The Legend of Rajon Rondo

After dislocating his left elbow during the third quarter of Game 3 Saturday night, Rajon Rondo's season looked lost. Instead, he returned in epic fashion to lead his team to a legendary 97-81 victory over the Heat. 

In Game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship series it was Curt Schilling pitching masterfully against the hated Yankees with a torn ankle and bloody sock.

In Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals it was Paul Pierce being carted off in a wheelchair only to return minutes later and fuel the Celtics to an epic 98-88 victory over the Lakers.

On Saturday night, Rajon Rondo became the latest Boston sports athlete to join the pantheon of legends who willed their team to victory despite suffering a major injury.

With 7:02 remaining in the third quarter of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Boston Celtics got the greatest scare imaginable. In the midst of a 14-6 run, Rondo pulled down a defensive rebound and looked to push the ball up court. Attempting to swallow up Rondo before he could start the break, Heat star Dwyane Wade pulled Rondo to the ground with great force.

However, instead of landing smoothly on the historic parquet floor, Rondo extended his left arm in an attempt to break his fall.

What happened next had Celtics fans holding their breath in unrivaled fear and misery.

Rondo's left arm snapped back like a toothpick. His elbow hyperextended so horribly that it left zero doubt in anyone's mind that his season was over. That the Celtics season was over. He began writhing in pain as the Big Three surrounded him.

The TD Garden's sell-out crowd of 18,624 was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

With every replay of the gruesome injury it looked seemingly guaranteed that the Celtics pursuit of Banner 18 was over. Rondo was done. And, despite how great the Big Three still are, there is no way they can win it all without their play-making point guard.

"I knew right away something was wrong when I went down," admitted Rondo. "But thank god for Kevin because I was having trouble breathing. I was worried about my elbow but I was having trouble breathing. I just kept hearing him tell me to breath."

And then something magical happened.

Just over seven minutes later, Rondo began walking back to the bench, sending the crowd into a jubilant frenzy. In one of the greatest moments in recent Celtics history, the former Kentucky star took the court and willed his team to victory.

"All of us sort of look at each other like, 'What is he doing out here?'" said Kevin Garnett after the game. "'Is he being smart right now?' When he came in, it was just typical Rondo. Shorty is a really tough, young individual and I don't know what he's going to be like when he's 35 but right now he's playing through a lot."

His improbable return was nothing short of legendary. Inspiring his team, Rondo played the rest of the game with one arm, dribbling the ball with his right arm while his wounded left arm hung lifelessly by his side.

He even dove of the floor for a loose ball and finished a momentum changing lay-up late in the fourth quarter.

And while Paul Pierce (27 points) and Garnett (28 points, 18 boards) finished with sparkling numbers, it was the return of Rondo that won the game for the Celtics.

"He's our leader," said Jeff Green of Rondo. "He's our go-to guy. Just as far as this team, to see him get back on the floor was big for us. It gave us that added push at the end so we could continue to put the pressure on."

In the end, the box-score will prove that Rondo scored six points, dished out 11 assists and grabbed three rebounds in Game 3, not exactly Rondo-like numbers. But real Celtics fans realize that without his inspiring return, there was no way Boston would have defeated Miami 97-81 Saturday night and cut Miami's series lead to 2-1.

After two lackluster performances in Game 1 and Game 2, the doubters began questioning the Celtics. They said they might be too old. That their window of opportunity had closed. That their season was over.

And then, almost on cue, their one-of-a-kind point guard stepped up and put his team back in the series.

"If I'm on the court, you may see me hold my arm but I'm not going to use it as an excuse," concluded Rondo. "That's how we play. That's our mentality. We show up Monday night and we're on the court and we're playing. "

"Don't ask me how I feel. I'm going to play regardless. I'm not going to use it as an excuse. We're a no excuse team."

A torn sheath in his right ankle couldn't stop Curt Schilling.

A strained right knee couldn't stop Paul Pierce.

And on Saturday night, a dislocated elbow couldn't stop Rajon Rondo.