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Thanks El Nono....
From here (in spanish). Excuse the typos and don't shoot the messenger per the usual.
- You've spent the last few years making decisions on the court. Many times risky, including some ill-advised ones. How was it to decide between keep playing and retiring?
In the final stretch of the season, during the playoffs, I thought about it a lot. I was annoyed, to put it in some way. I never had a muscle strain in my life and suddenly I had three in four months. I was in a bad mood, saturated. And I thought about retirement. Even though I was not convinced, I talk about it with my wife: "What if …?" My wife, obviously, said: "You do what you want, no problem". But when I felt better physically, I started to feel a bit better. The season ended, I did that 48-72 hrs mini-mourn after the Finals and I didn't feel like a retired player. I felt I was missing something, that I wanted to keep playing.
- In those talks with your wife, how did you project the future in case you decided "this is it". Were you afraid of the decision?
I thought I could take a year off, easily. A year to disintoxicate from basketball. Spend a good amount of time here in Argentina. And later on, with time, analyze what road to take. But at that time I felt like saying: "That's it, enough of having to get back in shape again, the pressure, second-guess if my leg is going to hold up". I want to relax with my kids, with my wife. Travel, get to know new places, which I didn't have the opportunity to do. At that time I thought only about that. But later on you change, you realize you're going to have time for all that, that there's still fire while I play and I want to keep enjoying that.
- What was the reason? Because you were not and are not saturated with basketball.
The physical part. The fact that I'm constantly rehabbing, getting in shape after an injury. When I have to play with the handbrake on because I'm coming back from a strain. That was tiring and it cost me. When I'm fine and playing, with the luck I have to be on the team I am and the coaches I have, I have a good time. But the physical problems rattled me.
- This season, like never before, you looked weak.
Many times, this season, people told me they saw me susceptible, weak, vulnerable. I don't have to hide. It's not like I'm any less of a man if I feel like that or because I played poorly. Sure, what's the problem? I'm going to be criticized. Okay. I swear I gave everything I have and tried to win like always. Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't. I'm not going to blush or drop any medals for saying it. I felt vulnerable and I communicated it. There was no reason not to say it. It's the reality. It's the first time I felt that way.
- How was it to deal with criticism for the first time in your career?
Strange. You find out by reading the papers or through third parties, but during the playoffs, for example, I'm isolated and I hear nothing. I don't read anything, I don't watch a replay. Nothing. So it didn't get to me, I had only my own criticism. I know how much I can play and what was I giving. But when I started to get some questions with a certain tone, that's when I said: "Something must be going on, I must be getting criticized, otherwise I wouldn't be being asked that". I started to realize that people were saying I wasn't playing at my usual level, and it was weird. Especially during the playoffs. It was weird and it hurt. Because you have a fairly well developed ego, and like I said, I had the pride of being able to say that during the playoffs I always raised my game. I had that credibility in my career. And this season it didn't happen and it hurt.
- Does criticism motivate you?
A little bit, sure. I can't say it happens all the time. Because the reality is that I couldn't get the ball in the basket the entire playoffs. I wanted to take the world by storm and I couldn't. The two most difficult moments, after game 4 and game 6, I came back and I had my best two games. At times it worked, but I couldn't sustain that determination, that anger.
- But, does anger gets you going?
Yeah. And I noticed during those times. But on some other times, I couldn't generate it. The times I played facing that anger I played well, but the next game I couldn't sustain it. It was very frustrating, hurtful, because I used to have an energy, a constant motor and I couldn't find it in these playoffs. Anger invariably gives you determination.
- Do you think this team, in these cir stances, will be remembered despite losing?
No, long term, no. But those of us that were part of the group will not forget, because it can't be so fragile the line between frustration and ecstasy. It would be illogical. We try to find calmness from that aspect. But for those that were not there, the one that picks up the Finals history book, definitely no, he'll see we were like Utah or Seattle when they lost against the Chicago Bulls.
- Did that influence your decision to continue? Is revenge part of that continuity?
