Trivia Time

[Solid D]

Excellent. Nice to know that, Sparky. Henry Guerra's son. Pretty cool deal.

[SPARKY]

Time's up on the blocked shots query. The other former Spur?


http://www.mikedust.com/spirits/images/spirits-sidebar.jpg

Caldwell Jones

[timvp]

Time's up on the blocked shots query. The other former Spur?


http://www.mikedust.com/spirits/images/spirits-sidebar.jpg

Caldwell Jones


Nice. :rollin

[SPARKY]

Two former Spurs were the top scorers in the gold medal game of the 1996 Olympics.

Who were they and what countries did they represent?

[SPARKY]

Former Spur Antoine Carr dubbed the Spurs' bench the Dawg Pound and assigned nicknames to members of the bench during his tenure. Name any of the players and their 'dawg' names.

[SPARKY]

Name a former Spur whose first name is also the name of a city.


Time's up.

http://www.tvshowcentral.net/tvshows/dallas/dallas.jpg

Dallas Comegys

[timvp]

Two former Spurs were the top scorers in the gold medal game of the 1996 Olympics.

Who were they and what countries did they represent?

David Robinson (USA) and Zarko Paspalj (Yugoslavia).

[SPARKY]

Excellent.

When he was a Spur, Terry Cummings wrote, produced, and performed a song. What was the title of that piece?

[SPARKY]

Which Spurs head coach has the highest winning % as a Spurs head coach?

[Kori Ellis]

Rex Hughes 100% 1-0.

[timvp]

Excellent.

When he was a Spur, Terry Cummings wrote, produced, and performed a song. What was the title of that piece?

Wasn't it some Christmas song?

[SPARKY]

Very good, your majesty.

[SPARKY]

That is correct.

[timvp]

Terry Cummings' two-tone Christmas?

:)

[SPARKY]

When he was a Spur, Willie Anderson owned a shop in a San Antonio area mall. Which mall was it?

[SPARKY]

Terry Cummings' two-tone Christmas?

Good choice. You almost made SPARKY spit out his beer. But unfortunately it possessed a more formal title.

[timvp]

When he was a Spur, Willie Anderson owned a shop in a San Antonio area mall. Which mall was it?

Planned parenthood? I have no idea. :lol

Does anyone remember the name of Sean Elliott's pet store? This site was kind of named after it.

:smokin

[SPARKY]

Thankfully SPARKY had consumed his beer before he read that choice.

[SPARKY]

As for Mr. Cummings' song...

http://www.idatasports.com/imgs_lrg/IDMS9.jpg

SPARKY is not sure what the "San Antonio Style" was, exactly, but it appears to have been the same style which induced the Spurs to feature PINK in their logo for fifteen years.

More information about Terry Cummings' musical career is available at terrycummings.com (http://www.terrycummings.com).

http://www.terrycummings.com/images/bigpix04.gifhttp://www.terrycummings.com/images/insiders.gifhttp://www.terrycummings.com/images/insiders-04.gif

[timvp]

Good to see Cummings still in the league. I wonder why he changed his name to Massenburg, though?

:wtf

http://www.nba.com/media/spurs/massenburg_140_041117.jpghttp://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/sanantonio/cummingsSA.jpg

[SPARKY]

SPARKY shouldn't have opened this beer.

[SPARKY]

A certain Spurs coach during the David Robinson era had a certain, um, 4 word catch phrase which summed up his coaching philosophy? Who was he and what was that phrase?

[SPARKY]

SPARKY knows the answer for Elliott's pet store name but I confess that I googled it so I will refrain from posting it.

[SPARKY]

David Robinson received a bachelor's degree in what subject at the US Naval Academy?

[timvp]

A certain Spurs coach during the David Robinson era had a certain, um, 4 word catch phrase which summed up his coaching philosophy? Who was he and what was that phrase?

Wasn't it John Lucas? I remember seeing the t-shirt ... damn, I forgot.

[SPARKY]

"GIVE IT TO DAVID!" http://sportsmed.starwave.com/media/nba/2003/0120/photo/a_lucas_i.jpg

[whottt]

David Robinson received a bachelor's degree in what subject at the US Naval Academy?


Mathematics

[whottt]

A certain Spurs coach during the David Robinson era had a certain, um, 4 word catch phrase which summed up his coaching philosophy? Who was he and what was that phrase?


Give me a towel - Jerrry Tarkanian

[timvp]

Should We Double Hakeem? - Bob Hill

[whottt]

What player was a "sleestak" on the show " Land of the lost" before he played in the NBA?

[SPARKY]

University of Texas at Austin attendee and supporter (and former Spurs owner) Red McCombs famously had a public spat with Rod Strickland which culminated in the departure of Mr. Strickland from San Antonio and to the Portland Trailblazers. In Mr. Strickland's first game in San Antonio after leaving the Spurs Red sat with his wife Charlene courtside and perhaps in a low point among low points in Spurs history held up a posterboard with a message scrawled with a black marker on the board.

What was that message?

[timvp]

Wasn't it



"Rod Who?"

[SPARKY]

SPARKY's memory is currently affected by time and COLD BEER :hat so he thinks that you could be correct as either Mr. McCombs had multiple signs or he had multiple messages on one sign.

SPARKY recalls "Rod, I'm Sorry" or "I'm Sorry, Rod"...

[timvp]

What player was a "sleestak" on the show " Land of the lost" before he played in the NBA?

Bill Laimbeer

[timvp]

SPARKY's memory is currently affected by time and COLD BEER :hat so he thinks that you could be correct as either Mr. McCombs had multiple signs or he had multiple messages on one sign.

SPARKY recalls "Rod, I'm Sorry" or "I'm Sorry, Rod"...

You're probably right. I'm thinking of the game when Strickland was sidelined after breaking his wrist and someone held up that sign over the Spurs bench, IIRC.

:drunk

[SPARKY]

Should We Double Hakeem? - Bob Hill

SPARKY almost choked because of this. Thankfully we Spur fans no longer enjoy his high powered offenses, exceptional clothiers, and the high powered offenses of Spur opponents.

[whottt]

What is the oldest Spurs draft pick still playing in the NBA(year drafted)?

Edit: and yes Laimbeer was the one

[SPARKY]

You're probably right. I'm thinking of the game when Strickland was sidelined after breaking his wrist and someone held up that sign over the Spurs bench, IIRC.


Hopefully there aren't any posterboards and black markers in the corporate offices of HOLT CAT, though the ownership philosophy seems somewhat consistent.

[SPARKY]

Tony Massenburg 1990.

[whottt]

I'm pretty sure Sparky is right, the oldest one I could find, and a second round pick at that!

[SPARKY]

The Spurs have drafted a player who attended the University of Michigan. Without googling what is his name?

[timvp]

Who was the other player the Spurs drafted in the second round in the same draft they got Massenburg?

[whottt]

Billy Curley

[whottt]

Sean Higgins is the answer to TImVP's question

[SPARKY]

If SPARKY is correct, the answer to his question is the answer to timvp's question.

[timvp]

The Spurs have drafted a player who attended the University of Michigan. Without googling what is his name?

Sam Mack.

[whottt]

True or false: Baseline Bum was in attendance at Drob's first game as a Spur

[SPARKY]

Without googling, who did the Spurs draft in the 1st round of that draft (1990)?

[whottt]

The Lobster...we asked all the 1990 draft pick questions in chat the other night

[timvp]

Bill Curley played at Boston College. What former Spur was his teammate there?

[SPARKY]

Higgins is the only Wolverine SPARKY can find that the Spurs drafted.

[SPARKY]

The Spurs did draft another player from state of Michigan in the second round in the 1990s. Interestingly enough his alma mater was the same as the first Spur to enter the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Who did the Spurs draft and what was the name of the university he attended and played at?

[MI21]

No one's got it so far. The weird thing is I've already asked this question on the forum. I don't remember who knew it last time ... I'm thinking it was MI21.

Indeed.

Cool thread too :hat

[SPARKY]

Which Spurs' 1st round draft pick was a HOYA?

[timvp]

The Spurs did draft another player from state of Michigan in the second round in the 1990s. Interestingly enough his alma mater was the same as the first Spur to enter the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Who did the Spurs draft and what was the name of the university he attended and played at?

Derrick Dial. Eastern Michigan.

[SPARKY]

That is correct. What UConn Huskie did the Spurs draft in the 1990s in the 1st round?

[whottt]

Ahem, you guys gotta at least take a guess at the Baseline bum question...you have a 50-50 chance at being right

[timvp]

True. I watched him play the Lakers on TV.

:smokin

[timvp]

That is correct. What UConn Huskie did the Spurs draft in the 1990s in the 1st round?

They did? I must be slipping.

[SPARKY]

How could you forget UConn after all the joy that Connecticut has brought to Spurs' fandom over the years?

[timvp]

:lol

Ghostal Writer?

[whottt]

True. I watched him play the Lakers on TV.

:smokin

You got it right...I know because he told me that in an argument once. I applaud him for not answering a question he and unfair advantage to answer.

[SPARKY]

Former Spur Antoine Carr dubbed the Spurs' bench the Dawg Pound and assigned nicknames to members of the bench during his tenure. Name any of the players and their 'dawg' names.

SPARKY recalls...

Beach Dawg...played by Jud Buechler
Big Dawg.......played by Mr. Carr

[whottt]

Who is the co-holder of the NCAA division 1 record for most assists in a game, and holds the records for assists per game and for a college career?

[timvp]

Dawg Bone.....played by Willie Anderson
Dawg Biscuit...played by Chuck Person
Snoop Dawg...played by Sleepy Floyd

[timvp]

Who is the co-holder of the NCAA division 1 record for most assists in a game, and holds the records for assists per game and for a college career?

AJ.

:drunk

[whottt]

AJ.

:drunk


Well done, I was hoping to catch you off guard on that one.

[timvp]

Ain't happenin'. Just another reason his jersey should be retired.

[timvp]

Who did AJ get in a fight with that led to the famous line "I WILL NOT BE MIS-HANDLED"?

[whottt]

I agree couthatsouthernucough

[SPARKY]

First off, SPARKY must apologize for the moniker Mr. Carr used for the Spurs' bench was "The Canine Club", though he did also refer to it as the "Dawg Pound" as well...

Secondly, here some's background (courtesy of the $4.95 SPARKY just dropped on one day's access to the Express-News' online archives...


San Antonio Express-News

Page 17C

SPURS.SPOTLIGHT CANINE CONTACT Chest bump has become instant tradition among Spurs reserves Spurs Spotlight

Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer

Publication Date : November 17, 1991

Spurs radio announcer Jay Howard has seen athletes express joy in a lot of different ways during his years as a play-by-play man.



But until the Spurs began the 1991-92 season on the night of Nov. 1, he had never seen the now-famous (at least in San Antonio) "chest bump."


"No, I have not seen anything like that," Howard said. "I've seen everything else. I've seen high fives, low fives, head butts, touching wrists, touching forearms. I've even seen two college guys push their butts together in the end zone after a touchdown. I guess that's called a butt bump.


"But, no, I've never seen a chest bump."


Enter Antoine Labotte Carr and his pack of pooches, a.k.a The Canine Club.


For those of you who have been out of town since the season started, the Canine Club is what Carr has dubbed the team's scrappy reserves.


"The chest bump is part of the Canine Club," Carr said. "You ever see two dogs out in the yard when they are kind of going after it? Well, they get up on their haunches and wrestle with each other and bump chests.


"We're big dawgs, so we do that, too."


Coach Larry Brown, who did many a forearm bump with former Spur Frank Brickowski, says he doesn't mind the chest bump, although he would rather not have the 6-foot-9, 265-pound, muscle-bound Carr slamming into 6-9, 215-pound Sean Higgins.


"We aren't physical enough to hurt anybody," Brown joked when asked whether he worries about the chest bump hurting anybody.


"It reminds me of a blooper film in the NFL," the coach said. Seconds later he added, "We've got to have good matchups when we do it."


Carr, the founder of the Canine Club, said the bump might not be as dangerous as his dawg's bite.


"The only thing I worry about is that we might bite somebody without our shots," Carr said with a laugh. "I'm still worried about rabies. We've already had to clip their tails and toenails and we had everyone de-wormed."


And what do you feed the dawgs, Antoine?


"We eat nothing but the best," he said. "Steaks and opponents."


The chest bump and other Canine Club antics aren't just limited to the players. Members of the Spurs front office, including Executive Vice President Russ Bookbinder, were seen slamming chests after Wednesday's 103-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.


Spurs owner Red McCombs has also thrown out his chest a few times.


"You should see him after the games," one Spurs employee said. "He goes down there and shakes hands with the players and bumps a few chests. He really gets into it."


Carr said McCombs even did a few growls and barks with the players before one recent home game.


"He came up and barked at me and I didn't know what he was doing," Carr said. "It cracked me up."


A fun-loving sort, Carr is playing his Big Dawg alter ego for all it's worth.


After seeing a picture in Thursday's Express-News of him diving for a loose ball, Carr nodded and said, "Looks just like a canine going for its bone."


Make that a chest-bumping canine.


More trips down memory lane...


Page 1B

CARR Pro Basketball Streamlined Carr ready to roll again for Spurs

David Flores Express-News Deputy Sports Editor

Publication Date : September 21, 1992

After an off-season of TV commercials, travel and fun in the sun, Spurs forward Antoine Carr says he is looking forward to his second season in San Antonio.



Carr's top priority with training camp less than three weeks away is to get his weight down, as instructed by new coach Jerry Tarkanian.


Weighing "around 280-something" at the end of last season, Carr said he has trimmed down to 272 pounds and hopes to be in the 260-265 range by early November.


"I'm still going down," Carr said over the weekend while he signed autographs at a car dealership. "I've been working out and getting ready. I've been running quite a bit."


Carr, 6-foot-9, even made time to work out during a recent 10-day vacation in Minnesota.


"I took my Lifecycle and stair-climber with me," he said with a smile. "I got some work in. It was nice up there, but a little bit too cool for me."


Carr, 31, said he plans to start more intense workouts Monday at Incarnate Word College, where some Spurs have been practicing on their own since last week.


The Spurs open training camp Oct. 9 and start the NBA regular season Nov. 6 in Sacramento.


With Terry Cummings recuperating from knee surgery, Carr is expected to move into the starting lineup at power forward. Carr was the Spurs' best player off the bench last season, energizing the team with his intense play and pleasing crowds at the Arena with his enthusiasm.


The Spurs traded center Dwayne Schintzius and a second-round draft pick in 1994 to Sacramento last Sept. 23 for Carr, a Wichita State alum.


Carr started at center the last 14 games of the regular season, after David Robinson was sidelined with a thumb injury. Carr averaged 17.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.21 blocked shots in 36.6 minutes per game during that span.


He played even better in the playoffs, averaging 19.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.6 blocks. The Phoenix Suns swept the Spurs in the best-of-five first-round series.


Preparing for his ninth NBA season, Carr said one of his primary goals will be to improve his rebounding. He averaged 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.19 blocked shots for the '91-92 season.


"I'd like to get up to eight to 10 rebounds a game and, ultimately, I'd like to average 12.5 a game," he said. "If I can get that for Coach Tarkanian, I'll do a good job."


One of the Spurs' more animated players, Carr doesn't expect to feel any extra pressure if he starts full time.


"It's really not that different from coming off the bench," he said. "You just have to start off earlier, be ready to go. I'll rely on the fans, the Canine Club, to hype me up. The fans are what keep me up."


Carr, known as "Big Dawg" by Spurs loyalists, started the Canine fan club shortly after his arrival in San Antonio.


Cummings is expected to miss most, if not all, of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee July 6.


"Any time a guy like Terry goes down, the team has to come together," Carr said. "It just won't be me replacing Terry. Other people will have to step in and help take up the slack."


Carr said he is "definitely excited" about playing for Tarkanian.


"We've talked a few times this summer," Carr said. "He told me he wanted me to get my weight down and come in ready to play."


Forward Sean Elliott and All-NBA center Robinson are the only full-time starters from the Spurs' 1991-92 team expected to be ready for training camp.


Guard/forward Willie Anderson is recovering from stress fractures in both legs and point guard Rod Strickland signed with Portland in July.


Carr, guard Greg Sutton and forward Sidney Green are the other holdovers from the '91-92 squad.


And more. SPARKY heard that KO'K lives and works in Austin as a Domino's delivery guy. SPARKY wants to call him up and ask him if he still thinks Bob Hill was a better coach.


Page 3C

OKEEFFE.COLUMN Spurs relieved 'Big Dawg' not big Dwayne in big



Publication Date : July 12, 1992

OKEEFFE.COLUMN Spurs relieved 'Big Dawg' not big Dwayne in big picture Kevin O'Keeffe


As Spurs fans still try to recover from the shock of the probable season-ending injury to power forward Terry Cummings, they should be grateful for one thing: That Dwayne Schintzius went to Sacramento for Antoine Labotte Carr last September.



While not suggesting that Carr is the equal of Cummings, Antoine is a legitimate, big-time player. That's something Schintzius never will be.


"Antoine is a tough player," Cummings said. "He's got a hard body and he's really helped us."


Can you imagine the Spurs looking at the 1992-93 season without Cummings . . . and Carr?


"We're fortunate to have someone as good as Antoine," said Spurs vice president Bob Bass, who may begin having people taste his food and start his car given the current run of bad luck with the club.


It was Bass who first began to pursue Carr, recalling a night during the 1990-91 season when Carr was tearing up the Spurs for 23 points in the first half of a game in Sacramento. Seems Carr was having his way with Cummings and Sidney Green that night.


Carr averaged a career-best 20.1 points per game that sea son, leading the Kings in that category.


"Antoine was having contract problems with Sacramento," Bass said of the situation last off- season. "It seemed like a really good time to go in. Besides, the Kings had a surplus of forwards and were going with younger guys than Antoine (30 at the time).


"And Dick Motta (then Kings coach) ran a high-post offense and that was best for Dwayne, facing the basket."


Hmmmm.


It seemed what was best for Dwayne was facing a buffet line.


The out-of-shape, excuse-ridden No. 1-draft-choice mistake of the Spurs in 1990 appeared disinterested of ever improving in S.A. Oh, Dwayne said all the right things. He just never translated his words into actions. Major-league theft


While Bass refuses to discuss the particulars of the deal in which Dwayne and a second-round pick in 1994 went to the Kings for Carr, suffice it to say Bass was shocked to be able to get a talent like Carr.


At least in that Bass did not have to resort to blackmail on Motta or others in the Kings' organization to make the swap.


Can you say S-T-E-A-L?


Especially so now, in light of the knee injury suffered by Cummings in a pickup basketball game last Monday. Cummings tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments of his right knee.


"It made sense for the Kings to take a reasonable risk in trading for Dwayne," Bass said, being overly generous to his foil.


But Carr's unhappiness with his contract extended to San Antonio, too, and on Oct. 11 last year, Carr's agent Eric Fleisher said he saw little hope for resolving things in S.A.


Fifteen days later, Carr got incentives added and reportedly received a $100,000 loan that pacified him. He did not receive an extension to the contract that runs through the 1993-94 season, though.


Carr, at 6-foot-9, 265 pounds, had the unenviable task of starting at center for then-interim coach Bass, when David Robinson injured his thumb toward the end of last season.


Despite being undersized in the middle, Carr averaged 17.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.21 blocked shots in Robinson's absence.


Even more than his contribution on the floor, Carr captured the heart of the fans with his Canine Club the nickname for the guys on the bench. Carr, of course, was the "Big Dawg."


Carr also became involved in various youth activities in the city. He's been busy with a motivational camp for youngsters this summer.


Also, "Big Dawg" can't be missed on TV commercials for a local water park.


And lest we forget Carr's chest-bumping routine with his teammates as they came off the floor during timeouts last year.


"I had no idea Antoine was that kind of an emotional guy," Bass said.


"Antoine is up on the bench all during a game and he really helped get our crowd into games last year. He's good to have on this team because of his emotion. He lets you know he's there and is excited about playing."


Bass said Carr will relish the chance of playing more minutes this year he reportedly gets a $50,000 bonus for 2,527 minutes although Bass said Carr obviously doesn't want the time at the expense of Cummings' health.


"But the minutes are really important to him and he'll jump at it," Bass said.


Bass admitted he also didn't realize what a quick jumper Carr was for his size.


"And those power dunks of his are another thing which really get the fans going," Bass said.


Perhaps the only potentially touchy area comes with Carr's contract.


Might Fleisher take this opportunity to try for an extension since his client will be a starter this season?


Might not this be the ideal time for a power play, since the Spurs are incredibly vulnerable with no one behind Carr and no money to grab even somebody like Larry Smith, free agent of the Houston Rockets?


Bass doubts such a thing, noting that the relationship between the club, Fleisher and Carr is very good. Everyone was pleased after the settlement last October.


And given the way Carr has immersed himself in the community, more contract discord would seem doubtful.


Spurs fans hope so.


As does Bass.



and more


Pro Basketball Lucas wants more aggression from Spurs

Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer

Publication Date : March 15, 1993

Spurs coach John Lucas isn't the type to keep his feelings hidden.



If his team is doing well during a game, he'll jump, punch the air, and slap hands with his players in what seems like one motion.


The only problem is Lucas would like to do his dance of joy in the first period, rather than in the middle quarters like he did Saturday in San Antonio's 108-99 victory over Portland.


Lucas, however, knows that his outbursts won't come without his starters playing the aggressive defense preached by the team's coaching staff.


"We really have been concentrating on not coming out sluggish defensively," Lucas said Sunday after an hour-long practice at the Arena. "We want to get our defensive intensity up at the very beginning of the game. We have to come out aggressive early because that really helps us.


"We want the starters (David Robinson, J.R. Reid, Sean Elliott, Dale Ellis and Avery Johnson) to set the tone for the course of the game."


The Spurs' next chance to get their coach up in the air early will come at 7 p.m. Monday when they face the Los Angeles Lakers at the Arena. The season series between the teams is tied at 1-1, with two games left.


"Oh, yes, defense is the key," said Johnson, who pleased Lucas and Assistant Coach Rex Hughes with his defensive effort Saturday against Portland's Rod Strickland.


"We were down 9-2 Saturday and then we picked it up with aggressive defense," Johnson continued. "David Robinson blocked some shots, we got some steals and we played good containment defense. Defense keys a lot of things for us. It gets us going."


It also helps them win. San Antonio is 27-3, including 16-1 at home, when it holds foes under 100 points.


"Defense is so important," Johnson said. "That is why the New York Knicks and Phoenix are doing so well. They play good defense."


Johnson, who is 23-8 as the starting point guard, said the Spurs' defense has improved gradually this season.


"Rex Hughes has done a great job helping us play better defense," Johnson said. "He is an excellent defensive coach. That's why I think he will make a great head coach someday. Then we've got John Lucas, who has more playoff experience than Rex and has added some things to help us.


"With those two guys working together, we've got a pretty good defensive plan."


Hughes said the Spurs' work in practice has helped them improve their transition game, which, in turn, improves their defense.


"The transition game is the key in this league, getting from offense to defense and getting matched up," Hughes said. "We've spent time working on that in practice and it's helped. But one thing I think we lack is intensity at the start of the game. You get off to a good start when you play good defense."


Poor starts doomed the Spurs to a 2-5 record during its last road trip. An aggressive start against Dallas on March 9 produced a 35-point victory and a somewhat aggressive beginning Saturday doomed Portland to its fifth-straight loss at the Arena.


Saturday's slow start, however, was countered by Antoine Carr's 13 second-period points. The Big Dawg turned in a superb game off the bench, finishing with a season-high 27 points.


"I just tried to do my normal work," said Carr, who came off the bench for Reid. "I'm back in the Dawg Pound again, so I went to get them (the reserves) going."


Carr said he does not mind coming off the bench.


"I don't mind J.R. starting and he doesn't mind me starting," Carr said. "We are good friends and we love each other. We want to see each other prosper."


"Antoine was exceptional tonight," Reid said after the game. "We kept going to him. When someone is hitting 12 for 17, you've got to stick with him."


With Carr ruling the low post, Reid played only 17 minutes against the Blazers.


"It was Antoine's night," Reid said. "We go with whoever is playing well. He did exactly what he was supposed to do when you come off the bench, and that is produce. We finished with him tonight and that's all right with me. When I'm hot, I play. When he is hot, he plays. That's the way it should be."


Reid has started the last seven games. Lucas said he will continue to bring Carr off the bench.


