Kori Ellis
10-05-2005, 02:46 AM
Spurs embrace setting, warmth for Duncan
Web Posted: 10/05/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA100505.1E.BKNspurs.duncan.12d92860.html
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — Not long after the Spurs used the top pick in the 1997 NBA Draft to select Tim Duncan — the future cornerstone of their franchise — coach Gregg Popovich flew here to visit the team's prized rookie.
Popovich picked up his rental car and departed for his hotel. Without anyone telling him he needed to drive on the left side of the road.
"I was gesticulating at about 10 people," Popovich said, "before I figured out I was the jerk."
Not much has changed since Popovich's first visit. The locals navigate the area's narrow, hilly, twisting roads from the left; the daily arrival of cruise ships boosts the economy and slows traffic; and the islands' most famous export is also its favorite son.
As the Spurs rolled onto the University of the Virgin Islands campus Tuesday afternoon for their first training-camp workout, they were greeted by a series of large signs, all of which said the same thing: Welcome Tim — and the San Antonio Spurs.
"They even say that in the States," Manu Ginobili said, laughing, "so why should it be different here."
While Duncan's return to the U.S. Virgin Islands hasn't inspired the same breathless Manu Mania Ginobili received in Argentina this summer, the local residents haven't hidden their excitement to play host to the St. Croix native and his teammates.
On Monday night, nearly a dozen police cruisers escorted the team to its hotel. The front page of Tuesday's The Virgin Islands Daily News trumpeted the Spurs' arrival: Spurs on the Rock, Crucian-led world champions on island for training camp.
"There's been a lot of hype ever since they heard the whole team is coming here," Duncan said, "so I knew it would be great."
Duncan is thankful for the chance to return home. While he has kept a house in St. Croix and usually returns to the island for a few weeks in the offseason, he was unable to get back the past two years because of the Olympics and the recent birth of his and his wife, Amy's, first daughter.
Duncan's parents have passed away, and his sisters live in North Carolina, but he has family and friends in St. Croix and St. Thomas. Duncan will make a few public appearances during the Spurs' weeklong stay — after Tuesday's practice he visited a group of children in an after-school care program at the Family Life Center on the UVI campus — and the team will scrimmage Friday night at the university's Sports and Fitness Center.
Of the 2,500 tickets available for the sold-out game, 800 were given to residents of St. Croix.
"I used to come here for vacation, and when I was with Miami, the people supported us, but they always talked about Tim," Bruce Bowen said. "I think this is a great opportunity for him to thank them for (their) support. The closest place we play is Miami, and it's not like the whole community can come out and watch him there."
The Spurs have teased Duncan about his popularity, as well as the weather. Since the team arrived, the sun has shone for all of 15 minutes.
"We woke up this morning," Ginobili said, "and it was raining so much we couldn't go to breakfast."
The Spurs had hoped for better weather when they decided to move camp here after UVI's athletic director, Peter Sauer, sent an invitation to team officials. Spurs general manager R.C. Buford toured the facilities, which host NCAA Division I basketball tournaments, before reaching an agreement with the university.
Popovich said the setting gives the team privacy, along with providing Duncan a reward. The camp goals, he said, remain the same as in previous years: get in shape; introduce the team's system to the new players; and provide a refresher course for the returnees.
"What is different," Popovich said, "is when practice ends we're going to go out and either get a massage or go to the beach."
Web Posted: 10/05/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA100505.1E.BKNspurs.duncan.12d92860.html
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — Not long after the Spurs used the top pick in the 1997 NBA Draft to select Tim Duncan — the future cornerstone of their franchise — coach Gregg Popovich flew here to visit the team's prized rookie.
Popovich picked up his rental car and departed for his hotel. Without anyone telling him he needed to drive on the left side of the road.
"I was gesticulating at about 10 people," Popovich said, "before I figured out I was the jerk."
Not much has changed since Popovich's first visit. The locals navigate the area's narrow, hilly, twisting roads from the left; the daily arrival of cruise ships boosts the economy and slows traffic; and the islands' most famous export is also its favorite son.
As the Spurs rolled onto the University of the Virgin Islands campus Tuesday afternoon for their first training-camp workout, they were greeted by a series of large signs, all of which said the same thing: Welcome Tim — and the San Antonio Spurs.
"They even say that in the States," Manu Ginobili said, laughing, "so why should it be different here."
While Duncan's return to the U.S. Virgin Islands hasn't inspired the same breathless Manu Mania Ginobili received in Argentina this summer, the local residents haven't hidden their excitement to play host to the St. Croix native and his teammates.
On Monday night, nearly a dozen police cruisers escorted the team to its hotel. The front page of Tuesday's The Virgin Islands Daily News trumpeted the Spurs' arrival: Spurs on the Rock, Crucian-led world champions on island for training camp.
"There's been a lot of hype ever since they heard the whole team is coming here," Duncan said, "so I knew it would be great."
Duncan is thankful for the chance to return home. While he has kept a house in St. Croix and usually returns to the island for a few weeks in the offseason, he was unable to get back the past two years because of the Olympics and the recent birth of his and his wife, Amy's, first daughter.
Duncan's parents have passed away, and his sisters live in North Carolina, but he has family and friends in St. Croix and St. Thomas. Duncan will make a few public appearances during the Spurs' weeklong stay — after Tuesday's practice he visited a group of children in an after-school care program at the Family Life Center on the UVI campus — and the team will scrimmage Friday night at the university's Sports and Fitness Center.
Of the 2,500 tickets available for the sold-out game, 800 were given to residents of St. Croix.
"I used to come here for vacation, and when I was with Miami, the people supported us, but they always talked about Tim," Bruce Bowen said. "I think this is a great opportunity for him to thank them for (their) support. The closest place we play is Miami, and it's not like the whole community can come out and watch him there."
The Spurs have teased Duncan about his popularity, as well as the weather. Since the team arrived, the sun has shone for all of 15 minutes.
"We woke up this morning," Ginobili said, "and it was raining so much we couldn't go to breakfast."
The Spurs had hoped for better weather when they decided to move camp here after UVI's athletic director, Peter Sauer, sent an invitation to team officials. Spurs general manager R.C. Buford toured the facilities, which host NCAA Division I basketball tournaments, before reaching an agreement with the university.
Popovich said the setting gives the team privacy, along with providing Duncan a reward. The camp goals, he said, remain the same as in previous years: get in shape; introduce the team's system to the new players; and provide a refresher course for the returnees.
"What is different," Popovich said, "is when practice ends we're going to go out and either get a massage or go to the beach."