I don't feel I come back [he says "I come back" and not "continue", textually] for revenge. I come back because I enjoy when I'm fine, when I'm not hurt. When those injuries happen is when I want to retire and do something else. When I'm healthy and I play 30 minutes without thinking about that, I do it because of the pleasure of having [Tony] Parker, [Tim] Duncan and [Gregg] Popovich at my side. I have a good time, I have the same passion as always. It's not like I want to go after Lebron, or I want to get back to 40% shooting… Bah, I don't know what I averaged. But it's not fueled by revenge.
- And when that time to retire comes, what do you imagine?
I'm a curious guy, but I don't really know what I'm going to do for sure. I'm a guy with a lot of questions at different levels. I'd like to be tied somehow to basketball. But not full time. I think my ample experience in so many places and having played in a franchise like the one I'm playing in gives me credibility to share my experience and my projects somewhere else, but I don't know how yet.
- Do you rule out the media or political worlds?
No, I don't discard anything. I'm also not saying yes, but I'm not discarding anything. I'm curious in every aspect. I like to meet people. Because of who I am I have that possibility. Meet people that, surely, would like to hear my stories, my experience, my anecdotes and generate common points. It's something I'm passionate about, meeting people from different years. After retirement, it will be a time to re-adapt at the beginning, not tied to basketball, but after that, I don't know which way I'm going to go.
- Where do you plan on living?
We always evaluated with my wife to come back to Bahia. We'll see, it's not written in stone, but our idea was always to come back. We consider important for ourselves and our kids to be around our families. I'll possibly keep the house in San Antonio for a few years. I'm going to go back and forth, because the ties are strong. And I'll probably keep a relationship with the team. Also not full time, I won't be doing 8Am to 5PM work, but I'm sure I'll be in some form of relationship for a long time.
- This year everything about you looked different. Even the vacations.
No. They were the same as always. As soon as the season ends we head to some beach somewhere and after that to Bahia Blanca. Eventually I travel to Buenos Aires if I have things to do, but the majority of the time I spend it in Bahia. Every year I come back I enjoy it more. Since the 2011 lockout, when I stayed until November, I have a great time. I have very good friends. My kids [the twins, Dante and Nicola] also have a great time. Despite the cold, they play with their cousins and their friends. I have a social life that I don't have in San Antonio. Over there is more like a "family bunker". Here it's much more ample, my kids love it and we do too. Sometimes it goes overboard. Because we go from spending eight months being alone to have an overload of get togethers with friends that's too much. But we have a great time.
- A lot of soccer players decide to stay in Europe, even in smaller teams, just not to have to come back to Argentina, due to the situation in the country. You don't see it like that?
Argentina is never going to be Australia or Finland. That's just pure latin american idiosyncrasy. We could be a little better this year or a little worse, but we're Argentina. Unless there's something happening like in 2003 or 2004 [he had to live with security because he was alerted of possible kidnapping of his family], which was delicate. And when you have that kind of fear… but Bahia isn't a dangerous city. If you take certain precautions, the security aspect doesn't enter the equation, which is what can make you change your mind. If the education is a bit better or a bit worse… I don't think that's going to mark a 9 year old kid's future. I think the affective contention is much more important. All that said, I don't blame those that decide to live somewhere else. Everybody makes decisions they feel are better for their families.
- How did becoming a father change you?
It changed mostly the post-game aspect. Before the games I'm still the same crazy guy as usual. Maybe not on the routine or being strict with punctuality. If my kids ask me to read them one more book, I'll do it. During games, nothing changed: I keep on being focused at the task at hand. But the post-game, which used to be either euphoria or suffering, depending on the result, now balanced out a lot. They come watch me when we play in San Antonio. If you hit 1-10 and lost by 30 and they show up just the same that if you won by 50 and scored 40 points. They don't know what daddy does, and why he would be happy or sad. It's such an innocence that balances you out… you notice it in the drive over or the return home… Driving to the game used to be complete silence or listening to my music, very little chatter. Game ends. If we won, normal, gentle, gracious. If we lost, silence. Infuriated. My wife reminds me of that often. Nowadays, the game is over and I'm getting a massage and I start hearing the voices from the kids, they come running in their pajamas and that's that. You can't stay mad. Emotionally, they leveled me. Five or ten years ago, end up getting eliminated in a Finals like that would've been dramatic; now it was 48 hours and life goes on.
