Pietrus Batum Noah not good enough to be in the roster of the best euro teams
Agreed. There already is an international league, and it's the only international league that truly matters: The NBA.
The US should abandon the Dream team concept and let the amatuers get on with playing their silly games that mean nothing.
I'd like to see a clause in all NBA contracts that states that if you get injured during National off-season play, you forfeit your salary. Love your country? Good for you, let's see how much: are you willing to bet your NBA millions on it?
french NT starting five:
parker, pietrus, batum, diaw, noah.
All are having a good season, so i like our chances (the podium is possible).
Go and tell stern to modify the rules but as of today the rule is simple: if you give a contract to a player you cannot prevent him from playing for his country it's part of the deal. If you are not happy hire some scrubs that have no chance to play for a national team.
You keep complaining about the money, but if Tony gets injured the Spurs get every cent back through insurance. The money is not the point.
Obviously I didn't expect you to know that.
I'm happy for Tony that he can actually represent his country, one of the highest honors a player can have.
I'm not sure Pietrus will accept to join the NT.
Let's hope he doesn't get injured during that camp... he might have to return his salary otherwise...
thank you ElNono
Every time our players have played international ball in the summer, they have been exhausted at the beginning of the following season. And didn't Parker miss the beginning of the 03-04 season because he got injured playing international ball in the summer?
I don't think that anyone here objects to Tony Parker playing basketball for France, if that's what he wants to do. I just think that the people who object recognize that there is a price to be paid for those kinds of personal choices. The problem is that ultimately it is the loyalty of fans that is paying all the bills for the NBA, its teams, and its players.
A lot of you insist that defending your country is the highest honor for a professional athlete. Obviously Tony Parker feels that way too. But there's another message that goes along with that. If playing summer ball is the highest honor, it means that the support we fans show is second-rate. You can't have it both ways. Just remember that loyalty is a two-way street. Tony obviously believes that loyal fans can't live without him, no matter what he does - so we will continue to support him, even though he regards the French audience so much higher.
Will the Spurs get cap relief to allow them to sign another good PG? Will the fans get any of their money back? Will the insurance company be able to extend the window of opportunity on Tim Duncan's career?
I am personally tired of people who think that something is free if the government or an insurance company pays for it. The money isn't the point? Of course the money isn't the point, you ing pinhead! The money is never the point, except to the people who are paying the money.
You really did ride the short bus to school every day, didn't you? I think you really have become my permanent sig .
Last edited by GSH; 04-14-2009 at 10:03 PM.
!Ay Yi Yi No me Gusta!
The rule and the constraints are the same for all the teams in the NBA. It's an agreement between fiba and nba, you cannot prevent a player from playing for his country period. deal with it.
The mavs lakers etc are facing the same issue, it's a fair deal if you're not happy asks the spurs FO contract only scrubs US players or players that don't give a of their country.
Larry Brown sign with french national team to be an "assistant" and follow Diaw and maybe Ajinca
He speaks with Pop when spurs play agaisnt Charlotte and Pop say he can do the to follow Tony and maybe Ian
Your lack of understanding on this topic is clear. So I'm only left with possessing your ass again.
Let's address the first garbage point you attempt to make on your previous post: Players get more tired playing summer ball and can't perform as well the next season.
This is utter and complete bull . Not only that, it's a myth that easily debunkable. As far as Spurs players are concerned, we can look at Ginobili in '03 and '05, Duncan in '05. League wide, every single MVP candidate this season has played for Team USA not only this last summer, but also the summer before.
Furthermore, we can add players of other countries, like Spain, whose players are having an outstanding season (Gasol, Fernandez, etc).
Another point made by Kori plenty of times is that NBA players still play in the summer on a regular basis too. In a nuts , another point you're trying to make that's absolute and utter garbage, and completely unsubstantiated.
Now, we can move on to your second weak sauce argument: Teams never benefit from players competing for their respective countries.
The reason the NBA signed an agreement with FIBA is to expand the NBA reach outside the US. Now, they didn't do this because they thought it was just cool. They did it because it allows them to expand both their TV and merchandising market worldwide. By reaching a wider audience, the NBA (and by definition the teams that make up the NBA) benefit monetarily.
Players like Yao Ming are the epitome of that global expansion. On top of the commercial benefit, the NBA team receives compensation through insurance if a player gets injured while playing in these compe ions. This insurance is not optional, and it's a precondition to allow the player to compete in a FIBA organized tournament.
Now, that's from a team standpoint. From a player's standpoint, you can go ask any professional athlete, and the vast majority will tell you there's no greater honor than to represent your country. Spurs greats, like David Robinson proudly mentions his two Olympic gold medals among the greatest accomplishments in his pro career.
This takes us to the last viewpoint, the fan perspective. Now, to address this part you need to know what players your team is made of. Is it made of a bunch of self centered pricks that will prioritize the quick buck over glory? Or is it made of a bunch of guys that are willing to leave money on the table in order to have a shot at glory?
The current Spurs are made of the second kind of players, and that fabric is what makes the Spurs the team it is. Which is the same fabric that makes these same players want to go for glory at every chance they get.
Duncan spoke with his wallet when he extended for less money in order to give the team flexibility. Same for Bowen. Manu had a juicy extension on the table, but choose to seek glory over cashing out.
As a fan, I'm more than grateful that we have THESE kind of players and not the selfish pricks money grubbers that are not in it to win it.
And please, with all the free asses in sigs, who the is gonna read your ? Plus your sig always goes together with your made posts, so it's really easy to see who is the actual re .
Last edited by ElNono; 04-14-2009 at 11:20 PM.
Great summation of how this team's character makes it so easy to be a fan.
Its all about country pride people.
For patriotic Americans I can't believe you guys would not understand that.
Tony put France before San Antonio; and he's got his priorities straight.
And the spurs will remember that come contract time.
They sure did. Gave him an extension till 2012 IIRC.
Country >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Money
Does the contract say that the player can't play for his national team?
We understand it just fine. We still think it's bull though. Have a nice day.
Well I hope he can stay healthy and compete for the Spurs. Thats the only team I care about. Hopefully this doesn't turn into the same situation his counterpart from Argentina is in.
I agree with timvp, in that if it's for Olympic play that's one thing, but for "World Championships" that's becoming a bit much.
So you're saying the Spurs signing Manu to a six year deal in 2004 was a mistake? Because that was his last contract. Since it's against the league's collective bargaining agreement to contractually forbid players from participating in international tournaments, you're pretty much saying the Spurs just stick to having players not good enough to be asked to participate.
Good plan.
Last edited by Laker Lanny; 04-15-2009 at 01:55 PM.
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