Ludden: Manu-mania rules in Argentina

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Apology Accepted.










Argentina hates Tony Parker. I haven't figured it out yet.

Yes Timvp, to all the pond dwelling ignorants here in Argentina Tony IS the anti-christ! but wait I forgot, you don't have ignorance in the states, everyone is enlightened. You want to think you're right TimVP, then thats your problem. Instead of believing us informed Argentinian fans, you seem intent in just focusing on the ones that follow basketball just because Manu is playing. REAL ARGENTINIAN BASKETBALL FANS DO NOT HATE TONY!! GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL!

[Jelly]

The Tony hate can be explained by this IMO:

1) Tony denies the ball to Manu in the eyes of us Manu homers
2) A lot of people watched their first NBA finals this year and the guy doing the play by play talked crap about Tony from start to finish.
3) Moronic non sports journalists went to Manu's press conference because of his celebrity status.

I believe that most fans and media that can get over their homerism see the potential Tony has, despite his flaws.

thanks for filling in some of the blanks.
I think a lot of people don't realize how much strategy there is behind the ball movement. Don't Argentineans wonder what is being said during all those time-outs? They're not planning dinner parties. If Tony doesn't pass the ball directly to Manu very often (and I never noticed this), it's because Pop doesn't want him to. Still, I'm glad the Spurs are getting press in Argentina, even if it is mainly about Manu.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I want to make this very clear, the reporter that asked that, knows about basketball, and the people that know about basketball and still talk about basketball tend to say and ask idiotic things. I don't know why all of a sudden the word of one reporter makes it official that Argentina hates Tony Parker! Do you not have idiot reporters in the states??? Ex. Smith?? Add to that the fact that shock reporters over here are exactly the same as in the US, meaning all they look for is controversy, and for the life of me I really can't understand why everyone takes this guy's word so seriosly.

That's freaking hilarious.

It got me wondering, for all the people here from Argentina: did all the Finals coverage in your media center only on Manu, or did they have features on some of the other players, like the San Antonio writers are good at doing? We see people don't like Parker in general, but what about Tim, Bowen, Nazr, and the rest? Is there a general view of them?

Thanks!

Our coverage of the NBA over here is probably as biased as the states coverage of soccer. Yes Manu is the center of attention over here, but is that such a surprise to you people? You have Landon Donovan running along Ronaldhinio for best soccer player of the year!! Any self respecting soccer fan knows that Donovan is not even among the top 30, just like any self respecting basketball fan knows that Manu is not as great as people make him out to be.

[Clandestino]

its really cool to see all the press about manu there, and tony in france. but i wonder if people in the virgin islands ever thought aj was the devil?

in argentina tony parker is the devil... in france tim duncan is a ball-hog... and somewhere slovenians are thinking pop is dumb.

and people everywhere else thinking he is a genius bc of the same reason!

[Jelly]

I don't know why all of a sudden the word of one reporter makes it official that Argentina hates Tony Parker! Do you not have idiot reporters in the states??? Ex. Smith?? Add to that the fact that shock reporters over here are exactly the same as in the US, meaning all they look for is controversy, and for the life of me I really can't understand why everyone takes this guy's word so seriosly.


Our coverage of the NBA over here is probably as biased as the states coverage of soccer. Yes Manu is the center of attention over here, but is that such a surprise to you people? You have Landon Donovan running along Ronaldhinio for best soccer player of the year!! Any self respecting soccer fan knows that Donovan is not even among the top 30, just like any self respecting basketball fan knows that Manu is not as great as people make him out to be.

This would be a good point, except that soccer is really not followed or covered here. I, for one, have never heard of Landon Donovan. And I am am avid ESPN watcher. But if soccer were covered by the media here, I'm sure it would be centered on American players.

I think it's not what one reporter said, but rather has more to do with the information given by a few sources on this board that Tony Parker is considered the Anti-Christ to Argentina.

[AlamoSpursFan]

Two overzealous TV reporters jostled with NBA officials when they weren't allowed to get close to Ginobili.

Where's The Gambler when you need him?

[Ginobili_20_gold_medalist]

Is this Ginobili's idea of a vacation? Even though he's "not touching a basketball" it still doesn't sound like he's getting much rest.

[spurschick]

Is this Ginobili's idea of a vacation? Even though he's "not touching a basketball" it still doesn't sound like he's getting much rest.

Basketball without Borders is a great program and it gives him the opportunity to give back to his country, which is very important to him. It ends Monday. He'll have plenty of time to rest after that.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

This would be a good point, except that soccer is really not followed or covered here. I, for one, have never heard of Landon Donovan. And I am am avid ESPN watcher. But if soccer were covered by the media here, I'm sure it would be centered on American players.