"If he (Carr) can come in and play against second teamers like he did last night, it makes a difference," Lucas said. "We've got Antoine and Willie Anderson coming off the bench and that makes for a solid top seven."



Pro Basketball Big Dawg growls his loudest of year

Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer

Publication Date : March 14, 1993

The frisbee-catching duo of Whizard and Magic weren't the only canines enjoying big outings at the Arena on Saturday.



Although Whizard and Magic received heavy applause when they performed at halftime, it wasn't anything compared to the cheers for the Spurs' Big Dawg power forward Antoine Carr.


In 30 minutes of reserve play, Carr tallied a season-high 27 points in leading the Spurs to a 108-99 victory over Portland. He hit 12 of 17 shots from the field and was 3 for 4 from the free-throw line.


"Man, we need more of that from Antoine," said Spurs point guard Avery Johnson, who dished out a team-high 14 assists. "Antoine was steaming tonight. We can't afford to have both him and (starting forward) J.R. Reid with so-called off nights. We need them to be on. When Antoine is on like he was tonight, we need to get him the ball."


Spending most of his time near the basket, Carr collected only seven points on outside jump shots. The right stuff


"My jump hook was going tonight and I tried to use it often," Carr said. "Avery and the guys were looking for me and I got the ball in good position, which was the key for me tonight."


Carr's biggest crowd-pleasing play came when he converted a fast-break pass from Johnson into a three-point play with 4:14 left in the third period. After sinking the layup and collecting the foul from Blazers guard Terry Porter, Carr ran to the bench for a brief celebration with rookie Sam Mack.


The two began by knocking heads and bumping chests. With that out of the way, they began kicking at each other.


"We put a little something together," Mack said of the kicks. "We didn't want to do the same old thing. We are getting ready for a long stretch and we wanted to do something different.


"We want to get the enthusiasm back that we had when Luke (Coach John Lucas) first got here. We want to take it (enthusiasm) to another level."


"That (the kicks with Mack) was just a little thing from the Dawg Pound (Carr's nickname for the Spurs' bench)," Carr said. "We wanted to let everyone know that the Dawg Pound is still alive. What I did with Sam was just a little leg shake. Call it Dawgs in the Hood."


The other Carr plays that pumped up the sellout crowd of 16,057 came in the final three minutes of play.


With 2:28 left, Carr went to the floor to grab a loose ball and force a jump ball with Portland forward Buck Williams. Carr tapped the ball to Johnson and the possession ended with Dale Ellis sinking a three-point shot with 2:10 left. Blaming the refs


Blazers coach Rick Adelman said a poor toss by an official was the reason why Carr won the tap on the jump ball with Williams.


"I don't understand why the league doesn't eliminate jump balls," Adelman said. "That ball was so far left there was no way Buck could get it. The referee could have retossed it. Every other league has eliminated the jump ball. The league could eliminate it, too.


"When you get to the fourth quarter you need to make sure the toss is good. They got it, executed, and made the three-pointer."


Carr added to Adelman's blues when he sank a turnaround bank shot over Williams with 1:28 remaining to give San Antonio a 102-93 lead.


"I just tried to do my normal work," said Carr, who came off the bench for Reid. "I'm back in the Dawg Pound again, so I went to get them (the reserves) going."


Carr said he does not mind coming off the bench.


"I don't mind J.R. starting and he doesn't mind me starting," Carr said. "We are good friends and we love each other. We want to see each other prosper." Trail Blazers San Antonio

[whottt]

Steve Nash

[whottt]

The will make you feel old question: How many players are still active from the 89-90 Spurs and the team that eliminated them that year from the post season(they didn't have to be on the playoff roster, just a member of the team, although it's a moot point on this question anyway)

No googling on this one!

[timvp]

That was a nice trip down memory lane, SPARKY. Those were the days. :smokin

[timvp]

The will make you feel old question: How many players are still active from the 89-90 Spurs and the team that eliminated them that year from the post season(they didn't have to be on the playoff roster, just a member of the team, although it's a moot point on this question anyway)

No googling on this one!

Nobody.

[whottt]

Nope, there's one guy still active I believe. Just one...

Hint:He has some similarities with David Robinson...

[timvp]

Uh, I don't think so. Mark Bryant is retired. I can't think of anyone else you could be thinking of.

[timvp]

Nope, there's one guy still active I believe. Just one...

Hint:He has some similarities with David Robinson...


Oh yeah, Uncle Cliffy.

[whottt]

They both have a good reason to sing "here's to you Mrs.Robinson"

[SPARKY]

San Antonio Express-News

S.A. Life Page 1F

Is Yote vote a winner? Fur sure!

Susan Yerkes

Publication Date : November 3, 1996

I have seen Bill Clinton at the Alamo. I have seen Bob Dole on TV. I have seen Ross Perot , ears flapping in his own hot air.

But I have never seen a candidate like the Spurs Coyote .
It's crazy, but in the red-white-and-blue outfit he cribbed from Al "Uncle Sam" Rohde , the Coyote looks, well - Lincoln esque.

Tall, big nose, facial fur . . . the buggy eyes and tail give him away. But hey! It's the '90s. And the big head qualifies him for politics.

The Yote (as in "Yote for the Spurs") is campaigning all over town, unveiling a list of election promises aimed at fan appeal. Among them:

Better transportation (Spurs-adorned KISS-FM VIA buses). More parking. Better sound. More nostalgia (the Bob Dole card).

And "the hottest entertainment package in the NBA," from Silver Dancers to KTFM's new goofy, energetic Extreme Team.

And of course, the Coyote.

"Fur More Years" and "Vote the Yote" are catchy. And the Coyote, who carries a baby doll to kiss between pumping paws, is a pro.

At a Spurs Foundation Tip-Off lunch Wednesday to benefit children's charities, the team went on the record for the Coyote.

"He's got more facial hair than me!" Vinny del Negro said.

Sean Elliott endorses everything else. Why not the Yote?

Carl Herrera said the Coyote promised him more salsa music at games. Avery Johnson swore the Yote promised creole gumbo for a vote. ("But Ah don't want any dawg hair in it," A.J. drawled.)


Could a backlash from Coyote fans be the cause of the hatred directed by some Spurs fans to AJ?

[whottt]

yeap got it

[whottt]

True or false: Karl Malone beat a Pinata to death at Hemisphere Arena in 1990...

Extra credit if you can tell a unique characteristic of that Pinata

Edit: Shit...that was kind a stupid way to phrase the question now wasn't it?

I guess just answer the extra credit part if you can

[timvp]

Hey SPARKY, while you're at it ... you should post those Kevin O'Keefe articles where he ripped Pop. And how about that one that talks about the "secret deal" with Vinny.

I saw that loser (O'Keefe) at Albertson's right after the Spurs won the championship in 1999. At that time, he didn't have a job and was a tee-ball umpire or some ish.

[timvp]

True or false: Karl Malone beat a Pinata to death at Hemisphere Arena in 1990...

Extra credit if you can tell a unique characteristic of that Pinata

Edit: Shit...that was kind a stupid way to phrase the question now wasn't it?

I guess just answer the extra credit part if you can

:rollin

Damn, you'd have been an awesome teacher. Was the pinata pink?

[SPARKY]

Spurs fans, if any of you complain about this current team SPARKY will beat you down:


San Antonio Express-News

Page 2G

lockerroom with rally that quietens Sonics Bench provides spark for team in second half

Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer

Publication Date : March 31, 1993

Seattle guard Ricky Pierce probably had a good laugh in the third period when Spurs rookie Lloyd Daniels told him the game wasn't over.



Thirty minutes later, however, the laughs were over for Pierce and just beginning for Daniels and his teammates.


Propelled by reserves Daniels (edit- that's Lloyd, not AD), Vinny Del Negro, Sam Mack and Larry Smith, the Spurs overcame a 20-point third-period deficit to claim a 99-97 victory over the Sonics.


"Ricky was kind of laughing and talking some trash in the third period," said Daniels, who scored 18 points, 10 in the fourth period. "That's when I said, 'Ricky be careful. We haven't made our run yet. It over yet, baby. It aint' over 'till the fat lady sings.' "


Daniels tied the game at 91-91 with a driving bank shot with 4:19 left. After sinking the shot, he turned to Seattle coach George Karl and flashed a wide grin.


"I looked over there and laughed," Daniels said. "I just wanted them to know it ain't over 'till the fat lady sings. It ain't over, baby. We made our run and then the fat lady started singing."


Daniels, Del Negro, Mack and Smith, along with David Robinson, played the bulk of the fourth period for the Spurs. All five played outstanding defense, harrassing Seattle into five turnovers and 4-of-15 shooting in the final quarter.


"Those guys (Daniels, Del Negro, Mack and Smith) can play," said Sean Elliott, who canned the game-winning basket with 2.4 seconds left. "I am so damn proud of Sam Mack and those guys. They came in fresh and played great defense. I can't say enough about the way those guys played. They saved us.


"Our second team can play, let me tell you. I mean they can play. They kick the first team's ass every day in practice. Everyday. I can't remember the last time the first team beat them. Sometimes they spank us. They beat the mess out of us. They deserve the credit for this win."


Elliott and Robinson, however, deserve a lot of credit for the game-winning play. Robinson's solid pick of Eddie Johnson opened Elliott for the shot.


"David set a great pick on that play," Elliott said. "He took out two guys (Johnson and Shawn Kemp, who was guarding Robinson). David was alert. He played a hell of a second half. That was an alert play. No question."


Del Negro (nine points, four assists and a steal in 19 minutes) and Mack (five points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal in 12 minutes) also had a few alert plays in the fourth.


"The thing I wanted to do was get the team going," Del Negro said. "I was trying to be real aggressive and get to the basket. The crowd started to get into it and that kind of picked our defense up."


"We just wanted to limit their shots," Smith said. "We wanted to play aggressive and get the score down to single digits. We knew if we got the score down to single digits we would have a chance and be OK. We stepped up the defense."


Mack said Spurs coach John Lucas gave him some good advice during the third period.


"He told me to relax," Mack said. "He wanted me to do what I do in practice and that's drive to the basket. He didn't want me shooting jump shots."


One Spur who had a huge jumper in the fourth was forward Antoine Carr.


With the score knotted at 95-95, the Big Dawg took a pass from Del Negro and fired in an 18-foot straight-ahead jumper.


"That was a play that Lukie (Lucas) diagrammed in the time out," Carr said. "That's a shot I hit all the time when I was in Sacramento and I guess he knew that.


"That was a hell of game."


And if you don't believe Carr, just ask Pierce.

[whottt]

Nope, it was a Karl Malone pinata lol

Either some fans or team officials had it at ring side, can't remember which, and he got pissed off took it away from them and smashed it


One of many transgressions by Karl Malone against the San Antonio Spurs nation

[SPARKY]

Think Pop is a horrible coach?


San Antonio Express-News

Page 1D

still a problem Hornets may not see Spurs' star forward

Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer Spurs coach John

Publication Date : January 16, 1993

Lucas said Friday he does not want Sean Elliott to return to action until the forward is healthy and there is no risk of re-injuring his back.



Back spasms forced Elliott to check into Humana-San Antonio Hospital Friday morning after the team returned from Milwaukee. Spurs trainer John Andersen said Elliott probably would be released Saturday morning.


He is listed questionable for San Antonio's 7:30 p.m. game with the Charlotte Hornets Saturday at the Arena.


Elliott missed the Spurs' 109-93 victory over the Bucks Thursday night, snapping his club record for consecutive games played at 246.


He also missed most of the club's victory over the Timberwolves Tuesday in Minnesota.


Lucas, who conducted a 90-minute practice Friday afternoon at the Arena, said he does not want Elliott to rush his return. The Arizona product is enjoying a banner season, averaging 19.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists.


"I want a healthy Sean Elliott," Lucas said. "I don't want him back in the hospital in a week. I don't want him teasing us and then getting hurt again.


"In an indirect way, it (Elliott's absence) gives us a chance to let some other guys step up and play. (Forward) David Wood has stepped up, (point guard) Avery Johnson has stepped up and (forward) J.R. Reid has stepped up. We need to find a way to get 20 more points out of our roster."


Andersen said Elliott's hospital stay allows the player to get the required rest and medication to eliminate the back spasms. Elliott was put in traction Friday morning.


"The muscle spasms he is having are painful and it is the pain we are dealing with right now," Andersen said. "That is why he is staying overnight in the hospital. We checked him in last night to put him in the most comfortable environment possible.


"Once he is released, it (his playing status) is a question of comfort with activity."


Andersen said Elliott had experienced discomfort for about a week before the Minnesota game.


"When he landed hard on his legs in the Minnesota game, it (his back) just kind of tightened up and the muscle spasms returned," Andersen said.


Lucas said he will stay with the same starting lineup he used Thursday Johnson at point guard, Vinny Del Negro at off guard, Antoine Carr at power forward, Dale Ellis at small forward and David Robinson at center.


The Spurs (20-13) have won five straight. Their longest streak last season was five games and it was snapped by Charlotte on March 16.


If San Antonio wins Saturday, the winning streak will be the club's best since it won eight straight from Dec. 8-21 in 1990.


Coach Allan Bristow's Hornets are 17-15, including a 9-8 road mark. The team is led by forward Larry Johnson (22.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game) and rookie center Alonzo Mourning (18.1 points and 9.9 rebounds).


The Spurs, 10-2 under Lucas, hold a 6-5 lead in their all-time series with the Hornets but trail 3-2 in games at home. Charlotte won both games against San Antonio last season.


"They've got our number and we have to play well to beat them," Lucas said. "It's not going to be easy."


"This is the kind of team we need to beat if we are going to win our division," said Ellis, who scored 14 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth period Thursday.


Ellis said the Spurs' hot outside game, coupled with Robinson's always-tough defense inside, has helped give the Spurs a bit of a breather lately.


"When we hit our outside shots like we have been, it makes us even tougher because we aren't as winded," Ellis said. "We are able to go back to work at the other end.


"David is doing a great job. He is doing well defensively and making it tough inside. It (Robinson's defense and the hot outside shooting) is making the whole game easier for us. All we have to do is keep hitting our shots." Spurs Notes:Robinson sat out most of Friday's practice, resting his sore knees. Lucas teased Carr during practice by calling him "puppy dog." The coach cracked up the team when he pointed to Carr and then got on all fours and whimpered like a puppy. Carr is nicknamed Big Dawg. Former Spur Sidney Green paid a visit to the team's downtown office Friday. Green is averaging 3.9 minutes, 0.6 points and 1.3 rebounds in seven games for Charlotte.


Green was traded to the Hornets on Dec. 9 for J.R. Reid and two draft choices. In 17 games for the Spurs, Reid has averaged 27.4 minutes, 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds.

[SPARKY]

Oh, those were the days...


Phoenix's Kevin Johnson wreaked his usual havoc, consistently breaking down the Spurs' defense with his drives, dishing off to a teammate for a run down a wide-open lane.


"He's a tough booger," Bass said. "I think we contained him a little tonight (22 points, 11 assists).

[SPARKY]

Damn. When David Robinson calls someone out you know things weren't right...


Spurs have own plane for rest of season

Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

Publication Date : January 7, 1992

Up, up and away.



Chalk up an aerial victory for David Robinson and his teammates.


The Spurs have contracted to fly by charter for the remainder of the season.


Spurs owner Red McCombs has agreed to lease an airplane from Viscount Aircraft, a firm that also charters for the Indiana Pacers.


The lease ends, at least for this season, the tussle between Robinson and McCombs over the charter issue.


Robinson had written an open letter to McCombs, published in the local newspapers, criticising the owner for what Robinson called a lack of commitment.


"This will make a big difference," Coach Larry Brown said. "Travel from San Antonio is not typical travel.


"I hope it will have some effect on wins and losses, although obviously it hasn't so far," the coach said with a smile. "But other teams have it and at times some teams have been waiting for us in our own building.


"We all realize that this didn't have to be done so we appreciate it even more. We can leave when we want to and all the players and coaches are together. That leaves good time for talking about basketball."


McCombs emphasized that the decision to charter is not necessarily a permanent one.


"I've made it as clear as I can that this may not be our future program," the owner said. "We'll look at that next season.


"I figured if Robinson and the rest of the players were so concerned about the issue then it had to be given consideration.


"Once the players said what they said then we got the new proposals. We found that the difference in price between charters and regular airfare had been reduced.


"Then I got the feeling that maybe this was just the right thing to do. I'm happy we're doing it in this instance.


"But charter is strictly a question of comfort and convenience. There is no correlation to wins and losses."


The players learned the decision Monday morning.


"I'm happy for the team," said Sidney Green. "It's good to know we're on the same level as some other teams, that they don't have that edge."


"It's sweet. It's a good deal," said Sean Elliott. "I think they are going to paint the plane with some of the team colors so that would be big time."


"The decision shows some outstanding stuff from Red and (Vice President) Bob Bass," Antoine Carr said. "Just say that the Big Dawg appreciates it."


Food for the charter will be arranged locally and the plane will be based in San Antonio.


The Spurs' five-color logo has been painted on the plane and it will arrive Wednesday.


The aircraft has been remodeled for 52 first-class seats. The first three rows have a 60-inch pitch that allows for the extra leg room. The pitch in a first-class seat on a domestic flight is 38 inches.

[timvp]

The Spurs almost traded Will Perdue for this player, but instead the team opted to trade Ike Austin for this player in return. Name the player.

:drunk

[whottt]

Actually, that particular season was just about the darkest 1 of the Drob era IMO.

I believe that was the season that:

TC wrecked his knee
We had 3 different head coaches
Willie Anderson went from being an upncoming versatile guard to struggling with shin splints
Strickland was allowed to walk
Drob injured his thumb and missed the final few weeks of the season
We got swept in the playoffs for the only time in the Robinson(pre Duncan) era

[SPARKY]

Rib injury shelves Cummings Spur out at least 5 games starting tonight

Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

Publication Date : November 29, 1991

As if the December road schedule wasn't trouble enough.



The Spurs suffered a blow Thursday morning when starting forward Terry Cummings was placed on the injured list with a fractured rib. Cummings will miss the next next five games for sure, maybe more.


The team activated Tony Massenburg and he will be ready for duty at 6:30 p.m. Friday when the Spurs face the Hawks at the Omni.


Cummings suffered the rib injury Wednesday night against the New Jersey Nets when he got between the bucket and a driving Sam Bowie.


Bowie was in the air heading for the basket when his knee slammed into Cummings' left side. Cummings was taken to the hospital for X-rays, which revealed the fracture.


"We're just going to have to overcome Terry's injury," Coach Larry Brown said Thursday at San Antonio International Airport.


"He has to miss at least five games but I'm told he could have a lot of discomfort for as long as three weeks. He's obviously a big part of our team and this is going to be a rough time for our team, anyway."


Cummings has averaged 12 points, eight rebounds and 27.5 minutes in 11 games. He missed 15 games last season due to injuries and the team was 6-9 in those games.


Brown said Antoine Carr would start and Sidney Green would back up both David Robinson and Carr.


Brown had been toying with the idea of starting Carr and bringing Cummings off the bench. This latest development may push that idea along.


"We've got to get Paul (Pressey) in game shape," Brown said. "We're going to need a solid contribution from him."


Pressey was taken off the injured list Wednesday and played 11 minutes against the Nets.


"It felt great to get back into action," Pressey said. "It will take a few games to get into things, but we've got a lot of games coming up so that will help."


Pressey said the team has to bolster its defense and keep consistent pressure on opponents.


"I've always felt that a team's defense determines its offense," Pressey said. "We just have to be persistent."


Brown agreed.


"We've got to be consistent on defense and we've got to cut down on our turnovers."


"We have great stretches on defense and then we have breakdowns. The breakdowns usually come on our turnovers, when we try to recover or bail somebody out.


"Our turnovers have been coming at silly times, like on our fast breaks. And we miss the two- or three-on-one opportunities.


"Or they come when we try to make a great scoring play. We try to make the great pass after the defense is set. But we can work on all these things."


The Spurs are averaging 17.9 turnovers a game.


The Hawks are 7-7, 4-2 at home this season. They are led by the scoring of Dominique Wilkins (27.8 points) and rebounding of Kevin Willis (leading the league with 17 per game). Willis has pulled down at least 20 rebounds the last five games.


The Hawks were the only team to sweep the Spurs last season, winning 110-108 in San Antonio and 109-98 in overtime in Atlanta.


Doc Rivers settled the issue in San Antonio, ending a game that had 20 ties and 20 lead changes, with a last-second, 18-foot jumper.


Wilkins paced the Hawks in Atlanta, scoring 40 points.


The Hawks have won the last six games here. Spurs Notes: Nagging injuries and ills also are plaguing Jud Buechler and Greg Sutton.


Buechler has a sprained right wrist and thumb. His playing status will be determined Friday morning.


The Spurs are concerned about an infection on Sutton's face. Brown noted traveling on Thanksgiving Day is a bit unique.


"Boy, I'm tired," Brown said with a broad grin. "We had a big meal and then had to leave right away to go home and pack. Driving home I felt tremendously tired and I remembered you're supposed to sleep after the Thanksgiving meal." Robinson has sparked the Spurs the last three games by averaging 25.7 points, 16.7 rebounds and 7.3 blocks.


Sean Elliott has averaged nine rebounds the last six games and 20.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5 assists the last two games.


"This month is going to be something else," Elliott said. "When we come back from Washington (Dec. 30 game) we're going to have to really get off our feet and get the rest."


The Spurs have three-straight days off after the Washington game and don't hit the road again until Jan. 10.


After 12 road games in December, the team has seven in January. Brown said he didn't expect the team would have a new point guard anytime in December.


"It doesn't look like the (Rod) Strickland matter will be cleared up by then and I don't see anything else happening out there," Brown said. The players had Thursday off and only a small traveling party accompanied the coaches: Robinson, Elliott, Avery Johnson, Massenburg, Pressey, Sutton and Buechler. The Canine Club has been featured on ESPN and will be covered by the NBA's "Inside Stuff."

[whottt]

This one is a toughie...and I'm not 100% certain I am right about this...The Mavs and Bullets might also be able to make this claim, but:

Why are the Spurs maybe the only NBA basketball team that can truly be called "The Worlds Team"?

[SPARKY]

Tom Garrick was a member of 'The Canine Club'. My guess is his nickname was 'Anonymous Dawg'...


Spurs getting solid effort from Garrick Reserve guard earns



Publication Date : November 12, 1991

SPURS.GARRICK Spurs getting solid effort from Garrick Reserve guard earns his minutes By Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer


It was a request most NBA players would welcome. But not Spurs point guard Tom Garrick.



Toward the later part of Monday's practice, trainer John Andersen asked Garrick to watch the rest of the workout from the sidelines, rather than participate in yet another scrimmage or drill.


Garrick, Andersen explained, has a slight groin strain and a little rest would probably do him some good. Garrick, a 6-foot-2, four-year veteran, finally agreed. But it was definitely something he didn't want to do.


"I don't like to sit out any of practice because I'm a competitive person," Garrick said. "If I'm not practicing, I'd rather not be in the gym at all because I'd rather be out there (on the floor)."


It's that kind of attitude that has endeared Garrick to his coaches and teammates and helped earn him a place in Antoine Carr's Canine Club, the organization formed for the Spurs' hustling, boisterous reserves.


"Tom's been a real plus," Spurs coach Larry Brown said. "He came in here without a job and earned one. Now he's earning some minutes.


"He gives it all he's got. He was exhausted after the Cleveland game."


Garrick turned in what Spurs vice president Bob Bass said was the Rhode Island native's best game in the Spurs' 107-101 overtime victory over the Cavaliers on Friday.


In 33 minutes, Garrick scored five points, dished out six assists and grabbed six rebounds. One of his assists was a fast-break pass to David Robinson for a slam that gave San Antonio a 105-99 lead and put the sellout Arena crowd in a frenzy.


"I thought that was his best game," Bass said. "He's done a pretty nice job for us. He settles us down pretty well. I really liked him in college (Rhode Island) and Larry's had his eye on him."


Bass said Garrick needs to work on his individual defense.


"His one-on-one defense needs work, but his team defense is outstanding," Bass said. "He really helps and rotates well.


"He's an emotional guy and I like that, too."


Garrick suffered the slight groin strain in practice Sunday. He said he hopes to be available when the Spurs play his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers, Wednesday at the Arena.


"Hopefully, I will be in peak condition come Wednesday," Garrick said.


