Spurs Scramble Golf Tournament

[Kori Ellis]

Today was the Spurs Scramble, all the Spurs were there but only Finley golfed in the tournament.

Here's a video that shows Tony swinging at a couple balls, Manu talks about being bad at golf, and Bruce talks about TO and the Cowboys.

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/?videoId=311176,565

[Trainwreck2100]

Today was the Spurs Scramble, all the Spurs were there but only Finley golfed in the tournament.

Here's a video that shows Tony swinging at a couple balls, Manu talks about being bad at golf, and Bruce talks about TO and the Cowboys.

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/?videoId=311176,565


Tooks some lessons from Eva no doubt

[ploto]

Players should have at least worn a polo shirt with a collar for a charity golf event-- wasn't it at the Dominion.

[ploto]

Not that it needs to go back this far- but I think this event has become less than what it should be. As time has gone by, the Spurs players do less and less at these charity events and I think they should go back to the time when they actually went to the events!! If not participate, at least walk around the course and visit with people. Don't have them show up after everyone has sat down and usher them out before the thing is over like it has become at the luncheons and dinners.

Buck Harvey: Aw, the old days — food fight bonding

Web Posted: 10/16/2006 11:55 PM CDT

San Antonio Express-News

The Spurs held their annual golf event Monday at the Dominion, and it featured food from Morton's and a "Spurrific" goody bag and a $500 fee.

It also featured only one Spur, Michael Finley, who actually played golf.

That's not the way it was when this started. In 1977, instead of heading to practice one day, the Spurs piled into cars and went to a golf course.

They all played, though most had never swung a club before. "It was torture," said George Gervin, who played that day for the first time in his life.

They played because their legs were dead from practice. They also played, to use a tired catchphrase of this era, to bond.

And to achieve this fragile chemistry? They usually threw food at each other.

Those are the good, old days, all right, and not necessarily better ones. The players are richer now, and several of them have championship rings.

But there's also something to be said for the Way It Used To Be, and the origin confirms that. Then, in Doug Moe's second training camp, Coby Dietrick reminded Moe of the practice regimen.

The first day, the legs feel great. The second day, they burn. The third day, they don't move. Moe, ever the laid-back pragmatist, thought the answer to the third day was golf.

That's less of a factor now. The Spurs often work out during the summer — if not play for their national teams — and most show up in shape.

Moe, instead, felt the need to send them to Pecan Valley, and the first outing was nothing more than a group of tall guys laughing at each other. Few of them knew the game, and most have memories of racing golf carts.

Allan Bristow is fuzzy on the details. "Either the carts were tipped over," he said, "or wrecked."

The next year, they added catering, as well as some media and staff, and over the years, the event became a way to repay those who had been good to the organization.

"It was a day off for us," Gervin remembers. "But it was really the beginning of our community relations."

It wasn't a fundraiser then; no one is sure the franchise even broke even. But the bonding stuff was still in place thanks to the post-tournament events.

They usually started by throwing wadded-up napkins. Then dinner rolls. Then everything they could grab. Sam Smith, a broadcaster at the time, announced tournament winners at the podium with an umbrella as a shield.

Another memorable scene: The late Cotton Fitzsimmons, asked to come to the front for his trophy, getting splattered with snowballs made of mashed potatoes.

Had anyone tried that Monday — with Morton's fare — security would have been called.

Then there was the year they gave one of their "Most Likely to Take Up Another Sport" gifts. It was a bowling ball, and it went to the former basketball coach at Trinity, Pete Murphy. Murphy graciously thanked his audience — then rolled the ball down the center aisle until it slammed into a support beam in the old Pecan Valley clubhouse.

"I thought the entire place was coming down," said Wayne Witt, the team's public-relations director who now has a similar title with Incarnate Word.

The Spurs kept adding sponsors to the event, with the fee gradually increasing, but the theme was still in place when Larry Brown arrived. R.C. Buford, then an assistant coach, was there. "You had to play," he joked, "and you had to pay."

Dennis Rodman would tour the course in combat boots. David Robinson would swing in 1996, and perhaps it's no coincidence his back went out shortly after. And Gervin, who played in a foursome with Finley on Monday, found a passion.

"Now you can't get me off the golf course," he said.

Mostly, though, this has evolved into just another public appearance for the Spurs. It's a photo op, with Tony Parker swinging and missing for the cameras. Most show up, get introduced and leave, with marketing staying behind to gather the proceeds for charity.

The bonding event?

These days, they take a trip to France.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA101706.1D.buck.3381506.html

[carina_gino20]

Q: Right or Left?
Manu: Left. I still can't find anything I'm right at...

but there are so many things...:lol

[Old School Chic]

Players should have at least worn a polo shirt with a collar for a charity golf event-- wasn't it at the Dominion.

It was at the Dominion but these are the Spurs we are talking about...
They can wear whatever they want. It's all acceptable :spin

[ShoogarBear]

Players should have at least worn a polo shirt with a collar for a charity golf event-- wasn't it at the Dominion.

Of course, that is completely at odds with the idea that the event should go back to being what it was.

[angel_luv]

Q: Right or Left?
Manu: Left. I still can't find anything I'm right at...

but there are so many things...:lol


That was really cute. :lol
Gino should start off with putt putt and work his way up. :)

[angel_luv]

That was an interesting article by Buck. I enjoyed reading it.

[TDMVPDPOY]

so how much did the raise?

[ploto]

It was at the Dominion but these are the Spurs we are talking about...
They can wear whatever they want. It's all acceptable :spin
Try Dominion dress code AND NBA dress code. The players are representing the franchise at an official team event.

[ploto]

Of course, that is completely at odds with the idea that the event should go back to being what it was.
If it's at Pecan Valley- that's fine- but you dress appropriately for the place that is holding the event.

The point about being what it was is for the players actually to be there for more than an introduction. It's not that much to ask. Tim can stand an hour of talking to people.

[SequSpur]

Pecan Valley requires Golf Attire also, wtf?

WGAF about these events, the real season starts after the 82nd game.

[ploto]

Pecan Valley requires Golf Attire also

Pecan Valley:
Collared shirt, no cutoffs, denim OK. Metal Spikes Allowed
(Sorry, but denim is not considered golf attire.)

The Dominion:
Gentlemen: Shirts with collars and sleeves, golf slacks or golf shorts, traditional golf shoes with non-metal "soft" spikes; flat soled shoes are also acceptable.

Athletic shorts, denim clothing, tennis skirts, cut-offs, halter or swim tops, tee-shirts and jogging suits are not permissible golf attire.

[Rynospursfan]

Slow that backswing Tony.

[ShoogarBear]

Maybe the players would be there for more than an introduction if the event held true to its roots rather than become just another stuffy affair. It's pretty clear that tea, crumpets, and dress codes were not what Doug Moe had in mind.