Important: The Official Beno Thread

[polandprzem]

One of those days when you waking up and drop the jaw and do not want to pick it up

I woke up and saw how Beno destroyed the spurs.


Two lame games in a row for the spurs. Sweet. I wanted it I guess cuse I was starting a thread why the spurs so good so early. Well not anymore.

Sheesh Beno with 27...

:pctoss

and

:hang

Vbookie gotdamnit

[sendman]

Vbookie works great. My first bet and I made a Vfortune. :hat

[Sacramental]

Reminds me of the last supper.

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20071127/i/r2314288920.jpg

this is what they were staring at.

http://www.nba.com/media/benocap_300_071126.jpg

[polandprzem]

Vbookie works great. My first bet and made a Vfortune. :hat

That's the fucked up.

I'm betting all year long and got nothing and you are picking Beno and winning.


What else is new in my life?


:rolleyes

[whottt]

15.68 Dynasty Points.

:smokin


Word!

Here's hoping he keeps it up for the rest of the week :tu


Hell...here's hoping he actually steals the starting job from Bibby :tu

Go Beno Go!

[FreshPrince22]

haha, I saw the boxscore when I got home from work and immediately came here. Don't worry, he murdered us too.

Oh, and you guys can still have Nazr back if you miss him that much :lol

[whottt]

And people say that Bowen is dirty.
http://assets.espn.go.com/media/apphoto/38b00704-c3b8-4399-b7e0-44dcf7240721.jpg



DW was playing with fire there...he's lucky Beno didn't mistake his hand for a breakfast taco.

[whottt]

One of those days when you waking up and drop the jaw and do not want to pick it up


Why would you not want to pick it up?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Word!

Here's hoping he keeps it up for the rest of the week :tu


Hell...here's hoping he actually steals the starting job from Bibby :tu

Go Beno Go!

Ya man! We've found ourselves an 8-10pt guard for another few weeks for nothing, and he'll stay in the rotation after Bibby's back if he keeps playing like this... but can he? I have a feeling he might...

[polandprzem]

Why would you not want to pick it up?

I do not want to talk all day long !


And I do not look that bad without the jaw :eyebrows





:flag:

[sendman]

That's the fucked up.

I'm betting all year long and got nothing and you are picking Beno and winning.


What else is new in my life?


:rolleyes

I don't gamble.
:devil

[WalterBenitez]

That little slovenian can put a ball in the hole, that fact shows that POP was wrong, especially in those nigths when TP is off.

[WalterBenitez]

http://assets.espn.go.com/media/apphoto/38b00704-c3b8-4399-b7e0-44dcf7240721.jpg

Looks like POP is sending Darius to learn some new defense gadgets :rolleyes

[Slomo]

haha, I saw the boxscore when I got home from work and immediately came here. Don't worry, he murdered us too.

Oh, and you guys can still have Nazr back if you miss him that much :lol:lol

Nice try!

[TheAuthority]

just took a FAT ASS SHIT on Gregg Popovich. The shit he took on him, and really the entire Spurs organization, was epic. This was a shit he took on them that was of the triple-flush variety. If I was Beno Udrih, I would have came up to Popovich during a free throw and said IN YOUR FACE -- IN YOUR FACE... OH IT STINGS DON'T IT? IT BURRRRNS. Then, I would have proceeded to do a dance, while looking him directly in the eye and smiling. Not only was he torching them on offense, but he was locking Parker up on defense. Wow. Yes, I'm sure JACQUE VAUGHN could have cashed in a performance similar to this one, if the tables were turned. Just kidding, he hasn't his entire NBA career, and he's like 38. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Man. It. Feels. Good. To. Be. Right.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Get over yourself. 5 games in 7 days, they were tired. let's see if beno can keep up that pace for a season or two before we anoint him as the 2nd coming.

[dbestpro]

One of the most annoying things on this board has been the constant Beno bashing. I have been a Spurs fan since the 70's, went to my first game in 78 and over the years I never heard of anyone taking so much heat for so being a second/third string option. The heat also seemed to stem from a mob mentality on this board that does not reflect the general public. Well, to all the Beno bashers at Spurstalk, How does crow taste for breakfast this morning? I know some of you will be in denial and continue to bash him which will put you in the same class as Maverick and Suns fans. You will not be able to admit your wrong.

