马刺1996-97赛季实录（560+篇）

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-02,

罗宾逊不仅软弱，整个马刺队都缺乏“关键时刻的斗志”

让我们忘掉大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)是否软弱这件事吧；整个马刺队都是软弱的。当现任管理层从雷德-麦科姆斯(Red McCombs)手中买下球队时，应该明确规定要在一定时间内建造一个“球馆”，并且没有任何限制。现在，我们可以看到马刺队和这座城市在这件事上的立场。

在篮球场上：从格雷格-波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)到球队的第12人，马刺队都是“温柔”的。而波波维奇的一些交易让球队至少倒退了两年。

令我恼火的是，这支球队没有“关键时刻的斗志”。他们是一群只会挨打的软蛋，不懂得如何反击。看看希尔教练(Coach Hill)对罗宾逊在对阵爵士的比赛中早早犯规的温和反应。

像马龙、坎普、乔丹和皮蓬这样的超级巨星都“确立”了自己的比赛风格。无论是脏球、身体对抗还是技巧，这些超级巨星都可以在比赛中发挥自己的优势。罗宾逊已经效力 NBA 七年了，但裁判们还没有找到他独特的比赛风格。

在季后赛的决胜时刻，当马刺队有机会控制系列赛的局势时，无论是大卫-罗宾逊还是肖恩-埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)都没有表现出他们拥有关键时刻的斗志。——罗恩-皮茨(Ron Pitts)，圣安东尼奥

——球迷需要成熟

我厌倦了阅读关于马刺队的负面情绪和愚蠢的建议。有些建议对球队、球员和教练都有损害。所以请允许一位老球迷发表一下自己的看法，我从他们每次进球后在中场跳球时就爱上了这项运动。

我们拥有 NBA 最棒的球队之一，但不是最棒的。让我们感谢这些为我们拼尽全力的球员，他们为我们带来了精彩的比赛，并且是优秀的榜样和社区工作者。我们必须先珍惜我们所拥有的，然后努力改进。

我知道在与犹他队的最后一场比赛中，裁判的判罚是不可原谅的，但马刺队想要击败西雅图和芝加哥进入总决赛也会很幸运。

在我住在伊利诺伊州的时候，作为一名小熊队的球迷，我学会了珍惜每一场胜利。作为俄克拉荷马大学的学生，我发现了一些被宠坏的球迷，他们不珍惜联赛冠军，而是想要每年都获得全国冠军。来吧，圣安东尼奥，成熟起来。——C.K. 农民(C.K. Farmer)，圣安东尼奥

——横扫重燃信心

公牛队血洗魔术队最令人欣慰的结果是乔丹和芝加哥队在四场比赛中就结束了系列赛。

考虑到 NBC 电视台在更长系列赛中获得的经济利益——我承认我对此持怀疑态度——NBA 的诚信不再受到质疑。

让我们为斯特恩(Commissioner Stern)专员、迈克尔-乔丹(Michael Jordan)和 NBA 篮球本身欢呼吧。——比尔-肯尼迪(Bill Kennedy)，伍兹伯勒

点击查看原文：Robinson not only soft Spur - Reader complains that entire franchise is lacking a `big-game heart'

Robinson not only soft Spur - Reader complains that entire franchise is lacking a `big-game heart’

Let’s forget about David Robinson being soft; this whole franchise is soft. When the current group bought the team from Red McCombs it should have been stipulated that an “arena” would be built within a certain timetable with no restrictions. At this point, we can see where the Spurs and the city stand on that subject.

On the basketball court: From Gregg Popovich all the way down to the team’s 12th man, the Spurs are “gentle.” And some of the deals Popovich made has set the club back at least two years.

What also annoys me is that there is no “big-game heart” on this team. It’s a pushover that doesn’t know how to push back. Witness Coach Hill’s gentle reaction to Robinson’s early foul troubles against the Jazz.

Superstars such as Malone, Kemp, Jordan and Pippen have “established” games. Whether it’s dirty, physical or with finesse, these superstars are allowed to do what they do best. Robinson’s been in the NBA for seven seasons and he has no established game the referees can identify him with.

When there’s been a big game on the line in the playoffs, where the Spurs could have taken control in a series, neither David Robinson nor Sean Elliott has shown that they have big-game hearts. - Ron Pitts, San Antonio

- Fans need maturity

I’m tired of reading negative feelings and silly suggestions on the Spurs. Some are damaging to the team, players and coaches. So please allow one more from an old-timer who fell in love with the game when they jumped the ball at center court after each goal.

We have one of the best teams in the NBA, but not the best. Let’s be grateful for these men who have played their hearts out, provided us with good entertainment and have been good role models and community workers. We must appreciate what we have first, hang onto it, then try to add things that will make it better.

I know the officiating was inexcusable in the final game against Utah, but the Spurs would have been lucky to beat Seattle and Chicago to reach Glory Land.

As a Cubs fan when I lived in Illinois, I learned to appreciate one victory. As a student at Oklahoma, I discovered some spoiled rotten fans who didn’t appreciate a league title; they wanted a national championship every year. Come on, San Antonio. Grow up. - C.K. Farmer, San Antonio

- Support your Iguanas

In the two years since the Iguanas became the first-ever hockey team in San Antonio, they built up an excitement and thrill for the sport that even the average working person can afford to indulge in.

Suddenly, someone wants to take this from them. Not only that, but also the team’s name. That’s pretty low in my book.

What is it with people who have so much money that they feel they can step on anyone they choose by just snapping a finger? Need I remind you people with so much money just where you got it -from the average working person.

Also, let me remind the elected officials just who put them in office - we did, the little people. Don’t tell us what we need. How about us telling you what we want for a change?

Come on, San Antonio, stand up and fight for the Iguanas. - Flo Beck, San Antonio

- Sweep reaffirms faith

The most gratifying consequence of the Bulls’ massacre of the Magic was the pleasurable wrapup by Jordan and Chicago in four games.

Considering the financial benefits to NBC-TV in a longer series - and I’ll admit to a degree of skepticism - the integrity of the NBA is no longer questioned.

Let’s hear it for Commissioner Stern, Michael Jordan and NBA basketball in general. - Bill Kennedy, Woodsboro

, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-02, By Buck Harvey

爬回来：电影明星如何应对一部烂片

这是全国观众第一次看到乌比-戈德堡(Whoopi Goldberg)称艾弗里-约翰逊(Avery Johnson)为“蟑螂”的周末。灯光，摄像机，杀虫剂。AJ的反应一半像马龙-白兰度(Marlon Brando)，一半像杰克-尼科尔森(Jack Nicholson)。最新消息：电影学院认为AJ的首次表演可以让他获得奥斯卡最佳男配角提名，不过对象是“昆虫”。

不过，这是关于一部名为“艾迪”的新电影的大银幕新闻。小屏幕对AJ就没那么友好了。截至上周，同一个击败他的人（约翰-斯托克顿(John Stockton)）又被另一个人（加里-佩顿(Gary Payton)）击败了。

蟑螂突然翻倒在地，小腿在空中抽搐。

然后是上周四，斯托克顿找到了自己的双脚，而佩顿似乎失去了自己的。如果马刺现在因为爵士队在今晚的第七场比赛中证明他们并不糟糕而感到了一些救赎，那么AJ比任何人都能感受到这一点。

考虑到AJ取得的进步，这一切似乎都令人难以置信。他对戈德堡印象深刻，就像他对任何努力工作的人一样。“也许这来自于看着我父亲努力养活我和我这张大嘴，”他在周六说，“他60年来从未休过假。”

所以当乌比出现在片场时——准备充分，确保一切都井井有条——AJ像欣赏她的幽默一样欣赏她的敬业精神。天哪，她称他为蟑螂的方式，带着喜剧演员的时机，难道不棒吗？

AJ坚定地相信这种细致的专业精神。上个赛季，他的目标之一是在季后赛中场均超过两次抢断。“那是佩顿最先关注的数字，”AJ说。“他知道抢断如何扰乱比赛，并带来轻松得分。”

AJ没有达到自己的目标。“我的场均大约是1.5次，”他说。尽管如此，AJ在常规赛中仍然以这个数据领跑全队，打破了大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)四年的统治。

但对于所有的数据来说，第一轮中发生的事情更有意义。当AJ抵消了凯文-约翰逊(Kevin Johnson)的作用时，这标志着他取得了多大的进步。几年前，谁能想到AJ能够接近这样的成就？

然而，在NBA中，今天的失败掩盖了昨天的成功。罗宾逊和马刺队现在当然知道这一点，魔术队也是如此。如果超音速队今天输了比赛，他们将因为浪费3-1的领先优势而遭到嘲笑，而他们在不久前从第一轮出线，然后击败火箭队，似乎意义重大。

所以即使马刺队以某种方式赢得了西部——比以往任何时候都走得更远——公牛队很可能会让这场成就黯然失色。AJ在迈克尔-乔丹(Michael Jordan)的脚踝附近徘徊，将被视为“小便士”的化身。

考虑到这种残酷的现实，那么不难理解为什么AJ会因为犹他系列赛而受到一些指责。当斯托克顿在中路萎靡不振，让爵士队能够对罗宾逊和肖恩-埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)进行包夹时，击败KJ的事情就被遗忘了。

AJ无法像佩顿在前五场比赛中那样让斯托克顿付出代价。但这也许更多是关于角色，正如AJ所说。“加里一直在做他一整年都在做的事情。他是他们的得分王。也许有一两场比赛，我是我们队的得分王。”

这的确有道理。毕竟，佩顿应该出手21次。而他的数据通常会给人一种他表现很好的印象。此外，如果AJ在对阵KJ时表现出色，那么这意味着他可能更适合与佩顿对位。在节奏更快的比赛中，AJ比在对阵斯托克顿时更容易突入空位。

不管怎么说，AJ否认斯托克顿控制了系列赛。“约翰只有一场助攻很高的比赛，”AJ说。“他并不是他们赢得系列赛的原因。”

但即使他错了，AJ也比任何人都更清楚自己的弱点。“很多球员不愿意仔细审视自己，”他说。“他们只是看着自己的倒影刷牙。他们不会说，‘我在这个方面很糟糕。’”

所以，尽管AJ在上个赛季对自己的开放跳投越来越有信心，但他想要更多。例如，他只投进了31次三分球中的6次。如果有一种方法可以将斯托克顿留在家里，那就是改善这一点。

“我希望明年能投进30次或40次，”AJ说。“但是，投篮是我要终身努力的事情。”

他还未开始休赛期的训练计划。他回到了路易斯安那州的家，观看了季后赛，让身体休息。但到下个月，他将回到休斯敦的球馆，做他一直以来做的事情。

乌比会对此哈哈大笑。蟑螂总是会回来的，不是吗？

点击查看原文：Crawling back: How a movie star reacts to a flop

Crawling back: How a movie star reacts to a flop

This is the first weekend in which the nation can see Whoopi Goldberg call Avery Johnson “a roach.” Lights, camera, pesticide. AJ reacts with part Brando, part Nicholson. And this just in: The film academy believes AJ’s acting debut could land him an Oscar nomination as best supporting insect.

But that’s big-screen news about a new movie called “Eddie.” The little screen had been less kind to AJ. As of last week, the same guy who trounced him (John Stockton) was getting trounced by someone else (Gary Payton).

Roach suddenly was on his back, his little legs twitching in the air.

Then came last Thursday, when Stockton found his legs while Payton seemingly lost his. And if the Spurs feel some redemption now as the Jazz prove they aren’t so awful by forcing a seventh game tonight, then AJ feels that more than anyone.

All of it seems crazy, considering how far AJ had come. He was impressed with Goldberg, just as he is with anyone who works hard. “Maybe that comes from watching my father trying to feed me and my big mouth,” he said Saturday, “and never taking a vacation in 60 years.”

So when Whoopi came out on the set - prepared and making sure everything was right - AJ loved her dedication as much as her humor. Gosh, just the way she called him a roach, with the timing of a comedian, wasn’t that great?

AJ firmly believes in such detailed professionalism. This past season, one of his goals was to average more than two steals a game in the playoffs. “That’s the first number Payton looks at,” said AJ. “He knows how much steals disrupt and lead to easy baskets.”

AJ missed his goal. “I averaged about 1.5,” he said. Still, AJ led the team in the regular season in that category, breaking David Robinson’s four-year run.

But for all the numbers, what followed in the first round meant more. When AJ canceled out Kevin Johnson, then it signified how far he had come. Who would have thought a few years ago that AJ could ever come close to that accomplishment?

In the NBA, though, today’s failure overwhelms yesterday’s success. Robinson and the Spurs certainly know that now, as do the Magic. And the Sonics will be ridiculed for blowing a 3-1 lead should they lose today, when getting out of the first round and then beating the Rockets seemed to mean a lot not long ago.

So even if the Spurs had somehow won the West - going further than they ever have - the Bulls would have likely soured even that accomplishment. AJ, hanging around Michael Jordan’s ankles, would have been seen as Little Penny come to life.

Given that harsh reality, then it’s not hard to see why AJ gets some blame for the Utah series. Beating KJ was forgotten when Stockton sagged into the middle, allowing the Jazz to double both Robinson and Sean Elliott.

AJ couldn’t make Stockton pay, unlike Payton had in the first five games of that series. But maybe that’s more about roles, as AJ says. “Gary is doing what he did all year. He led them in scoring. In maybe one game or two, I led my team in scoring.”

There is truth to that. After all, Payton is supposed to take 21 shots. And his numbers will usually give the impression he is playing well. Furthermore, if AJ survived nicely against KJ, then that means he probably would have matched up better with Payton. In a faster game, AJ gets into the open floor more than he ever could against Stockton.

Whatever, AJ disputes the idea that Stockton controlled the series. “John had one big-assist game,” said AJ. “He isn’t why they won the series.”

But even if he’s wrong, AJ understands better than anyone where his weaknesses are. “A lot of guys don’t want to take a hard look in the mirror,” he said. "They just look at their reflection to brush their teeth. They don’t say, `I stink in this area.’ "

So as much as AJ grew confidence in his open jumper this past season, he wants more. He managed to hit only 6 of 31 treys, for example. If there is one way to keep Stockton at home, it’s to improve that.

“I want to make 30 or 40 next year,” AJ said. “But, then, shooting is something I will look hard at until the day I die.”

He hasn’t begun his off-season program yet. He’s gone home to Louisiana, watched the playoffs, let his body rest. But by next month he’ll be back in the gyms of Houston, doing what he’s always done.

Whoopi would laugh about this one. Roaches always come back, don’t they?

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-05, By COMPILED FROM STAFF REPORTS

史密斯进行足部和踝部手术

圣安东尼奥马刺队宣布，球队前锋查尔斯-史密斯(Charles Smith)周二接受了手术，成功地从他的右脚踝和左脚中取出了一些小的骨刺。手术在纽约市进行，由威廉-汉密尔顿(William Hamilton)医生在门诊情况下完成。史密斯在季后赛输给犹他爵士队后表示，骨刺限制了他的季后赛活动能力。

• 芝加哥的铜管乐队：马刺队加入了其他球队教练和管理人员，参加了芝加哥的选秀前大学训练营。

执行副总裁格雷格-波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)、主教练鲍勃-希尔(Bob Hill)、球员人事主管山姆-舒勒(Sam Schuler)以及球探R.C.-布福德(R.C. Buford)和埃德-曼宁(Ed Manning)周二抵达芝加哥。

“我们今年没有选秀权，但我们会继续观察人才，以防我们想在某天进行交易或签下一位自由球员，”波波维奇说道。“我们一直在讨论是否应该做些什么（比如用选秀权交易一个更低的选秀权），但我们倾向于认为，蒙蒂-威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)实际上是我们本赛季的选秀权。”

点击查看原文：Smith has surgery on foot, ankle

Smith has surgery on foot, ankle

Spurs forward Charles Smith underwent successful surgery on Tuesday to remove small bone spurs from both his right ankle and left foot, the club announced. The operation took place in New York City and was performed by Dr. William Hamilton on an outpatient basis. Smith said after the playoff loss to Utah that the bone spurs limited his mobility in the postseason.

- Brass in Chicago: The Spurs have joined the gathering of teams’ coaching and management personnel at the pre-draft collegiate camp in Chicago.

Executive vice president Gregg Popovich, Coach Bob Hill, director of player personnel Sam Schuler and scouts R.C. Buford and Ed Manning arrived in Chicago on Tuesday.

“We don’t have a draft pick this year, but we will continue to observe the talent in case we want to make a move or sign a free agent one of these days,” Popovich said. “We’ve been talking about whether or not we should do something (like trade for a lower draft pick), but we tend to think that Monty Williams is in effect our draft pick this season.”

By COMPILED FROM STAFF REPORTS, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-05, By Buck Harvey

在“虫子”之前：弗兰克-布里科夫斯基(Frank Brickowski)的故事

芝加哥 - 我在联合中心的一条走廊里，两年，也许三年没见过弗兰克-布里科夫斯基(Frank Brickowski)了。他需要打电话，向我要了25美分。作为回报，他低声说了一个他听到的笑话，一个带有所有布里科夫斯基式幽默元素的笑话。接着他必不可少地恶毒地评论了拉里-布朗(Larry Brown)，然后昂首阔步地走开了（他总是昂首阔步，即使没有理由）。

他并没有改变多少，除了结婚。也许这正是马刺队应该后悔的事情。

很久以前，在绿头发的“虫子”出现之前，马刺队拥有另一位强壮、不善交际的大前锋。他们也把他交易了。原因没有那么具体，得到的回报也更少。

布里科夫斯基今晚出现在NBA总决赛，这说明了刻薄的人的坚持。他本不应该出现在这里，在离开宾夕法尼亚州立大学15年后。但他在一年的意大利、一年的法国、一年的以色列打球。这证明了美国人对他的看法；任何国家都不应该容忍这个人超过一年。

然而，他带着更强壮的肌肉和技术回到了美国。巧合的是，超音速队在十多年前给了他第一个机会，然后是湖人队。他当时发生的事情在联盟中实际上意味着一些东西。湖人队将他与另一名球员、一个选秀权和现金一起交易到马刺队，换来迈克尔-汤普森(Mychal Thompson)。

那是1987年。当湖人队用汤普森在当年总决赛中击败凯尔特人队时，拉里-伯德(Larry Bird)说汤普森是球队获胜的关键。

布里科夫斯基默默地（对他来说）提高了水平。他利用马刺队的阵容深度来练习低位技术，他在第一年场均得到16分。当汤普森在洛杉矶逐渐淡出时，布里科夫斯基在圣安东尼奥崛起。当布朗和大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)到来时，马刺队拥有了一位可以互补的强力球员。

布里科夫斯基本可以一直留在马刺队。但纽约人布朗看到了纽约人布里科夫斯基的麻烦。布里科夫斯基总是有一些雇佣兵和享乐主义的行为。这是一种应该和罗宾逊待在一起的人吗？他们今年指示一个新秀率领球队上场——而他却阻挡了其他超音速球员。

难怪赫西-霍金斯(Hersey Hawkins)称布里科夫斯基为“一个病态的人”。

对于任何看过丹尼斯-罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)离开球队的经历的人来说，这都是小事一桩。忍受布里科夫斯基，只是意味着忍受一些厕所幽默。但在1990年的季后赛中，对阵开拓者队，布朗对此感到厌倦。他减少了布里科夫斯基的出场时间，然后在那个夏天将他交易到雄鹿队换来保罗-普雷西(Paul Pressey)。

相比之下，马刺队在罗德曼与威尔-珀杜(Will Perdue)的交易中大放异彩。普雷西现在是马刺队的助理教练，他在他第一年的比赛中表现出了一些亮点。但他的身体背叛了他，失去了使他成为一名出色防守球员的敏捷性。在他作为马刺队的第二年后，普雷西的球员生涯结束了。

布里科夫斯基将在雄鹿队效力三年。他去了黄蜂队。去年在国王队因肩伤缺席。现在他加入了西雅图超音速队，将在总决赛中与他的前马刺队友罗德曼较量。

他会做出自己的贡献。赛季后期，对阵湖人队，布里科夫斯基在只打了11分钟的情况下就犯规离场。西雅图的球迷们对他这一成就报以热烈的掌声。“太棒了，”布里科夫斯基说。

马刺队本来可以使用这种强硬的态度。还有他新学会的三分球，帮助球队击败了火箭队。也许还有他的更衣室幽默。

布里科夫斯基也对此有强烈的意见。它以一个哔声开头。

点击查看原文：Before Worm: Life of Brick

Before Worm: Life of Brick

CHICAGO - So I see Frank Brickowski for the first time in two, maybe three years. We’re here in the United Center, in a hallway. And he needs to make a phone call. He asks for a quarter. In payment, he whispers a joke he heard, one with all the appropriate elements required for Brickish humor. He follows with the obligatory nasty comment about Larry Brown, then swaggers away (he always swaggers, even when he has no right to).

