马刺1997-98赛季实录（680+篇）

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-04, By Jerry Briggs

邓肯抵达圣安东尼奥，渴望上场

在蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)周三下午抵达圣安东尼奥后不久，阵阵狂风席卷街头，乌云密布的天空中电闪雷鸣——或许预示着他将给马刺队带来一场风暴。

邓肯，来自维克森林大学的NBA选秀状元，预计将帮助马刺队从20胜的赛季中反弹，并带领他们重返季后赛。

球员将在10月3日前往训练营报道，这位身高6英尺11英寸的中锋/前锋似乎迫不及待地想知道何时何地可以参加一些热身赛。

“我想和大家（球队）一起训练，”邓肯在圣安东尼奥国际机场等待行李时说道，“但我不知道谁在这里。”

对于邓肯来说，这是一个重要的日子，虽然没有他第一次访问这座城市时的盛况。在马刺队于6月25日选中他后的第二天，他们将他带到城里，并在阿拉莫广场举行了一个集会欢迎他，约有6000名球迷参加。

这一次，迎接委员会由马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)和两名记者组成。与之前的喧嚣不同，现在要处理的是细节，细节，再细节。

邓肯与朋友兼商务经理马克·斯科特(Marc Scott)从北卡罗来纳州出发。他们乘坐波波维奇的汽车离开机场，前往与一名房地产经纪人会面，后者将帮助邓肯完成新房的交易。

在机场，一名球迷注意到邓肯在行李提取处从传送带上搬下一个旅行袋。他走近波波维奇，忍不住提到了去年因伤造成的灾难。

“我希望他不会再得疝气，”球迷说道。

波波维奇笑着回答：“如果他得了疝气，我肯定会被怪罪的。”

从正式意义上讲，周三标志着邓肯在北卡罗来纳州温斯顿-塞勒姆的四年大学生涯的结束，这是一段疯狂的大学之旅，他从默默无闻中脱颖而出，成长为全美最优秀的球员。

但是，如果邓肯对离开大学时代有任何伤感，他并没有表现出来。

“我已经准备好来到这里，适应环境，准备好比赛，”他说。

邓肯和斯科特将在圣安东尼奥合住一栋房子，就像他们在温斯顿-塞勒姆一样。来自北卡罗来纳州教堂山市的斯科特四年前在维克森林大学走上球场，并在上赛季获得了为“恶魔之魂”效力的奖学金。

在这段时间里，这位球星和这位替补队员关系密切。

“我是他的朋友，也是他的商务经理，”斯科特说。“我们能成为朋友，这对我很重要。他可以轻松地跟我说任何事情。我只负责确保一切都顺利进行，确保他的经纪人履行职责，处理所有琐事，让他专注于比赛，因为这就是他来到这里的原因——打篮球。”

自7月24日签署了一份为期三年、价值1020万美元的合同以来，邓肯已经投入了大量的篮球训练。他参加了在盐湖城举行的落基山脉夏季联赛，然后在科罗拉多州阿斯彭度过了一周，与老将大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)和威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)一起汗流浃背地进行训练。

“我努力成为一名优秀的球员，”邓肯说。“我不想仅仅成为一个无关紧要的人。要做到这一点，你就必须投入训练。”

罗宾逊的健康状况是马刺队进入秋季训练营后面临的一个重大问题。在缺席了上赛季的大部分比赛后，罗宾逊整个夏天都在康复背伤。邓肯相信罗宾逊，这位七次全明星球员和1995年的联盟MVP，将会没事。

“我觉得他比以往任何时候都出色，尽管我以前从未和他一起打过球，”邓肯说。“他看起来状态不错。我们一起刻苦训练。他的速度和力量给我留下了深刻的印象。如果他受伤了，我无法想象他100%恢复后会是什么样子。”

马刺队表示罗宾逊已经恢复了95%。尽管罗宾逊还没有进行五对五的篮球比赛，但邓肯说他似乎并没有犹豫。

“我认为他没有刻意谨慎，”邓肯说。“当他在场上时，他全力以赴。”

点击查看原文：Duncan arrives in S.A. eager to get on court

Duncan arrives in S.A. eager to get on court

A few minutes after Tim Duncan arrived in San Antonio on Wednesday afternoon, gusts of wind whipped through the streets and lightning crackled in a darkened sky - perhaps foreshadowing his impact on a Spurs team that could use some extra thunder.

Duncan, the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft out of Wake Forest, is expected to help the Spurs rebound from a 20-win season and take them storming back to the playoffs.

Players report to training camp Oct. 3, and the 6-foot-11 center/ forward seemed eager to find out when and where he could get into some pickup games.

“I want to work out with everybody (on the team),” Duncan said as he waited for his bags to emerge at San Antonio International Airport, “but I’m not sure who is here.”

It was a big day for Duncan, although it lacked the fanfare of his first visit to the city. A day after the Spurs drafted him June 25, they brought Duncan to town and welcomed him in at a rally at Alamo Plaza attended by about 6,000 fans.

This time, the greeting committee consisted of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and two reporters. Instead of hoopla, there were details, details and more details to take care of.

Duncan traveled from North Carolina with friend and business manager Marc Scott. They left the airport in Popovich’s car, riding off to meet a realtor who would close the deal on Duncan’s new home.

In the airport, one fan noticed Duncan hoisting a duffel off a carousel at the baggage claim. Approaching Popovich, the fan couldn’t resist alluding to last year’s injury-induced disaster.

“I hope he doesn’t get a hernia,” the fan said.

Grinning, Popovich replied: “If he does, I’m sure I’ll get the blame for it.”

Officially, Wednesday marked the end of Duncan’s four-year stay in Winston-Salem, N.C., a wild collegiate ride in which he rose from obscurity and blossomed into the best player in the country.

But if Duncan felt any sentiment about leaving his college days behind, he didn’t show it.

