For those that care about the Spurs and Life

[Rummpd]

Two stories to share on Spurs - one on how you can help.

How do they Do This?
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By Peter Rumm, MD
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Sep 1, 2005, 00:05





How do they do this?

That is right, we are discussing today the same "small market", 2 for 3 years (and 3-7 year) NBA Championship Team that many of you love to hate and diss. You know who I am talking about now don't you?

That is ok if that is your perception. I prefer to side with some true NBA and loyal fans of what I feel remains among the classiest organizations and most successful on so many paramaters in all of sports.

Furthermore, as a writer and fan I am going to let you in again on a real secret: Brace yourself for another championship year and learn to enjoy it = these are truly now the "not really boring no more” San Antonio Spurs".

Now ask yourself some additional questions:

How does a team that has seemingly in a stealthy way, come on strong in typical quiet fashion and dominate the off-season and pick not only the clutch play of a Nick Van Exel but also a veteran all star in Michael Finley?

How do they keep player after player like a Duncan, Ginobili, Parker and Horry from potentially more lucrative offers?

How do they make even a Glenn Robinson play into the system last year?

How do they keep winning and adding to a historic winning percentage since one Tim Duncan joined them and after the still great David Robinson retired?

How do they keep drafting late picks like the Beno Udrih's, Tony Parker's or Manu Ginobili's and/or end up picking up a international star in Fabricio Obierto "on the sly"?

How did they really convince Isiah Thomas and the Knicks to trade Nazr Muhammed for Malik Rose (who I for one, still have a lot of respect for, but honestly NBA fans, Mr. Muhammed fits the Spurs needs more)?

How do they, as now 3x recent champions, continually fly under the national press radar - when they in reality will most likely (when all is said and done) be the historical team of the 1999-09 decade and not the vaunted Lakers?

How do they get players to buy into teamwork, defense and getting involved in the community?

How? Through sheer class, great coaching, a great front office, organizational pride and hard work – that is how!

Take a deep breath other teams, fans, and players and sit back and prepare to see the Spurs add to their hardware in not only the upcoming season but for years to come. They will be severely tested by the Pacers, Pistons, Mavericks, Suns, Heat, Rockets, Nuggets and perhaps others but surely now Tim Duncan will not finish his career with "only" 3 les.

In summary, I have a way to remember and relish these "boring" Spurs. Meanwhile, I am teaching a way of remembering my passion for them from afar* to my 7 y/o boy(In my personal opinion, he can do a lot worse in life than learning to respect and root for this franchise):

S – Solid
P - Professionalism
U – Under-appreciated
R – Resilient
S - So Good you Forget how Good these 3 Times Champions Really Are and Can Be!

*I live in Philadelphia but still will travel near and far to see the Spurs and the player for the ages, Duncan play.


Thanks NBA Players and How You Can Also Help!
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By Peter Rumm, MD
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Aug 31, 2005, 22:13



Talk about doing it right – the NBA players have already got involved in the relief efforts!

Thanks to all that are involved, you really are role models for our nation and our youth. Thanks also to other NBA fans who I am sure are doing there part already in so many ways, and my heart goes out to anyone personally affected.

What can you do yourself to get involved? As a sportswriter but also as a Director of a Center on Public Health Readiness and Communication (at Drexel School of Public Health) and former health official in several sectors I have some recommendations for you:

1) Work through organized relief efforts – those organized by the Red Cross, civic organizations like Rotary, major businesses etc. are usually cost-effective and really help.

2) Right now what is most likely needed is not on-site volunteers (except when called upon by usually previous planned arrangements) but fiscal and/or behind the scenes support.

3) Realize that relief efforts and ongoing support will go on not for days but for months, it will take that long to not only heal in a physical sense but also in terms of the enormous emotional toil it will take. There will be plenty of opportunities for many people to get involved long-term and help sustain and mitigate the after effects, which will go for years.

4) Support governmental efforts with the understanding that while not always perfect, they are substantial, even when faced by such a huge historic disaster with such severe flooding.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security fortunately has created (through a presidential directive and a huge national effort) a revised National Disaster Response Plan - that is I am sure helping guided a lot of current coordination among so many agencies and sectors.

