Manu's New Article(Translation Needed)

[xamila rey]

"Ahora vamos por una medalla, no importa de qué color sea"
"Otra vez somos uno de los cuatro mejores del mundo"

http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1041757


PEKIN.- Le digo, sinceramente, que casi me muero cuando Vasilopoulos metió ese triple con tablero a 30 segundos del final. ¡Fue un tiro increíble! El anterior doble mío también fue difícil, pero convengamos que entró más limpita; fue más elegante. En esa jugada no quise jugar pick and roll, preferí uno contra uno, pero sabía que me iban a dar la derecha, así que encaré por ese lado y la terminé tirando con izquierda Si la tiraba con derecha se la pasaba a mi papá, que estaba en la tribuna.

Bueno, estamos uno a uno. Lituania nos ganó con el tiro del final y hoy Grecia falló el último lanzamiento. En el debut perdimos y hoy ganamos. Esto es así, va y viene. Hay que destacar la brillante defensa que nos hicieron. Fue durísimo, muy áspero y agotador. Ellos jugaron muy bien. Nunca pensamos que podíamos ganar por 15 puntos, pero las dos o tres veces que les sacamos una ventaja de seis o siete puntos no los pudimos quebrar, ellos se pusieron en el partido. La última vez con dos triples seguidos; creo que estábamos 64-57 arriba y se nos vinieron encima de nuevo. Tienen mucha experiencia y oficio.

Nosotros nos pudimos mantener con los tiros exteriores, algunos medio raros, pero fueron adentro. De todos modos, anoche la figura fue Carlitos (Delfino). Creo que pocas veces vi a un jugador hacer ese segundo tiempo de Carlitos. ¡Impresionante! Se puso el equipo al hombro y realizó una demostración de básquetbol impecable. Estoy orgulloso de él y de este equipo, el mejor que integré en mi vida. Por carácter, por entrega, por el profesionalismo, por cómo nos cuidamos las espaldas y nos alentamos, creo que tiene que ser un ejemplo no para el deporte, sino para toda nuestra sociedad. Si ustedes vieran la comunicación que hay en el grupo... Me gustaría que entiendan esto. Es fabuloso.

El objetivo principal está cumplido. Ahora vamos por una medalla y no importa de qué color sea. Estamos felices porque otra vez somos uno de los cuatro mejores equipos del mundo, como hace varios torneos y desde hace años. No creo que haya otro país que haya conseguido eso. Nada nos fue fácil, todos nos cuesta mucho, pero estamos contentísimos de volver a estar en las semifinales. Con el tiempo seguramente todo esto se valorará más, porque no me olvido de que hace ocho años peleábamos por un octavo puesto en los mundiales y ni llegábamos a los Juegos Olímpicos.

Ahora vamos por la hazaña. Ellos son los favoritos y nosotros tenemos pocas chances, quizás un 5 o un 10 por ciento, pero mientras exista esa posibilidad hay que intentarlo. En Indianápolis ellos sumaban 58 partidos invictos y nadie daba nada por nosotros, y les ganamos. Por qué no se puede dar el ¿milagro? No, no, la proeza, la hazaña, otra vez. Es cierto que estamos medio complicados con la lesiones y que somos un equipo corto, pero hay que salir a ganar, sin reservarse pensando en la de bronce. Ahora, si nos sacan 20 puntos de ventaja y vemos que es muy complicado, voy a ser el primero en pedir el cambio e irme a descansar al banco. Ellos son superdotados físicamente, tienen 12 jugadores de altísimo nivel, todos figuras en la NBA, y habrá que jugar brillante y meter más de lo habitual para ganarles. Repito, las posibilidades son pocas, pero hay que intentarlo.

Urunobili i know u do a great job in translation. Hope you can do it. I am not very good at this.

by the way...I AM SO PROUD OF MANU´S WORDS AND THE WHOLE TEAM.:clap

[urunobili]

i will see what i can do... i have just arrived to US Central time and i am kind of JET LAGGY now... maybe later today... sorry :depressed

[rAm]

i will see what i can do... i have just arrived to US Central time and i am kind of JET LAGGY now... maybe later today... sorry :depressed

NO EXCUSES

[urunobili]

NO EXCUSES

ok.... i'll do it... diego is owning me one though... diego r u there?

[urunobili]

if i am going to do it i have to make a warning first... some will be disappointed big time... u sure you want this?

[roycrikside]

uh yeah. I doubt he's like announcing he's pro-apartheid or he hates little puppies or anything.

[honestfool84]

ok. that sucked.

[urunobili]

google says:

google fucks things up for translations dude... show some love... delete this and be patient and i'll finish it

[Fmedrano1077]

Great article.

[urunobili]

I mean it sincerely; I almost died when Vasilopoulos banked that triple with 30 seconds left. It was an amazing shot! My previous lay in was also tough, but let’s say the ball went in cleaner, it was more elegant. On that play I didn’t want to pick and roll, I preferred one on one, but I knew they were going to give me the right so I went that way but finished with my left hand. If I throw that ball with my right it was a pass to my father that was in the stands behind the board.

We are one and one now. Lithuania beat us with a shot at the end and today Greece failed theirs. On our first game we lost and today we won. Things are this way, they come and go. You have to give props to the Greek team as they played brilliant defense on us. It was a very tough game, physical and tiresome. They played very well. We never thought we could beat them by 15 points, but the two or three times that we had a six or seven point lead we couldn’t break their spirit, they came back right at us. Last 2 plays with a couple of 3’s; I think we were 64-57 up and they came close again. They have a lot of experience and execute really well.

We could stay in the game with the outside shooting, a couple weird, but they went in. Anyhow, yesterday’s star was Carlitos (Delfino). I think that few times I have seen a player do this kind of second half in a game. Impressive! He put the team on his shoulders and did an impeccable basketball demonstration. I am proud of him and of this team, the best I have ever been a part of in my life. For the character, for the way it gives it all, for its professionalism, for how we take care of each others back and we cheer ourselves, I think it has to be not only an example for sports but for all society. If you just were able to experience the communication this group have. I would love you to understand that. It’s fabulous.

The main objective is accomplished. Now we are going for a medal doesn’t matter what color it is. We are happy because yet again we are one of the best four teams in the world, for several tournaments now already and it’s been a while. I don’t think another country have ever done this. Nothing was easy for is, everything is tough, but we are very happy to be on semi finals again. With time I think all this will be more appreciated, because I don’t forget that 8 years ago we were fighting for an eight place in the world cups and did not make the Olympics at all.

Now we are going for the miracle. They are the favorites and we have very slight chances maybe a 5 or 10 %, but while that minimum chance is alive we have to try it. In Indianapolis they had a 58 games winning streak and nobody gave a shit for us and we still pulled it through. Why can’t we make this upset then? No, No, the impossible the unthinkable again. It’s truth we are complicated with our injured players and that we are a short team, but we have to step on that court to get a win without thinking in the bronze medal. If they have a 20 point lead and we see it’s too complicated, I am going to be the first one to ask to be substituted. They are super physically gifted, have 12 top notch players that play at the highest level, all NBA stars and we would have to play brilliantly and make more shots than usual to beat them. I repeat, the chances are slim but we have try.

[urunobili]

"Ahora vamos por una medalla, no importa de qué color sea"
"Otra vez somos uno de los cuatro mejores del mundo"

http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1041757



Urunobili i know u do a great job in translation. Hope you can do it. I am not very good at this.

by the way...I AM SO PROUD OF MANU´S WORDS AND THE WHOLE TEAM.:clap

You got it Xami :)

[xamila rey]

You got it Xami :)

Gracias! como te sentis? cambio de horario mata....slds

[smeagol]

Spurs fans are goping to be mad because Manu says the NT is the best team he has played for in his life . . .

[Kori Ellis]

Thanks for translating. Good interview!


If they have a 20 point lead and we see it’s too complicated, I am going to be the first one to ask to be substituted.

That's a weird thing to say.

[xamila rey]

That's a weird thing to say.

i guess he said so bc when we lost against Spain in the world champs he was very sad to play for the third place. He might preparing himself for playing for the bronce and not take it too badly.

[urunobili]

Thanks for translating. Good interview!