“I’m just ready to get down here, get used to it and get ready to play,” he said.

Duncan and Scott will share a house in San Antonio, just as they did in Winston-Salem. Scott, from Chapel Hill, N.C., walked on at Wake Forest four years ago and earned a scholarship to play for the Demon Deacons last season.

During that time, the star and the walk-on grew close.

“I’m his friend and his business manager,” Scott said. “It helps that we’re friends. It’s easy for him to tell me things. I just make sure everything is going OK for him, make sure his agent is doing his job, take care of all the little things and let him concentrate on playing, because that’s why he’s here - to play basketball.”

Duncan already has put in quite a bit of basketball work since he signed a three-year, $10.2 million contract July 24. He attended the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league in Salt Lake City, then spent a week in Aspen, Colo., sweating through drills with veterans David Robinson and Will Perdue.

“I’m trying to be a good player,” Duncan said. “I don’t want to be just another body. The way you do that is you come in and you start working.”

The health of Robinson is a major question for the Spurs entering fall camp. After sitting out most of last season, Robinson has spent the summer rehabilitating an injured back. Duncan believes Robinson, a seven-time All-Star and the 1995 league MVP, will be fine.

“I thought he was as good as ever, although I had never played with him before,” Duncan said. “He looked good. We worked out hard. I was impressed with his quickness and how strong he was. If he’s hurt, I can’t imagine what he’ll be like when he’s 100 percent.”

The Spurs have said Robinson is about 95 percent recovered. Even though Robinson isn’t playing five- on-five basketball yet, Duncan said it didn’t appear that he was tentative.

“I don’t think he was being cautious,” Duncan said. “When he was on the floor, he was going at it.”

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-06, By Jerry Briggs

皮尔斯与马刺接触，但目前只是谈话阶段

自由球员后卫里基·皮尔斯(Ricky Pierce)有兴趣为马刺效力，但球队目前还没有准备好填补最后的阵容名额。

皮尔斯本人也还不确定在他进入第 16 个 NBA 赛季时，对他来说最好的选择是什么。

“如果他选择留在德克萨斯州，对他来说是有意义的，”皮尔斯的经纪人沃伦·勒加里(Warren LeGarie)说，皮尔斯是一名 38 岁的得分后卫。“那离他的家（休斯顿）很近，他也和（马刺控球后卫）艾弗里·约翰逊(Avery Johnson)是很好的朋友。但我们还在考虑其他一些球队。”

勒加里表示，皮尔斯和约翰逊今年夏天在休斯顿一起训练。

马刺球员人事主管萨姆·舒勒(Sam Schuler)表示，球队已经联系了皮尔斯的代表。

“这是我们在过去几天里打出的 100 多个电话之一，”舒勒说。“我不会把它看得太重要。”

舒勒不愿透露球队何时将最终确定阵容，但球员们将在 10 月 3 日前往训练营报到，所以很快就会做出决定。

理想情况下，马刺可能更希望得到一名比皮尔斯更年轻、更有运动能力的球员。此外，马刺只能提供最低工资，而其他球队可能会给皮尔斯一份更大的合同。

“现在说还为时过早，”舒勒说。“联盟中可能还有三分之一的球队拥有（100 万美元）的例外条款或超出最低工资的资金，所以我们只能拭目以待。”

由于工资帽超出了几百万美元，马刺只能以最低工资签下自由球员。

据报道，球队上个月试图用中锋威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)换来后卫鲍比·菲尔斯(Bobby Phills)。然而，菲尔斯最终与夏洛特黄蜂队签约。有迹象表明，马刺可能仍在听取有关珀杜或其他球员的报价。

“我认为他们仍在探索其他想法，”勒加里说，他不知道马刺正在讨论哪些具体交易。

皮尔斯在他的职业生涯中场均得到 15.4 分，投篮命中率为 49.5%。他也是一名职业生涯罚球命中率为 87.6% 的球员。上赛季，在掘金和黄蜂，他的场均得分是 11 分。

去年冬天，皮尔斯因背部拉伤缺席了一个多月。随后，他在 2 月份被掘金交易到黄蜂。

**马刺花絮：**约翰逊计划今天出现在圣玛丽大学举行的球队夏季最后一场球迷节上。这个互动式篮球嘉年华将从上午 9 点持续到下午 4 点。

点击查看原文：Pierce, Spurs in contact, but so far it's all just talk

Pierce, Spurs in contact, but so far it’s all just talk

Unsigned free-agent guard Ricky Pierce is interested in playing for the Spurs, but the ballclub isn’t ready to fill its final roster spot just yet.

Pierce, for that matter, is also uncertain what would be the best move for him entering his 16th NBA season.

“It would make sense for Ricky if he chose to stay in Texas,” said Warren LeGarie, the agent for Pierce, a 38-year-old shooting guard. “It would be close to (his) home (in Houston) and he’s close friends with (Spurs point guard) Avery Johnson. But we’re still looking at some other teams.”

LeGarie said Pierce and Johnson have been working out together this summer in Houston.

Sam Schuler, the Spurs’ player personnel director, said the team has contacted Pierce’s representative.

“It’s one of about 100 calls we’ve made in the last few days,” Schuler said. “I wouldn’t place any (great) significance in it.”

Schuler didn’t want to put a time frame on when the team would finalize its roster, but with players scheduled to report to training camp on Oct. 3, a decision could be forthcoming soon.

Ideally, the Spurs would probably rather have a younger, more athletic player than Pierce. Also, the Spurs can offer only the minimum salary, and there’s a chance that another team might be able to give Pierce a bigger contract.

“It’s a little premature,” Schuler said. “There’s still probably a third of the teams (in the league) that have ($1 million) exceptions or money above the minimum (salary), so we just have to wait and see what happens.”

The Spurs are restricted to signing free agents at the minimum because they are several million dollars over the salary cap.