Brown said he will continue to start Avery Johnson at point guard and use Garrick and rookie Greg Sutton when needed.


"I appreciate my role on this team," Garrick said. "Coach Brown has me switching back and forth from the one (point guard) and two (off guard) spots so I can give Avery and Willie (Anderson) a rest. Really, I just try to contribute and help out anyway I can."


Even during practice.


Spurs Notes: The Spurs are considering acquiring small forward Jud Buechler, a former New Jersey Net who clears waivers Tuesday morning. Buechler, a 6-6, 220-pound second-year player from Arizona, played in 74 games last year, averaging 3.1 points a game.


Spurs executive vice president Russ Bookbinder said the team's marketing staff and Carr have discussed ways to get the fans more involved in the Canine Club.


"We are going to get our creative minds together and try to come up with something," Bookbinder said. "The first step was meeting with Antoine today to see what he would like to do."


Bookbinder said fans can expect to see Canine Club T-shirts on the market soon.


"We are also going to approach Ralston-Purina, which is one of our sponsors, and kick around some ideas with them," he said. "Atlanta has its tomahawks, maybe we can have dog bones."


Spurs president Gary Woods said Rod Strickland and his agent, Mark Termini, have filed a grievance with the league over "a substantial fine" the club levied against Strickland last season. Woods said an NBA appointed-arbitrator will rule on the grievance Dec. 9.


Woods said Strickland's complaint concerns the amount of the fine. He said the player also claims he was not part of the incident that led to the fine. The fine most likely stems from Strickland breaking curfew during the playoff series with Golden State last spring.


Bass said the club will send a tape to the league of the disputed three-point shot by leveland's Craig Ehlo in Friday's game.


"One referee, Bennett Salvatore, said it was for two points and that's what they put on the scoreboard," Bass said. "Then here comes Tommy Nunez and he took the call away from Salvatore.


"The league asks us to send those types of rulings in to them so they can study them."

[timvp]

Because they've drafted players from six continents.

:drunk

[SPARKY]

So far the members of 'The Canine Club' that I've been able to determine are...

Antoine Carr
Jud Buechler
Tom Garrick
Sean Higgins
Sidney Green
Tom Copa

[SPARKY]

Canine Club keys comeback By Tom Orsborn Express-News
Staff



Publication Date : November 9, 1991

SPURS.SIDER Canine Club keys comeback By Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer


Chest bumps, dog barks, hugs and high fives reigned supreme during overtime of the Spurs' 107-101 victory over Cleveland Friday.



Sparked by the antics of reserve power forward Antoine Carr, who sometimes looks like a cross between a pro wrestler and an angry middle linebacker, the Spurs outscored the Cavs, 10-4, in OT to raise their home record to 3-0 and delight another sellout crowd of 16,057.


Almost to a man, the Spurs credited Carr and his Canine Club buddies, forward/center Sidney Green and guard Tom Garrick, for sparking a team that looked flat during a great deal of regulation play.


Carr finished with 12 points, five rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes. Garrick and Green combined for 11 points in 33 and 15 minutes, respectively.


Garrick had six assists and six rebounds. Green grabbed seven boards and contributed a lot of bumps and barks.


"We were kind of flat and those guys picked us up," forward Sean Elliott said. "Antoine got us all fired up. It's good to see what I call the old guys get carried away like that. Old guys are usually pretty cool, but not the ones on our team. Antoine's played in hundreds of games, but he was playing like a rookie tonight."


"I love this team," Carr said. "It's a strong team and I want to give it my all. I had to get us fired up today because we were solemn after all the bad news about Magic (Johnson)."


Carr said the Spurs fans have impressed him by the way they respond to his actions.


"I knew they had a strong crowd here, but I didn't realize how fired up this place really gets," he said. "It really starts ringing. I like to stand back and watch it shake."


Spurs owner Red McCombs said Carr's introduction of the Canine Club has put some fun into what has otherwise been a sad 48 hours.


"The Canine Club (the team's reserves) is something that is spontaneous," McCombs said before the game. "I woke up today and still had a cloud over me because of what happened Thursday. I read all the stories about Magic and then I read the story about the Canine Club and it was like a ray of sunshine.


"I'm excited by all this. I was in the locker room just a minute ago practicing my barks. I wasn't very good at it."


McCombs said after the game that it's obvious the fans have taken a liking to Carr and the Canine Club.


"It's like the hard-hat guys or the lunch-bucket brigade," McCombs said. "Those are groups known for hard work and not finesse. Fans identify with that."


Center David Robinson also praised Carr and the reserves.


"I'm impressed with the guys coming off the bench," he said. "They've done a phenomenal job. We've got a dog squad.


"Our team sometimes is lacking in emotion, but Antoine Carr does not lack in emotion."


Willie Anderson echoed Robinson's comments.


"Antoine and Sidney and (Sean) Higgins really keep the team in the game," Anderson said. "That's a big difference. The bench is more into it this year."

[SPARKY]

Ok, sit down before you read this.



Thomas Copa was a member of 'The Canine Club'



What was his 'Canine Club' nickname...?



Well,


Spurs' Canine Club debuts tonight vs.
Cavaliers

Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer

Publication Date : November 8, 1991

Move over Bruise Brothers, here comes the Canine Club.



Although the Bruise Brothers of the early 1980s always will occupy a special place in Spurs lore, the current reserves hope their Canine Club will help San Antonio do something their predecessors were unable to do win a championship.


The boisterous, inspirational Antoine Carr founded the group and charter members include forward/center Sidney Green and guard/ forward Sean Higgins. The trio and the rest of the team will try to put the bite on the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Arena.


"We call ourselves the Canine Club because we don't mind bumping and growling like a bunch of dogs," Carr said of the Spurs' suddenly prominent reserve corps. "I raise Rottweilers and we're just like them. We come into a game biting and scratching and doing whatever we can to help the team."


Carr said Green and Higgins are in the process of buying some of Carr's 15 Rottweilers, who do their biting and scratching on 100 acres of land they share with six other dogs on their owner's property near Atlanta.


Carr, the burly 6-foot-8 forward, said the entire Spurs bench reminds him of his rowdy kennel.


"If you look at our bench during the game, we are totally hyped up," Carr said. "It's like we've got a bunch of dogs in the yard. We're going to come at you. That's from the top of the bench on down to my man, Rin Tin Tin, Tom Copa."


Asked if the Canine Club can help the Spurs win the top prize in the NBA's dog show, Carr said, "We are definitely sniffing for a title. No doubt about it."


Spurs coach Larry Brown, who has his own dog, Jake, a black Labrador retriever, said the leaders of the Canine Club, Carr and Green, have already shown they can help the team a great deal.


"Just having Antoine and Sidney has given us a lot more depth up front," Brown said after Thursday's practice. "We wouldn't have won last night (Wednesday's 119-93 victory over the Trail Blazers) if it wasn't for them. They gave David (Robinson) and Terry (Cummings) some rest. Last year, we couldn't afford not to play David and Terry 40 minutes a game or, at least, in the high 30s.


"If those guys (Carr and Green) keep coming, it will be really beneficial, especially toward the end of the year when Terry will need rest."


Brown, like many other observers, has noticed how much happier Green seems this season.


"Our depth has been a real plus," Brown said. "Last year, we didn't have Sidney healthy at all because of his bone spurs and this year we have two quality reserves in him and Antoine at the four and five positions, and that helps us against big strong teams."


Green, who played in several high school all-star games with and against Carr, said it has helped him knowing a player with a style similar to his on the club.


"It was hard to be the type of player and person I was on the court and be alone," Green said. "I know I'm going to have my guy (Carr) with me no matter what happens. He'll be behind me swinging and hitting and doing whatever is needed. That's how it was in New York with me and Charles Oakley and in Orlando with me and Terry Catledge.


"It's nice to have that pillar (Carr) behind me and, at the same time, he knows I'm behind him."


SPURS NOTES: Spurs on the All-Star ballot are Robinson, Cummings, Sean Elliott and Willie Anderson.


The presence of Robinson obviously was expected, but the center said he appreciates the sign of respect.


"It's still an honor," he said. "I'm pleased I'm getting respect. But it's becoming increasingly clear this year that I need to improve my game."


Robinson said the switch to the passing game exposed some of his shortcomings.


"I'm going to have to adjust to the style of the team, the team is not supposed to adjust to me," he said. "I must get a grasp of the passing game, know where I should be and where the other guys are. I have to learn how to get to the boards."


Anderson said he doesn't plan any flashy moves to attract voters' attention.


"This year I'm trying to get an all-around game going and just concentrate on the team winning," he said. "I think I could score 20 points every night, but I don't want that. My goals are to average out to six rebounds and six assists."


Anderson has 31 assists in four games, 10th best in the league.


"I'm getting the ball to the right people," he said. "When I penetrate, I visualize precisely where everybody is so I can either go through for the layup or pitch it out. I know where David is, or Antoine, or Sean (Elliott). I know where Sean likes to set up and he can knock down that jumper."


Elliott was on the ballot in his rookie season but not last season.


"It's better than not being on it," he said. "At least some people are saying you have the potential to be an All-Star. But right now I'm just playing to win and letting the chips fall where they may."


"My goal is to make it one more time and this wouldn't be a bad year to do it," Cummings said. "I'm going to get a lot of quality minutes this season (because of acquisition of Carr) and I'll be able to produce."



Yes,

RIN TIN TIN

:smokin

[whottt]

Because they've drafted players from six continents.

:drunk


Excellent but I wasn't thinking draft, I was thinking that we had had players from all 6 inhabitated continents...in our teams history...

The two Aussies, Bateer get Asia, Manu covers South America, Sato(and maybe others) covers Africa...Parker and many others cover Europe...

Technically I guess we could claim Anatarctica as well since Argentina is currently directly tied into Antarctica more than any other country..

I'm not sure if the Mavs or Bullets have had any Africans(from Africa) on their teams..if they have...they can make the claim also I think.


But those would be the only ones...Right now, if you consider NZ and Australia as one reigion...Oceania..I think we 've got the 6 continental regions covered.

[SPARKY]

Spurs refuse to pay Rod Strickland, yet give Vinny Del Negro eleven million dollars back in 1992. Lest we forget that Red turned down a deal that would have had David Robinson, Charles Barkley, and Sean Elliott as teammates back in 1992. Red did keep the team in San Antonio, but he makes HOLT CAT seem like a spendthrift.


Year in Review Sports in San Antonio Going



Publication Date : December 27, 1992

STORY.ONE 1992 Year in Review Sports in San Antonio Going to extremes in San Antonio Sports fans get taste of it all in Alamo City By Terrence Thomas Express-News Staff Writer


San Antonio sports fans saw a bit of everything in 1992.



From the hirings and firings, to the folding of a league, to a world champion boxer, to a multimillionaire NBA rookie and to a schoolboy football title, the Alamo City ran the gamut in the sports world.


And what better place to start than the ever-changing Spurs.


After capturing two consecutive Midwest Division titles, the team started the 1991-92 campaign in quite mediocre fashion. And on Jan. 21, with a 21-17 record, Owner Red McCombs fired Coach Larry Brown. Vice President Bob Bass took over on an interim basis.


Bass' team started strong until injuries All-Star center David Robinson was shelved in March with a torn ligament in his shooting hand that required surgery and guard Willie Anderson had surgery in both legs to repair stress frac tures sent the Spurs from con tenders to pretenders.


San Antonio stumbled late in the season and were swept by Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs.


In the meantime, McCombs made a surprising move in April by hiring Jerry Tarkanian, the successful yet controversial college coach from UNLV, as the new Spurs coach.


With optimism in the air, Tarkanian began work for the '92-93 season. But that optimism soon changed. Starting forward Terry Cummings injured his right knee in a pickup game in July and surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament was required in August. He was expected to miss most, if not all, of Tark's first season.


If this wasn't enough, the Spurs failed to sign starting point guard Rod Strickland. The Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers promptly signed Strickland.


Tarkanian was able to convince the Spurs front office to take a chance on New York City playground legend Lloyd Daniels. And the team lured Vinny Del Negro from Italy to take Strickland's place at point.


But by the start of the season, things still weren't going Tark's way. He pleaded with McCombs for a championship-caliber point guard but never got his way.


And with the team 9-11, McCombs had had his fill of Tark and sent him packing on Dec. 18. Later that evening, in one of the more surprising stories across the nation, McCombs hired former Spurs guard John Lucas to take over.


As for Robinson, 1992 brought him gold and a bundle of money to offset his hand injury. Robinson helped the U.S. Dream Team race through the competition for the Olympic gold medal in Barcelona, Spain. He then started the season with a fatter contract that made him the highest-paid player in the league.


Not far behind in the salary department was rookie Shaquille O'Neal, soon to be Robinson's stiffest competition in the NBA.


In April, the former Cole High School standout announced at a news conference held at Fort Sam Houston's Youth Center that he would forgo his senior season at LSU to enter the NBA draft.


O'Neal, a 7-foot-1, 300-pound two-time All-America at LSU, was the No. 1 selection by Orlando in the June draft and signed with the Magic for $40 million over seven years.

[SPARKY]

More genius moves on Red and Trader Bob's part. Let Strickland go because he's a 'troublemaker' but then pursue Mad Max. Even O'Keefe could get this right. Thank God Red sold the team.


Pay heed to ominous rumors on Maxwell deal Kevin



Publication Date : January 12, 1993

OKEEFFE.COLUMN Pay heed to ominous rumors on Maxwell deal Kevin O'Keeffe


As if Monday mornings aren't difficult enough to deal with . . .



Did you happen to catch the item at the bottom of the front page of the Express-News sports section yesterday?


Maxwell Hints at S.A. Return.


Ugh.


Just who the Spurs don't need Vernon Maxwell.


Seems Maxwell, who spent a year and a half in S.A. before being given away to the Houston Rockets for $50,000 in February 1990, told Houston radio station KTRH that he'd heard from a "source" that the Spurs were trying to get him back.


Since Maxwell and Spurs coach John Lucas talk each day, it would seem the "source" would likely be Lucas.


Lucas denies it . . . sort of.


"I want to make sure Vernon's OK," Lucas said in Monday's Express-News. "We talk about other things. I don't think there is anything going on about a trade for Vernon."


Hmmmmmm.


Lucas' use of the words, "don't think" are somewhat frightening.


Lucas and Maxwell became fast friends in Houston where Lucas ran a drug rehabilitation center before becoming Spurs coach last month. The two used to have lunch together at least twice a week and would talk on the telephone daily. In January 1991, Maxwell was living in Lucas' old house in Houston.


"I think the Rockets are trying to trade me and that wouldn't bother me one bit," Maxwell said. "I would like to have a say in where I go."


And judging by this plant with the Houston radio station, Maxwell is trying to orchestrate the entire thing.


At least that's the reading Spurs VP for Basketball Operations Bob Bass gets.


"Maxwell wants out of Houston," Bass said via telephone from his hotel room in Troy, Mich. Bass is on the Spurs' road trip, which began last night with a game against the Detroit Pistons.


"Something like this (Maxwell trade story) is going to crop up again because so many players all like John," Bass said.


The Houston Chronicle reported that a "source" said a deal between the clubs which would send Vinny Del Negro to Houston in exchange for Maxwell would be completed this week. The NBA's trading deadline is Feb. 25.


"There is nothing going on whatsoever with Vernon," Bass said. "That's all coming from him."


While there are any number of excellent reasons the Spurs don't need Maxwell, the most obvious is that he isn't a point guard. The Spurs have no need for another shooting guard, especially one with such a checkered past.


If the Spurs want to move Del Negro, who is guaranteed $11 million over the life of his contract, for a true point guard, that's fine.


But Maxwell . . .


Listen, regardless of Spurs owner B.J. McCombs' foibles in running this franchise, B.J. will not make a bad business deal.


How much did he think of Maxwell to let him for $50,000?


Hey, Maxwell makes Rod Strickland look like a good guy.


Remember, former Spurs coach Larry Brown thought so little of Maxwell he kept David Wingate, a guy who had been charged with rape in two different states, and got rid of Maxwell.


Maxwell used to brag about his night-time escapades in San Antonio. He told the Houston Chronicle Jan 29, 1991 that he could spend eight hours nonstop at a nightclub and reach double-digit cocktails as fast as he could score in double-digits.


Isn't that special?


Maxwell's off-the-court antics got so bad that he received a warning from McCombs to stop frequenting particular places in town.


Isn't that just the kind of guy you want on a team with Lloyd Daniels, who has worked so diligently to clean up his life? What a nice influence Max would be on Daniels.


And given the iffy background of Dale Ellis, even Lucas shouldn't want to invite trouble by having Maxwell around, regardless of how close the two are.


Maxwell was damaged goods when he arrived in San Antonio via a trade with Denver in 1988. A talented guard with an ability to hit a three-pointer, Max watched his stock fall at Florida after his name was linked to drug problems with the basketball program at the school.


Testifying under immunity, Maxwell, the chief witness in a grand jury probe, admitted that drugs were purchased with money obtained from UF boosters. Maxwell admitted using drugs often during his matriculation at Florida.


While Maxwell swears that's in the past, there is still the matter of him simply being a class A jerk.


On Nov. 20, 1991, Maxwell sucker-punched teammate Dave Jamerson after Jamerson had the nerve to knock the ball away from Maxwell during a play at practice.


Jamerson called Maxwell, "a punk."


At the very least.


Lucas was witness to that incident, pulling Maxwell off the court after he struck Jamerson in the face.


You'll recall Maxwell was pouting before last season with regard to his contract. He said to more than one reporter that he just wasn't sure how hard he could play for the money the Rockets were paying him.


So the Rockets did the absolutely worst thing: They rewarded Maxwell with a four-year extension at $1.6 million annually.


Now, they'd like to get rid of him and can't give him away with his excess baggage.


Thus, Maxwell is trying to help, planting "sources say" stories with as many media types as possible.


Before letting Bass go Monday afternoon, I said, "There's no way you'd bring Maxwell back here, would you?"


Bass replied, "I never say never."


Bob, in this case please make an exception.


Never bring Vernon Maxwell back to S.A.

[SPARKY]

This sums up a bit of Spurs history from DRob's rookie year to the arrival of TD...


What went wrong

Publication Date : November 15, 1996

The Spurs advanced the Western Conference semifinals in 1989-90, the rookie years of David Robinson and Sean Elliott. Big things were expected from the Larry Brown-coached team - a trip to the Finals, perhaps even a championship. But the Spurs were eliminated in the first round the following season, and those expectations weren't met under Brown. Some of the reasons: -The backcourt of Rod Strickland, Vernon Maxwell and David Wingate came apart amidst on- and off-court troubles. Wingate eventually was waived; Maxwell was sold to the Rockets; Strickland eventually left as a free agent. -Key reserve Frank Brickowski fell out of favor with Brown, his minutes dropping in the latter stages of the playoffs. At Brown's urging, Brickowski was traded during the off-season for guard Paul Pressey, a move that didn't pay off. -To replace Brickowski's big presence, the Spurs acquired power forward

Sidney Green. But playing out of condition, Green never contributed. He was eventually traded for J.R. Reid. -Brown complained that he couldn't get the players to play hard for him; Owner Red McCombs responded that was Brown's job. Brown eventually left the Spurs.

[SPARKY]

Ok, Red wouldn't give $12 million to Rod Strickland but he gave $11 million to Vinny Del Negro.

This certainly explains why there is a 'McCombs School of Business'...



A Promise Not Kept



Publication Date : November 15, 1996

- Larry Brown's Spurs came close in 1989-90, but wouldn't get closer By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

T hat was some team.
You remember it. It was 1989-90, the first NBA season for David Robinson and Sean Elliott. Their teammates in the starting circle were Terry Cummings, Rod Strickland and Willie Anderson.

Big help off the bench came from Frank Brickowski and David Wingate.

Larry Brown was the coach and he rode the team to Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Trail Blazers.

You probably also remember what happened that night in Portland.

San Antonio had victory in its grasp. It led 97-90 with 2:32 left to play. Then the experience of the Blazers overcame the anxious youth of the Spurs.

Kevin Duckworth hit a 13-footer, Clyde Drexler drilled a three-pointer, Jerome Kersey dunked.

Strickland and Robinson missed layups. Cummings, the veteran, shocked everybody by airballing a 17-footer. Robinson missed a 10-footer.

Scored tied. Overtime.

You remember this, too. The teams were tied at 103-103 when Strickland made his ill-advised behind the head pass that wound up in the hands of Kersey with 28.9 seconds left.

Strickland raced down court and was called for a breakaway foul on Clyde Drexler.

Drexler hit two free throws and, under the rules of the day, the Blazers retained possession and Drexler wound up hitting two more free throws.

Game over.

No jubilation but, still, the promise of future grand victories was in the air. This team was on the brink of breaking through and making its mark on the Western Conference.

"That was a darn good team, but real young," says Brown, today in town with his Indiana Pacers. "It took Sean a little time to get going, but we had nice chemistry on that team, too. But we weren't mature enough and, later, we didn't surround David with the players he needed."

It was a darn good team. But, the next year the squad was ousted in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. It took a few years to get back to challenging for the Western Conference Finals.

So what happened? What could have been?

Hindsight, of course, is 20-20.

Looking back, the holes created by the losses of Brickowski and Wingate took years to plug. Brickowski was traded for Paul Pressey. Wingate eventually was waived under a cloud of off-the-court problems.

Vernon Maxwell, who didn't last long enough with the team to play in the postseason, never had the chance to strut his stuff alongside Wingate, Strickland and Anderson. He was sold to Houston midway through the season for $50,000.

"Can you imagine what we could have accomplished with that backcourt?" wonders Elliott. "I still think we could have kept Wingate and Vernon. We could have helped them mature."

Robinson agrees: "Sure I think we could have helped those guys get through those problems," the center says.

In all frankness, the two players might be looking back through rose-colored glasses.

"We did have to trade Wingate and Maxwell because of personal things," Brown says. "Circumstances caused that. We would have had the talent with Rodney, Vernon and Wingate, but we just didn't have the chance to develop it."

Bass agrees. "Maybe we could have bitten the bullet and kept Vernon and Wingate," he said. "But those were different times. Wingate had rape charges against him from two states. Vernon has his problems. We made the moves we thought we had to make. But that would have been a great backcourt with Vernon, Wingate, Rod and Willie."

"Larry wanted to move Maxwell soon after Vernon got here," then-owner Red McCombs recalls. "Bob resisted it until the end. We all decided that the move probably had to be made"

The Brickowski case is a little different. The power forward was an important cog in the team's move to the semifinals, but his floor time dropped suddenly during the latter games against the Blazers. He played only 12 minutes in Game 7.

"I went to Larry and asked him about Frank's time," McCombs recalls. "He just said that he was playing his best combinations. He didn't tell me that his role was changing, but it obviously was. I resisted moving Frank, but Larry and Bob did agree to trade him and I went along with it."

Bass said Brickowski went to him during the playoffs, when his time was dwindling, and asked him what was going on. "Big guys are hard to find, it was probably a mistake to trade Frank."

Brickowski was traded during the summer of 1990 for Paul Pressey.

"We didn't trade Brick because of his ability on the floor," Brown says. "But, off the court, Frank is Frank. He just couldn't really accept his role. If he had, everything would have been fine. But he's had that problem with a lot of teams."

"I thought the trade for Paul Pressey would be a good one, but Paul just didn't have a good year for us," Brown says. "We wanted his leadership and experience in the backcourt, but it just didn't work."

Robinson didn't want Brickowski to leave. "I thought that was a big mistake, Frank always did a pretty good job for us," Robinson says. "Even now, I think Larry also always had it in the back of his mind to trade Terry."

Brown also never was a huge fan of Willie Anderson, and the Spurs did have the option of trading Anderson to Milwaukee for Pressey, but Brown went with the Brickowski move.

The team tried to solve the big man problem by picking up Sidney Green from Orlando. That move proved to be near disastrous, Green seemingly always playing out of condition, never making an impact. He was finally traded for J.R. Reid.

"That was a big mistake, bringing in Green," McCombs says. "I didn't want to do it. "But Bob said we were pretty much committed to the trade and that Larry really wanted to do it. I did call to Orlando and spoke to Pat Williams and said I wouldn't do the deal unless I could cut $300,000 or $400,000 out of it. Pat said I was backing down from a deal. But he called back and accepted my deal. I should have known then."

