missmyzte
05-20-2007, 01:31 AM
Next for Horry — thanks to Spurs, time for rehab
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA052007.01X.COL.BKNharvey.spurs.3622645.html
Web Posted: 05/19/2007 10:57 PM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
Robert Horry is "out of jail," as he puts it. He just hasn't been rehabilitated yet.
That begins today, when he lines up against Jerry Sloan, who he has met a few times before in the playoffs. Horry will play as he has for 15 years, and he will likely square up with the clock ticking in the Western Conference finals.
Then many, at least those outside of Arizona, will remember Horry's career is about far more than one foul.
Of all the Spurs, Horry is the least affected by what others think of him. His teammates joke about how he tunes out everything; he cares about family and friends and little else.
"He's borderline crazy that way," said Bruce Bowen. :lol
Horry smiled when he heard that, and he moved his arms around him as if there were an invisible barrier. "I have my own buffer zone," he said.
Still, the events of last week got through to the zone, most notably a racist message and death threat left at his hotel in Phoenix. He's also heard the Cheap Shot Rob nickname, and, even as he jokes about that, there's something about his body language that suggests he cares more than he lets on.
It's not opposing fans that get to him, and he already was an enemy in Phoenix before this month. He's been booed there for years after a brief stop as a Sun when he infamously tossed a towel at his coach, Danny Ainge.
Horry has had mutual feelings about Phoenix, as well as a policy. He will autograph pictures or cards of himself in a Suns uniform only for children.
So Horry can handle Suns fans, and he understands if Jazz fans have a few memories, too. Horry's Rockets beat Utah in the 1994 conference finals on their way to their first championship, and, a year later, they upset the 60-win Jazz in the first round on their way to defending the title.
His Lakers lost to Utah in both 1997 and 1998, with the latter being a sweep in the conference finals. Horry still made his mark in one of those games, setting an NBA playoff record by making all seven of his 3-pointers.
These series were sometimes as contentious as the Spurs and Suns were, and the Lakers were especially frustrated with Utah. One Jazz player then gave a throat-slashing gesture to the Lakers' bench during a game, and it became an issue.
Asked how best to retaliate, Horry gave a telling statement then. "You just beat them," Horry said. "You don't do anything dirty. The best thing is to just win."
That's Horry. He's broken hearts, not bones. He's never been known as a dirty player, and those who covered him in Houston and Los Angeles say they never saw a dark side.
Many in San Antonio say the same. He's the rare player who knows the names of the ushers at the AT&T Center, and some who work for the Spurs say he's approached Sean Elliott in all-time favorite status.
That's why there are those who contend his collision with Steve Nash was nothing like the way it looked. No elbow was thrown, no hip was stuck out.
Horry seconds that. He thinks both Nash's stature and acting ability created the firestorm that followed.
Someone tells Horry the problem. It was clear the Spurs needed to foul at the end of Game 4, and Horry didn't simply grab Nash for the required contact. By doing what he did, Horry gave the impression he had meant to level Nash, and Horry's reaction added to that. He turned away from Nash, expressionless, as if to announce he'd had bad intentions.
Horry nodded. "If I had fallen back like I was trying to take a charge, which was my intent anyway, nothing would have happened."
No matter the details, no matter the opinion, this play has become part of his legacy. And if the Spurs had lost Game 5 and Game 6 to the Suns, perhaps ending Horry's career at the same time, this image would have become a disproportionate one.
His teammates instead came through, and he says he watched every minute Friday night. He called it "uplifting."
He had reason to feel that way. He not only got out of jail, he also got another chance. He suits up today with the possibility of a seventh ring, and he said Saturday he wants to return next season.
Now he has time to prove a few things. One? That he's the same guy he's always been.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA052007.01X.COL.BKNharvey.spurs.3622645.html
Web Posted: 05/19/2007 10:57 PM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
Robert Horry is "out of jail," as he puts it. He just hasn't been rehabilitated yet.
That begins today, when he lines up against Jerry Sloan, who he has met a few times before in the playoffs. Horry will play as he has for 15 years, and he will likely square up with the clock ticking in the Western Conference finals.
Then many, at least those outside of Arizona, will remember Horry's career is about far more than one foul.
Of all the Spurs, Horry is the least affected by what others think of him. His teammates joke about how he tunes out everything; he cares about family and friends and little else.
"He's borderline crazy that way," said Bruce Bowen. :lol
Horry smiled when he heard that, and he moved his arms around him as if there were an invisible barrier. "I have my own buffer zone," he said.
Still, the events of last week got through to the zone, most notably a racist message and death threat left at his hotel in Phoenix. He's also heard the Cheap Shot Rob nickname, and, even as he jokes about that, there's something about his body language that suggests he cares more than he lets on.
It's not opposing fans that get to him, and he already was an enemy in Phoenix before this month. He's been booed there for years after a brief stop as a Sun when he infamously tossed a towel at his coach, Danny Ainge.
Horry has had mutual feelings about Phoenix, as well as a policy. He will autograph pictures or cards of himself in a Suns uniform only for children.
So Horry can handle Suns fans, and he understands if Jazz fans have a few memories, too. Horry's Rockets beat Utah in the 1994 conference finals on their way to their first championship, and, a year later, they upset the 60-win Jazz in the first round on their way to defending the title.
His Lakers lost to Utah in both 1997 and 1998, with the latter being a sweep in the conference finals. Horry still made his mark in one of those games, setting an NBA playoff record by making all seven of his 3-pointers.
These series were sometimes as contentious as the Spurs and Suns were, and the Lakers were especially frustrated with Utah. One Jazz player then gave a throat-slashing gesture to the Lakers' bench during a game, and it became an issue.
Asked how best to retaliate, Horry gave a telling statement then. "You just beat them," Horry said. "You don't do anything dirty. The best thing is to just win."
That's Horry. He's broken hearts, not bones. He's never been known as a dirty player, and those who covered him in Houston and Los Angeles say they never saw a dark side.
Many in San Antonio say the same. He's the rare player who knows the names of the ushers at the AT&T Center, and some who work for the Spurs say he's approached Sean Elliott in all-time favorite status.
That's why there are those who contend his collision with Steve Nash was nothing like the way it looked. No elbow was thrown, no hip was stuck out.
Horry seconds that. He thinks both Nash's stature and acting ability created the firestorm that followed.
Someone tells Horry the problem. It was clear the Spurs needed to foul at the end of Game 4, and Horry didn't simply grab Nash for the required contact. By doing what he did, Horry gave the impression he had meant to level Nash, and Horry's reaction added to that. He turned away from Nash, expressionless, as if to announce he'd had bad intentions.
Horry nodded. "If I had fallen back like I was trying to take a charge, which was my intent anyway, nothing would have happened."
No matter the details, no matter the opinion, this play has become part of his legacy. And if the Spurs had lost Game 5 and Game 6 to the Suns, perhaps ending Horry's career at the same time, this image would have become a disproportionate one.
His teammates instead came through, and he says he watched every minute Friday night. He called it "uplifting."
He had reason to feel that way. He not only got out of jail, he also got another chance. He suits up today with the possibility of a seventh ring, and he said Saturday he wants to return next season.
Now he has time to prove a few things. One? That he's the same guy he's always been.