Tim Duncan: the man, the myth
“Starting at center, a 6-10 senior from St. Croix, the Virgin Islands, number 21, TIM DUNCAN!” And the crowd goes wild.
This has been the way that things have happened prior to tip-off at every Demon Deacon home game this season. At Tuesday’s game at Joel Coliseum, Tim Duncan partook in this ritual for the last time, as this game against Georgia Tech marked the final home game in his illustrious college career.
After the game Duncan was honored for his achievements on the parquet by having his number permanently retired to the rafters of Joel Coliseum.
No longer will a Demon Deacon basketball player wear the number 21 on his jersey, a fact that relieves any future players of insurmountable pressures and some mighty big shoes.
Let us not forget, that this university nearly missed the chance to experience Duncan’s senior season as he gave serious consideration to forgoing his final year of eligibility to play in the NBA. Every NBA draft analyst had Duncan slotted as the No. 1 pick overall following his junior season, and some even had him as the first pick after his sophomore season.
So the message was clear; whenever Duncan came out of college he was guaranteed millions of dollars in contracts and endorsements. Little children everywhere are already dreaming of one day lacing up their Air Duncan shoes.
Because Duncan chose to stay in school for a fourth year and will earn a degree from this university in May, speaks volumes about his character as a person.
In an era dominated by Prop 48, tampering by sports agents, and charges against athletes ranging from rape to drunken driving, Duncan has proven himself to be a mature young man who can carry himself well despite all the external pressures put on his shoulders.
Duncan is just 20-years-old and he is already a superstar. He has his own commercial on ESPN with Robert Goulet singing, " Duncan – that’s not a noun, its a verb!" Now that’s fame.
Although temptation lies around every corner, Duncan is able to stay out of trouble.Every day the news reports about another sports star accused of using drugs, crashing his car into a light pole, spitting on fans, etc.
In a world filled with social misfits who do not know how to act when given a little fame and some money in their wallet, Tim Duncan remains the quiet, even-tempered sultan of swat, setting an excellent example for student-athletes everywhere.
Tim, good luck in Boston.