That's a weird thing to say.

i agree.. i think it's pretty clear they want a Medal... and if the game is out of reach early... they'll want to rest instead of laying it all out on a game that could be soon out of reach...

[Kori Ellis]

i agree.. i think it's pretty clear they want a Medal... and if the game is out of reach early... they'll want to rest instead of laying it all out on a game that could be soon out of reach...

Yeah I understand that. It's just unusual for me to hear Manu talk about giving up in a game. He usually plays every minute like he still has a chance to win.

[timvp]

Damn, it's hard to read that and then root for Kobe to beat him.

I might have to go back to being a neutral observer.

[xtremesteven33]

not surprisingly, but he is being BRUTALLY honest here.

not that "never give up," "never surrender" stuff we expect him to say.

hes basically saying...."if we get behind 20 points, we will not win this game" which is very much true.

he knows his team is so undermaned its not fair so hes expecting a loss but will play to win.

i admire the honesty

[BigVee]

Spurs fans are goping to be mad because Manu says the NT is the best team he has played for in his life . . .

He is talking in terms of the intangibles which he explains in the next sentence. Not the best in terms of ability. What a genuine guy.

[xtremesteven33]

or.....


CIA MANU??


haha

[mytespurs]

I so love Manu! He's the best. :toast Thanks for the translation. It's so funny how he finds the time to keep his fans updated on what's going on.

Speaking of, has anyone see these clips:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VctE3gPDHbc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgLKl2lECKI

[angel_luv]

Thanks very much for the excellent translation, Urunobili

[smeagol]

Yeah I understand that. It's just unusual for me to hear Manu talk about giving up in a game. He usually plays every minute like he still has a chance to win.

Not even a divinely inspired Manu can come back from a 20 pt lead going into the 4Q, against the US team.

[angel_luv]

Thanks for translating. Good interview!



That's a weird thing to say.

Especially for Manu.

[Taladro]

not surprisingly, but he is being BRUTALLY honest here.

not that "never give up," "never surrender" stuff we expect him to say.

hes basically saying...."if we get behind 20 points, we will not win this game" which is very much true.

he knows his team is so undermaned its not fair so hes expecting a loss but will play to win.

i admire the honesty

I agree with that.
Manu understand that a bronze medal for Argentina is very important.
He’ll give it a try but will not burn a lot of the little energy left in a goal almost impossible to achieve

[TMTTRIO]

Thanks again urunobili for the translation. I hope Manu's at least able to get some kind of medal to wrap things up. No doubt about I believe that it will be a competitive game. By the way here's a new article on Manu.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/basketball/news?slug=aw-ginobili082108&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Argentina’s star shines bright on court
By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports
41 minutes ago

More 2008 Olympics Videos More From Adrian Wojnarowski
NBA teams cleared to negotiate with Iranians Aug 20, 2008 Team USA lets verdict speak for itself Aug 20, 2008

BEIJING – For months, San Antonio Spurs executives had gone back and forth with Manu Ginobili on the gimpy ankle that gave out to Kobe Bryant in the Western Conference finals. They pleaded with Ginobili to pass on the Olympics. For all the reasons general manager R.C. Buford adores Ginobili – his sense of duty, his competitive heart – this was an instance when rest over national service to Argentina had to be the strong suggestion of the Spurs’ elders.


Before Ginobili left Texas for South America in late June, there was still swelling in that jammed left ankle. Buford and his boss, Gregg Popovich, were troubled. Eventually, they dispatched a trainer to Buenos Aires to supervise Ginobili’s workouts with the national team. Mostly, they begged him to be honest: Please, please don’t risk your future with us. He’s Manu Ginobili. They had to trust him.


“When the president gave him the honor of carrying the flag in the opening ceremonies,” Buford said by phone from San Antonio, “we knew it would be much more difficult in Manu’s heart to stay away. It wasn’t like he needed any pressure to get him to play, though.”

As an NBA executive, Buford felt like he grew up with the Argentina kids. As a young GM, he chased them to every corner of the globe. He saw Ginobili first in the Under-21 World Championships in Melbourne in 1997 and became intrigued with what he called a “wild colt,” who just played with so much passion, so much joy.

