马刺1997-98赛季实录（680+篇）

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-05, By Jerry Briggs

步行者最新加入球馆建设热潮 印第安纳波利斯对马刺的建议：耐心点

随着圣安东尼奥人不可避免地开始猜测马刺队何时何地搬迁，印第安纳波利斯最近为步行者队的新球馆奠基，从而阻止了这种让球迷心碎的猜测。

7 月 22 日，印第安纳波利斯市中心开始动工修建一座将于 1999 年开放的新球馆。该项目由私人和公共资金共同融资，包括拆除市场广场竞技场，总花费为 1.75 亿美元。

步行者队与马刺队同属美国篮球协会（ABA），他们将在未来两个赛季继续在市场广场竞技场进行比赛。之后，他们将搬进拥有豪华包厢、可容纳 19,000 名观众的新球馆。

“这真的意义重大，”步行者队总裁唐尼·沃尔什（Donnie Walsh）说。“对我们来说是一个里程碑。我们一直以来都在市场广场竞技场苦苦支撑，但如果没有新的球馆，我们最终将无法继续下去。”

该融资方案被誉为公私结合的典范。市领导称其为 60% 私人资金，但随着未来几年城市偿还 3700 万美元的企业捐款，该项目可能逐渐变成一个更偏向公共资金的项目。

“在过去的几个月里，我听到了来自数千名印第安纳波利斯居民的呼声，”印第安纳波利斯市长史蒂夫·戈德史密斯（Steve Goldsmith）说。“几乎所有的人都同意两点：首先，步行者队是我们社区极其重要的资产；其次，我们不应该通过提高房产税、销售税或所得税来建造新的球馆。”

“这个计划同时实现了这两个目标。”

与此同时，马刺队由于缺乏当地居民的支持，已经放弃了他们自己的球馆建设计划。马刺队最近进行的一项针对圣安东尼奥注册选民的调查显示，61% 的人反对建造一座社区体育馆。

马刺队将在进入他们的第 25 个赛季之际，继续在阿拉莫圆顶体育场比赛。沃尔什理解马刺队在寻求新球馆的过程中所经历的困难。

“如果我们没有得到新的球馆，”他说，“我们将被迫做一些我们不想做的事情。我们的所有者蒙受了一些损失，但你不可能永远承受损失。”

步行者队的项目延续了 NBA 球馆建设的热潮，在 20 世纪 90 年代，29 支球队中有 11 支已经搬进了新球馆。

亚特兰大老鹰队计划在六周内为即将拆除的全能竞技场（Omni）修建一座新球馆。在接下来的两个赛季，老鹰队将把他们的主场比赛分配到佐治亚理工学院的球馆和佐治亚圆顶体育场。

另外两支球队——金州勇士队和华盛顿奇才队（前身为子弹队）——将在今年秋季在新球馆进行首场比赛。

据《洛杉矶时报》最近的一项研究显示，到 90 年代末，将有 20 支 NBA 球队要么搬进新球馆，要么已经为新球馆制定了计划。德克萨斯州的三支球队——马刺队、达拉斯小牛队和休斯敦火箭队——是剩余的没有明确计划的球队。

在大多数情况下，90 年代的 NBA 球馆建设都引发了争议，主要原因是关于资金包的争议。马刺队还没有提出任何资金包，但已经遭到了一些居民的反对，他们担心这会导致税收增加。

相比之下，步行者队也经历了一些艰难的时期。

“我们没有进行全民公决，”沃尔什说，“但感觉就像我们进行了公决，因为我们做了很多调查和公开会议。”

印第安纳波利斯居民抱怨说，过度重视建造体育设施，例如 RCA 圆顶体育场，而教育却得不到足够的重视。

“人们试图比较球队和教育哪个更重要，但你无法比较，”沃尔什说。“球队（不那么重要）。无论球馆的建设结果如何，（城市）领导人是否会投入更多资金用于（教育）？可能不会。”

“这对于人们来说，很难理解。”最初，印第安纳波利斯市领导人像其他人一样持怀疑态度。步行者队在市场广场竞技场获得了三个 ABA 冠军。为什么他们在 NBA 中不能继续在这座球馆取得成功？

“这是一个非常艰难的过程，”印第安纳波利斯市长特别顾问吉姆·斯奈德（Jim Snyder）说。“大约四年前开始的。步行者队过来，说：‘我们无法在 MSA 竞技场保持竞争力。’我们说，我们无法相信。我们花了四年的时间才理解他们为什么这么说。”

在圣安东尼奥，马刺队表示，由于标准以下的高级座位——主要是豪华包厢，他们无法在阿拉莫圆顶体育场取得成功。相比之下，步行者队的处境更糟糕。在市场广场竞技场，他们没有包厢或俱乐部座位。

“你必须理解，今天的篮球比赛中，有一个工资帽，这个工资帽与所有球队的收入挂钩，包括他们的包厢收入，”沃尔什说。“如果你没有包厢，而你的支出（球员薪水）却与其他球队成正比地增加，那么你就很难进行竞争。”

对于纳税人来说，承担全部球馆建设费用的负担也越来越重。在 NBA 中，90 年代的大多数项目都是由私人和公共资金共同资助的。

印第安纳波利斯项目遵循了这种模式，据称私人资金超过 1 亿美元。步行者队将贡献未来球馆收入的 5700 万美元，以及 500 万美元的预付款。

另外 3700 万美元将来自市中心购物中心的利润。制药巨头礼来公司的土地捐赠被视为价值 1000 万美元的实物捐赠。

从公共部门来看，体育税区将在未来几年内筹集 5000 万美元。这笔钱将来自该区的销售税和所得税。

所得税将从在球馆、RCA 圆顶体育场和 AAA 棒球场工作的每个人（包括运动员）那里征收。

此外，资本改善委员会（拥有所有三个体育场租赁权）将提供超过 1600 万美元的储备金。

印第安纳州州长提出的诉讼质疑建立体育税区法律的合法性，这阻碍了债券的出售。印第安纳波利斯官员预计诉讼不会成功，但在债券发行之前，该市将利用 5000 万美元的信用额度启动项目。

关于这笔交易中公共资金和私人资金的比例，还有一些疑问。来自市中心购物中心投资者的 3700 万美元企业捐款将在 20 年内由城市偿还。

与此同时，一名球队官员表示，步行者队将在租约谈判结束后获得“一大笔钱”。据报道，步行者队将获得球馆的大部分收入，包括他们比赛的所有包厢收入。斯奈德说，球队将获得 20 年的租约，包括 10 年的强制比赛条款。

斯奈德说，10 年后，球队可以选择退出，但要支付“相当大”的罚款。斯奈德没有具体说明罚款金额，只说它将与“球队的价值”挂钩。

“底线是，”他说，“我们（城市）是全身而退。”

沃尔什对租约中的条款感到满意。

“这是一笔不错的交易，”他说。“解决了我们的问题。我们有更多的广告位。我们有 2000 个俱乐部座位。这让我们处于更好的位置。但没有人会因此变得富有。”

尽管马刺队遇到了球馆问题，但沃尔什预测他们最终将获得他们想要的球馆。

“我理解他们遇到的困难，”他说。“但马刺队是圣安东尼奥市不可或缺的一部分。我相信他们最终会找到解决问题的办法。这就是社区的意义所在。”

篮球馆建设热潮

90 年代是 NBA 球馆建设热潮的年代。在联盟的 29 支球队中，有 20 支球队要么已经在这十年里搬进了新球馆，要么已经为新球馆制定了计划。

球队 球馆 成本（百万美元） 开放时间 座位数 包厢 资金来源

亚特兰大 未命名 213-x 1999 20,000 100 私人/公共

波士顿 舰队中心 160 1995 18,600 104 私人/公共

夏洛特 未命名 192-p NA NA NA 私人/公共

芝加哥 联合中心 175 1994 21,711 216 私人

克利夫兰 甘恩竞技场 152 1994 20,562 92 私人/公共

丹佛 百事中心 150 1999 19,200 84 私人

金州 大球馆竞技场 100 1997 19,200 72 私人/公共

印第安纳 印第安纳球馆 175 1999 20,000 66 私人/公共

洛杉矶湖人 未命名 250-px 1999 20,000 160 私人/公共

迈阿密 未命名 165-p 1999 NA NA 私人/公共

明尼苏达 目标中心 104 1990 19,006 68 私人/公共

费城 科尔斯泰茨中心 206 1996 18,168 126 私人/公共

菲尼克斯 美国西部竞技场 96 1992 19,023 88 私人/公共

波特兰 玫瑰花园 262 1995 21,538 70 私人/公共

圣安东尼奥 阿拉莫圆顶体育场 186 1993 20,662-y 34 公共

西雅图 KeyArena 110 1995 17,072 58 公共

多伦多 加拿大航空中心 200 1999 22,500 NA 私人

犹他 三角洲中心 94 1991 19,911 56 私人

温哥华 通用汽车球馆 160 1995 19,193 88 私人

华盛顿 MCI 中心 175-x 1997 20,000 110 私人

p: 计划

x: 包括零售、商业或附属设施

y: 下层座位；上层座位 37,000（马刺队容量）

公共: 公共资金

私人: 私人资金

NA: 不适用

来源：《洛杉矶时报》，1997 年

点击查看原文：Pacers latest to get on track for arena Indiana's advice to Spurs: Be patient

Pacers latest to get on track for arena Indiana’s advice to Spurs: Be patient

As San Antonio awaits inevitable speculation about when and where the Spurs might relocate, Indianapolis recently put a stop to that sort of emotional fan agony with groundbreaking on a new arena for the Pacers.

Shovels hit the dirt in downtown Indianapolis on July 22 for a facility that will open in 1999. Cost of the private-public financed project, including demolition of Market Square Arena, is $175 million.

The Pacers, who share an American Basketball Association heritage with the Spurs, will play in Market Square Arena for the next two seasons. After that, they move into their luxury-box-laden, 19,000- seat facility.

“It’s really significant,” Pacers president Donnie Walsh said. “It’s a milestone for us. We’ve been able to make it work for all this time (at Market Square Arena). But at some point, without the new building, we wouldn’t have been able to make it.”

The financing scheme has been hailed as a combination of private and public money. City leaders call it 60-percent private, although it may become more of a public project in years to come when the city returns payment on a $37 million corporate contribution.

“Over the last several months, I have heard from thousands of Indianapolis residents,” Indianapolis mayor Steve Goldsmith said. "Almost all of them agree on two things. First, the Pacers are an enormously important asset to our community. Second, we should not raise property taxes, sales taxes or income taxes … to build a new arena.

“This plan achieves both of those goals.”

The Spurs, meanwhile, have backed off their own arena push because of a lack of support from area residents. A recent Spurs- sponsored poll of registered voters in San Antonio indicated 61 percent were opposed to a community coliseum.

For the time being, the Spurs will play in the Alamodome going into their 25th anniversary season. Walsh understands what the Spurs are going through in their quest for a new facility.

“If we didn’t get a new arena,” he said, “we’d have been forced into something we didn’t want to do. Our ownership took some losses, but you can’t absorb losses forever.”

The Pacers’ project continued the sweeping arena construction boom in the NBA, which has seen 11 of its 29 teams move into new facilities in the 1990s.

The Atlanta Hawks are scheduled to break ground with six weeks on a new facility to replace the razed Omni. For the next two seasons, the Hawks will divide its home games between Georgia Tech’s arena and the Georgia Dome.

Two other teams - the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards (formerly the Bullets) - will tip off in new arenas this fall.

All told, 20 NBA teams will have either moved into new facilities or have mapped out plans for one in the '90s, according to a recent Los Angeles Times study. Three Texas teams - the Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets - are among remaining franchises without firm plans.

In most cases, NBA arena construction in the '90s has created controversy - primarily over the financial packages. The Spurs have not proposed one yet and already have drawn fire from residents fearing a tax increase.

The Pacers, in comparison, also went through some rough times.

“We didn’t have a referendum,” Walsh said, “but it was almost like we did, because we had so many surveys and public meetings.”

Indianapolis residents complained that too much emphasis had been placed on building sports facilities, such as the RCA Dome, and not enough had gone to education.

“People try to compare whether the team is as important as education, and you just can’t,” Walsh said. "It’s not (as important). Regardless of what happens with the arena, are (civic) leaders going to put any more money into (education) or not? Probably not.

“It’s just something that’s very hard for people to grasp.” Initially, Indianapolis city leaders were as skeptical as anyone. The Pacers won three ABA titles at Market Square Arena. Why couldn’t they continue to prosper at the same building in the NBA?

“It was a very difficult process,” said Jim Snyder, a special counsel to Indianapolis’ mayor. “It started about four years ago. The Pacers came around and said, ‘We can’t be competitive in MSA.’ We said we couldn’t believe it. It was a four- year odyssey for us to understand why.”

In San Antonio, the Spurs have said they can’t make the Alamodome work because of substandard premium seating - mainly, luxury suites. The Pacers, in contrast, had it worse. In Market Square, they had no suites or club seats.

“What you have to understand about basketball today is that you have a salary cap, and that cap is tied to income from all the teams’ revenues, including their suite revenues,” Walsh said. “If you don’t have the suites, and your expenses (player salaries) are going up in direct proportion to the other teams, it makes it very difficult to compete.”

It’s also becoming increasingly difficult for taxpayers to foot the entire bill for arena construction costs. In the NBA, most projects in the '90s have combined private and public sources of funding.

The Indianapolis project followed the form chart with what has been billed as more than $100 million in private funds. The Pacers will contribute $57 million in future arena revenues and $5 million up front.

Another $37 million will come from the business community through downtown mall profits. A donation of land from Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical giant, is listed as a $10 million in-kind contribution.

From the public sector, $50 million will be accrued over the years from a sports tax district. The money will come from the district’s sales and income taxes.

The income taxes would be collected from everyone - including athletes - who work at the arena, the RCA Dome and a Triple-A baseball field.

Additionally, a little more than $16 million will come from reserves of the Capital Improvements Board, which owns the lease on all three sports complexes.

A lawsuit by the Indiana state treasurer, challenging the legality of a law that created the sports district, is holding up the sale of bonds. Indianapolis officials don’t expect the suit to prevail, but until bonds are issued, the city is utilizing a $50 million line of credit to start the project.

Other questions have been raised about how much of the deal is public and how much is private. The $37 million corporate contribution from investors in a downtown shopping mall will be repaid by the city in 20 years.

Meanwhile, the Pacers will receive a “great deal” once lease negotiations are concluded, one team official said. It has been reported that the Pacers will receive most of the arena’s revenues, including all suite revenue from their games. Snyder said the team would get a 20-year lease, including a 10-year mandatory play provision.

After 10 years, the team could opt out at “a pretty significant” penalty, Snyder said. Snyder didn’t specify the penalty, saying only that it would be tied “to the value of the team.”

“The bottom line,” he said, “is that we (the city) are made whole.”

Walsh is satisfied with the provisions in the lease.

“It is a good deal,” he said. “It addresses our problems. We have more signage and more signage positions. We’ve got (2,000) club seats. It puts us in a much better position. But nobody is getting rich here.”

Despite the Spurs’ arena woes, Walsh predicted they would eventually get the building they want.

“I understand the problems they’re having,” he said. “But the Spurs are an integral part of what makes the city San Antonio. I think they’ll eventually find a way to solve the problem. That’s what communities do.”

Basketball’s Building Boom

Chalk up the 1990s as the decade of new-arena decadence in the NBA. Of the league’s 29 teams, 20 have either moved into new facilities this decade or have plans for a new home.

TEAM FACILITY COST (millions) OPEN SEATS SUITES FINANCE

Atlanta unnamed 213-x 1999 20,000 100 Pri./Pub.

Boston FleetCenter 160 1995 18,600 104 Pri./Pub.

Charlotte unnamed 192-p NA NA NA Pri./Pub.

Chicago United Center 175 1994 21,711 216 Pri.

Cleveland Gund Arena 152 1994 20,562 92 Pri./Pub.

Denver Pepsi Center 150 1999 19,200 84 Pri.

Golden State Coliseum Arena 100 1997 19,200 72 Pri./Pub.

Indiana Indiana Fieldhouse 175 1999 20,000 66 Pri./Pub.

L.A. Lakers unnamed 250-px 1999 20,000 160 Pri./Pub.

Miami unnamed 165-p 1999 NA NA Pri./Pub.

Minnesota Target Center 104 1990 19,006 68 Pri./Pub.

Philadelphia CoreStates Center 206 1996 18,168 126 Pri./Pub.

Phoenix America West Arena 96 1992 19,023 88 Pri./Pub.

Portland Rose Garden 262 1995 21,538 70 Pri./Pub.

San Antonio Alamodome 186 1993 20,662-y 34 Pub.

