leonarth
11-02-2004, 02:16 PM
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Monday November, 1st, 2004
« End my carreer with the Spurs »
It is a done deal. Tony Parker just signed for the next six years with the San Antonio Spurs.
Tony, you can feel relieved that a few hours prior to the deadline you’ve finaly signed your agreement with the Spurs for the next 6 year…
Frankly, I am so happy. It is hard to express my feelings. There were so many up and downs and turns in the situation… These last couple of days, I knew it was coming, but I did not feel it today. I was a bit upset at practice, thinking I could be a free-agent by next summer and that I needed to give my best this season in order to showcase my game to other teams. Finaly, the Spurs called me in the early afternoon to let me know it was all ok, that the president, Peter Holt had given up. Now, it is a done deal, I am with the Spurs for the next six years and truely hope to end my career there.
How did the negotiations go during this last day?
« Pop » (Gregg Popovich) and the general manager, R.C. Buford,have defended my position. They wanted me to sign now, and this is why they went public in the press to criticize the president’s actions in the local papers. Even Tim Duncan put some pressure on the club. The president had no other option and had to fold under the fire he was facing~!
It was not a poker face from Peter Holt when he annouced that it would be $ 64 millions or nothing.
That is correct. The problem is that Peter Holt is not the only one to pull the strings at the club. Twenty one individuals or entities own the club. Peter Holt is the majority owner with 38%, meaning he has the last word but I heard that the other owners did put the pressure on Holt for me to stay.
San Antonio’s fand did not appreciate Peter Holt’s policies and management of the Tony Parker situation…
An article came out today in the San Antonio newspaper in which fans were asking to be reimbursed for their season tickets because they were afraid I might leave the team as early as next year! Everyone was behind me.
Gregg Popovich renewed his confidence in you throughout the talks and came out saying so in his media outings.
Since I arrived with the Spurs, Pop had always been behind me. He was always very supportive, and was not afraid to put me in the starting lineup after only five games. Today, he is behind me for my stay with the team. He went out saying I was worth the 66 or 68 millions and I can tell you that I am not about to forget what he did and say for me.
While you could ask for more, you told the Spurs at the early stage of the talks: « I am not asking for the maximum ($ 86 millions) but $ 68 millions. » When you heard that it was $ 64 millions and nothing else, what was your reaction ?
When such a large sum of money is introduced, negotiations are never easy, and even more so in San Antonio where except for Tim and David (Robinson), there never was some large deals. The history of the club proves that they do not like to spend a lot of money. I knew it would be a tought battle because in order to become the third highest paid player in the team history they had to believe in me. It was hard to say to myself that I could leave the Spurs next year. It have been playing there for three years and I am use to my little black and white « 9 ». (Laughs), but when the club does not give you the deal you deserve, you have to think about another team.
The best thing now is that by staying in San Antonio, you will be able to compete for the title each year.
You are correct. With Tim, Manu (Ginobili), Brent Barry and Bruce Bowen, we are here for a while. We truely have a good team and I think we can create our ‘own’ dinasty. There are not too many players with such luck and I am aware of it.
You must feel relieved ?
I feel so good! It feels like I am in the movie « Jerry Maguire » when he receives his new contrat. Like him (Cuba Gooding Jr.), I felt like screaming.(Laughs)
With $ 11 millions a season, you are now amongst the highest paid guards in the league.
This is what I wanted. I am extremely confident in myself and honestly belive that I am amongst the best guard in NBA. I am proud to be in this club but now I will keep on working hard to win new titles with the Spurs. Let’s not forget the French National team with whom I want to win some trophies…
You now become France’s all-time highest paid athlete…
I am extremely proud. When I think about this, it is something huge. I know today that my family is now taken care of and it the most important for me.
Now that all this is done, you will be able to start the season a bit more relaxed mentaly?
I will have wings. If you thought that I was fast before then you ain’t seen nothing! It is not because I have a big deal that I will change…I must keep the same attitude.
