Manu coming back to SA today

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

nice .

How's it going, pinky?

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

Ok, TPark. If money's the law and what it all comes down to... how much should the Spurs pay to the Argentinian Basketball Confederation for developing Ginobili? That's where he learned how to play, and where he spent 65% of his career. If it's about money, then the Spurs are enjoying an asset that belongs to the Argentinian league just because they have more money, so they should pay some kind of compensation or tax.

[ATX Spur]

I could care less about what makes him a hall of famer, outside of what he does in San antonio.

That's your right, but it's what makes you more a blind homer than a basketball fan.

[Manufan909]

Oh well.

The olympics are extra curricular BS anyways.

show loyalty to the team that took a chance and gave you a huge ass contract.

At the time.

Yeah, pick a city over a nation Manu, you can do it!!! You just have to let down every single family member you have, no biggie.

[spurschick]

when he is to attend a ceremony where the President of Argentina is going to present him with the Argentina flag he is to carry at the Olympic games.

Is Manu carrying the flag during the opening ceremonies? That's a huge honor.

It's really sad that every thread started about Manu these days turns into a Spurs vs. Olympics thread.

[Marhq]

So the NT Doc wants Manu to play so he lies about Manu's health while being fully aware that Manu is going to SA to get his ankle checked by Spurs Docs, so they will be able to see with their own eyes whether Manu's ankle has in fact healed or not. There's an alternative: the Arg. doctors are being honest but incompetent, as any doctors outside the US seem to be. This you all find perfectly believable.

But, just as easily you could say that it's Pop who's being dishonest. He wants Manu out of the Olympics no matter what but he can't order Manu not to go. So he puts pressure on him in every way he can, trying to "persuade" him with an early contract extension (and the corresponding threat to withdraw from the negotiations should Manu choose to play in the Oympics) and making it look like a very serious injury, even suggesting the need for surgery. This option has never even crossed your mind.

Here's what I think:
- Manu may not be a 100% come August, but he will be close to that and able to play without aggravating his injury.
- Manu is under pressure from both sides, but he wants to play. The fact that he's been voted to carry the flag is not innocent IMO, is the Olympic Committee's way of lending Manu a hand in his "struggle" against Spurs officials.
- This is most probably going to be Manu's last international tournament and I think this is the best way to retire from the NT.
- Many (maybe most) American sports fans have no clue of what it means for an athlete (a non-American athlete, that is) to represent his country. It is a big thing. This are the REAL World Championships.

Saludos.

[ShoogarBear]

Argentinian doctor pronounces Manu Ginobili "healed" after radical therapy.

"You thought he went left before? You ain't seen nothin' yet!"

[timvp]

I don't see a scenario in which Manu won't play. He straight up said winning an Olympic gold medal this year was more important than winning an NBA championship this year. Ginobili played through the injury through the NBA playoffs? No way he won't do the same in the Olympics, especially considering it will have to be feeling better -- at least to some degree.

[urunobili]

So the NT Doc wants Manu to play so he lies about Manu's health while being fully aware that Manu is going to SA to get his ankle checked by Spurs Docs, so they will be able to see with their own eyes whether Manu's ankle has in fact healed or not. There's an alternative: the Arg. doctors are being honest but incompetent, as any doctors outside the US seem to be. This you all find perfectly believable.

He is healthy enough to rush his trip and get the OK ASAP to start participating from the friendly matches where the Golden Generation will get all love from its people... The argentinean federation will set up games NBA showtime style at the Luna Park... Manu saw it and missed it last year before the pre olympics.. there is NO WAY he is going to miss that.. Nike wouldn't let that happen either

But, just as easily you could say that it's Pop who's being dishonest. He wants Manu out of the Olympics no matter what but he can't order Manu not to go. So he puts pressure on him in every way he can, trying to "persuade" him with an early contract extension (and the corresponding threat to withdraw from the negotiations should Manu choose to play in the Oympics) and making it look like a very serious injury, even suggesting the need for surgery. This option has never even crossed your mind.

Pop is just being extra cautions... Manu not healthy next playoffs means no Ring....

Here's what I think:
- Manu may not be a 100% come August, but he will be close to that and able to play without aggravating his injury.

He is already close to 100% otherwise he wouldn't be flying to SAT a week BEFORE than what was scheduled

- Manu is under pressure from both sides, but he wants to play. The fact that he's been voted to carry the flag is not innocent IMO, is the Olympic Committee's way of lending Manu a hand in his "struggle" against Spurs officials.

Manu carrying the Flag will be VERY special for him and the whole Olympics organization. That would not force him to play if he's not healthy. He is passionate not stupid. He has always been extra careful and Pop and RC trusts his professionalism

- This is most probably going to be Manu's last international tournament and I think this is the best way to retire from the NT.

Manu already said this won;t be the last tournament he will play.. i asume he'd like to retire after Turkey's World Cup in 2010 where he'd have his last shot at winning that tournament and lock HOF status

- Many (maybe most) American sports fans have no clue of what it means for an athlete (a non-American athlete, that is) to represent his country. It is a big thing. This are the REAL World Championships.

