duncan228
12-23-2008, 01:17 AM
Curses, a tech, but Parker will fight the power (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Curses_a_tech_but_Parker_will_fight_the_power.html )
By Mike Monroe
The Spurs went into Monday's game at the AT&T Center with only one technical foul for the entire season, but ended it with a second on the books.
Before the week is out, Spurs point guard Tony Parker hopes it will be back to one.
Parker will appeal the technical foul he got from referee Zach Zarba for protesting a jump ball call with 2:33 left in the third quarter of the Spurs' 101-85 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
The two-time All-Star contends he neither cursed nor carried on an argument beyond an initial reaction of, “Come on.”
Parker is confident league officials will rescind his technical, and the $1,000 fine that goes with it, citing the fact Zarba acknowledged it had been a mistake.
“I didn't say anything,” Parker said, “and he apologized to me. We're allowed a reaction. They tell you that in training camp, that you're allowed a reaction. I didn't even curse at him.
“All I said was, ‘Come on,' because I felt like he (Kings guard Bobby Brown) was holding me, and he (Zarba) said it was a jump ball. He knew he was wrong, because he apologized.
“Of course I will appeal. A thousand dollars? Come on, man, at least let me curse if you're going to take $1,000.”
Parker believes his career history of comportment will further his case.
“Over my whole career I have maybe four or five techs, the whole time. As a team, we never say anything to the refs.”
Hairston signed: Malik Hairston, the swingman from Oregon the Spurs acquired on draft night in a swap of second-round picks with Phoenix, was signed before the game, but was on the inactive list.
Hairston also had been with the Toros, where he averaged 19.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
Because he had been waived by the Spurs in late October, he could have been signed by any team, a factor in the club's decision to sign him Monday.
“Malik was doing well enough that I think other people were starting to get interested,” Popovich said. “We wanted to make sure we didn't lose him.”
Hairston was surprised, and happy, to get the call from the Spurs.
“My focus has just been working hard and trying to get better,” he said. “I really appreciate the opportunity that they are giving me.”
The lid's off: After missing all five of his shots in his first game back from an assignment with the Spurs' Development League team, the Austin Toros, forward Anthony Tolliver made a pair of 3-pointers Monday. He finished with seven points and six rebounds in 17:36.
Tolliver shot well in six games with the Toros, averaging 17.8 points. He acknowledges having been over-amped in his first game back, but said the confidence in his shot remained.
“As a shooter you can never lose confidence,” he said. “That's why I've never hesitated. I know the coaches know it's a learning curve. It's a new process for me; a new game, really.
“I'm starting to get more and more comfortable. That time playing in Austin was really valuable, letting me get on the court and just see the ball go in and just make a couple shots.”
By Mike Monroe
The Spurs went into Monday's game at the AT&T Center with only one technical foul for the entire season, but ended it with a second on the books.
Before the week is out, Spurs point guard Tony Parker hopes it will be back to one.
Parker will appeal the technical foul he got from referee Zach Zarba for protesting a jump ball call with 2:33 left in the third quarter of the Spurs' 101-85 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
The two-time All-Star contends he neither cursed nor carried on an argument beyond an initial reaction of, “Come on.”
Parker is confident league officials will rescind his technical, and the $1,000 fine that goes with it, citing the fact Zarba acknowledged it had been a mistake.
“I didn't say anything,” Parker said, “and he apologized to me. We're allowed a reaction. They tell you that in training camp, that you're allowed a reaction. I didn't even curse at him.
“All I said was, ‘Come on,' because I felt like he (Kings guard Bobby Brown) was holding me, and he (Zarba) said it was a jump ball. He knew he was wrong, because he apologized.
“Of course I will appeal. A thousand dollars? Come on, man, at least let me curse if you're going to take $1,000.”
Parker believes his career history of comportment will further his case.
“Over my whole career I have maybe four or five techs, the whole time. As a team, we never say anything to the refs.”
Hairston signed: Malik Hairston, the swingman from Oregon the Spurs acquired on draft night in a swap of second-round picks with Phoenix, was signed before the game, but was on the inactive list.
Hairston also had been with the Toros, where he averaged 19.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
Because he had been waived by the Spurs in late October, he could have been signed by any team, a factor in the club's decision to sign him Monday.
“Malik was doing well enough that I think other people were starting to get interested,” Popovich said. “We wanted to make sure we didn't lose him.”
Hairston was surprised, and happy, to get the call from the Spurs.
“My focus has just been working hard and trying to get better,” he said. “I really appreciate the opportunity that they are giving me.”
The lid's off: After missing all five of his shots in his first game back from an assignment with the Spurs' Development League team, the Austin Toros, forward Anthony Tolliver made a pair of 3-pointers Monday. He finished with seven points and six rebounds in 17:36.
Tolliver shot well in six games with the Toros, averaging 17.8 points. He acknowledges having been over-amped in his first game back, but said the confidence in his shot remained.
“As a shooter you can never lose confidence,” he said. “That's why I've never hesitated. I know the coaches know it's a learning curve. It's a new process for me; a new game, really.
“I'm starting to get more and more comfortable. That time playing in Austin was really valuable, letting me get on the court and just see the ball go in and just make a couple shots.”