[Holt's Cat]

Beno is just like any number of NBA players with plenty of talent but with a lack of worth ethic and lack of desire which inhibits the development of their game. Sure, Beno can put up some points on a Sacramento team heading for a 35-47 record. Sure, he may be able to have a good game against a tired Spurs team in the second night of a road back to back in November. Whenever the pressure's on and he's playing for something other than 'revenge' against the team that expected something more than him being semi-available and enjoying the great San Antonio nightlife he folds. Good riddance still.

[MagnusKrauss]

I'm new here. I've been posting for only a few months now. I've been watching the spurs since 2003. I'm not as knowledgeable as you guys. The few games I've watched with Beno playing made me say "wow, this guy can play!" but after a few years, i didn't see him as much on the court. I always wondered what happened that made Pop bench him. 2005 we played an opponent who prized defense as much we did and i took it in stride when they hit Beno on the press.

The year after, he showed signs of life but he didn't make much of an impact. Injuries cropped up and I thought, man Beno sure has bad luck.

Fastforward a few years and I came here. And I read what happened. I got to know the story behind Beno.

There is no doubt he is talented. No doubt that he *could* become a great PG for a championship caliber team. What I didn't want was excuses.

Timmy played through the injury. We lost. We didn't blame him.

Barry went to the doghouse. We lost. Did he quit? Did he stop working on his game?

Tony received Pop's rough training. He got benched. He was told to work on his jump shot. Did he quit? Did he refuse? Was he offended?

Manu didn't like becoming a reserve at first. Now does he clamor for a starting spot? Does he go crying to the press that Pop never starts him?

These are the qualities that we look for in a Spur. Beno, talented as he may be, does not possess these qualities.

But I'm just the new guy.

[Cherry]

I'm new here. I've been posting for only a few months now. I've been watching the spurs since 2003. I'm not as knowledgeable as you guys. The few games I've watched with Beno playing made me say "wow, this guy can play!" but after a few years, i didn't see him as much on the court. I always wondered what happened that made Pop bench him. 2005 we played an opponent who prized defense as much we did and i took it in stride when they hit Beno on the press.

The year after, he showed signs of life but he didn't make much of an impact. Injuries cropped up and I thought, man Beno sure has bad luck.

Fastforward a few years and I came here. And I read what happened. I got to know the story behind Beno.

There is no doubt he is talented. No doubt that he *could* become a great PG for a championship caliber team. What I didn't want was excuses.

Timmy played through the injury. We lost. We didn't blame him.

Barry went to the doghouse. We lost. Did he quit? Did he stop working on his game?

Tony received Pop's rough training. He got benched. He was told to work on his jump shot. Did he quit? Did he refuse? Was he offended?

Manu didn't like becoming a reserve at first. Now does he clamor for a starting spot? Does he go crying to the press that Pop never starts him?

These are the qualities that we look for in a Spur. Beno, talented as he may be, does not possess these qualities.

But I'm just the new guy.


:clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap
:clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap
:clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap

[Jimcs50]

To top it all off, Stephen Jackson had 32 last night to help beat the Suns,


:dramaquee

[ArgSpursFan.]

To top it all off, Stephen Jackson had 32 last night to help beat the Suns,


:dramaquee

that's not really a parameter.His team scored 129 Friking Pts last night.
Manu or Tony could be the NBA top scorers playing for a run and gun team like the warriors,we all know that.

[Jimcs50]

that's not really a parameter.His team scored 129 Friking Pts last night.
Manu or Tony could be the NBA top scorers playing for a run and gun team like the warriors,we all know that.


Are you serious?


:lol

[SpurYank]

I never joined in the Beno bashing. I read it here day in and day out, and mostly thought the people who were bashing him knew what they were talking about. After all, I'm a thousand miles away and don't frequent any of the clubs you all do, along with Beno. Still, I am always happy for former Spurs to do well when they go elsewhere, even if it's against us.

Great game, Beno. And to think Minnesota never even got you on the court! It's probably Kevin McHale who feels the worst today.