Strickland left the team after the 1991-92 season, set loose into the sea of free agency. McCombs takes the blame.

"That was my mistake," he says. "I just miscalculated. I didn't believe that Rod was worth a $12 million contract, even though his agent, a nice guy (Mark Termini) told me he could get it. I let Rod go and Portland signed him within hours."

The Spurs would then suffer until Avery Johnson was signed to a multi-year deal prior to the 1994-95 season and nailed down the starting point guard job with remarkably ever-improving performances.

Brown eventually left the Spurs - fired or resigned, depending on the interpretations of what happened during his meeting with McCombs. He had met with the owner and announced that he couldn't get Robinson or the other players to play hard for him.

"That was his job, I told him that," McCombs said. "I thought we had ironed it all out and he was still going to coach the team. But he stayed with the idea that I fired him."

"Looking back, I think if I had dealt directly with Red all the time, instead of going through Bob, things might have worked out differently," Brown says, without elaboration.

But, McCombs notes: "One of the reasons why Larry came to work for us was because he wanted to work with Bob, let Bob handle that stuff. In the end, I think Larry thought Bob was not representing him well, but Larry was wrong about that."

It didn't take Brown long to latch onto another job - within weeks he was named coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. There had been media speculation that the Clippers were hard after Brown even before he left the Spurs.

[SPARKY]

More memories. From 1996. Oh, but did the Spurs ever get a draft pick a year after this article was penned.

:smokin


Playing along without a draft pick



Publication Date : June 23, 1996

- S.A.'s success in the regular season hindered chances for prize rookies By Tim Griffin Express-News Staff Writer

Choosing players in the NBA draft isn't the easiest chore for general managers, coaches and player-personnel directors.
Take away the top players and the task becomes even more difficult.

The Spurs historically have been saddled with low draft picks because of their success on the court. Wins during the regular season usually meant the team selected at the end of the first round.

"If you end up drafting 18th or 20th and pick up a player once every two years or so who can help you, you've done pretty well," said Don Leventhal, whose draft analysis is considered to be the industry's standard. "When you are picking that late, you need some extraordinary luck to get good players."

The only sustained period of good drafting position for San Antonio came in the late 1980s, when the team struggled through its worst stretch on the court.

Losing seasons prompted lottery picks from 1987 to '89. Those choices served as the nucleus for San Antonio's playoff units over the last seven seasons.

David Robinson's selection was an easy one with the first pick in the 1987 draft. The most difficult task for San Antonio was actually signing the center, who could have re-entered the draft the following season if he didn't agree on contract terms.

After he was signed, the Spurs waited out his two-year military obligation. The Spurs claimed 31 and 21 victories in those two seasons, qualifying for the lottery both times.

Some of the initial shock from not having Robinson was lessened in the first year by the quick development of forward Greg "Cadillac" Anderson. The former University of Houston product averaged 11.7 points and 6.3 rebounds a game, becoming the first player in team history to be selected on the league's all-rookie team.

In 1988, the Spurs snared guard Willie Anderson from Georgia with the No. 10 pick.

Anderson became an immediate starter, earning all-rookie honors and placing second in rookie of the year balloting behind Mitch Richmond. The 6-foot-8 swingman became the first Spurs rookie to lead the team in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game.

Sean Elliott came in the 1990 draft with the third pick - San Antonio's second-highest choice ever.

The Spurs were anticipating Danny Ferry would be their pick after Pervis Ellison was nabbed by Sacramento with the No. 1 choice in the draft.

Several weeks after Ferry was chosen by the Los Angeles Clippers with the draft's second pick, the former Duke product opted to sign with an Italian team.

Ironically, the Clippers were leaning toward Elliott before the draft, but backed off because of concerns about his knee. Elliott had worn a brace since high school, and Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor said discussions with doctors indicated that "there might have been a risk factor."

"Everyone knows we would have preferred Ferry," then-Spurs owner Red McCombs said at the time. "But we got a great player."

The arrival of Robinson and Elliott coincided with the team's return to the playoffs in a 56-win season. Robinson earned rookie of the year honors, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and steals. Elliott averaged 10 points a game and earned a starting position in his first season.

One of the more intriguing misses came in 1991, when the Spurs selected 7-foot-1 center Dwayne Schintzius with the 24th pick.

The 260-pound center was thought to have been a lottery player before his senior season. But repeated rules violations at Florida and a bad showing at a predraft camp cost him dearly.

"I am going to make people sorry they didn't draft me sooner," Schintzius said.

But that feeling probably extended to the Spurs after Schintzius managed just 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 42 games in his rookie season. He was packaged with a second-round pick the following season to Sacramento for Antoine Carr, who was a solid contributor during 2 seasons in San Antonio.

That draft also must have soured San Antonio's institutional mindset on using the draft. They traded two No. 1 draft picks in deals for Sidney Green and J.R. Reid and also swapped UCLA forward Tracy Murray (to Portland for Dale Ellis) and Bill Curley (to reacquire Elliott from Detroit) before training camp.

No first-round draft pick selected by the team joined San Antonio between Schintzius and 1995 first-round selection Cory Alexander.

Perhaps San Antonio's biggest draft-day disappointment came in 1985, when the Spurs almost selected Karl Malone.

San Antonio and Utah were tied during the regular season, but Utah won the coin flip to pick ahead of the Spurs.

Former assistant coach Gary Fitzsimmons remembers that the Spurs were convinced Malone would be available before the draft.

"We thought that Utah wanted to take Blair Rasmussen and that might have left Karl for us," Fitzsimmons said.

FILE PHOTO

The Spurs wanted Karl Malone in 1985. Instead, they got Alfrederick Hughes, who lasted just two seasons in S.A.

FILE PHOTO

Dwayne Schintzius came to S.A. in '91 with the 24th pick. He left a year later after playing just 42 games as a rookie.

The five best and five worst player personnel moves made by the Spurs during the David Robinson era (1989-present), as selected by Express-News staffers who have covered the team; moves are listed chronologically:

THE BEST

- Acquired power forward Terry Cummings and future

considerations in a trade that sent guard Alvin Robertson, forward/center Greg Anderson and future considerations to Milwaukee on May 28, 1989.

(General Manager Bob Bass' corraling of Cummings gave the Spurs a proven, consistent scorer to take some of the heat off rookie center David Robinson, muscle on the boards and veteran leadership).

- Acquired guard Rod Strickland in a trade that sent guard Maurice Cheeks to New York on Feb. 21, 1990.

(The Spurs gave up an unhappy veteran running out of time and gained a talented young point guard from the streets of the Bronx).

- Acquired forward Dennis Rodman, guard/forward Isaiah Morris and future considerations in a trade that sent forward Sean Elliott and forward David Wood to Detroit on Oct. 1, 1993.

(Prodded by Coach John Lucas, Bass gambled by dealing one of the Spurs' most popular players -who also happened to be seeking a contract extension at the time - for the brilliant but flaky rebounding workhorse).

- Reacquired Elliott in a trade that sent the rights to rookie forward/center Bill Curley and a second-round pick in the 1997 draft to Detroit on July 18, 1994.

(New GM Gregg Popovich got Elliott back in a trade that made Taco Cabana and Spurs president Robert McDermott very happy).

- Signed free-agent point guard Avery Johnson on July 22, 1994.

(Popovich winds up solving the club's point guard woes with a player whose resume included two prior stints with the Spurs).

THE WORST

- Traded guard Vernon Maxwell to Houston in exchange for $50,000 on Feb. 21, 1990.

(Maxwell's temper and off-the-court unpredictability forced the Spurs' hand. The problem was they didn't get much in return from their I-10 rivals, who got five fine seasons out of Mad Max before they, too, became fed up with his immature ways).

- Traded forward Frank Brickowski to Milwaukee in exchange for veteran guard/forward Paul Pressey on Aug. 1, 1990.

(Pressey played in only 126 games before becoming a Spurs assistant coach. Brickowski's still banging away in Seattle).

- Allowed guard Rod Strickland to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 1992.

(Strickland's salary demands and off-court antics soured the Spurs, who struggled to fill the point-guard spot for the next two seasons).

- Traded forward/center Sidney Green, a first-round pick in 1993 and a second-round pick in 1996 to Charlotte in exchange for forward J.R. Reid on Dec. 9, 1992.

(Charlotte used the first-round pick to nab guard-forward Scott Burrell, a solid performer who continues to improve for the Hornets. Players drafted after Burrell included Sam Cassell, Earvin Johnson and Gheorgehe Muresan).

- Traded Rodman and other considerations to Chicago for forward/center Will Perdue on Oct. 2, 1995.

(Nothing against Perdue, but was he enough compensation for one of the greatest rebounders of all time?)

[SPARKY]

Yes, the Spurs didn't even try to put Charles Barkley and David Robinson together back in 1992.

&%&*%&*%*&#@$%@)(#&()@&#*$)(@&$)*@^$(&@t%$(*@^$(*^@$


Strike one: When Spurs missed before

Buck Harvey

Publication Date : May 26, 1996

Bob Hill dismissed the idea last week as most of the Spurs did. Charles Barkley? This team doesn't need "characters," said Hill.

Tell that to Phoenix, which enjoyed its most prosperous years when led by such a character. Tell that to the Spurs' sales department, whose best slogan thus far for next season's ticket campaign is, "We Haven't Moved Yet." And tell that to those who remember 1992.
Then the Spurs also watched as another team traded for Barkley. And since the Suns gave up ordinary talent to get him, it doesn't take someone with All-Star imagination to wonder: What would Barkley and David Robinson have done together the past four years?

If this seems to be classic hindsight, then note the Spurs have already second-guessed themselves. Less than a year after Barkley arrived in Arizona, he beat the Spurs in the playoffs. And during that series Red McCombs slapped his forehead and announced his Spurs had botched this one.

To be fair, the Spurs were just as dumb as everyone then. Barkley's stock was down when Philly traded him, not unlike it is now; he averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds this past season, yet is being mentioned in talks with iffy names such as Robert Horry. But whereas teams today wonder about Barkley's body, then it was his brain. Wigging out to force a trade, Barkley convinced everyone he was a nut.

The Spurs weren't interested that summer. They were too busy letting Rod Strickland leave without getting anything for him, when they weren't mesmerized by the wisdom of Jerry Tarkanian.

So Phoenix didn't need to outbid the Spurs. And thus on June 17, 1992, the Suns only had to give up Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang for Barkley.

Today the deal doesn't look as one-sided as it did then; Hornacek plugs along nicely in Utah, and Lang developed into a respectable, defensive center. Still, the Spurs had far more to offer the Sixers at the time. Terry Cummings was still a month away from blowing out his knee in a pickup game, so he had value. Antoine Carr was coming off 81 games. Elliott stood then, as now, as enticing bait. And the Spurs owned a first-round draft pick.

So why didn't the Spurs bid? "We just didn't have the courage," McCombs candidly admitted in the spring of 1993.

Instead, the Spurs used their draft pick to trade for a shooter, Dale Ellis. They figured they had enough big men in Cummings and Carr. And they loved Elliott.

Maybe it all made sense then. But Ellis, older than Barkley at the time, eventually left San Antonio as Strickland did, without compensation coming in return. The Spurs' big men couldn't handle Barkley the next spring in the playoffs. And as for the Spurs' love for Elliott - they traded him in 1993 for Dennis Rodman.

The Spurs don't have as much to offer now. And Barkley is four years older. But as the Spurs dismiss Barkley again, they might want to review their logic.

Barkley is too old? He's the same age as Karl Malone, the guy who pushed Robinson around this month, and the same age as Michael Jordan, whose asking price this summer begins at $18 million.

Barkley is too wrong for the Spurs' chemistry? As any coach knows, chemistry is always better with two Dream Teamers than with one.

Barkley is too fragile? Anyone who saw him against the Spurs knows he remained Phoenix's toughest, most effective player.

Barkley is too much of a character? Go back to summer of 1992. Everyone nodded in agreement then, too.

[SPARKY]

Rod's side of the story...


- Rod's view: Portland Trail Blazers guard Rod Strickland gave some brief comments on his past coaches:

On Rick Pitino: "A great coach, if you can deal with his personality. He's ruthless. He'll demean you in a minute, belittle you. If you're able to deal with that, he'll improve you as a player."

On Larry Brown: "Now, we speak, and I like Larry - and I wouldn't say that if I didn't. But he was like the biggest whiner I've ever been around. Nothing was right for him, and it isn't just me saying it. I've had other guys who played for him tell me that. It became so frustrating, because you could never do anything right. If you did exactly what he said to do, he always had something else to put in there."

On his time in San Antonio: "They put me through a lot of bull. I had an owner (Red McCombs) and a GM (Bob Bass) who just couldn't deal with a guy from the inner city. They needed a suburban team. They needed 12 David Robinsons or Sean Elliotts."

That sounds familiar.

[SPARKY]

Another bleepin' Rocket? How to sidestep a repeat Buck
Harvey



Publication Date : May 15, 1994

At the same time that Dennis Rodman's agent seeks a contract extension, Rodman offered this about the men who pay his $2.4 million salary: If the Spurs investors opt to fire John Lucas, Rodman says "they should all be kicked in the ass."



What a smooth, bleepin' negotiator.


And as the Spurs' owners try to figure out this week what to do -while fearing for their backsides -Rodman fits squarely into the equation. When the ownership group talks to Bob Bass, Lucas or the candidates who could replace them, one question surely will be: Should we extend Rodman's contract, or do we risk him becoming another Rocket Rod Strickland?


My answer? Factors - such as age and antics - make these two cases different. Before committing money to Rodman, I would make sure he commits to changing.


Who knows what these owners want? Rodman's threats could be taken as a reason to keep Lucas, since Rodman at least shows the loyalty his coach always gave him. Or maybe the owners see Rodman's endorsement as Just Another Reason to ax Lucas.


Either way, this decision will be compared to what happened two years ago when another problem child came up for a new contract. Then, I thought Strickland hadn't exactly been the model employee, and I also didn't think another team would offer him more than $2 million a year. Portland surprised me.


But I never thought Strickland should have been dumped, either. In June of 1992, I wrote: "Strickland is too valuable to drop, and a marriage with (Jerry) Tarkanian might be just what he needs. Larry Brown scolded Strickland, Bass tolerated him. Tark might inspire him."


Red McCombs and Bass disagreed, opting to use Strickland's $950,000 salary slot to sign Vinny Del Negro. And the rest - perhaps including Bass' career - is history.


So here comes Rocket II. Bill Pollack, Rodman's agent, has already approached the Spurs about an extension, since next season is Rodman's last under Rodman's current contract. He will get $2.4 million.


Bob Coleman, the just-retired CEO, leaned toward an extension, though he had his reservations. Coleman wondered if an escape clause could be added to address what would happen if Rodman were suspended for a substantial time.


Other than that, though, Coleman thought Rodman, even as he turned 33 years old Friday, was worth too much to lose to free agency. But things have obviously changed. Coleman is gone, and probably Bass is too. They were the ones committed to Rodman. And if the ownership group fires Lucas, does it make sense to invest in Rodman, who says he doesn't want to be back if Lucas isn't?


Even if Lucas stays, though, an extension is questionable. Lucas himself admits he erred by babying Rodman. Rodman's tardiness and missed practices didn't change how hard the other Spurs played, but it still caused an uneasy edge. Teams don't operate this way for a reason. When one guy makes his own rules, then all rules are suspect.


Strickland was nothing like this. He was a moody, mostly immature kid. But he also was the victim of a franchise that personalized everything. Brown, always hard on his point guards, couldn't wait to privately tell the press all the Strickland negatives. That - and a broken hand in a late-night fight - created a profile of Strickland as the bad boy. Strickland got no respect, and gave none. When Bass coached him, emotions clouded everything. Bass couldn't see anything good in Strickland.


In retrospect, Strickland's problems were blown out of proportion, partly because Portland has had few problems with him. If Lucas had coached Strickland, then Strickland would be here today.


But even Lucas, who relates to guys such as Roy Tarpley and Vernon Maxwell, could do little but hope Rodman paid attention. You tell me: Is there reason to believe Lucas will have better luck next season with him?


Not if the Spurs give Rodman a few million more reasons to say take-me-as-I-am. An extended contract undercuts any leverage the Spurs have. So the Spurs would be smarter to wait, look around for trades in the meantime and start negotiations if Rodman responds. If Rodman doesn't sign before next season ends, the Spurs still have the best chance of signing him next summer; few teams could, or would want to, fit such a salary in the cap.


And if he goes? Then the ownership group loses a 34-year-old, not a 25-year-old Strickland. They gain a $2.4 million salary slot, big enough for a star-like free agent. And they get to do the kicking.


To leave a message for Buck Harvey, call ExpressLine at 554-0500 and punch 4402.

[timvp]

Damn man, that was the best five bucks ever spent.

[SPARKY]

SPARKY finally has found the end of his quest...



Publication Date : March 17, 1994

-snip-

Spurs notes: Former Spurs owner Red McCombs held up a sign saying, "I love you Rod - Red McCombs." The sign referred to Strickland's statements made in Wednesday's Express-News that Spurs ownership didn't like him.


So it wasn't in the preceeding season after Red and Trader Bob let him walk (without even making a qualifying offer) but rather in the second season after Strickland's departure.


Remember the Summer of 1992?

Spurs let Strickland walk.

Spurs pass on even trying to land Charles Barkley.

Terry Cummings blows out his knee in a pickup game.

Spurs sign Vinny Del Negro to a $11 million contract.

Spurs fans if any of you complain about the Spurs today SPARKY will beat you down.

[SPARKY]

This is great. I've done a search for "O'Keefe" from 1995-2004 and all I could find was this article, one about baseball, one about baseball card collecting, one about college football, and one about the Gunslingers.

A purging of the records? :smokin


Dr. Robinson's course: 'Boss Pleasing 101'

Kevin O'Keefe

Publication Date : August 22, 1997

In the aftermath of David Robinson's performance Wednesday, I learned yet one more thing about the Spurs' All-Star center:

He knows how to please his boss.
Could it have been only a few weeks ago that Spurs chairman of the board Peter Holt waved the white flag of surrender regarding the team's push for a referendum for a new arena in San Antonio?

You'll recall that Holt, dismayed by negative poll data, said it now would be up to others in San Antonio to lead the drive for a new facility.

Certainly, Holt put on an impressive show during that news conference, displaying the proper amount of grimaces as he focused on the figure 61 percent - as in people not interested in using tax money to build a new arena for the Spurs.

Really, Holt's only faux pas that day was his threat regarding rookie Tim Duncan, who will become a free agent in three years.

Holt, who unwisely used the word "threat" - something he told me he'd never do - insisted that if the Spurs remained in the Alamodome, they most assuredly wouldn't have the money to re-sign Duncan.

Psst ... Peter ... with the likes of Minnesota's Kevin Garnett turning down $103 million for six years, the Spurs won't be able to re- sign Duncan even with a new arena.

Understand, too, the Spurs will be sold and moved long before Duncan gets to be a free agent without the city's commitment to a new arena.

Enter Robinson.

Coming out of hiding from his Aspen, Colo., summer home to promote his Neighborhood Open Golf Tournament, Robinson was ever the faithful employee with his statements on the need for a new arena.

Robinson said he was disturbed by the thought that the Spurs might have to leave San Antonio in the near future ... without a new arena.

Fairly strong stuff from Robinson, who you'll remember had little to say when former Spurs coach John Lucas was fired or when Sean Elliott was traded for Dennis Rodman in 1993.

Ah ... those major franchise events also took place in the off- season, and Robinson is off-limits in the off-season, except when it comes to promoting something of his own.

Robinson even provided an alibi for Coach Gregg Popovich when he noted that the arena issue could be a distraction as the team prepared to become a championship contender.

Honestly, I thought it was neat that even an employee who earns a guaranteed $66 million - as Robinson does through the duration of his six-year contract - understood the importance of pleasing his boss.

And this won't be the last time a Spurs player makes the building of a new arena an issue.

Why, that might just be the front page of this year's playbook: "When to talk about a new arena for San Antonio:

"Every chance you get." Imagine this interview:

"So, David, what kind of cereal did you have for breakfast this morning?"

"Well, Kevin, I think plans for a new arena in San Antonio must come very soon or the team might be forced to leave ... Cap'n Crunch."

Yet Robinson, as was the case with Holt, played right into the hands of the anti-arena forces.

Asked how this facility should be financed, Robinson offered no opinion.

Holt, you'll recall, never unveiled "the plan" he often mentioned.

Answers, men. We need answers.

[whottt]

These articles are great...but Strickland would have never lead this team to a championship...and knowing what I know about him from highschool I think his influence on his other teamates was one of the things that lead to the Golden State disaster.

I spit coke through my nose when I saw that the Spurs deliberately wanted to use Vinny D at Point Guard...idiots...I always thought that happened out of incompetence and a lack of other choices...I didn't realize they actually thought that was a good idea. Damn...Vinny was good as a 2 guard though...he just had Hedo disease and couldn't hit when he was open in the playoffs. He infuriated me in that Houston series...When the Rockets doubled Drob in the first two games Vinny couldn't hit the side of a barn when it mattered..he was getting open looks...yet when they used single coverage with Hakeem in the next 2 in Houston, and Vinny was getting d'ed up pretty tough..Vinny shot lights out...Some guys are better shooters when they aren't getting time to think I guess.

I didn't think the JR for Green trade was that bad of move at the time...I liked Green but I thought Reid had ton of potential....

I never understood why we traded Brickowski...he was a big reason we were so good in 89, as was Wingate and his development of a timely 3 point shot...that guy(Brick) knew playoff ball...and no one was going to call us soft while we had he and TC in there.

I can't remember when it exactly the Barkley trade was talked about originally...but I would have thought long and hard about trading a pre-knee injury TC for Barkley...That pre injured version of TC was pretty damn good and probably would have made the HOF.

The guy whose game I think is going to remind me of Wingate is Sato...only a much higer quality human being...I remember Wingate's game though...and I am hoping Sato will have a similar game.

After reading a lot of these articles...I always heard that the players, including Drob...were happy to see Brown go, in fact I have always read that if Brown hadn't left the players were going to run him out of town.....and I kind of understand why now...Brown has never dealt well with young players and here he had an entire roster of them...I think he tore them down too much when he should have been building them up...

[SPARKY]

Here we go...



No kidding, Sherlock; Spurs face hard times

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : October 31, 1996

On a day when the Spurs signed journeyman Tim Kempton to help in the pivot, they might have been well-served to make a deal with his mother, too.

Maureen Kempton recently retired after 21 years in the New York police department. She served as a detective in Queens.
And if ever some detective work was necessary, it was Wednesday afternoon at the Spurs Tipoff Luncheon when club vice president Gregg Popovich introduced Coach Bob Hill.

Before bringing the free-agent-to-be coach to the podium, Popovich announced that the 1996-97 season "would be the best we've had since coming here (as GM in May 1994), and that we'll have more fun than we've ever had."

Given that three of the top seven players from last season will not be in uniform for Friday's opener in Minneapolis, including franchise foundation David Robinson, Maureen Kempton might investigate how Popovich finds reason for such optimism.

Of course, Popovich can make comments like that. After all, it is Hill, as Pop noted in his introduction, who "is the man on the firing line every day."

At present, Hill is rather shy of bullets.

Greg "Cadillac" Anderson and Kempton, a Ford Bronco-type, will be asked to spell Robinson and Will Perdue in the middle through at least the first five games this season.

Robinson's ailing back, which still prevents him from picking up his children without pain, and Perdue's fractured left thumb necessitated the signing of Kempton, who was released by the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.

Understandably, the thought of the Spurs signing a man unable to make the Sixers won't sell any tickets for Sunday night's home opener with Denver.

But Kempton, a Notre Dame alum who has been to more NBA camps than the Nike representative, knows how to play. He can set a pick, box out and find the cutter with a pass from the post.

Of course, he can't do any of those things brilliantly. Otherwise, at 6-foot-10, he wouldn't be on a non-guaranteed, day-to-day contract with the Spurs.

"I told Tim when we cut him that I'd probably see that he signed with someone else the next day," said Sixers general manager Brad Greenberg.

Ironically, Kempton, who played three games with Atlanta last season, did have a six-figure guaranteed offer from a team in Greece.

The team? Panathinaikos.

Now, if that name sounds familiar, it should. That's the team that claims Spurs' Dominique Wilkins is still its property.

You want more irony?

Both men are represented by Steve Kauffman, who says simply, "It's business."

