Spurs: Love Them Or Hate Them

Two articles, this is the "love" reasons. The "hate" reasons are below.

http://media.www.easterneronline.com...-3357930.shtml

San Antonio Spurs: Love them or hate them
Taylor Reed

Every year I ask my peers who they think will be NBA champs. Every year I get a different response, but one thing always remains the same: the San Antonio Spurs are always omitted from NBA Finals discussions. I find this especially troubling considering they are clearly the most dominant team of the past decade.

Yes I realize that they aren't the most exciting team to watch in terms of flashy drives and dunks. They might not have that star that sells the most jerseys. And Tim Duncan's bank shots may not make the highlight reel, but the bottom line is that they know how to win.

For all the Spurs haters out there, here are five reasons why you should embrace the NBA's most complete team.

(1) "Big Fundamentals" Tim Duncan- For 10 years, Duncan has been atop the list of dominant big men. He can shoot, handle the ball, defend the paint, pass and rebound as well as any seven-footer. Let's not forget that he was the only post player to stop Shaq in his prime… Oh yeah and he's collected three NBA Finals MVPs.

(2) Manu Ginobili- The NBA's sixth man of the year does whatever it takes to win and does it very well. He can shoot from anywhere. He can take it to the rim. And he has mastered the art of taking a charge. Maybe that's why Argentina won the gold medal in the Olympics instead of the United States. Maybe that is why he is hated so heavily amongst Spurs haters; because he is that good.

(3) Tony Parker- Last year's finals MVP is unstoppable in the playoffs. Each year, he is near the top in points in the paint... As a POINT GUARD! It should be exciting to watch the Parker/Chris Paul match-up in the second round.

(4) Bruce Bowen- Bowen does the dirty work that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. Each series, he defends the opposing team's best perimeter player; not an easy task, but he always seems to get it done. His three-point shot from the corner: CLUTCH!

(5) Gregg Popovich- The Spurs's head coach is probably one of the most underrated coaches out there. The future Hall of Famer has his team prepared for every series. In a game of match-ups, Pop puts his players in the positions that will give the team its best chance of winning.

The most common opinion I hear from NBA haters is that the NBA is filled with egotistical athletes that don't play defense and only play for the money. But often they are the same people who are against the Spurs for being "boring" or for their lack of personality. Yeah, they might not score the most points or allow many points, but they play the game the way it should be played.

As the cliché goes, "Don't hate, appreciate."

my thoughts in an article.

- Mars

Second article, the "hate" reasons.

http://media.www.easterneronline.com...-3357928.shtml

San Antonio Spurs: Love them or hate them
Brandon Hansen

I'm waiting for ESPN.com's first "The Spurs are for real in the playoffs" column after they hand another western conference team their butts in a low-scoring exhibition that is about as exciting as the Home Shopping Network.

If the NBA wants to continue to increase its popularity after the power-vacuum left by the retirement of Michael Jordan, they're going to have to do something about the Spurs.

I don't care if it takes a referee conspiracy or a video-taping scandal, but these guys have to stop winning.

Why? Aren't they all the things you look for in a good team? Unselfish stars, solid fundamentals and no trouble off the court.

Please. That's not why Americans watch pro sports. The Spurs suck for several reasons:

(1) They give every Hoosier-wannabe in the state a chance to rant about how fundamental basketball should be played and complain about how much showboating and dunking have taken over the game. My advice to you: go back to Indiana, find yourself a nice farmhouse, put up all your high school basketball photos on the fireplace mantel and stop talking about your team's sixth-place finish in the state regional.

(2) Their main star, Tim Duncan, debates every single foul that's called against him. The NBA isn't Judge Judy, Tim. Everything doesn't need to be a debate. As far as the quiet star's reputation goes, just mic him up after a whistle is blown and see how quickly that dissipates.

(3) Manu Ginobili: worst thing to ever happen to the NBA. Wasn't he in the show "Perfect Strangers?"

(4) So many more cities have much more deserving fan bases. San Antonio is known for its bowling alleys and retirement communities. Attendance increases at Spurs games when they have bingo night. Somebody throw Milwaukee a bone, or maybe Atlanta. San Antonio? The city in the United States that has the heaviest concentration of Elk clubs? Are you serious?