[MagnusKrauss]

I would like to congratulate Beno on a good game.

That said, good luck next time you face the Spurs.

[Kibic]

One of the most annoying things on this board has been the constant Beno bashing. I have been a Spurs fan since the 70's, went to my first game in 78 and over the years I never heard of anyone taking so much heat for so being a second/third string option. The heat also seemed to stem from a mob mentality on this board that does not reflect the general public. Well, to all the Beno bashers at Spurstalk, How does crow taste for breakfast this morning? I know some of you will be in denial and continue to bash him which will put you in the same class as Maverick and Suns fans. You will not be able to admit your wrong.
Yes! From 70's, nice. There are no more than 9 of them. They really think that they have real information....

[DDS4]

Props to Beno....he's been the proverbial whipping boy for a long time here and everywhere else in Spurland.

Now that Scola and Beno have torched us, who's next? SJax? Rasho? Devin Brown?

[The Truth #6]

Beno chest bumping with Miki Moore was incredibly awkward and awesome.

[Matches Malone]

This was one of those games were the Spurs got nothing going on tecnically (loosing rotations, failing to execute, balling shots out, lack of bench guidance) and nothing going physically (lack of D, lack of commitment, plainly no effort, stupid turnovers). But they have an awfull lot going psicologically, for sure...
Probably they started the game thinking "Ahh ...It's just Beno and the Kings...nice to see the old FRIEND...let me wish him luck". What they were not expecting was the little fuck coming poised to bring hell to them. While the entire Spurs team was soft and hesistant, Beno and the Kings were all business.
What I can't believe is that nobody thought that Beno was out for payback time. They thought that by sticking close during the first half, would be enough. Everybody knows we come hard on the second half. Well, they got out of the lockers harder and more decided to close it. The famous killing instinct and surgical precission with what the Spurs destroy the other teams was not there.
Halfway through the third quarter they were still trying to recover from the sight of Beno runing the floor, hitting threes, locking TP on defense, and doing everything they thought he might be able to do, but never saw/trust on him doing.

Props to Beno, revenge is sweet, but next time EVERYBODY will be ready.

This is only ONE game, no generalizations and broad statements should be made out of it. No reason to panic, and alot of reason to seat down and think.

It was one team commited to win and another team that though they already have the cross on the W column because in front of them it was Beno and the Kings....right?

[Bruno]

Bashing Beno for having a bad work ethic is legitimate. Beno playing good or bad has nothing to do with that. Beno having a bad work ethic when he was with Spurs is a fact and nothing can change that.
However, Beno having a bad work ethic doesn't mean that he is the worst PG in the league (some people have said that) and he has proved that he wasn't the worst PG in the league.

[sendman]

Bashing Beno for having a bad work ethic is legitimate. Beno playing good or bad has nothing to do with that. Beno having a bad work ethic when he was with Spurs is a fact and nothing can change that.
However, Beno having a bad work ethic doesn't mean that he is the worst PG in the league (some people have said that) and he has proved that he wasn't the worst PG in the league.
Oh no, you don't!
If that is a fact, then you wont have any trouble finding a proof and present it to us who don't get "facted" so quickly.
I dare you to do it with facts.

If he was out of shape and fat and I don't know what else when he came to Spurs camp (and he broke a finger on top of that), then Kings have some conditioning guru working for them and Pop has no clue. He and his people couldn't make Udrih work for 3 years and Kings did it in 3 weeks? Give me a break.
Udrih worked hard, but T Park, Sequ and some other assholes on this board, worked even harder to trash his image, just to keep public opinion safe for Tony Parker.
For the record: I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST TONY, AND I NEVER SAID A BAD WORD ABOUT HIM. He has nothing to do with this sh**t.
All this Beno bashing started in time when he got his "Rookie of the month" award and some people started to talk about Beno taking Tonys starting job. AND THAT IS A FACT. You can look it up in threads from that time, if you like.

[sendman]

Now that is FUUNNNNYYYY! :elephant :smokin :danceclub

[whottt]

Oh no, you don't!
If that is a fact, then you wont have any trouble finding a proof and present it to us who don't get "facted" so quickly.
I dare you to do it with facts.