The Spurs will need the maximum from Kempton and the rest of the team to keep from getting "the business" at the outset this season, despite Popovich's claims of success and fun this year.

Not even Norman Vincent Peale could quarrel with someone who believed the Spurs would go 0-5 with road games in Cleveland and Washington next week, following Friday's game in Minnesota. S.A. entertains Seattle on Nov. 8 after Sunday's home-opener against Denver.

Road games at Portland and Utah follow, with home games against the Lakers and Indiana next. The first breather is Nov. 16 when Golden State is in the dome.

Should Robinson and Perdue still be among the missing, this one won't be a breather.

And you don't need Maureen Kempton's detective work to find that out.

[SPARKY]

Um duh, O'Keeffe has 2 F's.


Now Popovich should feel Hill's pain

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : December 25, 1996

Guess now we'll see just how good a coach Gregg Popovich is.

With David Robinson out of the lineup with a broken foot, Popovich gets to experience the frustrations Bob Hill lived with as head coach for the first 18 games of the season.
Hill, whose hair would have turned gray had it not been already, tried to manufacture victories for the Spurs without Robinson, who had been sidelined with a bad back since Oct. 11.

Yet, all Hill got were whispers of criticism behind the scenes from Popovich, who removed Hill as coach Dec. 10.

That just happened to be the day Robinson returned to the court for the first time. You'll recall that Popovich termed the timing of the firing ``a coincidence.''

(Insert polite laughter here).

In the last 10 days, Popovich, the Spurs' vice president of basketball operations, has taken on almost mythic proportions as coach, according to some, as the Spurs posted three consecutive victories for the first time.

Efforts to demean Hill's work during the winning streak have been quite sad.

It was as though Hill, the man who guided the Spurs to 121 victories in his first two seasons as coach, had suddenly gotten stupid.

I'd bet any coach's IQ would drop without Robinson in the lineup.

Watch for Popovich's to plummet during the next 6-8 weeks, the time it is believed Robinson will miss after having surgery.

It's an extreme disappointment for Robinson, who had worked so hard on rehabilitating his back and had just gotten to where he felt comfortable on the court again.

However, if this injury had to happen to anyone, Robinson is one who can handle it - given his deep, abiding faith. It's Robinson's Christian beliefs that give him inner peace during these times.

``We had just gotten competitive again,'' Robinson noted Monday night after receiving the X-ray results.

What Robinson, ever the humble man, didn't note was the obvious: The Spurs had gotten competitive again because he was back.

Somehow, though, there were fans who felt it was Popovich's organization, his plan, his attention to defensive details that sparked the Spurs, who went 3-15 under Hill.

That campaign for Popovich manifested itself in the pregame notes prepared Monday by the Spurs' media relations department.

``Pre-Pop'' and ``Post-Pop'' team statistics were listed.

To me, though, the stats that truly tell the tale could be found about an inch later on that sheet -``Without the Admiral.''

Since arriving in 1989-90, Robinson's presence in the lineup has translated into a 67.4 winning percentage for the Spurs. When he's absent, the percentage is 28.6.

Enough said.

Better rotations on defense, aggressiveness on offense, all the talk during the Spurs' three-game winning streak, succeeded only because of No. 50.

Robinson said he hoped the team's increased confidence level over the last 10 days would propel it through the next six weeks, about 19 games.

And don't be shocked if Robinson misses closer to eight weeks, about 25 games.

The loss of Robinson again not only affects this season, where hopes for the playoffs appear slim, but the long-range future of the franchise in San Antonio.

No playoffs would mean a steep financial loss for the owners, whose resolve to remain here could be shaken when board chairman Peter Holt makes a cash call to the group to make up the deficit.

Remember, too, it will be difficult to gain much enthusiasm for a new arena if the team stands 12-45. No new arena means no more Spurs, perhaps sooner than we'd all like to think.

Ex-coach Hill saw his players hit the wall as the early-season absence of Robinson took a toll. Popovich will see the same.

Upon taking over as coach for Hill, Popovich said, ``I don't have all the answers.''

Without Robinson, that will become even more apparent.

[SPARKY]

Puro San Antonio.


FANSTAND



Publication Date : December 22, 1996

Place blame on Diller for firing

Don't blame Popovich for firing Bob Hill. Instead, blame Jack ``The Ripper'' Diller, president of the Spurs.
Someone in the ownership of the Spurs should check out Mr. Diller's intentions. He threatens to move the Spurs if the city doesn't build a new arena. Did he also threaten Popovich if he didn't fire Hill? Will he fire Popovich if the Spurs win more than they lose and fan support doesn't decline?

What will be Diller's next reason to relocate the Spurs with a huge profit for the owners? What is his objective? Certainly not fan support.

J.R. Oliver, San Antonio

Hire GM to fire new coach

Gregg Popovich is lower than a snake's belly. Here's a guy who went out and got a bunch of rejects over the last two years; guys who couldn't make it on any other NBA team except as the 11th or 12th man.

Popovich has systematically destroyed the Spurs. How in the world could Bob Hill be expected to win with the bench we have now?

It is obvious that Popovich has always been jealous of Hill's success and the attention he got as coach. If Popovich was so concerned about the lousy effort of the players, why didn't he take over the team two weeks before Robinson came back? Then we could have seen the miracles he would have performed.

What the Spurs need to do now is hire a new general manager and then have him fire Popovich before the end of the season.

Jeremiah Dooley, San Antonio

Hill lacked players to win

So, the stupid Spurs ``powers that be'' have fired Bob Hill. What did they expect him to do - win? That's difficult considering the injuries that robbed him of most of the players who knew how to work together as a team.

Bob Hill is a good coach, not a miracle worker.

I'll not go to another Spurs game, unless I win some tickets. Since that is highly unlikely, I've seen my last game in person.

Move to another city, Spurs. I won't miss Popovich and the owners.

Maggie Cullen, San Antonio

Here's winning lineup

Make sure Gregg Popovich gets this letter because the only way the Spurs could win a title is if they listen to me.

Put Dominique Wilkins, Sean Elliott, David Robinson, Cory Alexander and Vernon Maxwell in the starting lineup. With that, I would guarantee Gregg Popovich that the Spurs would win the NBA title.

Juan Trevino, Houston

Rodman opinion on mark

Dennis Rodman was right in his last interview here on Nov. 30. The Spurs' upfront management is screwed up.

Peter Holt needs to have his machine examined. Popovich needs to go. He is not a GM or a head coach. Nothing was solved by firing Bob Hill. The Spurs will continue to lose, and will lose even more with Popovich as coach.

When the Bulls were in town recently, a lot of so-called Spurs fans were cheering for the visiting team. Even the Spurs players made comments about this.

So when and if we lose our franchise altogether, the so-called Spurs/Bulls fans will be the first to holler about ``our team'' leaving town.

James Clark, San Antonio

[SPARKY]

Popovich owes S.A. fans some answers on firing

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : December 19, 1996

Have you got a minute?

I see renowned media critic Gregg Popovich, Spurs' VP and head coach, says there is a wide gulf between the fans' perception and the reality of the team's decision to fire Bob Hill.
Hill was let go Dec. 10.

Pray tell, Popovich, what is the reality?

Do you not owe your paying customers an explanation, considering the outrage which accompanied your decision to fire Hill?

Oh, and while you're at it, Popovich, you might tell the paying customers why you ripped Hill in a meeting with the players following the playoff loss against Utah.

Or how about why you reneged on a promise to Hill to re-do his contract after his first year here. You told him the deal would be re-done if the team had a great year.

In Hill's first year, the Spurs led the NBA with 62 victories and captured two playoff series in the same year for the first time in the history of the Spurs.

Sounds like a great year to me.

If you noticed Builders Square President/CEO Frank Felicella smiling a lot recently, it's because of the return of Iowa to the Builders Square Alamo Bowl game.

The Hawkeyes faithful were grand in their support of the inaugural game, selling 13,000 tickets. No doubt Felicella would have signed a 10-year contract with Iowa if he could have.

The Hawkeyes likely will do the same again for the Dec. 29 encounter with Texas Tech.

No doubt the Red Raiders will sell their 11,000-ticket allotment for the Alamo Bowl.

But they need some help from local Tech folks.

For Tech's bowl future, Red Raiders faithful must approach the 28,000 tickets they bought for the '95 Cotton Bowl.

The '96 Alamo Bowl is just as important to Tech's bowl future as that Cotton Bowl was, so long as decisions are made by choice.

Remember, Baylor failed to sell its allotment of 11,000 tickets for the second Alamo Bowl and then couldn't get a sniff even from the Independence Bowl, despite being 7-4 the following year.

Don't be surprised if Texas names former Illinois head coach Lou Tepper as its defensive coordinator.

Tepper succeeded current UT head man John Mackovic at Illinois.

Scottie Pippen has said he will not return to the Chicago Bulls next season.

Pippen, arguably one of the NBA's top five players, makes $2.2 million this season - sixth-best on the Bulls, 131st in the league.

Great move by the Texas Rangers to sign New York Yankees closer John Wetteland, who would have put the Rangers in the World Series rather than the Yanks if the move could have been made a year ago.

While Cowboys' patrons are excited about Coach Barry Switzer's announcement that tight end Jay Novacek may be available for the playoffs, think about something for a moment.

Here is a guy who has missed the entire season because of a back injury, and he's going to be the difference-maker in the playoffs?

For that Cowboys fan on your Christmas list, you may want to consider, ``The Dallas Cowboys Encyclopedia: The Ultimate Guide to America's Team.'' Former San Antonio Light sportswriter Ken Sins, one of the good guys, is co-author with Jim Donovan.

Get this from University of Arizona football coach Dick Tomey on the UCLA-USC rivalry:

``Too many fur coats and too much jewelry. Too many people afraid to let their hair down. Too d--- many sophisticates.''

Congrats to Churchill alum and former Houston Oilers QB Cody Carlson and wife, Barbara, who are expecting twins this May.

From the How-Old-Is-He Dept.: Detroit's Rick Mahorn went to high school with the mother of Philadelphia rookie Allen Iverson.

If you're at the Dragons game Sunday, you may recognize the man dressed as Santa entertaining with his daughter (Ms. Santa) in between periods.

``Santa'' is Dr. Henry Lipsitt, a San Antonio pediatrician, who is very active in skating both on the local and national level.

And finally, Houston Rocket Charles Barkley on learning that the Spurs had fired Bob Hill as head coach: ``Bob Hill got (bleeped).''

[whottt]

Hey Sparky, do you know why Mo Cheeks wanted to be traded? Was it because of Brown? I've always wondered that and have never gotten a straight answer on that question...I didn't like it when we traded him for Strickland...I groaned, because I just happened to know that Strick was pot smoking bonehead and didn't really think he could lead a team to a title.

[SPARKY]

From humble beginnings: It's time for another night

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : October 31, 1997

"There will be another night." - The signature line of Terry Stembridge, the original Spurs radio voice, after every broadcast

And there has been.
For the Spurs, the 25th anniversary of there being "another night" begins this evening in Denver with the tipoff of the 1997-98 season and the start of the Tim Duncan Era.

While the Duncan Era likely won't last beyond three seasons, the rookie from Wake Forest already has generated excitement among the Spurs' faithful, who deserve an NBA championship more than any other fans in the league.

The economic sacrifices so many here have made since the fall of 1973, when pro basketball arrived in San Antonio, are monumental.

Such as: Shall we send Junior to college, or buy Spurs season tickets?

That the Spurs have made it to a 25th season is a lasting tribute to the man responsible for bringing an American Basketball Association team here from Dallas in 1973 - the late Angelo Drossos.

Certainly, B.J. "Red" McCombs deserves praise for his financial backing that inaugural season, which enabled Drossos to change the failing, boring Dallas Chaparrals into the captivating San Antonio Spurs.

But it wasn't easy.

"One of the first things Angelo wanted to do was trade James Silas and Coby Dietrick," said Stembridge via telephone from his office in Kilgore.

Thankfully, Stembridge, who spent six years as the voice of the Spurs, talked Drossos out of it.

Today, Silas' image adorns a curtain in the Alamodome. His No. 13 was the first Spurs jersey number retired.

The Spurs' inaugural campaign began with "Coach" Wilt Chamberlain and his San Diego Conquistadors arriving Oct. 10, 1973.

Chamberlain, whose assistant - Stan Albeck - later would be a part of Spurs lore as a head coach, came strutting into the Convention Center Arena with a cup of coffee in hand.

Even with Chamberlain, whose only game preparation was deciding between regular and decaf, the Q's were good enough to whip the Spurs.

The opening-night gathering of 5,879 was wonderful, but attendance slipped as low as 1,765 for a game with Memphis in the season's second month.

Failure loomed.

Until, with the underwriting of McCombs, Drossos made the first big swap in franchise history, getting center Swen Nater from the Virginia Squires.

Nater, a UCLA ex, came for a draft pick and cash. A bundle of cash - $300,000.

Nater helped the Spurs become legit in '73. Two years later, he helped make the Spurs one of the best teams that moved from the ABA into the NBA. Nater ostensibly brought Larry Kenon, Mike Gale and Billy Paultz in a pair of trades trade with the New York Nets in the summer of '75.

Still, Drossos' coup that first year came Jan. 1, 1974, when this skinny kid from Detroit was pried away from the Squires, thanks again to McCombs' money.

That skinny kid? Hall of Famer George Gervin.

Now, it took a judge to get Gervin in a Spurs uniform after weeks of haggling. The judge, the late Franklin Spears, gave S.A. the OK to keep Gervin.

Thus, Spurs fans quickly found out what home-court advantage meant.

"Angelo never questioned whether or not the team would make it here," said Maury Holden, longtime secretary/treasurer of the Spurs, who, like most in the original investor group, got involved for a tax write-off.

And to help San Antonio get a little more national recognition.

People here fell in love with their Spurs, who returned that love by always being available - and not just when the TV cameras were around.

Even with a seven-game playoff- series loss to Indiana in the spring of '74, the Spurs had arrived.

Stembridge was right: "There will be another night."

[SPARKY]

SA wasn't Mo's kind of town. He was an East Coast guy.

[SPARKY]

Let's see Robinson work out Such a welcome move would narrow Spurs' credibility gap

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : August 3, 1997

After a week that certainly won't be included in the highlight tape of Peter Holt's life, the chairman of the Spurs reached a conclusion: The people of San Antonio don't believe the Spurs. While Holt won't admit that to you and me, he's admitted it to himself.
Having raised the white flag of surrender Tuesday with regard to the Spurs pushing for a referendum on a new arena, Holt noted his franchise couldn't be the vanguard for such a project.

Staring at polling numbers so one-sided they conjured up memories of the Dukakis and Mondale presidential races against Ronald Reagan, Holt stepped aside.

No matter how many times Holt and others in his corner tried, the people of San Antonio talked about "the new arena for the Spurs."

So, why didn't people believe Spurs officials when they talked about it being an "arena for the community?"

Perhaps they remembered previous Spurs ownership grabbing the concessions contract from the Alamodome, which was billed as a "multipurpose convention facility for the community."

But I don't want to further beat on Holt, a nice man who I wish had a chance to save this team for S.A.

No, this is to address what Holt learned about people not believing the Spurs.

Nowhere is that more evident than in the case of David Robinson, who today is tucked away in Aspen, Colo., playing hoops with Will Perdue and Tim Duncan.

And we'll be told by GM/Coach Gregg Popovich that Robinson has never looked better. We'll learn that "David is 90 percent."

If Robinson's back is that missing 10 percent, what good is the 90 percent?

If you've read or listened to me since Robinson's back and foot injuries last season, you know I'm skeptical about announcements concerning his rehabilitation.

Certainly, the Spurs give you and me every reason to be skeptical and, sadly, cynical at times.

Remember last October, when we were told Robinson wasn't going to miss a regular-season game? He missed the first 18.

Numerous sources have told me Robinson may not be able to play this season.

One Spurs player told me Robinson had trouble standing for extended periods of time as late as April. Robinson injured his back last summer before the Olympics and hurt his foot Dec. 23.

Remember, the Spurs were suggesting until late in the season that Robinson might return if the team qualified for the playoffs.

That was false.

Ditto when they said Sean Elliott and Chuck Person might return before season's end.

Here's what I suspect about Robinson from piecing tidbits together: His back still hurts him a great deal when he has to bend down to grab low passes.

Note to Spurs point guard Avery Johnson: Keep 'em high.

Thus, Robinson needs to play straight up and down, something that isn't in the NBA handbook.

My sources don't get their paychecks from the Spurs.

Understand, too, this isn't to knock David Schmidt, the team physican. Popovich won't allow him to speak to the media about Robinson - or anyone, for that matter.

So here's my suggestion:

Let's have Robinson, Duncan and Perdue in the Incarnate Word gym on Tuesday morning.

The public is invited.

If Robinson is truly OK, why not let everyone see?

Understand, now, David Robinson is never going to be the same player again. Period.

Robinson, a wonderfully gifted man in many areas, has never had to work hard in basketball. His God-given quickness and speed have made the game easy for him.

But with his bad back and his age - he turns 32 on Wednesday - basketball will be nothing but hard work for him from now on.

Should Popovich refuse to allow Robinson to be seen working out - and if I'm betting lunch, he will - we'll be right in saying, "It's all a charade."

And it will further help Holt to understand why the people don't believe the Spurs.

[whottt]

So Brown had nothing to do with it? I know he supposedly didn't like SA and stayed in a hotel..but it seemed to me that a good coach would have gotten him to deal with it for the season...and now Mo Cheeks is in Portland...which isn't exactly the East Coast.

But thanks for the answer...

In that case I can officially give Mo Cheeks the hate he deserves for delaying our destined and rightful title reign for a decade and costing Drob his place among the all time greats.

If SA was good enough to Gervin and Robinson it was damn sure good enough for Mo Cheeks.

So I now make this official proclamation:

AJ>Mo Cheeks, the fucker.

[SPARKY]

Certain lame-duck coach could Phil void for Spurs

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : July 27, 1997

"There's only but two kinds of coaches; those which have been hired and those which are going to be fired." - O.A. "Bum" Phillips, former Houston Oilers coach who was both Ah ... but even Phillips wasn't both on the same day.
Philip D. Jackson was.

Last week when the Chicago Bulls gave the 52-year-old Jackson a $5.75 million contract for the 1997-98 season - a deal that can rise to $6.15 million with incentives - he also got his walking papers, effective at the conclusion of next season.

Bulls general manager Jerry Krause sounded like a "Chatty Cathy" doll run amok at the announcement.

While Krause noted that Jackson would return next season as the Bulls tried for their sixth title of the '90s, Krause also said - not once, not twice, not three times, not four times ... well you get my drift - that it unequivocably would be Jackson's final season as coach.

"I want to emphasize that," said Krause, who no doubt was in a snit when he lost his battle to shove out a coach with a .733 playoff winning percentage, best among NBA coaches.

It's no secret that Krause covets Iowa State's Tim Floyd, who will be the next Bulls coach. Of course, Floyd will inherit a team without Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan, so how good will the job be then?

Credit Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf with having the sense not to allow his GM to undercut his coach because of an enlarged ego.

Too bad that didn't happen with another NBA team we all know quite well.

So petty had Krause gotten with Jackson that the coach wasn't even in the draft room in June when the Bulls took Maryland's Keith Booth with their No. 1 pick.

And as Krause pondered trading Scottie Pippen to the Boston Celtics for the No. 3 and 6 picks in the draft, Jackson wasn't included in the conversation.

While the likes of Rick Pitino (Boston) and Larry Brown (Philly), who have never won anything in the NBA, have total control, Jackson, whose teams have five titles in the decade, is sent out for sandwiches at decision-making time.

That's why this story could have had an unhappy ending had it not been for Jackson's desire not to have Michael Jordan quit the game and Reinsdorf's desire not to be remembered as the man who caused the most damage to Chicago since Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over a kerosene lamp.

That's why Reinsdorf jumped into an airplane and flew to Kalispell, Mont., motoring then to the Grouse Mountain Lodge near Whitefish, Mont., for a heart-to- heart, two-hour conversation with Jackson, a man with whom Reinsdorf has enjoyed many pleasant talks.

"As a group," said Jackson in the aftermath of his re- hiring/impending firing, "we said last October that this might be our last chance (to win the title) together.

"Now, we know this will be our last chance together. To go out a winner, well, it's about the best thing you can do."

So matter-of-fact is Jackson about his lame-duck status that he plans to begin packing up his office in the Bulls' headquarters when he arrives in August.

"I should be done by March," he said.

Of course, his team won't be done until mid-June.

Again.

While Jackson didn't get the money he wanted - $8 million for the year - and did get the clause removed from his contract that he could negotiate with other teams out of the playoffs even while the Bulls were in, he will get the chance to make history with a second "Three-Peat."

And while Jordan likely will retire, Jackson and Pippen will be working elsewhere in the '98-99 season.

And, yes, I've already pondered the idea:

Jackson running the Spurs.

After Gregg Popovich fails to guide the club to at least 62 wins and a spot in the NBA Finals, he'll have to be replaced.

Lest we forget, Bob Hill, who didn't have Tim Duncan, won 62 games and was two games away from getting the Spurs into the NBA Finals.

Now, don't hold your breath on Jackson coming here.

Under current Spurs' ownership, there won't ever be a $6 million coach here.

But isn't Jackson in S.A. a good thought?

[SPARKY]

Spurs' Perdue gets ready for some rookie initiations

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : June 30, 1997

Even from his home in Lake Forest, Ill., just outside of Chicago, the Spurs' Will Perdue has been able to gauge the impact No. 1 draft choice Tim Duncan already has made on San Antonio.
And, really, no one will feel the impact more than Perdue, who is well aware that Duncan plays his positions - power forward and center.

"Yes, I've already had a talk with Pop (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich)," Perdue said from his home Sunday. "I first talked with Pop after the Spurs won the lottery (May 18). Pop told me he would listen to all offers concerning Duncan."

That was until Spurs chairman of the board Peter Holt pronounced Duncan "the man" and that the Spurs would keep the No. 1 pick.

Perdue also is aware Popovich has penciled in Duncan as a starter.

It's assumed, of course, that Duncan will start at power forward. I still wouldn't be surprised if Duncan starts at center in place of David Robinson, who still may not be ready to play in the season-opener.

Perdue refuses to assume anything.

"I'll tell you this," Perdue said. "I'm not going to just lay down and let Duncan walk in and take my position. Duncan coming to the Spurs, I take as a personal challenge."

Now, Spurs fans should not misunderstand Perdue on this point. He is a bright enough man to know that Duncan is going to be the guy.

But Perdue, who enjoyed several personal bests in his NBA career during the disaster that was the Spurs' 1996-97 season, has enough pride and competitiveness not to simply step aside for the rookie.

"I'm sure Carl Herrera feels the same way," said Perdue, a 7-footer who begins his third year in San Antonio this fall after coming from Chicago in October '95 in exchange for Dennis Rodman.

Perdue's 29.5 minutes per game last season were a high in his nine- year NBA career. Only twice did he not play more than 21 minutes in a game last season, compared to averaging only 17.5 minutes per game during the '95-96 season.

Perdue, who in the past almost jealously guarded his minutes, says his perspective has changed slightly coming into the '97-98 campaign.

"I want to be a major contributor to a championship team," said Perdue, who was a member of the Bulls' title teams from '91 to '93. "But I wasn't considered a major contributor on those teams. I want to help this team win a championship. If part of that is beating the devil out of Tim Duncan in practice to get him ready, then fine."

On the idea that most Spurs fans, as well as a few media-types, have the Spurs penciled in for the NBA Finals next season, Perdue is elated.

"That (being in the NBA Finals) ought to be the mindset of every player, coach and everyone in the organization," said Purdue, who turns 32 on Aug. 29. "Honestly, I believe that 1 through 12, we have the best team in the NBA. Maybe not 1 through 5, but 1 through 12, yes."

Perdue is off to Aspen, Colo., next week for workouts with David Robinson ... and a mini- vacation.

"I know Duncan is skilled," Perdue said. "But the NBA is a new level. Guys are going to be gunning for him every day."

William Edward Perdue III among them.

[SPARKY]

Damn. O'Keeffe makes Buck Harvey seem coherent.


A nightmare could await Spurs at Duncan re-signing

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : June 29, 1997

Have you got a minute?
Close your eyes. Picture the summer of 1999.

