I think this is a nice UTAH article about Manu...I didn't see it posted...Nice to see Manu getting props from other places...Plus includes nice quotes from Pop/Manu/Jacque Vaughn.
Luhm on the NBA: Don't cry for Ginobili
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_8828278
For San Antonio's dynamo from Argentina, winning NBA championships is more important than gaining fans' adoration
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 04/06/2008 01:46:36 AM MDT
Jacque Vaughn spent his first four years in the NBA playing for Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and backing up John Stockton, who are two of the most compe ive people I know.
That's why, when Vaughn speaks about compe iveness, I listen.
Prior to Friday night's Jazz-Spurs game, I asked Vaughn what makes San Antonio's Manu Ginobili such a unique talent - a Most Valuable Player-caliber talent who no one talks about when it comes to this year's MVP voting.
"He's one of the most compe ive people I've ever been in a locker room with," Vaughn said. "That's the first thing that grabs your attention. . . . He's right there along with John - maybe even to a different degree when it comes to throwing his body around, sacrificing his body."
Anything else?
"Manu wants to take that big shot," Vaughn said. "He doesn't mind the consequences of what goes along with it, if you don't make it. I think that's another thing that sets him apart."
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich mentions Ginobili in the same sentence as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, when it comes to knowing what needs to be done to win.
"His ability to compete . . . every second he's on the court puts him in [that] category," Popovich said. "They all find ways to win. A lot of people think they are compe ive, but they aren't compe ive like Kobe, Michael and Manu."
Ginobili is from Bahia Blanca, Argentina, a major seaport southwest of Buenos Aires with a population of 275,000. He has two older brothers, who are also professional basketball players.
When I asked about the source of his compe iveness, Ginobili said, "Where I come from, I will say I went through some different and tough times. So being here now, I really appreciate all the things the NBA provides us. That would be the second [reason]: I enjoy being here.
"The first [reason] is, I just love the game. If I wasn't good enough to play in the NBA, I would be doing the same thing with my brothers and my friends - trying to win every compe ion I have with them. I am just that way."
Ginobili has played a vital role on three NBA championship teams. He averages a career-high 20 points per game this season and, as Popovich puts it, "We wouldn't be where we are without him."
Still, Ginobili has played in only one All-Star Game and likely won't crack the top five in this year's MVP voting.
"The players who compete against him, they respect him," Popovich said. "But fans? There's no way. They would rather dislike him. I think he makes people angry because he is just a dagger in the heart. . . . The same way Kobe is booed, I think fans would rather react that way than realize the genius of this guy. I wish that were different."
Popovich suggests Ginobili's nationality has something to do with the general lack of acceptance of him as one of the NBA's true superstars
"I think being a foreigner hurts him," Popovich said. "I don't know how to describe that academically. But I feel it in my gut."
Ginobili shrugs.
"I really don't know what other people think," he said. "I don't talk about that and I don't read so many papers. Maybe I am not [appreciated]. But I don't worry because I am on a championship team. I have three rings. So I really don't care. I know that further [along] in my career - or once I'm 50 years old - I'm going to look at my rings and not [worry] about whether somebody appreciates me. . . . I'm going to look at those rings and that will be the thing."
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* STEVE
LUHM is The Tribune's national NBA writer and can be reached at [email protected].
Nice article. Putting MJ and Manu in the same sentence in terms of compe iveness is damn high praise. But I can't say I disagree with Pop.
Even when the Spurs have a bad game here or there in the regular season, Manu is the reason why I remain confident about this team come playoff time. Tim will be Tim. But if Manu can play at the level he has shown this season, the Spurs should be more than fine.
Bingo. Nobody remembers contestants in the slam dunk, 3 point compe ion, or borderline All Stars for a year or two. But, if you consistently make it to The Show and walk away with all the marbles, people remember you. People remember champions.I know that further [along] in my career - or once I'm 50 years old - I'm going to look at my rings and not [worry] about whether somebody appreciates me. . . . I'm going to look at those rings and that will be the thing.
Nice article. Putting MJ and Manu in the same sentence in terms of compe iveness is damn high praise. But I can't say I disagree with Pop.
