Are the Spurs the most hated team in the country?

[balli]

People's hate for the Spurs is inversely proportional to their understanding of the game.

That's so wrong. I know as much as anyone here about basketball. Likewise, I've watched as much or more NBA ball than anyone here. For anyone to say that I don't know basketball solely because I dislike the Spurs is brainless. I'm not obligated to like the Spurs. I might be obligated to respect them. But knowing a lot about the game doesn't make me obligated to like them.

[Jimcs50]

Why didn't people hate the Jordan Bulls then? I didn't and I root for Utah for christsakes. The only way in which we're jealous is this: We didn't like you to begin with and the fact you win rings makes it that much worse. Your success extrapolates the hatred for you, no question, but damned if it's the root reason or cause for it.

I hated Jordan and the Bulls

[spurastic]

People are hypocrites and completely full of . People about wanting "role models" for their kids, classy, selfless players that win the right way, no egos, no thugs, no criminals, no drug abusers, no rapists, the list goes on and on.

Enter the Spurs.

1 through 12 (Damon Stoudamire excluded based on past transgressions), a team that is selfless, puts team first, wins championships, gives back to their communities, niether has nor entertains the idea of employing criminals and/or thugs (once again, Damon Stoudamire excluded even though it seems his bad days are behind him).

The team that fans have been clamoring for exists. And people nitpick and whine about flopping, supposed "dirty" play, whining, etc. You're all hypocrites. Every single last god damn one of you.

What is not to like about Tim Duncan? He's a laid back, fun loving guy who inspires those around him and makes his teammates better. How many players take less money and employ the notion of team loyalty? Ask his teammates what kind of person he is. Nary a negative thing to say about him.

What is everyone's problem with Tony Parker? Is it that he's married to a celebrity? Is it that he's French? What is it? I don't understand it. He's not an egomaniac, he's not a criminal or a blowhard, he's not any of the things that people about when it comes to the typical asshole athlete. He plays hard, respects his teammates and opponents, and is possibly the best point guard, pound for pound, in the league.

Ok, I understand people's disdain for Manu Ginobili. He's a flopper. I, as a die-hard Spurs fan admit it. He's also a balls-out player who isn't afraid to put his body on the line. People respect that about Allen Iverson but turn a blind eye to the cornrows, tattoos, and the scrapes with the law.

Bruce Bowen. Just the name brings some people's blood to a boil. Every day it's "Bruce is dirty! Bruce is dirty!" You know who was dirty? Bill Laimbeer. How many people recognize that name? Not only was he a dirty player, he reveled in it. He didn't try to hide the fact that he was a complete asshole on the court. Many of the things that Bruce Bowen does can be construed as dirty. But guess what? When you specialize in playing hard, physical defense, happens. The occaisional player sprains an ankle or gets kicked in the grill or junk. I'm not defending it. I'm just saying that happens. Many of the best defenders in the history of the game have been called dirty. But how many people out there hear about his work ethic? Or his devotion to his family? Or the volunteer work he does? How many times has he thrown a punch or clotheslined another player?

People can say whatever they want. I think it all boils down to envy and/or jealousy. Other fans want what us Spurs fans have. We have a team that not only plays its guts out, but also wins consistently AND remembers that without fans, a team can't flourish.

I couldn't care less about what most people say about my team, about my beloved Spurs. I've been proud to be a Spurs fan since 1987, through the 20 win seasons and championship celebrations. From the Admiral to the Big Fundamental. From the Hemisfair Arena to the AT&T Center.

And no, the Spurs are NOT the most hated team in the country. Definitely not the most revered, but not the most hated, either.

Good post!!! But Manu is not the flopper he once was. He actually gets hit more than he gets calls IMHO.

[balli]

It may annoy me once in a while, but then i remember And smile.

As you should. You really do have a great thing going. And, for the record, I think you add another this year.

[Strike]

Good post!!! But Manu is not the flopper he once was. He actually gets hit more than he gets calls IMHO.

Like I said, he puts his body on the line, night in and night out.

[ShoogarBear]

That's so wrong. I know as much as anyone here about basketball. Likewise, I've watched as much or more NBA ball than anyone here. For anyone to say that I don't know basketball solely because I dislike the Spurs is brainless. I'm not obligated to like the Spurs. I might be obligated to respect them. But knowing a lot about the game doesn't make me obligated to like them.

The rule doesn't apply to people who historically didn't like the Spurs prior to the current era. For example, I'm always going to hate the Celtics, no matter how good or bad they are.

But anyone who hates the Spurs because they're boring, but thinks this year's Celtics are exciting is a moron.

[m33p0]

in the state of arizona, you betcha.

