Parker Suffers Ankle Sprain

[buujness]

There's such an obvious element of childish Nationalism when it comes to these arguments. When the USA team wins the gold with a team of nba allstars, people say it's "insprational," but when a foreign allstar wants to represent his own country and play with pride in front of his own family, friends, and country-mates, they are criticised for being selfish or reckless.

+1

How can you fault a bigtime NBA star playing for national pride? Don't we lavish accolades for LeBron, Wade, Howard, Paul, etc for playing for national pride and the name on the front of the jersey? Then why don't we do the same thing for Parker and Ginobili? Perhaps it is the fans that are being selfish, and not the players sacrificing time and effort in order to play for their countries.

[duncan228]

Express-News.

Parker injured while in France
From wire reports -

Spurs guard Tony Parker suffered two injuries to his right leg in a collision with an opponent while playing for the French national team against Austria on Friday night in Strasbourg, France.

According to French sports newspaper L'Equipe, Parker left the game on a crutch after 12 minutes with a sharp pain in his right thigh after colliding with Austria's Stjepan Stazic. Though that injury soon subsided, Parker's right ankle became swollen. By Saturday morning, it was clear the ankle was the greater issue.

In a statement released by the French Basketball Federation, Parker said that the collision caused “a blow to my thigh, and my ankle also turned.”

Parker described the MRI of his ankle as “reassuring,” calling the injury “a minor sprain, without any ligament damage.”

Parker is expected to be ready when France's Eurobasket 2009 qualification effort gets back under way on Aug. 5 against Italy in Cagliari.

That game begins France's run in the six-team tournament competing for the final spot at Eurobasket, the continental basketball championships. France must win its group over Italy and Finland, then beat the winner of the other three-team pool to qualify for the championships, which begin Sept. 7.

[symple19]

I'm all for him playing on the natty team if it's for a MAJOR tournament like the Olympics or the Worlds. This isn't soccer where the Euro tourny is the second biggest deal, behind the World Cup. These little injuries add up, and the French team IS NOT going to win the Euro regardless of Tony playing or not.

That said, I understand he has pressure and feels the need to play. I just think he's better served waiting and exerting himself for his country at a more opportune time.

[GSH]

There's such an obvious element of childish Nationalism when it comes to these arguments. When the USA team wins the gold with a team of nba allstars, people say it's "insprational," but when a foreign allstar wants to represent his own country and play with pride in front of his own family, friends, and country-mates, they are criticised for being selfish or reckless.

Bull . Our Olympic teams used to be a bunch of college kids competing against professionals from other countries. Then we started fielding professionals, which s up the spirit of the Olympics. And a lot of the teams we face in the Olympics are from much smaller countries, without a huge basketball infrastructure. And then there are the mercenaries, who play for countries they have nothing to do with. The days of Jesse Owens giving the figurative finger to the fuehrer are long since gone. Olympic athletes take steroids and EPO, and train hooked up to computers. The whole thing has become big business, and there's nothing inspirational about it.

All that being said, if a player wants to represent his country in the Olympics once, or maybe even twice, that's one thing. But playing a professional sport - any professional sport - 12 months a year, every year, is too ing much. Move over, and make room for some of the younger guys to have a chance.

[sonic21]

I'm all for him playing on the natty team if it's for a MAJOR tournament like the Olympics or the Worlds. This isn't soccer where the Euro tourny is the second biggest deal, behind the World Cup. These little injuries add up, and the French team IS NOT going to win the Euro regardless of Tony playing or not.

That said, I understand he has pressure and feels the need to play. I just think he's better served waiting and exerting himself for his country at a more opportune time.

He needs to play the Euros to have a chance to play the Olympics and the Worlds.
This year, only the 4 or 5 (?) best teams of the Euro will be in the WC next year.

[spursfan09]

Trade his ass

[bigfan]

Ive never understood why playing for a national team isnt prohibited in a players contract.

[King]

Ive never understood why playing for a national team isnt prohibited in a players contract.

Because I don't think they can. I think there are mandates against leagues formally prohibiting players from playing in FIBA.

Add to that, I doubt many foreign all-stars would sign a contract that included that clause. I imagine it's a LOT more important to them than you guys realize.

[MB20]

I will always support international players who play for their countries.

Take care Tony.

[Chieflion]

I just hope he makes a speedy recovery.

[JudynTX]

Trade his ass

Get better soon Tony!

[angel_luv]

Accidents happen- especially in sports. I pray Tony Parker recovers fully and quickly and I hope he has a safe and happy summer.

[tlongII]

And so it begins...

[DBMethos]

Headline: Parker suffers ankle sprain during pickup game at local Y

Spurs fan reaction: Damn, that happened to me last week...tough luck, bro. Get better soon.

---

Headline: Parker suffers ankle sprain playing for French National Team

Spurs fan reaction: WTF? Didn't he learn from Manu last year? ing assholes better never let our players play for their national teams ever again! The end is nigh!!!

[duncan228]

Tony Parker Injured In France
By Dime Magazine

The San Antonio Spurs have arguably had the best offseason of anyone in the League. They added Richard Jefferson for nothing, signed free agent Antonio McDyess, somehow managed to pick up DaJuan Blair in the Draft, and maybe know something no one else does about this guy, officially re-stocking a roster that can clearly contend for a le during the few years that Tim Duncan has left in the tank.

