duncan228
10-07-2008, 05:23 PM
Jeff McDonald: Parker is in the game (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2008/10/jeff_mcdonald_p_17.html)
Tony Parker woke up Tuesday morning to what was, without hyperbole, the biggest day of his adult life.
Sure, being named the MVP of the 2007 NBA Finals was nice. That whole "marrying a Hollywood starlet" thing was a decent feather in his cap.
But, for an athlete of Parker's generation, nothing beats being on the cover of EA Sports NBA Live '09.
This year's edition of the popular video game -- with Parker's mug on the front of it -- arrived at a store near you Tuesday.
Appearing on the cover of said video game is a prestigious honor. After all, there are 52 covers of Sports Illustrated during a year. There is only one NBA Live.
"I thought it was a joke at first, when my agent told me I was going to be on the cover," said Parker, speaking after the Spurs' training camp workout Tuesday. "I thought it was just the cover in France."
Parker had appeared on the cover of the French version of the game for five consecutive seasons (because who else are they going to put there, Mickael Pietrus?). This is the first time Parker has appeared on the global cover of the game.
Still, not all of Parker's teammates were impressed.
Ime Udoka noted that the Parker who appears on the game's cover seems a bit more muscular than the guy he's seen wandering around the Spurs' locker room.
"It looks like they put my body with his face," Udoka joked.
***
Parker claims to be a big fan of the NBA Live series, and says he used to be an avid player. He doesn't game as much anymore, and for that, he blames a certain Desperate Housewife.
"I used to play a lot, but now I'm married," Parker said. "You know how that goes."
***
Three more thoughts from another day at training camp ...
1) Reactions were mixed among Spurs fans when the team opted to bring back veteran guard Michael Finley. Time will tell if the move was wise or not, but one thing is for certain: The guy owns one of the prettiest jump shots in the league.
There's nothing like watching Finley close a workout by firing up form-perfect jumper after jumper. The guy could -- and should -- produce an instructional video some day.
2) Chatter is beginning to pick up about first-round pick George Hill. Coaches have always been wowed by his defensive ability, and he is beginning to pick up the Spurs system fairly quickly. His jumper is still a work in progress, and he remains under the tutelage of shooting guru Chip Engelland. Tuesday's instructional shooting session did not even include a basket -- Hill simply stood in a corner with a ball, occasionally flipping it skyward as Engelland fine-tuned his form.
3) Keep an eye on Anthony Tolliver as the preseason unfolds. He's an interesting story -- an undrafted free-agent the Spurs locked up in July, after a stellar summer league performance, in order to keep him out of anyone else's training camp. Spurs coaches believe Tolliver -- a 23-year-old, 6-foot-9 forward -- has an NBA -caliber jumpshot. Since Gregg Popovich usually opts to keep two shooting big men, Tolliver stands a good chance of making the team.
Tony Parker woke up Tuesday morning to what was, without hyperbole, the biggest day of his adult life.
Sure, being named the MVP of the 2007 NBA Finals was nice. That whole "marrying a Hollywood starlet" thing was a decent feather in his cap.
But, for an athlete of Parker's generation, nothing beats being on the cover of EA Sports NBA Live '09.
This year's edition of the popular video game -- with Parker's mug on the front of it -- arrived at a store near you Tuesday.
Appearing on the cover of said video game is a prestigious honor. After all, there are 52 covers of Sports Illustrated during a year. There is only one NBA Live.
"I thought it was a joke at first, when my agent told me I was going to be on the cover," said Parker, speaking after the Spurs' training camp workout Tuesday. "I thought it was just the cover in France."
Parker had appeared on the cover of the French version of the game for five consecutive seasons (because who else are they going to put there, Mickael Pietrus?). This is the first time Parker has appeared on the global cover of the game.
Still, not all of Parker's teammates were impressed.
Ime Udoka noted that the Parker who appears on the game's cover seems a bit more muscular than the guy he's seen wandering around the Spurs' locker room.
"It looks like they put my body with his face," Udoka joked.
***
Parker claims to be a big fan of the NBA Live series, and says he used to be an avid player. He doesn't game as much anymore, and for that, he blames a certain Desperate Housewife.
"I used to play a lot, but now I'm married," Parker said. "You know how that goes."
***
Three more thoughts from another day at training camp ...
1) Reactions were mixed among Spurs fans when the team opted to bring back veteran guard Michael Finley. Time will tell if the move was wise or not, but one thing is for certain: The guy owns one of the prettiest jump shots in the league.
There's nothing like watching Finley close a workout by firing up form-perfect jumper after jumper. The guy could -- and should -- produce an instructional video some day.
2) Chatter is beginning to pick up about first-round pick George Hill. Coaches have always been wowed by his defensive ability, and he is beginning to pick up the Spurs system fairly quickly. His jumper is still a work in progress, and he remains under the tutelage of shooting guru Chip Engelland. Tuesday's instructional shooting session did not even include a basket -- Hill simply stood in a corner with a ball, occasionally flipping it skyward as Engelland fine-tuned his form.
3) Keep an eye on Anthony Tolliver as the preseason unfolds. He's an interesting story -- an undrafted free-agent the Spurs locked up in July, after a stellar summer league performance, in order to keep him out of anyone else's training camp. Spurs coaches believe Tolliver -- a 23-year-old, 6-foot-9 forward -- has an NBA -caliber jumpshot. Since Gregg Popovich usually opts to keep two shooting big men, Tolliver stands a good chance of making the team.