Manu's Agent says....

[wijayas]

That is bull when you are making 10 mil a year, in my view it is complete nonsense. You are right about it is his choice since his contract says he can do it, but that doesn't make it right. He is letting down the Spurs FO in my view big time with this nonsense. Tim Duncan would never pull this garbage. He is too loyal to Pop and the Spurs. Manu seems more loyal to the Olympics and knows nomatter what he has a guranteed payday coming his way. If this was the NFL where he could be cut, he'd never do this.

Tim Duncan cannot represent Virgin Islands anymore, not because he is too loyal to Pop. Remember his agony when he had to play against V.I. in 2004?

Let Manu live his life the way he wants it. He has life outside the Spurs, just as much as we have life outside our professions.

[dbreiden83080]

Manu's doctor, is that you?

What did the MRI say?

Yeah he got an MRI and an injection because everything is feeling great.

I had that done the other day myself, give me a break

[Phenomanul]

He's not healthy, that is the problem

I would venture to say that Manu is never "100%"... He plays to win, nagging injuries and all. Why didn't Pop sit him out during the Lakers series; why wasn't he protecting the franchise's asset then? True, Ginobili wasn't himself, and the entire NBA nation was witness to that. But a month has already passed. I would think that he is healthier now than during the playoffs.

He took less money to play for the Spurs, he fulfills his role as sixth man when he could easily start for most other teams, he is a team player, a proven leader, a clutch performer, he carried the Spurs this season and he plays to win. That is Manu. You can't trash him and praise him in the same breath for the same attributes that make him who he is.

[duncan228]

Tim Duncan cannot represent Virgin Islands anymore, not because he is too loyal to Pop. Remember his agony when he had to play against V.I. in 2004?

Duncan never represented VI, he played for team USA.
And he choose to sit out the qualifying game against VI rather than play against them.

He won't play again, his experience was horrible. "FIBA sucks" were his exact words.

[wijayas]

Duncan never represented VI, he played for team USA.
And he choose to sit out the qualifying game against VI rather than play against them.

Right on the money!

[dbreiden83080]

Tim Duncan cannot represent Virgin Islands anymore, not because he is too loyal to Pop. Remember his agony when he had to play against V.I. in 2004?

If Tim Duncan ended the season hurt like Manu is and wanted to play in the Olympics he would not do it, he is too loyal to say Screw You Spurs FO, i'm playing hurt nomatter what. Manu can risk this because he knows injured or healthy i am getting paid.

[dbreiden83080]

He took less money to play for the Spurs, he fulfills his role as sixth man when he could easily start for most other teams, he is a team player, a proven leader, a clutch performer, he carried the Spurs this season and he plays to win. That is Manu. You can't trash him and praise him in the same breath for the same attributes that make him who he is.

I respect the out of Manu as a player but i do not support this decision. The man was a s of himself this post-season and he is still not right. The Olympics are a grind and now the odds of him coming into camp at all healthy have gone down considerably. I can say i think this is a bad call on his part, a lot of people feel that way. If he gets really hurt, most everyone will feel that way.

[wijayas]

If Tim Duncan ended the season hurt like Manu is and wanted to play in the Olympics he would not do it, he is too loyal to say Screw You Spurs FO, i'm playing hurt nomatter what. Manu can risk this because he knows injured or healthy i am getting paid.

See my earlier post about being an Olympian vs. being an athlete.
Besides, nobody wants to consciously get injured (re-injured). Not even someone as reckless as Manu. Manu is too clever for that.

[Phenomanul]

Duncan never represented VI, he played for team USA.
And he choose to sit out the qualifying game against VI rather than play against them.

He won't play again, his experience was horrible. "FIBA sucks" were his exact words.

However, the scenarios don't compare. Tim's reluctance to play international ball has more to do with the style and officiating than with his intentions to please the Spurs FO. If Tim's knee had been healthy during the 2000 Sydney Olympics... There's no doubt in my mind Tim would have represented the USA.

One notable difference to Manu's current situation: Tim underwent surgery. Manu's condition has not warranted any medical procedure.

[dbreiden83080]

See my earlier post about being an Olympian vs. being an athlete.
Besides, nobody wants to consciously get injured (re-injured). Not even someone as reckless as Manu. Manu is too clever for that.

You have a choice to be an olympian or take the summer off and see to it you come in ready to go for your team paying you millions of dollars. I actually agree with Mark Cuban on this one. Why should we pay these guys so much money and have them risk it all playing for another team in the summer?? The problem is guaranteed money here. They get it, injured or healthy, so they can risk whatever the they want.

[duncan228]

However, the scenarios don't compare. Tim's reluctance to play international ball has more to do with the style and officiating than with his intentions to please the Spurs FO. If Tim's knee had been healthy during the 2000 Sydney Olympics... There's no doubt in my mind Tim would have represented the USA.

One notable difference to Manu's current situation: Tim underwent surgery. Manu's condition has not warranted any medical procedure.

I agree. Duncan hates international ball after his '04 experience, and yes, I think he would have played in 2000 had he been able to.

I wasn't trying to compare the situations, I was just responding to what wijayas posted about Duncan representing VI.

[dbreiden83080]

However, the scenarios don't compare. Tim's reluctance to play international ball has more to do with the style and officiating than with his intentions to please the Spurs FO. If Tim's knee had been healthy during the 2000 Sydney Olympics... There's no doubt in my mind Tim would have represented the USA.

Tim Duncan is in a class all by himself. If POP Came to him and said "I don't want you to risk your health by playing in the Olympics", he would not play, especially if he ended the season with an injury. There is no doubt in my mind of that.