[balli]

The rule doesn't apply to people who historically didn't like the Spurs prior to the current era. For example, I'm always going to hate the Celtics, no matter how good or bad they are.

But anyone who hates the Spurs because they're boring, but thinks this year's Celtics are exciting is a moron.

The Celts are boring as all , but at least they're new and at least KG is capable of making a facial expression from time to time. And from a non-b-ball standpoint Cassell does help bring a little fire. But no, I didn't watch the Celtics play all that much this year. As if I could even put up with Tommy Heinsohn anyway.

And for the record, I've disliked Tim Duncan longer than 90% of Spurs fans have even known who he was.

[Just Joe]

Here's the problem. ESPN doesn't like the Spurs, for whatever reason. Every moron they put on that network sucked the Suns off up until game 3 was over. Now that game 3 is over, is anyone sucking the Spurs off on that network? No. Their experts have gone strangely silent. Since most of the mindless masses of casual fans get their opinions from ESPN, then these people believe whatever ESPN says.

ESPN used to hide the bias a little better, but it is so obvious now that they love every Boston based team that it's pathetic. They hate the Yankee's and the Spurs, for whatever reason. Now, the mindless casual fans all hate the Yankees and Spurs.

[trueD]

Your blending likability with technicality and dependibility. Frankly, being a highly technical and dependable team is a great thing for you guys and I'd imagine to a lot of people that leads to liking them. If they were my team I'd not only like them for it, I'd love them for it. Like I said, it certainly is respectable anyway. However, you can't really blame me for wanting to see maybe a less dependable, less technical but more exciting, more risk-taking team instead. I mean, I'm sorry I like to watch alley-oops and guys like Kobe make their hands into guns and blow away the smoke. I'm sorry I like to see KG and Cassell beat the out of Rondo because they're so excited he scored. I'm sorry I like loud crowds in big, traditional NBA markets. If I could pattern the Jazz after anyone, it would be the Spurs, just like you were patterned after our 90's teams, but when it comes to teams out of market, I'm sorry, but all that other appeals to me.

That's cool, viva la diferance, Baby. There's still 28 other teams out there to watch and fortunately you're in the middle of the PO's and can watch the best of the best battle on a daily basis.

It's just, consistantly being a winner must be awesome.

[703 Spurz]

I'm not asking for a pity thread, I'm just asking.


It sure seems that way.

Hated by who?

[BonnerDynasty]

I get the sense that we are not hated, juts ignored.

[jaffies]

If I were an ant....I'd hate people who squished me year in and year out. Especially when no one warned me about em.

[WalterBenitez]

I don't say this to be offensive, but I say it because you asked the question.
Please don't call me a jealous in response and please don't resort to flaming the Jazz and Hawks.

The answer is yes. Not only are you the most hated team in the country, you are BY FAR the most hated team in the country. I actively root against you. Everyone I know who follows the NBA actively roots against you. I'll often hear the question- who do you want in the finals. The inevitable answer is always two teams followed by, "really, anyone but the Spurs."

We're not jealous. It has nothing to do with your rings other than the fact that people don't like you or your players to begin with and the fact you win championships makes it that much worse. You are just not a likable team. Bill Simmons had a podcast this week where him and Matt Berry were speculating as to why people dislike Kobe so much. Berry basically said that for whatever reason there are just people you look at and right off the bat you either like them, or don't like them. Kobe is a just a guy you don't like. The same goes for your team. Duncan is not likable. His personality and his game bore people. Ginobili is downright hatable- His flopping and unconventional play really gets under opposition skin. Parker is not likable. The way you play is very, very effective, but frankly it isn't very likable. There are very few athletic highlight in Spurs games you know. You just go out and quietly kill people- which is not likable. Your arena and court design are not likable. Your crying about fouls all the time is not likable. Texas as a whole, is not very likable. Basically, people look at you and just don't like you. It sucks for you, but based on the mundane product on the floor, the effecicacy of said product and the often en led at ude of the team, it shouldn't be very surprising.

I used to root big time for the 90's Jazz teams. Everyone hated us. It's not because they were jealous. In that case they would have hated Chicago. It's because we were a slow, effective, flopping & hard-nosed team from a small, rural market and we had unlikable players. It was effective and beautiful basketball, just like the Spurs of today, but I understand why they hated us. In other words- I don't get why you guys don't understand the same thing about your team?

May I call you ...

