Kori Ellis
06-03-2005, 02:57 AM
Good sports help make sports good
By JOHN P. LOPEZ
Houston Chronicle
The buzzer sounded and Spurs superstar Tim Duncan made his way toward Amare Stoudemire, the rising phenom.
The Spurs had just won an intense, emotional Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, with Duncan responding overwhelmingly just two nights after his chance to maybe win Game 4 was swatted away at the rim by Stoudemire.
Replays of Stoudemire's block aired all over the world, over and over again. Some players might have barked and pounded their chests at rejecting the shot of maybe the greatest player in the world.
Some might have harbored ill feelings, shown off or boasted to the media afterward, saying something stupid. In fact, many do. Too many do and too many youngsters and parents are emulating them.
But Stoudemire did not. He made the play of the game and moved on.
Duncan sets bar high
Duncan's response in Game 5? No trash talk, no silly guarantees, no boastfulness.
He was the first player on the court in Phoenix two hours before tip-off, practicing free throws. Then in the decisive victory, all Duncan did was score 31 points, grab 15 rebounds, record four assists and block three shots.
He made the biggest bucket of the game, too, tipping in his own miss at the rim with Stoudemire trying to close. Instead of roaring, talking trash or inciting the 22-year-old Stoudemire, Duncan simply turned and hustled back on defense.
And when he met Stoudemire after the game, Duncan grabbed the back of the young player's neck, pulled him close and spoke into his ear.
"Great series," Duncan told him. "I have no doubt that we'll be in this situation again. Congratulations."
Duncan then patted Stoudemire on the head, Stoudemire nodded, said thanks and the two superstars went their respective ways.
Sportsmanship is not dead in America. It's just endangered.
Contrast that display of extraordinary talent, competition and respect put on by the Spurs and Suns with what we often see even at the lowest levels of sports.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3209551
By JOHN P. LOPEZ
Houston Chronicle
The buzzer sounded and Spurs superstar Tim Duncan made his way toward Amare Stoudemire, the rising phenom.
The Spurs had just won an intense, emotional Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, with Duncan responding overwhelmingly just two nights after his chance to maybe win Game 4 was swatted away at the rim by Stoudemire.
Replays of Stoudemire's block aired all over the world, over and over again. Some players might have barked and pounded their chests at rejecting the shot of maybe the greatest player in the world.
Some might have harbored ill feelings, shown off or boasted to the media afterward, saying something stupid. In fact, many do. Too many do and too many youngsters and parents are emulating them.
But Stoudemire did not. He made the play of the game and moved on.
Duncan sets bar high
Duncan's response in Game 5? No trash talk, no silly guarantees, no boastfulness.
He was the first player on the court in Phoenix two hours before tip-off, practicing free throws. Then in the decisive victory, all Duncan did was score 31 points, grab 15 rebounds, record four assists and block three shots.
He made the biggest bucket of the game, too, tipping in his own miss at the rim with Stoudemire trying to close. Instead of roaring, talking trash or inciting the 22-year-old Stoudemire, Duncan simply turned and hustled back on defense.
And when he met Stoudemire after the game, Duncan grabbed the back of the young player's neck, pulled him close and spoke into his ear.
"Great series," Duncan told him. "I have no doubt that we'll be in this situation again. Congratulations."
Duncan then patted Stoudemire on the head, Stoudemire nodded, said thanks and the two superstars went their respective ways.
Sportsmanship is not dead in America. It's just endangered.
Contrast that display of extraordinary talent, competition and respect put on by the Spurs and Suns with what we often see even at the lowest levels of sports.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3209551