duncan228
11-07-2008, 02:04 PM
Jeff McDonald: Tony vs. the World (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2008/11/jeff_mcdonald_t_22.html)
For a quick moment following Friday morning's shootaround, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was asked to reflect on Tony Parker's 55-point, 10-assist masterpiece against Minnesota.
"It was kind of Tony against the world, wasn't it?" Popovich said.
It was an interesting turn of phrase, considering Popovich's recent lecture on usage of "NBA champion" vs. "world champion."
The issue came up again at this morning's shootaround, and Parker -- one of the league's top international players -- said he had no real beef with an NBA champion using either designation. Pondering the issue, however, led Parker to inadvertently come up with a cool idea for settling the debate.
"Maybe one day we can see the best NBA team against the best European team," Parker said. "We can make it a game every year. It would be fun. Then, you could say 'World Champion.' "
Asked who he would suit up for if, under this hypothetical, the Spurs had to face his French national team, Parker didn't miss a beat.
"The Spurs, of course," he said. "I want to win."
For a quick moment following Friday morning's shootaround, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was asked to reflect on Tony Parker's 55-point, 10-assist masterpiece against Minnesota.
"It was kind of Tony against the world, wasn't it?" Popovich said.
It was an interesting turn of phrase, considering Popovich's recent lecture on usage of "NBA champion" vs. "world champion."
The issue came up again at this morning's shootaround, and Parker -- one of the league's top international players -- said he had no real beef with an NBA champion using either designation. Pondering the issue, however, led Parker to inadvertently come up with a cool idea for settling the debate.
"Maybe one day we can see the best NBA team against the best European team," Parker said. "We can make it a game every year. It would be fun. Then, you could say 'World Champion.' "
Asked who he would suit up for if, under this hypothetical, the Spurs had to face his French national team, Parker didn't miss a beat.
"The Spurs, of course," he said. "I want to win."