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Garnett remembers friend, idol Sealy
Posted: Tuesday May 23, 2000 05:48 PM
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin Garnett turned to the Internet to express his thoughts over the death of Malik Sealy, his teammate and childhood idol who was killed in a traffic accident over the weekend. "[It's] messed up that my man's gone, but I know he's gone to a better place and that's what's keepin me so strong," Garnett wrote in response to fans' condolences on his Web page at AthletesDirect.com. "I think of the good times both on and off the court. I feel so special because my dream of not only playing in the NBA came true, but to play with a guy who I grew up trying to be like, my life is so complete, I only wish ya'll were me and that ya'll could have been around him like I was blessed to be." Garnett has not spoken to the media since Sealy was killed while heading home from Garnett's 24th birthday celebration. Garnett's personal manager, Michael Moore, said Garnett planned a news conference this week, but no time was set as of Tuesday afternoon. On Monday, the State Patrol arrested Souksangouane Phengsene, 43, of Minneapolis, who remained under guard at Hennepin County Medical Center, where he has been hospitalized since the crash. Investigators have until noon Wednesday to present the case to the Hennepin County attorney's office for formal charges. Investigators said Phengsene was driving the wrong way on Highway 100 early Saturday morning when his pickup smashed into Sealy's sport utility truck in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park, killing the 30-year-old player who helped the Minnesota Timberwolves post their best season in franchise history this year. An emergency worker reported that Phengsene, who was convicted of drunken driving in Des Moines, Iowa, three years ago, smelled of alcohol as he was extricated from the wreckage. Blood test results were pending. The Timberwolves are planning to take their charter airplane to New York later this week for Sealy's funeral at Riverside Church in Manhattan, N.Y. Sealy starred at St. John's University in New York before being drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 1992. Garnett so idolized Sealy growing up that he chose to wear No. 21 in his honor. "Back then they was the Redmen, and I just loved his style, you know," Garnett wrote on the Web site. "I guess I was trying to look for someone who I could sort of relate to, even though I didn't know Malik at the time." Garnett's site included an audio clip, titled "My Dogg's In a Better Place," in which he thanked fans. "I thank everybody for showing their love, not only for me but for my dogg, you know, it means a lot," he said. "My dogg's in a better place now and I feel better knowing that he's there. ... Rest in peace, 'Lik."
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