(5) Bandwagon fans have embraced the Spurs with open arms. In the last 10 years, they've won four NBA Championships.

Reaaaaal hard to get behind that team.

The Spurs need to be broken up or moved to Oklahoma City so the Sonics don't have to. At least Seattle fans occasionally tune in to their team's playoff games. San Antonio fans are too busy watching the History Channel.

:toast

Quote:

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Originally Posted by duncan228

Second article, the "hate" reasons.

http://media.www.easterneronline.com...-3357928.shtml

San Antonio Spurs: Love them or hate them
Brandon Hansen

I'm waiting for ESPN.com's first "The Spurs are for real in the playoffs" column after they hand another western conference team their butts in a low-scoring exhibition that is about as exciting as the Home Shopping Network.

If the NBA wants to continue to increase its popularity after the power-vacuum left by the retirement of Michael Jordan, they're going to have to do something about the Spurs.

I don't care if it takes a referee conspiracy or a video-taping scandal, but these guys have to stop winning.

Why? Aren't they all the things you look for in a good team? Unselfish stars, solid fundamentals and no trouble off the court.

Please. That's not why Americans watch pro sports. The Spurs suck for several reasons:

(1) They give every Hoosier-wannabe in the state a chance to rant about how fundamental basketball should be played and complain about how much showboating and dunking have taken over the game. My advice to you: go back to Indiana, find yourself a nice farmhouse, put up all your high school basketball photos on the fireplace mantel and stop talking about your team's sixth-place finish in the state regional.

(2) Their main star, Tim Duncan, debates every single foul that's called against him. The NBA isn't Judge Judy, Tim. Everything doesn't need to be a debate. As far as the quiet star's reputation goes, just mic him up after a whistle is blown and see how quickly that dissipates.

(3) Manu Ginobili: worst thing to ever happen to the NBA. Wasn't he in the show "Perfect Strangers?"

(4) So many more cities have much more deserving fan bases. San Antonio is known for its bowling alleys and retirement communities. Attendance increases at Spurs games when they have bingo night. Somebody throw Milwaukee a bone, or maybe Atlanta. San Antonio? The city in the United States that has the heaviest concentration of Elk clubs? Are you serious?

(5) Bandwagon fans have embraced the Spurs with open arms. In the last 10 years, they've won four NBA Championships.

Reaaaaal hard to get behind that team.

The Spurs need to be broken up or moved to Oklahoma City so the Sonics don't have to. At least Seattle fans occasionally tune in to their team's playoff games. San Antonio fans are too busy watching the History Channel.

---

what a fag.

- Mars

Quote:

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Originally Posted by duncan228

Second article, the "hate" reasons.

http://media.www.easterneronline.com...-3357928.shtml

San Antonio Spurs: Love them or hate them
Brandon Hansen

I'm waiting for ESPN.com's first "The Spurs are for real in the playoffs" column after they hand another western conference team their butts in a low-scoring exhibition that is about as exciting as the Home Shopping Network.

If the NBA wants to continue to increase its popularity after the power-vacuum left by the retirement of Michael Jordan, they're going to have to do something about the Spurs.

I don't care if it takes a referee conspiracy or a video-taping scandal, but these guys have to stop winning.

Why? Aren't they all the things you look for in a good team? Unselfish stars, solid fundamentals and no trouble off the court.

Please. That's not why Americans watch pro sports. The Spurs suck for several reasons:

(1) They give every Hoosier-wannabe in the state a chance to rant about how fundamental basketball should be played and complain about how much showboating and dunking have taken over the game. My advice to you: go back to Indiana, find yourself a nice farmhouse, put up all your high school basketball photos on the fireplace mantel and stop talking about your team's sixth-place finish in the state regional.

(2) Their main star, Tim Duncan, debates every single foul that's called against him. The NBA isn't Judge Judy, Tim. Everything doesn't need to be a debate. As far as the quiet star's reputation goes, just mic him up after a whistle is blown and see how quickly that dissipates.

