Manu don't play the world championship.

[Dex]

Thank you, Manu.

I totally respected Manu's decision to play for his NT. I understand completely why he wants to. But logistically, the Spurs can't stand to throw away another season or two because of these decisions. If Manu can't play like Manu, then he's not really earning the hefty contract that he signed up for, so I think this is the best decision.

[nkdlunch]

crap. Manu's babies are coming late may or early june??? what if spurs make the finals???

[santymrc]

yeah, 90% of the idiots that post in those forums couldn't give a what happened to "la celeste" in basketball before Manu came along and won the gold medal for us back in 04. Where the were they then??

Manu doesn't owe to the Argie national team, or any other argie out there other than himself and his family. He's done more than enough. Anyone that says otherwise is just another self en led prick talking out of their ass.

First of all, "la celeste" is the Uruguayan team. So I can go on and explain it to you that we never gave a what happened to "la celeste" with or without Manu.
We are the "albiceleste".
Manu doesn't owe anything to anyone, including the Spurs, not only the NT. That's not the reason he's not playing for NT.
What he has accomplished in his life, is owe to himself.
Fans talking there, is like fans talking here if he was playing for the NT.
I think he took the right choice btw.

[santymrc]

crap. Manu's babies are coming late may or early june??? what if spurs make the finals???

Early June. Dunno, he's gonna be pumped up I hope.

So... nkdlunch, are you worried about your centerpiece DNP-CD? Are you gonna start another Bogans appreciation thread? (Joking).

[nkdlunch]

Early June. Dunno, he's gonna be pumped up I hope.

well when I had my baby I was giving 10% effort at work for the 1st 2 weeks

[duncan228]

Manu Ginobili Will Not Play for Argentina This Summer
SportingNews

Everyone knows that there’s no greater honor as a basketball player than to represent your country on the world stage. At least that’s what all the players say when they’re actually in international compe ion. I’m pretty sure they care way more about winning an NBA championship.

The reason I question these athletes’ basketball patriotism is that they continually show they care more about staying healthy for the pro teams that pay them large sums of dollars, euros, or pesos. Today, we have another case of money over country, as Manu Ginobili announced in the Argentinian paper La Nacion that he won’t play in this summer’s World Championships. That’s in Spanish, though, so I’ll quote this handy recap from Michael A. De Leon of Project Spurs:

According to Cronica Online (through Google translation), Manu listed the arrival of his twin babies, expected in June, and the recent contract extension he signed with the Spurs as reasons for his decision.

The baby explanation falls in line with the personal reasons given by American players like Dwyane Wade (divorce), Carmelo Anthony (marriage), and LeBron James (box office smash movie) for their likely missing out on this summer’s compe ion. The primary reason, though, is almost certainly his new contract, which ties him to the Spurs for three more seasons at a pretty high rate of compensation. In both basketball and other areas of business, employees tend to act in the interests of the people who support their quality of life. Ginobili is no different than anyone in that regard, and it makes even more sense when you consider his injury history.

I joked a bit up top about how Ginobili hates his country, but that’s obviously not the case. In fact, retiring from international compe ion Ginobili’s age (he’ll turn 33 in July) is a standard part of soccer, where club teams hem and haw about their players getting injured while playing for their countries far more than NBA teams do. Granted, the Argentinian soccer team can handle the retirement of a star on Ginobili’s level in a way that the less developed basketball program cannot, but it’s not as if he is breaking the mold for athletic superstars in his country. Except, of course, this isn’t a retirement—Ginobili even stated that he’s prioritizing the 2012 Olympics in London over all else.

It’s also worth noting that Ginobili can only afford to sit out the World Championships because the national team is in relatively good shape without him. Historically, foreign national teams have needed all hands on deck to boost their reputations around the world and make basketball a serious option for young athletes at home. Now, though, the team is established, and part of the response to that is for a nation’s best players to stop sacrificing their health for the sake of the country and get some summer rest. It’s a sign that these national teams are becoming more like Team USA.

Yes, maybe they’ve lost their edge as feisty underdogs, but having superstars elect to sit out international compe ion is as much a status symbol as a bronze medal.

[flacura]

well when I had my baby I was giving 10% effort at work for the 1st 2 weeks

Everybody was saying "Manu is Old", "he has to leave Spurs", "Trade Manu" next what

March and April he carried the team alone to the playoffs and Manu deserves more than 10M a year contract

Doubts against Manu again, come on, are you serious? If he has to win the finals alone he will, you'll see, he is a MONSTER CHAMPION with a tremendous heart. Trust him, he won't let you down, he is a gladiator.

Manu destroy Mavs tonite and go for

We'll miss him in Turkey

[urunobili]

if the Spurs win a fifth ring he may go there last minute... that's my opinion...

[Mel_13]

Manu did a masterful job of balancing the competing interests in his personal and professional lives.

Well done, Manu.

[Josepatches_]

That’s in Spanish, though, so I’ll quote this handy recap from Michael A. De Leon of Project Spurs:

According to Cronica Online (through Google translation),

I find funny how one journalist who lives in Texas and his name is De Leon has to use Google to translate spanish.

[santymrc]

if the Spurs win a fifth ring he may go there last minute... that's my opinion...

No way he changes his mind "on the fly". He already stated he's not playing. He's not that kind of guy.

[smeagol]

Thank you, Manu.

I totally respected Manu's decision to play for his NT. I understand completely why he wants to. But logistically, the Spurs can't stand to throw away another season or two because of these decisions. If Manu can't play like Manu, then he's not really earning the hefty contract that he signed up for, so I think this is the best decision.

