MacCulloch now calling 76ers games: Sonics Notebook: Ex-Husky's homecoming

January 1, 2008

Sonics Notebook: Ex-Husky's homecoming

MacCulloch now calling 76ers games

By Washburn

There was a large presence Monday night at KeyArena, a tall, bulky

man who looked faintly familiar to those Huskies fans who remember

when the basketball program did not have perennial NCAA Tournament

aspirations.

Walk up closer and you notice the youthful face that's a few pounds

heavier than his playing days. The big Canadian is now settled in

Philadelphia. Todd MacCulloch is four years removed from his NBA

days and is now the radio analyst for the Philadelphia 76ers, his

post-playing career beginning a few years before he expected.

A 15.2-point-per-game scorer in four seasons at the University of

Washington, MacCulloch helped the Huskies to consecutive NCAA

Tournament appearances in 1998 and '99 and was on the court when

Hamilton's desperation jumper for Connecticut prevented the

Huskies from reaching the Elite Eight.

MacCulloch was a solid NBA center who appeared in two NBA Finals

with the 76ers and New Jersey Nets, but a condition called Charcot-

Marie-Tooth attacked his feet, causing nerve damage and constant

pain that forced his retirement.

" It's constant nerve pain, it's nerve irritation all the time, " he

said before the Sonics-Sixers game. " It's something I learn to deal

with and do the best I can. It was really disappointing. I miss

basketball greatly, but it's just living in some level of pain all

the time. It's hard to get away from.

" You work so hard to get there but to have it taken away after a few

years, it seems like a shame. "

There is no cure for MacCulloch's condition, but it can be treated

with therapy. The bright side for the former Husky is that he has

turned into one of the league's top analysts and has made a life in

Philadelphia.

" I hadn't really thought about it too much, (radio) was a result of

sitting out because of my foot and I started thinking about my

future, " he said. " I didn't know what I'd do. I thought I would be

playing a few more years and I was going to worry about it after

that, but now I didn't think I was going to be in this position. I'm

glad to still be working. "

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