I disagree with this. American Sports fans do not like to see Lebron ousted in semi finals like the last two hoops big tournaments

[Manufan909]

And hopefully the Arg doctors were being honest.

[duncan228]

The Express News chimes in...

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....14e841b3.html

Olympics: Ginobili to carry flag at opening ceremony
San Antonio Express-News

The Spurs’ Manu Ginobili has been elected the flagbearer for Argentina at the opening ceremonies at the Olympics next month in Beijing.

The country’s 19-member Olympic Committee chose Ginobili, whose status for playing in the Games is still in doubt, over four other athletes. The country’s only gold medal at the 2004 Olympics came in men’s basketball, led by Ginobili.

According to reports from Argentine newspapers, Ginobili will have an MRI on his left ankle in San Antonio next week.

[T Park]

Yeah, pick a city over a nation Manu, you can do it!!! You just have to let down every single family member you have, no biggie.

If that family likes the living that Ginobili's contract from SA has gotten them, they would understand.

[T Park]

That's your right, but it's what makes you more a blind homer than a basketball fan.

Uh wrong.

It makes me a paying customer that demands to see the product I pay for be at 100%.

[T Park]

Ok, TPark. If money's the law and what it all comes down to... how much should the Spurs pay to the Argentinian Basketball Confederation for developing Ginobili? That's where he learned how to play, and where he spent 65% of his career. If it's about money, then the Spurs are enjoying an asset that belongs to the Argentinian league just because they have more money, so they should pay some kind of compensation or tax.

Fail.

Totally different, totally wrong.

Give up.

[roycrikside]

It's typical American arrogance and ignorance to assume they have all the good doctors just the way they once assumed they had all the good basketball players. It's a big world, no matter how many small-minded people like TPark live in it. The doctors and trainers for the Argentina NT may very well be more compe tent than the Spurs docs.

If I read and understood it correctly, it was the SPURS DOCTORS WHO COMPLETELY MISDIAGNOSED Manu's original ankle injury and it cost him three weeks late in the regular season and the playoffs and their treatment was completely ineffective. If they diagnosed and treated it right the first time, Manu could very well have been healthy for the Lakers series.

Manu has every reason to mistrust the Spurs medical staff after that and if they're going to use childish negotiating ploys like "We might extend your contract, but if you decide to play in the Olympics, we'll see what happens..." well then I wouldn't blame him at all for maybe having his agent look for other suitors.

Ginobili has taken less money to stay with the Spurs once already and he has repeatedly adjusted his role to fit the team's wishes, being shuttled back and forth from the starting lineup without complaint. He has sacrificed and given all he's got for this team and it's a shame that some of the higher ups and the fans take it for granted.

TPark's (and some others) at udes about Manu and the Olympics are selfish and shameful. There is no greater honor for an athlete than to represent their country. Hundreds of thousands of athletes can only dream of being asked and for the life of me I can't believe a tiny fraction of them actually refuse. No matter how much money you make at your job, at the end you owe everything you have to your homeland and the sacrifice of all the people who came before you. Refusing an Olympic invitation to me is akin to being a draft dodger (refusing a call for national duty) and I'm pretty sure TPark feels very differently about people who do that.

What truly astonishes me is how hypocritical TPark and some of you others are being. Suppose after the '03-04 season Manu took the Nuggets offer instead of the Spurs. From a business standpoint, it would've been hard to blame him, they offered more money. TPark and everyone else would've called him a traitor and disloyal and greedy and a mercenary and a hundred other bad things. But Manu made the right decision and showed he cares about something besides money.

So now, when he's doing something else that doesn't involve money, people . You people want it both ways. You want guys to only be dedicated to the Spurs and no one else when the Spurs don't even pay the big three what they're worth. Manu (and Tony) should be max deal players and both combined make less than Stephon Marbury, so save it with your economic bull , TPark. Neither one of them have held out and demanded to have their contracts ripped up and negotiated and I don't see the Spurs FO doing so either.

I very strongly doubt Manu Ginobili wanted to become a basketball player to make lots of money and I don't think it's the money that motivates him now. He wants to win as much as he can, as often as he can, whether it's the NBA, the Olympics, or pickup games. It's how he's wired and it makes him who he is. To tell him not to play is to tell him to become a different person in the offseason, to disown his past, disown his nature, disown his culture and disown his heritage. You basically want him to become some kind of . Maybe next year Ginobili should give the Spurs precisely 9M worth of NBA production since it's all about the money in TPark's world. I'm sure their fans wouldn't mind that at all...

[urunobili]

If I read and understood it correctly, it was the SPURS DOCTORS WHO COMPLETELY MISDIAGNOSED Manu's original ankle injury and it cost him three weeks late in the regular season and the playoffs and their treatment was completely ineffective. If they diagnosed and treated it right the first time, Manu could very well have been healthy for the Lakers series.

I somehow thought about this... i dunno if Sevening could have done any better than what he did...

on the other hand...roycrkside... if i was a moderator here i would give you a Spur for this post of yours... bad ass stuff bro or sista'...

