As a kid and an avid Cowboys fan in the '70s I was spoiled. Superbowls were expected and the years they didn't come, the depression lasted until the draft when the Cowboys were sure to pull off something miraculous. I could not fathom life without Roger Staubach under center and when he retired I cried. Years later, after enduring "the catch", Gary Hogeboom, Steve Pelleur, and other wannabe saviors, when Tom Landry was fired, I got sick to my stomach. But eventually, things changed, for the better.
My relationship to the Spurs was different though. Unlike the Cowboys of the 70s, we were the upstarts looking for credibility in a league where playoff games were televised on tape delay after the 10 o'clock news. Most nights my experience was that of listening to the exploits of James Silas on transistor radio as told by the voice of Terry Stembridge. Back then we were a naive, some might even say immature fan base, but that was our appeal. We danced to the cotton eyed joe, threw guacamole on Larry Brown, and we embraced a tall skinny kid who eventually became the face of the franchise and took us to the brink of greatness and through the depths of heartbreak in 1979. We were destined, it seemed, to fall short of the mountain top. Even when a legitimate center in Artis Gilmore gave us hope, the cycle of time was against us as the showtime Lakers surged and proved an insurmountable playof foe.
But eventually, just as with the Cowboys, things changed. First for the worse, but then for the better....much better. There are kids of the 2000s, who like me in 70s cannot imagine life without Tim Duncan or without NBA les. And when he finally retires officially, I'm sure at least a few tears will be shed. And when Popovich finally goes, either through self removal or forced exit, I'm sure a few stomachs will turn with angst and sadness at the memories of what once was.
But take heart Spurs fan. This is the circle of life in sports. We long for the mountain top experience, thinking it will never happen for us. Then, it does, and hope it never ends. Then it does end and we're back to longing for the chance to get there again one day. It makes me hearken back to the words of Stembridge when he ended each broadcast with the words: "there will be another night." Indeed that is the magic of sports. As sure as a newspaper editor once assured a little girl that Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Clause, we can be assured that yes, there will another night, if not soon then somewhere on the horizon. It might come in the form of a skrawny, gangly shooter or a solemn tower of a presence, but some day our day will come again. you have to believe, because after all that's sports.
Well said I remember the catch....and from that point on the hated the 49ers!
And like you said it part of reality The Spurs had that great but mediocre runs in the late 1970's and early 1980's....But in my lifetime I'm glad we got to see our team win 4. Cowboys, Blackhawks, Spurs, have won it in my lifetime Now if the Cubs can win the world series i'll die in piece.
Did the Spurs get eliminated while we were sleeping?
I had to laugh when I opened up Spurstalk this morning to find a thread led "Perspective" that only had two or three respondents over a twelve hour period.
Perspective is one of the things generally under-appreciated in a forum such as this.
Either wailing and gnashing of teeth or trash-talking bragging is more the norm.
Nice thoughts, though.
Thanks for taking the time to put them in writing.
Very well written and thoughtful. Thanks for posting this!
Enjoyed the read, OP -- thanks.
To really appreciate winning.. experience losing. Only then will you truly feel the sweet taste of victory. After sweat, after tears, after pain to look at your opponents and say I was better then you today. It's what sports is all about. You are indeed right purist.
Well Simba, I'm not ready for the Circle of Life song yet, since Spurs are still alive in this years playoffs.
We true Spurs fans will continue to root for them after TD has retired and winning divisions is once again maybe the pinnicle of our season.
Remember when LA fans laughed at us when we all got excited and pumped up when our Central Division or Midwest division banners were being raised to the rafters? We did not care, because we were ignorant of what winning championships felt like. We were just happy that our little city from Texas was winning something and gave us tons of pleasure. Our Spurs did win the division this year, so maybe we do need to get some satisfaction from that just like the old days.
To average Spur fan division les are not good enough, there is no satifaction when you have been spoiled with 4 championships. Anything less is a dissapointment. I have to admit I am spoiled and almost expect us to win it every year now, but the reality is we will not and it should not be such a dissapointment when they do not win it all... there are 29 other teams that have a target on our backs because we have built legacy for winning.Well Simba, I'm not ready for the Circle of Life song yet, since Spurs are still alive in this years playoffs.
We true Spurs fans will continue to root for them after TD has retired and winning divisions is once again maybe the pinnicle of our season.
Remember when LA fans laughed at us when we all got excited and pumped up when our Central Division or Midwest division banners were being raised to the rafters? We did not care, because we were ignorant of what winning championships felt like. We were just happy that our little city from Texas was winning something and gave us tons of pleasure. Our Spurs did win the division this year, so maybe we do need to get some satisfaction from that just like the old days.
Greedy s, you spurs are number 4 on that list of most rings. Here is a few teams that would not mind having one of your rings..
Charlotte - Bobcats
New Orleans - Hornets
Indiana - Pacers
New Jersey - Nets
Utah - Jazz
Toronto - Raptors
Minnesota - Timberwolves
Cleveland- Cavaliers
Memphis - Grizzlies
Dallas - Mavericks
Denver - Nuggets
Orlando - Magic
Phoenix - Suns
Los Angeles - Clippers
and that's just the teams that haven't won any. I'm not even gonna get into the multiple ring list. It's easy to complain with what you don't have god dam appreciate what you do have. This board is depressing, rebuild and grow a pair.
Maybe I did not say it as eloquently as you did, but that is what I was saying.
Another thing: Your Bulls lucked out to get number 1 pick when you had something like a 3% chance to get the lotto ball to fall your way, and you snatched up Rose, just as Spurs got lucky after 96 season. And that is the only reason why your Bulls turned it around and are semi legit contenders this year. No Rose, your team is a one and done, so get off your high horse.
Basicly, that is the only way to go from being a so so team to a major contender, when you do not have unlimited money to throw around, so I am not exactly extatic over the future of Spurs' chances for that 5th ring.
Last edited by Jimcs50; 04-27-2011 at 11:48 AM.
I beg to differ with all of you…The Clippers could care less if they don’t have any championship rings…
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