So he hasn’t changed much, save for a marriage. And maybe that’s something the Spurs should regret.

Long ago - long before a green-haired Worm appeared - the Spurs had another rugged, anti-social power forward. They traded him away, too. For less tangible reasons. For less in return.

That Brickowski appears tonight in the NBA Finals says something about the perseverance of caustic people. He never should have been here, not 15 years after leaving Penn State. But he played a year in Italy, another in France, another in Israel. That proved what many Americans thought; no country should live with this man for more than a year.

Still, he came back to the U.S. with more muscle and skills. The Sonics, coincidentally, gave him his first chance more than 10 years ago, then the Lakers. What happened to him then actually meant something in the league. The Lakers traded him to the Spurs -along with another player, a draft pick and cash - for Mychal Thompson.

That was in 1987. And when the Lakers used Thompson to beat the Celtics in the Finals that year, none other than Larry Bird said Thompson was the difference.

Quietly (for him), Brick improved. He used the lottery-level Spurs to develop post moves, averaging 16 points his first year. As Thompson faded in L.A., Brickowski rose in S.A. And when Brown and David Robinson arrived, the Spurs had a complementary banger in place.

Brick could have stayed a Spur to this day. But the New Yorker in Brown looked at the New Yorker in Brickowski and saw trouble. Brick always had a dash of mercenary, hedonistic behavior. Was this the kind of guy who should hang around Robinson?them. And this year he instructed a rookie to lead the team onto the floor - while he held back the other Sonics.

No wonder Hersey Hawkins calls Brick “a sick individual.”

It’s tame stuff for anyone who watched Dennis Rodman grease his way out of town. Putting up with Brickowski only meant putting up with some toilet humor. But in the 1990 playoffs, against Portland, Brown tired of it. He took away minutes from a shocked Brickowski, then traded him that summer for Paul Pressey.

By comparison, the Spurs shined in the Rodman-Will Perdue deal. Pressey, now a Spurs assistant coach, showed some flashes his first

year. But his body turned on him, taking away the quickness that made him a wondrous defender. After his second year as a Spur, Pressey’s playing career ended.

Brick would play 3 years for Milwaukee. Went to Charlotte. Sat out last year in Sacramento with a shoulder injury. And now enters an NBA Finals in the rotation for Seattle where he will push his ex-Spur brother, Rodman.

And he will get in his pushes. Late in the season, against the Lakers, Brick fouled out in only 11 minutes. The Seattle crowd gave its goon a standing ovation for the achievement. “It was awesome,” said Brick.

The Spurs could have used such toughness. And his new-found three-pointer that helped beat Houston. And maybe even his locker-room humor.

Brick has a strong opinion on that, too. It begins with a bleep.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-06, By Buck Harvey

致敬欧洲软蛋：如何轰炸邦格斯

芝加哥——如果马刺软弱的话，那么没人可以说前马刺球员们软弱。周三发生的事证明了这一点。大卫·温盖特上场两分钟，却两次用肘击迈克尔·乔丹，吃到了两次犯规。弗兰克·布里科夫斯基也上场两分钟——那段时间里，不仅赢得了恶意犯规，还被罚出场外。丹尼斯·罗德曼接着为布里科夫斯基报仇，给了肖恩·坎普一记重击，最终让坎普六犯离场。

然后是杰克·哈利。当他与布里科夫斯基发生冲突，从替补席上破口大骂时，穿西装的人看起来像一个男人吗？

然而，尽管反软弱情绪高涨，但在决定胜负的第四节中，这一切都没有什么意义。那时——即使是乔丹著名的钢筋般的意志也无法阻挡——一个名声与圣安东尼奥任何软弱球员一样大的家伙扭转了比赛胜负。

对布里科夫斯基和罗德曼说：托尼·库科奇让所有人都闭嘴了。

这是一个情节的转变，能让人想起 1992 年奥运会。当时，托尼·库科奇被宣传为欧洲最佳球员。他本该成为克罗地亚的魔术师，尽管显然有些炒作过激。毕竟，在那年的意大利冠军球队中，他并不是 MVP。那时的 MVP 是一个名叫文尼·德尔内格罗的美国人。

没关系。当库科奇小跑着出场时，梦之队主动出击了。当查尔斯·巴克利没有撞到他时，卡尔·马龙或帕特里克·尤因就会出手。库科奇从未进行报复，而且有充分的理由。他能拿 NBA 巨星们怎么办？但从那时起，美国人认为库科奇是欧洲人的另一个捏造。

他不是另一个魔术师。但，毋庸置疑，他确实有发展，到目前为止：库科奇对公牛队的价值与罗德曼一样。

周三，罗德曼也有自己的精彩时刻，尤其是在布里科夫斯基带着一个意图出现在他面前的时候。罗德曼已经因为违反了一条技术犯规，布里科夫斯基试图激怒他，以吃到一张技术犯规。老马刺球员们知道的一件事是，布里科夫斯基会惹恼别人。

但当布里科夫斯基抓住罗德曼的手臂时，他对罗德曼和哈利说了一些话——因此被罚出场外。乔治·卡尔说，没有发生任何足以导致罚出场外的事件，而且自从这个赛季弗兰克·布里科夫斯基与大卫·罗宾逊打架以来，裁判们就没有给过他休息的机会。

卡尔说：“NBA 不会让他做任何事。”“他们对他进行了详察。太糟糕了。”

可怜的弗兰克。老马刺球员们知道的另一件事是：布里科夫斯基也会惹恼裁判。

因此，罗德曼活了下来，在试图减缓坎普的速度时，罗德曼自己也吃了五次犯规。当其他公牛球员与他一起防守——当罗恩·哈珀开始过度防守以抢断时——芝加哥证明了他们可以阻止西雅图一直以来不稳定的进攻。

但就在公牛队在第四节开始两分落后时，今年的第六人成为了第一人。他对着另一个欧洲人德特勒夫·施伦普夫，完成了一个转身暴扣。然后是一个三分球。再然后是一个四分打——同时给了坎普第五次犯规。

卡尔说：“那太棒了。”尤其是对于一个季后赛之前出手 36 次命中 3 次的球员来说。他这是第一次参加 NBA 总决赛。

库科奇在那一节中继续得到 12 分。之后，当他谈到欧洲联赛和 NBA 之间存在的差异时，他的轻声细语和软弱的嗓音与他瘦弱的外表相符。

他看起来就像许多人认为的马刺球员那样。这在周三看起来并不那么糟糕。

点击查看原文：Oh, hail the Euro-softee: How to bomb the bangers

Oh, hail the Euro-softee: How to bomb the bangers

CHICAGO - If the Spurs are soft, then no one can say the ex-Spurs are. Not after Wednesday. David Wingate played two minutes and managed to slam two elbows into Michael Jordan for two fouls. Frank Brickowski also played two minutes - and in that time earned both a flagrant foul and an ejection. Dennis Rodman took Brickowski’s shots, and gave his own to Shawn Kemp, eventually fouling Kemp out.

And then there was Jack Haley. When he got into it with Brick, cursing from his safe, permanent seat on the bench, has anyone in a suit ever looked more manly?

But for all the anti-softness, none of it made much difference in the fourth quarter, when the game was decided. Then - when even the famed steeliness of Jordan watched - a guy with as soft a reputation as any in San Antonio curled in the game-winners.

Take that, Brick and Worm. Toni with an “i” shut up everyone.

This is some switch in the storyline for anyone who remembers the 1992 Olympics. Toni Kukoc came advertised then as the best in Europe. He was supposed to be a Croatian Magic, though some hype was obviously attached. After all, on his Italian championship team that year, he hadn’t been the MVP. An American named Vinny Del Negro was.

No matter. When Kukoc trotted out, the Dream Team attacked. When Charles Barkley didn’t bump him, then Karl Malone or Patrick Ewing did. Kukoc never retaliated, and for good reason. What could he do against the NBA sharks? But from there, the Americans concluded Kukoc was another fabrication of European minds.

He isn’t another Magic. But he developed, all right, arguably to this point: Kukoc is every bit as valuable to these Bulls as Rodman.

Rodman had his moments Wednesday, too, especially when Brickowski came at him early with only one intent. With Worm already owning one technical foul, Brick tried to aggravate for another. One thing the old Spurs know, Brick can irritate.

But when Brickowski locked arms with Rodman, he said a few things to Rodman and Haley - and got tossed for it. George Karl said nothing happened to warrant an ejection, and that the refs haven’t given Brickowski a break ever since he got in a fight with David Robinson this season.

“The NBA won’t let him do anything,” Karl said. “They have a magnifying glass on him. It’s awful.”

Poor Frank. Another thing the old Spurs know: Brickowski irritates refs, too.

So Rodman survived that, picking up his own five fouls trying to slow Kemp. And when the other Bulls played defense next to him - when Ron Harper began to overplay for steals - Chicago showed it can stop what has always been an iffy Seattle offense.

But the Bulls were still in a two-point game to begin the fourth period when the sixth-man of the year became No. 1. He posted up another European, Detlef Schrempf, for a spin and dunk. Followed that with a three-pointer. Followed that with a four-point play - while also landing a fifth foul on Kemp.

“That was huge,” said Karl. Especially for a guy who previously in the playoffs had been 3 for 36. Who was in his first NBA Finals ever.

Kukoc went on to score 12 points in the period. And afterward, when he talked about the difference between the European leagues and the NBA, his soft accent and soft voice fit his skinny features.

He looked like what so many think the Spurs are. Which didn’t look so awful Wednesday.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-07, By Susan Yerkes

纯粹的圣安东尼奥：大卫，马刺概括了一切

纯粹的圣安东尼奥或许是阿拉莫，或许是河滨步道。上个月在西班牙和法国，我自豪地告诉每个人我来自圣安东尼奥。

“河滨步道，”我会说。“阿拉莫。”许多人知道它们。

一位六十多岁的英国骨科医生热情地回忆起应邀来到这里，当时是德克萨斯大学健康科学中心的顶级医生邀请他来的。

“嗯，河滨步道，”他说。然后他眉开眼笑：“但我们真的很喜欢他带我们去墨西哥 - 去男孩镇。” 叹息。

但无论我去哪里，大多数知道圣安东尼奥的人都知道两件事：“大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)”。 以及 “马刺”。

如果我们的名声来自于一个不能离开的东西，那该多好啊。

但当我向海军上将提起这个现象时，他露出了灿烂的笑容。

“我想我必须留下来，”他说。

纯粹的圣安东尼奥是一回事。但马刺圣安东尼奥则是另一回事。

火焰之球

那是查尔斯-巴克利(Charles Barkley) 在周三为大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson) 在雷德和查琳-麦克康姆斯(Red and Charline McCombs) 家举办的派对停车吗？

好吧，那是一个真人大小的剪影。

“我喜欢查尔斯-巴克利(Charles Barkley),” 查琳承认。“我和那个剪影玩得很开心。我把它放在雷德洗澡前放在淋浴间，让他保持警觉。”

大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson) 也喜欢巴克利做代客泊车员的想法。

即使麦克康姆斯家里的所有电视（很多）都调到公牛队对阵超音速队的季后赛，大卫还是放松而快乐，迎接了他在九月高尔夫球锦标赛的支持者。

一个火焰之球点缀着城里最热的邀请 - 一个燃烧的高尔夫球，类似于奥运火炬。

1996 年邻里公开赛明星高尔夫球锦标赛和晚宴的主题是奥运会和大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson) 的梦之队角色。

周三的派对向高额捐款的朋友们致敬。夏洛特和拉里-弗兰克林(Larry Franklin)，莎拉-哈特(Sarah Harte)，《达拉斯》明星苏珊-霍华德(Susan Howard)，里根-休斯顿(Reagan Houston)，乔-皮尔斯博士(Joe Pierce) 和艾琳内塔-皮尔斯(Aaronetta Pierce)，卢和凯-福克斯(Kye Fox) 以及吉姆

和黛安-卡汉(Diane Kahan) 和大卫美丽动人的妈妈弗雷达(Freda) 都是这个舒适人群中的一员。

大卫和基金会负责人玛丽-哈维尔(Mary Havel) 描述了他们的项目和锦标赛。（详情请致电 615-3700）查尔斯爵士本人，

埃文德-霍利菲尔德(Evander Holyfield)，A.C. 格林(A.C. Green)，托尼-希尔(Tony Hill) 和珀西-霍金斯(Percy Hawkins) 已经报名参加。

当客人们对罗宾逊一家表达衷心的感谢时，卢-福克斯(Lou Fox) 突然有了一个主意。

“当城市吞并多米尼昂时，大卫，”他建议说，“你应该竞选市长。你负担得起。”

谁会不投他一票呢？

三部曲

快讯：大卫和瓦莱丽-罗宾逊(Valerie Robinson) 将在 10 月迎来他们的第三个孩子。周二，他们得知这是他们的第三个男孩。

“我们一直在考虑给它取名为布鲁克(Brooke),” 大卫说。是时候重新考虑了。凯尔(Kyle) 和克里斯蒂安(Christian) 现在也在名单上。

我想他们得继续努力才能生个女孩。干杯！

点击查看原文：Pure S.A.: David, Spurs sum it up

Pure S.A.: David, Spurs sum it up

Pure San Antonio may be the Alamo. May be the River Walk. In Spain and France last month, I proudly told everyone I was from San Antonio.

“The River Walk,” I’d say. “The Alamo.” Many knew of them.

One 60-ish British orthopedic doc warmly recalled coming here at the invitation of a top doc at UT’s Health Science Center.

“Umm, the River Walk,” he said. Then he beamed : “But we really liked it when he took us to Mexico - to Boys Town.” Sigh.

But wherever I went, the vast majority of folks who knew about S.A. knew two things: “David Robinson.” And “Spurs.”

It would be nice to think our fame was vested in a thing that could not move away.

But when I mentioned the phenom to the Admiral, he broke into a wide grin.

“I guess I’ve got to stay,” he said.

Pure San Antonio is one thing. But Spur San Antonio is somethin’ else.

Ball of Fire

Was that Charles Barkley parking cars for a David Robinson party at Red and Charline McCombs’ place Wednesday?

Well, it was a life-size cutout.

“I love Charles Barkley,” Charline confessed. “And I have so much fun with that cutout. I’ve put it in the shower stall before Red gets in, to keep him on his toes.”

David Robinson, too, liked the idea of Barkley as valet parker.

Even with every TV ( lots ) in the McCombs household tuned to the Bulls-Sonics playoff game, Big Dave was relaxed and happy, greeting supporters of his September golf tourney.

A Ball of Fire graces the hottest invite in town - a flaming golf ball, resembling the Olympic torch.

Theme of the '96 Neighborhood Open Celeb Golf tourney and gala is the Olympics and Robinson’s Dream Team role.

The Wednesday bash saluted high-dollar friends. Charlotte and Larry Franklin, Sarah Harte, “Dallas” star Susan Howard, Reagan Houston, Dr. Joe and Aaronetta Pierce, Lou and Kye Fox and Jim

and Diane Kahan and David’s gorgeous mom, Freda, were among the cozy crowd.

David and foundation chief Mary Havel described their projects and the tournament. (Call 615-3700 for info.) Sir Charles himself,

Evander Holyfield, A.C. Green, Tony Hill and Percy Hawkins already are signed up.

As guests gave heartfelt testimonials to the Robinsons, Lou Fox had a brainstorm.

“When the city annexes the Dominion, David,” he suggested, “you should run for mayor. You could afford it.”

And who wouldn’t vote for him?

Triple play

Flash: David and Valerie Robinson are expecting a third babe in October. Tuesday, they learned it’s their third boy.

“We’d been thinking of naming it Brooke,” David said. Time to re-think. Kyle and Christian are now on the list.

Guess they’ll have to keep trying for a girl. Cheers!