None of that means anything though with Tony Parker in the mix, which is why this report this morning has undoubtedly led to legions of Spurs fans collectively throwing up in their mouths:

From wire reports -

Spurs guard Tony Parker suffered two injuries to his right leg in a collision with an opponent while playing for the French national team against Austria on Friday night in Strasbourg, France.

According to French sports newspaper L’Equipe, Parker left the game on a crutch after 12 minutes with a sharp pain in his right thigh after colliding with Austria’s Stjepan Stazic. Though that injury soon subsided, Parker’s right ankle became swollen. By Saturday morning, it was clear the ankle was the greater issue.

In a statement released by the French Basketball Federation, Parker said that the collision caused “a blow to my thigh, and my ankle also turned.”

Parker described the MRI of his ankle as “reassuring,” calling the injury “a minor sprain, without any ligament damage.”

Parker is expected to be ready when France’s Eurobasket 2009 qualification effort gets back under way on Aug. 5 against Italy in Cagliari.

Despite the fact that everything seems to be ok, for a guy who has had ankle issues in the past, this is most definitely not what Spurs fans want to hear. Something like this brings up a topic that Mark Cuban always rails against when his guys are involved - when an NBA club is paying a guy a ton of money, at what point can they tell their player that he can’t mess around with his national team in the offseason? We’re sure that Rockets fans wish that their team had told Yao Ming to chill in the offseason the last few summers instead of playing with the Chinese National team. There’s no solid proof that that the extra wear and tear has led to his foot condition, but it certainly hasn’t helped. And now the Rockets’ season is basically done months before it even starts.

Should NBA teams be able to to protect their investment and bar their players from international compe ion in the offseason?

[duncan228]

Tony Parker, Injured
by Marcel Mutoni
SLAM

It is times like these when one begins to understand the reasons behind Gregg Popovich occasionally sporting a beard befitting a man quietly assembling bombs in a log cabin somewhere.

The stress involved with having to watch two of his three stars partake in international hoops annually - where they at times suffer catastrophic injuries - would be enough to drive anyone a little batty.

The good news for Popovich and the rest of the San Antonio Spurs organization, is that Tony Parker’s injury, according to TP, is considered to be relatively minor. The Express-News reports:

According to French sports newspaper L’Equipe, Parker left the game on a crutch after 12 minutes with a sharp pain in his right thigh after colliding with Austria’s Stjepan Stazic. Though that injury soon subsided, Parker’s right ankle became swollen. By Saturday morning, it was clear the ankle was the greater issue.

In a statement released by the French Basketball Federation, Parker said that the collision caused “a blow to my thigh, and my ankle also turned.” Parker described the MRI of his ankle as “reassuring,” calling the injury “a minor sprain, without any ligament damage.”

Parker is expected to be ready when France’s Eurobasket 2009 qualification effort gets back under way on Aug. 5 against Italy in Cagliari.

Here’s to hoping that Popovich is somewhere, with absolutely no access to the news.

[ducks]

Parker injures right ankle against Austria
1 hour, 41 minutes ago

Buzz up!1 vote PrintPARIS (AP)—Spurs guard Tony Parker(notes) has a sprained ankle and injured thigh after colliding with an Austrian player during a recent basketball game.

Parker is unlikely to be available to play for France in Thursday’s game in Paris against Hungary in Eurobasketball 2009, according to sports daily L’Equipe.

The Spurs’ star hurt his right thigh and ankle in a collision with Stjepan Stazic in a game Friday. Parker issued a statement saying he was hit in his thigh and turned his ankle.

The statement also said tests on Saturday showed no sign of ligament tears or other serious complications, and that he could resume training later in the week.

[EricB]

Shut it down Parker. Shut it down right now.

[Walton Buys Off Me]

I find it scary that players don't seem to realize the risk here.

National loyalty is one thing but when you're earning your living playing in the NBA, allegiance to the team that pays your salary should take priority.

You would think Ginobili's injury last year and the fact it cost the Spurs their season would have taught all a valuable lesson.

[in2deep]

I don't understand why so hard to understand. Some people would die for their country. Nobody will die for their paycheck.

[angel_luv]

I can understand people being concerned about the intense schedules and compe ion players endure these matches.

But Tony could have also sprained his ankle playing a pick up game with some of his teammates from the Spurs. Injury is a risk that comes with playing basketball and the risk is unavoidable even in the summer, as guys need to play to stay conditioned.

[Marcus Bryant]

[barbacoataco]

While I think he has a right to play for his country, the Spurs must have an opinion about 2 of their 3 stars repeatedly injuring themselves playing for teams that are not paying them MILLIONS of dollars.

[bigdog]

Oh look, a Spurstalk meltdown!

But in all seriousness, .

[timaios]

While I think he has a right to play for his country, the Spurs must have an opinion about 2 of their 3 stars repeatedly injuring themselves playing for teams that are not paying them MILLIONS of dollars.

In 8 years with the Spurs, Tony played 612 games in regular season...

It is 76.5 games / RS. (That with Pop resting his stars in some games before the playoffs.)

And he played 122/122 games in playoffs.