Reportedly, the team tried to get guard Bobby Phills in a deal for center Will Perdue last month. Phills, however, signed with the Charlotte Hornets. There are indications that the Spurs may still be listening to offers for Perdue or others.

“I think they’re still exploring other ideas,” said LeGarie, who didn’t know what specific deals the Spurs might be discussing.

Pierce has averaged 15.4 points in his career on 49.5 percent shooting from the field. He is also a career 87.6 percent free-throw shooter. Last season, in Denver and Charlotte, he averaged 11 points.

Last winter, Pierce missed about a month of the season with a back strain. He was subsequently traded from the Nuggets to the Hornets in February.

Spurs notes: Johnson is scheduled to appear at the team’s final FanFiesta of the summer today at St. Mary’s University. The interactive basketball carnival will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-07, By Glenn Rogers

NBA即将到来的电视转播协议可能为资金紧张的马刺队带来帮助

马刺队的掌门人彼得·霍尔特(Peter Holt) 对几乎每周都出现的关于球员和教练新签下高得惊人的薪酬的报道感到困惑。这些新闻让他陷入恐慌，脑海里浮现着球队财务报表上血红色的数字。

霍尔特应该得到一些好消息，所以这里有两三点。

联盟内部的消息称，目前与电视巨头们的谈判将导致签订价值是1994-95赛季之前签署的四年合同的两到三倍的合同。

当时与NBC的合作协议总计7.5亿美元。与TNT的协议约为3.52亿美元。

马刺队在过去一年从全国广播合作协议中获得了大约1000万美元的收入。他们在下一年，也就是协议的最后一年，将至少获得这么多钱。

电视转播费翻倍意味着马刺队在从1998-99赛季开始的四年里，每个赛季平均将获得约2000万美元。在过去几年，这些资金本可以带来可观的利润。

在未来几年，这些资金至少能让马刺队对一些价格相对较高的球员说“yes”，同时还能保持财务状况的稳定。

此外，除了下一赛季的常规电视转播费之外，马刺队还将获得额外几百万美元。四年前签署的协议中包含了一种利润分成条款，显然是为了确保联盟参与到预计之外的大量收入中。

由于联盟比赛，特别是季后赛的巨大人气，收入确实超过了预期，并且将在下一个季后赛期间分享这四年额外的资金。

这是霍尔特收到的又一份好消息。

- 不结巴：在我度假期间，大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson) 不小心说错话了，他对一些无伤大雅言论引发的反应感到非常困惑。

海军上将担心马刺队可能搬迁，并私下表示，他后悔自己可能不得不出售正在建造的房子。

在我看来这很正常。没有人会喜欢突然搬家，无论新买的或正在建造的房子的价值如何。那只是罗宾逊本色，坦率地说出了他的一些真实感受。我希望这位大个子在谈论各种事情之前不要三思而后行，剥夺他言论的真实性和基本诚实。我不认为他会这样做。

罗宾逊在过去几年多次提到，马刺队在圣安东尼奥的财务状况岌岌可危。威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue) 在几个月前也说过同样的话。事实上，现在大多数马刺球员都担心球队会在一两年内搬迁。

- 纯粹的公牛：我被公牛队总经理杰里·克劳斯(Jerry Krause) 试图在与教练菲尔·杰克逊(Phil Jackson) 和公牛队救世主迈克尔·乔丹(Michael Jordan) 的谈判中打上自己的烙印而逗乐了。

克劳斯在涉及球员合同和交易的问题上态度强硬。他咆哮着说这些都是私事。

然而，在达成协议后，他却很快地让球迷们知道“这是菲尔的最后一年”。然后同样快速地告知所有人，迈克尔·乔丹的合同中没有关于不交易斯科蒂·皮蓬(Scottie Pippen) 的条款。

克劳斯确实应该为组建芝加哥这支球队而获得大量赞誉，而且现在看来皮蓬正在软化他对明年不与芝加哥续约的态度。

不过，我怀疑，如果在今年2月之前没有就金额达成一致，那么皮蓬的交易谈判将成为风城头条新闻，克劳斯也将回归他的“无可奉告”状态。

点击查看原文：NBA's upcoming television deals may mean help for strapped Spurs

NBA’s upcoming television deals may mean help for strapped Spurs

The Spurs’ top man, Peter Holt, has been confounded by almost weekly reports on new staggeringly high salaries for players and coaches. The bulletins have sent him reeling into panicky visions of blood-red figures on the bottom of the team’s financial ledgers.

Holt is entitled to some good news, so here’s a dollop or two.

The word around the league is that the current talks with television maestros will result in the landing of contracts worth somewhere between two and three times the value of the four-year deals inked prior to the 1994-95 season.

The package with NBC totaled $750 million back then. The deal with TNT equalled about $352 million.

The Spurs’ finances received an injection of about $10 million last year from the national broadcasting packages. They will get at least that much next year, the final year of the deal.

Doubling the TV money should mean the Spurs will average about $20 million a season through the four years beginning with the 1998- 99 campaign. Those sums the last few years would have meant some nice profits.

In future years, they should be at least able to allow the Spurs to say “yes” to some relatively high- priced players and still skirt along the line of black figures.

Also, in addition to the regular TV payment next season, the Spurs’ palms should be graced by an additional few millions. The deals agreed to four years ago included a type of profit-sharing clause, inserted apparently to make sure the league participated in any large revenues over and above the anticipated.

Thanks to the immense popularity of the league’s games, particularly the playoffs, the revenues did exceed expectations, and the sharing in those four years of additional money will come sometime next postseason.

Another green gift for Holt.

- Not tongue tied: While I was on vacation, David Robinson inadvertently put his foot in his mouth, and he was more than a bit bewildered over the reaction to a few of his innocuous statements.

The Admiral, concerned about the possible moving of the Spurs, included the personal remark that he regretted the fact that he might have to sell the house he is currently building.