If he was out of shape and fat and I don't know what else when he came to Spurs camp (and he broke a finger on top of that), then Kings have some conditioning guru working for them and Pop has no clue. He and his people couldn't make Udrih work for 3 years and Kings did it in 3 weeks? Give me a break.
Udrih worked hard, but T Park, Sequ and some other assholes on this board, worked even harder to trash his image, just to keep public opinion safe for Tony Parker.
For the record: I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST TONY, AND I NEVER SAID A BAD WORD ABOUT HIM. He has nothing to do with this sh**t.
All this Beno bashing started in time when he got his "Rookie of the month" award and some people started to talk about Beno taking Tonys starting job. AND THAT IS A FACT. You can look it up in threads from that time, if you like.


That's bullshit...Beno had a bad rep before the Spurs ever drafted him...


When the Spurs drafted him, Mike D'antoni, who was familiar with him in Europe described Beno as...some fat kid who played for Maccabi.


We all laughed at D'antoni for being clueless when he said that.....no one was laughing at about it when Beno got waived.




Stop defending Beno's attitude...it's indefensible. IT's also why's not here any longer.


Imagine if every one sucked if they weren't starting....there wouldn't be a good bench in the NBA or anywhere else in the world...luckily, there are a lot of players who aren't Beno's.


It'd be one thing if it was Jordan whining about being on the bench...but this is Beno fucking Udrih...who doesn't keep himself in shape, who is injury prone, and who aint all that even if he is in shape and healthy.

[sendman]

Stop defending Beno's attitude...it's indefensible. IT's also why's not here any longer.
Dude chill...noone is talking about his attitude. He pissed me off sometimes too.




It'd be one thing if it was Jordan whining about being on the bench...but this is Beno fucking Udrih...who doesn't keep himself in shape, who is injury prone, and who aint all that even if he is in shape and healthy.
Still waiting for some facts that are proving his bad conditioning.
If taking a knee into his tie or breaking his finger means that, then he has no business being in NBA. Fire his lazy ass now!
But just look at the photo above…. Stop looking at his purse and concentrate on his arms and body. You might find a surprising fact that this fat lazy piece of shitt has some muscles. Go figure.

[whottt]

He got into shape because he knew he was going to be starting...just like he got into shape to turn himself into a first round draft pick, which is why he didn't resemble D'antoni's scouting report at the time he was drafred...and then he quickly got out of shape...and D'antoni didn't look stupid any longer.


Exactly what was Beno trying to prove last night?


He's the one that was saying he wanted a chance to start...the Spurs gave him one...in a contract year...so why's he got an axe to grind?


I'll tell you why...because he's an idiot.


It's just like when Rasho got dunk crazy the first time he played us with the Raps.....

What was he trying to prove? That he could dunk? We already knew he could dunk...which is why his refusal to do so pissed everyone off.

[sendman]

He got into shape because he knew he was going to be starting...just like he got into shape to turn himself into a first round draft pick, which is why he didn't resemble D'antoni's scouting report at the time he was drafred...and then he quickly got out of shape...and D'antoni didn't look stupid any longer.

He got axed on the last day of the training camp, with broken finger. And he knew he was going to be starting? And then he shaped himself up in 3 weeks. And played some solid basketball during that time. He must have some super powers.

Naaahhhh, that is just very very weak argument.

Oh, and you lost your credibility as soon you wrote that D'Antony didn't or don't look stupid.

[baseline bum]

The only thing Udrih was ever supposed to be good at was shooting, and he goes and shoots 37% last season. Then, he gets pissed when the team asks him to work on his shot. I don't know how the hell he made 13 minutes a game in 73 games with that dogshit performance. Good riddance to the lazy ass; he deserved no part of being on the greatest basketball team in the world.

[ploto]

It's just like when Rasho got dunk crazy the first time he played us with the Raps.....

What was he trying to prove? That he could dunk? We already knew he could dunk...which is why his refusal to do so pissed everyone off.
I have no clue what you are even talking about. When the Raptors met up with SA the first time in Toronto, Rasho had one basket. Yes, it was a dunk but I would not call that going dunk crazy! Then, when Rasho played in SA last season, he scored alot but never dunked once. So what on earth are you referring to?

