The reason why you became a Spurs Fan

[Budkin]

David Robinson

[baseline bum]

My dad took me to a game in 85, and a year later we were baseline bums. One of the reasons I became a huge fan was because I got to know a lot of the team personally as a little kid: guys like Artis Gilmore, Mike Mitc , David Greenwood, Alvin Robertson, Walter Berry, Cadillac Anderson, Sam Smith (play-by-play guy in the late 80s), Ice, David Robinson, Terry mings, and so on. Back then the fans were allowed much closer access to the players, and they used to regularly come to the bums barbqs (George Valle, the old leader of the bums, makes the best briscuit I've ever had, and a lot of the players and coaches agreed, and would come out for it at our barbqs).

[The Franchise]

Their the only team in the league that goes out and just plays to win without all the bravado. That's refreshing.

[themvp]

Tim Duncan.

[lefty]

My story is similar to Unuruli and Alamo50's.

Being an international Spurs fan (Algeria), I had to have a special reason to be a Spurs fan; ok, in my case it was a pretty stupid one.

Right before the 1992 Olympics, all I knew was Jordan, Magic, Bird, Drexler,Kareem, Isiah, Dumars and Wilkins.

The NBA wasn't widely popular overseas before Barcelona, and the only NBA I could ever watch were the Finals, or some highlights featuring the aforementioned players. Moreover, I didn't have a favorite team; I was just an NBA fan.

Back to 1992 Olympics : my jaw dropped when I discovered the Admiral; being a lefty, and watching this impressive left-handed 7 footer, I couldn't resist. Almost everybody else on the team was right-handed; sure, Mullin was a lefty too (and I was a big Mullin fan, great player), but Robinson was so athletic.
So, that was the stupid reason : I was a lefty kid and I went for lefty player.

You can thank God for the fact that DRob was on the team, otherwise I would have been a Bulls fan.

When the 1992-1993 season started, I got Eurosport and watched NBA action and 1 NBA game each week, trying to watch as much Spurs basketball as I could. Therefore, the first Spurs complete game I've ever watched was Blazers-Spurs, late in the same season; Spurs lost to Portland, but it was fun; AJ had 9 assists in the 1st half , Dale Ellis couldn't miss, and Strickland (Blazers) was penetrating at will.


Been a TRUE Spurs fan since 92...never rooted for another team...patience, patience, patience...then 1999.

[bdictjames]

It was a pretty funny story.. it seemed I was destined to become a Spurs fan.

It was in 2002, I think it was in a game against the Lakers (I was like 12 by then, didnt know much about basketball or life). I was in a room with my uncle from LA who was a huge Laker fan. I needed money for snacks so I made a bet with him: If the Lakers lose to the other team (which was San Antonio), I'd have gotten 20 bucks. If the Spurs lose, I'd have shined his prized cowboy boots.

What's stuck in my mind right now is that the last play (it was a hard-fought match, Spurs have like a 4-point lead), after a missed freethrow by the Spurs, a Laker leaped, got the ball, and threw it backwards lol. There was no chance it would go in, but the more important thing was I got my 20 dollars, and I became a Spurs fan.

The next year all my family hated the Spurs because I was so obsessed with them, and everyone couldnt see why Duncan is so great. But they won the championship against the Nets. Since then, GO SPURS GO!!!

[Il Caraibico]

Tim Duncan.

[ashbeeigh]

My family is born and bred in Chicago. Bears (....), Cubs (....), and Bulls. We moved to SA late 1988. So it kind of all started there. We watched the Bulls through their championships and kept an eye on the Spurs, went to a few games here and their thanks to business connections but since I was young it really wasn't anything special.

In 1999 we moved to Wisconsin for some god awful reason and I yearned for basketball through the Packers season. That's when I think being a fan happened. The "memorial day miracle" really set it in for me.

I really, really, really, really became a fan the day they won the 2005 championship when I started my summer job at the Shipley's they get their do-nuts at. Beno came in to get the do-nuts for the day and I was shocked to see one of them and I know as a San Antonio resident that they're "my" team. You can see them anywhere and everywhere without it being a big deal. A "hi," "good luck," "good game," or even "hope your finger gets better" isn't a big deal like it would be in other cities like Los Angeles or New York. And I think that's why I love the Spurs so much.

[florige]

David Robinson

[JamStone]

Well I'm a Pistons fan because that's my home team, but I really started to like the Spurs in 2004 and 2005 because of Manu Ginobili. Some people criticize him for flopping at times, but what I saw when I started watching more Spurs games was a guy that put everything he had out on the floor on every play. I already respected the Spurs organization, but Manu became one of my favorite players to watch. I like watching him play almost as much as I enjoy watching Allen Iverson. And, when the Spurs beat the Pistons in 2005, I was upset that the Pistons lost, but I had no problem with the fact that they lost to the Spurs. Great organization. And, for the most part, really great fans. But, while Tim Duncan is one of the greatest players ever, I'm a really big fan of Ginobili.

[SenorSpur]

Well I'm a Pistons fan because that's my home team, but I really started to like the Spurs in 2004 and 2005 because of Manu Ginobili. Some people criticize him for flopping at times, but what I saw when I started watching more Spurs games was a guy that put everything he had out on the floor on every play. I already respected the Spurs organization, but Manu became one of my favorite players to watch. I like watching him play almost as much as I enjoy watching Allen Iverson. And, when the Spurs beat the Pistons in 2005, I was upset that the Pistons lost, but I had no problem with the fact that they lost to the Spurs. Great organization. And, for the most part, really great fans. But, while Tim Duncan is one of the greatest players ever, I'm a really big fan of Ginobili.

Much appreciated. I have a great deal of mutual respect for the Pistons too.