The Spurs' Tim Duncan, rookie of the year during the '97-98 season, is coming off a superlative sophomore year, having led the Spurs to the NBA Finals.

It's negotiation time for the man who was the No. 1 pick overall in the '97 NBA draft.

There's Spurs chairman Peter Holt seated across the table from Duncan's new agent ... Johnnie Cochran Jr.

Yikes!

Talk about your nightmare.

Cochran, who is not yet representing anyone in the NBA, has been certified as an agent by the NBA Players Association.

I wonder if the first time one of Cochran's clients gets a great deal someone will suggest that the client "got away with murder."

After all, Cochran's already had one client do so.

Speaking of Duncan, the Spurs may consider working with him in the area of public relations, in addition to his free-throw shooting.

I felt sorry for him at Thursday's Alamo Plaza rally. He looked as out of place as Madonna in a room full of nuns.

Had Duncan, who by all accounts is a decent chap, displayed any spark, he'd have captivated the crowd.

Duncan admitted Tuesday night he wanted all of the hoopla to be through.

He showed that Thursday.

Were you as shocked as I was when Duncan revealed to USA Today that he was a point guard deceptively packaged as a power forward/center?

Coach Gregg Popovich best send Duncan to the low block and tell him never to leave that spot until that point-guard stuff is out of his system.

Good sign regarding David Robinson:

Doctors told him to give up golf. He did.

From the Waste-of-Time Dept.: ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC devoted 37 hours of coverage to the X Games.

Keep in mind the words of author H.L. Mencken, "You'll never go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."

If you honestly believe Michael Jordan didn't stop the trade of Scottie Pippen to Boston on draft day last week, then you are the most naive person alive.

Forget that Jordan said he didn't call the Bulls' GM Jerry Krause.

Jordan's wife could have called Krause. Or Jordan's agent.

Or Jordan, who has been known to be less-than-honest on more than one occasion.

If you were perplexed that the Golden State Warriors hired Portland Trail Blazers reject P.J. Carlesimo as head coach, understand he wasn't the first choice.

Or second.

Or third.

University of Utah coach Rick Majerus turned down $4 million per year from the Warriors, who also were spurned - very quietly - by Kansas coach Roy Williams.

From the Truer-Words-Were- Never-Spoken Dept.: L.A. Clippers coach Bill Fitch suggesting that unhappy Seattle SuperSonic Shawn Kemp likely will be unhappy anywhere.

Kemp, whose drinking is a problem despite his protests to the contrary, has made himself more difficult to trade because of his "I'll never put on a Seattle uniform again" edict.

Tell me: Is the fact that Charles Barkley will return to the Houston Rockets next year good news or bad news?

You'll recall reading here last summer that Barkley's arrival would not give Houston a title or even put the Rockets in the NBA Finals.

And finally, when LPGA player Laura Baugh, who is seven months pregnant with her seventh child, teed off last week, one spectator yelled, "You the mom!"

[SPARKY]

Duncanville moving toward South Texas

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : June 26, 1997

With apologies to Texas map- makers, I'd like to announce a change:

DUNCANville is now in Bexar County.
That became official Wednesday night when NBA commissioner David Stern announced that the Spurs had selected Wake Forest center Timothy Theodore Duncan with the first pick in the NBA draft.

Thus, the change in our state's geography.

And there will be other changes in DUNCANville.

For the first time, Coach Gregg Popovich will have to perform under pressure. The only pressure he faced as coach in the injury- plagued 1996-97 season was losing enough games to make it possible to move DUNCANville south.

Ah ... but now comes the hard part, even for Duncan.

Can he keep it from raining on his parade at the Alamo this evening?

"I've closed the blinds," Spurs vice president Russ Bookbinder said Wednesday, preferring to ignore the monsoon outside. "Surely, we'll be lucky enough for it not to rain Thursday."

Surely, there has not been a luckier franchise in the NBA the last five weeks.

Thus, I predict sunshine when Duncan arrives in Alamo Plaza at 6 p.m. to meet the 10,000-plus expected to welcome him to San Antonio.

Psst, Tim; you best lose that cap you wore last night after getting picked.

Judging by that white streak on the cap, you'd have thought the Spurs' mascot was a skunk ... and not the Coyote.

Of course, if it had been up to Duncan, he'd have pulled the cap over his eyes and been wearing a trench coat.

He's had enough time in the spotlight of late.

"I just want to get this over with," Duncan said Wednesday.

Tim, my good man, it's only beginning for you.

Have you noticed the Spurs' season-ticket ad on TV that features Duncan?

Keep watching - you'll not be able to miss it.

Bookbinder, who will meet Duncan today for the first time, knows he doesn't want to push the "Vice Admiral" too far at first.

Still, you can't blame Bookbinder for salivating with the arrival of the man who put life back into the franchise.

The Spurs have sold 500 new season tickets since winning the lottery May 18.

So, for Spurs fans, Wednesday night's draft show had all the suspense of a Hulk Hogan wrestling match.

Duncan being a member of the Spurs was a fait accompli. There never was a chance of Duncan going elsewhere.

Spurs chairman of the board Peter Holt stated that firmly in May, then repeated it during a meeting with his basketball people earlier this month, asking anyone to convince him Duncan should be traded.

It was yet another sign of Holt wisely taking firmer control of the team he took over as chairman last year.

Whispers, which had to originate from somewhere - or someone - on lottery day regarding the Spurs possibly trading the No. 1 pick, were quickly squelched by Holt.

Duncan will be the Spurs' franchise player when David Robinson leaves, be it at the end of his contract in 2001 or sooner, if his back doesn't allow him to return to form.

Why, Duncan just may be the starting center on opening night this season.

Anyone with a bad back knows there are no certainties regarding Robinson, whose rehabilitation from back problems was made more difficult because of a broken left foot on Dec. 23.

Although tired of the fuss, Duncan can't help but be touched this evening by the sincere outpouring of emotions by the Spurs' faithful.

As former Spurs forward Allan Bristow noted, "The people of San Antonio don't just embrace you, they adopt you."

Thus, today, DUNCANville has a new son.

[SPARKY]

Talent ratings unflattering to Popovich, Spurs players

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : May 29, 1997

Have you got a minute?
Spurs general manager and coach Gregg Popovich didn't score well in a recent NBA talent poll conducted by the Toronto Sun.

Among coaches, Popovich finished tied for 24th with New Jersey's John Calipari. Only Dallas' Jim Cleamons and Boston's M.L. Carr ranked lower than Popovich. Carr, of course, has since been removed as the Celtics' coach.

In the GM category, Popovich was tied for 24th with Vancouver's Stu Jackson.

The Spurs' players didn't fare much better, with Vinny Del Negro tied for 31st among shooting guards, Sean Elliott tied for 17th among small forwards and Avery Johnson tied for 12th among point guards.

The poll didn't rank players who missed most of the season, as was the case with David Robinson.

Each coach/GM/player/ was graded from a low end (0.5) to a high end (5.0).

Voters in the poll were: Craig Daniels, Toronto Sun basketball columnist; Leo Rautins, former NBA player/Toronto Sun columnist; Doug Smith, Canadian Press basketball writer; Howard Tsumara, Vancouver Province basketball writer; Sam Smith, Chicago Tribune basketball columnist.

Speaking of the Spurs, may we please cease any discussion regarding a trade of No. 1 draft pick Tim Duncan.

It's not going to happen. It can't happen.

Duncan just may be the starting center in November, as anyone who has suffered back problems knows. Sure, David Robinson talked Wednesday of being stronger this season. But I'll believe he's ready to play when he walks on the court opening night.

Lest we forget, when Robinson first went down with an ailing back in training camp last October, we were told he wasn't going to miss a regular-season game. He missed the first 18 games - 76 in all.

In case you were wondering, Duncan's favorite video game is "Mortal Kombat."

Now, assuming Robinson, Duncan and Elliott are able to team up in the fall, Spurs fan Douglas Boch has checked in with a nickname for the trio - "The RED Line."

That's R for Robinson, E for Elliott and D for Duncan. You've got to like that hockey twist, too.

Have you noticed the higher profile taken by Spurs chairman Peter Holt? Wisely, Holt is the point man for the team on the new arena issue.

Holt, who took over as chairman last July, is also being seen around town at other functions, such as speaking last night to a United Way volunteer group.

If I'm a Utah Jazz fan, I want them to win Game 6 tonight in Houston and not take the chance of the home-court advantage bringing them victory in Game 7.

In a Game 7, I'll always take the team that has Hakeem Olajuwon.

No matter who your favorite team is in the College World Series, you have to love the Rice Owls being there.

In 77 Southwest Conference seasons, Rice never won a regular- season baseball title. And I'm glad Texas Tech was eliminated in the regionals, which it didn't deserve to be in, let alone host.

Tech cheated. Spin it any way you want, but Tech had two scholarships above the 11.7 limit and should have been banned from postseason play.

Guess Byron "0.0 GPA" Hanspard must have been in charge of counting those scholarships.

Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren declined a "forever" extension to his coaching contract with the defending Super Bowl champions. Holmgren's pact runs through 1999.

And finally, the St. Louis Cardinals' Andy Van Slyke on Major League Baseball's $50 million deal with Pepsi, which will stage a contest with a first prize of throwing out the first pitch of the second game of the World Series: "If (President) Clinton can sell the Lincoln bedroom, they can sell the first pitch at the World Series."

[SPARKY]

Based on poll, Spurs' future in S.A. shaky

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : April 9, 1997

The most mind-boggling numbers in the Spurs' horrendous season came Monday morning.

And the team didn't even play Sunday night.
The numbers were courtesy of a poll by the Hill Research Consultants of The Woodlands. The survey, commissioned by the San Antonio Express-News, was taken April 2-3.

Five-hundred registered voters were asked for opinions on the arena-financing issue.

The results were staggering.

Last week, while flying back from the NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis, City Councilman Robert Marbut said the Spurs would lose a vote on a new arena if the election were held as late as November.

Marbut, a longtime fan and friend of the Spurs, said the franchise had much work to do. Just how much became apparent Monday morning.

Eighty-four percent - yes, that's 84 percent -of those polled were opposed to using state and local tax money to help pay for a new arena.

The figures didn't change much when poll respondents were asked if they would favor using new sales taxes to San Antonio tourists and business visitors. Seventy-one percent still opposed taxes going toward a new arena.

A bill that would enable cities to construct new sports facilities, financed by a variety of taxing measures, has made it through the Texas Senate.

Nothing would take effect without a referendum, showing just why those poll results are the low point of the Spurs' season.

Not surprisingly, Spurs president Jack Diller was defensive regarding the figures, suggesting the poll would be more accurate if voters were asked about the specific legislation when it is completed.

Although his point is well taken, even Diller has to admit the one-sidedness of the responses is shocking.

This wasn't a 55-45 reading. This was an overwhelming slap in the Spurs' face, no matter the context of the questions.

Curiously, Diller may be the one responsible for such a lopsided result.

Lest we forget his rare moment of candor on March 17, 1996, when he told Express-News business reporter Charlotte Anne Lucas that a new arena by itself wouldn't automatically generate enough money to keep the team running.

Well, they say the truth hurts.

The Spurs' current brass is having to fight the word of former owner B.J. ``Red'' McCombs, who insisted to Spurs fans that the Alamodome was a panacea when the team moved into the cavernous facility for the 1993-94 season.

Thus, you've no doubt heard more than once on the radio talk shows or around the water cooler at work, ``Why should we build them a new place when we just built them the Alamodome?''

And when the team's management talks about the arena being for others in the city, it has a hollow ring considering the Spurs stand to profit the most from the new facility. Don't forget as well that the Washington Redskins and Utah Jazz, to name two sports teams, paid for new facilities without tax dollars. That also hurts the Spurs.

Yet, the biggest enemy may be within.

In Diller, you have a man whose credibility has been compromised. He spent all last year saying the Spurs were going to lose money. Then in July, when Peter Holt became the Spurs' new chairman of the board, he promptly reported that the Spurs were going to make money last season.

Which they did.

In Gregg Popovich, coach and vice president of basketball operations, you have a man who has a tendency to be curt and condescending to callers to his radio show.

Psst. Gregg, those callers are voters. Is it any wonder few feel any warm fuzzies from this franchise?

Despite it all, the bottom line is this: If the city doesn't build a new arena, the Spurs will be gone.

Period.

Fair? This is pro sports in the 1990s. Fairness has no bearing in any discussion.

There are cities out there who will do anything to have an NBA team.

No longer is talk of the Spurs leaving town simply idle threats.

It's a fact.

If you don't build it, they will go.

[SPARKY]

Smith couldn't hold his anger in any longer

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : March 24, 1997

For Charles Smith, the boiling point was reached last week.

The anxiety and frustration of this injury-plagued season caused the normally mild-mannered Smith to lose it in the locker room following the Spurs-Suns game Thursday night in Phoenix.
According to several sources familiar with the situation, Smith angrily turned over a table with Gatorade sitting on it.

Moments later, when Coach Gregg Popovich gathered the team together, Smith shouted, ``I'm not going to be a part of this bull--- -!'' and walked out.

Smith surfaced in time for Sunday night's game with the Los Angeles Clippers.

In fact, Smith went straight to the Spurs' hotel in Santa Monica, Calif., skipping the Friday night game in Sacramento.

That absence will cost Smith $42,682.39, roughly 1/82nd of his salary, which this season is $3,557,000. He reportedly will appeal the fine.

Smith was irritated with reports that the club couldn't reach him. No doubt, Smith sees those stories as just another item on Popovich's agenda to remove him from the roster.

Gee, was it not a year ago that Popovich, the team's vice president of basketball operations, was taking bows after trading with the New York Knicks for Smith and Monty Williams?

Now Popovich is trying to bury his mistake - Smith.

Smith, who is having a part of his salary paid by the Knicks, is scheduled to make $3.9 million next year, $4 million in 1998-99 and $4.5 million in 1999-2000. However, no matter what part of his money comes from New York, it all counts against the Spurs' salary cap.

Smith, who has spent the last four months rehabilitating an arthritic right knee, blocked two shots against Phoenix in 15 minutes of action - his longest stint since returning from the injured list.

Playing time was at the root of Smith's discussion with Popovich, which preceeded the table tossing and Smith's departure from the locker room.

Smith, a bright soul, obviously has figured out the battle plan of Spurs management: Remove Smith and, more importantly, his contract guarantees from the roster via medical retirement.

Lest we forget, Smith opted not to practice earlier this month. Spurs strength and conditioning coach Mike Brungardt walked off the court without comment.

Calls to Smith and Popovich were not immediately returned, although Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News that ``we're moving on,'' regarding Smith's episode in Phoenix.

Accepting the premise that the Spurs want a medical exception for Smith next year - and they do whether they want to admit it or not - it behooves Popovich to play Smith a lot of minutes.

That way, if he breaks down, the Spurs will have little trouble proving to the league that Smith can't play.

Smith, who has little or no cartilage in his right knee, knows he can only go so long each game. That's why he would like to manage his minutes better.

Smith has filed a grievance against the Knicks' doctors, claiming they didn't inform him of the extent of his injuries during his three seasons there.

Understand, Smith was wrong to leave the Spurs the other night.

But if you had nearly $16 million guaranteed through 2000 and someone was trying to keep you from getting it, how might you react?

[SPARKY]

Spurs' Robinson speaks volumes by saying little

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : March 19, 1997

That David Robinson isn't a Michael Jordan or a Magic Johnson has been an unrealistic lament of some Spurs fans through the years.

Today, Spurs vice president/coach Gregg Popovich ought to breathe a sigh of relief because of that fact.
You'll recall, Jordan and Johnson each had a huge hand in the removal of a coach early in their careers.

Jordan got Doug Collins fired in Chicago, and Johnson earned a great deal of bad press when he had Paul Westhead ousted in Los Angeles.

Now, given Robinson's personality, it would be difficult to imagine him ever doing that.

However . . .

If you were watching KSAT-TV's ``Instant Replay'' on Sunday night, Robinson offered a ringing non-endorsement of Popovich when asked about him returning as head coach next season.

``I can't say how Gregg is doing since I haven't really played for him this year,'' Robinson said.

He did play six games for Popovich, who fired Bob Hill on Dec. 10, the day Robinson returned to the lineup for the first time this season. He had missed the opening 18 games of the season because of back problems.

That Hill should be fired under those circumstances, of course, was ludicrous.

Yet, in light of Robinson's non-endorsement of Popovich as coach, it's interesting to recall the player who balked the loudest about Hill's firing:

David Maurice Robinson.

Robinson and Hill had grown close during the past two seasons.

Sunday night, Robinson talked about the job Hill had done.

``Bob was always working,'' Robinson said. ``We were always prepared when Bob was coach.''

Robinson noted that Popovich couldn't yet be judged as a coach because of the injuries to this season's team.

Understand, though, the team being beset by injuries didn't prevent Popovich from firing Hill.

Robinson suggested that Popovich couldn't really be evaluated as coach until he was in a tight game situation with all his men in place.

Robinson, whose back still isn't 100 percent, assuming it ever will be again, didn't take the easy way out with regard to Popovich.

I understand that Robinson didn't say anything critical of Popovich on the telecast.

But in eight years of being around the cerebral man from the Naval Academy, I have learned it is often what Robinson doesn't say that is most profound.

Bottom line: Robinson is one man Popovich can't control.

Spurs chairman of the board Peter Holt has repeatedly said that Popovich is doing a good job as coach. Holt has said Popovich will make the decision on which of the two jobs Popovich will keep next season.

In reality, Popovich being under contract through the 1998-99 season is the deciding factor here.

Simply, this franchise doesn't have the money to pay off Popovich and hire someone else who'd make an impact as coach.

Sad, but true.

Still, if I were Holt, I'd get input from Robinson. You think the Bulls do anything major without talking to Jordan?

Robinson, whose contract runs through the 2000-01 season, holds the trump card.

And even this officer and gentleman may get weary enough of things around here to finally play it.

[SPARKY]

Next bug for Spurs to catch? Lottery fever

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : February 13, 1997

Official word on the condition of the Spurs' Sean Elliott didn't come until midway through the third quarter of Wednesday's game against Vancouver.

But the 12,463 in the Alamodome knew something was awry minutes into the contest.
Only 24 hours removed from a strong performance, albeit against the underachieving Dallas Mavericks, the Spurs simply were going through the motions.

They were zombies.

But then, how much more could this team take?

Even Coach Gregg Popovich looked dazed, starting the game by sitting on the bench.

What could he say to them?

Too bad Dr. Joyce Brothers wasn't nearby.

The Spurs were a team devastated mentally as yet another key member of the club would be lost for an extended period.

The press release stated that Elliott would undergo surgery on his right knee early next week to correct the chronic tendinitis in his right quadriceps - the muscle above his knee.

A pair of MRIs done a month apart on Elliott indicated that no healing had taken place with the conservative treatment of rest and physical therapy.

Elliott, who was in Inglewood, Calif., on Wednesday being evaluated at the Kerlan-Job Clinic, will rehabilitate between six to eight weeks.

There are nine weeks remaining in the season.

You do the math.

Elliott is through . . . and so are the Spurs.

Their season ended with a 106-101 loss to the Grizzlies.

Lest we forget, on Oct. 22, Spurs officials announced that David Robinson would be out between two to four weeks because of lower-back problems.

Robinson returned Dec. 10.

Again, you do the math.

When Robinson broke the little toe on his left foot Dec. 23, first word was that he would be out six weeks.

We're in the seventh week and Robinson is nowhere near ready to play.

But that's OK; he now should abandon any thought of returning this season.

The storm clouds gathered in the Spurs locker room two hours before tipoff Wednesday. Word was that Elliott was through for the season.

The oft-criticized Elliott, who former Spurs coach Bob Hill knew was hurting badly enough in November to be on the injured list then, indicated to some that MRI results weren't favorable.

The team's deflated spirit was quickly apparent Wednesday.

Vancouver players had open looks from the field, which aided their 65-percent shooting in the opening quarter.

The Grizzlies led by 22 points in the first half - the first time they have held such a margin in franchise history.

Oh, the Spurs fought gamely, getting within two in the fourth quarter.

But they faded, just as they have done throughout a season Stephen King couldn't have created even in his warped mind.

While players, coaches, management and season ticket-holders will bristle at this, I maintain this isn't the worst thing for the franchise.

The draft lottery affords the Spurs a chance to grab a top-flight player they couldn't get otherwise because they are over the salary cap.

Next season, with perhaps some additional dollars available should Charles Smith retire, the Spurs will have two new players, a healthy Elliott and a healty Robinson.

And, most importantly, they'll have a healthy spirit.

[SPARKY]

Former Spurs coach Hill stars in new ESPN show

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : February 9, 1997

Have you got a minute?

Former Spurs coach Bob Hill debuts this morning on a new weekly ESPN show, ``NBA Matchup Presented by IBM.''
The show, which today originates from the All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, also will have a guest coach each week and will zero in on the X's and O's of the game.

That, of course, is Hill's forte.

Besides featuring Hill, ESPN's Mark Jones and former NBA player and coach Freddie Carter will be on the telecast each week.

The show will air Sundays at 8 a.m.

And speaking of Hill, who was unfairly and, obviously, unwisely dismissed as Spurs coach Dec. 10, it's time to eradicate a mistaken notion which exists even in the mind of Spurs chairman of the board Peter Holt.

Hill's teams here were not bad defensively.

Any rubbish to the contrary has been spouted long enough.

Please note:

In 1994-95, the Spurs ranked fourth in the NBA in defense.

In 1995-96, the Spurs ranked third in defense.

In both of those years, the Spurs' were a plus-6 in point differential.

And . . . the Spurs ranked in the top three in field-goal percentage defense.

[SPARKY]

Although Spurs hurting, it could be much worse

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : January 30, 1997

Have you got a minute?

- While no one will argue that the Spurs have been devastated by injuries in the first half of this season, there was a team that had it worse.
And Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is quite familiar with that club - the '92-93 Golden State Warriors. Popovich was an assistant to Don Nelson then.

The Warriors lost 312 games to injury or illness that season, leading the NBA in that category. The club finished 34-48.

By comparison, the Spurs have lost 148 games to injury following Wednesday's encounter with the Lakers. Last year at this juncture, the Spurs had lost 25 games to injury, but 14 of those were from Dell Demps, who had numerous mystery maladies that enabled him to hang around.

Why, Nelson only had Tim Hardaway, Sarunas Marciulionis, Billy Owens and Chris Mullin together on the floor for two minutes, 37 seconds all season.

Said Nelson of his plight in '92-93: ``I must have done something terrible as a child.''

Wonder if Popovich is thinking the same thing today?

- The chatter Wednesday on the Jim Rome Show, heard locally on KTKR-AM (760), concerned a team wanting to trade for injured Spurs center David Robinson.

Popovich confirmed that a team had called about Robinson, but refused to identify it.

Rome and his caller seemed to think the team was Golden State.

Obviously, the Spurs could never get equal value for Robinson. Just ask the Milwaukee Bucks about trading Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers in June 1975.

The Bucks have won only nine playoff series since.

Wisely, Popovich said Robinson would not be traded.

Considering the good faith Robinson showed in signing a new contract here rather than becoming a free agent, the Spurs should never trade Robinson without his approval.

- Speaking of Robinson, after a TV taping at practice, David Jr., age 4, thought it was his time to be interviewed when Dad was through.

So Robinson placed the microphone on his eldest son and asked him who his favorite NBA team is.

``The Chicago Bulls,'' young David said.

Undaunted, Robinson then asked him who his favorite NBA player is.

``Michael Jordan,'' he replied.

No word yet on whether Robinson has opted to drop David Jr. from the will.

- Nice touch by Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal, who sent 20 dozen roses to the grandmother of teammate Derek Fisher, who was worried about her health.

O'Neal, by the way, visited Wednesday with former Spurs coach Bob Hill, who grew close to Shaq when they were together with the Orlando Magic.

[SPARKY]

`Caddy' doesn't fear another Shaq attack

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : January 29, 1997

The last time Shaquille O'Neal and the Lakers came to town, injuries to Spurs centers David Robinson and Will Perdue thrust Gregory Wayne ``Cadillac'' Anderson into the starting lineup.

Today, it's deja vu all over again.
Shaq and his mates will be in the Alamodome, Robinson and Perdue will be sidelined, and Anderson will man the middle against, as Anderson called him, ``that 300-pound monster.''

Please note, Shaq: Anderson said that with all due respect.