Sounds normal to me. No one would enjoy being suddenly uprooted, regardless the value of the home newly bought or built. That was just Robinson being Robinson, letting loose with a few honest, every-day feelings. I hope the Big Fellow doesn’t start thinking two or three times before he speaks on various matters, stripping his statements of all real interest and basic honesty. I don’t think he will.

Robinson has noted on several occasions the past few years that the Spurs’ financial hold in San Antonio is tenuous at best. Will Perdue said the same just a few months ago. In fact, most of the Spur players right now fear that the team will be moving within a season or two.

- Plain Bull: I got a kick out of Bulls’ general manager Jerry Krause desperately trying to put his imprint on negotiations with coach Phil Jackson and Bulls’ savior Michael Jordan.

Krause is hard-nosed when it comes to queries about players contracts and dealings. He barks that such matters are private matters.

Yet, he was oh so quick to make sure fans learned that “this is Phil’s last year” after the deal was done. Then equally quick to inform one and all that there was nothing in Michael Jordan’s contract about not trading Scottie Pippen.

Krause does deserve plenty of credit for putting together the Chicago gang, and it’s beginning to look as if Pippen is softening his stand about not re-signing with Chicago next year.

Still, I suspect, if figures aren’t more or less agreed upon between now and February, Pippen trade talks will be in the headlines in the Windy City and Krause will return to his no-comment status.

By Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-11, By Jerry Briggs

罗宾逊恢复良好 马刺球星比波波维奇预计的更早开始打非正式比赛

没有大张旗鼓，马刺中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)已经开始重新参加非正式的篮球比赛。

教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)周三表示，罗宾逊在过去的一周里参加了几场比赛，这是他从背伤恢复过程中的又一个里程碑，这场背伤困扰了他一年多。

“他看起来已经恢复了90%到95%，”波波维奇说。“他似乎处理得很好。”

罗宾逊上赛季因背伤和脚伤缺席了82场比赛中的76场。由于他的健康问题，马刺队战绩跌至联盟最差的20胜62负。

波波维奇在评估罗宾逊本赛季能打出怎样的水平时似乎很谨慎。

“我每天都在关注，”波波维奇说。“希望他能恢复到受伤前的状态。我们没有谈论程度，我们只是做我们的工作。我持乐观态度。”

1995年获得NBA最有价值球员的罗宾逊没有接受采访。

但显然，他开始比赛的时间比波波维奇预期的要早。上个月，波波维奇说罗宾逊要到10月3日训练营开始后才会进行五对五的比赛。

“他一直在稳步进步，”波波维奇说。“他整个夏天都在刻苦训练，他的进步速度让他最近能够做到（参加比赛）。他做到了，感觉很好。”

波波维奇说，罗宾逊有时看起来犹豫不决，他说这是很自然的，因为这位球员自去年12月以来就没有参加过NBA比赛。

“我认为他不会（达到100%），除非他恢复到NBA的比赛状态，”波波维奇说。

大多数马刺球员都在圣安东尼奥以外的地方度过了休赛期，他们已经返回准备训练营。

球队宣布，他们将在10月3日至9日进行两次每日训练，地点分别位于科尔维尔和博恩。

在科尔维尔的施莱纳学院进行为期三天的训练后，球队将在10月6日于桑特拉俱乐部举办年度马刺争夺战高尔夫球赛，为马刺基金会筹款。

从10月7日至9日，马刺队将在博恩的梅多兰兹结束训练营。所有训练不对公众开放。

即使增加了中锋蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)，这位NBA选秀状元，现在断言马刺队是否能重回1995年的争冠状态可能还为时过早。马刺队还需要罗宾逊和肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)有出色的表现，埃利奥特今年2月接受了手术，修复了四头肌肌腱的部分撕裂。

波波维奇说，上赛季只打了39场比赛的埃利奥特可能在下周加入非正式比赛。

“肖恩和大卫一直得到医生们的赞赏，”波波维奇说。“他们可以毫无限制地比赛。”

最大的问题围绕着替补前锋查克·珀森(Chuck Person)和查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith)。波波维奇说，两人都会参加训练营，但尚不清楚两人能承受多少工作量。

珀森在10月29日接受了背部手术后缺席了整个赛季。史密斯只打了19场比赛，因为他右膝的骨关节炎。

珀森的情况似乎最令人担忧，因为他以前是球队替补席上得分最高的球员。

“他不会达到100%，”波波维奇说。“他会训练，但不会像其他人那样训练那么久或那么刻苦。”

马刺队对阵容守口如瓶：教练格雷格·波波维奇说，他还没有确定最后一个阵容名额，并拒绝猜测球队可能会考虑哪些球员。

后卫里奇·皮尔斯(Ricky Pierce)和小前锋亨利·詹姆斯(Henry James)是目前尚未签约的进攻型球员。皮尔斯上赛季在丹佛和夏洛特效力。詹姆斯，前圣玛丽斯球星，在亚特兰大效力。

尚未签约的防守型球员包括前锋杰罗姆·克西(Jerome Kersey)，他来自洛杉矶湖人队，还有马利克·罗斯(Malik Rose)，他于8月19日被夏洛特放弃。罗斯告诉《体育新闻》，他正在与马刺队、印第安纳步行者队和费城76人队谈判。

总部位于芝加哥的经纪人马克·巴特尔斯泰因(Mark Bartelstein)说，马刺队上个月询问了自由球员后卫鲍比·菲尔斯(Bobby Phills)，但双方遇到了“太多障碍”而没有进入谈判阶段。

菲尔斯，去年在克利夫兰效力，最终与夏洛特签下了一份为期7年、价值3200万美元的合同。

马刺队将不得不交易一位老将——据报道，替补中锋威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue)被摆上了货架——才能让菲尔斯符合工资帽。此外，菲尔斯必须先与其他球队签约，然后才能被交易到马刺队。

点击查看原文：Robinson's recovery going fine Spurs star playing in pickup games much sooner than Popovich expected

Robinson’s recovery going fine Spurs star playing in pickup games much sooner than Popovich expected

Without fanfare, Spurs center David Robinson has started to play pickup basketball games again.

