Oberto: "This is the best place I could ever be"

I'll try to translate it later on today. It's a nice interview where he speaks about his intention of contributing to the team anyway he can, how he only cares about helping this team win and how thrilled he is to be here. He also says that Manu has helped him a lot with the adaptation with the city and the system.

Está feliz como nene con chiche nuevo. Se le notó en cada instante de la charla de 40 minutos que tuvo con Olé. Llegar a la NBA era su sueño que pudo hacer realidad luego de mucho trabajo. "Desde los 21 me sacrifico para esto", asegura Fabricio Oberto desde la habitación del hotel. Y hay que creerle a este obrero. De lujo, pero trabajador al fin que hoy, a los 30, goza este momento. Algunos pueden creer que la chance le llega tarde, pero para él es al revés. Y se nota. "Vine con la mentalidad positiva, a disfrutar de todo. Y hasta ahora todo bárbaro, no podía esperar algo mejor. Vengo para ayudar a que San Antonio siga siendo el campeón", explica con naturalidad. Y no es verso. El pivote cordobés sabe que era el mejor pivote FIBA pero llegó a San Antonio con la misma idea de sacrificio que lo llevo a la cima.

Como gran profesional que es, el 2 de septiembre —a dos meses del inicio de la temporada— ya estaba en la ciudad para prepararse para su nuevo desafío. Y en estos 25 días se la pasó de sorpresa en sorpresa. "Todo me impresiona, sobre todo el centro de entrenamientos. Llegás a practicar y no te querés ir. El tema de la huella digital es increíble. Podés ir a cualquier hora, en cualquier momento y entrás poniendo tu dedo. Con Europa hay varias pasos de diferencia", cuenta el pivote.

Algunos hinchas de los Spurs ya lo conocieron por la calle y lo recibieron como si siempre hubiese estado en el equipo. "La gente es increíble, le estoy agradecido cómo me dieron la bienvenida, sin siquiera haberme visto jugar. ¿Qué me dicen? ''Es muy lindo que hayas venido, que hayas elegido a los Spurs''. Igual lo que más me llama la atención es lo grande que es Manu", explica.

—Hay que estar allá para darse cuenta lo que significa.

—Tal cual. Y no sólo en San Antonio porque ahora estuve en Nueva York y es impresionante. En todos lados, como me pasó en el campus de novatos en el que estuve, lo ponen como un ejemplo.

—¿Te hace más fácil la vida?

—Manu conoce todo y es casi un veterano. Todos lo respetan y a mí me ayuda mucho. Es un fenómeno. Ya no me quedan palabras para agradecerle. Le voy a tener que meter muchas cortinas (se ríe) para devolverle todo esto. Ya nos conocíamos de la Selección, pero nunca habíamos compartido un equipo.
—¿Qué consejos te dio?
—De todo, desde cómo ir al centro de entrenamientos hasta cosas tácticas, las defensas ilegales y las reglas nuevas para mí. Me da mucha calma estar con él en el equipo. Siento que es el mejor lugar que me podía tocar.
Dice que todavía no le pasó una anécdota en el grupo digna de ser contada, pero aclara que lo recibieron muy bien. "No son tan fríos, para mí es lo mismo que en Europa", cuenta. Asegura que todavía no le pusieron un apodo. "Alguno ya caerá. Por ahora me dicen Fabri pero a veces no les sale y me dicen Fabio, je", cuenta. Explica que no tiene dramas con el inglés. "Entiendo todo y me hago entender, sólo me falta un poco de práctica. Trato de no hablar en castellano, ni con latinos, para practicar. Lo necesitaré para mi relación con los compañeros y el técnico", analiza.
—¿Te encontraste con Duncan?
—Sí, se me acercó, me saludó y estuvimos hablando un ratito. Pero no me dijo nada en especial.
—Lo enfrentaste y le ganaste, ¿pero te causa algo especial estar al lado de una estrella así o lo ves como un colega?
—Estar a su lado me genera tranquilidad por lo que juega, je. No sé, lo tomo con naturalidad pero no deja de sorprenderme estar acá, con él, con Manu... Igual, en el grupo me hacen sentir muy partícipe, como si estuviera en el equipo desde hace varios años.
—¿Notaste el clima familiar y de buena onda que existe en el grupo, en la franquicia?
—Sí, es así, como me había dicho Manu. Desde el primero al último se preocupan por vos, por que no te falte nada. No esperaba tanto. Todo lo que he vivido ha superado lo que me imaginaba. Tenés que estar en el equipo para darte cuenta. Por ahora todo es bueno, por eso creo que la adaptación será más rápida de lo pensado.
—¿También dentro del campo?
—Eso no sé, me va a llevar un tiempito, pero puedo saberlo hasta que no empiece a jugar, pero no me importa... Vine a dar todo por el equipo, no me interesa lo que pase conmigo. Ya soy un agradecido por estar acá. A todos nos gusta jugar mucho y hacer puntos, pero hay que saber lo que es ganar y cómo se logra. Yo no tengo problemas en resignar cosas. Lo mío puede esperar.
—¿Qué diferencias ya notaste?
—Hasta ahora no fueron entrenamientos oficiales, pero en las prácticas de tres contra tres noté que se juega con más velocidad, que tenés un segundo menos para pensar. Tendré que acostumbrarme al estilo. Por ahora estoy entrenando a full, casi todos los días, pero me falta bastante.
—¿Tenés un cantidad de minutos que pretendés jugar?
—No, de eso no espero nada. No vine pensando en eso. Jugaré lo que deba jugar, lo que el equipo necesite y lo que yo me gane.
—¿Ya hablaste con Popovich?
—No, poco. No estuvo mucho y sólo se acercó a saludarme y darme la bienvenida. Ya habrá tiempo para hablar y ver qué quiere.
—Algunos especialistas estadounidenses creen que tu llegada es más valiosa que las promocionadas de Finley y Van Exel. ¿Cómo lo ves?
—No leí nada. Me motiva que digan eso, pero esto viene con una carga mayor de responsabilidad. Yo sólo vengo a dar una mano.
—¿Ya te imaginás el debut? ¿Te ves de titular esa noche?
—No sé cómo imaginarlo. Sólo creo que voy a estar tan nervioso que no sé qué voy hacer en la cancha. No estoy seguro si conviene que me pongan (se ríe).
A Fabri siempre conviene ponerlo. De eso no quedan dudas.

