Posted on 06/19/2003 5:06:00 PM PDT by MikeD
Why do we love our San Antonio Spurs?
Because while most basketball champions rush to the television cameras and champagne showers, David Robinson rushes to embrace his son and Tim Duncan rushes to kiss his wife.
Because Tony Parker will tell you in his humble French accent that his post-season game was sometimes ugly, and that he's glad he saw victory from the sidelines thanks to his able understudy, Speedy Claxton.
Because Stephen Jackson got plenty of attention for his less-than-harmonious departure from the opposing New Jersey Nets and still has the class to praise his former team for its hard work.
Because it takes an Argentine marvel such as Manu Ginobili to remind Americans that those high-flying dunks we celebrate on "SportsCenter" and on bedroom posters can never replace old-fashioned gritty hustle.
Because when scrapper Malik Rose throws down a highlight-reel, poster-making dunk on Dikembe Mutombo, he doesn't lower himself to gloating or wagging his finger.
Because an affable benchwarmer such as Steve Kerr understands the value of seizing your moment.
Because a defensive specialist like Bruce Bowen defends the importance of a college education as well as he defends a hotshot on the basketball court.
Because elder statesmen Danny Ferry, Steve Smith and Kevin Willis can finally say, "Finally."
Because you know Gregg Popovich will still grumble that his Coach of the Year award should be a team accolade. And that he'd still trade his coaching trophy for that one loss against the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs.
Because for all the noise the Spurs made on the road and in the SBC Center's inaugural year, they also quietly gave thousands of dollars to fight cancer, encourage youth sports and cultivate religion in the community.
Because no matter how hard the quest, no matter how bleak it sometimes looks, the San Antonio Spurs prove that perseverance pays off. And when their gentle giant of a spokesman thanks God for such a glorious end to a long journey, you know he means it.
Because in the end, with a lot of fight and a lot of faith, nice guys do finish first.
For giving true meaning to the phrase "team players."
For uniting San Antonians and representing the city with such class.
Because they exemplify what San Antonio is all about.
Because they're just a nice bunch of guys.
Their uniforms are already retro.
Why? Because Kevin Willis is old enough to be Tony Parker's dad, and they play on the same team.
No prima donnas.
For not being intimidated by bad-boy competitors.
Because the bench is so deep.
For not talking trash.
Because Tim Duncan, Malik Rose (and George Gervin and Sean Elliott) aren't above appearances in down-home TV ads.
They're substance over hype.
They wear their Spurs caps facing forward.
For reaching out to community organizations.
For the way David Robinson stands at atten-hut! during the national anthem.
Steve Kerr, for being ready to come off the bench and drain a critical "three."
For being positive role models to countless youths.
Few tattoos.
For Robinson's fitting end to an illustrious career.
For possibly doing the same for Steve Kerr and Danny Ferry.
Because they're not the Lakers.
For showing that international relations really can work.
They're gentlemen.
Because San Antonians don't tear up their hometown after winning an NBA championship.
David Robinson's spiritual strength and Tim Duncan's quiet resolve.
For Tony Parker, a great French import, and Manu Ginobili, a great Argentinian import.
Stephen Jackson, for being "on" when we really needed it Sunday night.
Bruce Bowen, for being the only guy who can intimidate Kobe Bryant.
Malik Rose, the designated spiritual heir to David Robinson.
Danny Ferry, Steve Smith, Kevin Willis and Steve Kerr: our beloved elder statesmen.
For the wild rollercoaster ride they put us through this season.
For making silver worth more than gold.
They're unselfish players.
They seem to like and respect one another.
No petty rivalries divide them.
For distinguishing themselves from the rest of the NBA with their faith, integrity and sportsmanship.
Coach Gregg Popovich, for surviving all the critics and naysayers and becoming Coach of the Year.
Robinson has actually given something back to the city, which puts him head and shoulders above most other sports figures.
For getting the national spotlight to shine on the Alamo City.
Two words: "Ice Man."
For the way we Shock-and-Awed Shaq and Kobe.
The Spurs logo is no longer the colors of a VIA bus.
Because they never became the New Orleans Spurs.
Because none of the Spurs has been charged with domestic abuse.
For the way they overcame two bank-shot threes in the Phoenix series.
Because they would have beaten the Mavs even with Dirk Nowitzki.
For the loyalty displayed by David Robinson, who stuck with us even when the Spurs weren't a winning team.
Because good things come to those who wait.
For not playing dirty.
No "hot dogs" on the team.
The "stars" allow their teammates to shine.
Because their strength is in their character.
Because they are a bunch of decent guys and their fans behave the same way.
For playing the game with heart.
Malik Rose and Bruce Bowen, for not fighting back when pushed and shoved by Kenyon Martin.
They're living proof that dreams come true.
Because you never hear that a team member is a deadbeat dad.
Because you do hear that another one of them has donated money to a charity.
Tim Duncan for stating that "cocky" doesn't suit him.
David Robinson for going straight to his son after winning the championship.
Tony Parker for being mature enough to sit out the fourth quarter without whining.
Steve Kerr for being so modest after his fifth championship win! The way Robinson has passed the torch to Tim Duncan.
Steve Smith for being gracious and understanding about his role on the team.
Tony Parker, for being 21, but playing with the maturity of a veteran.
For Kevin Willis, for being on his feet at crunch time to encourage his teammates and cheer them on.
Gregg Popovich is a humble coach.
Speedy Claxton has a great name.
Malik Rose let an NBA TV crew tail him throughout the playoffs for a cable TV program and showed what a class act he is both on and off the court.
The Coyote is the coolest mascot in the NBA.
The Spurs show NBA stars can be great role models without bad language, abusive relationships and bad attitudes.
The Spurs recognize when they are doing badly and don't blame it on the other team or the referees.
Because moms can send their sons to a game and know they are in a place where "real" men aren't ashamed to praise God.
For proving -- again -- Leo Durocher was wrong about nice guys.
There's no asterisk on this one.
MD
Glad to see Willis and Smith finally get titles. Two of the best MSU stars that we've had, especially Smith.
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