(3) Manu Ginobili: worst thing to ever happen to the NBA. Wasn't he in the show "Perfect Strangers?"

(4) So many more cities have much more deserving fan bases. San Antonio is known for its bowling alleys and retirement communities. Attendance increases at Spurs games when they have bingo night. Somebody throw Milwaukee a bone, or maybe Atlanta. San Antonio? The city in the United States that has the heaviest concentration of Elk clubs? Are you serious?

(5) Bandwagon fans have embraced the Spurs with open arms. In the last 10 years, they've won four NBA Championships.

Reaaaaal hard to get behind that team.

The Spurs need to be broken up or moved to Oklahoma City so the Sonics don't have to. At least Seattle fans occasionally tune in to their team's playoff games. San Antonio fans are too busy watching the History Channel.

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Typical idiot bandwagon NBA fan.

The fault here is the NBA's on one side and those very same reporters on the other. The finesse basketball the spurs play represents the true basketball as it was played since the beginning, with skills, technical prowess and perfect timing.

That's the best basketball there is.

A perfect jump shot is much more enjoyable than a dunk IMHO.

This is quality journalism.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spurminator

This is quality journalism.

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:lol You should see the stuff I don't post.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by duncan228

As far as the quiet star's reputation goes, just mic him up after a whistle is blown and see how quickly that dissipates.

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:reading

I seriously resent this guy saying the Spurs should be moved to another city. San Antonio fought like hell to keep the Spurs, and it could be argued that drafting Tim and getting our first championship in 1999 is the reason they're still here. Unlike other cities which have seen their teams fall apart and the fans stop supporting them, San Antonio has stuck by their team when they were losing and when they were winning. If Seattle and Vancouver fans were than committed to their teams, maybe they'd still have teams as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by duncan228

:lol You should see the stuff I don't post.

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:wow:wow

Quote:

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Originally Posted by duncan228

Second article, the "hate" reasons.

http://media.www.easterneronline.com...-3357928.shtml

San Antonio Spurs: Love them or hate them
Brandon Hansen

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This guy Brandon does not know basketball. Forgive him for he has sinned. :lmao

San Antonio is known for it's bowling alleys and retirement communities?

You learn something new every day.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by duncan228

Second article, the "hate" reasons.

http://media.www.easterneronline.com...-3357928.shtml

San Antonio Spurs: Love them or hate them
Brandon Hansen

I'm waiting for ESPN.com's first "The Spurs are for real in the playoffs" column after they hand another western conference team their butts in a low-scoring exhibition that is about as exciting as the Home Shopping Network.

If the NBA wants to continue to increase its popularity after the power-vacuum left by the retirement of Michael Jordan, they're going to have to do something about the Spurs.

I don't care if it takes a referee conspiracy or a video-taping scandal, but these guys have to stop winning.

Why? Aren't they all the things you look for in a good team? Unselfish stars, solid fundamentals and no trouble off the court.

Please. That's not why Americans watch pro sports. The Spurs suck for several reasons:

(1) They give every Hoosier-wannabe in the state a chance to rant about how fundamental basketball should be played and complain about how much showboating and dunking have taken over the game. My advice to you: go back to Indiana, find yourself a nice farmhouse, put up all your high school basketball photos on the fireplace mantel and stop talking about your team's sixth-place finish in the state regional.

(2) Their main star, Tim Duncan, debates every single foul that's called against him. The NBA isn't Judge Judy, Tim. Everything doesn't need to be a debate. As far as the quiet star's reputation goes, just mic him up after a whistle is blown and see how quickly that dissipates.

(3) Manu Ginobili: worst thing to ever happen to the NBA. Wasn't he in the show "Perfect Strangers?"

(4) So many more cities have much more deserving fan bases. San Antonio is known for its bowling alleys and retirement communities. Attendance increases at Spurs games when they have bingo night. Somebody throw Milwaukee a bone, or maybe Atlanta. San Antonio? The city in the United States that has the heaviest concentration of Elk clubs? Are you serious?

(5) Bandwagon fans have embraced the Spurs with open arms. In the last 10 years, they've won four NBA Championships.