By Susan Yerkes, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-08, By Charlotte-Anne Lucas Business of Sports

马刺队聘请戈麦斯提升公众形象

圣安东尼奥马刺队最新聘请的人员，几乎从未打过一场篮球，但现在预计将超越大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)。当然，这是指场外。

莱奥-戈麦斯(Leo Gomez)的官方职位是社区和政府关系副总裁。

但你可以称呼他为公共控球后卫。

戈麦斯从上周一上任，主要负责让圣安东尼奥相信，马刺队不仅仅是一家娱乐公司，它还是一个值得留在城里的优秀企业公民。

私下里，马刺队的管理层和部分老板承认，球队多年来在公关方面做得不好。现在，由于球队正努力争取公众帮助资助一座新的球馆，形象方面的任何不足都会成为政治上的障碍。

这支球队似乎已经选中了这份工作的最佳人选。

尽管戈麦斯还很年轻——上个月他才刚满31岁——他的履历中却包括在奥斯汀担任大圣安东尼奥商会的游说者，以及在圣安东尼奥西班牙裔商会担任执行董事的几年时间。

他一直被付钱去说服，并且已经与那些对马刺队至关重要的决策者建立了关系。

戈麦斯上周参加了他的第一次马刺队董事会会议，大多数老板他都认识——他们分别是H.B. Zachry、Valero Energy、SBC Communications和Kinetic Concepts等公司的领头人。

戈麦斯在会议结束后表示：“我从（会议）中得到的结论是，这是一群想要照顾圣安东尼奥马刺队，并且想要确保我们永远拥有圣安东尼奥马刺队的人。”

戈麦斯没有透露时间范围，但考虑到球队预计下赛季将会亏损，马刺队似乎有一年的时间来扭转局面，并说服选民和民选官员，球队对整个社区都有价值。

戈麦斯表示，球队毫无疑问需要圣安东尼奥和球迷的支持。

他说：“但我坚信，这是双向的。在请求球迷的支持时，我们也需要展示球队为圣安东尼奥做了些什么。”

戈麦斯表示，首先，我们将看到更多马刺队吉祥物土狼、银色舞者和队员的个人亮相。

他说：“我们越能将社区与（马刺队代表）之间的关系个性化，就越好。”

但这只是锦上添花。

戈麦斯毕业于德克萨斯大学LBJ公共政策学院，他说球队还将发展其企业公民意识。

他说：“这意味着我们对这座城市的福祉有着正当的兴趣。”

“我们关心教育问题，我们关心住房问题，我们关心低收入问题，我们关心未来的领导人。”

“我们将在这些领域产生一些影响。”他预测道。

值得称赞的是，马刺队不必从头开始。

在过去几年里，马刺队与其他机构合作，在阿拉莫穹顶以东为低收入家庭建造新的房屋，并且通过马刺基金会向各种事业捐赠了数十万美元。

戈麦斯说：“我们是一家大公司，我们确实应该承担一定程度的责任，我们将会为此努力。”

“我们需要说服人们，我们是一个负责任的企业公民，延续了圣安东尼奥公司的传统。”

点击查看原文：Spurs send Gomez out to refine public image

Spurs send Gomez out to refine public image

The San Antonio Spurs’ newest hire is a guy who has barely ever played a pick-up game of basketball, but is now expected to outscore David Robinson. Off the court, that is.

Leo Gomez’s official title is vice president for community and government relations.

But just call him public point guard.

Gomez, who started last Monday, is largely responsible for convincing San Antonio that the Spurs franchise isn’t just entertainment -it’s a good corporate citizen worth keeping in town.

Privately, Spurs top management and some owners admit that the team has done a shabby job of public relations over the years. Any shortcomings on the image front become a political handicap now that the franchise is agitating for the public to help finance a new arena.

The team would appear to have landed the No. 1 draft choice for the job.

Despite his youth - Gomez just turned 31 last month - his resume includes a stint as the Austin lobbyist for the Greater San Antonio

Chamber of Commerce, and a few years as executive director of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

He’s been paid to persuade, and has more than rubbed elbows with the decision-makers whose support will be critical for the Spurs.

Gomez went to his first Spurs board meeting last week and didn’t have to be introduced to most of the owners - chieftans of such companies as H.B. Zachry, Valero Energy, SBC Communications and Kinetic Concepts.

“I came away (from the meeting) believing that this is a group of folks who want to take care of the San Antonio Spurs and who want to make sure we always have the San Antonio Spurs,” Gomez said after the meeting.

Gomez didn’t say what the time frame is, but with the team projecting to lose money next season, it seems likely that the Spurs have about a year to turn the tide and convince voters and elected officials that the franchise has a value to the whole community.

There’s no question the team needs the support of San Antonio and the support of fans, Gomez said.

“But I’m a firm believer that it’s a two-way street,” he said. “In asking for the support of fans, we also need to show what the team does for San Antonio.”

For starters, we’re liable to see a whole lot more of the Spurs Coyote mascot, the Silver Dancers and personal appearances by team members, Gomez said.

“The more we can personalize the relationship between our community and those (Spurs representatives), the better,” he said.

But that’s just the icing, if you will.

Gomez, a graduate of the University of Texas’ LBJ School of Public Policy, says the team will also be developing its corporate citizenship.

“That means we have a legitimate interest in the well-being of this city,” he said.

"We care about education issues, we care about housing issues, we care about low-income issues and we care about future leaders.

“We will be having some effect in those areas,” he predicted.

To the Spurs’ credit, the team won’t have to start from scratch.

In the past couple of years, the Spurs have teamed up with other agencies to build new homes east of the Alamodome for low-income families and the team has funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to various causes through the Spurs Foundation.

“We’re a big business,” Gomez said. “We do have a certain level of responsibility we should carry on, and we’re going to work on that.”

“We need to convince people that we’re a responsible corporate citizen in the tradition of San Antonio companies.”

By Charlotte-Anne Lucas Business of Sports, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-08, By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer

马刺队有意聘请里弗斯担任助理教练

马刺队希望多克-里弗斯(Doc Rivers)回归。但这一次，他们希望他填补大卫-考文斯(Dave Cowens)转投夏洛特担任主教练后留下的助理教练空缺。

马刺队执行副总裁格雷格-波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)和主教练鲍勃-希尔(Bob Hill)一直在与里弗斯谈话，但这位老牌后卫也受到了密尔沃基雄鹿队和电视网TNT的追求。

“我们向他提供了担任助理教练的机会，”波波维奇周五表示。“他说他会考虑一下，但他还有其他选择。”

“他对所有这些关注感到非常荣幸，”里弗斯的经纪人史蒂夫-考夫曼(Steve Kauffman)说。“他非常受欢迎。作为朋友，我实际上建议他接受电视台的工作。这是一个很好的机会，而且压力肯定要小得多。”

里弗斯已经接受了TNT的采访，据报道，他很乐意填补丹尼-安吉(Danny Ainge)留下的空缺。安吉离开电视台加入了太阳队教练组。密尔沃基已经向里弗斯提供了一个管理层职位。

里弗斯表示，他可能不会再打球了。

考夫曼表示，他预计此事将在未来一两周内得到解决。

“密尔沃基仍然在考虑之中，他们希望尽快做决定，因为他们希望在选秀大会之前让多克到位，”考夫曼说。“现在一切都处于不确定的状态。”

点击查看原文：Spurs eye Rivers as assistant coach

Spurs eye Rivers as assistant coach

The Spurs want Doc Rivers back. But this time they’d like him to fill the assistant coaching slot left open when Dave Cowens moved to shoulder the head coaching duties in Charlotte.

Spurs executive vice president Gregg Popovich and Coach Bob Hill have been talking with Rivers, but the veteran guard also is being pursued by the Milwaukee Bucks and the television network TNT.

“We made the option of becoming an assistant coach available to him,” Popovich said Friday. “He says he will consider it but he has several ways to go.”

“He’s very flattered by all this interest,” said Rivers’ agent Steve Kauffman. “He’s highly coveted. As a friend, I’ve actually recommended he take the television position. It’s a great opportunity and there’s certainly far less stress.”

Rivers has been interviewed by TNT and reportedly is welcome to fill the vacancy left by Danny Ainge. Ainge left television to join

the Suns’ coaching staff. Milwaukee has offered Rivers a front-office position.

Rivers has indicated he probably will not play again.

Kauffman said he expected matters to be resolved within a week or two.

“Milwaukee is still in the picture and they would want to do something pretty quick because they want Doc in place before the draft,” Kauffman said. “Right now everything is in a state of flux.”

By Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-08, By Buck Harvey

金钱游戏：罗德曼赢了什么？

芝加哥 - 公牛队老板杰瑞-莱恩斯多夫(Jerry Reinsdorf)伸手到他办公桌旁的垃圾桶里，拿出一张纸。他希望他的访客能看到这张纸。这是一张来自丹尼斯-罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)的便条，实际上是两人之间第一次交流。便条上写着：“尊敬的莱恩斯多夫先生，我想要每年1000万美元。”

大约两周前，这件事发生的时候，罗德曼能否得到10美分都还是个未知数。在本赛季，罗德曼试图表现得最好，但他因停赛缺席了6场比赛，另外因可疑的伤病缺席了12场比赛。

但如果一个12分钟的比赛可以赢得一份新合同，那么罗德曼在周五就做到了。在一场充满失误的比赛中——这意味着有篮板球可抢——罗德曼将他的扎染发型塞到篮筐下，几乎锁定了系列赛的胜利。

如果莱恩斯多夫喜欢娱乐，那么罗德曼也找到了时间与他的敌人乔治-卡尔(George Karl)斗嘴，并跳进了一堆拉拉队员的怀抱中。

罗德曼可能会获得另一份合同，这并不令人惊讶。毕竟，如果他带领马刺队走到了现在，他可能仍然在圣安东尼奥。胜利可以弥补很多事情。

但即使罗德曼在尼克斯和魔术队中穿梭——即使菲尔-杰克逊(Phil Jackson)呼吁罗德曼应该得到一份多年合同——芝加哥还是害怕这种可能性。一位当地专栏作家在周五写道，罗德曼仍然可能“用可怕的崩溃破坏这个最美好的赛季”。

也许这就是卡尔在称罗德曼为“蠢货”以及更难听的词时所想。卡尔讨厌他的假摔和他的态度。“对他所做的一切给予他任何认可都是愚蠢的，”卡尔说道。

正如老马刺队球迷所知，卡尔通过犯规留在ABA联盟，在他的职业生涯中他可能假摔过一两次。就态度而言，卡尔可能是他那个时代的罗德曼。

这句话是褒义的。卡尔和罗德曼都可能疯狂，但那是一种坚韧的疯狂。但这对圣安东尼奥人来说已经是旧闻了。即使是在去年的湖人队系列赛中，马刺队停赛罗德曼一场比赛，他也创造了个人季后赛单场最高篮板球纪录，获得了22个篮板球。

周五他只差两个篮板球就打破了这个纪录。但当罗德曼在1974年后的时代创造了NBA季后赛进攻篮板球纪录时，他似乎接管了比赛。这从卡尔的口中得到了证实。“毫无疑问，他今晚是MVP，”卡尔说道。“给他应得的尊重……他是一个了不起的篮板球手。”

他让人惊讶的部分原因是他和肖恩-坎普(Shawn Kemp)都没有卡位。他们都盯住球，坎普的数据也证明了这一点。他自己获得了8个进攻篮板球。

但罗德曼做得更多。他曾经追逐一个似乎已经无望的球，跳出界外抢篮板球——被轻微推了一下犯规。他落在了“爱公牛队”的阵营中，并恢复了冷静，罚进了两个罚球。

几秒钟后，他又抢下了斯科蒂-皮蓬(Scottie Pippen)的失误。当罗恩-哈珀(Ron Harper)内线突破，萨姆-帕金斯(Sam Perkins)将他摔倒并被判罚犯规，这似乎是对挫折的强烈反应。然后，当超音速队陷入困境时，罗德曼抽空与卡尔交谈。

这本来就足够了，迈克尔-乔丹(Michael Jordan)得到了29分。但当公牛队在最后6分钟没有得分时，芝加哥需要更多。当皮蓬在最后几秒钟罚丢两个罚球时，罗德曼抢下了皮蓬的失误。与帕金斯跳了三次。赢得了跳球。被犯规。

领先了3分，需要罚进一个球来确保胜利，罗德曼再次震惊了众人。他投进了球。

有些人认为这是关键时刻。有些人认为这是金钱。

点击查看原文：Money game: Did Rodman win something?

Money game: Did Rodman win something?

CHICAGO - Jerry Reinsdorf, the Bulls’ owner, reached into his garbage can next to his desk and pulled out a piece of paper. He wanted his visitor to see this. It was a note from Dennis Rodman, virtually the first discourse between the two. The note said: “Dear Mr. Reinsdorf, I want $10 million a year.”

That was about two weeks ago, and even then it seemed iffy whether Rodman would get 10 cents. During a season when Rodman tried to be on his best behavior, he missed six games to suspension and another 12 to a suspect injury.

But if one 12-minute quarter can earn a new contract, then Rodman got that Friday. In a game of misses - meaning there were rebounds to be had - Rodman stuck his tie-dye 'do under the rim and all but clinched the series.

And if Reinsdorf likes entertainment, well, Rodman also found time to talk trash with his enemy, George Karl, and leap into a pile of cheerleaders.

That Rodman will likely earn another contract shouldn’t be that surprising. After all, if he had taken the Spurs this far, he would probably still be in San Antonio. Winning makes up for a lot of things.

But even as Rodman kicked around the Knicks and Magic -even as Phil Jackson campaigned that Rodman deserved a multiyear deal - Chicago feared the possibilities. A columnist here wrote about that Friday, that Rodman could still “sabotage the dreamiest of seasons with a ghastly implosion.”

Maybe that’s what Karl was playing on when he called Rodman “a jackass,” then worse. Karl hated his flops and his attitude. “It’s silly to give him any credibility for what he does,” Karl said.

As old Spurs fans know, Karl stayed in the ABA by taking charges, and he might have flopped once or twice in his career. And as far as attitude goes, Karl might have been the Rodman of his day.

That’s meant in a good way. Karl and Rodman can be crazed, but it’s a tough craze. But that’s old news to San Antonians. Even during the Lakers series last year, when the Spurs suspended Rodman for a game, he set his personal one-game playoff best with 22 boards.

He missed that by only two Friday. But when Rodman tied an NBA playoff record for offensive rebounds in the post-1974 era, it seemed as if he took over. Proof of that comes from Karl himself. “No question he was MVP tonight,” said Karl. “Give him his due . . . he’s an amazing rebounder.”

He amazed partly because neither he nor Shawn Kemp box out. Both zero on the ball, and Kemp’s stats prove that, too. He ended with eight offensive rebounds himself.

But Rodman did more. He once chased a seemingly lost cause, leaping out of bounds for a rebound - drawing a slight push for a foul. He landed in the land of the Lovabulls, and regained his composure enough to make both free throws.

Seconds later, he rebounded a Scottie Pippen miss. And when Ron Harper went inside and Sam Perkins threw him down for a flagrant foul, it seemed to be a flagrant reaction of frustration. Then, when the Sonics reeling, Rodman took time to talk to Karl.

That should have been enough, what with Michael Jordan scoring 29. But when the Bulls didn’t get a basket the final six minutes, Chicago needed more. When Pippen missed two free throws in the final seconds, Rodman tied up the miss. Jumped three times with Perkins. Won the tip. Got fouled.

And up by three, needing to make one to secure the game, Rodman shocked again. He swished.

Some see it as clutch. Some see it as money.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-09, By Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer

站在十字路口 - 季后赛失利后，NBA专家剖析罗宾逊的困境

5月16日晚上，从盐湖城飞往圣安东尼奥的旅程是马刺队球员多克-里弗斯(Doc Rivers)不愿回忆的经历。在季后赛的大部分时间里，他都因背伤缺阵，回到家后，他为无法帮助马刺队在西部半决赛中战胜犹他爵士而感到沮丧。

但这并不是这次飞行中最糟糕的部分。除了要处理自己的情绪外，里弗斯还很不走运地坐在马刺队中最受失利影响的球员——中锋大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)的对面。

里弗斯表示，罗宾逊对失利感到非常难过，这位老将后卫知道他的队友在接下来的日子里将会承受更多的痛苦。

“我看着他说，我不知道我是否曾经对队友或任何人有如此强烈的负面情绪，”里弗斯说。“我坐在那里对自己说，‘你知道他会受到攻击的。’”

而事实证明，里弗斯的预言在很大程度上是正确的。一些马刺队越来越焦躁不安的球迷将罗宾逊视为今年季后赛失利的替罪羊。其他人则批评了整个球队，但将大部分尖刻言论留给了他们认为缺乏必要的强度和渴望带领球队赢得 NBA 总冠军的球员。

“我敢打赌他会受到攻击，”里弗斯最近在被告知罗宾逊确实被一些球迷“攻击”时说。“他正处于职业生涯的十字路口。我认为今年对他来说是退步的一年。但有时候你需要退一步，才能前进两步。”

尽管罗宾逊在常规赛中再次展现出非凡的表现，但他对阵犹他的季后赛挣扎促使许多球迷和观察家将本赛季视为失败。在对阵爵士的六场第二轮比赛中，罗宾逊场均得到 19.3 分、9 个篮板和 2.5 次盖帽。与他常规赛场均 25 分、12.2 个篮板和 3.3 次盖帽相比，这些数据是低于平均水平的。

“这个家伙（罗宾逊）已经取得了巨大的成就，但最终他将根据马刺队在季后赛中的最终结果来评判，”明尼苏达森林狼篮球运营副总裁凯文-麦克海尔(Kevin McHale)说。“这是一个沉重的负担，但我认为他是一位足够优秀的球员，能够接受这一点。”

在七个 NBA 赛季和连续两个令人沮丧的季后赛出局表现之后，许多球迷似乎已经放弃了罗宾逊能够像迈克尔-乔丹(Michael Jordan)、魔术师-约翰逊(Magic Johnson)或拉里-伯德(Larry Bird)那样成为一名主宰级球员的希望。

那些球迷说，罗宾逊是一位天赋异禀的运动员，他在球场上和场下都表现出杰出的行为，这使他成为职业体育界最优秀的榜样之一，如果不是最优秀的榜样。然后，他们很快补充说，他并不是像上述传奇人物一样的赢家至上的超级巨星，而且可能永远不会成为。

在罗宾逊的七个 NBA 赛季中，马刺队仅次于芝加哥，常规赛胜利场数位居第二（414 场对 383 场），平均每个赛季赢 54.7 场。但罗宾逊出战的季后赛比赛中，马刺队的战绩仅为 27 胜 26 负。

那些了解篮球和罗宾逊的人对这位 7 英尺 1 英寸高的海军毕业生有不同的看法，而这些看法并不总是与球迷的看法一致。

最近几周，各路 NBA 球员和教练（过去和现在）接受了关于罗宾逊的采访。虽然有些人同意罗宾逊批评者提出的观点，但其他人认为围绕着马刺队核心人物有很多误解。

例如，有人认为赢得冠军对罗宾逊来说并不重要。里弗斯认为，事实并非如此。

“我看到了大卫在犹他比赛后的痛苦，”里弗斯说。“他渴望得到它（冠军），就像迈克尔-乔丹一样。这就是人们对大卫的误解。”

然而，里弗斯坚信，罗宾逊还没有明白成为像乔丹或哈基姆-奥拉朱旺(Hakeem Olajuwon)那样的赢家需要什么。

“我只是希望他能明白，或者开始明白需要付出什么，”里弗斯说。“我认为奥拉朱旺了解达到那种水平有多痛，以及你需要走出舒适区才能做到这一点。得到 20 分和 10 个篮板是一回事。但在某些夜晚，你必须得到 50 分或 25 个篮板，或者你可能必须连续三个晚上做到这一点，或者你可能必须把对手击倒五次。奥拉朱旺知道这一点。”