I think it's not what one reporter said, but rather has more to do with the information given by a few sources on this board that Tony Parker is considered the Anti-Christ to Argentina.

Read my first post on this thread

[MaNuMaNiAc]

This would be a good point, except that soccer is really not followed or covered here. I, for one, have never heard of Landon Donovan. And I am am avid ESPN watcher. But if soccer were covered by the media here, I'm sure it would be centered on American players.

I think it's not what one reporter said, but rather has more to do with the information given by a few sources on this board that Tony Parker is considered the Anti-Christ to Argentina.

if the US won the World Cup all woul break loose in the states, and you know it

[1Parker1]

@ Parker is the Anti-Christ. $20 bucks says that was no reporter who asked that question, but IceBrewski himself!

[EasilyAmused]

You have Landon Donovan running along Ronaldhinio for best soccer player of the year!! Any self respecting soccer fan knows that Donovan is not even among the top 30, just like any self respecting basketball fan knows that Manu is not as great as people make him out to be.

Hey, Hey I like Landon Donovan!!! He is one of our best!

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Hey, Hey I like Landon Donovan!!! He is one of our best!

I like Donovan too, I think he's a very good soccer player

[EasilyAmused]

I like Donovan too, I think he's a very good soccer player

For the record- I know what you were trying to say by making that comparison.

[clubalien]

manu=m jackson
Oh crap I am a manu fan
does that make me a sicko too?

[Jelly]

if the US won the World Cup all woul break loose in the states, and you know it

First of all, that's not true, and secondly, what the does that have to do with anything I said??????????

As I ADMITTED, if soccer WERE covered by the U.S. media the coverage would definitely center on American players!!! But it DOES NOT get press over here! You are going on about Donavan being hailed as some kind of hero over here and I am telling you that he is practically unheard of!!!

I'm sorry to tell you that if the U.S., by some miracle, won the world cup, WOULD NOT break loose, but people would certainly be very excited. That excitement would eventually die down and then we'd get back to worrying about basketball, baseball, and football.
I'm sorry if you and the rest of the world's feelings are hurt that soccer is not popular over here - BUT IT JUST ISN'T!

[MaNuMaNiAc]

First of all, that's not true, and secondly, what the does that have to do with anything I said??????????

As I ADMITTED, if soccer WERE covered by the U.S. media the coverage would definitely center on American players!!! But it DOES NOT get press over here! You are going on about Donavan being hailed as some kind of hero over here and I am telling you that he is practically unheard of!!!

I'm sorry to tell you that if the U.S., by some miracle, won the world cup, WOULD NOT break loose, but people would certainly be very excited. That excitement would eventually die down and then we'd get back to worrying about basketball, baseball, and football.
I'm sorry if you and the rest of the world's feelings are hurt that soccer is not popular over here - BUT IT JUST ISN'T!

Our feelings? hurt?? I couldn't give a rats ass if the US gave a about soccer or not. But the fact is you have about 300 million people over there, and soccer does have a good following. The fact that you don't give a about soccer does not mean EVERY american doesn't. I know plenty of avid american soccer fans. I know for a fact that the US has live broadcasts of the European leagues and the World Cup so I really don't know what you're talking about. I'm not saying its one of the most popular sports, but it IS popular.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

For the record- I know what you were trying to say by making that comparison.

thanks, at least someone got it.

[Jelly]

Our feelings? hurt?? I couldn't give a rats ass if the US gave a about soccer or not. But the fact is you have about 300 million people over there, and soccer does have a good following. The fact that you don't give a about soccer does not mean EVERY american doesn't. I know plenty of avid american soccer fans. I know for a fact that the US has live broadcasts of the European leagues and the World Cup so I really don't know what you're talking about. I'm not saying its one of the most popular sports, but it IS popular.

I recently read a poll asking Americans to list their favorite spectator sport. I believe soccer was listed in 9th place and got 2% of the vote. Women's golf and gymnastics were more popular than soccer.
I hardly said EVERY AMERICAN doesn't give a about soccer. Naturally, I am speaking in generalities and it is a well known fact that soccer does not have much of a following in the United States.