The Argentineans were different. It was so easy to see. They were getting such terrific coaching, had such a toughness and tenacity, and soon Argentina turned into the Spurs staff’s favorite stop on the circuit. Luis Scola. Fabricio Oberto. Andres Nocioni. Pepe Sanchez. They cared about winning. They cared about each other. They made Argentina a basketball nation.


Buford had been watching on television in San Antonio when Ginobili blocked a Greece shot on Wednesday and crashed into the photographers’ pit. Ginobili hit his three-pointers and a twisting, turning layup on the way to 24 points, an 80-78 victory and a shot at the United States in the Olympic semifinals on Friday.


Across the world, Buford had to laugh. Against his better judgment, against his hopes for a fifth NBA title in 11 years, Manu Ginobili was where he belonged. Three NBA titles, a Euroleague championship and an Olympic gold medal later, the uneasiness with the wear and tear on his body is forever tempered with the sense that the Spurs GM never gets tired of watching Emanuel David Ginobili with a big game in the air, a basketball in his hands.

So here comes Argentina, a little short on the bench, a little diminished at guard, to play the Americans for a berth in the gold-medal game Sunday. Ginobili gets Kobe Bryant covering him, and a puncher’s chance for the biggest upset in Olympic basketball history.


“There’s not much of a chance, only a very, very small one,” Ginobili said.

He’s right. A small, small chance. It still brought him back to these Games for Argentina, where he is the tournament’s only player scoring 20 points a game. For all the epic talents on the American roster, there isn’t a player in these Games with more big baskets and big plays on the global stage. The way Team USA’s players see it, Ginobili is one of them. He’s one of the world’s best 15 players, something that gets lost in the shadow of teammates Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.


And for one shot, one play, one crafty crisscrossed stride to the rim, a smart basketball mind would take Manu over Kobe, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Ginobili never does it alone for Argentina, but his burden is different than with the Spurs.

“He’s one of the top players in the NBA, and if you ask me, he’s even better for them because he’s ‘the man’ on that team,’” Deron Williams said.

Argentina beat the United States in the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis – the first time NBA players had lost an international game – and again on the way to the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics. Now, the basketball world has tilted again. The U.S. has learned its lessons and returned with a vengeance. It’s destroying everyone in these Games, and privately, Argentina has been the country that Team USA’s players respects the most. They know Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto of the Spurs and Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets and the Chicago Bulls’ Andres Nocioni.

“These guys are probably the toughest competitors in the Olympics,” Williams said.

For all the toughness and tenacity, Ginobili gives Argentina its soul, its buoy. As a young boy in Bahia Blanca, he incorporated the style and substance of soccer legend Diego Maradona into basketball, molding a game of fundamentals and flair that is uniquely Argentine.


When Channel 9 was done showing soccer on Sunday nights, Ginobili stayed up until midnight to watch the most mesmerizing 30 minutes of television every week. Back in the mid-1980s, an Argentine soccer analyst and basketball fanatic, Adrian Paenza, arranged a meeting with NBA commissioner David Stern in New York. Paenza had come to ask how he could get the NBA on television in Argentina. Desperate to reach the corners of the globe, Stern sold him the rights for a cool $2,000, and soon the league shipped those tapes of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson to the little station Channel 9 in Buenos Aries.


Ginobili was 7 years old when he started watching those NBA tapes with a religious fervor, forever hustling outside to mimic the moves just like the kids in the United States would do. It wouldn’t be long until his passion for basketball melded with his love of nation. He witnessed Maradona win the World Cup for Argentina in 1986, a spirit that never left him.


“I admire him probably the same way I did with (Michael) Jordan,” Ginobili once told Yahoo! Sports’ Johnny Ludden. “But the difference was he was representing me with the Argentine jersey. That changes everything.”

For the Spurs, who had France play Tony Parker with a broke hand and the Netherlands clear Francisco Elson with a broken eye socket, the dynamic of Ginobili’s obligations to Argentina are a complex issue.


These days, only Maradona is considered a greater sporting treasure for Argentina. When Popovich moved Ginobili into the sixth man’s role two years ago, it was met with hysteria back home. The Spurs were flooded with emails and calls demanding Popovich change course. This national team has become so precious to its people – “a generation of players that will be difficult to replicate,” Buford said – and they’re understandably protective of their players.