里弗斯（一名不受限制的自由球员）也嘲笑了一种观点，即好人不能赢球。有些人认为罗宾逊“太善良”，不适合成为冠军机器的核心。

“好人可以赢，”里弗斯说。“我认为迈克尔-乔丹是一个好人。但他是一个战士。我认为大卫正在学习这一点。我认为他需要明白，成为榜样是关于赢球的。如果他没有赢得（冠军），他可能会失去孩子们。”

乔丹在最近接受一家全国性出版物的采访时证实了里弗斯的评价。乔丹谈到了底特律活塞的冠军球队如何改变了他对比赛的看法。

“我希望取得成功，如果可以的话，用一种好的方式，”乔丹说。“但我从底特律学到，为了赢得比赛，你必须愿意在球场上全力以赴地攻击对手。”

像许多罗宾逊的批评者一样，里弗斯认为罗宾逊必须从他强壮的身体中挖掘出更多的能量。

“大卫拥有工具，”里弗斯说。“显然，他可以完善他的勾手或低位进攻，但我认为从现在开始，这将来自内心的东西。当然，他可以努力改进，每个人都可以。但在某个时刻，你的天赋只能带你走那么远，然后就取决于你内心的东西。我指的是心脏。”

在职业联赛中，没有人比前马刺队助理教练戴夫-考文斯(Dave Cowens)更努力地帮助罗宾逊发挥他的潜力。许多观察家将罗宾逊改进的脚步和低位技术归功于考文斯的指导。

在被任命为夏洛特黄蜂队主教练后的第二天，考文斯在接受采访时为罗宾逊的季后赛表现辩护。但考文斯也暗示，这位 1995 年的 MVP 可以从增加一些休赛期训练中获益。

“对他来说，花一些高质量的时间专注于他认为应该改进的东西，而不是其他人认为他应该改进的东西，这将不会有任何坏处，”考文斯说。“我将其比作在学校里，老师让你做一些额外的阅读。如果你因为有人告诉你去做而做，那么这样做就没有那么有帮助。如果你自己决定去做，那么这样做更有帮助。”

考文斯认为，不应将马刺队在季后赛中对阵犹他的尴尬失利，或者球队在 1995 年西部决赛中输给休斯顿火箭队的失利归咎于罗宾逊。

“公平地说，如果我们周围有更多天赋的球员，对他来说会更容易，”考文斯说，说话的方式仿佛他仍然是马刺队的一员。“我认为有时当事情出错时，我们倾向于把所有责任都推到他身上。

“看看奥兰多和沙奎尔-奥尼尔(Shaquille O’Neal)。他身边有佩尼-哈达威(Penny Hardaway)，而我们没有像他那样的人。我们有（前锋）肖恩(Sean Elliott)，但我不知道肖恩是否排名前三位（小前锋）球员。肖恩是一位优秀的球员，别误会我的意思。但他不像哈达威。”

另一位名人堂中锋同意考文斯的观点。

“我认为，由于大卫的身份，他在季后赛中的表现被夸大了，”奈特-瑟蒙德(Nate Thurmond)说。他在 1960 年代效力于旧金山勇士队。“在我看来，马刺队中还有其他一些球员在季后赛中的表现不如常规赛，却没有人提及。

“当谈到季后赛时，有时体育记者和公众想要把所有责任都推到中锋身上。但这是整个球队需要做的事情。如果每个人都表现不佳，那么你的核心球员也会表现不佳。维尔特-张伯伦(Wilt Chamberlain)在他效力于费城时承担了一些责任，而（波士顿的）比尔-拉塞尔(Bill Russell)在 1960 年代的大部分时间里都拥有更好的球员。”

麦克海尔说：“篮球不是一项个人运动；它是一项团队运动。我从未相信你能将失败归咎于一个人。”

前马刺队总经理兼教练鲍勃-巴斯(Bob Bass)非常了解罗宾逊需要一支强大的支持阵容。

“我们大约有四个赛季都保持着相同的首发阵容，”巴斯说，指的是罗宾逊、艾略特、特里-卡明斯(Terry Cummings)、威利-安德森(Willie Anderson)和罗德-斯特里克兰(Rod Strickland)的阵容。“这是一个相当不错的核心。我认为这支球队配合得很好。但随后威利和特里都遭受了重伤，而且伤势很严重，这改变了一切。”

巴斯现在是夏洛特黄蜂队篮球运营副总裁，他还没有放弃罗宾逊带领马刺队赢得冠军的希望。

“我仍然认为，也许我和其他人不同，大卫会在某个时候赢得冠军，”巴斯说。“他拥有的东西太多了。在我看来，那扇窗户还没有关闭。”

另一位认为球迷应该不再针对罗宾逊的前马刺队教练是拉里-布朗(Larry Brown)。

布朗是罗宾逊的第一位职业教练，他将这位前学生排在篮球界前三名或前五名球员之列。

“而且他正在变得越来越好，”布朗说。“就篮球而言，他仍然是一个年轻人。如果你问联盟中的许多人，你会和谁一起组建一支球队，我会说大卫、（奥兰多的）沙奎尔（奥尼尔）和（底特律的）格兰特-希尔(Grant Hill)将是前三名，而且我不会按顺序排列他们。

“大卫真的和联盟中的任何球员一样优秀，并且和联盟中的任何球员一样受人尊敬。我知道这一点，因为我与他在一起的经历以及我学到的东西，我非常乐意再次执教这位球员。我随时都会冒险选择他。他总是会让你处于赢得冠军的位置。”

布朗认为，马刺队将在下个赛季再次成为 NBA 冠军的有力争夺者。

“当我还在那里的时候，我感到很失望，因为我们没有合适的阵容来支持大卫，来最大限度地发挥他的才能，”布朗说。“但我认为波波维奇（马刺队总经理格雷格-波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)）一直在努力解决这个问题。”

成为一名伟大的球员并不一定意味着你将在职业生涯早期就赢得冠军。奥拉朱旺直到他的第十个赛季才赢得他的第一个冠军。张伯伦的第一个冠军是在他的第八个赛季获得的。杰里-韦斯特(Jerry West)直到他的第十二个赛季才赢得他的第一个冠军。

但是罗宾逊的批评者指出了他最近的季后赛表现，证明他没有赢得冠军的能力。

考文斯不相信丹尼斯-罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)声称罗宾逊在关键比赛中会紧张。这位前波士顿凯尔特人队巨星说，马刺队季后赛对手的策略与罗宾逊的一些季后赛挣扎有很大关系。

“我认为，发生的事情是，每个人都能够从防守的角度真正专注于他，我认为他们阻止了他的一些进攻，他感到沮丧，”考文斯说。“我也认为，你在休赛期没有努力改进的东西在季后赛中会变得更加明显。”

其他人认为罗宾逊打错了位置，而且这种情况在季后赛中表现得更加明显。

“他不是一名真正意义上的中锋，”西雅图替补球员弗兰克-布里科夫斯基(Frank Brickowski)说。他曾在罗宾逊的新秀赛季与马刺队一起效力。“如果你有能力让他打大前锋，在那里他能做一些他最擅长的事情，比如从外线投篮和奔跑，那么他会发挥出最佳水平。”

考文斯也对人们称罗宾逊为“软弱的球员”感到恼火。

“我认为他打了许多分钟，他一直在里面对抗，他承受了许多惩罚，他也给了对手惩罚，”考文斯说。“我认为他一点也不软弱。”

尽管如此，人们仍然认为罗宾逊不喜欢在禁区内拼抢。

在与犹他队的系列赛第五场比赛的前一天，马刺队的训练中，一位《今日美国报》的专栏作家询问了控球后卫艾弗里-约翰逊(Avery Johnson)关于罗宾逊被认为是“软弱的球员”的声誉。约翰逊的回答毫无疑问地表明，他认为海军上将应该在休赛期花更多时间打比赛。

“多年来，媒体说我没有投篮，说我不能打半场进攻，”约翰逊说。“我没有把它看作是被人欺负，而是把它看作是事实，然后我努力去做了一些改变。现在我有投篮了，没有人再谈论我不能打半场进攻。”

西雅图替补后卫大卫-温盖特(David Wingate)还记得罗宾逊展现出很多韧性的时刻。

“如果你还记得他新秀赛季对阵波特兰队的季后赛系列赛，他会和（开拓者队大前锋）巴克-威廉姆斯(Buck Williams)发生争执，”温盖特说。他曾在该系列赛中效力于马刺队，是罗宾逊的队友。“我现在观察他，我认为他需要更多那种凶狠的劲头。当他拥有那种激情时，他似乎可以做任何他想做的事情。”

人们对罗宾逊的领导能力的怀疑也损害了他的声誉。

考文斯认为，罗宾逊永远不会成长为像乔丹或魔术师那样的领导者。

“我认为他试图以他了解的方式领导，我不确定这是否总是最有效的方式，”考文斯说。“他是一个士兵。他会照你说的做，这很好，而且他很乐意接受指导。”

当被问及他是否认为罗宾逊有一天会成为一个更加情绪化的球员时，考文斯说：“每个人都有自己的风格，而且这些风格在你的整个职业生涯中都会保持一致。”

而对于那些认为罗宾逊有责任为圣安东尼奥赢得冠军的马刺队球迷来说，这真是一个可怕的想法。

点击查看原文：Hitting the Crossroads -After playoff failure, NBA experts dissect Robinson's troubles

Hitting the Crossroads -After playoff failure, NBA experts dissect Robinson’s troubles

Flying from Salt Lake City to San Antonio on the night of May 16 was an experience the Spurs’ Doc Rivers would rather forget. A back injury sidelined him during most of the playoffs, and he returned home saddened by his inability to help the Spurs overcome the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals.

But that wasn’t the worst part of the flight. In addition to dealing with his own feelings, Rivers had the misfortune of sitting across from the Spur affected most by the defeat - center David Robinson.

Rivers said Robinson took the defeat hard, and the veteran guard knew his teammate was in for more grief in the coming days.

“I looked at him and I don’t know if I have felt that bad for a teammate or anybody in my life,” Rivers said. "I was sitting there saying to myself, `You know he is going to get killed.’ "

And, for the most part, Rivers’ prediction was on target. Some of the Spurs’ increasingly restless fans have singled out Robinson as the scapegoat for this year’s playoff disappointment. Others knocked the whole team, but saved most of their barbs for a player they believe lacks the necessary intensity and desire to lead his team to an NBA championship.

“I bet he is,” Rivers said when told recently that Robinson was indeed getting “killed” by some fans. “He’s at a crossroads in his career. I thought this year was a step back for him. But sometimes you take a step back to take two steps forward.”

Despite another brilliant regular-season showing, Robinson’s playoff struggles against Utah prompted many fans and observers to tag the season a failure. In the six second-round games against the Jazz, Robinson averaged 19.3 points, 9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. Those are subpar numbers compared to his regular-season norms of 25 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.3 blocks.

“The guy (Robinson) has accomplished a great deal, but he’s ultimately going to be judged by where the Spurs end up in the playoffs,” said Kevin McHale, Minnesota Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations. “That is a big burden, but I think he is a good enough player to accept that.”

After seven seasons in the NBA and two straight dismal playoff-ending performances, many fans apparently have given up on Robinson ever being a dominant player along the lines of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson or Larry Bird.

Robinson, those fans say, is an incredibly gifted athlete whose exemplary conduct on and off the court makes him one of, if not the best, role models in professional sports. They are then quick to add that he is not a win-at-all-costs superstar in the same league as the above-mentioned legends and probably never will be.

In Robinson’s seven seasons in the NBA, the Spurs are second only to Chicago in regular-season victories (414 to 383), averaging 54.7 a season. But in playoff games Robinson has appeared in, the Spurs are only 27-26.

Those who know basketball and Robinson have varied opinions of the 7-foot-1 Navy graduate, and those opinions don’t always match those of the fans.

In recent weeks, various NBA players and coaches, past and present, were interviewed about Robinson. And while some have agreed with points made by Robinson’s critics, others believe there are a lot of misconceptions swirling around about the Spurs’ main man.

Take, for instance, the belief that winning a championship isn’t important to Robinson. Rivers believes nothing could be further from the truth.

“I could see the hurt in David after the Utah game,” Rivers said. “He wants it (the championship) just as bad as Michael Jordan. That’s where people are wrong about David.”

Rivers, however, believes strongly that Robinson doesn’t know yet what it takes to be a winner in the category of a Jordan or an Hakeem Olajuwon.

“I just hope he can understand or begin to understand what it takes,” Rivers said. “I think Olajuwon learned how much it can hurt to reach that level and that you need to get out of a comfort zone in order to do it. It’s one thing to score 20 points and get 10 rebounds. But on some nights you have to get 50 points or 25 rebounds, or you might have to do that three nights in a row, or you might have to knock guys down five times. Olajuwon knows that.”

Rivers, an unrestricted free agent, also scoffs at the notion that good guys can’t win. Some believe Robinson is “too nice” to be the main cog in a championship machine.

“Good guys can win,” Rivers said. “I think Michael Jordan is a good guy. But he is a warrior. I think David is learning that. I think he needs to understand that being a role model is about winning. If he doesn’t win (a title), he may lose kids.”

Jordan backed up Rivers’ assessment in a recent interview with a national publication. Jordan discussed how the Detroit Pistons’ championship teams changed his outlook toward the game.

“I wanted to succeed, if you could do it in a nice way,” Jordan said. “But I learned from Detroit that in order to win you have to be willing to attack someone all-out on the court.”

Like many of Robinson’s critics, Rivers believes Robinson must tap more energy out of his muscular body.

“David has the tools,” Rivers said. “Obviously, he can perfect his hook shot or low-post game, but I think it just comes from within from here on out. Sure, he can work on things, so can everybody. But at some point, your talent can take you so far and then it comes down to what is inside. I’m talking about heart.”

Nobody has worked harder in the pro ranks to help Robinson reach his potential than former Spurs assistant coach Dave Cowens. Many observers attribute Robinson’s improved footwork and low-post game to Cowens’ guidance.

In an interview a day after being named head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, Cowens defended Robinson’s playoff performances. But Cowens also suggested that the 1995 MVP could benefit from some increased off-season practice.

“It wouldn’t hurt for him to spend some quality time working on what he thinks he should work on and not what someone else thinks he should work on,” Cowens said. “I liken it to being in school and being told by the teacher to do some extra reading. It’s not as helpful if you did it because someone tells you to do it. It’s more helpful if you decide to do it on your own.”

Cowens believes Robinson should not be blamed for either the Spurs’ playoff embarrassment against Utah, or the club’s loss to the Houston Rockets in the 1995 Western Conference finals.

“In all fairness to David, if we had a little bit more talent around him it would be easier for him,” said Cowens, talking as if he was still with the Spurs. "I think sometimes we tend to blame everything on him when things go wrong.

“You look at Orlando and Shaquille O’Neal. He’s got Penny Hardaway with him and we don’t have anyone like that. We’ve got (forward) Sean (Elliott), but I don’t know if Sean is in the top echelon of three players (small forwards) in the league. Sean’s a great player, don’t get me wrong. But he’s not like a Hardaway.”

Another Hall of Fame center agreed with Cowens.

“I think being who David is, his performances in the playoffs get exaggerated,” said Nate Thurmond, who starred for the San Francisco Warriors in the 1960s. "As I saw it, there were some other people (on the Spurs) that didn’t play as well as they did during the regular season and nothing was mentioned.

“When it comes to the playoffs, sometimes sportswriters and the general public want to put all the burden on the center. But it’s the whole team that needs to do it. If everyone is subpar, your main man is going to be subpar. Wilt Chamberlain took some blame during his time with Philadelphia, and (Boston’s) Bill Russell clearly had the better players around him during most of the 1960s.”

Said McHale: “Basketball isn’t a game of individual work; it is a team game. I’ve never bought that you can blame one guy for a loss.”

One man who understands all too well that Robinson needs a strong supporting cast is former Spurs general manager and coach Bob Bass.

“We had the same starting lineup for about four seasons,” Bass said, referring to the unit of Robinson, Elliott, Terry Cummings, Willie Anderson and Rod Strickland. “That was a pretty good core. I thought that team played pretty well together. But then Willie and Terry both got major, just terrible injuries, and that changed everything.”

Bass, now vice president of basketball operations for the Charlotte Hornets, hasn’t given up on Robinson leading the Spurs to a title.

“I still think, and maybe I’m different, David will win that thing at some time,” Bass said. “He just has too much to offer. That window hasn’t closed, in my opinion.”

Another former Spurs coach who believes the fans should back off Robinson is Larry Brown.

Brown, who was Robinson’s first pro coach, places his former student among the top three or five players in basketball.

“And he’s getting better,” Brown said. "He’s still a young guy in terms of basketball. If you asked a lot of people around the league who you would start a team with, I would say David, (Orlando’s) Shaquille (O’Neal) and (Detroit’s) Grant Hill would be the top three, and I wouldn’t put them in any order.

“David is truly as good as any player in the league and as well respected as any player in the league. I know that based on my experience with him and how much I’ve learned, I would love to coach that guy again. I would take my chances with him any day. He’s always going to put you in position to win a championship.”

Brown believes the Spurs will be a strong contender for the NBA title again next season.

“When I was there, I was disappointed that we didn’t have the right personnel to support David, to maximize his talents,” Brown said. “But I think Pop (Spurs general manager Gregg Popovich) has really tried to address that.”

Being a great player doesn’t necessarily mean a title will come early in one’s career. Olajuwon didn’t win his first championship team until his 10th season. Chamberlain’s first title came in his eighth season. Jerry West was in his 12th season before his team won a championship.

But Robinson’s critics point to his recent playoff

performances as proof that he doesn’t have what it takes to win a ring.

Cowens doesn’t buy Dennis Rodman’s claim that Robinson freezes in big games. The former Boston Celtics great said the strategy of the Spurs’ playoff opponents has a lot to do with some of Robinson’s postseason struggles.

“I think that what happens is that everyone is able to really focus on him from a defensive standpoint, and I think they take some of his stuff away and he gets frustrated,” Cowens said. “I also think that the stuff you don’t work on during the off-season gets magnified during the playoffs.”

Others believe Robinson is playing out of position and that it shows more in the postseason.

“He’s not a true center,” said Seattle reserve Frank Brickowski, who played with the Spurs during Robinson’s rookie season. “If you have the luxury to run him at power forward, where he can do the things he does best, shoot from outside and run, then he would be at his best.”

Cowens also bristles at Robinson being called a “soft player.”

“I think he plays a lot of minutes and he’s banging in there and he takes a lot of punishment and he gives it out, too,” Cowens said. “I don’t think he’s soft at all.”