Even when the Spurs have a bad game here or there in the regular season, Manu is the reason why I remain confident about this team come playoff time. Tim will be Tim. But if Manu can play at the level he has shown this season, the Spurs should be more than fine.
I agree. I really like how Pop praises Manu. And basically all of his teammates say that he's the most compe ive player...now Vaughn says this...before it's Damon.
Do you agree with Pop that being a foreigner hurts Manu? That's why he doesn't get the accolades, like being invited to the All Star game...
Yes, beign a foreigner hurts him a little.
Everybody talks about Manu's compe iveness, i would like to know how he is.
Do you think that he's the kind of person that if you talk 'bout something you did, he would talk about how he did the same but better?... I hope not but all these comments got me thinking.
I don't know if it's neccessarily because Manu is a "foreigner" that he's not as appreciated by fans. I do think playing in a small market like the Spurs and on a team that the media and many fans often label as "boring" doesn't help him. Plus, no matter what he does on the floor, people are always going to look at Duncan as part of the reason for Ginobili's success. Regardless of how true or untrue it may be.
I do think it's a joke he's only played in 1 All Star game.
As much as I scoffed the out of Ginobili for his play during the early playoffs last year....there was no doubt in my mind come Game 4 of the finals that he was going to systematically annihilate the Cavs. His ruthlessness is very very underrated....and sometimes it works against him and his team....he's the ultimate gambler's player, the only player the opposition can laugh at for attempting something so stupid yet they were really scared less of his herky jerky shot going in.
You don't see many players in the league completely take over a game with just their heart. Those games when Manu does it, are a treat to watch.
^^^^^ and THATS why he is my favorite player.
I'm not a Manu fan, but as an SLC man its nice to see a positive sentiment come from Steve Luhm. He spent the past two Sundays ago comparing Kobe to Barry Bonds while making sure we knew he was charged with a rape. I'm happy that at least 1 player in the league manages not to piss off Steve Luhm.
Manu had to be named 2005 Final´s MVP.
I've spent some time lately watching Manu vids on YouTube. The compe iveness comes out in the way he plays in those highlight vids.
He is the most entertaining player in the league today.
I'm on the same page as Pop with this one. I do feel that the rebuff is due to Manu being a foreigner, an Argentine to be more specific. I remember this article, the author talked about us waiting for the next great white player, the next Larry Bird, and that we already have him in Manu but fact is that many of us do not seem to be able to expect and accept this all because Manu is not an American let alone he coming from a country that is totally unknown.
manu deserves,it's really unfair for him. He is no doubt a superstar.
His heart will ask for more than what his body can give one of these days, and watching him deal with that will be tough, because it's his heart that makes him Manu.
One of the few guys i never want to see traded from this team no matter what.
Wrong. Say what you will about the man, but if we're talking entertainment...
I can watch this with any Jordan, james, mcgrady, carter even richard jefferson vid.
What Manu does is unique. His passes, his "between the legs", "el latigo", i haven't seen anyother BB player do these kind of things as often as manu does.
Are you kidding me? Manu is unique. It's true, Manu is highly entertaining and compe ive. But man, don't compare Kobe to T-mac, Vince and RJ. Kobe is widely regarded as the best athletically. Probably even more so than Jordan (again, talking about athletic ability here). You're right, he may not be as unique as Manu, but there is not a more fluid, capable, compe ive or entertaining athlete on the planet today than Kobe Bryant.
We weren't talking 'bout athletic ability, we were talking 'bout entertainment. And for me there's nothing more entertaining that something that's cool but also rare. I was in no way comparing Kobe with the others as BB players.
Nice videos...
Great article, and rare props from a non-SA writer.
I'm always having conversations with other NBA fans in Oz and even when I show them what Manu does routinely (spectacular drives, tough step-backs, dagger threes, threaded passes, steals, blocks - the gamut of the game), they still can't admit his genius him!!! WTF!? , I HATE Kobe, but I'll admit his brilliance any day because the evidence is there.
Most fans are blind to players not on their team.
I wish Manu was on my Rockets. I would probably even trade Tmac for him....
DD
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