[whottt]

He got axed on the last day of the training camp, with broken finger. And he knew he was going to be starting? And then he shaped himself up in 3 weeks. And played some solid basketball during that time. He must have some super powers.

Naaahhhh, that is just very very weak argument.


You must not have been on the board much during the summer...the pictures were plentiful.

Sorry you didn't see them...doesn't make you right.




Oh, and you lost your credibility as soon you wrote that D'Antony didn't or don't look stupid.


D'antoni owned all of Spursfandom and the Spurs on that...

FWIW, you do realize D'antoni was once a European scout for the Spurs don't you? I guess the Spurs lack credibility too...

Isn't it amazing how it's what you don't know that always digs you a deeper hole?

Too bad we can't figure out a way to harness that....

[whottt]

I have no clue *snip*



I know you don't...try to keep it your problem and not make it anyone elses...

[sendman]

D'antoni owned all of Spursfandom and the Spurs on that...

FWIW, you do realize D'antoni was once a European scout for the Spurs don't you? I guess the Spurs lack credibility too...

Isn't it amazing how it's what you don't know that always digs you a deeper hole?

Too bad we can't figure out a way to harness that....
I know D'Antony since he was a player for TRACER MILANO with Dino Meneghin (hall of fame) and Bob McAdoo. I can even describe the uniform he was wearing at that time. So stuff that hole of yours that you mentioned above. For D'Antony to talk trash about any player that he doesn't even know just speaks for himself. D'Antony's butt was handed to him by Ex YU teams (as a player and a coach) so often that he became very bitter man. I hope you don't need more evidence then his recent reactions.
I know Udrih since he was a peewee. HE WAS NEVER FAT.
I admit that he looked chubby at the end of last season but that was the only time. He worked out every summer with Slovenian national team and played in some tournament, except this year, when he pulled out to prepare himself individually for the Spurs camp. This are facts that can be checked out and confirmed by many. Your bullshit is just that...bullshit.

[Bruno]

Udrih spurs an upset
He scores career-high 27 points against former team

By Sam Amick
Last Updated 6:56 am PST Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C4


Beno Udrih grabbed the ball and ran.

He ran past Manu Ginobili, ran past Michael Finley, then ran past Brent Barry, twisting through contact with his former teammate at the last instant as his end-to-end three-point play put the Kings up by 14 and made the unlikely seem possible after all.

Putting his past behind him in the best way he knew how.

The Kings would, in fact, upset the defending champion San Antonio Spurs 112-99 Monday night at Arco Arena, surprising enough, considering the polar-opposite plights of these two teams. But this was Udrih's moment even more than the rest, an all-timer when it comes to former players facing their old teams, as Udrih was against the Spurs.

A career-high 27 points wasn't even the end of it for the player who spent his first three seasons in San Antonio, as Udrih efficiently ran a Kings offense that shot 55.1 percent and received a combined 54 points from Ron Artest, Brad Miller and Mikki Moore.

Yet this, Udrih wanted to make clear, was no grudge match.

In mid-August, Udrih met with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to discuss his career. In essence, he asked for his freedom, for Popovich to let him go if he had no plans of utilizing his talents.

"I was like, 'Pop, I just want to play,' " Udrih said. "If I'm still here. I'll be professional as much as I can be, practice hard, do everything. But if you don't need me, I just want to play. I want to show myself for everybody, and that's it."

His phone rang just two hours before teams had to finalize their regular-season rosters on Oct. 27. Udrih had been traded to Minnesota, signing the official papers just 30 minutes before the deadline. He was immediately waived by the Timberwolves and signed days later by the Kings.

"They didn't let me go in a bad way," he said. "That's why I wasn't trying to go back at them (on Monday night). I just wanted to play the game and help my team win. It wasn't personal. ... They didn't need to trade me. They could've kept me, and I'd still be sitting on the bench."

Instead, he was facing off with the player he once was content to back up in Tony Parker, outplaying the Spurs point guard, who had just 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting and seven assists and four turnovers. Even Popovich – who joked before the game that maybe Udrih would have a breakout night – had to be impressed.

