopian commune to the twisted psychological abuse of ex-Utah coach Rick Majerus, Allred had spent too much of his life chasing the validation of false prophets. He had spent much of his identity pursuing the hallow validation of everyone else.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=a ... &type=lgns

[LUconn]

He sounds like a baby. I don't hear Brew whining like this dude.

[flamesfilmguy]

Brew also wasn't completely deaf. as I understand it this guy is. BIG difference.

[ALUmnus]

The article says he's 75% deaf, and quite the expert lip-reader.