Believe me, besides what you see in the news, our governments and other organizations are quietly shifting loads of logistical and personnel support to the affected area.

For more information, here a few good sites: The American Red Cross at www.redcross.org; www.fema.gov (The Federal Emergency Management Agency) www.apha.org (American Public Health Association - an association for public health), www.dhs.gov (Homeland Security), www.dhhs.gov and it agencies including the Center for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov; and the American Association of Schools of Public Health at www.asph.org (.)

I am personally on the Board of Trustees for another association of concerned professionals of public health advocacy doctors called the American Association of Public Health Physicians and our web site is at www.aaphp.org (.)

I am also a Fellow of American College of Preventive Medicine at www.acpm.org that is the formal professional organization for doctors trained in public health fields.

As a member of the larger American Medical Association, I know their web site can be accessed at www.ama.org and they have a real expert in preparedness in Dr. James James, the former health officer of the City of Miami.

All these organizations should have staff or at least e-mail portals who can help direct inquires.

Or if you have an urgent concern – feel free to e-mail me and I will try to help at [email protected] (or if it very time sensitive and related to my Centers work at [email protected] (.)

Thanks for caring – it is really in times like this that people, communities and nations really shine; and the NBA and its players are setting a fine example!

[Chris]

Love for the Spurs. Finally we get some recognition. Too bad EA Sports can't do the same.

[Mixability]

Love for the Spurs. Finally we get some recognition. Too bad EA Sports can't do the same.

tell me about it, but I'll still get NBA Live 2006

[marcus]

HOOPSWORLD.com again, that site.

[Rummpd]

With respect to the above - what has that site ever done to you? (There are many astute and hard working editors who feel strongly about the Spurs chances, and praise consistently most of their moves.)

By the way, Mr Marcus - you have a most impressive "VBookie" total. Based on past performance, my professional recommendation is from now for you to soley stick to such "funny money", I sure would not want you to bet the real thing!

[timvp]

With respect to the above - what has that site ever done to you?

Finley to the Heat
Malone to the Spurs
Garnett to the Pistons
Bender to the Lakers
... and countless more BS.

[Rummpd]

Someone has to spin the waters I guess! Remember most of these guys do it part time and usually have some source feeding them some potential BS, I personally try to get a 2nd source before going on a limb if possible!

As we say in my other world you never take a shot though you are never right - Vescey, SAS, ESPN writers and others wrong a lot too!

Re our on again, off again I am going to retire, Malone. He was "courting the Spurs like a used car salesman" IMO and Garnett will probably be moved sooner or later somewhere but I expect it will not be the Pistons!

Bender is a rumor still floating around but to whom I don't have a clue, as apparently him and the coaching staff not too happy with each other from several news reports.

[xcoriate]

hard working editors

Are you sure?

[xcoriate]

Yeah but ESPN will say a source reports Finley to Heat.

Hoopsworld will flat out say it, which is not only a lie it illegal and immoral.

[Rummpd]

Maybe that was an an over statement but it is damm hard to get up at 530 and write some days!

Again, I think it depends on the writer and his judgement on what to put out there but perhaps the criticism is valid of some more than others. I concentrate on medical issues mainly.

[Kori Ellis]

Thanks for posting your articles, Rummpd. A lot of people have a hard time swallowing Hoopsworld for various reasons.

1. They treated MikeyP like crap when he was a writer there.
2. They bashed our site on several occasions.
3. They promise a lot of their writers press passes and don't come through (3 former writers have told me that in the last year).
4. The Karl Malone story.
5. They don't proofread their articles -- even the ones in their "magazine".

Number 4 is the worst to me. They printed that story saying Malone was signing with the Spurs as a fact. In reality, all they did was see the press release about an upcoming news conference (which was eventually revealed to be announcing Elliott's jersey retirement).

I don't mind "rumor" type of articles, but you shouldn't make stuff up or present things as fact that aren't.

That all being said, I don't mind articles from you or Emmett being posted here. And thanks for the info on how to help.

--Kori