Seattle KeyArena 110 1995 17,072 58 Pub

Toronto Air Canada Centre 200 1999 22,500 NA Pri.

Utah Delta Center 94 1991 19,911 56 Pri.

Vancouver GM Place 160 1995 19,193 88 Pri.

Washington MCI Center 175-x 1997 20,000 110 Pri.

p: proposed

x: includes retail, commercial or attached amenities

y: lower-level seating; with upper deck 37,000 (Spurs capacity)

Pub.: public funding

Pri.: private funding

NA: not available

Source: Los Angeles Times, 1997

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-06, By Jerry Briggs

马刺队不喜欢所有的闲言碎语 珀森的恢复情况不如罗宾逊

上赛季因背伤而休战的老将大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)和查克·珀森(Chuck Person)，在球队管理层中引发了乐观情绪和担忧。

虽然罗宾逊据说已经恢复了 95%，但珀森表示自己仍然有疼痛感。

马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)表示，珀森将在今天在阿拉巴马州接受背部磁共振成像 (MRI) 检查。

“在他最近的几次训练中，他出现了一些背部疼痛，”波波维奇说。“这是他整个夏天第一次表达类似的感受。”

在经历了上赛季 20胜 62 负的惨败和伤病噩梦之后，波波维奇曾表示，所有伤病恢复的老将将在 10 月的训练营中做好准备。

但鉴于最近的报道，球队无法确定珀森的长期状况。

“我总是乐观，”波波维奇说。“但我天生乐观，你必须面对现实。这就是我们送他去看医生的原因。”

珀森是 NBA 的一位十年老将，他在 6 月份年满 33 岁，自 1994 年夏天加盟马刺队以来，一直是球队的主要三分射手。他在 95-96 赛季创下了球队三分球命中数的记录，为 190 个。

在上个秋季训练营开始前，珀森出现疼痛，导致他因背伤缺席了整个赛季。他在 10 月份接受了手术修复椎间盘突出。

罗宾逊是球队的核心球员，担任中锋位置，上赛季只打了 6 场比赛，原因是背部和脚部受伤。

罗宾逊的左脚骨折已经完全康复，他今年夏天稳步加强背部力量，让管理层感到满意。他的背部问题已经困扰他一年多了。

周一晚上，他在科罗拉多州阿斯彭与队友蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)和威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)一起训练了三个小时，这是他今年夏天最激烈的一次训练。

“对抗性训练进展顺利，”波波维奇通过电话从阿斯彭说道。“在海拔 5000 英尺的地方训练有点困难。但他们每天都进行大约三个小时的个人技术和体能训练。”

波波维奇和马刺队的体能教练迈克·布伦加特(Mike Brungardt)一直在监督为期一周的训练，这些训练对媒体封闭。

波波维奇说，罗宾逊，这位七届全明星球员，今天年满 32 岁，看起来已经接近巅峰状态。

“他现在看起来更接近 95% 而不是 90%，”波波维奇说。几周前，他在圣安东尼奥对罗宾逊进行了训练，此后他看到了罗宾逊的进一步进步。

“蒂姆·邓肯继续展现出良好的工作态度。威尔·珀杜也一直在努力。”

直到去年 4 月，观察员们注意到罗宾逊有时很难从椅子上站起来，或者弯下腰去拿储物柜里的东西。最近，波波维奇对罗宾逊的整体灵活性感到鼓舞。

“他的一般活动能力几乎恢复了正常，”波波维奇说。“他的速度已经恢复，他能够跳跃和奔跑（良好）。他正在进行对抗性训练。”

“从今年夏天的所有训练来看，我从未见过任何人——无论是在职业联赛还是大学——比大卫训练更刻苦。他更强壮了，现在我再次看到了他爆发性的力量。”

波波维奇回避了关于罗宾逊（1987 年选秀状元）和邓肯（1997 年选秀状元）之间一对一对抗谁更胜一筹的问题。

“这只是一次训练，”波波维奇说。“没有赢家和输家。”

马刺队有 11 名球员下赛季的合同已经得到保证。NBA 现役阵容限制为 12 名球员。

根据珀森的状况，球队可能会在训练营开幕前寻找一到两个球员来填补空缺。

肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)在上赛季接受了膝盖肌腱手术，缺席了 43 场比赛，最近也被允许全速训练。埃利奥特今年夏天早些时候表示，他计划在 10 月份之前变得比以往更轻、更快。

“我无法告诉你关于肖恩的情况，”波波维奇说。“当我回到城里，我就可以看看他。”

波波维奇对球队下赛季的复兴表示了希望。

“我们都相信我们的球队将恢复到巅峰状态，”他说。“我们现在比上赛季末要好得多。加入蒂姆·邓肯是一个额外的收获。”

点击查看原文：Spurs don't like all the back talk Person not recovering as well as Robinson

Spurs don’t like all the back talk Person not recovering as well as Robinson

Rehabilitation on back injuries that shelved Spurs veterans David Robinson and Chuck Person last season have generated both heightened optimism and concern among team management.

Although Robinson is said to be close to 95 percent in his recovery, Person has reported pain.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Person will have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on his back performed today in Alabama.

“In his last couple of workouts, he’s had some back pain,” Popovich said. “It’s the first time he’s expressed something like that all summer.”

After last season’s 20-62, injury- scarred nightmare, Popovich had said all of his ailing veterans would be ready for October training camp.

But in light of the recent reports, the team can’t say for certain what Person’s long-term status is.

“I’m always optimistic,” Popovich said. “But while I am optimistic by nature, you have to deal with reality. That’s why we’re sending him to a doctor.”

Person, a 10-year NBA veteran who turned 33 in June, has served as the Spurs’ primary three-point- shooting threat since he signed with the team in the summer of 1994. He set a franchise record with 190 threes in '95-96.

After experiencing pain just before the start of last fall’s camp, Person missed the entire season with a back injury. He underwent surgery in October to repair a herniated disc.

Robinson, the team’s franchise player at center, played only six games last season because of back and foot injuries.

Recovered completely from the fractured bone in his left foot, Robinson has pleased management by steadily working this summer to strengthen his back, which has bothered him for more than a year.

He practiced for three hours Monday night in Aspen, Colo., with teammates Tim Duncan and Will Perdue, the most intense session he has experienced this summer.

“The contact is going great,” Popovich said by telephone from Aspen. “It’s a little difficult at 5,000 feet. But they’re working on individual moves and conditioning for about three hours a day.”

The weeklong practices, closed to the media, are being monitored by Popovich and Spurs conditioning coach Mike Brungardt.

Popovich said Robinson, a seven-time All-Star who turns 32 today, appears to be nearing top form.

“He looks closer to 95 percent than 90 percent,” said Popovich, who put Robinson through a workout in San Antonio a few weeks ago and has since seen additional improvement.

“Tim Duncan continues to show a great work ethic. Will Perdue is also working hard.”

As late as last April, observers noticed that Robinson sometimes had difficulty getting up out of a chair or bending to pick something up in his locker. Lately, Popovich is encouraged by Robinson’s overall flexibility.

“His general movement is almost back (to normal),” Popovich said. "His quickness has returned and he’s able to jump and run (well). He’s taking and giving contact.

“Looking at these workouts all summer, I’ve never seen anyone - pro or college - work harder than David. He’s stronger, and now I’m seeing that explosion again.”

Popovich skirted a question about who was winning the one-on- one battles between Robinson, the top pick in the 1987 draft, and Duncan, the No. 1 pick in '97.

“It’s just a workout,” Popovich said. “There are no winners and losers.”

The Spurs have 11 players under guaranteed contracts for next season. NBA active rosters are limited to 12 players.

Depending on Person’s status, the team could be looking to fill one or two spots between now and the opening of training camp.

Sean Elliott, who missed 43 games last season after knee-tendon surgery, also was cleared recently to work out at full speed. Elliott said earlier this summer that he planned to be lighter and quicker than ever by October.

“I can’t tell you about Sean,” Popovich said. “When I get back into town, I’ll be able to look at him.”

Popovich expressed hope about the team’s revival next season.

“We all feel good that our team is returning to full strength,” he said. “We’re a lot better off now than we were at the end of last season. Adding Tim Duncan is a bonus.”

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-08, By Compiled from Staff and Wire Reports

马刺球员接受手术

马刺队宣布，球队前锋蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)接受了手术，移除右脚的两根刺并排出了脓肿。

他将在医院接受两到三天治疗，并将无法跑步约一个月。

球队发言人表示，预计威廉姆斯将在10月训练营开始时恢复比赛。

与此同时，马刺队正在等待医生对33岁老将查克·珀森(Chuck Person)的治疗建议。查克·珀森最近再次出现背部疼痛，目前正在接受药物治疗、休息和轻度运动。

马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)表示，他认为这不是一个危及职业生涯的情况，但他承认担心珀森的康复可能出现挫折。

珀森在去年10月29日接受了椎间盘突出手术后，缺席了整个1996-97赛季。医生正在分析周三进行的核磁共振成像结果。

灰熊得到索普：温哥华灰熊队从底特律活塞队交易得到了老牌强力前锋奥蒂斯·索普(Otis Thorpe)，作为交换，他们将提供一个未来的首轮选秀权。

灰熊队还放弃了对控球后卫格雷格·安东尼(Greg Anthony)的权利。

点击查看原文：Baseball heads talk realignment

Baseball heads talk realignment

Baseball focused on four or five plans to realign the leagues during a meeting Thursday, staying on track to meet its goal of making the changes for next season.

The plan that seems to be gaining the most support, known as “16-14,” calls for two leagues - the AL would have two seven-team East divisions while the NL would be split into a Central and Western, each with eight teams west of Chicago.

Commissioneer Bud Selig said there would be a conference call today for participants to review the plans. He said realignment for 1998 remains "a strong possibility.’

The realignment committee still must present a plan to the council. Then, the plan would have to be approved by a vote of the full ownership before a schedule could be completed and presented to the players’ union.

Basketball: Spur has surgery

Spurs forward Monty Williams underwent surgery to have two thorns removed and an abscess drained from his right foot, the team announced.

He will be hospitalized for two or three days and will not be able to run for about a month.

Williams is expected to be ready to play when training camp starts in October, a team spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the Spurs are awaiting doctors’ recommendations on how to treat 33-year-old veteran Chuck Person, who has been relegated to medication, rest and minimal exercise after experiencing pain in his back again recently.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he doesn’t consider it a career-threatening situation, but he admitted concern that Person may have suffered a setback in his rehabilitation.

Person missed all of the 1996-97 season after surgery was performed last Oct. 29 to repair a herniated disc. Doctors are analyzing results of a magnetic resonance imaging performed Wednesday.

Grizzlies get Thorpe: The Vancouver Grizzlies acquired veteran power forward Otis Thorpe from the Detroit Pistons for a future No. 1 draft choice.

The Grizzlies also renounced their rights to point guard Greg Anthony. Golf: Pair qualify for U.S. Amateur Chris Nickens of Austin won medalist at the U.S. Amateur sectional qualifying tournament at Pecan Valley.

Alberto Ochoa of Edinburg was second.

Both qualify for the U.S. Amateur, Aug. 18-24 at the Cog Hill course in Lemont, Ill.

Weil, Wall place: Churchill teammates Chris Weil and J.J. Wall finished in the top five at the Polo Golf Southwestern Junior Classic in Albuquerque, N.M.

Weil shot 214 to finish in third place, six strokes behind medalist John Leary of Culver City, Calif. Wall shot 215 at the University of New Mexico’s course to finish in fourth.

Colleges: New S.A. Bowl chairman

Local business owner Dennis O’Malley has been selected as the new chairmen of the San Antonio Bowl Association.

O’Malley, owner of Halo Distributing Inc., succeeds Jim Callaway as chairman of the Builders Square Alamo Bowl board of directors.

Ernesto Ancira will serve as chairman-elect for 1997.

Other officers of the board are Derrick Fox, Norman Dugas, Diane Rath, Ray Otte, Charlie Amato, Fully Clingman, Mark Mellin and Horace Wilkins. Bill Scott will serve on the board in an ex-officio role.

The 1997 Builders Square Alamo Bowl will be played on Dec. 30, matching fourth-choice teams from the Big 12 and Big Ten conferences.

Bowling: Texas State Conference

The Texas Bowling Conference opens today at Country Lanes with a clinic and scrambler tournament.

Former pro Susie Minshew of Fort Worth will conduct the clinic from 5:30 -7:30 p.m., and the tournament will start 30 minutes later.

Registration is from 3-7 p.m. today and 8-10 a.m. Saturday at the Doubletree Hotel, also the site of the conference meetings, and TWBA state tournament awards banquet at 6 p.m. Saturday.

By Compiled from Staff and Wire Reports, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-10

Fanstand - 失去马刺队将是对圣安东尼奥的沉重打击

我同意公众舆论调查的结果，即纳税人不应该为在圣安东尼奥建造新的体育场馆提供资金。

我们已经有两支主要的冰球队——龙队和鬣蜥队。哦，我忘了它们是次级联赛球队，而且我们已经失去了一支。好吧，我想我们可以为我们的棒球队加油，当他们对阵休斯顿太空人队时。抱歉，我的意思是杰克逊太空人队。

然后是圣安东尼奥的 NFL 球队。抱歉，我们也没有。我们可以为枪手队、力量队、车手队或德州人队加油，但我们也失去了他们。不过别担心，因为杰里·琼斯可能足够好心地让我们每年借用牛仔队一次。

那些人完全正确。我们不需要体育场，因为我们不需要马刺队。谁在乎邓肯-罗宾逊夺冠带来的经济影响？谁在乎全明星周末？谁在乎支持马刺队是否会将其他主要联赛特许经营权带到圣安东尼奥？

有时候你必须花钱才能赚钱，但我忘了圣安东尼奥已经没有什么可失去的了。约瑟夫·布里特，圣安东尼奥

“海军上将”还在吗？我相信凯文·奥基夫已经收到，或者将收到，对他在 8 月 3 日专栏中发表的言论的许多愤怒的回应，该专栏暗示马刺队消息人士并没有对大卫·罗宾逊的病情和康复预后直言不讳。

就我个人而言，我认为奥基夫所说的话很有道理。他提到的模式是根深蒂固的。至少，马刺队消息人士一直都在“粉饰太平”；在某些情况下，他们为了吸引观众，发表了完全不实的言论。我担心奥基夫对当前情况的评估是正确的。

我希望罗宾逊真的“像以前一样出色”。我希望他能像过去一样在球场上成为一股力量。然而，常识告诉我应该保持怀疑。马克·L·布朗，圣安东尼奥

阿拉莫穹顶足够好了

好吧，马刺队球迷，我们不是处于一种奇怪的境地吗？

现在弥漫在空气中的期待和兴奋，就像丹尼斯·罗德曼和大卫·罗宾逊最后一次为这支球队效力时一样。然而，这种希望再次被马刺队管理层蒙上阴影。霍尔特先生和他的团队需要看一下基本事实，然后才能对拟议中的体育场馆做出决定。

随着蒂姆·邓肯下赛季加盟马刺队，门票销售将会增加。当鲍勃·希尔率领马刺队取得 62 胜的赛季时，阿拉莫穹顶被称为 NBA 最响亮的比赛场地，球队创造了季后赛观众人数的记录。

如果马刺队打算最终建立一个冠军的遗产，他们将在季后赛期间创造更多的观众人数纪录。但如果霍尔特先生如愿以偿，我们可能最多在新的体育场馆里容纳 15000 人——很明显，马刺队老板将不得不找到资金来支付费用。格雷格·塔提尼，圣安东尼奥

让球员们付钱吧

我有一个关于新的马刺队体育场馆的想法，它不会让纳税人花一分钱。

把阿拉莫穹顶全部打开，就像他们为足球比赛做的那样。把球场放在中间，在球场周围放一些座位。这样，你就可以容纳更多的人进入穹顶（这意味着马刺队能赚更多钱）。

还有一件事：如果马刺队如此渴望一个新的体育场馆，为什么大卫·罗宾逊、肖恩·埃利奥特等高价球员不捐点钱，自己买一个呢？维妮塔·布朗，圣安东尼奥

反对体育馆

来了，鬣蜥队球迷。让我们一起支持 WPHL，把龙队赶出去。

至于辱骂，我们可以给龙队、他们的球迷和 IHL 冠以很多难听的称号，但鬣蜥队球迷有太多风度了。所以我们只是袖手旁观，看着他们走向衰败。

致圣安东尼奥的所有选民：出门去投票支持一个新的体育场馆，并在弗里曼体育馆旁边建造它。这样，随着时间的推移，体育馆将被拆除；那些人因为他们对待鬣蜥队的方式而并不值得得到任何更好的待遇。史蒂夫·罗萨斯，圣安东尼奥

点击查看原文：Fanstand - Losing the Spurs would be bitter blow to San Antonio

Fanstand - Losing the Spurs would be bitter blow to San Antonio

I agree with the public opinion polls that say the taxpayers shouldn’t fund the building of a new arena in San Antonio.