Are you aware he said he'll be playing the summers of 2011 and 2012?

[MaNuMaNiAc]

First of all, "la celeste" is the Uruguayan team. So I can go on and explain it to you that we never gave a what happened to "la celeste" with or without Manu. We are the "albiceleste".

yeah, I'm from Argentina there genius, I know we are the "albiceleste". What you so shrewdly managed to uncover with that attempt at being a smartass is that I accidentally forgot to add the "...y blanca". Congrats.

Manu doesn't owe anything to anyone, including the Spurs, not only the NT. That's not the reason he's not playing for NT.

First of all, I never said that's why he wasn't playing, read a little. I'm not saying he's not playing because he doesn't owe anyone anything. I'm saying he can CHOOSE to do whatever he wants because he doesn't owe anyone anything. Which is what he's done.

Having said that, you are completley missguided if you think he doesn't owe the Spurs for what they are paying him. The fact that he has to pander to idiots down here in Argentina that can't get it through their ing skulls that professional basketball is a business doesn't change . The Spurs are paying him to play for them, that means his first priority is to be loyal to himself and his family, then to the Spurs. Period.

What he has accomplished in his life, is owe to himself.
Fans talking there, is like fans talking here if he was playing for the NT.

I agree, hence why I tend to call them out whether it be here or there. You're the one objecting to me calling them out over there.

I think he took the right choice btw.

We agree then.

P.S. Do me a favor, before you continue trying to excuse the idiots that post over there, go ahead and read some of them

http://tycsports.com/global/not_comm...=57460&sy=3990

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Let me clarify something. I'm not saying its wrong to wish Manu would play for NT. I'm saying its wrong to be a and start belittling the man and calling him a traitor because of a choice he's perfectly en led to make. Its not like we're talking about a man that hasn't done for his national team. He's done more than anyone else.

SO to all the Argentine morons out there that call him a traitor, a "pechofrio", etc. You're all a bunch of self en led pieces of who don't have a ing clue what it is to be a professional athlete and have the responsabilities that carries.

[chungoman]

http://tycsports.com/global/not_comm...=57460&sy=3990

Wow, that sucks. Either all those messages were written by one or two morons using different nicknames, or we really are a resentful society. I'm guessing the latter.

[TMTTRIO]

I had a feeling that Manu was going to sit out the other day after hearing the interview with his brother Sepo the other day. Man I would hate to have to make that decision. It's a no win situation for him. If he decides to play the Spurs fans are mad and if he doesn't he gets the whole country of Argentina mad at him. I'm glad he's considering everything and makes one for him and his family and I wish him the best. Man it's sad to see all the viscious replies on his facebook page now . I don't mind if he plays as long as it's not every year and he's fully healthy. Like Manu has said it's just like playing with a bunch of good friends.

[cheguevara]

http://tycsports.com/global/not_comm...=57460&sy=3990

"Ojala que tus hijos nazcan en USA, asi no tenemos tanta sangre traidora en la Argentina."



and I thought spursfans were bad


"I hope you lose in the first round"

"Nadie te cree que fue una decision dificil si lo unico que te importa es la guita, pesetero yanqui inmundo.perdon tanque, tenias razon cuando decias que este tipo era un gil."

[cheguevara]

Argentine mafia going after Manu or his family

[cheguevara]

I have a bad feeling about these hate comments coming out on gameday today

[TMTTRIO]

well he already had the kidnapping threat against his brother a couple years ago. Well anyways it's sad.

[Spurs Brazil]

Good news, I hope Tony does the same and Tiago too

[anakha]

http://tycsports.com/global/not_comm...=57460&sy=3990

The CoM is now atheist!?

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Wow, that sucks. Either all those messages were written by one or two morons using different nicknames, or we really are a resentful society. I'm guessing the latter.

no, its not just a few morons, its the end result of a couple of decades of deterioration of the educational system. Go to any sports forum in Argentina you'll end up with practically the same result.

[cheguevara]

this is hilarious I'll put some argenine comments through google translator for spursfans:

Few are the ones who give everything for the national shirt .... if not san antonio for 40 million were playing the World Cup and all the other teams could make you 35 million contract .... COWARD

This guy is not an Argentine, is a traitor

Ginobili is a wimp if he were the best ever have to go.Sos a wimp!! Dead Stay in usa.

HOW CAN BE?? STILL CAN NOT BELIEVE!! FIRST IS THE HOMELAND! COLD CHEST! We encouraged you LIFE IN SAN ANTONIO AND NOW YOU GIVE YOUR BACK TO ALL ARGENTINA! YOU ED UP MY DAY THE SON OF PU, TA! OLYMPICS AND ... Put it in your CU.LO ANYWAY YOU CAN NOT EQUAL WITH THE WORLD ... YOU TOOK ARGENTINA HOPES TO ALL! SOS DISGRACE THE best he had! IN LA ARGENTINA DON"T EVEN SHOW UP BECAUSE I'LL BE THE FIRST TO GO TO THE AIRPORT TO ON YOU! YOu got CAG ASTESA! HDP

[DAF86]

"Ojala que tus hijos nazcan en USA, asi no tenemos tanta sangre traidora en la Argentina."



and I thought spursfans were bad


"I hope you lose in the first round"

"Nadie te cree que fue una decision dificil si lo unico que te importa es la guita, pesetero yanqui inmundo.perdon tanque, tenias razon cuando decias que este tipo era un gil."

Most of those guys probably don't even know how Manu looks like.