Reaaaaal hard to get behind that team.

The Spurs need to be broken up or moved to Oklahoma City so the Sonics don't have to. At least Seattle fans occasionally tune in to their team's playoff games. San Antonio fans are too busy watching the History Channel.

---

What an idiot! Since when is San Antonio known for bowling alleys and Elk Clubs? I don't even know what an Elk Club is and I have lived in San Antonio my entire life. And for him to even suggest that Manu is the worst thing that has happened to the NBA, I can think of a lot worse things. :hat

Quote:

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Originally Posted by duncan228

The most common opinion I hear from NBA haters is that the NBA is filled with egotistical athletes that don't play defense and only play for the money. But often they are the same people who are against the Spurs for being "boring" or for their lack of personality.

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And that is the definition of a hypocrite. There are about 10 national sportswriters who should have a scarlet H stuck to their laptops.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spurminator

This is quality journalism.

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That was about the laziest thing I've ever seen. He could have used those same witty barbs about any city in the country, and they would be equally generically meaningless.

Pop? Best matchup for winning? How about Finley on Diaw?

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Originally Posted by Supergirl

If Seattle and Vancouver fans were than committed to their teams, maybe they'd still have teams as well.

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Fans not committed to the team was NOT the reason the Grizzlies left Vancouver, in fact they averaged more spectators here the last four years than any year so far in Memphis, there was an article in the local newspaper not a week ago with a table of attendance by year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Supreme_Being

Pop? Best matchup for winning? How about Finley on Diaw?

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it may have not been the best individual match up but it took nash out of the game, reduced Amare and shaqs roll, basically forced the suns to be a different team than they ever were. So I would say it put the team in the best position to win.

forgot to add, he played it perfectly in the end, bringing the double team in final moments of the game after not doubling diaw all night.

Quote:

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(4) So many more cities have much more deserving fan bases. San Antonio is known for its bowling alleys and retirement communities. Attendance increases at Spurs games when they have bingo night. Somebody throw Milwaukee a bone, or maybe Atlanta. San Antonio? The city in the United States that has the heaviest concentration of Elk clubs? Are you serious?

---

Off, but not 'tumbleweed' off.

The first sentence shows this writer is way out of his element. Exhibit A:

Quote:

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I'm waiting for ESPN.com's first "The Spurs are for real in the playoffs" column after they hand another western conference team their butts in a low-scoring exhibition

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The Spurs put up 100+ three times against the Jazz, three times against the Suns, and in the 90s all five games against the Nuggets. Not exactly mid-90s Knicks basketball like this guy seems to believe. In fact, those are damn high figures.

The Finals were a different beast, because it was Cleveland and NOT San Antonio that was fighting to drag the tempo in that series, since that was Cleveland's only hope to compete.

I left off the "exciting" portion of that first sentence. Any time the "e" word comes up in a Spurs detracting column, I know that it was written by someone who doesn't know good basketball and just like DUNKZ, [email protected]!~!1

And Manu Ginobili is the worst thing to happen to the league? I guess he's right, what with all his technicals...oh wait, that's Rasheed. Maybe it's his tendency to flagrant foul opponents...sorry, that's Raja Bell. Um, he was busted for DUI...er, that was Carmelo. Could be his rape trial and narcissistic attitude...no no, that's Kobe. Yeah, worst thing to happen to the NBA :rolleyes

I will remember these writers about as much as I remember who stood behind me in line at the movies 6 months ago.

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Originally Posted by Solid D

I will remember these writers about as much as I remember who stood behind me in line at the movies 6 months ago.

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couldnt have said better myself.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by duncan228

Second article, the "hate" reasons.

(1) They give every Hoosier-wannabe in the state a chance to rant about how fundamental basketball should be played and complain about how much showboating and dunking have taken over the game. My advice to you: go back to Indiana, find yourself a nice farmhouse, put up all your high school basketball photos on the fireplace mantel and stop talking about your team's sixth-place finish in the state regional.

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Fuck this guy.