We already have two major- league hockey teams in the Dragons and the Iguanas. Oh, I forgot that they’re minor-league teams, and we’ve lost one. Well, I guess we can cheer for our baseball team when they play the Houston Astros. Excuse me, I meant the Jackson Astros.

Then there’s the NFL franchise in San Antonio. Sorry, we don’t have that either. We could cheer for the Gunslingers, Force, Riders or Texans, but we lost all of them, too. Don’t worry, though, because Jerry Jones might be nice enough to let us borrow the Cowboys once a year.

Those people are exactly right. We don’t need an arena because we don’t need the Spurs. Who cares about the economic impact of a Duncan-Robinson championship? Who cares about the All-Star Weekend? Who cares if supporting the Spurs will bring other major- league franchises to San Antonio?

Sometimes you have to spend money to make money, but I forgot that San Antonio already has nothing to lose. Joseph Britt, San Antonio

Is ‘The Admiral’ afloat? I am sure that Kevin O’Keeffe has gotten, or will receive, several irate responses to his Aug. 3 column that suggested Spurs sources are not shooting straight concerning David Robinson’s condition and prognosis for recovery.

I, for one, see a lot of sense in what O’Keeffe said. The pattern he mentioned is well-established. At the very least, Spurs sources have always “put the best face” on things; in some cases, they have given statements that were absolutely untrue in attempts to put bodies in the seats. I fear that O’Keeffe’s assessment of the current situation was correct.

I hope Robinson is really looking “as good as ever.” I hope he will be the force on the court he has been in times past. However, common sense tells me to be skeptical. Mark L. Brown, San Antonio

Alamodome good enough

Well, Spurs fans, aren’t we in a curious situation?

There’s about as much anticipation and excitement in the air as the last time Dennis Rodman and David Robinson were playing for this team. However, this hope is being shaded by Spurs management one more time. Mr. Holt and company need to look at some basic facts and then make a decision on the proposed arena.

With Tim Duncan coming to the Spurs next season, ticket sales are going to increase. When Bob Hill led the Spurs to a 62-win season, the Alamodome was known as the loudest playing facility in the NBA and the team set playoff attendance records.

If the Spurs plan on finally building a championship legacy, they will set many more attendance records come playoff time. But if Mr. Holt has his way, we will seat maybe 15,000 max in his new arena - which, obviously, Spurs owners are going to have to find the money to pay for. Greg Tattini, San Antonio

Let the players pay

I have an idea for a new Spurs arena that won’t cost the taxpayers a thing.

Take the Alamodome and open the whole thing up, like they do for football games. Put the court in the middle and put some seats around the court. That way, you can get more people in the dome (which means more money for the Spurs).

One more thing: If the Spurs want a new arena so bad, why don’t high-priced players like David Robinson, Sean Elliott and others chip in some money and pay for it? Veneita Brown, San Antonio

Down with the Coliseum

Here we go, Iguanas fans. Let’s all support the WPHL and drive the Dragons outta here.

As for name-calling, we could call the Dragons, their fans and the IHL quite a few choice ones, but Iguanas fans have too much class for that. So we’re just gonna stand back and watch them waste away.

To all the voters of San Antonio: Get out and vote for a new arena, and build it next to Freeman Coliseum. That way, in a matter of time, the Coliseum will be done away with; those people don’t deserve any better for the way they treated the Iguanas. Steve Rosas, San Antonio

Good-bye, John

It is with extreme sadness that I inform Express-News readers of the passing of John M. Harris on July 17.

As was his request, I am retiring the Harris Rating System, effective immediately. He felt that it would be an injustice to the many people who depend upon his system to continue it without his guidance and knowledge.

John received extreme joy from his business. He loved not only rating Texas high school football teams, but all of the players, fans and coaches his work allowed him to meet over the years. Linda Harris, Brownwood

via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-10, By Glenn Rogers

马刺球迷应该能一睹罗宾逊的风采

“既然他没事，为什么我们不能见他？”

“他”指的是马刺中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)。“我们”指的是许多对罗宾逊休赛期训练不公开感到好奇的球迷。

一些人打电话给电台，询问为什么上周在科罗拉多州阿斯彭，没有电视台或报纸记者在现场记录罗宾逊与队友蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)和威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)的训练。

一位调皮的人甚至告诉听众，所有电视台要做的就是带着他们的摄像机去阿斯彭，然后就可以开始拍摄了。

抱歉，答案错了。

在盐湖城的落基山狂欢节上，我问马刺主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)，《快报》是否可以派一名记者去阿斯彭观看训练，然后采访罗宾逊、邓肯和珀杜。

你会以为我是在要求搬进罗宾逊的度假屋住几天，享受与这位大个子和他的家人共度的美好时光。

波波维奇的回答是爆炸性的“不”。

他明确表示，媒体不受欢迎，如果有人出现，他们会被要求离开。

但是为什么呢？马刺需要一些快乐的宣传。球迷们会喜欢看到关于罗宾逊背部状况的近距离报道。

因为这是休息时间，私人时间，波波维奇自豪地说。

这真是个笑话，更不用说荒谬了。

常规赛于4月20日结束。从那时起到现在，大卫回到了圣安东尼奥，参加了一场新闻发布会，发表了他对选秀运气的第一份公开评论，并简要介绍了他的健康状况。

将观看训练以及简短的采访视为侵犯隐私，实在是有些牵强。特别是考虑到罗宾逊还有两个月的私人时间，然后才能开始训练营。

罗宾逊在赛季期间对当地媒体相当开放。但他应该在夏天，当这座城市有一半的人担心他的健康状况时，露面几次。

我倾向于认为，如果波波维奇能冷静下来，对媒体的看法稍微放松一点，罗宾逊会忍受一次在阿斯彭的媒体狂轰滥炸。放松点，大个子：我们只能希望邓肯也能停止给人一种与媒体交谈是一件苦差事的印象。

“就像拔牙一样”，是媒体成员在采访后经常说的一句比较常见和委婉的评论。

当然，这很令人厌烦，但赛季还没有开始，马刺的希望之星似乎已经厌倦了关注。邓肯也许应该提醒自己，有很多更糟糕的谋生方式，而且收入还很低。

**首先：**马刺在落基山狂欢节上让蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)留在场上，他们到底是怎么想的？

威廉姆斯在狂欢节期间早期就抱怨右脚底疼痛。他说他可能应该回家，毫无疑问，他想要收拾东西，离开并休息一下。

他错过了一场比赛，但与波波维奇谈过之后，他同意留下来并继续比赛。为什么？

威廉姆斯最终不得不接受手术取出脚上的刺，现在他将缺阵几周。情况本来更糟。在比赛中一直忍着脚疼，显然可能会导致其他伤病。

放松点，大个子：我们只能希望邓肯也能停止给人一种与媒体交谈是一件苦差事的印象。

“就像拔牙一样”，是媒体成员在采访后经常说的一句比较常见和委婉的评论。

当然，这很令人厌烦，但赛季还没有开始，马刺的希望之星似乎已经厌倦了关注。邓肯也许应该提醒自己，有很多更糟糕的谋生方式，而且收入还很低。

点击查看原文：Spurs fans deserved glimpse of Robinson

Spurs fans deserved glimpse of Robinson

“So, if he’s OK, how come we can’t see him?”

“He” is Spurs center David Robinson. “We” are numerous fans curious about Robinson’s off- season workouts not being put on public display.

Some called radio stations and wondered why TV cameras or print people weren’t on location in Aspen, Colo., last week to chronicle Robinson’s work with teammates Tim Duncan and Will Perdue.

One wag went so far as to tell listeners that all the TV stations had to do was take their cameras to Aspen and have at it.

Sorry, wrong answer.

During the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City, I asked Spurs coach Gregg Popovich if the Express-News could send a reporter to Aspen, watch a workout and then interview Robinson, Duncan and Perdue.

One would have thought I was asking to move into Robinson’s vacation home for a few days and enjoy some quality time with the big fellow and his family.

Popovich’s reply was an explosive “no.”

He announced, in no uncertain terms, that the media was not welcome and if any showed up they would be asked to leave.

But why? The Spurs could use a little happy publicity. Fans would love an up-close report on the condition of Robinson’s back.

Because this is rest time, private time, Popovich grandly said.

Now that’s a hoot, not to mention absurd.

The regular season ended April 20. Between that date and now, David has traveled back to San Antonio to give one news conference, uttering his first public comments on the luck of the draft and giving a bit of an update on his health.

To consider a look at a workout, capped by a short interview, a breach of privacy is quite a stretch. Especially considering that Robinson will have another two months of blessed privacy before training camp opens.

Robinson is pretty open to the local media during the season. But he should be nudged to offer some glimpses during a summer when half the city is concerned about his health.

I tend to think he would have put up with a one-time media blast in Aspen if Popovich would just cool down his own views of the media. Relax, big guy: We can only hope that Duncan, too, will quit giving the impression that talking with the media is a major chore.

“It’s like pulling teeth” was one of the more common and nicer comments bandied about by media members after interviews.

Sure, it gets tiresome, but the season has yet to begin and the Spurs’ hoped-for-wunderkind already appears fed up with the attention. Duncan may have to remind himself there are a lot worse ways to make a living, and such a fine living at that. Foot first: What in the world were the Spurs thinking when they kept Monty Williams on the floor during the Rocky Mountain Revue?

Williams complained about soreness on the bottom of his right foot early on during the stay. He said he probably should go home, and there was no doubt he wanted to pack up, depart and rest the foot.

He sat out one game but, after talking with Popovich, he agreed to stay and continued to play. Why?

Williams finally had to have thorns surgically removed from his foot and now he’s out for weeks. It could have been worse. Favoring a foot during live action obviously could have led to other injuries.

Relax, big guy: We can only hope that Duhncan, too, will quit giving the impression that talking with the media is a major chore.

“It’s like pulling teeth,” was one of the more common and nicer comments bandied abut by media members after interviews.

Sure, it gets tiresome, but the season has yet to begin and the Spurs’ hoped-for-wunderkind already appears fed up with the attention. Duncan may have to remind himself there are a lot worse ways to make a living, and such a fine living at that.

By Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-12, By Jerry Briggs

马刺队的威廉姆斯没有被迫带伤上场

马刺队前锋蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)周一为球队管理层辩护，称教练建议他考虑在加重右脚伤势后从落基山脉评论家大赛(Rocky Mountain Revue)回家。

威廉姆斯想要澄清一个误解，即马刺队对他施压，让他留在比赛中并在两周前五场比赛的锦标赛的最后两场比赛中出场。

“他们认为我应该回家，”威廉姆斯通过电话说道，“但我告诉他们我想打球。”

威廉姆斯在周三接受了脚部手术，周六从医院出院。他说，他“几周后”才能开始跑步，但他计划从周五开始游泳，以保持有氧运动水平。

在手术中，医生切除了他脚中的一块雪松木并排出了感染。威廉姆斯在7月4日的一次钓鱼旅行中踩到这根木头时受伤了。

“手术很顺利，”威廉姆斯在评价手术时说道，“他们取出了木头，给我了一些药来防止再次感染。”

马刺队助理教练汉克·伊根(Hank Egan)告诉威廉姆斯，他应该利用预定的恢复时间放松休息。

“汉克告诉我，‘现在你需要休息了，’”威廉姆斯说，“自从我来到马刺队之前，我一直没有真正休息过。如果不是因为这次受伤，我可能还会在（训练）。”

落基山脉评论家大赛的训练从7月25日在盐湖城开始，这场比赛中来自几个NBA球队的年轻球员们参加了比赛。

威廉姆斯参加了前两场比赛，在脚痛加剧时休息了一场，然后又参加了最后两场比赛。他对参加比赛没有任何遗憾。

“如果那是（训练营）开始前两周，那可能就不一样了，”他说，“但我感觉我可以在比赛中出场，（接受手术）并在训练营开始前及时恢复体能。我不认为这会成为问题。”

球员们将在10月3日前往NBA训练营报到。

威廉姆斯说，他在盐湖城有一些“要证明的东西”，这就是他参加比赛的原因。马刺队想看看他防守身材更矮的球员的效果如何，因为他们可能会要求他在新赛季更多地担任后卫。

“我在那里每天都（防守）得分后卫或控球后卫，”他说，“我认为这将对球队有所帮助。它增强了我的信心，证明我能做到。”

这场比赛还包括蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)，他是马刺队在选秀中获得的第一顺位球员。威廉姆斯对这位6英尺11英寸的中锋/前锋印象深刻。

“这孩子有像（哈基姆）奥拉朱旺(Hakeem Olajuwon)一样的脚步，”威廉姆斯说，“他比很多球员领先很多。在犹他州，有些球员对他非常强硬。不像（常规赛），但他现在知道需要什么。

“我认为他将成为联盟中排名前二或前三的中锋或大前锋。”

在其他马刺队新闻中，主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)对全明星中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)的健康状况表示乐观。但他无法确定罗宾逊何时能被允许开始参加五对五的篮球比赛。

“他恢复了90%到95%，但他还没有准备好（参加比赛），”波波维奇说，“他还没有参加过任何五对五的比赛，或者类似的比赛。当你参加过比赛并且没有问题时，你才是100%恢复了。但他敏捷性和爆发力正在恢复。”

罗宾逊上周在科罗拉多州阿斯彭与队友邓肯和威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)一起进行了夏季最激烈的训练。

“他没有任何问题，”波波维奇说，“他很好地处理了所有的身体接触。他似乎能够（连续）几天回来，没有受到前一天的影响，这是一个好兆头。”

波波维奇说，罗宾逊在上赛季因背部和脚部伤势缺席了82场比赛中的76场，他渴望开始参加比赛。

“对他来说，坐那么长时间是非常困难的，”波波维奇说。“他非常渴望新赛季的开始。但他明白他必须建立一个（身体）基础。我们只是每天都在观察，每周都在观察。”

球队正在等待医生关于如何处理老将前锋查克·帕森(Chuck Person)背部痉挛的消息。

帕森住在阿拉巴马州，自上周进行核磁共振检查后一直在服药，并被建议仅进行少量运动。

帕森在上赛季进行了背部手术后，缺席了整个赛季。在之前的两个赛季，他是球队三分球和替补得分王。

点击查看原文：Spurs' Williams not forced to play hurt

Spurs’ Williams not forced to play hurt

Spurs forward Monty Williams defended team management Monday, claiming coaches suggested he should consider returning home from the Rocky Mountain Revue after aggravating an injured right foot.

Williams wants to clear up a misconception that the Spurs pressured him to stay and play in the last two games of the five-game tournament two weeks ago.

“They thought I should go home,” Williams said by telephone, “but I told them I wanted to play.”

Williams, who had surgery on the foot Wednesday, was released from the hospital Saturday. He said it will be “a couple of weeks” before he can start to run, but he plans to begin swimming Friday to keep up his aerobic fitness.

In the surgery, doctors removed pieces of a cedar stick and drained an infection in his foot. Williams injured the foot when he stepped on the stick during a fishing trip on July 4.

“It went fine,” said Williams in assessing the surgery. “They got the wood out and gave me some medicine to keep it from getting infected (again).”

Spurs assistant coach Hank Egan told Williams he should use the scheduled recovery time to take it easy.

“Hank told me, ‘This is the time you need to rest,’” Williams said. “I hadn’t really had (a break) since the season before I came to the Spurs. Had it not been for this, I’d probably still be (working out).”

Practices for the Rocky Mountain Revue, which featured younger players from several NBA teams, started July 25 in Salt Lake City.

Williams played in the first two games, sat out one when the sore foot flared up, then played in the last two. He has no regrets about playing in the games.

“If it was two weeks before (training camp), then it might have been different,” he said. “But I felt like I could play in it, (have the surgery) and get in shape in time for camp. I don’t feel like it’ll be a problem.”

Players report to NBA training camps Oct. 3.

Williams said he had some “things to prove” in Salt Lake City and that’s why he attended. The Spurs wanted to see how well he could defend smaller players because he may be asked to play more at guard in the coming season.

“Every day up there I was (defending) the (shooting) guard or the point guard,” he said. “I think it’ll help the team out. It helped my confidence to show I could do it.”

The camp also featured Tim Duncan, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft by the Spurs. Williams was left impressed with the 6-foot-11 center/forward.

“The kid has footwork like (Hakeem) Olajuwon,” Williams said. "He’s so much farther ahead than a lot of guys. In Utah, some guys went at him pretty hard. It wasn’t like (the regular season), but now he knows what it takes.

“I think he’s going to be one of the top two or three centers, or power forwards, in the game.”

In other Spurs news, Coach Gregg Popovich expressed optimism about the health status of All-Star center David Robinson. But he couldn’t say for certain when Robinson would be cleared to start playing five-on- five basketball.

