SenorSpur
04-28-2009, 10:23 AM
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/lopresti/2009-04-27-spurs-could-be-gone_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
By Mike Lopresti
San Antonio, this one's for you.
Looks as if the Spurs could be gone soon. Maybe Tuesday, probably Friday. They appear to be too thin, too injured, and the Dallas Mavericks are up 3-1, ready to finish them off. The team that so often has graced June might be done before May, and since the world never granted them proper renown as serial NBA champions, will anyone notice when they've left the room?
Let's hope so.
It was always amazing, how the Spurs could win so many rings and do it so quietly, like a locomotive barreling unnoticed through the backyard. Guess they were never brash enough or showy enough or controversial enough.
The Lakers always got more publicity before breakfast.
But the Spurs knew how to become champions — at least in odd-numbered years. They did it in 1999 and 2003 and 2005 and 2007. The calendar said they were due this season, even if the standings didn't.
But Tim Duncan just turned 33 and Manu Ginobili is hurt, which is what happens when time starts to take over. Tony Parker scored 43 points in Game 4 in Dallas, and it was still not enough.
I read somewhere that the aura isn't working anymore. What aura? The Spurs had an aura? I thought all they had to truly draw public notice was Eva Longoria's husband at guard.
Why, then, didn't we give them more credit when their aura was plugged in? Now they are in imminent danger of a first-round exit, and that hasn't happened since 2000.
So pardon some sympathy for the former center of the basketball universe. San Antonio not only has been home to the world's most unheralded dynasty, but it also became one of the most admired hosts of the men's Final Four.
Now the Spurs are fading, and the NCAA has turned its back because the Alamodome is neither spacious nor plush enough. San Antonio has lost the event to, among other cities, Dallas and Houston.
What next, the Alamo gets moved to Austin?
At least the city will host the next women's Final Four. (Memo to Connecticut for future reference: Don't miss the Tex-Mex lunches on the River Walk).
Meanwhile, about the Spurs. They've lost three to the Mavericks, and it takes four, so they're not dead yet. "We've been in the hole before," Duncan reminded the assembled media after Game 4. "All you can do is take one game at a time. As cliche as that is, that's all you can do."
But should they fall, it begs the question whether the fires are going out on their era. If so, the Spurs will join the list of people, places and things not fully appreciated until they were gone.
You might recognize some of the others:
Sunday doubleheaders.
Diving boards at hotel pools.
Real letters in the mail. With most of the words even spelled correctly.
Customers in Yankee Stadium box seats.
Main Street.
Dinner on an airplane.
The magic in the title: "heavyweight champion of the world."
Fans in your row who say "Excuse me" when they walk in front of you in the middle of a game.
Local customer service. Not an 800 number to a voice 400 miles away.
The U.S.-Soviet Olympic rivalry.
Barry Bonds, pre-steroids.
The Buffalo Bills playing in four straight Super Bowls.
The Atlanta Braves winning 14 straight division titles.
Double features.
Phones that get answered by live people.
The mile run.
Late night scores in newspapers.
Interstates without orange barrels.
Crowds singing "God Bless America" at sports events. (Not to worry; it'll be popular again next terrorist attack.)
The biggest college football bowls on New Year's Day.
World Series games in sunshine, with the temperature above 50.
College basketball lineups dominated by seniors.
Understandably, the Spurs are in no hurry to join such a distinguished club. But one day they will, whether they want to or not.
By Mike Lopresti
San Antonio, this one's for you.
Looks as if the Spurs could be gone soon. Maybe Tuesday, probably Friday. They appear to be too thin, too injured, and the Dallas Mavericks are up 3-1, ready to finish them off. The team that so often has graced June might be done before May, and since the world never granted them proper renown as serial NBA champions, will anyone notice when they've left the room?
Let's hope so.
It was always amazing, how the Spurs could win so many rings and do it so quietly, like a locomotive barreling unnoticed through the backyard. Guess they were never brash enough or showy enough or controversial enough.
The Lakers always got more publicity before breakfast.
But the Spurs knew how to become champions — at least in odd-numbered years. They did it in 1999 and 2003 and 2005 and 2007. The calendar said they were due this season, even if the standings didn't.
But Tim Duncan just turned 33 and Manu Ginobili is hurt, which is what happens when time starts to take over. Tony Parker scored 43 points in Game 4 in Dallas, and it was still not enough.
I read somewhere that the aura isn't working anymore. What aura? The Spurs had an aura? I thought all they had to truly draw public notice was Eva Longoria's husband at guard.
Why, then, didn't we give them more credit when their aura was plugged in? Now they are in imminent danger of a first-round exit, and that hasn't happened since 2000.
So pardon some sympathy for the former center of the basketball universe. San Antonio not only has been home to the world's most unheralded dynasty, but it also became one of the most admired hosts of the men's Final Four.
Now the Spurs are fading, and the NCAA has turned its back because the Alamodome is neither spacious nor plush enough. San Antonio has lost the event to, among other cities, Dallas and Houston.
What next, the Alamo gets moved to Austin?
At least the city will host the next women's Final Four. (Memo to Connecticut for future reference: Don't miss the Tex-Mex lunches on the River Walk).
Meanwhile, about the Spurs. They've lost three to the Mavericks, and it takes four, so they're not dead yet. "We've been in the hole before," Duncan reminded the assembled media after Game 4. "All you can do is take one game at a time. As cliche as that is, that's all you can do."
But should they fall, it begs the question whether the fires are going out on their era. If so, the Spurs will join the list of people, places and things not fully appreciated until they were gone.
You might recognize some of the others:
Sunday doubleheaders.
Diving boards at hotel pools.
Real letters in the mail. With most of the words even spelled correctly.
Customers in Yankee Stadium box seats.
Main Street.
Dinner on an airplane.
The magic in the title: "heavyweight champion of the world."
Fans in your row who say "Excuse me" when they walk in front of you in the middle of a game.
Local customer service. Not an 800 number to a voice 400 miles away.
The U.S.-Soviet Olympic rivalry.
Barry Bonds, pre-steroids.
The Buffalo Bills playing in four straight Super Bowls.
The Atlanta Braves winning 14 straight division titles.
Double features.
Phones that get answered by live people.
The mile run.
Late night scores in newspapers.
Interstates without orange barrels.
Crowds singing "God Bless America" at sports events. (Not to worry; it'll be popular again next terrorist attack.)
The biggest college football bowls on New Year's Day.
World Series games in sunshine, with the temperature above 50.
College basketball lineups dominated by seniors.
Understandably, the Spurs are in no hurry to join such a distinguished club. But one day they will, whether they want to or not.