Still, the perception that Robinson doesn’t enjoy mixing it up in the paint seems to stick.

At the Spurs’ practice the day before Game 5 of the series with Utah, point guard Avery Johnson was asked by a columnist from USA Today about Robinson’s reputation as a “soft player.” Johnson’s reply left no doubt that he believes the Admiral should spend more time playing competitive basketball during the off-season.

“For years the media said I didn’t have a jump shot and that I couldn’t play in a half-court game,” Johnson said. “Instead of looking at it as me being picked on, I looked at what they were saying as being the truth and I went out and did something about it. Now I have a jump shot and no one is talking about me not being able to play in a half-court game.”

Seattle reserve guard David Wingate remembers a time when Robinson showed plenty of tenacity.

“If you remember that playoff series against Portland his rookie year, he got into it with (Blazers power forward) Buck Williams,” said Wingate, a former Spur and teammate of Robinson during the series. “I watch him now and I think he needs more of that mean streak. When he has that fire, it seems like he can do whatever he wants to do.”

Doubts about Robinson’s leadership skills also have hurt his reputation.

Cowens believes Robinson will never develop into a leader along the lines of a Jordan or Magic.

“I think he tries to lead the way he knows how to lead, and I’m not sure that’s always the most effective way,” Cowens said. “He’s a soldier. He does what you tell him to do, which is really nice, and he’s a pleasure to coach.”

Asked if he thought Robinson will some day be a more emotional player, Cowens said, “Everybody has certain styles and those styles pretty much stay consistent throughout your career.”

And that’s a thought that scares the Spurs fans who believe it’s up to Robinson to bring San Antonio a title.

, By Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-09, By Glenn Rogers, Pro Basketball

绿茵场：顶级自由球员将打破薪资上限

德克萨斯州可能正遭受干旱，缺水而枯萎，但对于NBA来说，这将会是一个绿意盎然的夏天。以迈克尔·乔丹(Michael Jordan)和沙奎尔·奥尼尔(Shaquille O’Neal)为首的一批明星球员将进入不受限制的自由球员市场，进而冲击联盟的各个领地。

球队可能会抱怨运营成本高昂，但经纪人和球员们顶多只会表示同情。

经纪人戴维·法尔克(David Falk)，将从乔丹预计从芝加哥得到的巨额薪水中分得一杯羹，他并不喜欢一些人谈论的迈克尔潜在年薪1800万美元。

“很有趣的是，我和朱万(霍华德，华盛顿子弹队的全明星大前锋)一起看比赛，人们不断问我他是否真想要年薪1800万美元，”法尔克说。“我说，‘是的。我不认为朱万想要那么多，但应该会接近这个数字。’”

“然后他们说，‘不，我是说迈克尔。’我说，‘哦，我以为你说的是朱万。抱歉，我知道你没有说迈克尔。所以我想你一定是说朱万。’”

这对公牛队来说听起来不太好，但该球队多年来一直设法避开真正的高薪合同，本赛季支付给乔丹约400万美元，并让斯科蒂·皮蓬(Scottie Pippen)签下一份为期三年、平均年薪270万美元的合同。

几乎不可能估计乔丹对公牛队的市场价值，而皮蓬显然属于500万美元的范围。当然，这些都是天文数字，甚至可以说是过分了，但篮球已经进入了娱乐产业，自由企业制度规定，谁吸引最多的关注度和金钱，谁就获得最高的薪水。

这种情况不会停止，除非球迷不再支付票价，不再为球队商品支付巨额款项。除非电视不再投入数十亿美元。除非企业家和城市不再出价数亿美元来吸引球队，同时坚持认为城市的繁荣与否取决于是否拥有运动队。

• 奥尼尔的观点：沙奎尔·奥尼尔说，他并不介意迈克尔·乔丹变得更加富有，显然他认为自己的未来薪水也会相应提高。

“迈克尔应该获得最高的薪水，因为他才是联盟最好的球员，”奥尼尔说。“而我应该排在第二。”

“很多人可能不同意我的观点，但这就是我的想法。最好的球员应该赚最多的钱。我只要求一份舒适的合同……但如果阿隆佐(莫宁)年薪1800万美元，那么……”他笑着说，然后走开了。

如果莫宁真的能拿到如此巨额的薪水，我只能假设大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)在考虑自己每年1100万美元的合同时，一定会摇头不止。

奥尼尔认为联盟的十位最高薪球员应该是：1、乔丹；2、他自己；3、安芬尼·哈达威(Anfernee Hardaway)；4、斯科蒂·皮蓬；5、哈基姆·奥拉朱旺(Hakeem Olajuwon)；6、帕特里克·尤因(Patrick Ewing)；7、罗宾逊；8、肖恩·坎普(Shawn Kemp)；9、卡尔·马龙(Karl Malone)；10、查尔斯·巴克利(Charles Barkley)。

• 脏球鞋？说到大卫·罗宾逊，毫无疑问，他很快就会听到有关他与耐克的球鞋合同的消息。耐克球鞋可能在印尼血汗工厂生产的消息已经让迈克尔·乔丹和联盟主席大卫·斯特恩(David Stern)忙于解释。

罗宾逊的经纪人杰夫·奥斯汀(Jeff Austin)说，他还没有收到关于此事的消息。

“如果耐克知道这件事（血汗工厂），我会很惊讶，”奥斯汀说。“这是一家非常有社会责任感的公司。他们没有告诉我或大卫任何信息。”

“我相信这个问题的提出是为了让大家了解那里的情况，而且效果很好。如果那里有那样的工作条件，显然应该调查一下。”

斯特恩可能会轻率地试图将乔丹事件归咎于凯西·李·吉福德(Kathie Lee Gifford)，但数百万美元的利润得益于极低的工资，这个问题绝不会消失。

• 快速传闻：联盟中流传的一个热门消息是，波特兰将把控球后卫罗德·斯特里克兰(Rod Strickland)交易到明尼苏达，换取森林狼队的第5顺位选秀权。

• 艰难的选秀：马刺队执行副总裁格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)并非唯一一个认为本月的选秀质量很差的人。骑士队总经理韦恩·恩布里(Wayne Embry)在联盟中四处打听，发现对第12、15和20顺位选秀权几乎没有兴趣。最大的担忧是，大量的非顶级年轻球员距离进入NBA还很遥远。

掘金队拥有第10顺位选秀权，对此表示同意。

“我们一定会认真考虑交易这个选秀权，”掘金队老板伯尼·比克斯塔夫(Bernie Bickerstaff)说。“也许有人想要这个选秀权，并且愿意用一位不错的资深球员来换。”

比克斯塔夫拥有大量年轻球员，现在他正努力增加几位经验丰富的球员。

“坦率地说，在这个选秀中，能够立即产生影响力的球员并不存在，”他说。

点击查看原文：Green acres: Top free agents figure to break the bank

Green acres: Top free agents figure to break the bank

Texas may be parched, withering without water, but it’s going to be a green, green summer in the NBA. A battalion of marquee players, topped by Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal, will enter into unrestricted free agency and storm the various league fiefdoms.

Teams may be crying about the high expense of doing business, but agents and players will offer handkerchiefs at best.

Agent David Falk, who will be looking at his cut of the millions Jordan is expected to extract from Chicago, doesn’t like the sound of the $18 million annual amount some have bandied about as Michael’s potential pay.

"It’s funny, but I was at a game with Juwan (Howard, Washington Bullets All-Star power forward) and people kept asking me if it was

true that I wanted $18 million a year," Falk said. "And I said, `Yes. I don’t think Juwan wants quite that much. But it will be around there.’

"Then they said, No, I mean Michael.' And I said, Oh. I thought you meant Juwan. Sorry. I knew you weren’t talking about Michael. So I figured you must have been talking about Juwan.’ "

Doesn’t sound good for the Bulls, but that franchise has managed for years to elude the truly high-dollar contracts, paying Jordan about $4 million this season and keeping Scottie Pippen locked into a contract that has three years left and averages $2.7 million.

It’s almost impossible to estimate Jordan’s market value to the Bulls, and Pippen obviously belongs in the $5 million range. Extraordinary sums, of course, outrageous even, but basketball has entered the entertainment business, and the free-enterprise system dictates that he who draws the most attention and money draws the biggest salary.

It won’t cease until fans stop paying the ticket prices and paying exorbitant sums for team merchandise. Until television stops

injecting billions. And until businessmen and cities cease offering a hundred million-plus to lure franchises while insisting a city’s health is dependent on the presence of a sports team.

-O’Neal’s view: Shaquille O’Neal says he has no problem with Michael Jordan getting still richer, obviously figuring his future paychecks will rise accordingly.

“Michael should be the highest paid because he is the best player in the game,” O’Neal said. "And I should be next.

“Many people may disagree with me, but that’s the way I feel. The best players should make the most money. I’m just asking for a comfortable deal . . . but if Alonzo (Mourning) gets $18 million a year, then . . .” he said with a laugh, then walked away.

If Mourning should get such a huge amount, I can only assume David Robinson will have to give his head at least a little shake when considering his deal that pays him $11 million per season.

Here’s who O’Neal thinks should receive the league’s 10 highest salaries: 1, Jordan; 2, Himself; 3, Anfernee Hardaway; 4, Scottie Pippen; 5, Hakeem Olajuwon; 6. Patrick Ewing; 7. Robinson; 8, Shawn Kemp; 9, Karl Malone; 10, Charles Barkley.

-Soiled sneakers? Speaking of David Robinson, no doubt he’ll be hearing sometime soon about his sneaker contract with Nike. The news that Nike sneakers might be produced in Indonesian sweat shops already has Michael Jordan and Commissioner David Stern scrambling for explanations.

Robinson’s agent, Jeff Austin, said he hasn’t been contacted yet regarding the situation.

“I’d be surprised if Nike had any knowledge of that (sweatshop operation),” Austin said. "It’s a very socially conscious company. Nothing has been said to me or David.

“I believe that the issue was brought up to raise people’s knowledge about the situation over there, and it worked. If there are working conditions like that over there, they obviously should be looked into.”

Stern may be glibly trying to blame the Jordan news on Kathie Lee Gifford, but the issue of millions of dollars in profits being made thanks to extraordinarily low wages just ain’t going to go away.

-Quick rumor: One hot tale around the league is that Portland will trade point guard Rod Strickland to Minnesota for the Wolves’ first draft pick, No. 5 overall.

-Tough draft: Spurs executive vice president Gregg Popovich isn’t alone in tabbing this month’s draft as weak. Cavs general manager Wayne Embry called around the league and discovered little interest in picks 12, 15 and 20. The biggest fear is that the inordinate number of underclassmen, not in the superclass category, are far from ready for the NBA.

The Nuggets, who have pick No. 10, agree.

“We’ll definitely entertain offers for the pick,” Nuggets overlord Bernie Bickerstaff said. “There may be situations where somebody does want the pick and they’re willing to give you a nice veteran player.”

Bickerstaff, loaded with young talent, is now striving to add several more dollops of experience.

“To be real candid with you, the guy that’s going to come in out of this draft and be an impact player is not there,” he said.

, By Glenn Rogers, Pro Basketball, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-11, By Buck Harvey

导致罗德曼离队的头号原因？他们有11个队友

幸运的马刺队。如果他们在落后时没有放弃，他们就会感觉像弗兰克-布里科夫斯基(Frank Brickowski) 的平方一样。如果他们以某种方式战胜了犹他爵士和西雅图超音速，那么现在丹尼斯-罗德曼(Dennis Rodman) 还会在圣安东尼奥河畔散步，向全世界炫耀他殴打软弱的马刺队的乐趣吗？

他会这样做的。但我相信马刺队能够处理好这种情况。毕竟，他们有很多练习机会。当罗德曼还在马刺队时，他从不尊重他们，并把这一点强加于他们。

他们忍受了。在他离开的众多原因中，从金钱到他自己的心理状态，没有比这更重要的了。

正如预期的那样，马刺队的名字现在出现在全国体育谈话节目中，主要是因为如果迈克尔-乔丹(Michael Jordan) 不在，罗德曼将会是这次系列赛的 MVP。罗德曼对布里科夫斯基所做的一切都更像是表演。此外，布里科夫斯基是对的。罗德曼真的愚弄了裁判。但这是罗德曼的天赋的一部分。他努力，抢篮板，欺骗。

因此，当罗德曼等待赢得另一枚总冠军戒指时，很多人想知道唯一一个没有和他一起赢得冠军的球队。他们在德克萨斯州南部是怎么想的？

这个问题通常来自那些不了解情况的人。NBA 的那些人当然明白。这就是为什么去年夏天只有三支球队竞标罗德曼的原因。

因此，格雷格-波波维奇(Gregg Popovich) 在联盟中几乎没有受到指责。他要求罗德曼参加训练，没错，但公牛队也是这样做的。芝加哥不会容忍罗德曼在圣安东尼奥所做的事情。

事实上，波波维奇和鲍勃-希尔(Bob Hill) 可能继承了一场不可战胜的战争。约翰-卢卡斯(John Lucas) 给了罗德曼非理性的自由，任何接替他的人都会遇到麻烦。此外，罗德曼认为之前的马刺队管理层承诺给他一份新合同。考虑到他们两年前所知道的情况，波波维奇/希尔马刺队应该怎么做？他们应该给一个他们只知道他古怪名声，甚至在第一个夏天都不愿意回他们电话的人 1200 万美元吗？

但还有一个更重要的因素。这里有一个三年前的故事。在 15 场比赛中，卢卡斯指示罗德曼进行赛前演讲。罗德曼同意了，然后站在那些他很少承认的人周围，并责骂他们。

特里-卡明斯(Terry Cummings) 翻白眼，觉得这不是他该说的话。大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson) 点点头，因为他觉得罗德曼是在说除他以外的每个人。罗德曼不是这样做的。其他人站在那里，接受了这种虐待。

也许他们没有选择。毕竟，卢卡斯是教练。但即使卢卡斯离开后，这种基调仍然存在。在罗德曼最后一个赛季，只有艾弗里-约翰逊(Avery Johnson) 怒视着罗德曼时，才有一位马刺队球员与他对抗。

罗德曼将 AJ 列为唯一一位他尊重的马刺队球员，这是一个巧合吗？罗德曼曾经说过，如果他的马刺队队友中有一个人打过他，他就会更喜欢他们。从目前的情况来看，他是认真的。

马刺队管理层成功地团结了其他 11 名球员反对罗德曼。尽管如此，这是一个脆弱的阵线；罗德曼仍然保持着他的蔑视。无论马刺队给了他多少钱，也不管他们让罗德曼违反了多少规则，这都不会改变。

那么公牛队的情况有什么不同呢？仅仅是改变本身可能就有所帮助。第二，罗德曼正处于他合同的最后一年，这始终是一个奇妙的激励工具。第三，乔丹在那里，抓住他的手臂，在他偏离轨道时斥责他，要求他尊重。

也许只有乔丹有这种力量。也许这就是德克萨斯州南部犯下的可怕错误。在罗德曼的 11 名马刺队队友中，没有一个人是乔丹。

点击查看原文：No. 1 reason Rodman left? There were 11

No. 1 reason Rodman left? There were 11

Lucky Spurs. If they hadn’t quit when they were behind, then they’d feel like Frank Brickowski squared. If they had somehow beaten Utah and then Seattle, then wouldn’t Dennis Rodman be on the River Walk now, telling the world how much fun it is to slap around wimpy Spurs?

He would. But I’m confident the Spurs could handle it. After all, they had a lot of practice. When Rodman was here, he gave them no respect and rubbed their noses in that very fact.

They took it. And of all the reasons he had to go - from money to his own disturbed state - nothing meant more than that.

As expected, the Spurs’ name is coming up now on national sports-talk shows, mostly because Rodman would be the MVP of this series if Michael Jordan weren’t around. What Rodman has done to Brickowski is more show. Besides, Brick is right. Rodman really has fooled the refs. But that’s part of the Rodman gift. He works, rebounds, deceives.

And so as Rodman waits to win another ring, a lot of people want to know about the only franchise that didn’t win a title with him. What were they thinking in South Texas?

The question usually comes from the uninformed. Those in the NBA certainly understand. That’s why only three franchises bid for Rodman last summer.

Thus Gregg Popovich gets little blame around the league. He demanded Rodman come to practice, all right, but so do the Bulls. Chicago wouldn’t put up with what Rodman did in San Antonio.

In truth, Popovich and Bob Hill might have inherited an unwinnable war. John Lucas had given Rodman irrational freedom, and whoever followed that was in trouble. Furthermore, Rodman believed the previous Spurs ownership had promised him a new contract. Knowing what they knew two summers ago, what should the Popovich/Hill Spurs have done? Should they have given $12 million to a guy they knew only by his nutty reputation, who wouldn’t even call them back that first summer?

But there is another factor that meant more. And here’s a story from three years ago. For a 15-game span, Lucas instructed Rodman to give the pregame talk. Rodman agreed, then stood around men he rarely even acknowledged - and scolded them.

Terry Cummings rolled his eyes and felt it wasn’t his place to say anything. David Robinson nodded, because he felt Rodman was talking about everyone but him. Rodman wasn’t. And the rest stood there and accepted the abuse.

Maybe they had no options. After all, Lucas was the coach. But the tone stayed around even after Lucas left. Only once in Rodman’s last season - when Avery Johnson got in Rodman’s face - did a Spur confront Rodman.

Is it a coincidence that Rodman lists AJ as the only Spur he respects? Rodman once said he would have liked his Spurs teammates more if one had punched him. The way it looks, he meant it.

Spurs management succeeded in uniting the other 11 against him. Still, it was a weak front; Rodman maintained his disdain. And no matter how much money the Spurs had thrown at him and no matter how many rules they let Rodman break, that wasn’t going to change.

So how is it different with the Bulls? Just the change itself probably helped. Two, Rodman is in the last year of his contract, always a wondrous motivational tool. And, three, Jordan is there to grab him by the arm, snap at him when he strays, demand his respect.

Maybe only Jordan has that power. And maybe that’s where South Texas went so horribly wrong. Of Rodman’s 11 Spurs teammates, not one of them was Jordan.

, By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-12, By Charlotte-Anne Lucas Express-News Staff Writer

马刺管理层看到财务报表上的赤字

圣安东尼奥马刺队预计在 1995-1996 赛季的财务报表于 6 月 30 日结束时，将出现该球队历史上首次的场外亏损。尽管所有数据还没有全部统计出来，但杰克-迪勒(Jack Diller)在接受圣安东尼奥快报的采访时表示：“我们相信我们肯定亏损了。”杰克-迪勒是球队总裁、首席执行官兼少数股东。

这一令人沮丧的财务消息可能会加剧球队老板们的争论，他们认为马刺队需要一个新的、更盈利的场馆才能在圣安东尼奥继续运营下去。

马刺队老板一再表示，他们不愿意为亏损提供补贴。

迪勒在今年的财务年度结束之前拒绝透露具体数字。

“不幸的是，这并不意外，”迪勒说。

自 1993 年由 22 位投资者组成的团队收购马刺队以来，该球队从未出现过亏损。球队公布的财务记录显示，在投资者兼汽车经销商 B.J. “红”·麦克康姆斯(B.J. “Red” McCombs) 的所有权下，球队也曾盈利。

部分亏损被本赛季联盟发放给马刺队的 900 万美元扩军费所抵消，但这仍然相当可观，球队不得不动用银行的信贷额度。

去年 3 月，迪勒表示，季后赛的收入预计将帮助球队在今年实现收支平衡或获得少量利润。

他说，这一预测是基于马刺队至少能打进季后赛第三轮的假设，这将弥补常规赛期间的赤字。

3 月份，马刺队老板预计在常规赛结束时将出现高达 300 万美元的亏损。

迪勒说，虽然常规赛并没有像预期的那样糟糕——由于利率下降和减少人员配备，球队确实节省了一些资金——但季后赛的表现也没有达到预期。

球队只打进了季后赛第二轮，在主场进行了 5 场比赛，而去年是 8 场。

迪勒表示，在季后赛期间，疲软的观众数量和急剧下降的付费观看收入导致收入远低于去年的季后赛总额 400 万美元。

他补充说，最终的结果是球队将以运营亏损结束本赛季。

目前，球队从银行的信贷额度中提取了大约 200 万美元。由于这笔借款，球队老板不需要追加资金来维持球队的运营。

然而，当本赛季的财务报表结束时，资产负债表将显示一个正数，这主要归功于联盟发放给马刺队的 900 万美元扩建费。

迪勒说，球队在收到这笔钱时就用来偿还了债务。这是投资者与贷款人协议的一部分，即球队将所有盈余资金用于偿还贷款。

由于这笔扩建费没有用于支付运营成本，马刺队不得不在 1 月下旬开始动用信贷额度。

迪勒说，球队预计能够继续从信贷额度中借款——并在收入进来时偿还——“持续一年多，进入 1997-1998 赛季，在此之前，球队的老板将不得不提供资金来维持运营。”

点击查看原文：Spurs management sees red ink on the bottom line

Spurs management sees red ink on the bottom line

The San Antonio Spurs expect to post the franchise’s first off-the-court loss when the books close June 30 on the 1995-1996 season. All the numbers aren’t in yet, but when they are, “We certainly believe we will have lost money,” franchise president, chief executive officer and minority owner Jack Diller said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News.

The downbeat financial news is likely to heighten team owners’ arguments that the franchise needs a new, more lucrative venue to stay in business in San Antonio.

Spurs owners repeatedly have said they are not willing to subsidize losses.

Diller declined to cite specific numbers until after the Spurs fiscal year ends this month.

“Unfortunately, it was not a surprise,” Diller said.

The franchise has not lost money since it was bought by a group of 22 investors in 1993. Financial records released by the team show it also was profitable before that under the ownership of investor and auto dealer B.J. “Red” McCombs.

The losses partly were offset by a $9 million expansion fee the Spurs received from the league this season, but still were significant enough that the team had to dip into its line of credit from bankers.

Last March, Diller said revenues from the playoff games were expected to help the franchise break even or make a nominal profit this year.

He said that projection was based on the assumption the Spurs would go to at least the third round of the playoffs, which would make up for red ink amassed during the regular season.

In March, Spurs owners expected to be behind as much as $3 million by the end of the regular season.

Diller said that while the regular season wasn’t quite as bad as expected - the franchise did save some money, thanks to lower interest rates and cutting back on staffing - the playoff season wasn’t as good as anticipated, either.

The team only went into second round of the post-season matches, playing five home games, compared to eight home games last year.

During the playoffs, sagging attendance and sharply lower pay-per-view revenue combined to keep income significantly below last year’s post-season tally of $4 million, Diller said.

The net result is that the team will end the season with an operating loss, he added.

Right now, the franchise has drawn down about $2 million on its line of credit from the bank. Because of that borrowing, owners did not have to ante up money to keep the franchise operating.

When the books are closed for the season, however, the ledger sheet will show a positive number, largely because of the $9 million expansion fee distributed to the Spurs by the league.

Diller said the team used that money when it came in to pay down its debt. That was done as part of the investors’ agreement with lenders that the franchise would apply all surplus money against its loans.

Because the expansion fee money was not used to pay for ongoing operations, the Spurs had to begin drawing against the line of credit in late January.

Diller said the team expected to be able to continue borrowing against the line of credit - and paying it off as revenues come in - “for a little better than a year, into the 1997-98 season, before the team’s owners would have to chip in to make ends meet.”

, By Charlotte-Anne Lucas Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-13, By Charlotte-Anne Lucas and Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writers

马刺队看起来将留在圣安东尼奥 - 当地商界领袖收购 USAA 在球队中的股份

商人彼得-霍尔特(Peter M. Holt)于周三收购了 USAA 在圣安东尼奥马刺队中的股份，此举几乎确保了球队将留在圣安东尼奥。交易条款尚未披露。但霍尔特收购了马刺队 13.37% 的股份，价值估计为 1670 万美元，这将使他成为马刺队第二大股东，仅次于位于俄克拉荷马城的盖洛德地产公司。

其他股东、商人以及内部人士预测，霍尔特将成为一位精力充沛且积极的老板，他很快可能会在马刺队多元化的投资者群体中升至领导地位。

“我正在为球队增添力量和稳定性，因为我来自圣安东尼奥，我和其他股东都希望球队留在圣安东尼奥，”霍尔特在周三宣布这一消息后说道。

USAA 表示，出售其股份符合该公司之前宣布的目标，即剥离除保险和金融服务核心业务以外的所有业务。消息人士称，USAA 在 1993 年以 400 万美元现金和 1000 万美元的次级票据收购了其股份。

“自从最初投资以来，我们的目标之一就是尽最大努力让球队留在圣安东尼奥，”公司发言人约翰-沃姆斯利(John Walmsley)说。“我们被告知（让球队留在圣安东尼奥）是（霍尔特的）首要考虑因素，我们很高兴他站出来，”他说。

圣安东尼奥市长比尔-桑顿(Bill Thornton)对霍尔特的收购表示欢迎，并表示这位商人的举动不仅巩固了马刺队在圣安东尼奥的未来，而且也证明了球队的财务可行性。

“我认为我们所有人都同意让球队留在圣安东尼奥非常重要，但我也相信彼得-霍尔特是一位精明、老练的商人，”桑顿说。

这支由 20 家其他公司和个人共同拥有的球队在 1995-96 赛季首次亏损。

马刺队官员和老板们表示，他们不会为持续的亏损提供资金，他们必须拥有一个新的球馆，才能产生足够的收入来抵消不断上涨的球员薪水。

霍尔特，这位 47 岁的霍尔特公司卡特彼勒经销商总裁兼首席执行官，对球馆问题暂不发表评论。

“这是那些学习曲线的事情，”他说。“也许 90 天后我才能给你一个更好的答案。我需要花些时间和马刺队在一起，了解阿拉莫圆顶体育馆/球馆问题的复杂性。”

桑顿表示，几周前他就与霍尔特谈论过即将进行的收购，并提到了新建球馆的话题。

“我告诉彼得-霍尔特，‘让我们现实一点。马刺队现在似乎对这个设施很执着，’”桑顿说。

“我告诉他，我不确定他们是否有设施问题，但我担心他们确实存在财务问题。我向他承诺，当圣安东尼奥需要的时候……无论做什么，都会是一个能容纳篮球运动的设施。”

这支球队最近被《金融世界》杂志估值 1.25 亿美元，该杂志还将这支球队称为“高风险”，部分原因是阿拉莫圆顶体育馆的收入有限。

但霍尔特表示，他不担心。

“当然存在一些风险，但我认为我从未参与过没有风险的生意，”他说。

“但我看看所有权群体，他们一直非常成功。我对马刺队的管理层、球队的管理层以及圣安东尼奥市充满信心，我认为我们可以让它发挥作用，”他说。

据称，霍尔特是一位“行动派”，他不会成为一位缺席的老板。

“这对球队来说是个好消息；彼得是一位非常乐观的人，”西南商业公司(Southwest Business Corp.)的查尔斯-阿马托(Charles Amato)说。该公司持有马刺队的一小部分股份。

“我相信他大约一年前试图收购整个球队，但那没有成功。但彼得所接触的一切都取得了成功。他是一个赢家。他讨厌失败。”

前少数股东鲍勃-科尔曼(Bob Coleman)表示，霍尔特的竞标是“我很久以来听到的最好的消息”。

“彼得是一位优秀的商人，他希望积极参与，”科尔曼说。“我认为我们将在球队中看到一些巨大的变化，我相信他有很多计划。”

马刺队总裁兼首席执行官杰克-迪勒(Jack Diller)表示，霍尔特有“为马刺队投入时间的意愿”。

“我们即将进入一个对这支球队至关重要的时期……努力解决整体财务问题和设施问题。”

“我们很幸运能拥有他的活力、时间和意愿，”迪勒说。

霍尔特拥有距离迪勒不远的季票，他说他支持球队的商业和篮球管理。

“我不会告诉你我是篮球专家，因为我不是，或者说我可以管理一支球队，”他说。

“但我相信有很多方法可以稳定球队，让它留在圣安东尼奥。我进入这个领域不是为了实现其他任何目标。”

虽然篮球方面“做得很好”，霍尔特说球队现在必须“弄清楚如何从赤字中扭亏为盈”。

当被问及他将如何做到这一点时，霍尔特简单地说：“我现在还没到那一步。也许几个月后我会讨论这个问题。”

其他股东公开表示，如果情况合适，他们可能会出售他们的股份。

许多股东都专注于自己的业务，他们更多地充当了被动的看护人，而不是积极的管理者。

消息人士称，即使是盖洛德地产公司也可能愿意在不久的将来剥离其在球队中的主要股份。

一位内部人士表示，他对周三的公告没有包括霍尔特收购盖洛德股份感到惊讶。

另一位消息人士表示，盖洛德“很生气”，因为它试图收购更多股份的努力失败了，因为当地股东不相信盖洛德会让球队留在圣安东尼奥。

自 1993 年以来，盖洛德最初持有公司 9.99% 的股份，该公司已经收购了美国长途公司(U.S. Long Distance Corp.) 的 2.03% 的股份，以及 SBC 通信公司(SBC Communications Inc.) 原始股份的近一半。

这家位于俄克拉荷马州的公司是盖洛德娱乐公司(Gaylord Entertainment Co.) 的子公司，这是一家位于纳什维尔的公司，一直在试图将体育队吸引到田纳西州。

一些接近此事的消息人士预测，霍尔特将在周三收购更多球队股份，并可能很快成为球队主席。

马刺队主席罗伯特-麦克德莫特(Robert McDermott) 在 1993 年说服了大多数现任股东拿出数百万美元来让球队留在圣安东尼奥，他称霍尔特的投资对球队来说是“非常合适的”。

“他不仅有社会责任感，而且对拥有篮球队的想法充满感情……我认为他将产生重大影响，”他说。

当被问及他是否会乐意将自己的主席职位交给霍尔特时，麦克德莫特说：“彼得可能是合适的人选。”

工作人员作家汤姆-奥斯本(Tom Orsborn) 和辛迪-图米尔(Cindy Tumiel) 为本报道做出了贡献。 - - -

谁拥有球队？

盖洛德地产公司 - 20.10%

彼得-霍尔特 - 13.37%

ARA RBI 公司 - 9.99%

扎克里酒店集团 - 9.99%

动力概念公司和詹姆斯-莱宁格(James R. Leininger) - 8.64%

SBC 通信公司 - 7.00%

瓦莱罗管理公司 - 5.06%

国际银行股份公司 - 3.72%

史蒂芬-朗(Stephen Lang) - 2.87%

欧文-马修斯夫人(Mrs. Irving A. Mathews) - 2.87%

杰克-迪勒 - 1.88%

R&B 合伙公司（拉塞尔和布鲁斯-希尔(Russell and Bruce Hill)） -1.69%

保罗-马基(Paul R. Markey) - 1.69%

菲利克斯-施泰林(Felix L. Stehling) - 1.69%

乔治-希克斯(George C. `Tim’ Hixon) - 1.69%

清华广播传媒 - 1.69%

罗伯特-麦克德莫特 - 1.69%

西南商业公司 - 1.69%

理查德-坎图信托基金 - 0.84%

劳尔-坎图(Raul Cantu Jr.) 信托基金 - 0.84%

另外 1% 的股份由公司普通合伙人圣安东尼奥运动俱乐部公司(San Antonio Athletic Club Inc.) 拥有。

点击查看原文：Looks like Spurs will stay in S.A. - Local business leader buys USAA share in team

Looks like Spurs will stay in S.A. - Local business leader buys USAA share in team

Businessman Peter M. Holt bought USAA’s stake in the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, a move that virtually assures the team will stay in the city. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. But Holt’s purchase of 13.37 percent of the franchise - worth an estimated $16.7 million - will give him the second-largest share of the Spurs, behind Oklahoma City-based Gaylord Properties.

Other owners, businessmen and insiders predicted Holt will be an energetic and active owner who soon may ascend to a leadership role among the diverse group of Spurs investors.

“I am adding to the strength and stability of the team in that I am from San Antonio and I, along with the other owners, want to keep it in San Antonio,” Holt said after the announcement Wednesday.

USAA, which sources said paid $4 million cash and assumed a $10 million subordinated note for its share in 1993, said selling its stake is consistent with the firm’s previously stated goal to shed all but its core business of insurance and financial services.

“One of the objectives we’ve had since making the original investment was to do our best to keep the team in San Antonio,” company spokesman John Walmsley said. “We have been told that (keeping the team here) was a primary consideration (of Holt’s), and we’re glad that he stepped forward,” he said.

Mayor Bill Thornton welcomed Holt’s purchase and said the businessman’s move not only solidifies the Spurs’ future in San Antonio, but also demonstrates the team’s financial viability.

"I think all of us agree that it’s important to keep the team in San Antonio, but I also believe Peter Holt is a smart, savvy businessman,"Thornton said.

The team, which is co-owned by 20 other companies and individuals, lost money for the first time in the 1995-96 season.

Spurs officials and owners have said they will not fund ongoing losses and must have a new arena to generate enough revenue to offset skyrocketing player salaries.

Holt, the 47-year-old president and chief executive officer of The Holt Cos.’ Caterpillar dealerships, reserved comment on the arena question - at least for now.

“It’s one of those learning curve things,” he said. "Maybe in 90 days I can give you a better answer. I need to spend some time with the Spurs and learn about the complexities of the

Alamodome/arena issue."

Thornton said he spoke with Holt about the pending purchase several weeks ago, and the subject of a new arena came up.

"The thing that I told Peter Holt was, `Let’s all be realistic. The Spurs seem to have this fixation with a facility right now,’ " Thornton said.

“I told him I’m not certain they have a facility problem, but I am concerned that they do have a financial problem. I made a commitment to him that, when it was right for San Antonio . . . whatever was done would be some type of facility that would accommodate basketball.”

The franchise, which was valued recently at $125 million by Financial World magazine, also was dubbed “high-risk” by the publication, in part because of limited revenues available at the Alamodome.

But Holt said he wasn’t worried.

“There certainly is some risk, but I don’t think I’ve ever been in a business that didn’t have risk,” he said.

“But I look at the ownership group and it has been very successful. I have a lot of confidence in the ownership of the Spurs, the team’s management and the city of San Antonio, and I think we can make it work,” he said.

By all accounts, Holt is a “doer,” who won’t be an absentee owner.

“This is great news for the franchise; Peter is a very upbeat guy,” said Charles Amato of Southwest Business Corp., which owns a minority share of the Spurs.

“I believe he tried to buy the whole team about a year ago but that didn’t work. But everything Peter touches works. He’s a winner. He hates to lose.”

Former minority owner Bob Coleman said Holt’s bid is "the best news I’ve heard in a long time.

“Peter is a good businessman and he wants to be active,” Coleman said. “I think we’ll see some big differences in the franchises, I’m sure he has a lot of plans.”

Spurs President and Chief Executive Officer Jack Diller said Holt has a “willingness to dedicate time” to the Spurs.

"We are about to enter a period of time that is absolutely critical to this franchise . . . trying to solve the overall financial problem and the facility problem.

“We are fortunate to have his dynamism, time and willingness,” Diller said.

Holt, who has season tickets not far from Diller’s, said he supports the team’s business and basketball management.

“I’m not going to tell you I am a basketball expert, because I’m not, or that I can run a team,” he said.

“But I believe there are lots of ways to stabilize the team and keep it here in San Antonio. I didn’t get into this to accomplish anything else.”

While the basketball side “is doing well,” Holt said the franchise now must “figure our how to get it from red ink to black ink.”

Asked how he would do that, Holt said simply: “I’m not there yet. Maybe in a few months I’ll discuss that.”

Other owners have publicly said they might sell their stakes if the circumstances were right.

Many of the owners are focused on their own businesses and have acted more as passive caretakers than active managers.

Sources said that even Gaylord Properties might be willing to divest its commanding share in the near future.

One insider said he was surprised Wednesday’s announcement did not include Holt’s purchase of Gaylord’s share, as well.

Another source said Gaylord is “miffed” that its attempts to purchase more shares failed because local owners did not trust Gaylord to keep the team in San Antonio.

Since 1993, Gaylord, which initially held 9.99 percent of the company, has bought U.S. Long Distance Corp.'s 2.03 percent share and almost half of SBC Communications Inc.'s original stake.

The Oklahoma-based company is a subsidiary of Gaylord Entertainment Co., the Nashville company that has tried to lure sports teams to the Tennessee town.

Some sources close to the situation predicted Wednesday that Holt would buy more shares of the team and might become its chairman before long.

Spurs Chairman Robert McDermott, who in 1993 arm-twisted and cajoled most of the current owners to ante up millions of dollars to keep the team in San Antonio, called Holt’s investment “a good fit” for the team.

“Not only is he civic-minded, but he’s emotionally attached to the idea of owning a basketball team . . . I think he’s going to have a big impact,” he said.

Asked if he would feel comfortable passing along his chairmanship to Holt, McDermott said: “Peter might be the right guy.”

Staff Writers Tom Orsborn and Cindy Tumiel contributed to this report. - - -

Who owns the team?

Gaylord Properties - 20.10%

Peter M. Holt - 13.37%

ARA RBI Inc. - 9.99%

Zachry Hospitality - 9.99%

Kinetic Concepts Inc. and James R. Leininger - 8.64%

SBC Communications Inc. - 7.00%

Valero Management Co. - 5.06%

International Bancshares Corp. - 3.72%

Stephen Lang - 2.87%

Mrs. Irving A. Mathews - 2.87%

Jack Diller - 1.88%

R&B Partnership (Russell and Bruce Hill) -1.69%

Paul R. Markey - 1.69%

Felix L. Stehling - 1.69%

George C. `Tim’ Hixon - 1.69%

Clear Channel Communications - 1.69%

Robert F. McDermott - 1.69%

Southwest Business Corp. - 1.69%

Richard Cantu Trust - 0.84%

Raul Cantu Jr. Trust 0.84%

An additional 1 percent is owned by the corporate general partner, San Antonio Athletic Club Inc.

, By Charlotte-Anne Lucas and Glenn Rogers Express-News Staff Writers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-13, By Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer

商界同仁盛赞霍尔特是一位杰出的领导者

巴洛斯-米勒(Balous Miller)很快就发现彼得-M-霍尔特(Peter M. Holt)是一位与众不同的领导者。“他不仅仅是一位领导者，”米勒谈到这位最新加入马刺队老板团队的成员时说，“他是一位强有力的领导者。”

米勒是比尔-米勒烧烤公司(Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Inc.)的总裁，他是在近十年前的德克萨斯商业银行(Texas Commerce Bank)董事会会议上第一次见到霍尔特的。

“我对他的第一印象之一是他问了一些好问题，有强烈的观点，而且不怕表达这些观点，”米勒说。“我当时就被他吸引了。”

德克萨斯商业银行总裁小阿尔-马丁内斯-方茨(Al Martinez-Fonts Jr.)赞同米勒的观点。

“彼得身上有一种专注和强度，”马丁内斯-方茨说。“他是一个非常专注的人。他知道自己想要什么，然后他就出去把它做成。”

霍尔特是霍尔特公司(The Holt Cos.)的总裁兼首席执行官，他在周三宣布，他已收购了USAA公司对马刺队的股权，这使他成为该球队第二大股东。

“我的首要目标是让球队留在这里，”霍尔特说。有消息称，他对阿拉莫圆顶体育场(Alamodome)的重新配置有自己的想法。

霍尔特的领导才能在20世纪60年代末越南丛林中得到发展。霍尔特是美军第25步兵师的一员，在越南春节攻势期间参与了靠近柬埔寨边境的战斗。

霍尔特在越南的一年服役期间获得了许多勋章，包括一枚银星勋章、三枚铜星勋章和一枚紫心勋章。他因在一次交火中救人而获得了银星勋章，该勋章是表彰其在行动中的英勇表现的。

霍尔特出生于伊利诺伊州皮奥里亚，他在军队服役两年后以中士身份退役。他带着对生活和同胞的新认识回到了美国。

“我19岁入伍，当时我很年轻，也很天真，”霍尔特说。“我是那些有幸在越南服役期间一直在战斗并安全返回的人之一。我的脖子中弹了，但缝合了一下就被送回(战场)了。没有永久性损伤。

“（在越南服役）无疑是一次刻骨铭心的经历。它让我意识到人命的价值，也让我意识到信任他人的价值，因为你在那里每天都要这样做。”

现年47岁的霍尔特还说，他在越南的经历让他尊重和重视人与人之间的差异。

“我在一个受保护的环境中长大。但在越南，我与来自不同族裔、来自不同地区、价值观不同的群体生活和工作，”霍尔特说。“我们共同拥有的一点是，我们每天必须一起努力才能生存。”

霍尔特于1966年毕业于科珀斯克里斯蒂国王高中(Corpus Christi King High School)，在从得克萨斯基督教大学(Texas Christian University)退学后参军。

“我可能会被征召入伍，所以我就自愿参军了，”霍尔特说。

霍尔特说他支持美国参与越南战争。

“当时，我不知道（去越南）的后果，”霍尔特说。“但我认为我们去那里是为了正确的理由。我不赞成战争的处理方式。但我认为我们尝试着怀着正确的动机去那里。”

霍尔特是霍尔特公司(Holt Co.)创始人威廉-K-霍尔特(William K. Holt)的孙子，也是本杰明-霍尔特(Benjamin Holt)的曾孙，本杰明-霍尔特是第一台实用履带式拖拉机的发明者，也是卡特彼勒拖拉机公司(Caterpillar Tractor Co.)的创始人之一。

六十年来，霍尔特家族一直销售和维修卡特彼勒设备，这些设备被用来帮助建设对南德克萨斯经济至关重要的基础设施。

霍尔特于1984年收购了父亲在霍尔特公司的合伙人，他拥有两家卡特彼勒经销商——一家在俄亥俄州，另一家在德克萨斯州。

尽管经营霍尔特公司需要花费大量精力，但彼得-霍尔特一直积极支持多个慈善和文化组织。

他推动了墨西哥和南德克萨斯之间的商业和文化关系，并参与了圣安东尼奥经济发展基金会(San Antonio Economic Development Foundation)、联合之路(United Way)和圣安东尼奥酒精和药物滥用委员会(San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse)。

“我相信回馈社会，我相信上帝给了我很多机会，”霍尔特说。“我也相信要给其他人创造机会。”

霍尔特与妻子朱丽安娜(Julianna)和三个孩子住在布兰科，他相信企业应该有责任支持社区项目。

“我认为他是一个非常专注的商人，他经营公司时遵循一套非常高的道德价值观，”马丁内斯-方茨说。”

“他是一个非常积极的社区成员，”米勒说。“他是圣安东尼奥社区的相对新人，他于1988年搬到这里，但他全身心地投入了。”

点击查看原文：Peers in business praise Holt as standout leader

Peers in business praise Holt as standout leader

It didn’t take Balous Miller long to discover that Peter M. Holt was a special kind of leader. “He’s not just a leader,” Miller said of the newest member of the Spurs ownership group. “He’s a strong leader.”

Miller, president of Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Inc., first met Holt nearly a decade ago at a board meeting of the Texas Commerce Bank.

“One of my first impressions of him was that he asked good questions, had strong opinions and wasn’t afraid to express those opinions,” Miller said. “I was impressed with him right away.”

Texas Commerce Bank President Al Martinez-Fonts Jr. agreed with Miller.

“There is a focus and an intensity that Peter brings,” Martinez-Fonts said. “He’s a very focused individual. He knows what he wants and then he goes out and gets it done.”

Holt, president and chief executive officer of The Holt Cos., announced Wednesday that he had purchased USAA’s ownership interest in the Spurs, giving him the second-largest share in the team.

“My primary goal is to keep the team here,” said Holt, who sources said he has his own ideas about a reconfiguration for the Alamodome.

Some of Holt’s leadership qualities blossomed in the jungles of Vietnam during the late 1960s. A member of the 25th Infantry Division of the Army, Holt was involved in combat near the Cambodian border during the Tet Offensive.

Holt received numerous decorations during his one-year tour of duty in Vietnam, including a Silver Star, three Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He received the Silver Star, an award for gallantry in action, for saving others during a fire fight.

Holt, born in Peoria, Ill., ended his two-year stint in the military as a sergeant. He returned to the United States with a new outlook on life and his fellow man.

“I went into the service at 19 years old, and I was very young and naive,” Holt said. "I was one of those lucky people that was in

action the whole time I was in Vietnam and got out of it well. I got shot in the neck, but I was sewn up and sent back (to the fighting). There was no permanent damage.

“It (serving in Vietnam) certainly was a searing experience. It made me realize the value of human life and the value of trusting others, because every day there you had to do that.”

Holt, 47, also said his Vietnam experience made him respect and value the differences in humans.

“I was raised in a sheltered environment. But in Vietnam I was living and working with people of different ethnic backgrounds, people from different parts of the country and people with different values,” Holt said. “The one thing we all had in common was we had to work together every day to stay alive.”

Holt, who graduated from Corpus Christi King High School in 1966, enlisted in the Army after dropping out of Texas Christian University.

“I probably would have been drafted, so I went ahead and volunteered,” Holt said.

Holt said he supported the United States’ involvement in Vietnam.

“At the time, I didn’t know the consequences (of going to Vietnam),” Holt said. “But I think we went for the right reasons. I didn’t agree with how the war was handled. But I felt we tried to go in there with the right motivations.”

Holt is the grandson of Holt Co. founder William K. Holt and great-grandson of Benjamin Holt, inventor of the first practical crawler-tractor and one of the founders of the Caterpillar Tractor Co.

For six decades the Holt family has sold and serviced Caterpillar equipment used to help build infrastructure vital to the South Texas economy.

Holt, who bought out his father’s partner in the Holt Cos. in 1984, owns two Caterpillar dealerships - one in Ohio and one in Texas.

Despite the demands of running Holt Cos., Peter Holt has been active in supporting several charitable and cultural organizations.

He promotes business and cultural relationships between Mexico and South Texas, and is involved in the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, the United Way and the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

“I believe in giving back and I believe the good Lord has given me a lot of opportunities,” Holt said. “And I believe in giving other people those opportunities.”

Holt, who lives with his wife, Julianna, and their three children in Blanco, is a believer in corporate responsibility in supporting community projects.

“I think he’s a very focused businessman, who runs a company on a very high ethical set of values,” Martinez-Fonts said."

“He’s a very active member of the community,” Miller said. “He’s a relatively new member of the San Antonio community, having moved here in 1988, but he dove in with both feet.”

, By Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-14

马刺稳定性获得提升

商人彼得-霍尔特(Peter Holt)入股圣安东尼奥马刺队，将在球队最需要的时候为这支城市唯一的职业体育联盟注入活力和稳定性。

马刺队刚刚经历了另一个令人失望的季后赛表现，部分原因也因此，球队本周表示将在1995-96赛季亏损。

球队由多个企业主组成，他们可能不愿长期亏损。因此，对当地保险巨头美国联合服务保险公司(USAA)而言，找到当地买家收购其13.37%的股份至关重要。

霍尔特是一位马刺队的季票持有者，他表示自己不会仅仅成为一名沉默的股东，并且希望将球队留在圣安东尼奥。外地买家无法提供这样的保证。

这对马刺队球迷和城市的国家形象来说都是好消息，因为如果球队离开，城市的形象将会受损。

这也给了城市和球队喘息的机会，以便解决球队财务和主场问题，无论是在阿拉莫圆顶体育场还是新建的场馆。

点击查看原文：Boost for Spurs' stability

Boost for Spurs’ stability

Businessman Peter Holt’s buy-in to the San Antonio Spurs should inject equal doses of energy and stability to the city’s only major league sports franchise - at a time when those ingredients are vitally needed.

The Spurs are coming off another disappointing playoff performance and, partly as a result of that, the team indicated this week it will lose money for the 1995-96 season.

The team’s melange of corporate owners probably was not willing to lose money over the long term. It was critically important that local insurance giant USAA find a local buyer for its 13.37 percent share.

Holt, a Spurs season ticket-holder, has indicated he will be more than a silent owner, and that he wants to keep the team in San

Antonio. An out-of-town buyer would have provided no such assurance.

This is positive news for Spurs fans and the city’s national image, which will suffer if the team departs.

It also gives the city and the team breathing room to work out problems over the team’s finances and home court, whether it be in the Alamodome or a new venue.

, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-14, By Buck Harvey

骑士游戏：连救世主也看利润

这周，一匹白马再次载着一位骑士入城。这位骑士也带着丰厚的资金和良好的意愿而来。他是彼得-霍尔特(Peter Holt)，从卡特彼勒公司转型为城市公益人士。当他买下马刺队的部分股份，并渴望获得更多股份时，纳什维尔难道只能接受巴德-亚当斯(Bud Adams)吗？

霍尔特的出现确实有所帮助。他甚至可能是扭转局面的关键。

但这次所有权变更中有一点需要注意：市场并没有随着所有权变更而改变。所以，如果霍尔特的马刺队留下来，那是因为这位新骑士得到了老骑士们想要的东西：一座球馆和利润。

在其他城市，有人购买一支运动队的13%股份是件很平常的事。霍尔特也是这么想的。但他周三接受了16次采访，周四醒来后又在广播中接受了采访。

“这表明人们对马刺队有浓厚的兴趣，”霍尔特说道，“也反映出人们对球隊搬迁的担忧和恐惧。”

这就是第一印象；这个人既圆滑又坦诚。但就算霍尔特什么都不说，他也将成为英雄。毕竟，他不是一个来自俄克拉荷马州，名叫盖洛德(Gaylord)的人。

盖洛德地产公司(Gaylord Properties)仍然是马刺队的最大股东，一直是马刺队内部不断壮大的“怪兽”。由于与南德克萨斯州没有联系，却与纳什维尔有联系，盖洛德有充分的理由购买股票并等待。当马刺队开始亏损时，盖洛德是否会高兴地发现每个人都可以将投资翻倍？

要将一支球队留在一个小市场，需要更多的情感。于是霍尔特登场了。据说他拥有麦康姆斯(McCombs)式的财富和精力，却没有麦康姆斯式的政治包袱。如果霍尔特能带来马刺队需要的领导力，那么他的价值将远超13%。如果他能为新球馆带来一些交易能力，那么他的价值或许可以与大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)媲美。

如此多的承诺，难怪城市领导人欣喜若狂，一家报纸的头条新闻写道：“马刺队似乎将留在圣安东尼奥”。

但令人清醒的历史：1993年2月20日，《快报-新闻》(Express-News)的报道也曾说过同样的话。当时，一个所有权团体走到一起，从麦康姆斯手中买下了球队，包括我在内的所有人都对那天欢欣鼓舞。

“这确保了马刺队将留在圣安东尼奥，”当时担任市议员的海伦-阿亚拉(Helen Ayala)说。

新的所有者兴奋不已，他们甚至考虑在合同中加入一项巨额罚款条款，以防球队搬迁。他们犹豫了。他们仔细阅读了合同。然后他们开始发现一些问题。

霍尔特对这些问题中的大多数了如指掌。他不可能错过从他大约20排高的座位上看到的平淡无奇的季后赛观众，也不可能错过本周报道马刺队本赛季亏损的新闻。

他足够聪明，说他还不确定是否需要新球馆。尽管如此，他周四表示：“从球迷的角度来看，我喜欢阿拉莫圆顶球馆(Alamodome)。但它并不是完美的场地。没有人否认圆顶球馆是为橄榄球而建的。当球馆没有坐满时，你能明显感觉到。那里确实存在一些问题。”

其他城市也明白这一点。微软创始人兼波特兰开拓者队老板保罗-艾伦(Paul Allen)身价65亿美元。单位是十亿啊（BILLION）。他说他渴望行使购买西雅图海鹰队的权利，为西北地区保留这支球队。但如果当地政府官员无法获得公众支持建造新球场，艾伦将退出交易。

这就是现实情况；富人喜欢保持富裕。如果新球馆永远建不成，如果球队陷入低谷，如果每年都要支付现金，霍尔特会怎么做？

可能就像每一位骑士都会做的那样。白马也可以向另一个方向前进。

点击查看原文：Knight game: Even saviors look at profit

Knight game: Even saviors look at profit

The white horse rode in again this week, carrying yet another knight. This knight, too, came with good money and better intentions. Meet Peter Holt, the Caterpillar man turned civic butterfly. When he bought a share of the Spurs with a desire to buy more, doesn’t it mean Nashville will have to do with Bud Adams?

Holt’s emergence helps, all right. He might even be the difference.

But one thing about this ownership change: The market didn’t change with it. So if Holt’s Spurs stay, it happens because the new knight got what the old ones wanted. An arena and a profit.

In other cities, somebody buying 13 percent of a sports team would be mundane stuff. Holt thought the same. But then he did 16 interviews Wednesday and woke up Thursday talking on the radio.

“It shows there is dramatic interest in the Spurs,” Holt said, “as well as uncertainty and fear about a move.”

So goes the first impression; the guy is smooth as well as candid. But Holt would have been a hero without saying a word. After all, he isn’t an Oklahoman named Gaylord.

Gaylord Properties, still the Spurs’ largest shareholder, has been the ever-growing monster within the Spurs. Without ties to South Texas but with ties to Nashville, Gaylord had every reason to buy shares and wait. When the Spurs began to lose money, wouldn’t Gaylord be happy to note how everyone could double investments?

To keep a team in a small market, considerably more sentiment is required. So enter Holt. They say he has McCombs-like wealth and energy without any of the McCombs-like political baggage. If Holt brings the leadership the Spurs need, then he’s worth more than 13 percent. If he brings some deal-making ability for a new arena, then he might be worth David Robinson.

Such promise. No wonder city bosses were thrilled and a banner newspaper headline read, “Looks like Spurs will stay in S.A.”

The sobering history: Feb. 20, 1993 editions of the Express-News said the same. Then, an ownership group came together to buy from McCombs, and everyone including this columnist trumpeted the day.

“It ensures the Spurs are going to stay in San Antonio,” said Helen Ayala, then a member of City Council.

The new owners were so giddy they considered attaching a huge penalty to their backside should the team ever move. They hesitated. Read the books. And began to see some problems.

Holt knows about most of them. He couldn’t miss the ordinary playoff crowds from his seats about 20 rows up, nor could he miss the story this week that said the Spurs lost money this season.

He’s smart enough to say he doesn’t know yet if a new arena is necessary. Still, he said Thursday: “From where I sat as a fan, I liked the Alamodome. But it’s not the perfect venue. No one denies the dome was built for football. When it’s not full, you feel it. There are issues there.”

Other cities know the same. Paul Allen, a Microsoft founder and owner of the Portland Trail Blazers, is worth $6.5 billion. That’s BILLION. And he says he’s eager to exercise his option to buy the Seattle Seahawks and save that franchise for the Northwest. But if public officials there can’t get public support to build a new stadium, Allen will pull out of the deal.

It’s the bottom-line reality; the rich like to stay that way. And if a new arena is never built, if the franchise slumps and if cash calls become an annual event, what will Holt do?

Probably what every knight would. The white horse can ride the other way, too.