“He’s 90 to 95 percent, but he’s just not ready to go (in games) yet,” Popovich said. “He hasn’t been in any five-on-five, or anything like that. You’re 100 percent when you’ve been in games and you don’t have any problems. But his quickness and explosiveness is coming back.”

Robinson went through his most intense workouts of the summer last week in Aspen, Colo., with teammates Duncan and Will Perdue.

“He didn’t have any problems,” Popovich said. “He handled all contact very well. He seemed to be able to come back (on consecutive days) with no effect from the day before, which is a good sign.”

Popovich said Robinson, who missed 76 of 82 games last season with back and foot injuries, is anxious to start playing in games.

“To sit that long is very difficult for him,” Popovich said. "He’s very anxious for the season to start. But he understands that he has to build a (physical) base. We’re just taking it day to day, week to week.

The team is awaiting word from physicians on how to deal with back spasms suffered by veteran forward Chuck Person.

Person, who lives in Alabama, has been on medication and has been advised to engage in only minimal exercise since an MRI test was performed last week.

Person missed all of last season after undergoing back surgery Oct. 29. In the previous two seasons, he led the team in three- pointers and scoring off the bench.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-14, By Jerry Briggs

邓肯球衣热销，21号球衣已成畅销品

蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)的马刺球衣正在热销。

据估计，自从邓肯的21号球衣上周开售以来，圣安东尼奥已经售出了超过100件，尽管距离常规赛和NBA电视转播还有两个多月。

一家百货商店经理推测，邓肯最近在NBA选秀中成为状元秀，可能会将马刺球衣的销量提升至几年前丹尼斯·罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)的水平。

目前，只有市场街的马刺纪念品商店和J.C. Penney的门店有球衣库存。计划出售球衣的其他服装店表示，他们迫不及待地希望尽快上架。

球衣并不便宜。童装尺寸售价在27至37美元之间，成人尺寸售价约为42美元。尽管通常有开学季的预算压力，但球迷们已经开始掏钱购买。

“销量非常火爆，”温莎公园购物中心J.C. Penney的男装高级商品经理尤隆·怀特(Yuron White)说。“上周初我们拿到了24件球衣，现在已经卖光了。我不知道其他商店是否也完全售罄，但我认为他们离售罄不远了。”

怀特估计，彭尼百货在最初向圣安东尼奥发运的货物中，接收了大约80至100件球衣。

此外，马刺商店的一位代表表示，他们的市中心门店售出了约55件球衣。

怀特说，罗德曼在1994年至1996年期间效力于圣安东尼奥时，马刺球衣的销量“惊人”。

“我们认为今年可能会再次出现这样的情况，”他说。

马刺队营销副总裁布鲁斯·古思里(Bruce Guthrie)对最初的销量感到满意。

“这已经很不错了，”古思里说。“但这不仅仅是邓肯球衣的销量。我们的所有商品都出现了大幅增长。我们预计，在赛季开始后，销量会进一步爆发。”

马刺队在5月18日的NBA选秀抽签中赢得了选择邓肯的权利。他们在6月将他选中，并在7月下旬与他签约。只有在邓肯完成合同后，NBA才被允许围绕他进行商品营销。

“在抽签当天，有人打电话到这里，”温莎公园Pro Jersey的一位代表说。“人们不明白，你不能在自己的后院制造这些东西。”

英格拉姆公园购物中心的彭尼百货商店表示，他们上周的库存为48件球衣，“现在只剩下15件或18件了，”一位发言人说。

这位发言人将销售额归功于“围绕邓肯在盐湖城举办的落基山夏季联赛中的表现的炒作”。

点击查看原文：Duncan number crunch is on Spurs rookie's No. 21 jersey already a big-selling item

Duncan number crunch is on Spurs rookie’s No. 21 jersey already a big-selling item

The Tim Duncan Spurs jersey is getting hot.

It is estimated that more than 100 of Duncan’s No. 21 jerseys have been sold in San Antonio in a little more than a week since they went on sale, despite the regular season and the NBA television blitz being more than two months away.

One department store manager speculated that the presence of Duncan, the recent No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, might elevate sales of Spurs jerseys to the Dennis Rodman levels of a few years back.

For now, only the Spurs Souvenir Shop on Market Street and J.C. Penney outlets have the jerseys in stock. Other apparel stores that plan to sell it have reported that they can’t get the shirts on the rack too soon.

The jerseys aren’t cheap. The children’s size can be purchased for between $27 and $37, the adult size for about $42. In spite of the usual back-to-school budget crunch, fans already are plunking down their money.

“It’s going absolutely fantastic,” said Yuron White, senior men’s merchandise manager for J.C. Penney at Windsor Park Mall. “We brought in 24 jerseys at the beginning of last week and they’re gone. I don’t know if they’re sold out completely at the other stores, but I think they’re close.”

White estimated that 80 to 100 jerseys were received by Penney stores in the retail chain’s initial shipment to San Antonio.

In addition, a representative of the Spurs Shop said about 55 have been sold at its downtown location.

When Rodman played in San Antonio from 1994 through '96, sales of Spurs jerseys were “phenomenal,” White said.

“We think it might be another year like that,” he said.

Bruce Guthrie, Spurs vice president of marketing, is pleased with the initial sales.

“That’s pretty good,” Guthrie said. “But this is not only in Duncan jerseys. We’ve had a huge boost in everything. We expect it to really take off when we get into the season.”

The Spurs won the rights to select Duncan at the NBA lottery on May 18. They drafted him in June and signed him in late July. Only after Duncan completed his contract was the NBA allowed to market merchandise around him.

“We had people calling here the day of the lottery,” said a representative of Pro Jersey in Windsor Park. “People don’t understand that you just don’t make these in your own back yard.”

The Penney store in Ingram Park Mall reports that it started out with 48 jerseys in stock last week, “and now we’re down to 15 or 18,” a spokesman said.

The spokesman attributed the sales to “all the hoopla” about Duncan’s performance in the Rocky Mountain Revue summer-league games at Salt Lake City.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-16, By Thelma Garza

16 名女性加入马刺啦啦队

蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan) 不会是 10 月 1 日圣安东尼奥马刺队在阿拉莫穹顶进行主场揭幕战时唯一的新面孔。

七名新舞者将加入马刺银色舞者啦啦队，她们将在 NBA 球队主场比赛期间表演。

上周末举行了啦啦队选拔赛。近 100 名女性参加了试镜。

决赛于周四在 Cheers 舞蹈工作室举行，20 名年轻女性在评委面前伴随莉尔·金(Lil’ Kim) 的《Not Tonight》歌曲，翻滚、跳跃和舞蹈。最终，16 人入选。

安吉拉·泰勒(Angela Taylor) 的名字第一个被宣布。这位 23 岁的老师泪流满面。

“我四年前参加过试镜，”泰勒说。“我当时没有成功，但我没有放弃。去年我全年都在训练，然后回来了。我太高兴了，我无法再高兴了。”

她的母亲妮塔(Nita) 当时坐在工作室外的车里，当宣布获胜者时，她欣喜若狂。

“我看到一些女孩跑出（工作室），”这位母亲惊呼道，“所以我心想，‘我最好也跑进去。’她赢了，你能相信吗？”

新加入的布雷兰德·阿特金森(Breland Atkinson)，20 岁，是德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的学生，似乎比兴奋更感到轻松。

“我很高兴压力结束了，”她说。“我很累，我的肌肉酸痛。”

去年 16 名舞者中的 12 人也参加了试镜。9 人将回归。

科特妮·迈尔斯(Courtni Myers) 就是其中之一。她说她知道评委在舞者身上寻找什么：“大量的能量，积极的态度和灿烂的笑容。”

安妮·齐林斯基(Anna Zielinski)，22 岁，10 天前从路易斯安那州门罗搬到圣安东尼奥，在被选中后松了一口气。

“这是最快乐和最悲伤的时刻，”齐林斯基说，她是路易斯安那理工大学的毕业生。

“我已经认识了那些没有入选的前舞者，我希望她们明年能回来。”

马刺队比赛运营和推广总监温迪·韦尔什(Wendy Welsh) 也表达了同样的情感。

“我知道你们很伤心，因为一些老队友将不会在这里，”韦尔什对返回的 9 名舞者说道，她们都在哭泣。“但看看周围，这是你们的新团队，你们代表着马刺队。”

点击查看原文：16 women make Spurs dance squad

16 women make Spurs dance squad

Tim Duncan won’t be the only newcomer to hit the court when the San Antonio Spurs play their home opener at the Alamodome on Oct. 1.

Seven new dancers will join the Spurs Silver Dancers squad, which performs during the NBA team’s home games.

Preliminaries for places on the dance team were held last weekend. Almost 100 women tried out.

Finals were held Thursday at Cheers Dance Studio, where 20 young women tumbled, jumped and danced in front of a panel of judges to the tune of Lil’ Kim’s “Not Tonight.” In the end, 16 were chosen.

Angela Taylor’s name was announced first. The 23-year-old teacher wept.

“I tried out four years ago,” Taylor said. “I didn’t make it, but I didn’t give up. I trained all year last year and came back. I’m overjoyed. I couldn’t be happier.”

Her mother, Nita, who was sitting outside the studio in her car when the winners were announced, was euphoric.

“I saw some girls running out (of the studio),” the mother exclaimed, “so I thought, ‘I’d better run in.’ She won. Can you believe it?”

Newcomer Breland Atkinson, 20, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, seemed more relieved than excited.

“I’m glad the stress is over,” she said. “I’m tired, and my muscles are sore.”

Twelve of last year’s 16 dancers also auditioned. Nine will return.

Courtni Myers is one of those. She said she knew what the judges were looking for in a dancer: “lots of energy, a positive attitude and a big smile.”

Anna Zielinski, 22, who moved to San Antonio from Monroe, La., 10 days ago, breathed a sigh of relief after being selected.

“This is the happiest and saddest moment,” said Zielinski, a graduate of Louisiana Tech University.

“I’d gotten to know the former dancers who didn’t make it - I hope they’ll be back next year.”

Wendy Welsh, the Spurs’ director of game operations and promotions, shared the sentiment.

“I know you’re very sad that some of your old teammates won’t be here,” Welsh told the returning nine dancers, who were all crying. “But look around you, this is your new team now, and you represent the Spurs.”

By Thelma Garza, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-16, By Jerry Briggs

预计珀森将回归训练营

马刺队周五表示，尽管前锋查克·珀森(Chuck Person)上周在背部康复训练中遭遇挫折，但他们仍谨慎乐观地认为他将在十月的训练营中做好准备。

“我们仍然预期到训练营开始时一切都会好起来的，”球队人事主管萨姆·舒勒(Sam Schuler)说。

马刺队的队医预计将在周一首次查看珀森最近进行的背部核磁共振检查结果。

珀森在两周前出现疼痛后被告知只能进行“有限”的体育活动。

这位33岁的小前锋在去年 10 月 29 日接受了椎间盘突出修复手术后，缺席了整个赛季。

点击查看原文：Person expected back for camp

Person expected back for camp

The Spurs expressed cautious optimism Friday that forward Chuck Person would be ready for training camp in October after suffering a setback in his back rehabilitation last week.

“We’re still expecting everything will be fine by training camp,” said Sam Schuler, the team’s director of player personnel.

The Spurs’ team doctor is expected to take his first look Monday at a recent MRI performed on Person’s back.

Person has been told to have only “limited” physical activity since he experienced pain two weeks ago.

The 33-year-old small forward missed all of last season after undergoing surgery Oct. 29 to repair a herniated disc.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-19, By Jerry Briggs

马刺队关于查克·珀森背部的喜讯

马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)表示，前锋查克·珀森(Chuck Person)最近背部疼痛期间，脊柱没有出现进一步的结构性损伤。

尽管有医疗报告，波波维奇周一表示，他对这位球队最好的三分射手长期健康状况仍然“担忧”，无法保证33岁的珀森能够准备好参加训练营。

波波维奇在珀森接受球队医生大卫·施密特(Dr. David Schmidt)在圣安东尼奥的检查后发表了上述言论。

“他感觉比两周前好多了，”波波维奇说。“但我仍然很担心他。他是一位曾经做过背部手术（去年10月）并一直存在一些问题的球员。这就是为什么我们希望紧密关注他，并努力阻止任何未来的伤病。”

两周前，珀森在阿拉巴马州进行锻炼计划时感到疼痛。最近的核磁共振检查表明，一对凸出的椎间盘没有新的损伤，其中一个椎间盘在10月份的手术中修复。

“这是一个很好的报告，”波波维奇说。“这让我感觉好多了。没有（对脊柱）进一步的损伤。医生将其描述为肌肉拉伤。”

波波维奇对珀森的体重降至235磅，以及他在施密特的运动范围检查中表现出良好的灵活性感到鼓舞。但他没有预测珀森是否能准备好参加10月3日开始的训练营。

“如果他保持现在的状态并继续改善，那么我们预计他会参加训练营，”波波维奇说。“但我不知道接下来的六周会发生什么。”

背部伤病使珀森和大中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)都缺席了比赛，毁掉了马刺队的上赛季。珀森缺席了整个赛季，而罗宾逊也骨折了脚，缺席了82场比赛中的76场。

距离训练营开始还有大约七周，球队对罗宾逊的恢复情况更加乐观。施密特说罗宾逊的背部恢复状况大约为95%，但他拒绝透露珀森的恢复状况百分比。

“很难说，”施密特说。“他看起来不错。他不费力地就能触碰自己的脚趾。只是需要恢复到比赛状态。但他的身体机能很好。（他弯腰）没有任何畏惧。”

马刺队管理层对罗宾逊几周前在科罗拉多州阿斯彭的训练感到满意。在训练中，罗宾逊与新秀蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)和老将威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)一起进行了今夏最严格的训练。

“他比以前好多了，”施密特说。“他肯定比1996赛季结束时灵活性和力量都要好。”

波波维奇最近表示，罗宾逊只有在比赛中无痛地发挥时才会被认定为100%健康。

施密特认为，只有当罗宾逊自己确信能够承受比赛的严酷考验时，马刺队的七次全明星球员才能达到100%的健康状态。

“他的背部有一个小地方会时不时地让他感到刺痛，”施密特说。“我认为大卫（最近）说了一句很好的话，也许是心理作用。但我宁愿要95%健康的大卫·罗宾逊，也不要大多数其他球员的100%健康。” -马刺队消息：教练格雷格·波波维奇表示，蒂姆·邓肯已经购买了圣安东尼奥的一栋房子，预计他将在两周后从北卡罗来纳州搬到这里。

波波维奇还表示，老将前锋蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)正在按计划从脚部小手术中恢复，预计将准备好参加训练营。

点击查看原文：Spurs get good news on Person's back

Spurs get good news on Person’s back

Spurs forward Chuck Person sustained no further structural damage to his spine during a recent bout with back pain, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

Despite the medical report, Popovich said Monday that he remains “worried” about the long-term health of his best three-point shooter and couldn’t guarantee that Person, 33, would be ready for training camp.

Popovich made his comments after Person was examined in San Antonio by team physician Dr. David Schmidt.

“He feels a lot better than he did two weeks ago,” Popovich said. “But I’m still worried about him. He’s a player who had a back operation (last October) and has had some problems. It’s why we want to stay on top of it, try to short-circuit any future injury.”

Two weeks ago, Person felt pain while performing an exercise regimen in Alabama. A recent MRI exam indicated no new damage to a pair of bulging discs, one of which was repaired with surgery in October.

“It’s a great report,” Popovich said. “It makes me feel a lot better. There was no further injury (to the backbone). It was described as a muscle strain.”

Popovich is encouraged that Person has his weight down to 235 pounds and that he reports good flexibility in the range-of-motion exam with Schmidt. But he stopped short of predicting that Person would be ready to start training camp Oct. 3.

“If he stays like he is now and continues to improve, then we expect him to be there,” Popovich said. “But I don’t know what the next six weeks might bring.”

Back injuries knocked both Person and center David Robinson out of the lineup and ruined the Spurs last season. Person sat out the season and Robinson, who also broke a bone in his foot, missed 76 of 82 games.

With training camp scheduled to start in about seven weeks, the team is more positive of Robinson’s outlook. Schmidt said Robinson’s back appeared to be about 95 percent, but declined to place a percentage on Person’s status.

“It’s hard to say,” Schmidt said. “He looks good. He was touching his toes with no pain. It’s just a matter of working into basketball shape. But his mechanics are fine. (He was bending over) without a flinch.”

Spurs management liked what it saw of Robinson’s workouts in Aspen, Colo., a few weeks ago. During the drills, Robinson went through his most rigorous sessions of the summer with rookie Tim Duncan and veteran Will Perdue.

“He’s better than he’s been in a long time,” Schmidt said. “He’s certainly better than he was at the end of the 1996 season, flexibility- wise and strength-wise.”

Popovich said recently that Robinson will not be listed at 100 percent until he is playing in games, pain free.

Schmidt thinks the Spurs’ seven- time All-Star only will be 100 percent when Robinson himself is certain of his ability to withstand the rigors of game action.

“There’s a little spot (in the back) that gives him a twinge from time to time,” Schmidt said. “I think David made a good comment (recently), that maybe it’s mental. But I’d take David Robinson at 95 percent over most players (at 100).” -Spurs notes: Coach Gregg Popovich said Tim Duncan has purchased a house in San Antonio and is expected to make his move from North Carolina in about two weeks.

Popovich also said veteran forward Monty Williams is recovering on schedule from minor foot surgery and should be ready for camp.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-19, By Buck Harvey

小孩展现未来：为什么霍尔特不会输

凯文·加内特(Kevin Garnett)不应该让彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt)感到害怕。霍尔特知道蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)会很贵。他不需要“小孩”告诉他这一点。

然而，上周的新闻加强了霍尔特的立场。他说，如果没有一座篮球馆，马刺队将无法续签邓肯，而加内特通过他的经纪人表明了原因。

但霍尔特可能还会感到别的东西。在金钱疯狂如此明显的时期——一个21岁的年轻人拒绝了有史以来最丰厚的合同——如果圣安东尼奥选择让马刺队离开，对霍尔特来说将会是多么糟糕？

这始终是事实：如果被拒绝，被迫出售给另一个城市，霍尔特只会让他的投资翻倍。

鉴于此，霍尔特可能仍然负担不起加内特的邻居。许多NBA高管认为，由于工资帽的限制，加内特不可能得到比明尼苏达提供的1730万美元的年薪更好的报价，但历史表明，总会有人想办法给他钱。

尽管如此，即使经纪人说的对，可以再挤出几百万，但贪婪从未如此令人厌恶。体育史上从未有人收到过像6年1.035亿美元这样的丰厚年薪合同，所以想象一下，加内特在从未赢得过季后赛比赛的情况下拒绝了这份合同时，人们的震惊。

经纪人埃里克·弗莱舍(Eric Fleisher)是已故的长期球员工会领袖拉里·弗莱舍(Larry Fleisher)的儿子。曾经有一段时间，拉里·弗莱舍不得不强迫球员提高每日津贴。因此，他的儿子显然也为同一件事奋斗，即使规则已经改变。

像这样的经纪人通过账目记录好的交易，他们当然能看到从谈判桌到他们口袋的预算线。他们没有将情况考虑在内。加内特可以默默地接受他每年1730万美元的薪水，继续做他在明尼苏达的民间英雄。如果这份合同没有给他足够的零花钱，那么他将在27岁的时候，正值巅峰期，成为自由球员。

难怪森林狼队公开了这些数字。他们必须向球迷们展示他们正在努力。此外，特许经营权也需要将此事结束，就像游骑兵队对待普奇·罗德里格斯(Pudge Rodriguez)一样。如果他们无法签下他，他们现在需要知道。

弗莱舍的反应？“森林狼队没有信守他们关于对所有合同谈判严格保密的承诺，这很不幸。因此，凯文·加内特将在下赛季结束后离开球队。”

所以现在，加内特要么以忘恩负义的猪的身份爬回来，要么以预期至少赢得50场比赛的核心球员的身份前往另一个城市。有趣的是，加内特虽然很棒，但他还没有证明他是一个能够赢得至少50场比赛的核心球员。很有可能，更多的总经理更愿意要邓肯，而不是加内特。

因此，当霍尔特看着是否有人站出来出售新球馆时，他的后备方案有一些好处。如果圣安东尼奥决定不需要一座中型球馆——如果它选择不与它唯一的特许经营权合作——那么霍尔特就不会被视为坏人。

他可以出售，大多数人都会理解为什么。这样一来，他会赚很多钱。本月《圣路易斯日报》发表的一篇关于该市获得马刺队的机会的文章中提到，纳什维尔据说为快船队开出了2.5亿美元的报价。

这会减轻霍尔特的痛苦，其他事情也会。如果被迫出售，霍尔特就可以避免现在等待他的事情。令人头晕目眩、令人厌烦的加内特世界。

点击查看原文：Da Kid shows da future: Why Holt can't lose

Da Kid shows da future: Why Holt can’t lose

Kevin Garnett shouldn’t scare Peter Holt. Holt knew Tim Duncan would be expensive. He didn’t need Da Kid to tell him that.

Still, last week’s news reinforces Holt’s stance. He said the Spurs cannot re-sign Duncan without a basketball building in place, and there was Garnett, through his agent, showing why.

But Holt might feel something else, too. With the money madness so apparent - with a 21-year-old turning down the richest contract ever - how awful will it be for Holt if San Antonio chooses to let the Spurs leave?

This has always been true: If rejected and forced to sell to another city, Holt merely will double his investment.

Given that, Holt still might not be able to afford Garnett’s neighborhood. A lot of NBA execs don’t think Garnett can do much better than the $17.3 million annual salary that Minnesota offered him because of the salary cap, but history says someone will find a way to show him the money.

Still, even if the agent is right and a few extra mil can be squeezed, the greed has never been more noxious. No one in sports has ever been offered a contract as annually rich as $103.5 million over six years, so imagine the shock when Garnett, having never won a playoff game, turned it down.

The agent, Eric Fleisher, is the son of the late, longtime union boss for the players. There was a time when Larry Fleisher had to twist arms to raise per diem. So his son apparently fights the same good fight, even though the rules have changed.

Agents such as this register good deals by ledger sheets, and they certainly see the budgetary line that goes from the table to their pockets. What they don’t include in the equation is circumstance. Garnett quietly could have taken his $17.3 million a year and continued as the folk hero he has become in Minnesota. And if that contract didn’t provide him with enough spending money, then he would be a free agent, in his prime, at age 27.

No wonder the Timberwolves went public with the figures. They had to show their fans they were trying. Besides, the franchise also needs to bring this to a conclusion, much the way the Rangers did with Pudge Rodriguez. If they can’t sign him, they need to know now.

Fleisher’s reaction? “It’s unfortunate that the Timberwolves have not honored their word to keep all contract negotiations strictly confidential. Consequently, Kevin Garnett will not re-sign with the club after next season.”

So now Garnett either crawls back as the ungrateful hog, or he leaves for another city as the centerpiece expected to win at least 50 games. A funny thing: As good as Garnett is, he has yet to show he’s a centerpiece who can win at least 50 games. Chances are, more GMs would probably rather have Duncan than Garnett.

And so as Holt watches to see if anyone steps up to sell a new arena, his fallback position has some benefits. If San Antonio decides it doesn’t need a midsized arena - if it chooses not even to work with its one franchise - then Holt wouldn’t be seen as the bad guy.

He could sell, and most people would understand why. In doing so, he would make a lot of money. An article in a St. Louis newspaper this month about that city’s chances of getting the Spurs noted an offer Nashville reportedly made for the Clippers. $250 million.

That would ease Holt’s pain, as would something else. Forced to sell, Holt would avoid what awaits him now. The dizzying, irritating world of Garnett.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-21, By Jerry Briggs

海军上将担心马刺队很快就要离开圣安东尼奥

全明星中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)就像许多马刺队的球迷一样，他对一个“令人清醒的想法”感到不安——球队可能在不久的将来被迫离开圣安东尼奥。

罗宾逊周三强烈暗示，如果球馆的计划没有很快实现，球队拥有者“很有可能”会考虑来自外地投资者的报价。

当他向媒体发表讲话时，他关于自己背部状况（良好）的诊断和他对马刺队在本赛季冲击NBA总冠军的看法（同样良好）似乎显得次要。

罗宾逊宣布计划在即将到来的邻里公开高尔夫球赛中为慈善事业筹集超过20万美元的资金，他没有对球馆的资金来源提出意见。

但他明确表示，如果球队没有得到一个新的球馆，他们在圣安东尼奥的日子可能屈指可数。

“马刺队没有向我公开他们的财务状况，”他说。“但从财务角度来说，这是一个小城镇。这不是纽约，也不是洛杉矶。但我们仍然必须与这些球队竞争。我们仍然必须与芝加哥队竞争。

“除非我们有足够的收入来做到这一点，否则这将非常困难。”

马刺队老板彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt)最近以居民缺乏支持为由，取消了推动球馆投票的计划。霍尔特说，球队将等待市政领导人提出一个方案。到目前为止，还没有任何有权势的人站出来说一句话。

关于这个问题的活动停滞不前，促使罗宾逊推测，如果球队继续留在阿拉莫穹顶——在那里，收入来源可能跟不上其他NBA球队——霍尔特对让马刺队留在圣安东尼奥的承诺可能会消失。

“我知道我们得到了很大的支持，球迷们热爱马刺队，”罗宾逊说。“但我不知道如果我们离开，每个人都会意识到会造成什么样的影响。这很有可能。我正在建造一座房子。我希望我们能再留在这里几年。

“我喜欢这里。但对我来说，我可能不得不卖掉房子，搬到另一个城市，这很有可能。这是一个令人清醒的想法。”

罗宾逊，球队的一名核心球员和七届全明星球员，认为圣安东尼奥人没有意识到如果几年内没有建造一个新的篮球设施，球队很有可能离开。

“我认为人们不明白，这可能就是我们球队面临的现实，”他说。“我希望这种情况不会发生。但我们必须明白这一点。我们做出选择，我们作为一个社区可以做出选择。而（市民可能会）决定，‘嘿，这并不重要。’没关系。但我们必须承担这些选择的后果。”

罗宾逊预测，随着球队试图在中锋蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)的帮助下打造一支冠军争夺者——他是选秀大会上的状元秀——这个问题可能会成为球队的干扰。

“今年会有很多干扰，是的，这绝对是球队周围的事情之一，”他说。“我一定会和球员们谈谈，告诉他们，我们没有义务做出这些决定，也没有义务争论这些观点。

“我们的工作是全力以赴，为这座城市打造最好的球队。这就是我们要关注的。这只是一个我们试图排除的干扰。我们拥有出色的核心球员阵容。我们还有很多工作要做，才能让球队团结一致。”

邓肯预计会对马刺队产生重大影响。

但球队能否成功打进季后赛，取决于罗宾逊背部的耐受性。罗宾逊是1995年的NBA最有价值球员，他饱受脚踝骨折和腰部拉伤的困扰，上个赛季只打了6场比赛。

在过去几个月坚持严格的日常康复和锻炼计划后，罗宾逊感觉强壮而健康。他说，几周前，他在私人训练中甚至“痛殴”了马刺队的队友邓肯和威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)。

至于邓肯，罗宾逊说他在科罗拉多州阿斯彭的训练中“把他拖进了泥潭”，以此来检验这位新秀的意志。但直到罗宾逊开始训练营并能够完成一天两次的训练，他才会把自己归为100%健康。

“这个夏天我没有任何问题，”他说。“这个夏天我没有休息过一天，这很好。我逼迫自己每天都非常努力地工作，我的背部没有出现任何问题。所以我预计（这个赛季）不会出现问题。但是……你永远不会知道。”

罗宾逊对自己能够承受邓肯和珀杜的日常冲击感到鼓舞。

“当我与蒂姆和威尔一起打了一周比赛时，我的身体承受了压力，这与我独自训练时完全不同，”他说。“所以我预计不会出现问题。但你永远不会知道。我只会继续为它做好准备。（我会做）成千上万个仰卧起坐，以及所有其他类型的训练，我们拭目以待。”

认识邓肯并与他建立关系是罗宾逊这个夏天的亮点之一。这位新秀让罗宾逊想起了10年前他被选中时的情景。他对这位来自维克森林大学的一年级球员寄予厚望。

“如果蒂姆达到了我们所有人期望和希望的水平，那么我们会非常出色，”罗宾逊说。“我认为到年底，我们会处于竞争的中心。我认为这将是一个成功的年份。你不会仅仅组建一支球队，加入一名伟大的球员，然后就自动认为这支球队会赢得一切。但那将是我们的目标。

“当我们开始赛季时，我们要立志成为最好的球队。”

点击查看原文：Admiral worried that Spurs won't be here much longer

Admiral worried that Spurs won’t be here much longer

All-Star center David Robinson is like many Spurs fans. He is disturbed by a “sobering thought” - that the team might be forced to leave San Antonio in the near future.

Robinson hinted strongly Wednesday that if plans for an arena don’t ma terialize soon, “a real possibility” exists that ownership will entertain offers from out-of-town investors.

His prognosis on the condition of his back (good) and his thoughts on the Spurs’ chances of making a run toward the NBA championship this season (equally good) seemed to be of secondary importance as he addressed the media.

Robinson, announcing plans to raise more than $200,000 for charity in the upcoming Neighborhood Open Golf Tournament, didn’t offer an opinion on how an arena should be financed.

But he made it clear that if the team didn’t get one, its days in town could be numbered.

“The Spurs haven’t opened up their books to me,” he said. "But, financially, this is a small town. This is not a New York. This is not a Los Angeles. But we still have to compete against those teams. We still have to compete against the Chicagos.

“And it’s going to be very difficult unless we have revenues to do that.”

Spurs owner Peter Holt, citing a lack of support from residents, recently called off plans to push for a vote on an arena. Holt said the team would wait for civic leaders to come up with a plan. So far, nobody in authority has stepped up with even a word.

The lull in activity on the issue prompted Robinson to speculate that if the team remained a tenant in the Alamodome - where revenue streams may not be keeping pace with other NBA teams - Holt’s commitment to keep the Spurs in town might fade.

“I know that we’ve had great support, and the fans love the Spurs,” Robinson said. "But I don’t know that everyone would realize the impact if we left. And that’s a real possibility. I’m in the middle of building a house. I was hoping that we could stay here a few more years.

“I like it here. But for me, it’s a real possibility that I might have to sell my house and move to another city. And that’s a sobering thought.”

Robinson, the team’s franchise player and a seven- time All-Star, doesn’t think San Antonians understand how good the chances are that the team could be gone in a few years if a new basketball facility is not built.

“I just don’t think people understand that (it) could be what we’re looking at as a team,” he said. “And I hope that doesn’t happen. But it’s something we need to understand. We make choices, and we can make choices as a community. And (citizens may) decide, ‘Hey, this is not what’s important to us.’ And that’s fine. But we have to live with the consequences of those choices.”

Robinson predicted that the issue could be a distraction to the team as it tries to mold a championship contender, with the help of center-forward Tim Duncan, the No. 1 draft pick in the draft.

“There’s going to be a lot of distractions this year, and, yes, that’s definitely going to be one of the things that’s going to be surrounding the team,” he said. "I’m going to definitely make it a point when I talk to the players that it’s not our job to make those types of decisions and it’s not our job to argue those points.

“It’s our job to go out and compete and give this city the best team that it can have. That’s where we’re going to be focused. It’s just one of the distractions we’re going to (try and) keep on the outside. We’ve got a great nucleus (of players). We’ve got enough work to do just keeping it together.”

Duncan is expected to have a major impact on the Spurs.

But the team’s chances of making a successful playoff run rest with the durability of Robinson’s back. Robinson, the 1995 NBA Most Valuable Player, was haunted by a broken foot and a lower back strain and played only six games last season.

After adhering to a strenuous daily rehabilitation and workout schedule for the last few months, Robinson feels strong and fit. He said he even “beat up on” fellow Spurs centers Duncan and Will Perdue in private workouts a few weeks ago.

As for Duncan, Robinson said he “drug him through the mud” in testing the rookie’s will to work in drills at Aspen, Colo. But Robinson won’t list himself at 100 percent until he starts training camp and is able to make it through two-a-day practices.

“I haven’t had any problems with it this summer,” he said. “I haven’t taken any days off this summer, which is good. I make myself go out and work really hard every day, and my back has not given me any problems whatsoever. So I’m not anticipating that it will (this season). But … you don’t know.”

Robinson was encouraged by his ability to take the daily pounding against Duncan and Perdue.

“When I played with Tim and Will for a week, it taxed me physically, different than anything I’ve done on my own,” he said. “So I don’t anticipate any problems. But you never know. I’m just going to continue to prepare myself for it. (I’ll be doing) thousands of situps and all that other type of stuff, and we’ll see.”

Meeting and getting to know Duncan was one of the highlights of Robinson’s summer. The rookie reminds Robinson of himself 10 years ago when he was the No. 1 pick in the draft. He has high hopes for the first-year player from Wake Forest.

“If Tim reaches that level that we all expect and hope, then we’ll be very good,” Robinson said. "At the end of the year, I think we’ll be right in the thick of things. And that’s what I would consider a successful year. You don’t just take a team, add a great player and automatically think that team is going to go and win everything. But that’s going to be our goal.

“When we start the season, we’re going to set out to be the best.”

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-21, By Jerry Briggs

罗宾逊慈善晚会准备盛大开幕

一众明星将为即将举行的戴维·罗宾逊基金会邻里公开晚会和高尔夫球锦标赛增添趣味。

罗宾逊说道：“我真的很期待今年的比赛，”他的慈善基金会已招募美国航空公司作为主办方。“一些大明星将来到圣安东尼奥，比如吉姆·麦克马洪、埃里克·迪克森、杰里·斯塔克豪斯和伦尼·威尔肯斯。肖恩（埃利奥特）和文尼（德尔·内格罗）也将展示他们的休赛期技能。”

为马刺队中锋的慈善机构带来收益的三日活动将于 9 月 13 日至 15 日举行。

9 月 13 日，宾客们将享受在凯悦山乡村度假村举行的晚会和拍卖会，以及一场艺术展和一场高尔夫球锦标赛。高尔夫球赛定于 9 月 15 日在索恩特拉俱乐部举行。

高尔夫球赛门票为 500 美元，包括参加晚会的门票。单人的晚会门票为 150 美元，10 人起订的餐桌价格为 1500 美元。如需更多信息，请致电 615-3700。

该基金会的一位发言人说，目标是为当地慈善机构筹集 225,000 美元。去年的活动获得了 206,000 美元的收益。

罗宾逊说：“每年的比赛都会售罄。工作人员告诉我，仅剩极少数名额，因此任何想要参加比赛的人都需要立即致电办公室。”

这次无声拍卖会将展出一幅“史上 50 位最伟大球员”限量版海报、一个前往拉斯维加斯邀请赛观看老虎伍兹比赛的贵宾之旅，一次容纳 20 人的施利特巴恩派对，一个埃米特·史密斯签名足球、一个芝加哥公牛队签名团队球、一个艾伦·杰克逊签名丹宁巡演夹克以及“今夜秀”的贵宾票。

现场拍卖物品包括劳尔·古铁雷斯的原作画、一场前往圣地亚哥超级碗 XXXII 的旅行、一场在莫顿芝加哥餐厅为 20 人举办的派对、一场在停靠于佛罗里达州的私人游艇上为期一周的六人游轮、一辆来自圣安东尼奥雷克萨斯的 1997 款雷克萨斯 ES300 轿车以及一辆来自阿拉莫城市哈雷·戴维森的“肥仔”哈雷戴维森摩托车。

点击查看原文：Robinson charity gala set to score

Robinson charity gala set to score

A celebrity-laden lineup will add spice to the upcoming David Robinson Foundation Neighborhood Open Gala and Golf Tournament.

“I’m real excited about this year’s tournament,” said Robinson, whose charitable foundation has recruited American Airlines as the presenting sponsor. “There are some great celebrities coming to San Antonio, like Jim McMahon, Eric Dickerson, Jerry Stackhouse and Lenny Wilkens. Sean (Elliott) and Vinny (Del Negro) will be displaying their off-season skills, too.”

The three-day affair benefiting the Spurs center’s charities will be Sept. 13-15.

Guests will enjoy a gala and auction on Sept. 13 at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort, an art show and a golf tournament. The golf event is set for Sept. 15 at The Club at Sonterra.

Golf slots are $500 and include tickets to the gala. Individual gala tickets are $150 each with tables of 10 starting at $1,500. For more information, please call 615-3700.

A foundation spokeswoman said the goal is to raise $225,000 for local charities. Last year’s event produced $206,000.

“The tournament is a sellout every year,” Robinson said. “And the staff tells me that very few slots remain, so anyone wishing to play needs to call the office now.”

The silent auction will feature a “50 Greatest Players of All-Time” limited edition poster, a VIP trip to the Las Vegas Invitational to watch Tiger Woods play, a Schlitterbahn party for 20, an autographed Emmitt Smith football, a Chicago Bulls autographed team ball, an autographed Alan Jackson denim tour jacket and VIP tickets to “The Tonight Show.”

Items in the live auction will be a Raul Gutierrez original painting, a trip to Super Bowl XXXII in San Diego, a party for 20 at Morton’s of Chicago, a one-week cruise for six on a private yacht docked in Florida, a 1997 Lexus ES300 from Lexus of San Antonio and a “Fat Boy” Harley-Davidson motorcycle from Alamo City Harley Davidson.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-22, By Kevin O’Keefe

罗宾逊博士的课程：‘取悦老板101’

在戴维·罗宾逊(David Robinson)周三的表演之后，我再次了解到有关马刺队全明星中锋的一件事：他知道如何取悦他的老板。

仅仅几周前，马刺队董事长彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt)还对球队在圣安东尼奥进行新球馆公投的努力举起了白旗投降。

你可能还记得，霍尔特对负面的民意调查数据感到沮丧，他说现在将由圣安东尼奥的其他人来领导建设新设施的努力。

当然，霍尔特在那次新闻发布会上表现出色，他适当地皱着眉头，专注于 61% 的数字——这指的是那些不愿意用纳税人的钱为马刺队建造新球馆的人。

实际上，霍尔特那天唯一的失误是关于新秀蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)的威胁，邓肯将在三年后成为自由球员。

霍尔特不明智地使用了“威胁”这个词——他告诉我他永远不会这么做——他坚持说，如果马刺队留在阿拉莫穹顶，他们肯定没有钱重新签下邓肯。

嘘…彼得…像明尼苏达的凯文·加内特(Kevin Garnett)那样拒绝了 6 年 1.03 亿美元的合同，即使有了新球馆，马刺队也无法重新签下邓肯。

你也要明白，在邓肯成为自由球员之前，如果没有这座城市的承诺，马刺队将在很早之前就被出售并搬迁。

罗宾逊登场了。

罗宾逊从他在科罗拉多州阿斯彭的夏季住所中走出，为他的邻里公开高尔夫球锦标赛宣传，他始终是忠诚的员工，他发表了关于需要新球馆的言论。

罗宾逊说，他很担心马刺队可能在不久的将来不得不离开圣安东尼奥…没有新球馆。

罗宾逊说的话相当有力，你会记得，当前马刺队教练约翰·卢卡斯(John Lucas)被解雇时，或者当肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)在 1993 年被交易到丹尼斯·罗德曼(Dennis Rodman)时，他几乎没有说什么。

啊…那些重大的特许经营事件也发生在休赛期，而罗宾逊在休赛期是被禁止接触的，除了他自己的推广活动。

罗宾逊甚至为格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)教练提供了不在场证明，他指出，球馆问题可能会成为球队准备成为冠军争夺者时的干扰。

说实话，我觉得很不错，即使是一位像罗宾逊这样通过六年合同赚取 6600 万美元保证金的员工，也理解了取悦老板的重要性。

这不会是最后一次马刺球员将建造新球馆作为问题。

为什么，这可能就是今年的剧本的首页：“何时谈论在圣安东尼奥建造新球馆：

“任何机会。”想象一下这段采访：

“所以，戴维，你今天早上吃了什么牌子的麦片？”

“嗯，凯文，我认为圣安东尼奥的新球馆计划必须尽快出台，否则球队可能被迫离开…‘船长克朗奇’。”

然而，罗宾逊与霍尔特一样，正中反球馆势力的下怀。

当被问及这座设施应该如何融资时，罗宾逊没有给出任何意见。

你可能还记得，霍尔特从未公布过他经常提到的“计划”。

答案，先生们。我们需要答案。

点击查看原文：Dr. Robinson's course: 'Boss Pleasing 101'

Dr. Robinson’s course: ‘Boss Pleasing 101’

In the aftermath of David Robinson’s performance Wednesday, I learned yet one more thing about the Spurs’ All-Star center: He knows how to please his boss.

Could it have been only a few weeks ago that Spurs chairman of the board Peter Holt waved the white flag of surrender regarding the team’s push for a referendum for a new arena in San Antonio?

You’ll recall that Holt, dismayed by negative poll data, said it now would be up to others in San Antonio to lead the drive for a new facility.

Certainly, Holt put on an impressive show during that news conference, displaying the proper amount of grimaces as he focused on the figure 61 percent - as in people not interested in using tax money to build a new arena for the Spurs.

Really, Holt’s only faux pas that day was his threat regarding rookie Tim Duncan, who will become a free agent in three years.

Holt, who unwisely used the word “threat” - something he told me he’d never do - insisted that if the Spurs remained in the Alamodome, they most assuredly wouldn’t have the money to re-sign Duncan.

Psst … Peter … with the likes of Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett turning down $103 million for six years, the Spurs won’t be able to re- sign Duncan even with a new arena.

Understand, too, the Spurs will be sold and moved long before Duncan gets to be a free agent without the city’s commitment to a new arena.

Enter Robinson.

Coming out of hiding from his Aspen, Colo., summer home to promote his Neighborhood Open Golf Tournament, Robinson was ever the faithful employee with his statements on the need for a new arena.

Robinson said he was disturbed by the thought that the Spurs might have to leave San Antonio in the near future … without a new arena.

Fairly strong stuff from Robinson, who you’ll remember had little to say when former Spurs coach John Lucas was fired or when Sean Elliott was traded for Dennis Rodman in 1993.

Ah … those major franchise events also took place in the off- season, and Robinson is off-limits in the off-season, except when it comes to promoting something of his own.

Robinson even provided an alibi for Coach Gregg Popovich when he noted that the arena issue could be a distraction as the team prepared to become a championship contender.

Honestly, I thought it was neat that even an employee who earns a guaranteed $66 million - as Robinson does through the duration of his six-year contract - understood the importance of pleasing his boss.

And this won’t be the last time a Spurs player makes the building of a new arena an issue.

Why, that might just be the front page of this year’s playbook: "When to talk about a new arena for San Antonio:

“Every chance you get.” Imagine this interview:

“So, David, what kind of cereal did you have for breakfast this morning?”

“Well, Kevin, I think plans for a new arena in San Antonio must come very soon or the team might be forced to leave … Cap’n Crunch.”

Yet Robinson, as was the case with Holt, played right into the hands of the anti-arena forces.

Asked how this facility should be financed, Robinson offered no opinion.

Holt, you’ll recall, never unveiled “the plan” he often mentioned.

Answers, men. We need answers.

By Kevin O’Keefe, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-25, By Buck Harvey

帮凶：疯狂麦克斯如何继续毒害？

Alvin Robertson 登记入狱，就像他曾经登记参加比赛一样。他对记分台挥了挥手，他知道自己该往哪里走。

一年前，他身着狱服度过了几个月。上周一，他回到别克萨尔县监狱，到了周五，按照 NBA 术语来说，他成为了一名受到严格限制的自由球员。他可能会在本周中重新入狱，面临 180 天的有期徒刑，而这个刑期可能还会缩短。

你需要一个程序来追踪每个刑期对应的定罪。最新统计数据是五项轻罪和两项重罪，所有这些指控都针对一个拥有篮球罕见数据四双的球员。

在这期间，他的代表致电马刺队，表示尽管电视上看起来并不是那么回事，但还是有另一面的。他们想要 Robertson 想得到的东西——一个恢复名誉的机会，或许还能恢复马刺队的后场。

马刺队对此进行了讨论，并且出于所有正确的理由拒绝了。太长一段时间以来，Robertson 一直在撞击妻子、女朋友和人事主管。为什么要冒着让年轻的蒂姆·邓肯受到创伤的风险？

没错，Robertson 是咎由自取。但最终让他陷入困境——让马刺队只短暂考虑这种可能性的原因——是他曾经的跑友。毒害水源的正是毒先生本人。

弗农，弗农，弗农。去年在弗农·麦克斯韦尔身上赌了一把之后，马刺队想退出博彩业务。

一些篮球因素对 Robertson 也没有帮助。Robertson 35 岁，并且错过了上个赛季。这是否意味着他的防守怒涛的标志性特点将会减弱？他从来没有成为最好的外线射手，也从来没有成为出色的控球者。此外，如果法官愿意，Robertson 可能会在全明星周末之前出狱。

尽管如此，Robertson 以最低工资就能得到，而这也是马刺队能为维尼·德尔内格罗找的替补支付的所有费用。Robertson 将带来经验和韧劲，并且他将从替补席上出发，凭借意志力创造一些奇迹。对于一支性格被动的球队来说，马刺队仍然需要另一个像 Doc Rivers 那样的人。

两年前 Robertson 在多伦多证明了他仍然能够打球，然后在休息一段时间之后，他又回来了。然后还有这个动机：在法庭上自取其辱之后，他会不会为了能够再次昂首挺胸地走在他的家乡而保持一年的正直？

Robertson 不是麦克斯韦尔。他没有吸毒或酗酒的历史。相反，他拥有德国牧羊犬那种领土的微妙之处而突然发怒。

Robertson 承认了这一切，并且他今夏向马刺队提出了自己的救赎特质。“我不是弗农·麦克斯韦尔，”他说。

但这并不是什么重大的职业成就。尽管如此，一个疯子与一个有严重问题的人之间还是有区别的。我宁愿赌 Robertson 能控制住自己黑暗的一面，而不是赌疯狂麦克斯永远都发疯。

马刺队面临着两种选择，但顺序混乱。也可能说明了一些关于时机的道理。一年前，马刺队将他们价值百万美元的例外情况用在了麦克斯韦尔身上，而现在 Robertson 甚至连一份公平的协议都得不到。

马刺队因为签下麦克斯韦尔而遭到了大量的批评。但在那个赛季结束后——当麦克斯使用猥亵手势的准确率远远高于他的投篮——马刺队迫不及待地终止了他的合同。他们不喜欢自己所做的事情。

因此，当马刺队讨论另一个改过自新的场景时，他们更多地记住了麦克斯韦尔，而不是他们最初用来为他签约的逻辑。这次 Robertson 被定罪，是因为有牵连。

点击查看原文：The accomplice: How Mad Max still poisons

The accomplice: How Mad Max still poisons

Alvin Robertson checks into jail as he once did games. With a casual wave to the scorers’ table, he knows where to walk.

A year ago, he wore jailhouse orange for a few months. Last Monday, he reported back to the Bexar County Jail, and by Friday, he was, to paraphrase NBA terminology, a highly restricted free agent. He goes back in, probably by midweek, for a 180-day sentence that likely will be shortened.

You need a program to keep track of which sentence goes with which conviction. The latest count is five misdemeanors and two felonies, all for a guy who holds one of basketball rarest stats, the quadruple-double.

During all this, his representatives called the Spurs to say that, despite what it looks like on TV, there is another side. They want what Robertson wants - a chance to resurrect his name, and maybe the Spurs’ backcourt, too.

The Spurs talked about it and passed for all the right reasons. Robertson has been running over wives, girlfriends and personnel directors for too long. Why risk traumatizing young Timmy Duncan?

Robertson did it to himself, all right. But what ultimately got him - what made the Spurs only briefly consider the possibility - was his one-time running buddy. Poisoning the waters was Mr. Poison himself.

Vern, Vern, Vern. Having gambled on Vernon Maxwell last year, the Spurs wanted out of the gambling business.

Some basketball factors didn’t help Robertson as well. Robertson is 35 and missed last season. Doesn’t that mean his trademark defensive fury will have lessened? He was never the best outside shooter, nor much of a ball handler. Besides, if the judge chooses, Robertson might not be out in time for the All-Star break.

Still, Robertson could be had for the minimum, and that’s about all the Spurs can pay for a backup to Vinny Del Negro. Robertson would bring experience and toughness, and he would come off the bench, making something happen by will alone. For a team of passive personalities, the Spurs still need another Doc Rivers.

Robertson proved in Toronto two years ago he could still play, and then, too, he returned after a layoff. Then there is this motivation: Having humiliated himself in the courtroom, wouldn’t he stay straight for a year if only so he could walk tall in his hometown again?

Robertson isn’t Maxwell. He has no history of drugs or alcohol. Instead, he snaps with the territorial subtleties of a male German shepherd.

Robertson admits it all, and he has offered his redeeming trait to the Spurs this summer. “I’m not Vernon Maxwell,” he has said.

That’s not much of a career achievement. Still, there is a difference between a wacko and a man with a serious problem. I’d rather bet on Robertson caging his dark side than Mad Max being anything but mad.

The Spurs faced both options, but in confusing order. And maybe it says something about timing. A year ago, the Spurs spent their million-dollar exception on Maxwell, and now Robertson won’t see even a make-good deal.

The Spurs weren’t overly roasted for signing Maxwell. But when the season was over - when Max had been far more accurate with obscene gestures than with his jumper - the Spurs couldn’t wait to terminate his contract. They didn’t like what they had done to themselves.

