Manu to have surgery.

[DaDakota]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/...li-Surgery.php

.....out 6-8 weeks....Article below, for the click challenged.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili says he needs arthroscopic surgery to repair a ligament injury in his left heel after playing for Argentina in the Beijing Olympics.

"They're going to operate on me," Ginobili was quoted as saying by Argentina's La Nacion newspaper Friday.

Ginobili, who helped lead Argentina to a bronze medal in Beijing, said a subsequent MRI exam of his injured ankle showed no improvement.

"It's the same as it was two months ago, when they did the first exam," he said. "It's not worse, which is important. Now, the thing is, it's not better either, and it seems like the only way to repair it completely is arthroscopic surgery."

Ginobili first hurt the ankle during the NBA playoffs, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had urged his player not to compete in the Olympics unless the injury improved. Ginobili had to sit out the bronze-medal match against Lithuania after feeling pain during the semifinals against the United States.

Ginobili, 31, said he doesn't know what doctor will perform the surgery or when.

"Aside from this situation, I'm comfortable with the situation," he said. "My plan was to be part of the Olympic games, and I knew that if I suffered from pain they would have to operate. This isn't something that took me by surprise."


DD

[JamStone]

What a pussy.

[E20]

So he should be ready around the beginign of the season, but his minutes should definintely be limited to around 20 MPG maybe a little more.

[BlackSwordsMan]

trade him now!

[bdictjames]

Has he had surgery before?

[mrspurs]

Welcome back Michael Finley, and for those of you Spurs Fans who had no problems with Manu playing in the Olympics. This is what happens when you let a player decide whether or not he plays or sits depending on what the doctor says. (You cant tell me someone didnt have the money to do an MRI on the side, its done for Players Personal Insurance Policys.) And there are still fans out there, who have no problems with TP playing overseas at the moment . Its a no brainer Pop is furious, the FO is upset. This is the future of the San Antonio Spurs, not some country called Argentina or France. Like it or not, but with our current roster, we will live and die from beyond the arc, because now teams only have to stop one penetrator. TP. Someone should Text TP.

[Walton Buys Off Me]

I bet Roger Mason's agent wishes they had waited till after the Olympics before signing......

[rayray2k8]

Unbelievable......
Sounds like he wanted to get hurt..
On the bright side, it gives some of the new talent some minutes.

[angel_luv]

Manu and his ankles are in my prayers.

Be healed quickly, MG.

[Cherry]

“I will undergo surgery, but I would make the same decision of going to Beijing again”

By Manu
Translation By Urunobili

San Antonio – Here I am, back in San Antonio, happy with the Bronze medal won in the games and ready to face a new season on the NBA. After I arrived they immediately did an MRI on my left ankle, more than anything to check how the ligament looked, if it was bigger or smaller than last time we checked or if it was damaged. Basically, the studies indicated that it’s just like it was two months ago when I got the first MRI. It is not worse which is important. Now the thing is it is not better either, and it looks that the only way for a total recovery is to undergo arthroscopic surgery.

There is still no timeline defined for the intervention, I do not know either what doctor will do it, but the thing is I must to do this. I was explained that they have to clean the area where the scar is and bring the ligament to its normal size for it not to bother any more. Today, the ankle doesn’t hurt when I walk, but it does when I jump or run. On these cases, the rehab period it’s from six to eight weeks, but I don’t know if on the eight week I’ll be ready to start playing or simply start training. I have the impression that I will make it for the season opener or maybe lose the first few games.

Apart from this situation I am in peace, I knew what was in stake; the plan was to be part of the Olympic Games and then, if I had any sort of pain, I would need to get surgery. It is not a surprise, and it is not that today I am saying “Uh I never thought I’d get an arthroscopic intervention!”

I know that a lot was talked about the subject, but I ma sure of what I did, because it wasn’t an unilateral decision, it is something that it was talked with San Antonio Spurs coaching staff. I would make that same decision of going to Beijing again. I understand the frustration; I understand that is possible that I miss some matches. But being part of the Olympic Games is very important for any athlete. In my case, it made me more mature than what I was, it offered another life experience and I always felt I had to do it. Any athlete that has the possibility of experiencing an Olympic Game shouldn’t refuse it. There are some people who will understand and some other that won’t.

I had the chance to read some columns in a San Antonio communication medium, where I was criticized for my decision of going with the National Team to the games. It’s all good, I respect the journalist that is giving his opinion and who is paid to do such thing. To me, from my part, I have a very well formed opinion. The most important thing is that Gregg Popovich is on the same page with me and he is, at the end of the day my contractor to say it somehow. That’s why I am very confident about the way I proceeded, and I feel backed up by the people in San Antonio.


Sincerely, I was very surprised that Pop picked me up at the San Antonio International airport. I was not expecting it at all because it was 10:30pm, that here is considered very late. But of course I value his gesture, it is a shown of affection and class very important. When this approach with the coach happened I was talking to a group of journalists; he grabbed my arm and said: “let’s go, you have been traveling too much”. We then got into his SUV and talked on a very friendly way. So that’s how things look regarding the Spurs.