Coach Gregg Popovich said Wednesday that Robinson has played in several games over the last week, marking another step in his road toward recovery from a back injury that has plagued him for more than a year.

“He looks like he’s 90 to 95 percent,” Popovich said. “He seems to be handling it pretty well.”

Robinson missed 76 of 82 games last season with back and foot injuries. Because of his health problems, the Spurs stumbled to a franchise-worst 20-62 record.

Popovich seemed cautious in offering an assessment on how good a player Robinson could be this season.

“I go on a day-to-day basis,” Popovich said. “Hopefully, he’ll return to what he was before he was injured. We really don’t talk about degrees. We just do our work. I’m optimistic.”

Robinson, the NBA Most Valuable Player in 1995, was not available for comment.

But, apparently, he has started playing games quicker than Popovich had anticipated he would. Last month, Popovich said Robinson wouldn’t play five-on-five until training camp started Oct. 3.

“He’s just made a steady progression,” Popovich said. “He’s had a full summer to work out and he’s come along at a rate (so) that he was able to do it (recently). He’s done it, and he’s feeling pretty good.”

Popovich said Robinson has appeared tentative at times, which he said is natural for a player who has not been in an NBA game since last December.

“I don’t think he’ll be (100 percent) until he gets himself in NBA shape,” Popovich said.

Most Spurs players with off-season residences outside San Antonio have returned in preparation for training camp.

The team has announced it will stage twice-daily practices Oct. 3- 9, split between sites in Kerrville and Boerne.

Following three days of workouts in Kerrville at Schreiner College, the team will host the annual Spurs Scramble Golf Tournament to benefit the Spurs Foundation on Oct. 6 at The Club at Sonterra.

From Oct. 7-9, the Spurs will conclude their camp practices in Boerne at The Meadowlands. All workouts are closed to the public.

Even with the addition of center-forward Tim Duncan, the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, it may be too early to tell if the Spurs will bounce back to the championship- contender status of 1995. The Spurs also will need big years from Robinson and Sean Elliott, who underwent surgery in February to correct a partial tear of his quadriceps tendon.

Popovich said Elliott, limited to 39 games last season, could be ready to join in some pickup games next week.

“Sean and David continue to get glowing comments from the doctors,” Popovich said. “They continue to play without restrictions.”

The major questions surround reserve forwards Chuck Person and Charles Smith. Popovich said both would be at camp, although it remains to be seen how much of a workload each will be able to handle.

Person missed the season after undergoing surgery on his back Oct. 29. Smith played in only 19 games because of osteoarthritis in his right knee.

Person’s status seems to be the most pressing, because of his previous stature as the team’s top scorer off the bench.

“He’s not going to be 100 percent,” Popovich said. “He’ll practice, but not for as long or as hard as some of the others.”

Spurs mum on roster: Coach Gregg Popovich said he wasn’t close to filling the last roster spot and declined to speculate about what players the team might be considering.

Guard Ricky Pierce and small forward Henry James are among the offensive-minded players who remain unsigned. Pierce played last season at Denver and Charlotte. James, a former St. Mary’s star, played in Atlanta.

Unsigned defensive-oriented players include forwards Jerome Kersey of the Los Angeles Lakers and Malik Rose, who was renounced by Charlotte on Aug. 19. Rose told The Sporting News that he was negotiating with the Spurs, Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers.

Chicago-based agent Mark Bartelstein said the Spurs inquired last month about free-agent guard Bobby Phills, but that the two sides encountered “too many hurdles” to enter negotiations.

Phills, who played last year with Cleveland, eventually signed a seven-year, $32 million contract with Charlotte.

The Spurs would have been forced to trade a veteran - reportedly reserve center Will Perdue was on the block - to fit Phills under the salary cap. Additionally, Phills would have had to sign with another team before he was traded to the Spurs.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-12, By Jerry Briggs

关注中心的“海军上将”对批评置之不理：罗宾逊：“我只是说了心里话”

针对圣安东尼奥居民的批评，马刺中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)周四表示，人们有权不同意他的观点，但他只会在涉及球队的重大问题上表达“自己内心的话”。

“我只是说了心里话，”罗宾逊说，“我知道，当我表达不同的观点时，人们可能不会同意。我可以接受这一点。如果他们不同意，那是他们的权利。”

罗宾逊在8月20日重燃了马刺球馆的争议，他暗示如果球馆没有新建，球队有“真正可能”离开这座城市。

他当时表示，考虑搬迁是一个“令人清醒的思考”。

这些言论招致了球迷的怒火，他们纷纷打电话给广播节目，并给《圣安东尼奥快报》写信。在罗宾逊发表这些言论后不到两周，该报收到了超过30封信，其中绝大多数都是负面的回应。

如果罗宾逊被批评所伤害，他没有表现出来。

“球迷们一直支持我，”罗宾逊说，“我希望在余下的职业生涯中都留在这里。”

罗宾逊在与队友在圣母大学进行非正式训练后发表了最新的言论。背部和脚伤困扰着他，使他上赛季在82场比赛中缺席了76场。他似乎对自己的身体状况感到乐观。

“进展顺利，”他说，“感觉很好，期待着新赛季的到来。”

罗宾逊从下背部拉伤中恢复的情况在社区的一些角落里引起了怀疑，因为他的训练一直不对公众和媒体开放。

但本周的训练中，他的进步显而易见，这是他今夏首次接受媒体的观看。

在周四训练结束时的冲刺中，罗宾逊轻松自如地奔跑，比去年这个时候流畅得多。当记者告诉他看起来很好时，他笑了。

“我一直都是这么说的，”罗宾逊说，“我已经感觉好长时间了。做所有的工作——练习、仰卧起坐——都有帮助。我感到兴奋。前几天我还有机会和（新秀中锋）蒂姆（邓肯）一起训练，那很有趣。