[carina_gino20]

The Express News chimes in...

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....14e841b3.html

Olympics: Ginobili to carry flag at opening ceremony
San Antonio Express-News
...The country’s only gold medal at the 2004 Olympics came in men’s basketball, led by Ginobili.

If I recall correctly, Argentina's National team won the football gold earlier that day.

[carina_gino20]

Uh wrong.

It makes me a paying customer that demands to see the product I pay for be at 100%.

That's all we need to know.

Btw, anyone care to translate this latest article from Manu?

http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1026607

[timvp]

Suppose after the '03-04 season Manu took the Nuggets offer instead of the Spurs. From a business standpoint, it would've been hard to blame him, they offered more money.

Good points in your post, however the Nuggets never officially offered Manu a contract. They decided to go after K-Mart instead. The Spurs' offer was the biggest offer on the table for Ginobili. But yeah, he could have complained about money since then and never has.

[waly.mg]

Manu´s Award Ranking:

1st- 2004 Olympics Gold Medal
2nd- 2005 NBA Champinship
3rd- 2007 NBA Championship
4th- 2003 NBA CHampionship
5th- 2001 Euroleague Chapionship

[amy020]

It's typical American arrogance and ignorance to assume they have all the good doctors just the way they once assumed they had all the good basketball players. It's a big world, no matter how many small-minded people like TPark live in it. The doctors and trainers for the Argentina NT may very well be more compe tent than the Spurs docs.

If I read and understood it correctly, it was the SPURS DOCTORS WHO COMPLETELY MISDIAGNOSED Manu's original ankle injury and it cost him three weeks late in the regular season and the playoffs and their treatment was completely ineffective. If they diagnosed and treated it right the first time, Manu could very well have been healthy for the Lakers series.

Manu has every reason to mistrust the Spurs medical staff after that and if they're going to use childish negotiating ploys like "We might extend your contract, but if you decide to play in the Olympics, we'll see what happens..." well then I wouldn't blame him at all for maybe having his agent look for other suitors.

Ginobili has taken less money to stay with the Spurs once already and he has repeatedly adjusted his role to fit the team's wishes, being shuttled back and forth from the starting lineup without complaint. He has sacrificed and given all he's got for this team and it's a shame that some of the higher ups and the fans take it for granted.

TPark's (and some others) at udes about Manu and the Olympics are selfish and shameful. There is no greater honor for an athlete than to represent their country. Hundreds of thousands of athletes can only dream of being asked and for the life of me I can't believe a tiny fraction of them actually refuse. No matter how much money you make at your job, at the end you owe everything you have to your homeland and the sacrifice of all the people who came before you. Refusing an Olympic invitation to me is akin to being a draft dodger (refusing a call for national duty) and I'm pretty sure TPark feels very differently about people who do that.

What truly astonishes me is how hypocritical TPark and some of you others are being. Suppose after the '03-04 season Manu took the Nuggets offer instead of the Spurs. From a business standpoint, it would've been hard to blame him, they offered more money. TPark and everyone else would've called him a traitor and disloyal and greedy and a mercenary and a hundred other bad things. But Manu made the right decision and showed he cares about something besides money.

So now, when he's doing something else that doesn't involve money, people . You people want it both ways. You want guys to only be dedicated to the Spurs and no one else when the Spurs don't even pay the big three what they're worth. Manu (and Tony) should be max deal players and both combined make less than Stephon Marbury, so save it with your economic bull , TPark. Neither one of them have held out and demanded to have their contracts ripped up and negotiated and I don't see the Spurs FO doing so either.

I very strongly doubt Manu Ginobili wanted to become a basketball player to make lots of money and I don't think it's the money that motivates him now. He wants to win as much as he can, as often as he can, whether it's the NBA, the Olympics, or pickup games. It's how he's wired and it makes him who he is. To tell him not to play is to tell him to become a different person in the offseason, to disown his past, disown his nature, disown his culture and disown his heritage. You basically want him to become some kind of . Maybe next year Ginobili should give the Spurs precisely 9M worth of NBA production since it's all about the money in TPark's world. I'm sure their fans wouldn't mind that at all...

I agree.

[ata]

The swelling and pain are gone in his ankle are gone like the pain and swelling was gone in Tony parker's foot.

Come home, STAY HOME GINOBILI DAMNT!!!

So, you want for Manu to stay in Argentina and never come back in SA?

[ata]

It's typical ....
...
in TPark's world. I'm sure their fans wouldn't mind that at all...

+1

Major props for the post.

[diego]

good post roycrikside. of course, tpark will completely ignore it, just as he ignores any post that challenges his BS.

"i'm a paying customer..."

"i want my product at 100%"

that's all i needed to know tpark, you are a coward. no heart, no spine, no faith, no balls. go write your congressman and consumer reports so they can explain to you that sports teams do not own their players.

[hater]

If an Argentine doctor advised Manu to skip the Olympics, his whole family would come up missing.

this is not futbol.

basketball is equivalent to field hockey in argentina

BTW, nobody in argentina is pressuring Manu to play. It's all up to him. He is the one pressuring himself