For the record, real Hoosiers do appreciate the Spurs, because they do play basketball the correct way. Yeah, high school and college basketball are huge in Indiana because there isn't a whole hell of a lot else to do in the winter. Real news flash there, Jimmy Olsen.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by duncan228

The Spurs need to be broken up or moved to Oklahoma City so the Sonics don't have to. At least Seattle fans occasionally tune in to their team's playoff games. San Antonio fans are too busy watching the History Channel.

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Hasn't it been shown that San Antonio watches Spurs games at a much higher rate than most of the league? Don't we normally have insanely high local ratings?

Aka, the guy was trying to be funny and couldn't think of any serious reason to dis the Spurs.

There are lots of Spurs Fans all over the country, and the world for that matter. The notion that no one outside of San Antonio cares about the Spurs is ludicrous.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shelly

San Antonio is known for it's bowling alleys and retirement communities?

You learn something new every day.

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I can't think of a single bowling alley in SA.

I think the "hater" was given an assignment and tried his best to write SOMETHING...

Can't fault the man for earning his paycheck with a difficult assignment ("write a peice on why we should hate the SA Spurs")

After the mandatory "they're boring" it must have been awfully hard to knock on a team with no egotistical showoffs to pick on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RandomGuy

I can't think of a single bowling alley in SA.

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Really? Most people can at least get University Bowl off I-10. I normally go to Oak Hills on Callahan at Fred. Then again, I've been bowling (quite poorly) off and on since I was 4....

He had to have been trying to be funny...

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Originally Posted by fyatuk

Really? Most people can at least get University Bowl off I-10. I normally go to Oak Hills on Callahan at Fred. Then again, I've been bowling (quite poorly) off and on since I was 4....

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Well, I don't quite live in San Antonio, so the fact that I can't name a bowling alley doesn't mean a heckuva lot. :lol

It just means that I can't remember driving by one in my infrequent trips there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RandomGuy

Well, I don't quite live in San Antonio, so the fact that I can't name a bowling alley doesn't mean a heckuva lot. :lol

It just means that I can't remember driving by one in my infrequent trips there.

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That's okay, a couple of my friends have lived in the city all their lives, have gone bowling with me multiple times, and still, whenever we decide to go ask "Where IS a bowling alley?" :lol

It's actually quite entertaining.

Pretty please to the haters out there, if you're going to hate, please come up with some new hate. I'll even try to help you get started.

1. The Spurs are bad for the league because they diminish the importance of the regular season. The NBA loves to show its athletes talking about how hard they work all the time. Then the Spurs come in around late May, flip the switch, and practically scream to the impressionable young fans, "Only trying when its important can get you good things."

2. Robert Horry is the biggest coattailer in the history of the league. He's made a career out of hitting wide open jumpers. Whoop dee friggin' doo! If he missed half the shots he's made no one would care. He'd be badmouthed for a little bit after the games but the historical burden of the loss would end up on the team's stars and coaches. He's a punk and the Spurs and their lousy style that lets old men camp out on the three point line are the only reason this guy is still in the league. (Plus, he's the epitome of item #1)

3. The economy has been going downhill for a while. And what do the Spurs continue to do? They draft foreigners. Outsourcing is crushing hard working Americans and they are part of the problem.

4. Carbon dioxide is a culprit in global warming. My source on the Spurs medical staff says these guys exhale it like crazy.

5. Everything the Spurs fingers reach into hurts the entire NBA. This postseason was supposed to be one for the ages. Instead the two most highly anticipated series (Mavs/Hornets and Spurs/Suns) ended in five games. And who was at the helm of the losers? Ex-Spur AJ and ex-Spur Kerr, who may or may not have captained the Shaq deal that shot them in the foot. But it goes way deeper than that. Two young stars in the league-Lebron and Durant- are being guided by pairs of former Spurs. You think it's an accident that the best player in the NBA is surrounded by overpriced, underachieving mediocrity? And you can bank of OKC spending the next few years in the cellar while Durant wastes away and they use all their picks on guys from Whereverthefuckistan to keep yet another championship talent from possibly challenging the Spurs.

