Pop's interview about manu for "Ole"

[manubili]

http://www.ole.com.ar/basquet/Manu-S...429557114.html

translation needed

Pop se deshace en elogios para Ginóbili. “No podemos ser campeones sin él”, asegura el coach.

La gentileza de Tom James, jefe de prensa que lleva 20 años en los Spurs y nos conoce hace ocho, permite el privilegio.

Olé es el único medio que ingresa al vestuario antes del partido de anoche y luego a una salita privada donde Gregg Popovich nos recibe con una sonrisa. Aún más cuando se sorprende con el regalo. “No era necesario, pero muchas gracias. Soy un amante del vino y me encanta el argentino”, dice y mira la etiqueta para ver de dónde es y de qué cepa se trata. Hablar de Ginóbili también lo pone feliz. Es como su hijo... A Pop no le toquen a Manu. “Sólo los tontos podían pensar que Manu estaba acabado como estrella. Siempre ha sido un gran jugador. Llegar al All Star es difícil, pero decir eso... No me parece. Lleva años demostrando su profesionalismo, todo lo que ha trabajado y mejorado su juego. Y esta elección ratificada todo esto”, explica el DT de los Spurs.

-¿Con esta elección ya Manu tiene el respeto que merece?

-Es una gran pregunta. Los grandes jugadores de la NBA, como Kobe y otros, siempre lo respetaron. El público en general tal vez no lo reconocía tanto por venir de un equipo no tan popular o de una ciudad pequeña. Pero la gente que sabe de básquet sabía quién era.

-Este año lo reubicó como ular. ¿Por qué antes era suplente?

-No hubo una razón. Este año sentí que Manu definitivamente tenía que recibir el respeto que da ser ular, aunque me equivocara. Yo creo que alguna vez Manu estará en el Salón de la Fama y yo no podía seguirlo poniendo de suplente pese a que en el pasado pensaba que así ayudaba al equipo. Pero luego de tantos años en tan alto nivel debía ser de otra forma.

-Mucha gente piensa que sólo cuando Manu está sano y en alto nivel los Spurs pueden ganar. ¿Usted coincide con eso?

-Por supuesto. Sin Manu los Spurs no pueden ser campeones. Sin duda. Ahora lo tenemos en alto nivel y mirá cómo estamos.

-¿Por qué es tan importante Manu?

-Es a quien más buscamos en los finales de los partidos, en las situaciones más difíciles. Es nuestro creador y siempre responde.

-Hay una regla que dice que los equipos no pueden prohibirles a los jugadores jugar para su selección. Pero San Antonio le paga y siente derecho de hacerlo. ¿Cuán dura fue esa situación para los Spurs?

-Siempre que Manu juega para Argentina nosotros estamos preocupados. Es natural que no queramos que se lesione porque nos perjudica el futuro, pero siempre le digo que lo comprendo porque si yo estuviera en su posición, elegiría jugar con la selección.

-El All Star es más show que partido. ¿Lo alienta a que tire algún lujo? ¿Cuál es su jugada favorita?

-No, para nada. Manu siente el juego de una sola forma. Hace todo lo correcto y bien. Cuando hace un pase entre las piernas de una rival es porque es necesario. Y no sólo eso. Toma un rebote cuando es necesario o da un pase gol... Es así. Siempre destaco que es el jugador más compe ivo que he dirigido y que hace todo lo necesario para ganar partidos.

-Va a dirigir a Manu como en el 2005. ¿Lo va a poner o aprovechará para cuidarlo?

-Nooo, todos quieren jugar, incluso Manu, aunque ninguno tampoco mucho porque falta lo más importante de la temporada. Ojalá que lo disfrute.

[igruex]

Juicy

[polandprzem]

nie jest to stary jakiś wywiad?

[Bartleby]

nie jest to stary jakiś wywiad?

tak

[nkdlunch]

this one was the most interesting to me:

- Allstar is more show than game. Would you like Manu to do a fancy play, what is your favorite fancy play?