As Popovich neared the end of his pregame media session, he laughed at the notion that no one had asked him about the former player whom he so often conflicted with, then said seemingly sarcastically, "That's all right. We'll talk about him after he scores 30 (points)."

Udrih nearly did it, hitting 8 of 12 shots and 9 of 9 free throws.

"Beno had a great game," Popovich said afterward. "The difference in the game tonight was Beno Udrih. He fed everybody. He scored and did everything they needed. ... He is a hell of a player."

The Kings survived an 0-for-8 shooting start from Kevin Martin, who hit his first shot during a 15-0 run that put the Kings up 69-56 midway through the third quarter. Udrih – whose three-pointer started the run – found Martin on the break for a layup that put the Kings up 63-56, Miller found a cutting Moore for a layup, followed by a hand-fed pass from Artest to Miller for a three-point play that ended the run.

After three threes from Michael Finley and another from Manu Ginobili cut the Kings' lead to 99-92 with 4:50 remaining, swingman John Salmons' runner from the left side regained the momentum after Miller found him with a behind-the-back pass through the paint. The Kings improved to 5-2 at home, while the Spurs – who were 4-0 on the tail end of back-to-backs coming in – lost for just the third time this season.

"That could've been the best 48 minutes we've had all season," Kings coach Reggie Theus said. "It was an absolute, total team win."

[Kamnik]

Too bad Beno did not fit...

He would be my favourite player on my favourite team.

But this way... oh well, i may still hope Spurs sign Nachbar in the offseason and draft Dragič :D

[Bruno]

He's a hell of a player, but we already knew that. That's nothing new, It kills me to have him on that team. Just enough to make you spit.



Beno had a great game. The difference in the game tonight was Beno Udrih. He fed everybody. He scored and did everything they needed. ... He is a hell of a player.


:spin

[whottt]

Pop doesn't trash any players....even the ones that flat out sucked.


What would it accomplish? Make winning harder? Make players less trusting?

[Tek_XX]

Well i'm glad Beno is getting a chance to prove that he can play. It just didn't work out in SA.

[ploto]

I know you don't...try to keep it your problem and not make it anyone elses...
Guess that is the only way you know how to respond when you are shown to be flat out wrong about something. No opinion on the topic- just the simple facts that you have misrepresented to fit your agenda.

[ShoogarBear]

:lmao @ ploto talking about other people's agendas.

[The Truth #6]

Who knows what Pop meant by his comments of Beno. He could have been playing it safe. But I would imagine he's bummed that he couldn't get Beno to play better while he was here.

[whottt]

Guess that is the only way you know how to respond when you are shown to be flat out wrong about something. No opinion on the topic- just the simple facts that you have misrepresented to fit your agenda.


Hey ploto...exactly how big is your chest anyway?

[timvp]

Beno playing for a contract:
http://www.nba.com/media/beno_300_071118.jpg





Beno with a contract:
http://www.spurstalk.com/benoglasses.jpg

[SAGambler]

Just for kicks. I realize Beno has only played like 8 games so far this year, but just how well is he measuring up with Tony? Probably better than most here think. It's not like the game against the Kings was a one night wonder. Here is the average stat line for both so far this season.

Field Goals 3-Pointers Free Throws Tot
Made/ATT PCT Made/Att PCT Made/ATT PCT PTS

42-92 45.7 7-23 30.4 25-27 92.6 116

121-239 50.6 6-19 31.6 51-70 72.9 299

While Tony is 5 percentage points above him in FGs, they are virtually even in 3 point percentage and Beno is beating Tony by a wide margin in FT percentage.

Now there are those that say he will disappear when Bibby returns or if they make it into the playoffs. However that is not a forgone conclusion and the fact that he is now getting more playing time (remember the old "have to have PT to get into the flow of the game), he could very well make Bibby a memory in Sacto.

I still maintain Beno has one of the sweetest shots around. And he may very well prove that in a Kings uniform.

[SAGambler]

The only thing Udrih was ever supposed to be good at was shooting, and he goes and shoots 37% last season. Then, he gets pissed when the team asks him to work on his shot. I don't know how the hell he made 13 minutes a game in 73 games with that dogshit performance. Good riddance to the lazy ass; he deserved no part of being on the greatest basketball team in the world.