- At some point during this interview you used the phrase "because of who I am". Here you've been placed at the level or even above, people like Fangio, De Vicenzo, Vilas, Maradona, Monzon. How do you feel about that?
I don't analyze it. When the word started to go around about that, sometime in 2005, it changed me. I didn't expect it. Nobody places themselves there, but when somebody mentions it… That somebody would place you there with the history of a country with so many sport triumphs… It happened, I started to hear about that. I only experienced Maradona from the names thrown out there. I don't know how fans of De Vicenzo, Monzon or Vilas felt about it. I take it with pride, it gives me a better dimension of who I am and what I can transmit to people that comes to take a picture with me or asks me for an autograph.
- Did any time weight on you to be taken as an example?
Yes. I'm lucky that I don't have to go out of my way to not get in trouble. But there are times when you don't feel like seeing people. Happens to everybody. You want to be alone. I'm with my kids on a park and somebody asks for a picture… it's not the time. Plus, they're taking your time away from your kids. But, well, that's when you think that maybe that kid that's asking lived important things watching you play, that 15 second contact with you might be all he knows about you all his life. How you interacted during that time is how it will be stored in his memory. It's not fair, but you go the extra mile. The first time I heard about that was from Jordan. I imagined myself in that situation. If I saw Jordan in 1992, first I would've peed my pants and then I would've gone say o and that interaction would've marked me for life.
- When somebody tells you "because of the at ude he has, Ginobili doesn't look from Argentina", how do you feel?
It's very weird. But possibly I don't go hand in hand with other reference people in Argentina sport scene. Although Leo Messi is a similar case. I'm not saying I'm like Leo. He's without a doubt the best in the most popular sport in the world. But what I'm trying to say is that Messi also has a different way to talk, to behave. So if there's two of us that don't look like Argentineans, then we have a different concept of what being an Argentine is. You are who you are. You can't say "Argentine people are like this" or "American people are like this". We're 40 million people, there's all sort of people out there.
Last edited by ElNono; 08-19-2013 at 08:09 PM.
Thanks El Nono....
On being a dad---
"Emotionally, they (kids) leveled me. Five or ten years ago, end up getting eliminated in a Finals like that would've been dramatic; now it was 48 hours and life goes on."
Ugh, it stings a little.
why? I am a father of three. I leave my work at the office when I am home. I expect no less from any man who loves his family. There are bigger things in life.
Thanks for the translation.
I like way more what Manu is saying in this interview than what he said earlier this season ("so-so"). The key for him to be good will be obviously to stay healthy. If he can avoid injuries, I believe he can be back at a pretty damn good level and be again a true delight for the eyes. To keep him healthy, Pop should really consider him sitting him for b2b. 63 games with 25mpg sounds right as playing time for Ginobili.
although he is still in denial. ("I don't read or pay any attention in the playoffs") at least he seems a little closer to the realization that he is finished and all the criticism of him is spot on.
NO, he cannot regain any form, or anything close to it. All he can do is be a 3rd string backup PG in case of injury and backup SG at 10mpg tops. Anything more and it's another year of black hole Ginobili hurting the team. He is finished and should be only used for injury insurance.
Manu needs PEDs
I get the vibe Manu has no intentions of adjusting his game. He played bad because he was "just hurt" according to him, even though he's been hurt for the last 5 years.
Why does it sting? It's a ing game he is paid to play and his kids are his kids. To me it sounds like a guy that has his priorities straight.
Thanks as always for the translation, ElNono.
Manu's game may have sucked this season, but his interviews are still awesome. The man is a really great interviewee. There's a lot of insights in his interviews.
I got the impression that the interviewer tried his best to get Manu to say the right words but obviously Manu is still in denial. The fact that Manu openly admitted that he doesn’t get fueled by criticism is pathetic. Lebron, Kobe, and Durant all get fueled by criticism.
Manu should feel like he has a chip on his shoulder considering that he only handed the championship over to the Heat with his 8 turnovers in Game 6 along with Pop. Manu has little to no remorse whatsoever on how badly he contributed to costing Timmy his 5th ring. In Manu’s own words, “It's not like I want to go after Lebron, or I want to get back to 40% shooting… Bah, I don't know what I averaged. But it's not fueled by revenge.” Seriously, who the says those things? That drunken bas can't even handle the ball anymore therefore he needs to shoot at a higher FG% in order to be effective.