6. Said illegal practices force the few honest teams left, like Boston and LA to practice collusionary deals just to stay competitive. And Stern, the good shepherd of the league that he is, has to allow it and let his name be tarnished in the process. I know it kills him inside to let KG walk without some much as a slap on the wrist, but if he doesn't let these teams do what they have to do to beat the Spurs he knows that it will be the death of their TV ratings and eventually the league.

See guys? It's that easy. Now please retire the boring, flopping, S.A. sux smack and do it right.

Why would you guys have elk clubs when San Antonio isn't part of the elk range?

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Originally Posted by ambchang

Why would you guys have elk clubs when San Antonio isn't part of the elk range?

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http://www.elks.org/

You had to dig pretty deep into the barrel to find that article. A student newspaper for some directional-commuter school outside of Spokane? Seriously? And we're getting upset because some 20-year-old who couldn't come up with any actual reasons to dislike the Spurs, yet was facing a deadline, pulled stuff out of his rectum?

I lack the energy to take offense.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Extra Stout

You had to dig pretty deep into the barrel to find that article.

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Actually, I didn't. It's all over the place.

I posted it for the same reason I post any article. Conversation. Sometimes the lousy ones are the most fun to take apart.

Besides, the days are long until the next round. :)

"It's not Judge Judy, Tim?" Oh, come on. You know, and I know: Timmy Duncan has never committed a foul in his life. When they call it on him, it's just the refs trying to even things up for the other team.

So keep on "debating," Timmy: we're on your side!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spurs_fan_in_exile

Pretty please to the haters out there, if you're going to hate, please come up with some new hate. I'll even try to help you get started.

1. The Spurs are bad for the league because they diminish the importance of the regular season. The NBA loves to show its athletes talking about how hard they work all the time. Then the Spurs come in around late May, flip the switch, and practically scream to the impressionable young fans, "Only trying when its important can get you good things."

2. Robert Horry is the biggest coattailer in the history of the league. He's made a career out of hitting wide open jumpers. Whoop dee friggin' doo! If he missed half the shots he's made no one would care. He'd be badmouthed for a little bit after the games but the historical burden of the loss would end up on the team's stars and coaches. He's a punk and the Spurs and their lousy style that lets old men camp out on the three point line are the only reason this guy is still in the league. (Plus, he's the epitome of item #1)

3. The economy has been going downhill for a while. And what do the Spurs continue to do? They draft foreigners. Outsourcing is crushing hard working Americans and they are part of the problem.

4. Carbon dioxide is a culprit in global warming. My source on the Spurs medical staff says these guys exhale it like crazy.

5. Everything the Spurs fingers reach into hurts the entire NBA. This postseason was supposed to be one for the ages. Instead the two most highly anticipated series (Mavs/Hornets and Spurs/Suns) ended in five games. And who was at the helm of the losers? Ex-Spur AJ and ex-Spur Kerr, who may or may not have captained the Shaq deal that shot them in the foot. But it goes way deeper than that. Two young stars in the league-Lebron and Durant- are being guided by pairs of former Spurs. You think it's an accident that the best player in the NBA is surrounded by overpriced, underachieving mediocrity? And you can bank of OKC spending the next few years in the cellar while Durant wastes away and they use all their picks on guys from Whereverthefuckistan to keep yet another championship talent from possibly challenging the Spurs.

6. Said illegal practices force the few honest teams left, like Boston and LA to practice collusionary deals just to stay competitive. And Stern, the good shepherd of the league that he is, has to allow it and let his name be tarnished in the process. I know it kills him inside to let KG walk without some much as a slap on the wrist, but if he doesn't let these teams do what they have to do to beat the Spurs he knows that it will be the death of their TV ratings and eventually the league.

See guys? It's that easy. Now please retire the boring, flopping, S.A. sux smack and do it right.

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:toast


I'm stumped. The best I could come up with:

7. Continued popularity of the Spurs could set team fashions back by almost two decades as silver and black derails the inroads made by teal and aqua. Obviously, anything that reminds us of the Oakland Raiders, L.A. Kings, and/or Chicago White Sox must also be evil.

8. The "Get Fit with Bruce and Buddy Program." Obviously, the Spurs hate fat kids, unlike the lovable, fluffy Shaq.