``I want to use the right words,'' said the always amiable Anderson. ``I don't want Shaq to read this and get mad.''

Not that ``Cadillac'' is fearful of the Lakers' big man, you understand.

``When we got ready to play them the last time, Coach (Bob) Hill told me to put on my hard hat and get ready to go to work,'' Anderson recalled following Tuesday's practice.

Shaq and the Lakers were ambushed by the then 1-5 Spurs Nov. 13. It was the Spurs' first home victory of the season.

``Coach Hill had a feeling that we were going to win that game that night,'' Anderson said. ``You know, I had the feeling all day long, too.''

Unfortunately, Hill will not be on the sideline for this encounter, having been fired by Gregg Popovich, who succeeded him on the bench.

Hopefully, Popovich will find time today to show the tape of that initial game against the Lakers. Surprisingly, he didn't do so during the hour-long video session that preceeded Tuesday's workout.

Surely it's worth reviewing.

That night in November, Anderson and the rest of the team played their most inspired game of the season in knocking off the Lakers.

And Anderson played a big part, despite Shaq's final numbers of 30 points and 10 rebounds.

In fact, Hill's first words after the game were, ``Didn't `Caddy' just play his butt off?''

Indeed, he did.

The Spurs, fueled by the 26,002 patrons in the Alamodome, pushed the Lakers back on their heels.

Anderson bothered Shaq enough to keep the big man from getting off to a huge start. Shaq registered just six points and one rebound in the opening quarter.

``You can't back down from Shaq, or he'll kill you,'' Anderson said of his strategy then . . . and now.

``He (Shaq) is always tough, and this is one of the cities where he really likes to play,'' Anderson said.

Anderson is excited for the challenge. He likes Shaq in that the Lakers' big man doesn't whine to the referees for calls and doesn't talk much during the game.

``The NBA is about taking the challenge every night, and I know playing Shaq is a challenge,'' Anderson said.

Likely, it will be even more of a challenge this time, in light of the Lakers' loss during their last visit.

Shaq turned it up a notch nine days after that Nov. 13 defeat when the Lakers blitzed the Spurs in Los Angeles.

Anderson, whose playing time has dropped dramatically since those early days of the season, is philosophical.

It's frustrating, but he knows it's business.

``That's why I'm glad for the opportunity tonight,'' Anderson said.

Even against Shaq?

Anderson nodded . . . and smiled.

``It's like we shot that big bear the last time here,'' Anderson said, finding yet another way to refer to Shaq.

``But,'' Anderson continued, ``We didn't kill him.''

[SPARKY]

Don't count Calipari among NBA's over-Hill gang

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : January 23, 1997

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has etched his name into the record books, only 20 games into his NBA coaching career.

Popovich, the man who felt the team wasn't responding to Bob Hill and fired him as coach in December, became the first Spurs head man to lose a season series to the New Jersey Nets in the teams' NBA history.

New Jersey's 103-95 victory Wednesday night gave the Nets a series sweep (2-0) for the first time in 21 years.

In case you're wondering, Hill's teams were 4-0 against New Jersey.

Luckily for the Spurs, there were few witnesses in the chilly Alamodome, which had ice down under the court in preparation for Saturday's International Hockey League encounter between the Dragons and Chicago.

An announced crowd of 12,802 -many of whom came disguised as empty seats - watched a 6-foot-5 guard from New Jersey outrebound the Spurs' 6-foot-9 power forward and 7-foot center.

Nets' Kendall Gill was the swingman who grabbed nine rebounds to go with his 32 points as he auditioned for Player of the Week honors.

Carl Herrera and Will Perdue were the power forward and center, respectively, who managed two and eight rebounds, respectively.

Gill and his mates were Team Windex - 44 total rebounds, 18 on offense. That edge on the boards enabled the Nets to outscore the Spurs 27-6 on second-chance points.

And it wasn't only that the Nets were doing the job inside; they also gathered every long rebound.

Repeatedly, the Spurs were flat-footed. It began in the first quarter and continued throughout the game against the Nets, who had lost two straight and six of seven.

The victory could not have been sweeter for Nets coach John Calipari, a longtime friend of Hill. Calipari was outraged when he learned of Hill's ouster Dec. 10.

OK, so Calipari said this wasn't a Win-One-For-The-Hill game.

But . . . there was no mistaking the satisfaction in Calipari's voice. He had visited with Bob and his wife Pam on Tuesday.

``Beating the Spurs was important in the sense that we needed to win the game,'' Calipari said, playing down any revenge motive for his longtime pal.

``There was no animosity, nothing personal in this. I like Vinny (Del Negro), AJ (Avery Johnson), David (Robinson) and Sean (Elliott).

``A win against the Spurs is a big thing.''

Well . . . I'm not sure that a win against the 10-28 Spurs is such a big thing anymore.

For the second straight game, the Spurs seemed to lack emotion. Guard Vernon Maxwell agreed.

The Spurs were MIA at the outset of Monday's loss in Minnesota. Wednesday night, they seemed to be lax in the fourth quarter. The Spurs never led in the final 6:20.

Was it not the team's lack of emotion for which Hill was unfairly criticized?

``People now know what a great job Bob Hill did here,'' Calipari said. ``I hated to see what happened to Bob.

``But you know, the Spurs might have done Bob a favor. He gets a paid vacation and he's going to get another great job in the league.''

Curiously, Calipari had told one member of the Spurs' broadcast crew that, without center Shawn Bradley and point guard Robert Pack, he was afraid the Spurs would ``kill us.''

It's the Spurs who now should be afraid as they teeter on the brink.

``We're not healthy mentally right now,'' said injured forward Chuck Person.

Losses to the likes of the Nets only make that condition worse.

[SPARKY]

Now Popovich should feel Hill's pain

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : December 25, 1996

Guess now we'll see just how good a coach Gregg Popovich is.

With David Robinson out of the lineup with a broken foot, Popovich gets to experience the frustrations Bob Hill lived with as head coach for the first 18 games of the season.
Hill, whose hair would have turned gray had it not been already, tried to manufacture victories for the Spurs without Robinson, who had been sidelined with a bad back since Oct. 11.

Yet, all Hill got were whispers of criticism behind the scenes from Popovich, who removed Hill as coach Dec. 10.

That just happened to be the day Robinson returned to the court for the first time. You'll recall that Popovich termed the timing of the firing ``a coincidence.''

(Insert polite laughter here).

In the last 10 days, Popovich, the Spurs' vice president of basketball operations, has taken on almost mythic proportions as coach, according to some, as the Spurs posted three consecutive victories for the first time.

Efforts to demean Hill's work during the winning streak have been quite sad.

It was as though Hill, the man who guided the Spurs to 121 victories in his first two seasons as coach, had suddenly gotten stupid.

I'd bet any coach's IQ would drop without Robinson in the lineup.

Watch for Popovich's to plummet during the next 6-8 weeks, the time it is believed Robinson will miss after having surgery.

It's an extreme disappointment for Robinson, who had worked so hard on rehabilitating his back and had just gotten to where he felt comfortable on the court again.

However, if this injury had to happen to anyone, Robinson is one who can handle it - given his deep, abiding faith. It's Robinson's Christian beliefs that give him inner peace during these times.

``We had just gotten competitive again,'' Robinson noted Monday night after receiving the X-ray results.

What Robinson, ever the humble man, didn't note was the obvious: The Spurs had gotten competitive again because he was back.

Somehow, though, there were fans who felt it was Popovich's organization, his plan, his attention to defensive details that sparked the Spurs, who went 3-15 under Hill.

That campaign for Popovich manifested itself in the pregame notes prepared Monday by the Spurs' media relations department.

``Pre-Pop'' and ``Post-Pop'' team statistics were listed.

To me, though, the stats that truly tell the tale could be found about an inch later on that sheet -``Without the Admiral.''

Since arriving in 1989-90, Robinson's presence in the lineup has translated into a 67.4 winning percentage for the Spurs. When he's absent, the percentage is 28.6.

Enough said.

Better rotations on defense, aggressiveness on offense, all the talk during the Spurs' three-game winning streak, succeeded only because of No. 50.

Robinson said he hoped the team's increased confidence level over the last 10 days would propel it through the next six weeks, about 19 games.

And don't be shocked if Robinson misses closer to eight weeks, about 25 games.

The loss of Robinson again not only affects this season, where hopes for the playoffs appear slim, but the long-range future of the franchise in San Antonio.

No playoffs would mean a steep financial loss for the owners, whose resolve to remain here could be shaken when board chairman Peter Holt makes a cash call to the group to make up the deficit.

Remember, too, it will be difficult to gain much enthusiasm for a new arena if the team stands 12-45. No new arena means no more Spurs, perhaps sooner than we'd all like to think.

Ex-coach Hill saw his players hit the wall as the early-season absence of Robinson took a toll. Popovich will see the same.

Upon taking over as coach for Hill, Popovich said, ``I don't have all the answers.''

Without Robinson, that will become even more apparent.

[SPARKY]

Hill's firing is yet another sad episode for Spurs

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : December 11, 1996

PHOENIX - The last time Spurs coach Bob Hill and team vice president Gregg Popovich discussed Hill's job, Popovich informed Hill that he was working on a two-year contract extension for him.

``He told my agent the same thing,'' Hill said.
Tuesday morning, though, Popovich had a change of heart.

``We had just finished a staff meeting,'' Hill began, recalling the way his day started.

``We went upstairs to his room. He (Popovich) said to me, `It's over.'

``I said, `What do you mean it's over? Are you firing me?' ''

Hill reported that Popovich then said that Hill had ``lost the team'' and that was why Popovich was taking over.

That angered Hill even in the re-telling of the story during our visit at Sky Harbor Airport on Tuesday afternoon.

``I just looked at him (Popovich) and said, `I didn't lose the team. I didn't have a team to lose,' '' Hill said.

Hill then criticized Popovich for refusing to extend his contract last summer, yet not allowing him to talk with other teams.

Hill didn't wait for a reply.

He already had grabbed his coat and was out the door.

The meeting lasted all of 20 seconds.

A sad end to a relationship that had soured after the Spurs' playoff ouster by Utah last spring.

It was then Popovich began planting items critical of his coach in the media. He became an enemy of the man he brought to San Antonio in 1994.

``But that stuff about losing the team,'' Hill said, his voice rising just slightly, ``that is a smokescreen. That simply is untrue.''

Popovich's agenda has been clear since the loss to Utah, which Hill didn't accomplish without help from his players.

And that Popovich made this move the day David Robinson returned to the floor after being sidelined with a bad back since Oct. 11 is further cause for cynicism.

``It's just a coincidence,'' Popovich said, with a straight face no less.

It's about as much a coincidence as the earth spinning on its axis.

Simply, Popovich, who pondered firing Hill last season and likely would have if the Spurs had lost the playoff opener to Phoenix, knew he had to dump Hill with the team 3-15 before it had the chance to improve.

The Spurs did the same to Jerry Tarkanian in 1992-93, firing him at 9-11 before a run of games even he couldn't lose.

Hill, who will be paid until June, brought organization and discipline to the team after John Lucas's stint as head coach.

Hill gave this team a rise in self-esteem, repeatedly pointing out to the players that the regular-season success - 62 and 59 victories -should be cherished.

``I don't think he (Popovich) knew how close we had become,'' Hill said of his relationship with the players.

``This season has been a frustration for all of us,'' Hill admitted. ``But this team has been decimated by injury.''

Hill had been preparing the team for Robinson's return. He practiced two different ways. He said he wouldn't have changed that.

Hill was doing it that way for the good of the team. That's why there was something hollow in Popovich saying that the coaching switch was being made ``for the good of the group.''

Understand, though, Bob Hill was fired last summer.

When Popovich and the rest of management refused to extend Hill's contract despite the incredible job he had done in the first two years as head coach, Hill was gone.

While Hill's loyalty to Popovich was unrewarded, not a discouraging word was heard from Hill, ever the company man.

As I wrote weeks ago, Hill would be the scapegoat.

I'm just surprised it happened so early in the season.

Popovich actually has placed himself in a position of failing.

But, given his mood swings and his tendency to allow his emotions to overcome him, I'm not sure he can handle this.

On a trying day, Hill was pure class. He talked of being able to see sons, Cameron and Chris, play basketball and being home for Christmas.

Hill also talked of wanting the team to win.

``Because I love those players,'' he said.

As we walked to the gate at the airport, a gentleman walked up to Hill and said, ``Go get 'em, Coach.''

He did.

[SPARKY]

Hill's firing a shock to Spurs' system - Players refuse to pin any blame

Kevin O'Keeffe Express-News Columnist

Publication Date : December 11, 1996

PHOENIX - As the players sat on the team bus Tuesday morning, waiting to leave for practice, Spurs general manager Gregg Popovich boarded and issued a rather alarming message.

Popovich announced he had fired Coach Bob Hill.
The news was met by stunned silence from the players - at least for a moment. It was broken by Dominique Wilkins, who shouted, ``You're kidding!''

Vinny Del Negro turned to Wilkins and told him it was no joke.

To a man, the Spurs' players said they were shocked by the move, considering the injuries the team had suffered this year.

``Is it fair?'' said Will Perdue, repeating a question. ``I don't think that matters. This is the NBA. There had been so much talk in the media about Bob's future that you could sense something like this being possible.''

Perdue had been less-than-pleased with the little playing time he was getting during the fourth quarters of several games late last month.

The 7-foot center and Hill sat down to lunch to discuss the matter.

``But we didn't have a problem,'' Perdue said. ``It wasn't a real negative as far as I was concerned. I had been out (with a thumb injury) and wanted to play, to make an impact.

``But Bob and I never had any trouble. Take that lunch, for instance. I always appreciated him being open-minded about me since I got here (in the trade with Chicago for Dennis Rodman).''

Hill, who guided the Spurs to 124 victories in two-plus seasons as head coach, was dismissed after the team struggled to a 3-15 start.

Popovich, who hired Hill only after failing to lure Don Nelson in 1994, assumed the head-coaching reins Tuesday night against the Suns.

``Honestly, I really thought it was a gag,'' Wilkins said of Popovich's statement that Hill was gone. ``I just think it's so unfortunate that something like this has to happen. (Hill) sure had done a great job here the last two years. He was frustrated this year - as we all are.''

The Spurs had been without injured All-Star center David Robinson, who started for the first time against Phoenix, and Chuck Person, who is out with a back injury. Hill also lost Charles Smith and Perdue to injuries at various times this season.

``Bob was always cool with me,'' Wilkins said.

Robinson, who played for the first time since Oct. 11, said he didn't agree with Hill's ouster.

``But it's not my decision to make,'' said Robinson, now is playing for his seventh coach since 1989-90. ``Bob and I never had any problems. I liked his love of winning. He was meticulous. He did a great job.''

But even Robinson conceded the Spurs' 3-15 start was going to cost someone.

``And the coach is the first person people look at,'' Robinson said. ``Is it Bob's fault that we're 3-15? It's our job to play.''

During a players-only meeting following a one-sided, 114-88 loss to Golden State on Sunday, the opinion formulated was that the team was better than its record.

Still, none of the players had an ill word for Hill.

``There is no one on this team who was closer to Bob than I was,'' said guard Avery Johnson. ``We talked a great deal. He said several times in recent weeks that there would be speculation about his future. But I didn't get the idea that he saw this coming.''

Johnson said he had no problems with Hill, who had benched him in the fourth quarter of a couple of games this season.

``We were always on the same page,'' said Johnson, who admitted feeling an uneasiness about Hill's future dating back to last year's playoff series loss to Utah and management's refusal to extend Hill's contract over the summer.

Johnson, Del Negro and Vernon Maxwell had lunch with Hill on Sunday in San Jose, Calif., and talked about backcourt rotations given Hill's decision to remove Cory Alexander because of spotty play.

Del Negro, who like Johnson enjoyed back-to-back career years under Hill the past two seasons, bristled at the idea that Hill had ``lost the team,'' as Popovich told the coach Tuesday morning.

``Lost the team? That's a hard word,'' Del Negro said. ``We've been so successful that this lack of success has been hard for all of us. But lost the team? I don't think so.'' - - -

Depleted arsenal

Through 19 games, the Spurs have had seven players miss games this season due to injury.

Player Games Injury

Chuck Person 19 Back

David Robinson 18 Back

Charles Smith 15 Knee

Will Perdue 8 Thumb

Vinny Del Negro 2 Knee/ankle

Sean Elliott 1 Quadricep

Monty Williams 1 Foot

[MI21]

Damn, this thread HAS to be archived when all is said and done.

[SPARKY]

Del Negro hurt over tale of greed

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : February 1, 1999

Vincent Joseph Del Negro sounded weary as we spoke at what was a very late hour in Italy.
Del Negro's team had been eliminated from the Italian Cup Championship Tournament and, ever the competitor, that bothered him.

But what also bothers Del Negro is what happened in San Antonio, where he and his wife, Lynn, planned to spend the remainder of his basketball life and beyond.

"Hurt ... angry," Del Negro began, making his first public comments since being dumped by the Spurs after six years of exemplary service on and off the court. "There has been maliciousness. I hated the way I was made out to look greedy.

"Greedy? Far from it. If I was so greedy, why wouldn't I have taken the contract to remain in Italy rather than sign for the $1.75 million exception in Milwaukee?"

Exactly.

Del Negro turned down $4 million per season from his Italian League team to accept a four-year contract with the Bucks.

Today, Del Negro is in Milwaukee taking his physical. He'll be on the practice floor Tuesday. The Bucks open the season Friday night in Charlotte, N.C.

"George Karl has been wonderful," Del Negro said of his telephone conversations with the Bucks' head coach. "He has done everything for me that he could do. I'm looking forward to playing for him. It's nice to know that you're wanted."

Which, sadly, Del Negro wasn't in San Antonio.

As I mentioned in my Jan. 22 column, Spurs general manager/coach Gregg Popovich indicated to Del Negro and his representative, Jack Marin, in October 1997 that Vinny wasn't wanted here.

That's when a contract proposal from Marin that Popovich asked for was ignored. Del Negro, who was a free agent after last season, confirmed again that neither he nor Marin ever heard one word in response from Popovich.

But that lack of professionalism was topped by Popovich's very own brand of "bait-and-switch" last month.

That's when Popovich asked Marin to come in high - I was told Popovich's exact words were, "Make an offer that makes you look like an idiot and me look like a hero."

Marin did just that and Popovich feigned disgust and horror, putting out that Del Negro was demanding $5 million per season and using that as an excuse to dump the popular player, who could play off-guard and the point.

And lest we forget, during a dinner between Popovich and Marin on Jan. 14, it was Popovich who talked about giving Del Negro what he deserved.

The parameters of a five-year deal, which began at $3 million and topped out at $4.4 million, were discussed at that dinner.

Now, Popovich reportedly has denied this scenario on his radio show.

But you be the judge.

Do you honestly believe Del Negro would demand $5 million?

C'mon.

Popovich not only is insulting a good man in Del Negro, but the Spurs' boss is insulting the intelligence of every one of you.

As we spoke, I could tell Del Negro was holding back. He chose his words carefully.

Del Negro is the consummate pro. He's never been one to speak out publicly on matters.

Still, there was no mistaking the hurt he feels on this one.

"It didn't have to come to this," Del Negro said. "If they really wanted me, as Pop told Jack, they should never have let me become a free agent."

Del Negro had nothing but praise for the additions of Steve Kerr, Mario Elie and Jerome Kersey to the Spurs' roster.

"All good players, all good guys," Del Negro said.

Yet, he didn't try to hide how disappointed he was not having the chance to play with the Spurs this season.

"With Tim (Duncan), Dave (Robinson), Avery (Johnson) and a healthy Sean (Elliott), that's going to be an excellent team," Del Negro said. "And after being in San Antonio for six years, going through coaching changes and all, I was looking forward to being with the team.

"The next two years with Tim, the team really has a chance to go places."

Instead, the 32-year-old Del Negro must put his golf clubs in the closet for the cold climes of Milwaukee.

"I'm excited about the challenge," he said. "I'm excited about being coached by George. And, as I said, I'm glad to be going where somebody wants me."

In time, Del Negro said he wants to talk to Spurs owner Peter Holt about how things were handled.

I wish I thought that would matter to Holt, who seems to be under a Svengali- like spell performed by Popovich.

What's curious about all of this is that Popovich's pettiness regarding Del Negro cost him.

Portland, Detroit, Miami and Phoenix also had an interest in Del Negro.

Why wouldn't GM Popovich have done a sign-and-trade deal to have gotten something for his "resource?"

"Bottom line," Del Negro began, "all Pop had to do was pick up the telephone and say, 'Vinny, we're not going to sign you.' I understand that's business."

But with Popovich, it's always monkey business.

[SPARKY]

Ring leaders: Kerr, Elie know how it's done

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : January 27, 1999

Why all the fuss about two guys who, in 18 years of NBA play combined, together have averaged only 16 points per game?
For Stephen Douglas Kerr and Mario Antoine Elie, the ring is the thing - as in NBA championship ring.

For Kerr and Elie, the number that matters is five - as in NBA titles between them.

That's why trading for a 33-year- old, slow guard (Kerr) and signing as a free agent a 35-year-old, short (6-foot-5) small forward (Elie) makes good sense for the Spurs, who embarked on their abbreviated preseason Tuesday night in Houston against the Rockets.

That game was of particular significance to Elie, who played on the Rockets' title teams in 1993- 94 and '94-95.

And Elie wasn't just window dressing on those championship teams.

In the '95 NBA Finals, Elie's 22 points on 9-for-11 shooting gave the Rockets Game 4 in their sweep of Orlando. And had it not been for Elie's three-pointer in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals at Phoenix with 7.1 seconds left, the Rockets wouldn't even have had a chance to reach the finals.

But as the Rockets retooled for the 21st century, Elie was deemed unnecessary. Their loss, though, was San Antonio's gain because Elie brings a guile older Spurs fans may remember seeing in Paul Griffin, Coby Dietrick and Allan Bristow.

As was the case with that trio of Spurs alums, Elie fears no one. He is ecstatic about his rebirth here following a summerlong recruitment by Spurs guard Avery Johnson.

"Avery didn't promise me a car," said Elie, laughing. "He did promise me 7-footers (David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Will Perdue) and a point guard who pushed the ball up the floor."

In return, Elie promises the Spurs and their patrons a performer who enjoys the dirty work and one who will never give less than 100 percent.

In Kerr, who came from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Chuck Person and a No. 1 draft choice either this year or next, the Spurs get one of the league's premier three-point shooters.

Kerr, too, has some additional jewelry thanks to playing with Michael Jordan on the Bulls' last three NBA title teams - '95-96, '96- 97 and '97-98.

As with Elie on the Rockets' back-to-back champions, Kerr was more than a bystander. In the '97 NBA Finals, his jumper in the last moments clinched Game 6 and the title for the Bulls.

It's that experience that Spurs' fans hope will make a difference this spring, when the Spurs always have fallen short of expectations.

"There is a mental toughness you have to have in the playoffs," Elie said. "Steve and I know about that."

So how does this pair translate that experience to the current edition of the Spurs?

"We will talk to the guys," Kerr said. "But a lot of the championship experience comes in showing the guys."

Elie and Kerr want it to happen quickly.

"David Robinson isn't getting any younger (at 33)," Elie said. "So it's time to make a run (at the title)."

Elie and Kerr have a presence. You could feel it just walking into the first practice session. They have instant credibility with their teammates because of what they've been a part of.

Now those teammates hope Elie and Kerr will help them be a part of it, too.

[SPARKY]

Pop never wanted to sign Del Negro

Kevin O'Keeffe

Publication Date : January 22, 1999

Let's get something straight regarding the negotiations between Spurs general manager Gregg Popovich and Jack Marin, representative for guard Vinny Del Negro.
There were none.

Seriously.

Popovich never intended for Del Negro to be a member of the Spurs this season. More on that later.

Forget all of this hand-wringing malarkey from Popovich, who never will be NBA Executive of the Year but might be in line for an Oscar after his performance last week.

On Jan. 14, Marin and Popovich had dinner together here. At that time, Marin explained to Popovich what he was looking at for the 32-year-old Del Negro, who currently is playing in Italy.

Marin discussed a four-or five- year deal that would top out at around $4.4 million for Del Negro, who averaged 11.2 points per game in six seasons with the Spurs.

Never did Marin demand $5 million per season.

Never did Marin demand anything.

In fact, Marin was sensitive to the Spurs' budget plight. He suggested to Popovich that the last two years of the deal would not be fully guaranteed.

Now, if Popovich believed these numbers were out of line, which he indicated Wednesday as justification for dumping Del Negro, why didn't Popovich protest at the dinner with Marin?

Oh, Popovich was quite the thespian that night. Not only did he not object to Marin's contract-proposal numbers, but he also told Marin more than once how he wanted to make sure Del Negro got what he deserved.

Then he asked Marin to help him with that by making a higher offer. That would allow Popovich to turn it down, yet allow Del Negro to get what was discussed and what Popovich said he wanted Del Negro to have.

Instead ...

Popovich seized on that proposal, feigning disgust. He had his minions put out that he was angry.

Then his next words to Marin were, "We (the Spurs) are going another way."

Negotiations? What negotiations?

Oh, the real numbers of the proposal, according to an NBA source: $3 million, $3.6 million, $3.72 million, $4.08 million, $4.44 million.

Also, according to the source, the Spurs' deal with Chicago Bulls free-agent guard Steve Kerr is believed to be top heavy. It calls for Kerr to receive $3.5 million and $3.6 million in the first two years of the five-year, $11- million deal.

Thus, that would be more than Del Negro would have received in the first two years of his deal.

I like Kerr. The 33-year-old three-point threat is a wonderful addition to the Spurs. However, that is what he should be - an addition.

As in, an addition to Del Negro, who with his excellent skill at passing into the post can do more things than Kerr.

Understand, though, Popovich never intended for Del Negro to be with the team this year. He told Del Negro so before the 1997-98 season.

And he did it by not saying a word.

It was at that time Popovich instructed Del Negro and Marin to submit a contract proposal. Del Negro was entering the final year of a six-year, $12-million deal.

Del Negro and Marin did as instructed but never heard a word from Popovich.

Del Negro said little about being ignored because he didn't want to cause any problems. Still, he thought it was odd Popovich would ask for the proposal ... but never respond.

Why didn't Popovich want Del Negro back?

Simple, really. Del Negro wasn't one of Pop's guys and Vinny knew it. Del Negro, who was respected by his teammates, wasn't bashful about expressing an opinion contrary to Popovich's.

That's a no-no for Popovich, who is easily threatened because of his insecurity.

So, why all the theatrics the last week by Popovich? Might he have thought he could make Del Negro appear to be just another greedy player?

Surely, Popovich knew Spurs fans were much too smart for that. They knew Del Negro to be a self- effacing gentleman on and off the court, a man who personified a "team-first" mentality.

Del Negro will be missed here. And I'm not the only one who feels that way. Spurs co-captains David Robinson and Avery Johnson are puzzled about Popovich's dumping Del Negro.

As Robinson stated so eloquently: "Championship teams don't let go of players who have contributed for six seasons."

David's right, you know.

But then, this is just another example of why the Spurs never will be a championship organization as long as Popovich is in charge.

[SPARKY]

FOCUS: O'Keeffe leaves



Publication Date : March 3, 1999

Marketplace of ideas

I grew up in San Antonio and enjoyed keeping up with news and sports, the latter through Kevin O'Keeffe's column.
Express-News sports columnist Kevin O'Keeffe's reported resignation as a result of not being able to criticize the Spurs is a sad day for sports fans and anyone who appreciates the marketplace of ideas that the free press is supposed to allow.

My new hometown paper, the Washington Post, regularly features the highly opinionated views of staff columnists. They are allowed to express themselves freely in the marketplace of ideas because they have earned the right through years of service, credible analysis and intelligent reporting. The marketplace of ideas is big enough to allow this to happen.

It is a shame that the Express-News isn't big enough to let O'Keeffe express a view that is likely held by a large number of Spurs fans.

Express-News editors should not be surprised that I no longer find their paper to be a source of ideas and opinions that a free press is supposed to allow. Chris Caperton, Washington, D.C.

Idea of pressure silly

It is incredibly hard to believe that a major newspaper such as the Express-News would allow itself to be pressured into terminating a columnist by any outside interest, including the Spurs.

So you can imagine how ridiculous Express-News sports columnist Kevin O'Keeffe looks when he cries to anyone who will listen about how the Spurs cost him his job.

His complaints sound about as credible as some of his columns.

I admit that I did sometimes agree with O'Keeffe. However, his columns rarely impressed me, whether I agreed with them or not. I wish him well in whatever endeavor he decides to pursue, but I will not miss his column. San Antonio deserves better. Bill Reynolds

A favorite writer gone

I am sad to hear that Kevin O'Keeffe has left the Express-News. He is probably one of my favorite writers and his was always one of the first columns that I read.

He has such a passion for writing, and he shared that with the students in my journalism classes at MacArthur High School. Many of my students have included Kevin's columns in their reading logs, and I know that they will miss his way with words. I hope that Kevin continues to write and share his love for the language with others. Patricia Gathright

City left a bit poorer

I find it hard to believe that someone who has worked at a job for more than 20 years would resign if something was not amiss.

If the Spurs organization is not big enough to take criticism from a local scribe, perhaps it is time for them to move.

I feel that censoring the media for doing its job is an abridgment of the First Amendment. When the rich and powerful can pressure a newspaper not to print anything but a rosy picture of a floundering franchise, then the newspaper has lost all journalistic credibility.

The Spurs and the Express-News have made this city a little bit poorer. William Moke

[SPARKY]

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/popovich_gregg0428.jpg

[timvp]

Nice.

You've hit the gold mine.

:rollin

[ShoogarBear]

True or false: Baseline Bum was in attendance at Drob's first game as a Spur

Hmm, depends what you mean by "first game".

I was at DRob's first preseason game, October 17, 1989 in Hartford, CT versus the Celtics. He destroyed Robert Parish and I was thinking "hey, we may be on to something".

The reason I remember the exact date? It was the same day as the World Series earthquake.

[travis2]

Kevin O'Keefe was an asshole.

[2pac]

He was an opinion columnist fired for his opinion. Bush-league.

OKeefe proved to be wrong on many things. Bob Hill turned out to be a scrub and never really coached again, if you dont count Division II basketball.

Pop developed into one of the best - but at the time, Pop had no respect.


BTW: no one answered about what former Spur teammates were drafted consecutively.

Danny Ferry was drafted 2 and Sean Elliott was drafted 3 in 1989.

[travis2]

The problem with O'Keefe was that he evidently had an axe to grind. Why, I don't know. Were he and Bob Hill distantly related? Did Pop cut one of his kids? Don't know.

It's one thing to be an opinion writer...but his lack of objectivity in covering the Spurs (at that time) was really glaring. I'm not saying he never wrote anything good...but in the end, everything always devolved back into some conspiracy theory concerning Pop.

It really got wearing.

[travis2]

Here's a trivia question...

Devin Brown is not the first San Antonio college product to spend some time with the Spurs. There was a year in which the Spurs drafted two SA college players.

1. Name them
2. Name their school(s)
3. Extra credit - Name the rounds they were drafted in

[SPARKY]

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/1585182494.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


Be sure to order your copy (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1585182494/ref=olp_product_details/102-1752598-4322549?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance) today.

O'Keeffe developed a relationship with Hill and supposedly was in the process of writing a book with him when he was canned. Hence O'Keefe's rather obvious mission to destroy Popovich in print, no matter how hysterical and downright pathetic he appeared. It wasn't just that he was voicing an anti-management opinion but rather that the man had let his hatred of Pop get the better of him. That was Bush-league, to say the least.

If SPARKY remembers correctly, O'Keeffe is now working in the Texas AG's office.

[SPARKY]

Henry James St. Mary's

[travis2]

Henry James St. Mary's

Nope...earlier.

BTW...just so y'all know...this pair was NOT the first SA college products to be drafted by the Spurs...but they were drafted in the SAME YEAR.

[SPARKY]

'83 Draft
Ricky Hooker (6th round)
Gary Gaspard (9th round)
Both from St. Mary's

[SPARKY]

The Spurs have drafted one player from Harvard in the NBA Draft.

Who is he?

[2pac]

The Spurs have drafted one player from Harvard in the NBA Draft.

Who is he?

The same guy it was on page 4 or 5.

[SPARKY]

Spurs didn't draft Len Elmore.

[travis2]

'83 Draft
Ricky Hooker
Gary Gaspard
Both from St. Mary's

Correct. BTW, Ricky is now superintendent of the School of Excellence in Education here in SA, and has two star athletic daughters (Marshevet and Destinee)...

[SPARKY]

Without googling it, what is the name of the Russian (not Georgian) player the Spurs selected with a 2nd round pick in last June's NBA Draft?

[travis2]

The Spurs have drafted one player from Harvard in the NBA Draft.

Who is he?

Glen Fine

[SPARKY]

You're heating up. Or else you're looking at the same website I am.

[FromWayDowntown]

t's interesting to read O'Keeffe's columns again in the 20/20 of hindsight. There's a bitterness that laces all of those columns, and a lack of objectivity that is abundantly clear. He was an opinion columnist, sure enough, and he was paid to express his opinions. But when your opinion is informed only by your hatred for a particular person, and your diatribes are aimed at only describing one side of the story in achieving that end, the opinion lacks credibility.

It was a witchhunt at that point -- when your opinion centers on unfounded psychological assessments of a person's "insecurity," you're just hating.

[travis2]

Probably the latter...:lol

Although, I didn't need the site for my question...I was at St. Mary's during that time, so I remember it well.

[SPARKY]

This will probably kill all draft related questions, but nbadraft.net has a nice NBA draft history page. (http://www.nbadraft.net/history.asp)

Also, the Spurs have this year's Media Guide (http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/mediaguide_0304.html) available on their site.

[travis2]

This will probably kill all draft related questions, but nbadraft.net has a nice NBA draft history page. (http://www.nbadraft.net/history.asp)

Also, the Spurs have this year's Media Guide (http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/mediaguide_0304.html) available on their site.

ha...I didn't use them...I was using www.basketballreference.com...:lol

[FromWayDowntown]

Here's another playoff history question:

Beginning with the 1995 playoffs, name 3 Spurs who have hit desperation buzzer beaters (quarter, half, game) in a playoff game (I can think of 3 off the top of my head, but will admit that there may be others that I have forgotten). For bonus points, identify the opponents in those circumstances and the timing (i.e., what quarter) of those made heaves.

[SPARKY]

Chuck Person
Sean Elliott
Kevin Willis (v. Lakers)

[FromWayDowntown]

Willis is right. (Game 1, 2003 WCSF v. LA, end of first half)

I did some research and the Elliott shot I was thinking of (not the Memorial Day Miracle, by the way) was dramatic but not a buzzer-beater. I recalled Elliott nailing a desperation heave against Houston in Game 1 of the 1995 WCF, but it turns out that I was remembering a 30 footer he hit with 3.4 seconds left in the first half (and his conversion of the FT, since he was fouled on the shot).

So, I have to change my question to 2 buzzer-beaters, one of which is Willis.

I don't recall Chuck Person draining a buzzer-beater, but I'm thinking of another one: Jerome Kersey's buzzer-beater at the end of the 1st Quarter of Game 1 of the 1999 WCSF v. LA. I have always thought that Kersey's shot was the second-biggest shot of that championship run. It capped a pretty nice run that tied Game 1 at the end of 1 quarter. It seemed to me that the Spurs run that night was about like the Lakers run to close the 1st Quarter of Game 1 of the 2001 WCF -- it planted the seeds of doubt.

Anyway, my bad. It was a poor question on my part. . . .

Here's another question:

Aside from Rodman and Elliott, name the 2 other players involved in the 1993 trade that sent Sean Elliott to Detroit.

[SPARKY]

Fennis Dembo and Lou Rawls

[SPARKY]

What current NBA coach has a brother who is a former Spur?

Sam Mitchell

[SPARKY]

Another fun one. One former Spur is in the top 10 in personal fouls in NBA playoff history. Who is he?


http://129.8.204.40/~gary/drc/14.jpghttp://129.8.204.40/~gary/drc/74.jpghttp://129.8.204.40/~gary/drc/43.jpg

[timvp]

Aside from Rodman and Elliott, name the 2 other players involved in the 1993 trade that sent Sean Elliott to Detroit.


Without googling, I'm going to go with Isiah Something and David Wood.

Hmmm ... Isiah Morris I believe. And he never played with the Spurs or any other team, IIRC.

[FromWayDowntown]

Good job, timvp.

It was the illustrious Isaiah Morris and Dennis Rodman for Sean Elliott and David Wood. Morris was waived about 3 weeks after the trade.

I'll always remember Isaiah Morris because when I heard the first radio report of the trade, the news reader said that the Spurs had traded Sean Elliott and "another player" to Detroit for Dennis Rodman and Isiah Thomas. After a brief moment of giddiness, I thought to myself that unless "another player" was David Robinson, it probably wasn't going to be that Isiah.

Trying to come up with another question.

[Solid D]

Fennis Dembo and Lou Rawls

:rollin

http://www.lourawls.com/photos/RETCover_4.jpghttp://www.lourawls.com/album%20photos/merryxmas.jpg

[Solid D]

Without googling it, what is the name of the Russian (not Georgian) player the Spurs selected with a 2nd round pick in last June's NBA Draft?

I see nobody answered this. The spelling may be off but it was Sergei Karaulov.

[travis2]

I had the page I mentioned earlier open...so I figured I was DQ'd...

[whottt]

I see nobody answered this. The spelling may be off but it was Sergei Karaulov.

Actually Solid, we all knew the answer but we saved that one for you because we wanted you to feel included in the thread.

[Solid D]

Thanks, it has made me a more complete human being.

Anybody remember the San Antonio area schoolboy who played at Purdue and was later drafted into the NBA and later played for the Spurs? Who was it and what HS did he attend?

[FromWayDowntown]

Keith Edmonson went to Purdue after graduating from Mac, I think.

[FromWayDowntown]

3 players from San Antonio's 1989 AAU National Championship team have ever appeared in NBA games. Shaquille O'Neal and Bo Outlaw are two. Can you name the third?

[SPARKY]

I see nobody answered this. The spelling may be off but it was Sergei Karaulov.


You are correct, comrade. Very good. Your spelling most excellent.

http://www.riversideplayers.co.uk/PhotoGallery/Fiddler/Russian%20Dance.jpg

Now dance, comrade! Dance!

[Solid D]

Cha-ching. FWD. Keith Edmonson played for MacArther High then was drafted in the 1st round by the Hawks. Later played for the Spurs and actually did okay with them, but never reached expectations put on him.

[ShoogarBear]

Edmondson is another guy I played a couple of pickup games with, at the LBJ Center.

Not that I was anywhere near his league, or that he'd remember me in any way except that he would remember a bug he stepped on once.

[timvp]

Yeah, well I'm still pissed that I lost against Jaren Jackson one-on-one.

:cuss

[whottt]

What NFL player said that Drob's example in the 98-99 championship season inspired him to become more of a team player?


What NBA player said of David Robinson, "some guys were never rookies" after watching Robinson in one of his early games?

[ShoogarBear]

-Jerry Rice

-I know the second one, but I can't remember it. Maybe Bird?

[Duff McCartney]

What NFL player said that Drob's example in the 98-99 championship season inspired him to become more of a team player?

Jerry Rice.

[MI21]

Which former US Born Spur played for the Sydney Kings in Australia?

(Easy one :) )

[whottt]

Shoogar and Duff got Jerry Rice.





-I know the second one, but I can't remember it. Maybe Bird?

Close...but not Bird..Not Wilt, Jordan, or Kareem either.

[whottt]

Which former US Born Spur played for the Sydney Kings in Australia?

(Easy one :) )

Stephen Jackson...but shhh don't tell these clowns here that a guy out of the NBLwho had failed in previous stints in the NBA and who had marginal career stats, could ever help shoot them to a title, ....you'll never hear the end of it. Trust me, I found this out the hard way.

[timvp]

What NBA player said of David Robinson, "some guys were never rookies" after watching Robinson in one of his early games?

It was Magic and it was after his first game. Man, time goes by fast.

http://www-unix.ecs.umass.edu/~bobrow/david.gif

http://www.kskssports.com/ksks_sports/sports_illustrated/1980s/images/si8689.jpeg

http://www.sportseye.com/newsstand/tsn/david-robinson.jpg

http://www.strictlymint.com/online_store/store/images/11696.jpg

http://www.sporever.fr/mediastore/common/archives_sporever_NE_PAS_UTILISER/basket/NBA/San_Antonio_Spurs/David_Robinson.jpg

http://www.kskssports.com/ksks_sports/sports_illustrated/1990s/images/si9034.jpeg

http://www.nationalradio.com/D_Robinson.jpg

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030617/sp2.jpg

http://www.photofile.com/Photos/Albums/03_Spurs_Champs_Album/Images/David_Robinson_W_Trophy.JPG

[whottt]

^^^^TimVP gets it.

And you're right...it seems like only a post ago that MB was having sex with the T on his keyboard.

[Kori Ellis]

Don't let the trivia thread die.

I don't know a lot of old Spurs trivia because I haven't been a fan for too long. So I find this thread informative and fun.

[timvp]

Nobody knows the name of Sean Elliott's pet store?

:depressed

[Solid D]

I do. Isn't it Full Court Pets?

[timvp]

Nice job.

[Solid D]

I was just being nice and letting someone like whottt answer it since it was pretty easy. :hat

[whottt]

You'd have to be a San Antonian to know that one.

[whottt]

Ok, here we go...no googling or referencing(just because I did to be able to ask the question is no excuse)...if you don't know the answers you don't know the answers. This is serious trivia dammit.

1.Everyone knows the Spurs are 0-3 against the Jazz in post season series...our worst record...

There is another team the Spurs are 0-3 against...What team is it?



2.Name the team the Spurs have never even won a single game against in the post season.


Edited to appease TimfromwaydowntownVP:

3.Name the 5 teams the Spurs have have played in the post season but never beaten. 1 of them has already been named...

[timvp]

3.Name the 4 teams the Spurs have never beaten in the post season.

You might want to clarify that question. Like for example, the Bobcats would be an answer as it stands.

I'm thinking on the other ones.

[Solid D]

Spurs have never beaten the Rockets, Bullets/Wizards, um I'm still thinking.

[Solid D]

Spurs have never beaten the Rockets, Bullets/Wizards, um I'm still thinking.

Also Boston and Golden State with RunTMC.

[timvp]

I don't think the Spurs have ever beaten the Warriors or the Celtics in the playoffs.

[timvp]

You type to fast, Solid D.

[timvp]

The second question ... I think the answer is the Celtics.

[Solid D]

I don't think the Spurs beat Boston in their series. I know the Spurs beat the Rockets and Bullets (Spurs led that one 3-1), and I'm pretty sure they beat GS at least once.

[whottt]

Also Boston and Golden State with RunTMC.Shit, I forgot about GS....and damn you for reminding me of that series.

Make it the 5 teams :) the Spurs have played in post season series and never
beaten.


Solid D has answered it.

Spurs have never beaten Rockets, Jazz, Bullets, Celts or GS.

1st two questions still need to be answered.

[timvp]

Oh the Spurs are 0-3 versus the Suns. There was that Barkley series :pctoss, the series when Robinson was injured and the series when Duncan was injured.

Wait .. the Spurs beat them in '03.

Nevermind.

[whottt]

TImVP got the answer to the second question...and I guess Solid D did as well. TimVP got it first.

The Spurs played a 2 games series against Boston and were swept..in like 77, 78 or 79 or something.

Last one er..the first one still needs to be answered.

[Solid D]

TImVP got the answer to the second question...and I guess Solid D did as well. TimVP got it first.

Last one still needs to be answered.

Rockets.

[whottt]

It's kinda simple you have two choices left....you already know it's one of the 5 teams you mentioned. And it's not the Jazz or Celtics.

[whottt]

Solid D got it.

1.Spurs are 0-3 in post season series against the Rockets and Jazz.

2.Spurs played 1 two game series against the Celtics and lost both games, making the Celts the only team the Spurs have played and are winless against in the post season.

3.The Spurs are 0-3 against the Jazz and Rockets, 0-2 against the Bullets and 0-1 against the Warriors and Celts in post season series.

[whottt]

Next...

Your turn Solid.

[Solid D]

What Spurs' player had to wear a Bullets uniform because his road uni didn't make it to the playoff game?

[whottt]

Um, it was a member of either the 77 or 78 Spurs.

[Solid D]

and...

[whottt]

Um...Billy Paultz

[Solid D]

Nope. Not The Whopper.

[whottt]

The Big Mac

Meanwhile...ask another question...I could just work my way downt he rosters but it'd be cheap...I don't know the answer although I have heard this story before.

[Solid D]

Who was the Spurs first play-by-play radio man?

[whottt]

Terry Stembridge

[Solid D]

Correct. Terry was also the radio pbp guy for the Chaps in Big D.

[Solid D]

The longest shot in basketball history was called by Terry Stembridge. The teams, the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Chaparrals.

A. Who made the longest shot?
B. For which team?
C. Did it affect the outcome of the game?

[whottt]

What NFL player won a celebrity slam dunk contest in the Alamodome in 1993?

[whottt]

Who was the Spurs PG in Ancient Mesopotamia?

Um this one was kind of a joke.

Either you are going to have to start asking easier questions or I am going to google and go look at remember the ABA.

[Solid D]

What NFL player won a celebrity slam dunk contest in the Alamodome in 1993?

Mike Irvin

[whottt]

Excellent. Michael Irvin is correct.

[Solid D]

Who was the Spurs PG in Ancient Mesopotamia?

Um this one was kind of a joke.

Either you are going to have to start asking easier questions or I am going to google and go look at remember the ABA.

Sargon Parker I

[whottt]

Lmao

[Solid D]

Sargon Parker I

And Hammurabi did the first dunk. They called him "The Hammah".

He also drew up the first plays and he broke the "code" on early offense.

[Solid D]

Okay, I will leave a hint on the Spur who had to wear a Bullets away uni with jersey inside-out. Here's a pic. If you can identify the player, you get credit any way.

It took me a while to find the pic, BTW.

http://i.cnn.net/si/si_online/covers/images/1978/0508_large.jpg

[whottt]

What city had a team in the innagural season of the NBA but didn't have basketball return there for nearly 50 years?

[whottt]

Okay, I will leave a hint on the Spur who had to wear a Bullets away uni with jersey inside-out. Here's a pic. If you can identify the player, you get credit any way.

Elvin Hayes :fro

[whottt]

I'll try George Karl

[Solid D]

Look at the photo.

[whottt]

The guy in Red White and Blue?

Looks like James Silas...

Geez that sucked lol...not even close to the regular jersey. I was looking at the black jerseys and the white guy's looked like a slightly different color.

[Solid D]

What city had a team in the innagural season of the NBA but didn't have basketball return there for nearly 50 years?

Was it MPLS, home of the real Lakers?

[whottt]

Was it MPLS, home of the real Lakers?

Nope...Minny didn't have to wait nearly 50 years...only about 30.

[timvp]

What city had a team in the innagural season of the NBA but didn't have basketball return there for nearly 50 years?

Toronto.

[whottt]

TimVP got it...

[Solid D]

The guy in Red White and Blue?

Looks like James Silas...

Geez that sucked lol...not even close to the regular jersey. I was looking at the black jerseys and the white guy's looked like a slightly different color.


It's not James Silas.

[whottt]

Larry Kenon...am I right that it's the guy in RW&B with the dark shorts?

[Solid D]

Yeah the guy with the :fro but no, it is not Kenon.

[whottt]

Glen Mosely

[timvp]

It's Mike Gale. whottt claims that he's so old but can't get history questions.

What's the deal?

[Solid D]

Correct, timvp. Sugar Gale.

[whottt]

It's Mike Gale. whottt claims that he's so old but can't get history questions.

What's the deal?

I'm not that freaking old. I didn't go to my first Spur game until 81 or so. I've never seen that mofo in that pic before.

[Solid D]

It's almost game time. Shall I post the longest shot answers now, or wait for others?

[Jimcs50]

What well known ex Spur went to the same famous highschool that Wilt went to?

[Solid D]

Wow, ex-Spur huh? I know Malik went to Overbrook but he's current. Hmmm. good queston there, jimbo.

[Jimcs50]

Are there any other questions un answered?

[Solid D]

The longest shot in basketball history was called by Terry Stembridge. The teams, the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Chaparrals.

A. Who made the longest shot?
B. For which team?
C. Did it affect the outcome of the game?

These are yet unanswered.