[ElNono]

I'm sorry but i think the guy puts himself up to be flamed when he is making 10 mil a year, ends the season hurt, is still hurt and wants to play in the Olympics. What if he comes into camp totally beat up and can't play at a high level this year or worse gets hurt so bad in the olympics he needs season ending surgery?? Would you be OK with his decsion then??

What if he doesn't play the Olympics then gets injured the very first game of the season and needs a season ending surgery? It's the same end result. And would you feel any different if he made $1 a season instead of $10 million? If he gets injured during the olympics the Spurs don't have to pay him a dime of his salary until he recovers. That's why there's mandatory insurance in these cases.

[Phenomanul]

I respect the out of Manu as a player but i do not support this decision. The man was a s of himself this post-season and he is still not right. The Olympics are a grind and now the odds of him coming into camp at all healthy have gone down considerably. I can say i think this is a bad call on his part, a lot of people feel that way. If he gets really hurt, most everyone will feel that way.

I would agree except for the fact that Ginobili has shown that his 'slow starts' typically mean that he ends the season on a tear (2003, 2005, 2007). When he starts the season off at such a high level, he takes on more of a burden, puts more pressure on himself, and ultimately can't sustain it. We saw that this season. Besides, people need to accept the fact that his injury this year was 'unlucky' in terms of timing. You can't plan around that. For all we know, he can rest the entire off-season and have a season-ending injury on Game 1 of the NBA schedule - refer to Corey Magette. I'd rather Ginobili pace himself next season, play 24-26 mpg and that the Spurs address the deficiency through the FA market, that they use Manu's minutes to help develop their younger players - I believe that this goal can still be accomplished regardless of whether or not Ginobili participates in this year's Olympics.

[ElNono]

You have a choice to be an olympian or take the summer off and see to it you come in ready to go for your team paying you millions of dollars. I actually agree with Mark Cuban on this one. Why should we pay these guys so much money and have them risk it all playing for another team in the summer?? The problem is guaranteed money here. They get it, injured or healthy, so they can risk whatever the they want.

Fallacy. If they get injured insurance, not the team, pay their salary.

[Phenomanul]

I agree. Duncan hates international ball after his '04 experience, and yes, I think he would have played in 2000 had he been able to.

I wasn't trying to compare the situations, I was just responding to what wijayas posted about Duncan representing VI.

I understood your intentions the moment I read your post. I just felt inclined to help others discern the difference.

[dbreiden83080]

Fallacy. If they get injured insurance, not the team, pay their salary.

Again so he still gets paid and can do what he wants, the money is coming nomatter what. Plus as a fan this is obviously more about wanting to win another le and we can't do it without Manu being Manu.

[ElNono]

I would agree except for the fact that Ginobili has shown that his 'slow starts' typically mean that he ends the season on a tear (2003, 2005, 2007). When he starts the season off at such a high level, he takes on more of a burden, puts more pressure on himself, and ultimately can't sustain it. We saw that this season. Besides, people need to accept the fact that his injury this year was 'unlucky' in terms of timing. You can't plan around that. For all we know, he can rest the entire off-season and have a season-ending injury on Game 1 of the NBA schedule - refer to Corey Magette. I'd rather Ginobili pace himself next season, and that the Spurs address the deficiency through the FA market, that they develop their younger players - that goal can still be accomplished regardless of whether or not Ginobili participates in this year's Olympics.

Completely agree. Plus Manu would have been fine in the playoffs if not for that injury in the Phoenix series. It happened with Tim in 2006, even when he got all summer off. Injuries are something you can't control, and when they happen at the end of the season there's nothing you can do about it.

[dbreiden83080]

Injuries are something you can't control.

What you can control is avoiding the odds of suffering one

[duncan228]

I understood your intentions the moment I read your post. I just felt inclined to help others discern the difference.

My intentions are usually pretty obvious...Duncan's mentioned, I appear.

Tim Duncan is in a class all by himself.

Yes he is.

[ElNono]

Again so he still gets paid and can do what he wants, the money is coming nomatter what. Plus as a fan this is obviously more about wanting to win another le and we can't do it without Manu being Manu.

We get it. If your boss tells you not to have fun with your family during your time off, you'll nod and do just that. I personally would start looking for another job.
Playing for your country is a matter of pride. It has historical connotations. The day the story of Manu Ginobili is written after he retires, it will say he represented his country in two Summer Olympic games, not how much he was making as a Spur at the time.

[ElNono]

What you can control is avoiding the odds of suffering one

With that mentality we'll just suspend training camp aswell.

[dbreiden83080]

We get it. If your boss tells you not to have fun with your family during your time off, you'll nod and do just that. I personally would start looking for another job.

Manu's job entails being a great athlete, not having his ass chained to a desk, surely you see a diference there?? Some people have it in their contracts that they can't ride motorcycles, in the offseason, and if they get hurt bye bye salary. That is having fun in the offseason isn't it?? But you don't do it if it means kissing a payday goodbye. Tell me or anyone with a straight face you would risk your health if you knew that if you got hurt you would lose out on 10 mil. Manu can do this because that is not at risk nomatter what.

[benefactor]

I know this is tough for Manu...but even though you take a lot of pride in your own country and want to represent them you still have a job that you are paid for. There is loyalty involved in both with regards to the fans, but you have co-workers that are depending on you. Its not fair to them for you jeopardize what all of them work so hard to achieve every year because you feel a sense of obligation to your country regardless of your health. You can't let loyalty and national pride turn into selfishness...and you are riding that line with this decision.

[dbreiden83080]

With that mentality we'll just suspend training camp aswell.

Oh My GOD