That SOB should’ve retired. The money that was wasted on his fat contract could have been better used on someone younger and better. Father time has caught up to him but he obviously didn't retire because of the $$$. Like my boy hater said, Manu is still in denial just like most of the Manu worshippers.
BTW I bet you'll anything that Duncan and Parker ARE fueled by revenge and want to go after Lebron. Manu is not? SMH
Yeah, obviously there's a thin line there with the injuries, and the frustration that brings on him. Besides the rest, I'm wondering if the Spurs put together some sort of program for him to help him out with that.Thanks for the translation.
I like way more what Manu is saying in this interview than what he said earlier this season ("so-so"
The fact the Spurs didn't hesitate with the extension, merely taking a day or two to get everything done, is probably another good confidence boost for him. Also Timmy's words after the deal was done probably resonated well with him.
I think he can get his shot back to a certain percentage like he said, and that should go a long ways towards rebuilding confidence for him and opening up his game. We have two more seasons to see how that works out.
Thank you, once again, ElNono. Manu is a class act and an athlete and person we are not likely to see again. The one foul or one rebound we were away from winning the championship are not his cross to bear. He, by his own admission, was not playing at the level he wished he could have played. That's life. I, for one, am looking forward to the next two seasons and will find it tough when Manu and Tim hang up their spurs. I'm going to start saving now so I can be there when Manu and Tim are inducted into the Hall of Fame. We, as Spurs fans, have been blessed! Go Spurs!
Good read, thanks EN.
I have to agree he is still in denial and will be forever. I guess the pain of owning up that you cost your team and Tim Duncan their 5th championships are too much to bear.
and yes Pop is due as much or more of the blame. He is the one who kept inserting Manu even after turnover after turnover, brick after brick, up after up.
it's really sad that it seems not much will change for the 2013-14 season.
oh well, at least we have Bellinelli who will supplant Manu as crowd favorite by 2nd quarter of game 1 of the season
As someone else said, thanks EN.
Total minutes and PER team rank:
2008-09 9th minutes, 3rd PER
2009-10 4th minutes, 2nd PER
2010-11 3rd minutes, 2nd PER
2011-12 10th minutes, 1st PER
2012-13, 8th minutes, 3rd PER
(Apply salt for small sample sizes where applicable)
Yep, which is why when that Kobyz Guy in here was saying my life is over now and I am gonna die! There is nothing left in life! I am depressed forever. When he was saying that crap I was like get a real life for Gods sakes, you are `100% correct there is alot bigger things than life, it's a game. I would expect nothing more of Manu, you take the L and move on and live life.
Man, thanks for posting this interview (w/translation)! I don't know if Manu will ever be able to play like he use to but it was very interesting how he reflected on this year/finals. The only thing I was bothered by was him thinking his problem was just his health & his shooting whereas it really was his costly turnovers. Yet, reading that interview reminded me why he's so beloved (especially prior to the finals) warts & all.
Someone should acquaint Manu with Deer antler spray.... just sayin'... that 'medicine' allows people to heal much quicker than normal....
What scares me is Manu is one of the most babied players in the NBA and still can't stay healthy. His per minute pay is incredible.
When he was making $14m last season, it was about $10K per minute if you count regular season only. If you add the playoffs, it comes down to about $7168. The $10K figure is probably top 10... only a few players were paid more per minute than him (IIRC Pau Gasol, Amare Stoudemire, Eric Gordon and Dirk all were paid more per minute). If you take the $7K figure on the other hand, then he got paid less per minute than guys like Kris Humphries, Rajon Rondo, Andrea Bustnami, Richard Jefferson, Ben Gordon, Kobe, and a bunch of other fellas... Obviously, at $7m a season, the numbers are much more inline with the rest of the league (provided he plays as many or more minutes than last season).
Thanks ElNono ! great translation... you are the man !
I liked this interview, there were some tough questions and he answered in details at each one.
Thank you for the translation.
I am with Hater, Yacht, and a few others. Manu has lost some of his edge. Call it mellowing with age... Denial and not focusing on his real deficiencies....
I guarantee Tim is madder than a hornet and ready to go after James. Manu needs a reality check.
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