So when the Spurs discussed another second-chance scenario, they remembered Maxwell more than they did the logic they originally applied to sign him. Robertson was guilty, this time, by association.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-26, By Buck Harvey

大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)到底做错了什么：我们都知道

既然我们都在批评大卫·罗宾逊，那就再开一次直升机吧。飞过去，再拍一张他那座半成品豪宅的照片，它可以和凡尔赛宫媲美。

既然我们都在批评罗宾逊，那就直接点吧。说他贪婪，或者说他是老板的走狗。他夏天不是拿着拐杖，躲着买票的球迷，掩盖自己的残疾吗？

别只看电视上的10秒钟片段，也别去看他真正想说什么。既然我们都在批评罗宾逊，那就看看他，宣布一下我们会在什么地方做得不同。

第一个很容易。他在阿斯彭有第二套房产，没有人会选择在8月份待在阿斯彭而不是在南德克萨斯。

然后是另一个不可否认的错误。罗宾逊赚的钱太多了。

罗宾逊从一开始就在这里拿高薪。不过，如果他两年前没有签下新合同，他现在就将成为自由球员。罗宾逊和他的团队看到了即将到来的繁荣，但还是同意接受了今年夏天布莱恩特·里夫斯(Bryant Reeves)拿到的薪水。

也许罗宾逊签下合同是因为他认为马刺队无法提供更好的条件，他想要留下来。或者也许他考虑了如果他严重受伤，比如脊椎受伤，他的令人兴奋的自由球员生涯会发生什么。凯文·加内特(Kevin Garnett)在拒绝了一份价值1.035亿美元的合同后，也采取了同样的赌博。

无论如何，罗宾逊和他的经纪人没有在他们把球队置于困境时施加压力，当然，我们也会这样做。我们不介意尝试一年只靠1200万美元生活。不过，如果这意味着每年多赚500万美元，我们中有多少人会想要离开，或者会一直抱怨直到合同被修改？许多其他运动员已经这样做了，并且将来也会这样做。

然后是罗宾逊上周召开新闻发布会的原因，他在新闻发布会上宣布了罗宾逊基金会向慈善机构的最新捐赠。1997年，这个数字达到了23.2万美元，这使得该基金会成立的五年期间，捐赠给慈善机构的总收入达到了约150万美元。

这还不包括他其他的善举，例如罗宾逊对182名孩子的承诺。当这些孩子还在五年级的时候，罗宾逊承诺对所有从高中毕业的学生提供经济援助。现在大多数孩子都是山姆·休斯顿高中的高年级学生，准备领取这笔钱。

毫无疑问，我们都会像他一样致力于社区。

我们知道：我们当然不会在新闻发布会上说出罗宾逊说的话。当被问及球馆问题时，罗宾逊说，如果球馆建不成，马刺队可能不得不搬走，他不想看到这种情况发生，因为，好吧，他不得不卖掉凡尔赛宫。

读者们几乎无法快速地给报社写信。可怜的大卫 - 马刺队离开的时候，他需要人帮他收拾行李吗？彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt)肯定很高兴罗宾逊向人们表达了公司的立场。

每个人都知道罗宾逊在这里做错了什么。他说了句笨拙的话。罗宾逊的意思是说，“我喜欢这里，我不希望球队离开。”但他像往常一样，猛地向前冲去，笨拙而有时对自己的言辞毫无察觉。这就像几年前，他成为马刺队获得包机的代言人一样。球员们都很喜欢。球迷们认为罗宾逊为了这么一件看起来微不足道的事情而大惊小怪，真是太娇气了。

当时关于包机的说法，现在关于球馆的说法也一样。如果罗宾逊这么想要，为什么不自己买呢？

就像我们一样。毕竟，既然我们都在批评罗宾逊，我们必须公平。

点击查看原文：What Robinson did so wrong: We all know

What Robinson did so wrong: We all know

As long as we’re beating up David Robinson, rev up the helicopter again. Spin by and show another picture of his half-finished mansion that could pass for Versailles.

As long as we’re beating up Robinson, go for the broad strokes. Call him greedy, or the boss’s stooge. Hasn’t he spent his summer, cane in hand, hiding his disability from ticket buyers?

Don’t see past 10 seconds of TV tape, or even what he was trying to say. As long as we’re beating up Robinson, look at him and announce just what it is we would have done differently.

The first one is easy. He has a second home in Aspen, and nobody in their right mind would rather spend August there instead of in South Texas.

Then comes another undeniable error. Robinson makes too much money.

Robinson has been well paid from the beginning here. Still, he would be a free agent now had he not signed a new deal two years ago. Robinson and his camp saw the boon that was coming, but agreed to take money that someone named Bryant Reeves got this summer.

Maybe Robinson signed because he figured the Spurs couldn’t offer anything better, and he wanted to stay. Or maybe he factored in what might happen to his exciting free agency if he seriously injured, say, his spine. Kevin Garnett gambles the same after he turned down a $103.5 million contract.

Either way, Robinson and his agent did not squeeze when they had the franchise in a vise, and, naturally, we would have done the same. We wouldn’t mind trying to get by on $12 million a year. Still, if it meant an extra $5 million a year, how many of us would have wanted out, or pouted until the contract was changed? A lot of other athletes have and will.

Then there’s the reason Robinson had his news conference last week, when he announced the latest Robinson Foundation gifts to charities. For 1997, that comes to $232,000, bringing the total revenue given to charities over the five-year period of the Foundation to about $1.5 million.

That doesn’t include his other goodwill efforts, such as Robinson’s commitment to a class of 182 kids. When they were in the fifth grade, Robinson pledged financial assistance to all who graduated from high school. Most are now seniors at Sam Houston and ready to cash in.

All of us, no doubt, would be just as dedicated to the community.

This we know: We certainly wouldn’t have said what Robinson said at that news conference. Asked about the arena issue, Robinson said the Spurs might have to move unless an arena is built, and he doesn’t want that to happen because, well, he’d have to sell Versailles.

Readers couldn’t type letters to the newspaper fast enough. Poor David - does he need anyone to help him pack when the Spurs leave town? Peter Holt had to be giddy that Robinson had taken the company line to the people.

Everyone knows what Robinson did wrong here. He gave a clumsy sound bite. Robinson meant to say, “I like it here and I don’t want the team to leave.” But he lunged forward as he often has, awkward and sometimes clueless about how he sounds. It was not unlike several years ago, when he became the frontman to get the Spurs a charter jet. The players loved it. The fans thought Robinson was spoiled to make such an issue about something so seemingly trivial.

The same was said then about the jet that is said now about the arena. If Robinson wants one so much, why doesn’t he buy it?

Just as we would do. We have to be fair, after all, as long as we’re beating up Robinson.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-28, By Travis E. Poling

马刺队的伤病可能带来 500 万美元的保险赔偿

圣安东尼奥马刺队主席彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt) 周三表示，球队从四名受伤球员身上获得的约 500 万美元的保险金可以抵消本赛季糟糕战绩带来的财务损失。

尽管 NBA 球队尚未统计本赛季的最终财务数据，但霍尔特在市中心扶轮社的观众面前表示，他预计数据会显示约 400 万美元的运营亏损。

他说，保险赔付将弥补这一差额。

大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson) 和查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith) 由于伤病缺席了 1996-97 赛季的大部分比赛。此外，查克·珀森(Chuck Person) 全季缺席，肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott) 也错过了 82 场比赛中的近一半。

马刺队去年公布的财务数据显示，球队在 1996 年支付了约 235 万美元的保险费。

马刺队表示，他们在 1995-96 常规赛中损失了约 260 万美元，但通过季后赛和子公司的利润弥补了损失，在摊销、折旧和扩建收入之前，净收入为 306,072 美元。

马刺队在本赛季 20 胜 62 负的战绩让他们无缘季后赛，也无法获得弥补糟糕售票收入的季后赛收入。

霍尔特还告诉扶轮社的观众，球队官员真诚地希望不再领导新球馆的建设。

球队渴望建造一座耗资 1.2 亿美元的新球馆，该球馆主要由公共资金建造，这一计划一直备受争议。

马刺队宣称，该项目将成为一个社区场所，惠及整个城市。

然而，许多城市领导人和社区团体担心，建造一座新的球馆将使阿拉莫穹顶重新陷入赤字，因为马刺队将不再是租户，并且城里会出现一个竞争对手的场馆。

7 月，霍尔特表示，马刺队委托进行的民意调查显示，贝克萨尔县的选民不太可能批准为球馆建设提供公共资金。

但任何进一步的球馆建设努力都必须来自社区。

霍尔特说，球队需要新的场馆带来的更高收入才能在 NBA 中具有竞争力。例如，NBA 有 2600 万美元的工资帽，但球队难以创造足够的收入来满足工资帽并签下高薪球员。

“我们没有创造那种收入，但我们陷入了与主要市场球队的竞争周期，”霍尔特说。

马刺队官员表示，一座拥有 18500 至 20000 个座位，座位紧凑、高质量的豪华包厢的新球馆将大幅增加收入。

霍尔特说，可行性研究发现，圣安东尼奥的企业基础和拥有可支配收入的个人可以支持一座新球馆的 60 至 65 个包厢。

但圣三一大学城市管理学教授海伍德·桑德斯(Heywood Sanders) 表示，这个市场可能无法承受 65 个包厢。

“如果你开始减少企业基础，这里将会有很多包厢，”他说。“对个人来说，花钱要困难得多”，因为这不能作为业务成本扣除。

点击查看原文：Spurs' injuries may net $5 million Holt says insurance payouts could erase operating loss for bad year

Spurs’ injuries may net $5 million Holt says insurance payouts could erase operating loss for bad year

San Antonio Spurs Chairman Peter Holt said Wednesday about $5 million in insurance money collected on four injured players could offset the financial losses of a cellar-dwelling season.

Although the NBA team has not tallied its final financial figures for the season, Holt told a Downtown Rotary Club audience that he expected the numbers to reveal an operating loss of about $4 million.

The insurance payments would make up the difference, he said.

David Robinson and Charles Smith missed most of the 1996-97 basketball season because of injuries. In addition, Chuck Person was out for the whole season and Sean Elliott missed nearly half of the 82-game campaign.

Financial figures released by the Spurs last year showed the team paid about $2.35 million in insurance premiums in 1996.

The Spurs said they lost about $2.6 million in the regular 1995-96 season, but made up the difference with profits from the playoffs and subsidiaries for a positive income of $306,072 before amortization, depreciation and expansion revenues.

The Spurs’ 20-62 record this past season left them out of the playoffs and the post-season revenues needed to offset poor ticket sales.

Holt also told the Rotary Club audience that team officials are sincere about stepping back from leading the charge for a new arena.

The team’s desire for a new $120 million facility, built primarily with public dollars, has been highly controversial.

The Spurs touted the project as a community venue that would benefit the entire city.

Many city leaders and community groups, however, are concerned that construction of a new arena would throw the Alamodome back into the red with the loss of the Spurs as a tenant and a competing facility in town.

In July, Holt said Spurs-commissioned polls revealed that Bexar County voters were unlikely to approve public financing for the arena.

But any further efforts to build an arena must come from the community.

Holt said the team needs the higher revenues that come with a new facility to be competitive in the NBA. The NBA has a $26 million salary cap, for example, but the team struggles to generate enough revenue to meet the cap and sign high-dollar players.

“We are not creating that kind of income, but we’re caught up in that competitive cycle” with major-market teams, Holt said.

The revenues would be greatly enhanced by a 18,500-to 20,000-seat arena with intimate seating and high-quality luxury boxes, Spurs officials have said.

Holt said a feasibility study found that San Antonio’s corporate base and individuals with expendable income could support 60 to 65 boxes in a new arena.

But Heywood Sanders, an urban administration professor at Trinity University, said 65 boxes may be more than this market could handle.

“It’s a lot to have here if you start running down the corporate base,” he said. “It’s much more difficult for an individual to spend the money” because it can’t be written off as a cost of business.

By Travis E. Poling, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-08-31, By Jerry Briggs

罗宾逊被歪曲了吗？基金会负责人希望强调球队的慷慨

大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)基金会的执行董事为马刺队的全明星中锋辩护，此前有批评指责他抱怨圣安东尼奥需要一座新的球馆。

玛丽·K·哈维尔(Mary K. Havel)指责媒体对罗宾逊8月20日举行的新闻发布会的报道“失实”，该发布会是为了宣传即将到来的“邻里公开高尔夫球锦标赛”，旨在为当地慈善机构筹款。

在新闻发布会上，罗宾逊在回答关于球馆问题的提问时表示，如果圣安东尼奥没有建造新球馆，马刺队“很有可能”离开这座城市。

他还补充说，他可能不得不卖掉房子搬家，这是一个“令人清醒的念头”。

自从他的言论被广播和印刷媒体报道以来，在过去的11天里，《圣安东尼奥快报》收到了30多封读者的来信，大多数对罗宾逊表示批评。

他的言论也重新点燃了当地广播脱口秀节目中关于球馆的争议。

哈维尔说，罗宾逊目前在国外，无法接受采访。但她表示，他很失望，在自己的年度高尔夫球锦标赛和慈善拍卖会即将举行之际，却遭到了如此多的批评，该活动预计将为当地慈善机构筹集超过20万美元。

“他说他输了也赢不了，”哈维尔说。“他说，如果他不说什么，可能也会被批评。这是一个两难境地。”

“让我生气的是，没有人注意到他所做的好事。大卫没有召开新闻发布会发表这样的声明。”

新闻报道将重点放在罗宾逊关于球馆争议的言论上。这是罗宾逊两年多来首次详细讨论这个问题，该问题已经将圣安东尼奥社区分化。

哈维尔说，罗宾逊并不是代表马刺队老板彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt)发表这些言论，霍尔特最近因为公众支持不足而取消了球队对球馆公投的推动。

“大卫不是出于政治原因去的，”哈维尔说。“他不是去担任霍尔特、波波维奇(Spurs coach Gregg Popovich)或职业篮球经济的代言人。”

“他也不是去维护自己的身体状况、正直、职业生涯或报酬。他是来感谢媒体、志愿者和赞助商的支持，以及感谢上帝赐予的祝福。太可惜了，人们没有意识到那天发生的所有事实。”

霍尔特通过发言人拒绝评论罗宾逊关于球队可能离开圣安东尼奥的言论。

在新闻发布会上，罗宾逊大声地思考是否应该回答关于这样一个有争议性话题的问题。然后，他开始泛泛地谈论马刺队在联盟最小的几个金融市场之一中是否能够继续在NBA中竞争。

罗宾逊没有具体提到新的球馆，而是暗示了如果没有建造新球馆，可能会产生的后果。

“我不知道每个人是否会意识到我们离开的影响。这是一个真实存在的可能性，”他说。

罗宾逊说，他不希望不得不卖掉他在多明尼昂的房子。

“我喜欢这里，”他说。“但对我来说，我可能不得不卖掉房子，搬到另一个城市，这是一个真实存在的可能性。这是一个令人清醒的念头。”

在他发表这些言论后，罗宾逊反复遭到斥责，马刺队也遭到市民的批评。

“大卫·罗宾逊，你真是可怜，”报纸读者洛伊斯·休斯(Lois Hughes)在一封发表在周四版上的信中写道。“马刺队的全明星中锋可能不得不卖掉房子搬家……我认为他在一个军镇选择了一个错误的抱怨对象。”

并非所有球迷都批评他的言论。其中一位球迷在周五的KTKR广播电台(AM-760)上表达了他的观点，他反问如果球队离开圣安东尼奥，罗宾逊的慈善事业将会怎样。

他称罗宾逊是“优秀的人”，并赞扬他为城市做出的贡献。

但哈维尔对广播和报纸信件中的负面评论感到沮丧。

“我真希望公众能了解到他那天下午所说的话的2%以上，”她说。“如果他们能了解到98%，他们就会了解到大卫和瓦莱丽(他的妻子)罗宾逊个人捐赠给基金会的近500万美元，让城市内外的一些项目得以实现。”

该基金会的“邻里公开”将于9月13日至15日举行，最后一期是高尔夫锦标赛。

哈维尔对报道了新闻发布会的记者进行了严厉的批评。

“没有一个记者问过关于那天宣布的25万美元赠款的问题，”她说。“相反，他们无偿地听取了当天的好消息，吃了一顿免费午餐，然后对大卫宁愿不谈论的事情进行攻击。”

马刺队的后卫艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)是罗宾逊最好的朋友之一，他说他还没有听说过关于这场争议的太多信息。

“但我要说的是，我认为会发生一些事情，让球队能够留在（圣安东尼奥），”约翰逊补充说。“我相信会有解决办法。”

安迪·埃弗雷特(Andy Everett)上周在KTKR为早间脱口秀主持人查理·帕克(Charlie Parker)代班，他说大多数打电话的人想要讨论马刺队和球馆。

他估计，关于是否应该用税收建造球馆，公众的意见是“五五开”。

点击查看原文：Was Robinson skewered? Foundation director wants center's generosity stressed

Was Robinson skewered? Foundation director wants center’s generosity stressed

The executive director of the David Robinson Foundation has defended the Spurs’ All-Star center in the wake of criticism that he is whining about the need for a new arena in San Antonio.