"I know for a fact that the US has live broadcasts of the European leagues and the World Cup so I really don't know what you're talking about. I'm not saying its one of the most popular sports, but it IS popular"

No, sorry, you can not say it is popular. It is not "popular", although some people do watch it. Just because the US has live broadcasts of Euro leagues doesn't mean anything. The U.S. has live broadcasts of Bass Fishing for crying out loud. I just looked at what is being shown on the sports networks today. Some of the sports being shown today are "American Gun Dog", "Cycling", "Four Wheeling", "Simply Fishing", "Extreme Sports" "Monster Truck Show" "Cricketing Classics" "Australian Rules Football" "American Angler" (another fishing show), Deer Hunting.... and of course "Soccer". See! Something for everyone. Simply being on TV here does not make a sport popular.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I recently read a poll asking Americans to list their favorite spectator sport. I believe soccer was listed in 9th place and got 2% of the vote. Women's golf and gymnastics were more popular than soccer.
I hardly said EVERY AMERICAN doesn't give a about soccer. Naturally, I am speaking in generalities and it is a well known fact that soccer does not have much of a following in the United States.

"I know for a fact that the US has live broadcasts of the European leagues and the World Cup so I really don't know what you're talking about. I'm not saying its one of the most popular sports, but it IS popular"

No, sorry, you can not say it is popular. It is not "popular", although some people do watch it. Just because the US has live broadcasts of Euro leagues doesn't mean anything. The U.S. has live broadcasts of Bass Fishing for crying out loud. I just looked at what is being shown on the sports networks today. Some of the sports being shown today are "American Gun Dog", "Cycling", "Four Wheeling", "Simply Fishing", "Extreme Sports" "Monster Truck Show" "Cricketing Classics" "Australian Rules Football" "American Angler" (another fishing show), Deer Hunting.... and of course "Soccer". See! Something for everyone. Simply being on TV here does not make a sport popular.

Fine, soccer might no be that popular, but trust me, before Manu came along neither was basketball in Argentina. So the comparison still stands. Bandwagon fans that don't care about anything other than Manu having a good night does not cons ute an "NBA" following. I'd venture to say REAL basketball fans in Argentina are about as few as soccer fans are in the US. My point was, if Landon Donovan was to be the leading scorer in the US team that won the World Cup I guarantee that there will be American bandwagon fans spreading like brushfire.

[Jelly]

Ok, lets say soccer isn't popular in the US. This whole thing started with the "Argentinians hate Tony Parker", and I said real argentinian basketball fans don't hate Parker. Are you saying you disagree?

Manumania,
No, I'm not saying I disagree and I don't believe I ever said that. It's not my place to disagree since I'm not Argentinian and have never even been there, so I will defer to your impression that "real argentinian fans don't hate Tony Parker".
I simply responded to your statement (or someone elses...too lazy to look now) that they couldn't believe everyone was getting irate over what one reporter said. And I only said that I believe the reaction was based less on just one reporter and more to do with several people/sources stating that Parker is very unpopular over there. I appreciate that true Argentine B-ball fans do not hate Parker. I also recognize that "the masses" in every country, including the U.S., are usually not
well informed and are often irrational when it comes to sports.

[Jelly]

Fine, soccer might no be that popular, but trust me, before Manu came along neither was basketball in Argentina. So the comparison still stands. Bandwagon fans that don't care about anything other than Manu having a good night does not cons ute an "NBA" following. I'd venture to say REAL basketball fans in Argentina are about as few as soccer fans are in the US. My point was, if Landon Donovan was to be the leading scorer in the US team that won the World Cup I guarantee that there will be American bandwagon fans spreading like brushfire.

Manumania - I think we are both arguing the same point!

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Manumania,
No, I'm not saying I disagree and I don't believe I ever said that. It's not my place to disagree since I'm not Argentinian and have never even been there, so I will defer to your impression that "real argentinian fans don't hate Tony Parker".
I simply responded to your statement (or someone elses...too lazy to look now) that they couldn't believe everyone was getting irate over what one reporter said. And I only said that I believe the reaction was based less on just one reporter and more to do with several people/sources stating that Parker is very unpopular over there. I appreciate that true Argentine B-ball fans do not hate Parker. I also recognize that "the masses" in every country, including the U.S., are usually not
well informed and are often irrational when it comes to sports.

got it, we were arguing same things then, 'cause we seem to agree

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Manumania - I think we are both arguing the same point!

[manubili]

MaNuMaNiA is right.
Now, everybody around here is a life-time Spurs fan. The manumania in argentina isn't because of argentinean traditional love for NBA, or Basketball. If Manu was a soccer player, it would be the same. It's all about the love-for-the-idol adiction, and Manu just fit very well in these shoes. He is fair, humble, good looking, heroic, middle-class kid battling for honour far away from home.

Take in care that argentinean soccer isn't what it used to be. Our main sport idol, Maradona, is a recovered addict, and we have no replacement so far.

Except for Manu.

Us, old basketball fans, around here, have to deal with it. I only hope that this manumania bring more attention to the argentinean National League, which have been, for decades, completely overlooked by the local media.