The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday that centre Eric Montross has retired due to a stress reaction to a micro fracture in the talus bone in his left foot. Montross, 31, missed the entire 2002-03 season with the injury. He suffered the injury off-the-court and missed the final four games of the 2001-02 regular season and all five playoff contests. He was acquired by the Raptors on February 22, 2001 in a six-player deal with Detroit. He averaged 2.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 61 games with Toronto.

Rick Brunson .com was able to reach someone who kind of knows Rick Brunson who might have made this statement regarding Montross's retirement:

"I've only been a teammate of Eric's for 13 days but we've grown quite close in such a short period of time. Before I met him I thought that he was just big and white but I came to learn that he was quite ugly too. I was really looking forward to spending a lot of time with Eric this year because, you know, we'd both be sitting there on the bench together. It's too bad he won't be around to slap Vince Carter in the butt with me. Maybe I'll have to slap it a little harder next time, you know, for Eric."

Rick Brunson .com has created this special Eric Montross Page as a tribute.