, By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-16, By Glenn Rogers, Pro Basketball

霍尔特加入马刺，似乎是稳操胜券

圣安东尼奥有多少百万富翁？这是一个好问题，因为没有人知道这座城市需要付出多少代价才能留住马刺队。

有来自钻石沙姆洛克的汤姆-特纳(Tom Turner)。当然还有查尔斯-巴特(Charles Butt)和他的杂货帝国。别忘了基特-戈德斯伯里(Kit Goldsbury)，他最近凭借他的派斯皮坎特酱汁获得了巨额财富。

这不是玩笑。我们时不时地需要这些家伙——比如当球队的上座率下降、球迷们对球队的表现感到失望，其他城市则满怀希望地摩拳擦掌，期待将一支球队吸引到他们的城市。

当我们把他们都用过一遍之后，我们可以循环利用他们，从红-麦克康姆斯(Red McCombs)开始，将马刺队留在这里，一直到22世纪。

现在，指定的接盘人彼得-霍尔特(Peter Holt)，是一位重型机械领域的巨头。这是一个幸运的选择，他拥有足够的财力，能够在市政府和球队决定新球馆的位置后，进行一些土地上的变动。

霍尔特的首要任务是确定他是否真的能够说服笨重的现任所有者群体采取某种行动，比如宣布他们的计划是什么、何时执行以及在哪里。

也许霍尔特甚至可以劝说球队让球迷们了解他们的行动，而不是秘密行动，直到信息被偶然发现或“泄露”。

希望，他们的计划不会包括拆除市政厅、宏伟剧院或其中一座教堂，来为新的球场腾地方。

霍尔特现在是一个受欢迎的加入，他会让马刺球迷们轻松一点，他被认为是阻止了盖洛德集团的威胁。在许多圣安东尼奥人眼中，盖洛德和纳什维尔就像爱情和婚姻一样密不可分。

盖洛德派系，由克莱-贝内特(Clay Bennett)代表，坚称他们只是想让马刺队在圣安东尼奥成为一个可行的商业运营。然而，这种坚持受到了质疑，各种马刺队的老板们，虽然对球队并不太关注，但还是躲避了盖洛德收购更多股份的提议。

美国联合服务组织（USAA）就像一个好邻居一样，决定将自己的股份转让给了这个本地人。

盖洛德感到恼火，已经恼火了一段时间了，因为它被认为是一个彻头彻尾的局外人，尽管它最初的投资被认为有助于阻止麦克康姆斯将球队卖给那些想要搬迁球队的买家，但它仍然不值得完全信任。

盖洛德也肯定准备好出手自己的股份，但霍尔特如果感兴趣，最好做好支付高昂价格的准备。即使是在圣安东尼奥，市场价值也大约是1.25亿美元，这意味着来自俄克拉荷马州的老板们持有的20%股份价值略低于2400万美元。

盖洛德内部有些人认为，只要一个电话，就能从另一个城市招募到一个买家，愿意支付1.5亿美元，来换取向一支职业篮球球队砸钱的特权。

无论如何，霍尔特可能希望成为盖洛德的贝内特无疑想要成为的充满活力的领导者。贝内特无法在决议中获得多数票，据报道，他摇头反对这种想法，即那些在投资池中投入了50万美元的投资者拥有与盖洛德一样的投票权。

霍尔特尚未表明他解决穹顶球馆马刺队座位问题的近期计划，但他们的计划似乎与贝内特不同。

据报道，盖洛德完全反对将资金投入穹顶球馆的改造，他们更希望尽快开始建造一个新的球馆。

盖洛德还想要一座没有债务负担的球馆，最好是球队不需要为球馆支付任何收入。其他投资者似乎正在考虑为这个项目贡献数百万美元。

盖洛德希望新球馆的所有收入都流向马刺队，而与城市的分享将在未来某个时间开始，届时丰厚的利润开始滚滚而来。

霍尔特可能在这方面有一些其他的想法。他似乎准备拥抱关于重新安排穹顶球馆的对话，使其对球员和球迷来说更令人满意，直到新的球馆建成。

点击查看原文：Holt's addition to Spurs team appears to be slam dunk

Holt’s addition to Spurs team appears to be slam dunk

How many mega-millionaires are there in San Antonio? Good question, because there’s no telling how many the city will have to go through to keep the Spurs around.

There’s Tom Turner of Diamond Shamrock fame. Charles Butt, of course, with his grocery empire. Don’t forget Kit Goldsbury, recent recipient of a cool pile for his Pace Picante Sauce.

No joke. We need these guys from time to time - like when attendance is down, fans are simmering with some disappointment, other towns are rubbing their hands in hopeful glee that a franchise can be lured to within their city limits.

When we’ve run through them once, we can recycle them, begin again with Red McCombs, keep the Spurs here into the 22nd century.

Right now the designated hitter is Peter Holt, heavy-machinery guy extraordinaire. A kind of fortuitous choice at the moment, somebody who has the wherewithal to move around some turf once the city and team decide where they want to build a new facility.

Holt’s first priority will be to determine whether or not he can actually persuade the cumbersome current ownership group to take some sort of action, such as announcing just what it is they plan to do, when they plan to do it and where.

Maybe Holt can even persuade the organization to let the fans know what it’s up to instead of operating in secret until information is stumbled over or “leaked.”

Hopefully, the plans won’t involve tearing down City Hall, the Majestic Theater or one of the missions to make way for a new playing court.

Holt right now is a welcome addition, one who will let Spurs fans breathe a little easier, a guy who is perceived as thwarting the menacing presence of the Gaylord group. Gaylord and Nashville go together like love and marriage, at least in the minds of many San Antonians.

The Gaylord faction, represented by Clay Bennett, insisted it only was interested in making the Spurs a viable business operation in San Antonio. The insistence, however, was doubted and the various Spurs owners, although not being overly attentive to the franchise, shied from the Gaylord overtures to purchase additional interest.

USAA, acting like a mighty good neighbor, decided to unload its interest to the local boy.

Gaylord is miffed, has been miffed for some time, that it was considered a rank outsider, not to be completely trusted despite its initial investment that supposedly helped prevent McCombs from selling to suitors with movement in mind.

Gaylord surely also is ready to unload its piece but Holt, if interested, had best be prepared to pay a stiff price. Market value, even in San Antonio, is about $125 million, meaning somewhat less than $24 million for the Oklahoma-based owners’ 20 percent clip.

There are those at Gaylord who believe it would take one phone call to summon forth a buyer from another city willing to part with

$150 million for the privilege of showering dough on a pro basketball franchise.

Be that as it may, Holt probably wants to be the dynamic leader Gaylord’s Bennett undoubtedly wanted to be. Bennett couldn’t get a majority vote on resolutions, reportedly shaking his head over the notion that investors with as little as $500,000 in the pool had a vote equal to Gaylord’s.

Holt hasn’t indicated his immediate plans to solve the Spurs’ seating problems at the dome, but they appear to differ from Bennett’s.

Reports are that Gaylord was utterly opposed to sinking money into the reconfiguration of the dome, preferring to start quickly on the construction of a new plant.

Gaylord also wanted a building constructed with no debt service landing on the Spurs, preferably no revenue contribution at all from the franchise. Other investors appear to be considering contributing some millions to the project.

Gaylord wanted all revenue streams from the new plant to flow into the Spurs, with talk of sharing with the city coming sometime in the future when nice profits started rolling in.

Holt might have some other ideas along these lines. He appears ready to embrace conversations about rearranging the dome to make it more palatable for the players and fans until a new facility can be built.

By Glenn Rogers, Pro Basketball, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-16

关于罗宾逊的好与坏 - 关于这位球星能否带领马刺夺得 NBA 冠军的评价褒贬不一

如今，关于大卫-罗宾逊(David Robinson)的观点并不少见，所以我也来谈谈我的看法。从第一天起，马刺管理层、教练组和当地媒体实际上都免除了罗宾逊因其表现应得的公开批评。他只要出现在比赛中，就能在格伦-罗杰斯的成绩单上获得“B”的评价。因此，大卫潜意识里已经对自己的表现水平感到“满意”。问问一位职业高尔夫球手，当他对自己的比赛感到满意时会发生什么。他们很快就会去找一份俱乐部的工作。

直到大卫意识到人们对他寄予厚望，并且他认真努力地提高自己的水平，马刺队才会在常规赛中继续保持出色表现，但在季后赛中却会一败涂地。

大卫是一位全明星球员，梦之队的成员，并且凭借他在常规赛中的表现赢得了无数奖项，但他必须将目标定得更高。这个目标需要他全身心地投入，努力提高自己的球技。我们不要忘记，"团队"这个词里没有 “我”。 - 哈罗德-T-卡斯特森，圣安东尼奥

- 不要再为难大卫了

好了，球迷们和媒体朋友们，该清醒一下了，停止为难大卫-罗宾逊了。

一场比赛，一场冠军的胜负需要 12 名球员的共同努力。当一名球员缺席时，应该由另一名球员站出来。球队的重担不应该只压在一个球员身上。一个很好的例子就是芝加哥公牛队。当迈克尔-乔丹(Michael Jordan)在一场季后赛中只得到 17 分时，斯科蒂-皮蓬(Scottie Pippen)提高了他的得分。

我认为圣安东尼奥人民需要开始欣赏马刺队；他们是这里唯一的职业球队。如果你喜欢篮球，并且喜欢马刺队，你就会在任何情况下都支持他们。

如果你了解篮球，如果你了解大卫-罗宾逊，你就会知道他赢得了年度最佳新秀、得分王、篮板王以及 MVP 的称号。他努力拼搏，克服了许多困难和挫折。在 NBA 或者生活中，没有任何东西是唾手可得的。

让我们把比赛留给职业球员，享受比赛，趁我们还有球队的时候。我无法想象没有篮球的圣安东尼奥，那是我的生活和呼吸。如果我们能把一支球队，包括教练，维持几年，只有到那时，我们才能赢得冠军。 - 厄琳-米勒，圣安东尼奥

- 去把多米尼克-威尔金斯(Dominique Wilkins)签下来吧

我对马刺队的报道很感兴趣，和其他所有人一样，我也想帮助马刺队赢得冠军。在 6 月 9 日的 Fanstand 信件《波波维奇得了个 F》发表后，我知道如何让他得个 A。

我读到了关于罗德曼的哭泣声，以及“我早就告诉过你”。我认为让他离开是一个明智的决定，因为他缺乏进攻能力，而且行为不端。我也听说过有关巴克利换埃利奥特的交易，但我们会失去一名好球员换来另一名好球员，这让我们回到了原点。

为什么不保留大卫、肖恩、维尼和艾弗里的核心阵容，再增加一名可以为我们贡献 15-20 分的强力前锋呢？这个人渴望赢得冠军，因为他还没有赢过。

这个人被交易出亚特兰大老鹰队时受到了不公正的待遇，更重要的是，他现在甚至没有球队。他就是多米尼克-威尔金斯。他可以像克莱德-德雷克斯勒(Clyde Drexler)在休斯敦那样，帮助圣安东尼奥赢得冠军。 - 亨利-洛佩兹，圣安东尼奥

- 开始说话，马刺队

我们还要听马刺队多久才能听到他们说“今年就是我们的一年”？大卫-罗宾逊已经不年轻了，如果没有强大的阵容，他可能永远无法实现将明星球员提升为传奇人物的要素 - 赢得冠军。

对我来说，问题是马刺队似乎把输给犹他队的责任都推给了其他人 - 球迷没有支持我们，裁判的判罚很糟糕，卡尔-马龙(Karl Malone)可以为所欲为。我厌倦了听他们说这些胡话。事实是我们被痛击了，就这么简单。

如果马刺队想要获得球迷的支持，那就赢球吧。这是我们作为球迷应得的。马刺队可以口头说，但现在是行动的时候了 - 也许纳什维尔也想拥有一个篮球队。 - 马特-扬金，圣安东尼奥

点击查看原文：The good, bad on Robinson - Reviews mixed about whether star center can take Spurs to NBA title

The good, bad on Robinson - Reviews mixed about whether star center can take Spurs to NBA title

Opinions about David Robinson are not in short supply these days, so I may as well log in with mine. Since Day One, Spurs management, the coaching staff and the local media have virtually exempted Robinson from outright criticism when his performance warrants it. He could just show up for the games and he would rate a “B” on Glenn Rogers’ report card. Consequently, David has subconsciously become “satisfied” with his performance level. Ask a professional golfer what happens when he or she becomes satisfied with their game. They will soon be looking for a club job.

Until David realizes that great things are expected of him - and he makes a conscientious effort to improve his game - the Spurs will continue to perform fine during the regular season, but will fall flat in the playoffs.

David is an All-Star, a member of the Dream Team and has won numerous awards for his regular-season performance, but his sights must be set on a higher goal. That goal requires dedication and hard work from him to improve his play. Let us not forget that there is no “I” in the word “team.” - Harold T. Carstensen, San Antonio

- Leave David alone

All right, fans and the media, it’s time to get a grip and knock it off - leave David Robinson alone.

It takes 12 players to win or lose a game, and a championship. When one player is out, another one is supposed to step up. The weight of the team shouldn’t lie solely on any one player. A good example? The Chicago Bulls. When Michael Jordan had only 17 points in one playoff game, Scottie Pippen stepped up his scoring.

I think the people of San Antonio need to start appreciating the Spurs; they are the only professional team we have here. If you like basketball - and the Spurs -you’ll stand behind the team through thick and thin.

If you know basketball and you know David Robinson, you would know that he earned Rookie of the Year honors, a scoring title, a rebounding title and the MVP. He worked his butt off and took a lot of bumps and bruises. Nothing is given to you in the NBA or in life.

Let’s leave the playing to the pros and enjoy the games, while we still have a team. I can’t imagine San Antonio without basketball, which I live and breathe. If we ever keep a team together for a couple of years, including the coach, then and only then will we win a championship. - Earline Miller, San Antonio

- Go get Dominique

I read with interest about the Spurs and, like everyone else, I would like to help get the Spurs a championship. After the June 9 Fanstand letter titled, “Popovich gets an F,” I know how to get him an A.

I have read the crying about Rodman and “I told you so.” I think it was a good decision to let go of him because of his lack of offense and bad behavior. I also hear about a Barkley-for-Elliott trade, but we would be losing a good player for a good player and that would bring us to the same point.

How about keeping the nucleus of David, Sean, Vinny and Avery and adding a power forward who can give us 15-20 points a game? This particular man has the hunger for a championship because he hasn’t won it yet.

This man got a raw deal when he was traded off as the team leader of the Atlanta Hawks and, get this, he doesn’t even have a team right now. It’s Dominique Wilkins. He can do what Clyde Drexler did in Houston and help bring San Antonio a title. - Henry Lopez, San Antonio

- Start talking, Spurs

How much longer are we expected to listen to the Spurs organization claim that “this is our year?” David Robinson isn’t getting any younger and without a supporting cast he may never get what lifts a star player to legend status - a championship.

The problem for me is that the Spurs seem to blame everyone but themselves for the loss to Utah -the fans didn’t support us, the referees’ calls were terrible, Karl Malone could do whatever he wanted. I’m tired of hearing this jibberish from them. The truth is we got spanked, plain and simple.

If the Spurs want fan support, then win. That’s what we as fans deserve. The Spurs can talk the talk, but it’s time now to walk the

walk - or maybe Nashville would like a basketball team, too. - Matt Younkin, San Antonio

via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1996-06-19, By COMPILED FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

CBA后卫为马刺队试训

马刺队邀请了身高6尺3寸的后卫盖伦-尼克森(Gaylon Nickerson)进行试训。尼克森，预计他将争夺德尔-德普斯(Dell Demps)目前的位置，或填补任何可能交易留下的空缺，上赛季在CBA打球，场均得到17分。

尼克森，预计将接受教练组的观察，是1994年选秀大会上亚特兰大老鹰队的第二轮选秀。他在西北俄克拉荷马州立大学大四期间场均得到21.7分。

“他年轻有活力，潜力巨大，他可能是一个大器晚成的球员，”主教练鲍勃-希尔(Bob Hill)周二说道。尼克森在1994-95赛季效力于海外。

• 安德森获奖：马刺队训练师约翰-安德森(John Andersen)是1996年最杰出运动训练师奖的获得者之一。

该奖项要求获得者在国家训练师协会拥有20年的认证会员资格，积极参与运动训练，在运动训练方面获得杰出服务认可，并对运动训练职业做出独特贡献。

• 总决赛收视率登顶：NBC体育周二表示，NBC体育对公牛队与超音速队之间的NBA总决赛最后一场比赛的报道是收视率最高的第六场总决赛。

这场比赛的尼尔森收视率为18.8，份额为35，NBC估计周日晚上有6000万人观看了比赛的全部或部分内容。这超过了1993年公牛队与太阳队之间第六场总决赛的5850万观众的纪录。

• 马龙哀悼朋友：丹尼-尤因(Danny Ewing)，一位13岁的白血病患者，曾得到犹他爵士队前锋卡尔-马龙(Karl Malone)的帮助，已被安葬在山谷景纪念公园。

这位北盐湖的年轻人周五去世。他曾称马龙为“我的天使”，并说马龙“帮助我的人生变得更加光明”。

马龙是周一葬礼的扶柩者之一。仪式由爵士队牧师杰里-刘易斯(Jerry Lewis)主持。

马龙和他的妻子凯(Kay)去年夏天在探望初级儿童医疗中心时结识了这位男孩。

马龙在5月30日被告知这位男孩只剩下几周时间了，于是他安排尤因参加当晚的NBA西部决赛第六场比赛。

尤因戴着一顶爵士队的帽子和T恤，在更衣室外得到了马龙的热烈拥抱和一件球衣。

点击查看原文：CBA guard works out for Spurs

CBA guard works out for Spurs

The Spurs have brought in 6-foot-3 guard Gaylon Nickerson for a workout. Nickerson, who presumably would battle for the slot now held by Dell Demps or fill a vacancy left by any possible trades, played in the CBA last season and averaged 17 points.

Nickerson, who was scheduled to be watched by the coaching staff, was the second-round pick of the Atlanta Hawks in the 1994 draft. He averaged 21.7 points during his senior year at Northwest Oklahoma State.

“He is young and athletic and he has potential, he could be a late bloomer,” Coach Bob Hill said Tuesday. Nickerson played overseas during the 1994-95 season.

-Andersen awarded: Spurs trainer John Andersen is one of the 1996 winners of the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer awards.

The award requires 20 years of certified membership in the National Trainers Association, active engagement in athletic training, recognition for distinguished service as an athletic trainer and for unique contributions to the profession of athletic training.

-Finals ratings tops: NBC Sports’ coverage of the final game of the NBA finals between Chicago and Seattle was the most-watched Game 6 ever, NBC said Tuesday.

The game received a Nielsen rating of 18.8 with a 35 share, and NBC estimated that 60 million people saw all or part of the game Sunday night. That surpassed the previous record of 58.5 million viewers for Game 6 of the 1993 NBA finals between Chicago and Phoenix.

-Malone mourns friend: Danny Ewing, a 13-year-old leukemia victim who had been befriended by Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone, has been buried at Valley View Memorial park.

The North Salt Lake youth died Friday. He had referred to Malone as “my angel” and said Malone “helped brighten my life.”

Malone was a pallbearer at the funeral Monday. The service was conducted by the Rev. Jerry Lewis, the Jazz team chaplain.

Malone and his wife, Kay, became acquainted with the boy last summer during a visit to Primary Children’s Medical Center.

Malone was told May 30 that the boy had only weeks to live and he arranged for Ewing to attend that night’s Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference Finals.

Ewing, wearing a Jazz cap and T-shirt, got a big hug and a uniform jersey from Malone outside the locker room.

By COMPILED FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS, via San Antonio Express-News