Kori Ellis
07-19-2005, 12:18 AM
Contract, DVD put wrap on Horry's season
Web Posted: 07/19/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA071905.1D.spurs.c43338f.html
Oh, to be Robert Horry. Throw in one more heart-stopping, history-changing 3-pointer in a playoff performance for the ages, win your sixth NBA championship and, suddenly, the summer's an endless banquet circuit.
Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa want you for their morning show. The ESPYs call with a red-carpet invitation. Do you have time to attend Greg Anthony's charity event in Las Vegas? How about Alonzo Mourning's in Miami?
"I don't think I've slept," Horry said Monday night after stopping by the SBC Center for the premiere of the Spurs' championship DVD. "With all this travel, I feel so fat and out of shape. I'm going to have to start working out this week before I get too far gone."
In addition to squeezing in an appointment with a treadmill, Horry has one more item on his immediate to-do list: Sign a new three-year contract with the Spurs.
Not swayed by a more lucrative offer from Dallas, Horry agreed in principle July 5 to re-sign with the Spurs. The deal can be officially completed as soon as Friday, provided the NBA doesn't postpone the end of its signing moratorium.
"It feels great to come back," Horry said. "The Spurs said I was their priority, and they treated me that way. At this point in my career, happiness is what matters most."
Horry, who turns 35 on Aug.25, averaged 6.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in 18.6 minutes over 75 games last season. The Spurs likely again will try to guard his minutes to keep him fresh for the playoffs. With Argentina's Fabricio Oberto also agreeing to a three-year contract, the Spurs should have depth at the power forward and center positions — particularly if Rasho Nesterovic isn't traded.
"It's funny; when you're sitting there on the bench, all you want to do is play," Horry said. "But when you see how your body feels at the end of the season, you kind of understand why they (limited his minutes)."
Horry figures to be on the floor when it matters most. Not only has he never missed the playoffs in his 13 seasons in the league, he's never failed to advance to the second round.
Horry's reputation as one of the game's greatest postseason legends only grew after his performance in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. After failing to make a single shot through much of the first three quarters, he scored 21 points in the final 17 minutes, 1 second. The last three points came on a 25-footer he buried with 5.8 seconds remaining in overtime, lifting the Spurs to a 96-95 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
Horry, not surprisingly, has yet to escape the shot's shadow during his summer travels.
"I can't tell you how many times I've seen it," Horry said. "It seems like everybody has a picture of it they want autographed. I'll start to feel like (the attention) is subsiding, then I'll go somewhere and someone will yell, 'Hey, Big Shot!'"
Staff additions: The Spurs officially signed Chip Engelland, Steve Kerr's former shot doctor, as an assistant coach Monday. Engelland, who spent the previous two seasons in Denver as a player-development coach, will be charged with helping improve Tony Parker's stroke and, if possible, raising the team's free-throw percentage.
The Spurs also plan to create a full-time position for Monty Williams. Williams, who is guiding the Spurs' summer-league team in Salt Lake City, interned with the coaching staff last season.
Web Posted: 07/19/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA071905.1D.spurs.c43338f.html
Oh, to be Robert Horry. Throw in one more heart-stopping, history-changing 3-pointer in a playoff performance for the ages, win your sixth NBA championship and, suddenly, the summer's an endless banquet circuit.
Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa want you for their morning show. The ESPYs call with a red-carpet invitation. Do you have time to attend Greg Anthony's charity event in Las Vegas? How about Alonzo Mourning's in Miami?
"I don't think I've slept," Horry said Monday night after stopping by the SBC Center for the premiere of the Spurs' championship DVD. "With all this travel, I feel so fat and out of shape. I'm going to have to start working out this week before I get too far gone."
In addition to squeezing in an appointment with a treadmill, Horry has one more item on his immediate to-do list: Sign a new three-year contract with the Spurs.
Not swayed by a more lucrative offer from Dallas, Horry agreed in principle July 5 to re-sign with the Spurs. The deal can be officially completed as soon as Friday, provided the NBA doesn't postpone the end of its signing moratorium.
"It feels great to come back," Horry said. "The Spurs said I was their priority, and they treated me that way. At this point in my career, happiness is what matters most."
Horry, who turns 35 on Aug.25, averaged 6.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in 18.6 minutes over 75 games last season. The Spurs likely again will try to guard his minutes to keep him fresh for the playoffs. With Argentina's Fabricio Oberto also agreeing to a three-year contract, the Spurs should have depth at the power forward and center positions — particularly if Rasho Nesterovic isn't traded.
"It's funny; when you're sitting there on the bench, all you want to do is play," Horry said. "But when you see how your body feels at the end of the season, you kind of understand why they (limited his minutes)."
Horry figures to be on the floor when it matters most. Not only has he never missed the playoffs in his 13 seasons in the league, he's never failed to advance to the second round.
Horry's reputation as one of the game's greatest postseason legends only grew after his performance in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. After failing to make a single shot through much of the first three quarters, he scored 21 points in the final 17 minutes, 1 second. The last three points came on a 25-footer he buried with 5.8 seconds remaining in overtime, lifting the Spurs to a 96-95 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
Horry, not surprisingly, has yet to escape the shot's shadow during his summer travels.
"I can't tell you how many times I've seen it," Horry said. "It seems like everybody has a picture of it they want autographed. I'll start to feel like (the attention) is subsiding, then I'll go somewhere and someone will yell, 'Hey, Big Shot!'"
Staff additions: The Spurs officially signed Chip Engelland, Steve Kerr's former shot doctor, as an assistant coach Monday. Engelland, who spent the previous two seasons in Denver as a player-development coach, will be charged with helping improve Tony Parker's stroke and, if possible, raising the team's free-throw percentage.
The Spurs also plan to create a full-time position for Monty Williams. Williams, who is guiding the Spurs' summer-league team in Salt Lake City, interned with the coaching staff last season.