Blackjack
04-16-2009, 02:32 AM
It's just a word, really.
Yet, recently, it seemed one of the four-letter variety.
You see, coming to terms with your teams' inevitable fate, when expectations of a championship are such, can be a pretty hard thing to do.
We, as a fan-base, have been spoiled with one of the truly great run's in professional sports. We've been conditioned with expectation, and for some, bordered on entitlement. Winning, for some, has become a feeling of relief, rather than joy, and the journey to the ultimate goal has lost it's luster. It's championship or bust; never allowing the true satisfaction of enjoying a battles victory, if not the victor of war.
It's a sentiment and feeling felt by all that have been blessed with great success. Nothing exclusive to Spurs fan's, really. But it's something I will not allow myself to feel any longer. The time for complacency, entitlement, and apathy is over. The Spurs' window is closing, but it hasn't closed yet.
In truth, any victory the Spurs have in the playoffs shouldn't be taken for granted. As this teams stands here today, given the loss of Manu and the condition of Tim's knees, (whether it's Dallas or anyone else they should happen to play, if they're fortunate enough to advance) there are no easy-out's. This team could just as easily go out in the first round, as they could advance to the conference-finals. It really is that much of a coin's-flip.
But that's where the fun is.
There's no more relief for win's, the expectation's gone. The dominant team of the decade is no longer the hunted, but the hunter.
Granted, the Spurs being undermanned and coming into the playoffs in less than ideal circumstances can give the impression of a hunter hunting the type of game that requires an elephant gun, and not the good old trusty shotgun, but taking down big game with little Ol' Bessy gives the skin a little more significance when it's mounted on the wall. It's a feeling of accomplishment and pride that the fully-automatic assault-rifle, tends to lack. :hat
So from here on out, I'm enjoying every last battle along the way.
Victories like tonight, I'll savor a little more. No more wet-blanket thought's on how the team shouldn't have been in a particular situation. Thought's like, "Had Chandler been able to go in the second half, and or, they made their free-throws?", will be a thing of the past. (Well, at least for the remainder of this year.:hat) Instead I'll crack a smile at the absurdity, and or, amazement of the situation, and I'll laugh out-loud at Bill Land and his calls (especially the one's that almost elicit an F-bomb) and cherish every last Elliott-ism, each and every broadcast.
For all the questionable personnel moves, for all the roation drama, this team has given everything they've had to give out there on the court and in the community. They're champions in every sense of the word and deserving of the type of unwavering support this city used to be famous for, back in the day.
Acceptance.
When you're a Spurs fan?
It really isn't all that hard to do. :flag:
:lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2:
Yet, recently, it seemed one of the four-letter variety.
You see, coming to terms with your teams' inevitable fate, when expectations of a championship are such, can be a pretty hard thing to do.
We, as a fan-base, have been spoiled with one of the truly great run's in professional sports. We've been conditioned with expectation, and for some, bordered on entitlement. Winning, for some, has become a feeling of relief, rather than joy, and the journey to the ultimate goal has lost it's luster. It's championship or bust; never allowing the true satisfaction of enjoying a battles victory, if not the victor of war.
It's a sentiment and feeling felt by all that have been blessed with great success. Nothing exclusive to Spurs fan's, really. But it's something I will not allow myself to feel any longer. The time for complacency, entitlement, and apathy is over. The Spurs' window is closing, but it hasn't closed yet.
In truth, any victory the Spurs have in the playoffs shouldn't be taken for granted. As this teams stands here today, given the loss of Manu and the condition of Tim's knees, (whether it's Dallas or anyone else they should happen to play, if they're fortunate enough to advance) there are no easy-out's. This team could just as easily go out in the first round, as they could advance to the conference-finals. It really is that much of a coin's-flip.
But that's where the fun is.
There's no more relief for win's, the expectation's gone. The dominant team of the decade is no longer the hunted, but the hunter.
Granted, the Spurs being undermanned and coming into the playoffs in less than ideal circumstances can give the impression of a hunter hunting the type of game that requires an elephant gun, and not the good old trusty shotgun, but taking down big game with little Ol' Bessy gives the skin a little more significance when it's mounted on the wall. It's a feeling of accomplishment and pride that the fully-automatic assault-rifle, tends to lack. :hat
So from here on out, I'm enjoying every last battle along the way.
Victories like tonight, I'll savor a little more. No more wet-blanket thought's on how the team shouldn't have been in a particular situation. Thought's like, "Had Chandler been able to go in the second half, and or, they made their free-throws?", will be a thing of the past. (Well, at least for the remainder of this year.:hat) Instead I'll crack a smile at the absurdity, and or, amazement of the situation, and I'll laugh out-loud at Bill Land and his calls (especially the one's that almost elicit an F-bomb) and cherish every last Elliott-ism, each and every broadcast.
For all the questionable personnel moves, for all the roation drama, this team has given everything they've had to give out there on the court and in the community. They're champions in every sense of the word and deserving of the type of unwavering support this city used to be famous for, back in the day.
Acceptance.
When you're a Spurs fan?
It really isn't all that hard to do. :flag:
:lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2: