duncan228
05-23-2009, 10:49 PM
What could have been: ‘Memorial Day Misfire’ (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/What_could_have_been_Memorial_Day_Misfire.html)
Express-News
What if Sean Elliott’s famous shot had not gone down? Express-News staff writer Jeff McDonald imagines a tongue-in-cheek, alternate historic timeline for the Spurs:
May 31, 1999
Spurs eliminated: Elliott’s last-gasp shot bounces just off the front of the rim. The Spurs go on to lose Game 2 of the Western Conference finals 87-83. Buoyed by its upset victory in San Antonio, Portland goes on to win the series in six games.
June 25, 1999
Blazers win NBA title: The Trail Blazers defeat the New York Knicks 4-1 in the NBA Finals, claiming their first championship in 22 seasons. The city of Portland celebrates with a parade down the Willamette River. Phil Jackson infuriates half the state of Oregon by suggesting the Blazers’ title should come with an asterisk.
July 7, 1999
Elliott hangs ’em up: Facing a life-or-death kidney transplant, Elliott announces his retirement from basketball. He says he plans to spend most of his post-op time on the golf course, honing up for his planned entrance onto the PGA Tour.
Oct. 23, 1999
No new arena: Spurs owner Peter Holt goes public with a plan to raise funds to build a new arena to replace the Alamodome. The city scoffs. “The dome is only 6 years old, and you want to turn it into a glorified high school stadium?” one city council member says. “Like that will ever happen.”
May 2, 2000
Pop fired: With All-Star Tim Duncan sidelined with a knee injury, the Spurs are out of the playoffs in the first round, bounced by the Phoenix Suns. The next day, the team announces the firing of Gregg Popovich. “We need to go in a different direction,” Holt says.
May 4, 2000
Hill hired: The Spurs announce the re-hiring of Bob Hill.
June 19, 2000
Lakers three-peat again: The Lakers win the first of three consecutive NBA titles (Hey, some things would never change).
July 15, 2000
Duncan to Magic: In a move that sends shockwaves throughout the Alamo City, Duncan makes public his intention to sign with Orlando. “I feel like it’s my best chance to win a championship,” Duncan says. “Besides, my future children will just love Disney World.”
May 4, 2002
Hill fired: On the heels of their third consecutive first-round ouster, the Spurs announce the dismissal of Bob Hill. “We needed to go in a different direction,” Holt says, before checking into the availability of John Lucas.
July 25, 2002
Holt sells team: Frustrated by the Spurs’ inability to advance in the Western Conference playoffs, and facing flagging attendance at the increasingly outdated Alamodome, Holt sells the franchise to an Oklahoma businessman. At his introductory news conference, Clay Bennett vows to do everything in his power to keep the team in San Antonio.
Aug. 27, 2003
Spurs move to OKC: Bennett unveils plans to move the Spurs to Oklahoma City. The team steals away in the dead of night, using a fleet of Boomer Schooners instead of Mayflower buses.
June 15, 2003
Magic win NBA title: Led by the All-Star twosome of Duncan and Grant Hill, the Magic defeat the Dallas Mavericks in six games to claim their first NBA title. San Antonio weeps.
March 11, 2004
Pop guides old school: Led by its newly rehired coach, Gregg Popovich, Pomona-Pitzer finally breaks through and wins its first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. Popovich calls it the proudest moment of his coaching career.
June 25, 2010
Duncan retires: Duncan wins his fifth NBA championship with dynastic Orlando and promptly retires. The team announces immediate plans to hang his No. 21 in the rafters of the soon-to-be constructed Walt Disney Arena, Resort & Golf Course. At his farewell press conference, Duncan is asked to reflect on his early days in the league with San Antonio. He is momentarily puzzled. “Oh,” he says, “I forgot they used to have a team.”
Express-News
What if Sean Elliott’s famous shot had not gone down? Express-News staff writer Jeff McDonald imagines a tongue-in-cheek, alternate historic timeline for the Spurs:
May 31, 1999
Spurs eliminated: Elliott’s last-gasp shot bounces just off the front of the rim. The Spurs go on to lose Game 2 of the Western Conference finals 87-83. Buoyed by its upset victory in San Antonio, Portland goes on to win the series in six games.
June 25, 1999
Blazers win NBA title: The Trail Blazers defeat the New York Knicks 4-1 in the NBA Finals, claiming their first championship in 22 seasons. The city of Portland celebrates with a parade down the Willamette River. Phil Jackson infuriates half the state of Oregon by suggesting the Blazers’ title should come with an asterisk.
July 7, 1999
Elliott hangs ’em up: Facing a life-or-death kidney transplant, Elliott announces his retirement from basketball. He says he plans to spend most of his post-op time on the golf course, honing up for his planned entrance onto the PGA Tour.
Oct. 23, 1999
No new arena: Spurs owner Peter Holt goes public with a plan to raise funds to build a new arena to replace the Alamodome. The city scoffs. “The dome is only 6 years old, and you want to turn it into a glorified high school stadium?” one city council member says. “Like that will ever happen.”
May 2, 2000
Pop fired: With All-Star Tim Duncan sidelined with a knee injury, the Spurs are out of the playoffs in the first round, bounced by the Phoenix Suns. The next day, the team announces the firing of Gregg Popovich. “We need to go in a different direction,” Holt says.
May 4, 2000
Hill hired: The Spurs announce the re-hiring of Bob Hill.
June 19, 2000
Lakers three-peat again: The Lakers win the first of three consecutive NBA titles (Hey, some things would never change).
July 15, 2000
Duncan to Magic: In a move that sends shockwaves throughout the Alamo City, Duncan makes public his intention to sign with Orlando. “I feel like it’s my best chance to win a championship,” Duncan says. “Besides, my future children will just love Disney World.”
May 4, 2002
Hill fired: On the heels of their third consecutive first-round ouster, the Spurs announce the dismissal of Bob Hill. “We needed to go in a different direction,” Holt says, before checking into the availability of John Lucas.
July 25, 2002
Holt sells team: Frustrated by the Spurs’ inability to advance in the Western Conference playoffs, and facing flagging attendance at the increasingly outdated Alamodome, Holt sells the franchise to an Oklahoma businessman. At his introductory news conference, Clay Bennett vows to do everything in his power to keep the team in San Antonio.
Aug. 27, 2003
Spurs move to OKC: Bennett unveils plans to move the Spurs to Oklahoma City. The team steals away in the dead of night, using a fleet of Boomer Schooners instead of Mayflower buses.
June 15, 2003
Magic win NBA title: Led by the All-Star twosome of Duncan and Grant Hill, the Magic defeat the Dallas Mavericks in six games to claim their first NBA title. San Antonio weeps.
March 11, 2004
Pop guides old school: Led by its newly rehired coach, Gregg Popovich, Pomona-Pitzer finally breaks through and wins its first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. Popovich calls it the proudest moment of his coaching career.
June 25, 2010
Duncan retires: Duncan wins his fifth NBA championship with dynastic Orlando and promptly retires. The team announces immediate plans to hang his No. 21 in the rafters of the soon-to-be constructed Walt Disney Arena, Resort & Golf Course. At his farewell press conference, Duncan is asked to reflect on his early days in the league with San Antonio. He is momentarily puzzled. “Oh,” he says, “I forgot they used to have a team.”