Tolliver loses his mother, makes Spurs roster

[benefactor]

http://omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1200&u_sid=10469836

Definitely deserves its own thread. I am very close to my mother...this must be devastating for him. Hang in there Anthony.

[duncan228]

It's such sad, hard news.

It's nice to see the Spurs respond in their usual classy way and give him the support and time he needs.

I hope he gets through this as well as he can and can get back to his team soon.

[ElNono]

My condolences to him and his family.

And a very warm welcome to the Spurs family.

[VaSpursFan]

i knew AToll was a lock after his summer league and called it wayyyyy back then. he certainly sold me. the early signing really confirmed it for me. he gets spurs basketball.

that said, i can understand his pain with losing his mom. i lost my dad at 19 while a sophomore in college. luckily, i had a good support network to help me cope. congrats to Tolliver for making the final roster and i hope that the Spurs family atmosphere helps him through this difficult time. you're in my prayers, bro!!!

[honestfool84]

so i looked for this quote, cause i wanted to read it again; only then did i realize it was you, benefactor.





Interesting. I wonder who the casualty is. I would lean more towards Hairston because I would think that Tolliver would have been on the bench last night no matter what his personal business was if he KNEW that his spot might be in jeopardy.



kinda makes you think about writing whatever comes to your mind before you actually think.

i have a phrase on a sticker on the actual body of my camera: think before you hit the shutter.


point is, think before you speak. there's a reason tolliver wasn't there.

[bdictjames]

Prayers will be sent. Hope he'll be fine.

[benefactor]

so i looked for this quote, cause i wanted to read it again; only then did i realize it was you, benefactor.








kinda makes you think about writing whatever comes to your mind before you actually think.

i have a phrase on a sticker on the actual body of my camera: think before you hit the shutter.


point is, think before you speak. there's a reason tolliver wasn't there.
His mom dying never crossed my mind. If it was me and my mother had passed I would have to leave no matter what. I seriously doubt any team would pressure a player to stay under those circumstance.

I apologize if it sounded insensitive. That being said, this isn't the time or place for pointing fingers or calling people out. I and others are here to offer our condolences and support...not to start needless drama.

[ulosturedge]

Maybe thats why he was doing poorly in preseason.. How could anyone think basketball under those conditions... My condolences to him and his family aswell..

[tlongII]

so i looked for this quote, cause i wanted to read it again; only then did i realize it was you, benefactor.








kinda makes you think about writing whatever comes to your mind before you actually think.

i have a phrase on a sticker on the actual body of my camera: think before you hit the shutter.


point is, think before you speak. there's a reason tolliver wasn't there.

So what? He had no idea Tolliver's mother died.

[honestfool84]

y'all are right.
my bad.
i didn't mean to make it seem i was pointing fingers.



i had just read a while back that his mother was sick, so i had a feeling it was about that.

just kinda made me upset.
my bad.

[tlongII]

That really sucks for Tolliver. I hope he has a lot of family to help him through this.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Look's like the sex pervert was a benefactor of his happy go lucky shooting.

[benefactor]

y'all are right.
my bad.
i didn't mean to make it seem i was pointing fingers.



i had just read a while back that his mother was sick, so i had a feeling it was about that.

just kinda made me upset.
my bad.
It's all good man. I didn't mean for what I said to come across the way it did. We have all been kinda worked up this preseason. :)

[tlongII]

Look's like the sex pervert was a benefactor of his happy go lucky shooting.

Who is the sex pervert?

[duncan228]

That really sucks for Tolliver. I hope he has a lot of family to help him through this.

From the article:

Tolliver was the youngest of seven children raised by Lewis, a single parent.

Other survivors include Tolliver's sisters, Leslie, RaVonda, Angela, JaVonna and Suzie and brother Armani.

[benefactor]

Look's like the sex pervert was a benefactor of his happy go lucky shooting.
Not funny.

[benefactor]

Can't people just come here and offer condolences without being dumbasses? Don't we have enough threads for that?

[ulosturedge]

I agree take it to another thread. Its a bit disrespectful imo.