“在场的人似乎都很兴奋。”

马刺后卫维尼·德尔·尼格罗承认，罗宾逊的身体状况比去年这个时候好多了，当时他有时背部僵硬，行动不便。

但德尔·尼格罗表示，罗宾逊最大的考验将在训练营和今年秋天晚些时候的常规赛中到来。

“去年他行动不便，”德尔·尼格罗说，“今年看起来像以前的“海军上将”了。但正如我所说，只有等到对抗、推搡和冲撞开始后，才能知道他能否坚持下来。但他现在看起来很棒。你可以看出他很努力。”

罗宾逊的背部问题在去年八月和九月加重，当时他正在从疝气手术中恢复。

他在第一场季前赛中再次受伤，休息了大约两个月，在12月打了6场比赛，然后又伤了脚。他在12月23日赛季报销。

罗宾逊是1995年的NBA最有价值球员，他说，在他缺席比赛期间，他重新燃起了对篮球的热爱。

“已经很久了，”他谈到终于能够重返赛场的感觉时说，“没有什么比得上它。我非常兴奋。当你在外面待了很长时间后，你会意识到你不想再打球了，或者你会越来越想打球。这让我意识到我有多爱打球。”

点击查看原文：Center of attention shrugs off criticism Robinson: 'I say exactly what's in my heart'

Center of attention shrugs off criticism Robinson: ‘I say exactly what’s in my heart’

Responding to criticism by San Antonio residents, Spurs center David Robinson said Thursday that people have a right to disagree with him, but that he only says “what’s in my heart” on important issues facing the team.

“I say exactly what’s in my heart,” Robinson said. “I understand when I say different things that people may not agree. I can accept that. If they disagree, it’s their prerogative.”

Robinson reignited the Spurs’ arena controversy on Aug. 20, when he suggested that there is “a real possibility” that the team might leave the city if a new playing facility isn’t built.

He said at the time that it was a “sobering thought” for him to consider a possible move.

The comments drew fire from fans who called radio talk shows and wrote the San Antonio Express-News. The newspaper received more than 30 letters - the vast majority of them negative responses - in less than two weeks after his comments were aired.

If Robinson was hurt by the criticism, he didn’t let on.

“The fans have always supported me,” said Robinson, a seven-time All-Star. “I want to stay here the rest of my career.”

Robinson made his latest remarks after an informal workout with teammates at the University of the Incarnate Word. Haunted by back and foot injuries that kept him out of 76 games in an 82-game schedule last season, he seemed to be in good spirits about his physical condition.

“It’s going well,” he said. “I’m feeling good, looking toward a good season.”

Robinson’s recovery from a lower back strain has been met with skepticism in some corners of the community because his practices have been closed to the public and the media.

But in this week’s drills - his first workouts witnessed by the media this summer - his progress was evident.

In wind sprints near the end of Thursday’s session, Robinson ran easily and smoothly, showing much more fluidity of motion than he did this time last season. He smiled when a reporter told him that he looked good.

“It’s what I’ve been saying,” Robinson said. "I’ve been feeling good for a long time. Doing all the work - the exercises, the situps - it’s helped. I’m excited. I got a chance to work again with (rookie center) Tim (Duncan) the other day, and that was fun.

“The people that were there seemed to get excited about it.”

Spurs guard Vinny Del Negro acknowledged that Robinson is much improved physically compared to this time last year, when he sometimes ran with a stiff back and generally didn’t move around very well.

But Del Negro said Robinson’s biggest test would come in training camp and in the regular season later this fall.

“Last year he wasn’t as mobile as he needed to be,” Del Negro said. “This year he looks like the David Robinson of old. But like I said, time will tell how he holds up once the pushing, shoving and banging starts. But he looks excellent right now. You can tell he’s worked hard.”

Robinson’s back problem flared up last August and September when he was recovering from hernia surgery.

He hurt it again in the first preseason game, sat out for about two months, played six games in December and then broke his foot. He was finished on Dec. 23.

Robinson, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1995, said he rediscovered his love for the game while he sat out.

“It’s been a long time,” he said, discussing his feelings about finally being able to play again. “There’s nothing like it. I’m very excited about it. When you’re out a long time, you either realize that you don’t want to play any more or you want to play more and more. It made me realize how much I love to play.”

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-12, By Kevin O’Keeffe

不是捕鱼故事：鲍勃·巴斯终于钓到了一条大鱼

鲍勃·巴斯(Bob Bass)说，自从他获得一份为期六年的合同续约，担任夏洛特黄蜂队篮球运营副总裁后，他这周收到了很多关注，但这其中有一个弊端。

他的年龄。

也就是说，自从黄蜂队老板乔治·辛恩(George Shinn)给巴斯续约后，每篇报道都提到了他的年龄。

“在我从事这项工作这么久以来，”巴斯说，他是马刺队20年（1974-94）的核心成员，“他们从未在报纸上提到我的年龄。这周，每次报道都提到了。”

我还要提一次，抱歉，鲍勃。

这份合同续约到期时——2003-04赛季结束后——巴斯将年满75岁。

今天，他68岁。

巴斯总是喜欢说俏皮话，他谈到这份新合同说：“我想这会是我的最后一份合同了。”

巴斯承认，他的妻子帕特(Pat)对这份合同的期限感到惊讶。

“她看着我，好像我疯了一样，”巴斯笑着说。

当然，当辛恩在他们一起打高尔夫球时提出这个提议时，巴斯也是同样的反应。

我们不能忘记，巴斯只是在1995年6月应时任主教练艾伦·布里斯托(Allan Bristow)的请求来到夏洛特的。巴斯原本只打算待一年……他当时是这么想的。

这是巴斯与黄蜂队的第三份合同续约。

“乔治让我留下来，为球队提供一些稳定性，”巴斯说，自从加入黄蜂队后，他重建了球队。“我和帕特都喜欢夏洛特，我们在这里买了一栋房子，尽管我仍然在圣安东尼奥保留着我的房子。我不会放弃它。”