Mary K. Havel blamed the media for “skewed” reports of a news conference Robinson held on Aug. 20 to promote the upcoming Neighborhood Open Golf Tournament to benefit local charities.

During the news conference, in response to a question about the arena issue, Robinson suggested there is a “real possibility” the Spurs might leave town if one isn’t built.

He added that it is a “sobering thought” to consider that he might have to sell his house and move.

In the 11 days since his comments were carried by broadcast and print media, the San Antonio Express-News has received more than 30 responses from readers, mostly critical of Robinson.

His statements have also re-ignited the arena controversy on local radio talk shows.

Havel said Robinson is out of the country and isn’t available for comment. But she said he is disappointed at taking so much heat on the eve of his annual golf tournament and gala-auction, which is scheduled to bring in more than $200,000 for local charities.

“He said he can’t win for losing,” Havel said. "He said he probably would have been criticized if he didn’t say anything. It’s a no-win scenario.

“What angers me is that nobody notices the good work he does. David didn’t call the press conference to make a statement like that.”

News accounts of the press conference concentrated on Robinson’s statements about the arena controversy. It was the first time Robinson had discussed the issue at length in the more than two years it has divided the community.

Havel said Robinson didn’t make the remarks on behalf of Spurs owner Peter Holt, who recently called off the team’s push for an arena referendum because of a lack of public support.

“David wasn’t there for political reasons,” Havel said. "He wasn’t there to be a spokesman for Holt, Pop (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich), or the economics of professional basketball.

“Nor was he there to defend his physical condition, integrity, career or compensation. He was present to thank the media, volunteers, and sponsors for their support - and his God for the blessings bestowed. What a shame the people were not made aware of all the facts of the day.”

Holt, through a spokesman, declined to comment on Robinson’s statements that the team might leave town.

At the press conference, Robinson wondered aloud whether he should respond to a question about such a controversial subject. Then he began to speak in generalities about whether the Spurs, in one of the league’s smallest financial markets, could continue to compete in the NBA.

Without mentioning a new arena specifically, Robinson hinted about the potential consequences if one is not built.

“I don’t know that everyone would realize the impact if we left. And that’s a real possibility,” he said.

Robinson said he didn’t want to have to sell his house at The Dominion.

“I like it here,” he said. “But for me, it’s a real possibility that I might have to sell my house and move to another city. And that’s a sobering thought.”

In the wake of his statements, Robinson has been repeatedly chided and the Spurs criticized by citizens.

“David Robinson, you poor thing,” newspaper reader Lois Hughes said in a letter published in Thursday’s editions. “The Spurs’ All-Star center might have to sell his house and move. … I think he picked a wrong thing to whine about in a military town.”

Not all fans are critical of his statements. One of them, airing his views Friday on KTKR radio station (AM-760) Friday, asked rhetorically what would happen to Robinson’s charity efforts if the team left town.

He called Robinson “quality people” and lauded him for his contributions to the city.

But the negative comments registered on radio and in newspaper letters have frustrated Havel.

“I sure wish the public had learned more than just 2 percent of his remarks that afternoon,” she said. “Had they been privy to the 98 percent, they would have learned about the projects in and around the city that have been made possible by the nearly $5 million that David and Valerie (his wife) Robinson have personally donated to the foundation.”

The foundation’s Neighborhood Open is scheduled Sept. 13-15, with the golf tourney on the last day.

Havel issued a harsh critique of reporters who covered the press conference.

“Not one reporter asked a single question about some of the $250,000 in grants that were announced that day,” she said. “Instead, they gratuitously listened to the good news of the day, ate a free lunch, and then pounced on matters that David would have rather not addressed at all.”

Spurs guard Avery Johnson, one of Robinson’s best friends, said he has not heard much about the controversy.

“But I will say I think something is going to happen that will allow the team to stay (in San Antonio),” Johnson added. “I feel there will be a solution.”

Andy Everett, filling in last week for morning talk-show host Charlie Parker on KTKR, said a majority of callers wanted to discuss the Spurs and the arena.

He estimated that sentiment was running “50-50” on whether it should be built with tax dollars.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-04, By Travis E. Poling

马刺队或将增加债务 球队表示不断飙升的薪资可能迫使他们再次借贷

不断上涨的薪资可能会迫使马刺队承担更多债务。马刺队官员周三表示，由于球队努力为球员提供越来越高的薪资，马刺队将在未来几年增加他们的贷款债务。

球队首席财务官里克·皮克(Rick Pych)表示，圣安东尼奥马刺队在1996-97赛季将与球队收购相关的4400万美元债务降至2600万美元，但可能需要再次利用银行的信用额度来弥补资金缺口。

根据球队发布的财务报表，由于上赛季没有季后赛收入，马刺队的运营亏损为423万美元，收入为5190万美元。

这与1995-96赛季常规赛的258万美元运营亏损和6020万美元收入形成对比。

这些亏损被季后赛带来的235万美元收入抵消，季后赛将马刺队带入了西部半决赛，以及马刺队活动营销子公司SAOne Inc.带来的运营利润。

由于大学橄榄球西南联盟的消失以及子公司推广的其他活动的损失，SAOne几乎没有收入。

上赛季的亏损被圣安东尼奥马刺队有限公司为大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)、肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)、查克·珀森(Chuck Person)和查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith)所受的伤病支付的520万美元残疾保险金抵消。

1996-1997赛季所缺少的是1995-1996赛季NBA扩军带来的926万美元的一次性收入，这些收入是在多伦多和温哥华的球队加入联盟时获得的。

马刺队主席彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt)表示，这笔钱被用于偿还1993年从B.J.“红”·麦克科姆斯(B.J. “Red” McCombs)手中收购球队的债务。

过去一个赛季的摊销和折旧为1010万美元，车主可以使用它作为税收抵免。

球队支出中最大的增幅是球员薪资的增长，从1995-96赛季的2690万美元增加到2820万美元，增幅为130万美元。霍尔特表示，本赛季的总薪资预计将增加200多万美元。

“其他所有方面，我们都在努力维持或减少，”霍尔特谈到控制管理费用以保持与球员薪资的竞争力时说。

霍尔特表示，不断上涨的球员薪资和阿拉莫穹顶豪华包厢的收入减少将导致持续的运营亏损。

“我们认为在未来几年我们将亏损，直到我们最终搬到一个新的设施，”霍尔特说。

马刺队最近放弃了获得纳税人资金建造新球馆的计划，但继续表达了对球队在没有新球馆的情况下竞争未来的担忧。

由于阿拉莫穹顶的豪华座位视野不佳，马刺队在1996-97赛季的优质座位、豪华包厢和俱乐部级座位的销售收入几乎减半。

马刺队的财务文件显示，1996年的豪华座位收入为320万美元。这一数字去年下降到170万美元。

尽管大卫·罗宾逊缺席以及糟糕的战绩，季前赛和常规赛的售票收入仅下降了12%。

“我们很高兴球迷坚持了下来，”霍尔特说。

霍尔特表示，新赛季的季票续订率创下新高，超过90%。

点击查看原文：Spurs may have to increase debt Franchise says spiraling salaries may force new trip to credit line

Spurs may have to increase debt Franchise says spiraling salaries may force new trip to credit line

Rising salaries may force Spurs to take on more debt The San Antonio Spurs will have to increase their loan debt over the next few years as the team struggles with offering ever-higher salaries to players, Spurs officials said Wednesday.

The NBA organization brought $44 million in debt related to the purchase of the team down to $26 million in 1996-97, but may have to start tapping its bank credit line again to cover shortfalls, said Rick Pych, Spurs chief financial officer.

With no playoff revenue last season, the Spurs had operating losses of $4.23 million on revenues of $51.9 million, according to a financial statement released by the franchise.

That compares to operating losses of $2.58 million on revenues of $60.2 million for the 1995-96 regular season.

Those losses were offset by $2.35 million from the playoffs that took the Spurs to the Western Conference semifinals and an operating profit from the Spurs event-marketing subsidiary, SAOne Inc.

SAOne had virtually no revenues because of the disappearance of college football’s Southwest Conference and the loss of other events promoted by the subsidiary.

The losses this past season were offset by $5.2 million in disability insurance payments to San Antonio Spurs Ltd. for injuries suffered by David Robinson, Sean Elliott, Chuck Person and Charles Smith.

What was missing in the 1996- 1997 season was one-time expansion revenue from the NBA in 1995- 96 of $9.26 million, gained when franchises in Toronto and Vancouver entered the league.

Spurs Chairman Peter Holt said that money was applied toward reducing debt incurred from the purchase of the team from B.J. “Red” McCombs in 1993.

Amortization and depreciation, which can be used by the owners as a tax write-off, was $10.1 million for the past season.

The biggest increase in team expenditures was a $1.3 million increase in player salaries to $28.2 million from $26.9 million in 1995-96. Total salaries are expected to increase more than $2 million this season, Holt said.

“Everything else, we’re trying to hold or reduce,” Holt said of controlling overhead expenses to stay competitive with player salaries.

Holt said rising player salaries and less revenue from luxury boxes in the Alamodome will make for continued operating losses.

“We think we’re going to lose money over the next few years until we get into a new facility at some point,” Holt said.

The Spurs recently called it quits on a campaign to get taxpayer dollars to build a new arena, but continue to express concern for the team’s competitive future without one.

Because of poor sight lines from luxury seating in the Alamodome, Spurs revenues from the sale of premium seating, luxury suites and club level seating was nearly halved in 1996-97 campaign.

Spurs financial documents show luxury seating revenues were $3.2 million in 1996. That figure dropped to $1.7 million last year.

Preseason and regular season ticket sales were down only 12 percent, despite a season marked by David Robinson’s absence and an abysmal record.

“We were pleased that the fans hung in there,” Holt said.

Season-ticket renewals are at a record high of more than 90 percent for the upcoming season, Holt said.

By Travis E. Poling, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-04, By Buck Harvey

不交易？为什么马刺队放弃了天赋

马刺队有自己的目标，也有自己的预算。

当两者在上个月未能达成一致——马刺队没有为博比·菲尔斯竞价，而他转而与夏洛特队签约——彼得·霍尔特的预言已经悄然成真。

随着阿拉莫圆顶的建成，马刺队的经营方式将发生改变。

无论如何，这次交易都有可能无法达成。夏洛特队的人说菲尔斯想在那里打球。

此外，马刺还需要采取一些复杂的步骤。根据预先安排的协议，菲尔斯必须与克利夫兰队或其他球队重新签约。然后马刺队将用威尔·帕杜以换取菲尔斯。

根据工资帽规则，菲尔斯在夏洛特得到的钱可以运作。帕杜下赛季将赚到大约 170 万美元。马刺队被允许交易一份合同，其价值在这个基础上浮动 15%，而菲尔斯——他在一份为期七年的价值 3,010 万美元的合同的第一年——下赛季将获得大约 190 万美元。

菲尔斯不是一位巨星球员，但他是一位运动能力强、可靠的双能卫，曾入选联盟最佳防守阵容。马刺队需要什么？正是如此。

在克利夫兰队的减速比赛中，很容易忽视他的投篮。但在三分线外，他的命中率通常超过 40%，而在南方大学，他大学四年级的大学赛季带领全国大学生体育协会取得了三分球冠军。关于南方大学：他与一位名叫埃弗里·约翰逊的小后卫在那里度过大一赛季。

菲尔斯父亲是佛罗里达农工大学的工程系主任。菲尔斯和大卫·罗宾逊会在旅行途中设计自己的笔记本电脑吗？菲尔斯在球场上可能更聪明。所以想象一下这个人与他的朋友一起开始，在侧翼上为肖恩·埃利奥特提供补充，吸引对方球队最好的后场得分手，而文尼·德尔·内格罗同时顶替这两个后卫位置。

在西部，会有更好的阵容吗？

帕杜可以处理交易谈判。无论在体型还是联盟现实中，他都是一个大男孩。此外，当蒂姆·邓肯星期三作为一名资产所有者抵达圣安东尼奥时，帕杜可能早就明白了他在此地不应该买房子。同时拥有邓肯和罗宾逊的任何一支球队都会将另一个 7 英尺中锋视为一种奢侈。

帕杜确实提供了保险；马刺队所在分区的三支球队（达拉斯、丹佛和明尼苏达）没有这么优秀的中锋。但他就像一件不可替代的传家宝上的昂贵保险。如果罗宾逊的后背受伤，无论帕杜做什么，马刺都不会成为竞争者。

因此，这使得交易颇具吸引力，而其他选项也如此。马刺队希望通过漏洞得到的一些后卫（例如费城的马克·戴维斯和菲尼克斯的乔治·麦克劳德）已经签约。马刺队已经发现帕杜不会带来米奇·里士满，即使他与德尔·内格罗打包。而且，如果这样一个包裹可以吸引拉特雷尔·斯普雷威尔，那么工资帽就会阻止它。

拿走那些备选方案，也许马刺队现在最好的选择就是上个月 38 岁的德克萨斯人里奇·皮尔斯。这个夏天被夏洛特队解约（哦，多么讽刺），皮尔斯可以一晚上摇摆 12 分钟。

所以霍尔特吸收了所有这些信息，然后痛苦地扭了一下脸。七年？另外的 3 千万美元？

有人称之为便宜，有人称之为愚蠢。霍尔特会称之为在一个足球场馆里做生意的现实。他告诉我们，如果没有竞技场，他无力重新签约邓肯。当邓肯的第一份合同开始时，这里有一个例子。一个球队看到了自己的未来，然后放弃了。

点击查看原文：The non-trade? Why the Spurs passed on talent

The non-trade? Why the Spurs passed on talent

The Spurs had their man. They also had their budget.

And when the two couldn’t agree with each other last month - when the Spurs didn’t bid for Bobby Phills and he signed with Charlotte instead - Peter Holt’s prophecy had quietly come true.

With the Alamodome, the Spurs will do business differently.

There’s a chance the deal wouldn’t have worked out no matter. Those in Charlotte say Phills wanted to play there.

Besides, the Spurs would have needed a few complicated steps. In a prearranged agreement, Phills would have had to re-sign with Cleveland, or another team. Then the Spurs would have traded Will Perdue to that team for Phills.

The money that Phills got in Charlotte would have worked under cap rules. Perdue will earn about $1.7 million next season. The Spurs would have been allowed to trade for a contract within 15 percent of that, and Phills - in the first year of a seven-year deal worth $30.1 million - gets about $1.9 million next season.

Phills is not a marquee player, but he’s an athletic, reliable two- guard who has been named to the league’s all-defensive teams. What do the Spurs need? Precisely that.

In Cleveland’s slowdown game, it was easy to overlook his shooting. But from the three-point line he was often over 40 percent and, at Southern, he led the NCAAs in treys his senior year. About Southern: He played his freshman season there with a little guard named Avery Johnson.

Phills’ father is the dean of engineering at Florida A&M. Would Phills and David Robinson have designed their own laptop on road trips? Phills might be even smarter on the floor. So imagine this guy starting next to his buddy, complementing Sean Elliott on the wing, taking the other team’s best backcourt scorer, all with Vinny Del Negro backing up both guard positions.

In the West, would there be a better lineup?

Perdue can handle the trade talk. He’s a big boy both in size and in league reality. Besides, as Tim Duncan arrived in San Antonio on Wednesday as a man of property, Perdue probably understood long ago he shouldn’t buy a house here. Any team that employs both Duncan and Robinson would consider another 7-footer a luxury.

Perdue provides insurance, all right; three teams in the Spurs’ own division (Dallas, Denver and Minnesota) don’t have a center this good. But he’s like expensive insurance on an irreplaceable heirloom. If Robinson’s back breaks down, the Spurs aren’t going to be contenders no matter what Perdue does.

So that made the trade attractive, and so did the other options. Many of the guards the Spurs hoped would fall through the cracks (such as Philadelphia’s Mark Davis and Phoenix’s George McCloud) have signed. The Spurs have already found Perdue won’t bring a Mitch Richmond, even if he were packaged with Del Negro. And if such a package could attract a Latrell Sprewell, the salary cap would stop it.

Take away those alternatives, and maybe the Spurs’ best choice now is Texan Ricky Pierce, 38 years old last month. Cut by Charlotte this summer (oh, the irony), Pierce could wobble out for 12 minutes a night.

So Holt absorbed all this information, then winced. Seven years? Another $30 million?

Call it cheap, call it foolish. Holt would call it the reality of doing business in a football stadium. He told us that, without an arena, he couldn’t afford to re-sign Duncan. And here is an example just as Duncan’s first contract begins. A franchise saw its future, and passed.

By Buck Harvey, via San Antonio Express-News