Not at all. Manu feels the game only one way. He does everything correct and well. When he does a pass between the legs of an opponent is because it is necessary. Not only that, he gets a rebound or makes an assist. That's it. I always note that he is the most compe ive player I have coached and he does everything to win games.

[ElNono]

I'll do it a little later if nobody beats me to it.

EDIT: posted below

[ElNono]

Pop goes out of his way to praise Ginóbili. "We can't be champions without him", says the coach.

The kindness of Tom James, in charge of media relations with the Spurs for the last 20 years, who knows us for the past 8, gives us the privilege.

Olé is the only media outlet that walks into the locker room before last night's game and then to a small private room where Gregg Popovich receives us with a smile. Even more so when he's surprised with the gift. "It wasn't necessary, but thanks. I'm a wine lover and I really like the Argentinean one", says while looking at the bottle's label to see where it's from and what kind is it. Talking about Ginóbili always makes him happy. It's like his son… To Pop, stay clear of Manu. "Only fools could think that Manu was done as a star. He always has been a great plater. Get to the All Star is hard, but to say that… I don't think so. He's been showing how professional he is for years, with all the work and the improvement in his game. And this selection ratifies all that", explain the Spurs' coach.

- With this selection, does Manu finally gets the respect he deserves?

It's a great question. The great players in the NBA, like Kobe and others, always respected him. The public in general maybe didn't recognize the respect as much because he's from a not so popular team or a small town. But the people that know about basketball knows who he is.

- This season you made him a starter. Why was he a subs ute before?

No reason. This season I felt Manu had to received the respect that comes from being a starter, even if it was the wrong decision. I think at some point Manu will be in the Hall of Fame, and I couldn't keep playing him as a sub even if I thought he was helping the team that way. After so many years at such a high level it had to be in a different way.

- A lot of people think that only when Manu is healthy and at a high level the Spurs can win. Do you agree with that view?

Of course. Without Manu the Spurs cannot be champions. No doubt. Now he's at a high level and look where we are.

- Why is Manu so important?

Is who we look for when closing games, in the toughest of the situations. It's our creator and he always answers the call.

- There's a rule that says teams cannot prohibit players to play for their national teams. But San Antonio pays him and fells the right to do that. How tough was that situation for the Spurs?

Whenever Manu plays for Argentina we worry. It's only natural that we don't want him to get injured because it hurts our future, but I always tell him I understand because if I was in his shoes, I would choose to play with the national team.

- The All Star is more show than game. Do you tell him to do some fancy move? What's your favorite play?

No, not at all. Manu has only one way to play. He does everything right and well. When he does a pass between the legs of an opponent it's because it's necessary. And not just that. He grabs a board at the right time or gives an assist… He's like that. I always point out he's the most compe ive player I've coached and he does everything necessary to win games.

- You're going to coach Manu like in 2005. Are you going to play him or you'll take the opportunity to rest him?

Noooo, everybody wants to play, including Manu, although nobody too long because the most important part of the season is coming up. I hope he enjoys it.

[DesignatedT]

Thanks Nono. Nice article.

[easy7]

Muy buena lectura, gracias por poner el articulo aqui.

[xmas1997]

Thank you for the translation.

[ElNono]

Sorry for the typos and some misspellings... I did it rather quickly, and didn't proof read.

[xmas1997]

You did great.
Thank you again.

[Blackjack]

Appreciate it again 'Nono.

In some ways, even as great as it is to hear Pop gush over Manu, start Tim and just be a little more open and honest about everything, seeing stuff like this is becoming bittersweet to me.

I don't know, but it just feels and reads like the reflectiveness of a man knowing things are coming to an end. An appreciation for the moment he hasn't had quite to this degree - the next day's game isn't preventing him from enjoying yesterday's win the way it used to.

So I'm glad to hear it and appreciative for it. But it is a bit bittersweet to me. I've been doing my best to just enjoy the ride and I haven't allowed my expectation of the team to rival many of the posters here, but I can't help the bittersweet feelings of it all.

I'm sure No. 5 would do the trick.

[Brazil]

thx nono great read

[Bender]

grassy ass, nono...