在许多他这个年龄的人都不愿买青香蕉的时候，巴斯热衷于挑战，希望带领黄蜂队更深入季后赛。

关于年龄问题，我提醒鲍勃，不老的棒球传奇人物萨奇·佩奇(Satchel Paige)曾经说过：“如果你不知道自己有多大，你会觉得有多大？”

巴斯就是这样一个人，自从1950年他第一次在克伦威尔(俄克拉荷马州)高中执教时，他的动力就一直都在。

“当我们去年取得54胜时，”巴斯说，“这让我胃口大开。我对此感到兴奋。”

巴斯说，黄蜂队的氛围、体育馆里坐满了观众以及教练和球员的个性让他想起了他生命中另一段美好的时光：

他在马刺队的时光。

至少，是他1994年夏天之前在马刺队的时光。

“这就像过去的马刺队，没错，”巴斯谈到黄蜂队的热情时说，由于巴斯的努力，黄蜂队摆脱了脾气暴躁、薪水高昂却不能贡献力量的球员——阿隆佐·莫宁(Alonzo Mourning)和拉里·约翰逊(Larry Johnson)，并拥有一支勤奋、蓝领风格的队伍，由教练戴夫·考文斯(Dave Cowens)带领。

为什么，巴斯迫不及待地想要开始训练营，因为他已经通过自由球员签下了大卫·韦斯利(David Wesley)和鲍比·菲尔斯(Bobby Phills)，增强了黄蜂队的后场实力。

虽然巴斯不愿意多谈他在马刺队末期受到的糟糕待遇，当时是马刺队董事会主席罗伯特·麦克德莫特(Robert McDermott)对他冷酷无情，但很明显，这份合同以及他在夏洛特的成功让他倍感欣慰。

“毫无疑问，我感到失望，”巴斯谈到他在圣安东尼奥的最后几天时说。“没有人打电话给我，让我知道发生了什么事。麦克德莫特只是把我晾在那里。”

当麦克德莫特终于对巴斯采取行动时，麦克德莫特编造了一个天大的谎言，说巴斯辞去马刺队篮球运营副总裁的职位是因为“球迷和媒体的压力”。

麦克德莫特真是幸运，他的鼻子没有变长。这是麦克德莫特的一个懦弱行为，他本该直接说：“我解雇了鲍勃·巴斯。”毕竟，这是麦克德莫特的权利。

但麦克德莫特说巴斯是因球迷和媒体压力而离开的，这是对巴斯的极大不公，因为巴斯从不受球迷或媒体的影响。

相信我，我知道。不止一次，我都在巴斯怒火之下。

这种热情和激情仍然在巴斯的内心燃烧着，现在的马刺队老板应该会想念他。巴斯负责的最后一个赛季，马刺队获得了900万美元的利润。

“那已经过去了，”他说。“我在夏洛特过得很愉快。”

就像他曾经在圣安东尼奥一样。

点击查看原文：No fish story: Bass finally lands a big one

No fish story: Bass finally lands a big one

Bob Bass says there is one drawback to the attention he’s gotten this week after receiving a six-year contract extension as vice president of basketball operations for the Charlotte Hornets.

His age.

As in: Every story that’s been written since Hornets owner George Shinn gave Bass the extension has contained his age.

“As long as I’ve been in this business,” said Bass, a key part of the Spurs’ franchise for 20 years (1974-94), “they never put my age in the newspaper. This week, it’s been in there every time.”

And I’m going to do it once more. Sorry, Bob.

By the time this contract extension ends - at the conclusion of the 2003-04 NBA season - Bass will be 75.

Today, he is 68.

Ever quick with a quip, Bass said of his new deal: “I’d guess this will be my last one.”

Bass admitted his wife, Pat, was taken aback by the length of the contract.

“She looked at me like I was crazy,” Bass said, laughing.

Of course, Bass did the same when Shinn made the proposal while the two were playing golf.

Lest we forget, Bass only came to Charlotte in June 1995 at the behest of then-coach Allan Bristow. Bass was staying just one year … he thought.

This is Bass’ third contract extension with the Hornets.

“George asked me to stay to give the organization some continuity,” said Bass, who has rebuilt the Hornets since coming aboard. “I like Charlotte, as does Pat. We’ve bought a home here, although I still have my home in San Antonio. I’m not going to let go of that.”

At a time when many men his age are reluctant to buy green bananas, Bass warms to the challenge of getting the Hornets farther into the playoffs.

Regarding the age issue, I reminded Bob what the ageless baseball great Satchel Paige once said: “How old would you feel if you didn’t know how old you were?”

That’s Bass, a man whose motor has been running since he first stepped onto the court as coach at Cromwell (Okla.) High School in 1950.

“When we won 54 games last year,” Bass said, “it kind of whet my appetite. I’m excited about this.”

Bass said the atmosphere around the Hornets, the full houses in the Coliseum and the personalities of the coaches and players remind him of another great time in his life:

His time with the Spurs.

At least, his time with the Spurs before the summer of '94.

“It is like the old Spurs, you bet,” Bass said of the fervor for the Hornets, who, thanks to Bass, have rid themselves of sulking, expensive non-producers - Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson - and have a hard-working, blue- collar crew led by Coach Dave Cowens.

Why, Bass can hardly wait until training camp, having strengthened Charlotte’s backcourt with free-agent signees David Wesley and Bobby Phills.

While Bass prefers to say little about how shabbily he was treated at the end by then-Spurs chairman of the board Robert McDermott, it’s obvious this contract and his success in Charlotte are particularly rewarding.