San Antonio le gustó mucho al cordobés
¿No extraña Córdoba?
"Me gustó la ciudad. No sabía qué esperar... Por suerte yo estoy cómodo. Una noche fui al Riverwalk a cenar. Me encantó. Pero no tuve mucho tiempo para pasear porque estuve viendo casas y pasé cinco días en Nueva York".

Les dio una mano a víctimas del Katrina
Ayudó como pudo
"Lo del Katrina fue algo impresionante. Es como que estás en Mar del Plata y una ola te lleva todo. Había 2.000 refugiados en las afueras de la ciudad y fuimos con Manu. Por suerte, lo del Rita no fue tan duro como se pensaba".

Here's the edited Babelfish translation...

He is happy like a baby with a new toy. Arriving to the NBA was the dream that came to reality after much work. "From 21 years old I sacrificed myself for this", assures Fabricio Oberto from the room of the hotel. And it is necessary to believe this worker. Of luxury, but worker to the aim that today, at 30, enjoys this moment. Some can think that chance arrives to him late, but for him it is the other way around. And note. "I came with the positive mentality, to enjoy everything. And until now everything's great, I could not hope for something better. I come to help that San Antonio continues being the champion ", explains with naturalness. And it is no joke. The Cordovan pivot knows that it was best pivot FIBA but it arrived at San Antonio with the same idea of sacrifice that took him to the top. Like great professional who is, the 2 of September - to two months of the beginning of the season already it was in the city to prepare himself for his new challenge. And in these 25 days went from surprise to surprise. "All it makes an impression to me, mainly the center of training. You get there to practice and don't want to leave. The thing of the fingerprint is incredible. You can go at any time and you get inside pressing your finger. With Europe there are several differences", tells the pivot. Some fans of the Spurs already knew him in the street and they received it as if always he had been in the team. "people are incredible, I am grateful how they welcomed me, without at least seen me play. What say to me? ' ' It's great that you have come, that you have chosen the Spurs''. Anyway what it calls me more the attention is the great thing that is Manu ", explains. - It is necessary to be there to realize which means. - And not only in San Antonio because now I was in New York and is impressive. In all sides, as it happened to me in the campus of novices in whom I was, put it like an example. - it makes the life easier? - Manu knows everything and is almost a veteran. All they respect it and to me it is helped much. It is a phenomenon. No longer I have left words to be thankful to him. I am going to him to have to put many blocks (he laughs) to give back all this to him. We already knew ourselves from Team Argentina, but never we had shared a team. - What advice gave you? - Of everything, from how going to the center of training to tactical things, the illegal defenses and the new rules for me. He gives much calm me to be with him in the team. I feel that it is the best place I could be. He says that still he did not pass an anecdote to him in the group worthy to be counted, but clarifies that they received it very well. "they are not so cold, for me is just like in Europe", he counts. He assures that still they did not put a nickname to him. "It will eventually come. So far they say Fabri to me but sometimes it does not leave to them and Fabio, je say to me ", he says. It explains that it does not have trouble with English. "I understand everything and I am make myself understood, only needs a little practice. I try not speaking in spanish, nor with Latin, to practice. I will need it for my relation with the companions and the coach", analyzes. - you were with Duncan? - Yes, he approached to me, he saluted and we were speaking a little. But he did not say anything to me special. - you faced It and you won to him, but it causes something to you special to be next to a star thus or you see it like a teammate? - To be to its side generates tranquillity to me reason why he plays, je. I do not know, it volume with naturalness but it does not let surprise to me to be here, with him, Manu... Anyway, in the group they make me feel like a contributor, as if I was in the team for several years. - You noticed the familiar climate and of good wave that exists in the group, in the tax