[DPG21920]

This is really sad. But with everything, there are blessings that come with loss. Tolliver is in the perfect organization and surrounded with the best team to help him learn and grow. Nothing will replace his mother, but events like this will endear him to his teammates and they to him. Hopefully, being on the court will allow him to find enjoyment and he can play knowing his mom is watching him; smiling and proud.

[Obstructed_View]

Look's like the sex pervert was a benefactor of his happy go lucky shooting.

Not only are you never funny, you are also never tactful.

[timtonymanu]

that's very sad to hear. My condolences to the Tolliver's.

[TDMVPDPOY]

hope this makes him stronger

[SenorSpur]

Very sad news. Sounds like they were extremely close. Nothing can ever replace that type of bond and support. Condolences to him and his family. A big welcome to his new family.

[Spurtacus]

My condolences to him and his family.

[m33p0]

bittersweet

[SKINNYPIMP210]

My condolences to him and his family. I'm very happy he made the team, his a really good Basketball player and person.

[timvp]

Horrible news.

Fulfill your biggest dream and find out your mom dies on the same day? Life can sure be odd.

[Spurs Brazil]

Sad news

My condolences to him and his family.

[Chomag]

Although I for one am not sold on Tolliver being a NBA talent . I can not even imagine what he may be going threw right now. My best wishes and condolences go out to him and his family.

[completely deck]

Strange to say this, but God bless and congrats to Anthony

[BWS-1994]

Condolences to him and his family.

Hopefully, this experience, albeit painful, will inspire him to continue to improve.

[manu2150]

i hope he gets better. its bad to lose a mother. hopefully hell own it up and be a surprise rookie of the year.

[Solid D]

Very sad news. Hopefully, some of his new teammates including Timmy may be able to provide some support for Anthony. Tim has some personal experience with loss in his life.

I still think about Joe Dumars playing in the NBA Finals against Portland and following Game 3, he found out his dad had passed away. Joe still had his mom and she encouraged him to finish the series, which he did in 5 games, but I've always thought that would be a very difficult thing to do and deal with.

[DMX7]

Best Wishes to Tolliver.

What a shame his mother didn't get to see him play his first NBA game with the Spurs though. That would have been something special.

How did you even find this article though? Can't say I've ever read the Omaha newspaper before.

[Solid D]

It's been a tough month for the Spurs. Coach Don Newman loses his wife a couple of weeks ago and now Anthony's mother passes away.

[duncan228]

Tolliver facing triumph, tragedy (http://www.news-leader.com/article/20081027/SPORTS/810270326)
News-Leader staff •

For former Kickapoo High School and Creighton University basketball star Anthony Tolliver, the last week represented the best and the worst of times.

Tolliver found out Thursday that he had made the opening-day roster of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs.

Later that day, Tolliver learned that his mother, Donna Lewis of Springfield, had died of an apparent heart attack.

"Anthony's devastated," Anthony Fox, Tolliver's agent, told the Omaha World-Herald. "I've talked with him but what can you say?

"There are no magical words that you can say that can make this make sense."

Fox said the Spurs have granted Tolliver a leave of absence. The regular season opens later this week.

"I know Anthony was very, very close to his mom," Creighton athletic director Bruce Rasmussen said. "I always sensed that Anthony's mom was his best friend and he was his mom's best friend.

"She was very supportive and had a very strong influence on him. That influence will help Tolliver get through this tragedy."

Tolliver signed with the Spurs as a free agent last summer. He was an all-Missouri Valley Conference player in 2007 and made the Cleveland Cavaliers opening-day roster last season, but was released before tipoff opening night.

He played in the NBA Developmental League with Des Moines and a pro league in Germany last season.

Lewis, 56, worked for 32 years in the Springfield Public Schools system. Survivors include Tolliver's sisters, Leslie Lewis and Ra'Vonda Lewis (Sanon).

Services are 6 p.m. Thursday at the Gillioz Theatre preceded by visitation at 5 p.m. Burial will be Friday in Rivermont Cemetery.

[Spurs Brazil]

And McDonald got nothing on this so far