“It’s probably best that we’re not allowed to make those decisions for players, because obviously national teams present risks not only with injury, but with length of career and cumulative fatigue,” Buford said. “But we’ve also built our program with great respect for national team representation. Pop and (owner) Peter Holt understand it’s what makes our guys great.”

As it stands, Ginobili could be playing his final Olympic basketball game on Friday. For an Argentina core that made basketball matter in a soccer nation, that delivered the 2002 beating that sped the U.S. downward spiral, this semifinal game with Team USA could be something of a goodbye.


Buford remembered walking into the Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Indianapolis at the end of the 2002 World Championships and stumbling upon a private room where the Argentina players had gathered for a going-away dinner. There was a Team USA official there too, and he thought: This is everything I want for our floundering American program.


“The U.S. team had limos lined up at the hotel to get them out of town as fast as they could,” Buford said. “You looked in that room, and after a crushing loss when they had gotten screwed in the gold-medal game against Serbia, and they were all there together. Some of them had their kids on their knees. They were just so passionate about competing together, about being together. They didn’t like leaving each other.”

And once more late Wednesday night, in the silence of an empty Wukesong Indoor Basketball Stadium in Beijing, those Argentina fans had stayed long after that thrilling victory over Greece. Down on the floor, the television man interviewed Manu Ginobili and the people screamed, “Manu…Manu…Manu…”

For old times’ sake, here come the Americans for Argentina, and Kobe for Ginobili. Maybe once and for all, here they go again. So, the greatest player in Argentina history raised his arms and clenched a fist, and halfway across the world, R.C. Buford knew the truth: The Spurs never had a chance.

[angel_luv]

My favorite part of his blog:


For the character, for the way it gives it all, for its professionalism, for how we take care of each others back and we cheer ourselves, I think it has to be not only an example for sports but for all society. If you just were able to experience the communication this group have. I would love you to understand that. It’s fabulous.



I <3 MG :)

[timvp]

Good Yahoo article. I never thought for a second Ginobili wasn't going to play in the Olympics. Hurt, sick or whatever else, he was playing.

I can't wait to watch this game. I hope Manu looks 100% healthy and can at least make it a close. If he somehow wins it, he'll become a first ballot Hall of Famer and could make a push to become one of the top 25 players to ever play the game. It'd have to be the biggest accomplishment in the game of basketball outside of the NBA.

[xtremesteven33]

If manu drops 25+ points on Kobe Bryant and makes the game close, that alone should mark him as one of the best of all time to even carry his team to a competetive game with one of the greatest teams ever assembled. (TEAM USA).

If he can somehow get his team the victory. i wouldnt doubt it calling it the greatest game upset in the history of the olympics.

[duncan228]

Thanks for the translation urunobili.

I'm really looking forward to this one. It's a win-win for me. I want Team USA to bring back the Gold, but I won't complain if Manu defends his Title. I just hope it's close and exciting, I don't want a blow-out.

[smeagol]

If he somehow wins it, he'll become a first ballot Hall of Famer and could make a push to become one of the top 25 players to ever play the game. It'd have to be the biggest accomplishment in the game of basketball outside of the NBA.

My eyes get watery, even thinking about it . . .

[tomtom]

Wow very deep articles great job guys

[Argiebabe]

“You looked in that room, and after a crushing loss when they had gotten screwed in the gold-medal game against Serbia, and they were all there together. Some of them had their kids on their knees. They were just so passionate about competing together, about being together. They didn’t like leaving each other.”

That's what makes me proud, that is the example I want... it is better than any gold, silver or bronze.
These guys made it up there, against all the money, coaching, contracts and other issues and they did it as a team.
I admire Manu mostly because he is an awesome human being who tries harder and harder every time to win and get better, that is something you don't see a lot,specially in this country where the most admired soccer players are divas who only care about money & fame...and they fight between them to see who will be the leader of the soccer NT.

[kuato]

In case you dont understand why there is allways people saying that Argentina is a soccer country.
AKnJMBKhdYc

[mystargtr34]

Lets hope Manu can choke it up again like the Conference Finals so he comes home without too much wear on his body.