SpursFanFirst
06-07-2007, 11:49 AM
Spurs keep winning, we keep yawning
Michael Rosenberg
Special to FOXSports.com, Updated 9 hours ago
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6887716?MSNHPHCP>1=10136
Ah, the San Antonio Spurs. The more they win, the more you want them to hide under a rock.
In a week and a half — maybe two weeks, depending on LeBron James' level of brilliance — the Spurs will almost certainly win their fourth championship in nine years. It will also be their third title in the last five years.
This will place San Antonio among the elite of the elite. Since the end of the Bill Russell Celtics, only two dynasties won more than four championships: the Magic Lakers and the MJ Bulls. And the Spurs should contend for several more years. Tim Duncan is only 31, Manu Ginobili is 29 and Tony Parker is 25.
And what do the Spurs get for their hard work, no-nonsense attitude and unparalleled excellence? Yawns.
This must be the least popular great team in recent sports history. The Spurs do not even evoke the hatred of the Yankees or Notre Dame, institutions that have long had the best of everything and lord it over the masses. :lol They make you feel the way you once felt about chemistry class — as soon as you sit down, you get a headache and can't wait for the bell to ring so you can go anywhere else in the world.
The Spurs used to be known as nice, boring guys. Now we don't even give them that. They are the villain in this series — the tough guys trying to keep LeBron from his ring.
The Spurs' reputation has taken some shots lately. There was the Robert Horry hip-check of Steve Nash in the Phoenix series, followed by the suspension of prominent Suns Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw — suspensions that followed the letter of the law but went against most fans' sense of fairness.
And speaking of fairness: Here comes Bruce Bowen. Watch your ankles.
Bowen is one of the nicest guys in the league, and one of the best defensive players of the era. But he has earned (yes, earned) his title as the chippiest player in his sport. NBA players don't accidentally trip jump shooters on a regular basis. When one player is consistently accused of something that nobody else is accused of, that player has probably crossed the line.
Now Bowen will guard James, probably as well as any human can. And Duncan — also one of the best defensive players of his generation — will be in the lane, ready to meet LeBron. All they will be trying to do is stop America's next basketball icon. Good luck winning fans with that.
It isn't really the Spurs' fault (well, except for Bowen's cheap shots). In so many ways, they are such a likeable team. Duncan might be boring, but he goes into every season with the sole goal of winning a championship. He doesn't care about the scoring title (like Kobe) or clowning around (like Shaq) or his TV commercials (like, uh, almost everybody else). He just wants to win.
Wilt Chamberlain once famously said it was his role to be played against. The Spurs are the same way. Of the millions who will tune in to the NBA finals, most will want to know if LeBron can beat San Antonio. If the Spurs win...well, did you see that move by LeBron? :depressed
Someday, maybe we will all appreciate the Spurs' greatness. In the meantime, the best thing anybody can say about the San Antonio Spurs is actually the greatest compliment of all: Nobody could beat them. :tu
Let 'em yawn...Spurs fans will be happy! :hungry:
Michael Rosenberg
Special to FOXSports.com, Updated 9 hours ago
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6887716?MSNHPHCP>1=10136
Ah, the San Antonio Spurs. The more they win, the more you want them to hide under a rock.
In a week and a half — maybe two weeks, depending on LeBron James' level of brilliance — the Spurs will almost certainly win their fourth championship in nine years. It will also be their third title in the last five years.
This will place San Antonio among the elite of the elite. Since the end of the Bill Russell Celtics, only two dynasties won more than four championships: the Magic Lakers and the MJ Bulls. And the Spurs should contend for several more years. Tim Duncan is only 31, Manu Ginobili is 29 and Tony Parker is 25.
And what do the Spurs get for their hard work, no-nonsense attitude and unparalleled excellence? Yawns.
This must be the least popular great team in recent sports history. The Spurs do not even evoke the hatred of the Yankees or Notre Dame, institutions that have long had the best of everything and lord it over the masses. :lol They make you feel the way you once felt about chemistry class — as soon as you sit down, you get a headache and can't wait for the bell to ring so you can go anywhere else in the world.
The Spurs used to be known as nice, boring guys. Now we don't even give them that. They are the villain in this series — the tough guys trying to keep LeBron from his ring.
The Spurs' reputation has taken some shots lately. There was the Robert Horry hip-check of Steve Nash in the Phoenix series, followed by the suspension of prominent Suns Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw — suspensions that followed the letter of the law but went against most fans' sense of fairness.
And speaking of fairness: Here comes Bruce Bowen. Watch your ankles.
Bowen is one of the nicest guys in the league, and one of the best defensive players of the era. But he has earned (yes, earned) his title as the chippiest player in his sport. NBA players don't accidentally trip jump shooters on a regular basis. When one player is consistently accused of something that nobody else is accused of, that player has probably crossed the line.
Now Bowen will guard James, probably as well as any human can. And Duncan — also one of the best defensive players of his generation — will be in the lane, ready to meet LeBron. All they will be trying to do is stop America's next basketball icon. Good luck winning fans with that.
It isn't really the Spurs' fault (well, except for Bowen's cheap shots). In so many ways, they are such a likeable team. Duncan might be boring, but he goes into every season with the sole goal of winning a championship. He doesn't care about the scoring title (like Kobe) or clowning around (like Shaq) or his TV commercials (like, uh, almost everybody else). He just wants to win.
Wilt Chamberlain once famously said it was his role to be played against. The Spurs are the same way. Of the millions who will tune in to the NBA finals, most will want to know if LeBron can beat San Antonio. If the Spurs win...well, did you see that move by LeBron? :depressed
Someday, maybe we will all appreciate the Spurs' greatness. In the meantime, the best thing anybody can say about the San Antonio Spurs is actually the greatest compliment of all: Nobody could beat them. :tu
Let 'em yawn...Spurs fans will be happy! :hungry: