timvp
11-05-2007, 01:05 AM
Spurs forced to wait a little longer for Horry's return
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
Like most football fans in South Texas, Robert Horry spent Sunday afternoon watching the battle of the NFL unbeatens.
Relatively neutral about the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots, Horry admitted to a slight bias. He had to root for his friend, Peyton Manning. Perhaps a Colts victory might lessen the sting of having lost his annual bet with Horry on the outcome of the Alabama-Tennessee football game.
"I guess I have to root for Peyton," Horry said after returning Sunday to the Spurs' practice facility after nearly three weeks on personal leave. "I already beat him on our annual bet."
The NBA has warned about the dangers of gambling — each player was presented a pamphlet entitled "Bad Bet" that details the potential problems that can attach to wagering, legal and otherwise — but friendly bets involving players' colleges are deemed harmless.
Horry has had fun betting Manning on the outcome of the Crimson Tide vs. Volunteers game since meeting him at a sports awards production a few years ago. The two traded stories and phone numbers. A friendship ensued, and it wasn't long before there was a friendly wager.
The Crimson Tide's 41-17 thumping of the Vols on Oct. 20 meant Manning had to send Horry the winnings, along with an autograph under a line that read "Roll Tide."
It was one of the few light moments Horry was able to enjoy during time away from the Spurs to be with a close relative in poor health.
Now the 16-year veteran has returned for what he calls Training Camp II. Unable to focus much on conditioning during his time away from the team, Horry's immediate goal is a return to top condition.
After declaring on Saturday that he hoped to return for Wednesday night's game against Miami, Horry acknowledged Sunday that it will be much longer before he can hope to suit up. He strained a hamstring during his Sunday workout.
"I've got to basically get my rhythm back, get my shot back, get my basketball motion back and get the bio-mechanics going," Horry said. "It's going to take two or three weeks."
Francisco Elson and Matt Bonner have played so well in Horry's absence that Horry feels no need to rush his return.
"It ain't broke," he said, "and we're 3-0."
Horry has watched all three of the Spurs' games and likes what he has seen.
"I've seen a lot of energy, which I'm very happy about," Horry said. "The guys are playing with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. It's almost like we didn't win a championship, like we were so close but we didn't get it, so we're bringing that enthusiasm and that knowledge of how to play the game back to this season to go out and work hard."
Though the Spurs like to joke that Horry views the regular season as a nuisance and doesn't get excited until the playoffs arrive, they understand his value, even in the first weeks of the season.
Coach Gregg Popovich's brow furrows as he ponders the setback Horry has endured recently. That Horry's legs might be a bit fresher in April doesn't minimize his concern.
"Last year we played him more than people realized," Popovich said. "We wanted him to be in shape. We made a conscious effort to play him on a more consistent basis throughout the year. We held him out of back-to-back situations as best we could, but we tried to be consistent with him throughout the year so he'd have a base.
"This year it looks like it could be a little different. Maybe we'll be just hoping for the best at the latter part of the season to get him in shape."
As well as Bonner and Elson have played, Popovich does not want the Spurs to go into the playoffs without an Horry capable of making more big shots.
"Robert does a lot of things on the court that a lot of people can't do because he understands the game so well," Popovich said. "He understands what's important and what's necessary at particular times. You can't replace that basketball knowledge, so we'd like to get that back."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA110507_Spurs-Horry.en.34eedb6.html
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
Like most football fans in South Texas, Robert Horry spent Sunday afternoon watching the battle of the NFL unbeatens.
Relatively neutral about the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots, Horry admitted to a slight bias. He had to root for his friend, Peyton Manning. Perhaps a Colts victory might lessen the sting of having lost his annual bet with Horry on the outcome of the Alabama-Tennessee football game.
"I guess I have to root for Peyton," Horry said after returning Sunday to the Spurs' practice facility after nearly three weeks on personal leave. "I already beat him on our annual bet."
The NBA has warned about the dangers of gambling — each player was presented a pamphlet entitled "Bad Bet" that details the potential problems that can attach to wagering, legal and otherwise — but friendly bets involving players' colleges are deemed harmless.
Horry has had fun betting Manning on the outcome of the Crimson Tide vs. Volunteers game since meeting him at a sports awards production a few years ago. The two traded stories and phone numbers. A friendship ensued, and it wasn't long before there was a friendly wager.
The Crimson Tide's 41-17 thumping of the Vols on Oct. 20 meant Manning had to send Horry the winnings, along with an autograph under a line that read "Roll Tide."
It was one of the few light moments Horry was able to enjoy during time away from the Spurs to be with a close relative in poor health.
Now the 16-year veteran has returned for what he calls Training Camp II. Unable to focus much on conditioning during his time away from the team, Horry's immediate goal is a return to top condition.
After declaring on Saturday that he hoped to return for Wednesday night's game against Miami, Horry acknowledged Sunday that it will be much longer before he can hope to suit up. He strained a hamstring during his Sunday workout.
"I've got to basically get my rhythm back, get my shot back, get my basketball motion back and get the bio-mechanics going," Horry said. "It's going to take two or three weeks."
Francisco Elson and Matt Bonner have played so well in Horry's absence that Horry feels no need to rush his return.
"It ain't broke," he said, "and we're 3-0."
Horry has watched all three of the Spurs' games and likes what he has seen.
"I've seen a lot of energy, which I'm very happy about," Horry said. "The guys are playing with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. It's almost like we didn't win a championship, like we were so close but we didn't get it, so we're bringing that enthusiasm and that knowledge of how to play the game back to this season to go out and work hard."
Though the Spurs like to joke that Horry views the regular season as a nuisance and doesn't get excited until the playoffs arrive, they understand his value, even in the first weeks of the season.
Coach Gregg Popovich's brow furrows as he ponders the setback Horry has endured recently. That Horry's legs might be a bit fresher in April doesn't minimize his concern.
"Last year we played him more than people realized," Popovich said. "We wanted him to be in shape. We made a conscious effort to play him on a more consistent basis throughout the year. We held him out of back-to-back situations as best we could, but we tried to be consistent with him throughout the year so he'd have a base.
"This year it looks like it could be a little different. Maybe we'll be just hoping for the best at the latter part of the season to get him in shape."
As well as Bonner and Elson have played, Popovich does not want the Spurs to go into the playoffs without an Horry capable of making more big shots.
"Robert does a lot of things on the court that a lot of people can't do because he understands the game so well," Popovich said. "He understands what's important and what's necessary at particular times. You can't replace that basketball knowledge, so we'd like to get that back."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA110507_Spurs-Horry.en.34eedb6.html