Well, here is the line on the guy that beat him out as TPs backup so far this year.
FG 3 Pt FT Tot
Made/ATT PCT Made/Att PCT Made/ATT PCT PTS
6-22 27.3 0-1 0.0 4-7 57.1 16

Quite a stat line huh? Yet every time I look up he is being praised for "not turning the ball over very much".

That's the line on Vaughn for 7 games vs 8 for Beno. Why only 7 games. Well, hell, he was hurt. The same reason people like to beat up on Beno for.

Quit hating on Beno and take a long look at what we actually have to live with now! And then tell me you still wouldn't want Beno over Vaughn.

[ploto]

Hey ploto...exactly how big is your chest anyway?
More than you can handle.

[ChumpDumper]

Quit hating on Beno and take a long look at what we actually have to live with now! And then tell me you still wouldn't want Beno over Vaughn.I looked for three years. I still wouldn't want Beno over Vaughn.

[ancestron]

I...kinda....miss....Beno.... :(

[sendman]

I looked for three years. I still wouldn't want Beno over Vaughn.
I'm just glad that you don't run any basketball programs. That would be a torture to watch.
:hang

[baseline bum]

We're all glad you're not the coach too. Udrih is about equivalent to Negele Knight in terms of Spurs historical point guards.

[ChumpDumper]

I'm just glad that you don't run any basketball programs. That would be a torture to watch.
:hang:lmao The Spurs basketball program won a championship after choosing Vaughn over Beno.

[Pero]

Yes but Beno was also on the team, we will see how Spurs do this year without him. :lol

[Cherry]

i wish Beno good luck, but i lost all respect for him since he did this interview:




Ekipa, 07.08.2007



Beno Udrih - Owner of two NBA championship rings hasn't recovered yet from his problems with the San Antonio Spurs



Psychically hitting bottom.



Beno has, despite only celebrating his 25th birthday on July 5th, already had an impressive career. During the 99/200 season he was named rookie of the year in the Slovenian 1st league, during season 00/01 he, together with Jiri Welsch, led Union Olimpija to a double crown (championship and cup) and was the mvp of the Slovenian league. During the 01/02 season he led Union Olimpija to a repeat of both titles adding in the process a third 0ne (Goodyear League). During 02/03 he became Israeli champion with Maccabi and during 03/04 he averaged 20 points a game in the Russian championship and 10 points a game after his transfer to the Italian premier league. He’s the only Slovenian player to boast 2 NBA rings. He played for the Slovenian NT on January 24th 2001 for the first time and since then played in 17 games during which he scored 139 points. We met with Udrih during his visit to Lake Bled.



How come you decided to visit Bled?



I haven’t had the opportunity to have some real holidays in the last 7 years. I wanted to show to my American girlfriend some of the beauties of Slovenia. I of course started with the most beautiful parts: Bled and Bohinj and their surroundings. The other reasons why we started our visit to Slovenia in Bled is a visit to my father’s cousin Stefan Udrih. My girlfriend and I went on a 12 hours trek in the Triglav National park led by my cousin Ales Udrih. I was also happy at the news that Radovljica basketball club honored me for the second time as an NBA ring recipient. The first time it was at the NT game against Finland, that was played in Radovljica and the second time was now during a celebration since the club management is trying to stabilize the situation in the club and with my help attract as much young talent as possible. We were happy to help them and the feelings were great since they are, with the exception of the people of Lasko – who honored me two years ago, the only organization that felt the need to thank me, something similar from the National Basketball Organization never happened.



You are the only Slovenian with two NBA rings. Where do you keep them?



The firs ring I keep at home in Slovenia, I haven’t received the second one. A funny anecdote that happened at the first ring ceremony was a banner in the locker room that read “World Champions”, Manu striked out the word “world” and wrote in “NBA” instead and followed to write that he was the only world champion present.



How satisfied are you with the past championship season?



Before the season the coach promised me that I would get a chance to play during every game. Playing with stars like Manu and Tony I knew I could get 10 to 15 minutes max. The first part of the season (approx. 40 games) I played great, since I was averaging 8 points and 3 assists playing the aforementioned minutes. ...(!?)