I truly expected to see the evolution of a Spurs/Pistons NBA rivalry to have sprung out of that epic 2005 championship series. I was rooting vigorously for the Pistons to win out in the East, just so we'd have a rematch. After all, I still believe the Pistons were the Eastern Conference's better team. However, they seemed to have run out of gas and they did run into a very, very hot player and a hot team.

That's not meant to disrespect at all to the Cavs. The Cavs peaked at the right time. I simply think they arrived a year too early and obviously didn't have the horses or experience to beat a solid, experienced team like the Spurs.

[Barbarian]

Pretty much have been a Spurs fan for about 20 years. I used to visit family there in SA when I was a kid and my cousins would take me to watch them play. I used to be a Willie Anderson fan for some reason.And of course there was Dave. but I became a real hard core fan because of Tim. Then came Manu. Then Tony. Then Bowen. Players with class. I dont think there is another franchise(all major sports) that has the same family like atmosphere that the Spurs have. And not just with each other but with the fans. Just an awesome orginization all the way around. Hard not to be a fan honestly.

[shelshor]

Proximity--it just isn't that far from Austin to San Antonio
I'd been an NBA fan for quite a few years, then I went to a Spurs game and immediately became entranced by Gervin's moves; then there was the crowd reaction when Silas came in for the first after being out for a while with a knee injury
How can anyone NOT be a Duncan fan?
And the continuing efforts to bring in character guys

[SenorSpur]

Went to my first Spurs games as a kid back during their innagural season. Been a fan ever since they hit town back in '73. They have been and still are the only game in town.

As good as these championship days are...and trust me they are the best...those old ABA days were fun, innocent and new to everyone around back then. I guess the whole experience hits you differently when you're a kid.

Some of the best things I remember were:

Old Convention Center Arena - one of the loudest in basketball
Go to a game, sit anywhere you want because attendance was sparse
Baseline Bums with Dancing Harry.
Watching the bums pour beer on visiting team as they entered the lockerroom
Terry Stembridge - Long time Voice of the Spurs. "There will be another night"
Pat Tallman - Spurs PA Announcer
Gervin's moves; Silas's clutch ability
Meeting opposing players as they walked from the Marriott to the Convention Center

Despite moving to Dallas many years ago, my Spurs allegiance has only gotten stronger. Now I'm an annual league Pass subscriber so I catch every game (wish they had this package back in D-Rob's day).

Many locals ask me why I've not yet adopted the hometown team. Are you kidding me? That would be all-out treason. Besides it's a lot of fun rocking Spurs gear amidst the local-yocals.

Never thought I'd see the day we'd have even one championship. We've got four and going for more. Makes me very proud.

[tempest186]

The first time I saw the Iceman drive and finish with a finger roll. It only got more intense when #50 joined up and then #21.

[EJFischer]

I became a Spurs fan by default because I grew up in San Antonio and they were the local sports team. But I wouldn't have wanted to go to the games as much if it wasn't for David Robinson, who has to be on a short list of the best hometown sports hero/role models any kid ever got to grow up with. Walking up and down the long ramps at Hemisfare with my hand drawn Robinson banners is one of my earliest basketball memories.

It suddenly occurs to me how lucky I am that I have never had to see my team's marquee player play in another uniform. The closest was when Sean Elliott got traded, but then he came back and won a championship with us. If the Celtics make it to the finals this year, I bet there are going to be a lot of kids in Minneapolis with mixed feelings.

[Pop OFits]

One time, at band camp.....

[Solid D]

I was a Celtics fan originally. Even went to some of their games. I also followed Nate the Skate Archibald with KC. I loved to watch him play. He could do everything.

I became a Spurs fan when I moved to San Antonio, but I had been an ABA and a Dallas Chaps fan as a kid. My dad took me to a few of their games also. Maurice McHartley was cool...he played with a toothpick in his mouth. No lie!

The Spurs still had a few of the Chaps players when they moved to SA. I really fell in love with the Spurs when Iceman and Larry Kenon were here, though. Basketball actually took second position to football with me but once David Robinson arrived, that changed. That's when I started feeling like I could not miss a game. It's been that way ever since.

[inspurated]

Red White And Blue Ball!!!
Sweet Iceman Finger Roll!!!!!!!

[ehz33satx]

Moved to S.A. in the early 90's and became a fan because of Big Dave. I have always thought David would be my fav of all time, but then Tim came along and we started winning championships. So now Tim Duncan is my all time fav player. There is no one else like our Timmy. I will be a Spurs fan till I die.

[LilMissSPURfect]

Re: The reason why you became a Spurs Fan ......i was born in east SA!

SPURS & SA whats the difference?

[rAm]

I grew up in SA which made them the one team that I could call my hometown team.

Also, I lived in The Dominion with a lot of the spurs players, and one of my first memories in life was David Robinson picking me up high above his head and I just remember that was the highest I have ever been off the ground.

When I was in 9th grade, my parents insisted that we drive to Popovich's house to trick or treat because he lived way out in the boonies of Dominion. When we got there Popovich was like, you guys are the only ones to come to our house tonight and he gave my sister and I his whole bowl of candy.

Just a couple of memories I have, and why I have been a Spurs fan my whole life, even repping them in Los Angeles as I have lived here for the past 7 years.

[sa_kid20]

I've been a Spurs fan since as long as I can remember. I'm only 19 so the Spurs have been around longer than me but my dad has been a fan from the beginning in '73 so i guess you could say I was born into it. Silver and Black forever

[RobSM64]

When David was made MVP in '95...

Ditto

[Solid D]

When I was in 9th grade, my parents insisted that we drive to Popovich's house to trick or treat because he lived way out in the boonies of Dominion. When we got there Popovich was like, you guys are the only ones to come to our house tonight and he gave my sister and I his whole bowl of candy.

That sounds like something Pop would do.