exemption? - Yes, it is thus, since there were this Manu to me. Everyone cares about you, so that you do not need anything. It did not wait for so much. Everything what I have lived has surpassed what imagined to me. So far everything is good, for that reason I believe that the adaptation will be faster than what I thought. - Also in the court? - That I do not know, is going to take some time to me, but I can't know it until I not begin to play, but it does not matter to me... I came to give everything to this team, does not interest to me what happens with me. I am already being thankful to be here. We all we like to play much and to score points, but it is necessary to know what is to win and how it is obtained. I do not have problems in resigning to things. Mine can wait. - What differences already you noticed? - Until now they were not official training, but in the practices of three against three I noticed that we play with more speed, than you have a second less to think. I will have to accustom to the style. So far I am training full speed, almost every day, but I need more. - What amount of minutes you pretend to play? - I do not wait for anything. I did not come thinking about that. I will play what I must play, which the team needs and what I gain. - you already spoke with Popovich? - No, little. It was not much and he only approached to salute and to give me the welcome. There will already be time to speak and to see what he wants. -Some American specialists think that your arrival is more valuable that the promoted ones of Finley and Van Exel. How you see it? - I did not read anything. It motivates to me that they say that, but this comes with a greater load of responsibility. I only come to give a hand. - Already you imagine the debut? You see yourself of starting that night? - I do not know how to imagine it. I only believe that I am going to be so nervous that I do not know what I will do in the court. I am ok with no playing. (he laughs) San Antonio it liked much to the Cordovan does not surprise Cordova? "I liked the city. He did not know what to hope... Luckily I am comfortable. One night I went to the Riverwalk to have supper. It enchanted me. But I did not have long time to take a walk because I was seeing houses and I spent five days in New York ". It gave a hand them to victims of the Katrina Ayudo' as The one of the Katrina could "were something impressive. It is as if you were in Mar del Plata (coastal argentinean city) and a wave takes everything away. There were 2,000 refugees in the outskirts and we were with Manu. Luckily, Rita was not as hard as they thought ".

reading Fabri's interview makes me want to be the waterboy. The Spur's organization is all class!

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Originally Posted by minusplus

The Spur's organization is all class!

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It definitely a team that we can be proud of.

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Originally Posted by minusplus

reading Fabri's interview makes me want to be the waterboy. The Spur's organization is all class!

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The way he talks (even in a bad translation) with humility and eagerness makes me feel sure that he will be another class addition to this team.

He may be the FOs best move of the year instead of Finley and NVE.

Nice to see playing for the Spurs is not "just a job" for Oberto unlike what Rasho says in his interview. Rasho's interview and his total lack of enthusiam annoyed me.

Finley and Van Exel are more knowns.

Oberto is still an uknown.

a 30 year old big man who hasnt played the NBA who is a rookie??

Question marks indeed.

I agree with TPark about the question mark. However, there is a big "but" in Oberto's story that has to do with his former agent. He was just a step away from coming to the NBA at age 21 (I think) but as his agent could not negotiate with NBA teams he told Fabri he could only get a decent offer from Greece, and he ended up there. (If he had insisted in coming to the NBA his agent would have lost the commision for his trade to Greece)
He even considered retiring from basketball back in those dark days for him. Hopefully, he will be able to contribute to this team in those areas Pop wants him to.
From what he says in the interview, he couldn't be more thrilled, grateful and committed to the Spurs organization.