All of the sudden you were confined to the bench. Do you know why?



The reason for me not playing was a small mistake that snuck up on me during a game against Dallas. During that game I played 1 minute and 30 seconds and during a play I didn’t play aggressively enough. The coach immediately yanked me out of the game and to my bad luck the player that replaced me dove after a lost ball and hit the coaches bench. The coach told me after the game that that was what he demanded from me.



But you were confined to the bench for the whole remainder of the season?



The non-American (especially European players) in the NBA are discriminated against and have to pay dearly for every mistake we make. In a champions team like the Spurs we even have big names like Barry and Finley that come from the bench after stars like Tony and Manu. Jacques Vaughn, who has a similar status to mine in the team, took advantage of my mistake - we both fight for the same 10 minutes of playing time.



Were you sad about that?



Of course I was. During 40 games I proved I had what it takes. I knew I was in excellent form, but couldn’t do anything because I wasn’t given a chance. You have no idea how much that influences one’s psyche. After good performances you are forced to seat on the bench and support you teammates, tell them to get over mistakes and comfort them that it’ll be better next time. At the same time you know you could do a better job than them if you would only get another chance – a chance that never came.



In Slovenia in later in Europe you were known as a rational and calm player. Did that helped you in that situation?



<long boring answer basically saying that he only got T’ed once in his whole career and I’m too lazy to translate the end however is quite funny:> Although this year was for me the hardest I had to come to term with my situation in San Antonio. That’s life and with luck will also come injustices and you have to take them in your stride.



Is this also the reason for your absence from this year’s NT?



First I’d like to apologize for my absence from this year’s European championship to all the Slovenian basketball aficionados. I know that my fans will understand that I ‘am drained psychically and that I am still struggling with my recovery. Next year my contract with the Spurs runs out and I have to be prepared to the max for this season. After the 07/08 season I’ll be a free agent and will get the opportunity to pick the team where I’ll continue my career. I will definitely be at the disposal of the NT coach next year. My personal wish would be to continue playing in the NBA. But when deciding where to play I will pay special attention to the playing time that they will be able to offer me. Last year I got a great offer from Barcelona that I had to refuse because of my NBA ambitions. European basketball is definitely an option for me, but I also know that almost nobody has succeeded to come back to the NBA after leaving. Manu had a similar experience to mine in San Antonio where he spent the first two years riding the bench and waiting for his opportunity. We all know how big a star Manu is now. I hope I will not brag too much when I say that Manu and I are very similar players.( :lmao ) We are both left handed, we’re both shooters and distributors while capable of penetrating to the basket, I do feel however that I am a better play organizer (leader would probably be a better translation?), since Manu plays the number 2 spot more. That this is true is best proven during one on one training sessions where Manu always picks me as his opponent. If the Spurs would offer me a new contract, and of course more playing time, I would definitely sign with them. You don’t change from a championship winning team. But playing time is my main priority right now.



Is there a difference between European and NBA basketball?



Enormous. Above all you must understand that in America basketball is a business where there's no room for sentimentality. The spectators demand a show and the owners demand a profit. Two seasons ago they brought Nick Van Exel to the Spurs, a 13 years veteran NBA basketball player. Us the younger players did not get a chance to play since the spectators demanded to see a legend of basketball play who on top was also an American. Another difference is the organization itself. As an example I’d like to tell you that I have already earned my NBA pension. Any player that plays in the NBA for more than 3 years will after he reaches the age of 65 receive a pension from the NBA. Of course the value of this pension depends on the number of years played and the value of the contract(s). This year I really suffered mentally, after all that I experienced while following the games from the bench somebody in Slovenia had the audacity to write an article titled “Beno reaches his second champions title without breaking a sweat”. This writer doesn’t have the faintest idea that I’ve attended all the training sessions that are even more strenuous for the bench players. After the training is finished and the starting 5 and their backups leave, the rest of us that are waiting for an opportunity have to do another full hour of hard work in the training facility. In you head you are full of doubt and keep wandering why you’re not playing, you are sweating rivers and then you read a title like that…



http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75782&highlight=beno+interview