Monday November, 1st, 2004
« End my carreer with the Spurs »
It is a done deal. Tony Parker just signed for the next six years with the San Antonio Spurs.
Tony, you can feel relieved that a few hours prior to the deadline you’ve finaly signed your agreement with the Spurs for the next 6 year…
Frankly, I am so happy. It is hard to express my feelings. There were so many up and downs and turns in the situation… These last couple of days, I knew it was coming, but I did not feel it today. I was a bit upset at practice, thinking I could be a free-agent by next summer and that I needed to give my best this season in order to showcase my game to other teams. Finaly, the Spurs called me in the early afternoon to let me know it was all ok, that the president, Peter Holt had given up. Now, it is a done deal, I am with the Spurs for the next six years and truely hope to end my career there.
How did the negotiations go during this last day?
« Pop » (Gregg Popovich) and the general manager, R.C. Buford,have defended my position. They wanted me to sign now, and this is why they went public in the press to criticize the president’s actions in the local papers. Even Tim Duncan put some pressure on the club. The president had no other option and had to fold under the fire he was facing~!
It was not a poker face from Peter Holt when he annouced that it would be $ 64 millions or nothing.
That is correct. The problem is that Peter Holt is not the only one to pull the strings at the club. Twenty one individuals or entities own the club. Peter Holt is the majority owner with 38%, meaning he has the last word but I heard that the other owners did put the pressure on Holt for me to stay.
San Antonio’s fand did not appreciate Peter Holt’s policies and management of the Tony Parker situation…
An article came out today in the San Antonio newspaper in which fans were asking to be reimbursed for their season tickets because they were afraid I might leave the team as early as next year! Everyone was behind me.
Gregg Popovich renewed his confidence in you throughout the talks and came out saying so in his media outings.
Since I arrived with the Spurs, Pop had always been behind me. He was always very supportive, and was not afraid to put me in the starting lineup after only five games. Today, he is behind me for my stay with the team. He went out saying I was worth the 66 or 68 millions and I can tell you that I am not about to forget what he did and say for me.
While you could ask for more, you told the Spurs at the early stage of the talks: « I am not asking for the maximum ($ 86 millions) but $ 68 millions. » When you heard that it was $ 64 millions and nothing else, what was your reaction ?
When such a large sum of money is introduced, negotiations are never easy, and even more so in San Antonio where except for Tim and David (Robinson), there never was some large deals. The history of the club proves that they do not like to spend a lot of money. I knew it would be a tought battle because in order to become the third highest paid player in the team history they had to believe in me. It was hard to say to myself that I could leave the Spurs next year. It have been playing there for three years and I am use to my little black and white « 9 ». (Laughs), but when the club does not give you the deal you deserve, you have to think about another team.
The best thing now is that by staying in San Antonio, you will be able to compete for the title each year.
You are correct. With Tim, Manu (Ginobili), Brent Barry and Bruce Bowen, we are here for a while. We truely have a good team and I think we can create our ‘own’ dinasty. There are not too many players with such luck and I am aware of it.
You must feel relieved ?
I feel so good! It feels like I am in the movie « Jerry Maguire » when he receives his new contrat. Like him (Cuba Gooding Jr.), I felt like screaming.(Laughs)
With $ 11 millions a season, you are now amongst the highest paid guards in the league.
This is what I wanted. I am extremely confident in myself and honestly belive that I am amongst the best guard in NBA. I am proud to be in this club but now I will keep on working hard to win new titles with the Spurs. Let’s not forget the French National team with whom I want to win some trophies…
You now become France’s all-time highest paid athlete…
I am extremely proud. When I think about this, it is something huge. I know today that my family is now taken care of and it the most important for me.
Now that all this is done, you will be able to start the season a bit more relaxed mentaly?
I will have wings. If you thought that I was fast before then you ain’t seen nothing! It is not because I have a big deal that I will change…I must keep the same attitude.