[Strike]

People only hate you win your winning les. As a Laker fan I've learned to embrace that hate. It actually feels good to know there are people out there that wish your team was losers like their team...lol. My best friend is a Laker hater and for the life of me I cant figure out why... he was born and raised in LA. Any team that he thinks can beat the Lakers is his favorite team. He's was a Suns fan up until last night. I guess he will be Spurs fan today. Anyways enjoy it while you have it

It used to bother me that people disrespected and/or hated the Spurs. Now I like it. Just the fact that someone wastes their time hating the team I love is satisfying to me. It means their spending time and energy that could be used constructively on something essentially meaningless.

I try not to waste time hating other teams. Just seems like a colossal waste of time.

[balli]

I try not to waste time hating other teams. Just seems like a colossal waste of time.

That's because you are a Spurs fan, not an NBA fan.

[Strike]

That's because you are a Spurs fan, not an NBA fan.

Are the Spurs not an NBA team? Actually the NBA is my favorite pro league. I follow basketball more than any other sport.

There are a handful of teams I don't like. Utah, Phoenix, Lakers, Dallas and Cleveland.

Not to say I don't spend time rooting against the teams I dislike. I just don't spend large amounts of time doing so. And I certainly don't waste time on other teams' message boards ing about why I don't like them.

[balli]

And I certainly don't waste time on other teams' message boards ing about why I don't like them.

Get over it. This is a great board with a lot of knowledgable people. I'm here for that. If there was a Jazz board that wasn't full of a bunch of idiotic mormons I'd post there, but there isn't. And I don't spend much time at all " ing" about other peoples' teams. If you didn't notice what this thread le and subject was beofore now, maybe you should take a look.

[PlayoffEx-static]

Here's the problem. ESPN doesn't like the Spurs, for whatever reason. Every moron they put on that network sucked the Suns off up until game 3 was over. Now that game 3 is over, is anyone sucking the Spurs off on that network? No. Their experts have gone strangely silent. Since most of the mindless masses of casual fans get their opinions from ESPN, then these people believe whatever ESPN says.

ESPN used to hide the bias a little better, but it is so obvious now that they love every Boston based team that it's pathetic. They hate the Yankee's and the Spurs, for whatever reason. Now, the mindless casual fans all hate the Yankees and Spurs.

I have to agree with this, and it also ties into why people didn't hate Jordan and the Bulls, many people anyways. Jordan loved the spotlight, so the networks loved him. He always had a quote and a smile and projected the now known to be false All American image. He really didn't get attacked until WAY late in the game when he was no longer on top. Tim doesn't love the spotlight, and his interviews are probably the minimum that he can do without getting fined. The media sees this as an affront to themselves, so we're "the boring bad guys". Tim is just intensely private. People at large in SA didn't even know his second child was a boy for MONTHS after his birth. I'm sure the media thinks they have some sort of right to know this, and Tim would disagree.

I also think history will be a lot kinder to this team than the present media dolts.

[Sense]

Who gives a if everyone hates the Spurs... just as long as they respect them.

[Strike]

Who gives a if everyone hates the Spurs... just as long as they respect them.

I don't even care if people don't respect them anymore. A person that can't muster up respect for winning just shows their lack of character.

[balli]

I don't even care if people don't respect them anymore. A person that can't muster up respect for winning just shows their lack of character.

So you do care then?

[SpursIndonesia]

I have to agree with this, and it also ties into why people didn't hate Jordan and the Bulls, many people anyways. Jordan loved the spotlight, so the networks loved him. He always had a quote and a smile and projected the now known to be false All American image. He really didn't get attacked until WAY late in the game when he was no longer on top. Tim doesn't love the spotlight, and his interviews are probably the minimum that he can do without getting fined. The media sees this as an affront to themselves, so we're "the boring bad guys". Tim is just intensely private. People at large in SA didn't even know his second child was a boy for MONTHS after his birth. I'm sure the media thinks they have some sort of right to know this, and Tim would disagree.

I also think history will be a lot kinder to this team than the present media dolts.

I see your point, basically the way the Spurs conduct their bussiness, it's like flipping their midfinger to the media, so they decide to screw us back by describing us unjustfully as a boring team, and most casual fans follow these presumption.

[Strike]

So you do care then?

What part of "I don't even care" led you to believe I do?

[davemaniscool]

- Classy team
- Selfless team
- No trash talking by any of the players on the court
- No trash talking to the press about the other team (by the coach or team)
- No late night meetings with the police
- No drug issues
- They play both sides of the ball
- Tough defense where a player (Bowen) actually gets in your grill and moves his feet
- Exciting team that exhibited killer offense as shown last night

If people hate those things then they're not true fans of the game and if they say they are then they need to take a hard look at themselves in the mirror. Their feelings are a reflection of how they feel about their life in general (i.e. probably pissed off about their lot in life, jealous of others success, envious of others success, etc)