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Originally Posted by picnroll

Nice to see playing for the Spurs is not "just a job" for Oberto unlike what Rasho says in his interview. Rasho's interview and his total lack of enthusiam annoyed me.

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I honestly don't think Rasho meant the job comment the way you make it sound.

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Originally Posted by T Park

Finley and Van Exel are more knowns.

Oberto is still an uknown.

a 30 year old big man who hasnt played the NBA who is a rookie??

Question marks indeed.

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What's not to like about the NBA, though?

Bigs get to post up closer to the basket on the low block.
Refs aren't as strict on travelling.
He won't have to dodge batteries and francs.
He won't have to listen to what sounds like extra ref whistles in the stands.
He won't have to listen to people all dressed in flags jumping up and down singing some chant throughout the game staring trance-like straight ahead, regardless of time or score.

So what if he gets called for a goal tend or two? It's all good, T Park.

Sincerely,
Solid D Num7
:smokin

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Originally Posted by Solid D

He won't have to listen to people all dressed in flags jumping up and down singing some chant throughout the game staring trance-like straight ahead, regardless of time or score.

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I liked the European fans in the E.C. tournament. They're spunky!

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Originally Posted by angel_luv

I liked the European fans in the E.C. tournament. They're spunky!

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Spunker like Rocko's dog?http://users.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/...cs/machine.jpg

Not so much.

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Originally Posted by angel_luv

I honestly don't think Rasho meant the job comment the way you make it sound.

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How did he mean it then?

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Originally Posted by picnroll

How did he mean it then?

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I can't speak for Rasho, but rememeber there is somewhat of a language barrier so things might come out differently than he intended.

I think Rasho was just trying to say that playing for Slovenia is something he does above and beyond, out of love for his country.

From the rest of Rah's interview, is is obvious that the Spurs and San Antonio are important to him:

" I've lived in America for six years now so it has become my regular life. Everything is dedicated to work - the games and the training."

" When we won the championship, almost 400.000 people came out to greet us. It makes you really feel good, you’re happy that you had the opportunity to achieve something for all these people - for the community."

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-Manu knows all and is a veteran. Everyone respects him and that helps me alot. He is a phenom. There are not enought words to thank him. I'm gonna have to make a lot of screens for him(laughs) to give back to him.

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:lol

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- Do you imagine the season opener? Do you see yourself as starter?
- I don't know how to imagine it. I just think I'll be so nervous, I won't know what I'll do on the court. I don't think they should start me(laughs)

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He seems like a great teammate and a proven winner. I predict he will be starting by the second half of the season!

Oberto > Nazr / Rasho / Scola
He's gonna need just one month to become a starter.

I don't think he will start at all. However, I do think he could finish games just as Manu did in his rookie year.

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Originally Posted by vanvannen

I don't think he will start at all. However, I do think he could finish games just as Manu did in his rookie year.

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I don't see why not. He will be 10 times more aggressive than Rasho and have better hands and post game than Nazr. If his defense is what ppl are claiming it is, then it's not impossible for him to start.

Adjusting to Pop's defense is not a walk in the park. It will take him some time. Besides, Rasho is a great defender and Nazr seems to have adjusted quite fine.

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Originally Posted by vanvannen

Adjusting to Pop's defense is not a walk in the park. It will take him some time. Besides, Rasho is a great defender and Nazr seems to have adjusted quite fine.

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I agree

You can easily tell from reading the interview (the spanish version that is), that he's probably as happy as Rose was when he was here...

Hopefully he has more skill than that, and I also hope he doesn't get too attached. :lol

I can't wait to see him on the court.

foreign forum

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I will need it for my relation with the companions and the coach", analyzes. - you were with Duncan? - Yes, he approached to me, he saluted and we were speaking a little. But he did not say anything to me special. -

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..don't worry Fabri, just give him that donut with the coconut oneduring practice and you'll be alright :lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Solid D

What's not to like about the NBA, though?

Bigs get to post up closer to the basket on the low block.
Refs aren't as strict on travelling.
He won't have to dodge batteries and francs.
He won't have to listen to what sounds like extra ref whistles in the stands.
He won't have to listen to people all dressed in flags jumping up and down singing some chant throughout the game staring trance-like straight ahead, regardless of time or score.

So what if he gets called for a goal tend or two? It's all good, T Park.

Sincerely,
Solid D Num7
:smokin

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"Solid" brand of humor :lol