He offered one of his famous laughs, and you knew what the honor meant. You also realized it could have meant so much more. Thomas, who had spent so much time talking about what was, couldn't help but wonder what could have been. But all fairytales don't come true. It's just time.
People grow and go in different directions.
Frankly, we all blew it. No hard feelings. Of course, Thomas should have a role with the team he led, in the arena he helped build. Now, six years since Thomas retired as the team's all-time leading scorer, the story isn't new, just more disappointing. But the news leaked and acrimony festered and the offer never materialized.