About the National Team, even with the happiness that meant that we were able to make it to the podium like in Athens 2004, I would have preferred to stay with the rest of the team a little more to celebrate, be together and then say goodbye. It was painful that we had to run all over the place after the Bronze medal game against Lithuania. We came back to the Village, changed our clothes, grabbed the medal our carry on luggage and then get in the plane right away. I didn’t like it at all, because after being together 60 days we didn’t enjoy of a moment of tranquility, without that responsibility of facing the following day another match. I would have liked to celebrate the medal in Ezeiza with everyone, but for different compromises with the foreign teams it was impossible to keep the while team together.

From the bottom of my heart, I have no idea how my career with the National Team will follow. I didn’t say anything after Athens 2004, nothing after Japan’s 2006 World Cup and I am not saying anything now, but I think that is convenient to separate things. In Japan I commented that my future on the team did not depend if we won gold or end up last in the tournament. This time either; being healthy or not now won’t be defining what I have done for the team on my career with them. Once the time arrives, it will all be evaluated. Before a big commitment you have to know where you stand physically. Like Pepe Sanchez did, he didn’t say what he would do until the occasion arrived. Then, and from there, he evaluated his physical conditioning and his spirit. I will do the same thing. Even more so I don’t think there is a big necessity to decide nothing right now, there are two years left for Turkey’s World Cup isn’t it?

I don’t think it’s convenient either to give my opinion about Sergio Hernandez, about if he should be or not leading the squad. What he definitively did is a great job. He begun his cycle with lots of doubts form the people and the press. But this Bronze medal gives him lots of credit; it certifies his conditions for the job. Let’s remember that he begun his job with the highest ceiling you could get, he took over a group that came from being Olympic Champion. I think in Beijing, Sergio conducted a great tournament. I insist; if he has to continue or not it’s going to be his decision and the Argentine Confederation one.

I am keeping in my heart also that the team is back at the number 1 position in the FIBA rankings. I don’t know how that stat is being calculated, it’s something huge. It’s incredible to be distinguished as a power house ahead of giants like the United States, Russia, Serbia, Lithuania and Spain. Our team starts renewing and rejuvenating, but I don’t know if the changes ahead will be as dynamic as they’ve been. At the moment we just have to enjoy it.

[ShoogarBear]

Hoo, boy . . .

[mytespurs]

Manu having surgery? Let the "trade him" whining begin......

I have faith in you Manu! Get well!!!

[Budkin]

Goddamn Manu.

[angel_luv]

I was not expecting it at all because it was 10:30pm, that here is considered very late. But of course I value his gesture, it is a shown of affection

[bigfan]

Well, the situation sux but better to just bite the bullet and go ahead and get the surgery done now. I dont blame the guy for playing for his home country in the olympics. They grew up there and to play for your national team is an honor that goes beyond your playing years or your professional career. I also know Finley will do a good job while Manu is out. That said, this is the risk of drafting foreign players and maybe Pop and RC will think more carefully on this in the future. We lucked out on Manu and Tony, it may not happen again.

[Brutalis]

Better it happen now than in December.

[Whisky Dog]

Hopefully the surgery will successfully repair the ligaments and with some rehab and conditioning work he can be back to productive in 12 to 14 weeks. If he can't go in November, fine, just get ready for the start of 2009.

[ShoogarBear]

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Welcome back Michael Finley, and for those of you Spurs Fans who had no problems with Manu playing in the Olympics. This is what happens when you let a player decide whether or not he plays or sits depending on what the doctor says. (You cant tell me someone didnt have the money to do an MRI on the side, its done for Players Personal Insurance Policys.) And there are still fans out there, who have no problems with TP playing overseas at the moment . Its a no brainer Pop is furious, the FO is upset. This is the future of the San Antonio Spurs, not some country called Argentina or France. Like it or not, but with our current roster, we will live and die from beyond the arc, because now teams only have to stop one penetrator. TP. Someone should Text TP.

Mrs. Purs, I saw one of your previous posts that mentioned you were in the military prior to your sex change operation. A post like this one has me concerned that perhaps a grenade exploded a bit too close to your head at some point during your time serving our country...because it makes no sense whatsoever. I read it twice and I can't figure out what your point(s) are.

[xtremesteven33]

i just want him back at 110% for the playoffs....thats all

[T Park]

shoog why do you think this is bad? Sounds like a pretty simple procedure.

[angelbelow]

hoping for a speedy recovery.

[Cherry]

Has he had surgery before?

Never (in his case is amazing)

[50 cent]

I'm ing sick of Ginobili's antics.

[Tully365]

Good. His ankle will be fixed, & he'll come back healthy and well rested. We'll just have to read about it 1,000 times a day from posters who are angrier about the Olympics than Pop, RC, or Holt. He played in the olympics, and it's done with. The Spurs options now are to either move forward constructively, or to cry endlessly and bitterly about a decision that's already been made. They're pretty good at these types of situations-- my guess is they move forward constructively.