“There’s no question I was disappointed,” Bass said of his last days in S.A. “Nobody called me for three weeks to let me know what was going on. McDermott just left me hanging out there.”

When McDermott finally acted regarding Bass, McD told a world- class whopper, suggesting that Bass had stepped aside as the Spurs’ vice president of basketball operations because of “fan and media pressure.”

McDermott was lucky his nose didn’t grow. It was a gutless act by McDermott, who simply should have said, “I fired Bob Bass.” It was, after all, McDermott’s right to do so.

But for McDermott to say that Bass left because of fan and media pressure was a great disservice to Bass, a man who never was swayed by either the fans or the media.

Believe me, I know. More than once, I was on the receiving end of Bass’ wrath.

That fire and passion still burn inside Bass, who ought to be missed by current Spurs ownership. The last season Bass was in charge, the Spurs enjoyed a $9 million profit.

“That’s over and gone,” he said. “I’m having a good time in Charlotte.”

Much as he once did in San Antonio.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-13, By Compiled from Staff and Wire Reports

珀杜仍是NBA交易的中心 活塞想要马刺中锋，消息人士称

威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue) 仍然是几支球队的关注焦点。

消息人士称，活塞有兴趣得到珀杜，并且曾讨论过一项三方交易，将珀杜送往底特律，活塞的首轮选秀权送往达拉斯，小牛队的后卫德里克·哈珀(Derek Harper) 送往圣安东尼奥。

马刺总经理格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich) 拒绝就此事发表评论。他说：“我们从不确认或否认任何传言。我们认为，无论传言多么疯狂或真实，始终保持沉默都是最好的选择。”

进一步的报道表明，活塞预计将继续追逐珀杜。但据报道，达拉斯现在也要求两张选秀权，而哈珀则表示，他不会同意任何除迈阿密或休斯敦以外的交易。

达拉斯的大股东罗斯·佩罗(Ross Perot Jr.) 承诺哈珀，在他 10 月 13 日年满 36 岁之前，不会将他交易，除非哈珀同意交易。但哈珀明确表示，他希望从达拉斯交易出去。

讽刺的是，纽约尼克斯中锋帕特里克·尤因(Patrick Ewing) 曾经试图让球员协会解除注册。

现在，他想成为球员协会的会长。

尤因是今天联盟 29 位球员代表在秘密投票中选出国家篮球运动员协会会长的热门人选，投票结果将于今天公布。

尤因的经纪人戴维·福克(David Falk) 说：“我知道他对此很感兴趣。他会成为一名优秀的会长。”

尤因以前一直避免公众关注，他在 1995 年曾与福克的另一位客户，芝加哥公牛队的超级巨星迈克尔·乔丹(Michael Jordan) 一起，试图说服 NBA 球员在目前的集体谈判协议获得批准之前解除球员协会的注册。他们的企图失败了，因为球员投票反对解除注册，投票结果为 226 比 134。

尤因目前是联盟 9 人执行委员会的副会长，委员会由会长巴克·威廉姆斯(Buck Williams) 领导，威廉姆斯是尤因的队友。

本可以成为全明星：马库斯·坎比(Marcus Camby) 周五表示，他接受不当礼物的丑闻影响了他的 NBA 表现，言语中充满悔恨。

但他声称，一起针对康涅狄格州体育经纪人的法律案件的结果为他洗脱了罪名。

他在新闻发布会上说：“从现在开始，你们会看到真正的马库斯·坎比。我很难集中注意力。你们只看到了我能力的一小部分。”

坎比是一名全美大学生球员，在 1996 年 NBA 选秀中被多伦多猛龙队选中，排名第二。这位身高 6 英尺 11 英寸的前锋，在菜鸟赛季场均得到 15 分和 6 个篮板。

但他也是一场争端的中心，这场争端围绕着他在为马萨诸塞州大学打球时，从体育经纪人那里收取现金和礼物展开。管理大学体育的 NCAA，因为坎比违规接受礼物，剥夺了该校在 1996 年 NCAA 锦标赛中的比赛记录。坎比承认，在他进入 NBA 选秀之前的三年级，他接受了不当礼物。

周四，律师韦斯利·斯皮尔斯(Wesley Spears) 同意执行社区服务，以解决康涅狄格州对他试图敲诈坎比的指控。坎比周五说：“如果我是清白的，我不会接受这种… 协议。”

点击查看原文：Perdue still center of NBA trade talk Pistons want Spurs big man, sources say

Perdue still center of NBA trade talk Pistons want Spurs big man, sources say

Will Perdue continues to be a few teams’ center of attention.

Sources say the Pistons are interested in acquiring Perdue and that a three-way deal was discussed that would have sent Perdue to Detroit, a Pistons first- round draft pick to Dallas and Maverick guard Derek Harper to San Antonio.

Spurs general manager Gregg Popovich declined comment on the subject. “We never confirm or deny any speculation that comes up. We feel it is best to do that consistently regardless of how crazy or true the speculation may be.”

Further reports indicate the Pistons are expected to keep pursuing Perdue. But Dallas reportedly now also has asked for two draft picks and Harper has said he won’t OK any trade except to Miami or Houston.

Dallas majority owner Ross Perot Jr. promised Harper, who will be 36 Oct. 13, that he wouldn’t be traded unless the guard approved the trade. But Harper has made clear he wants to be traded from Dallas.

Isn’t it ironic? New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing once tried to decertify the players union.

Now he wants to be its president.

Ewing is a leading candidate to be named president of the National Basketball Players’ Association today when the group announces results of a vote taken by secret ballot among the league’s 29 player representatives.

“I know it’s something he’s interested in,” said David Falk, Ewing’s agent. “He would make a great president.”

Ewing, who has previously avoided the public spotlight, tried with another Falk client, Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan, in 1995 to persuade NBA players to decertify the union before the current collective bargaining agreement was ratified. The attempt failed as players voted 226-134 against decertification.

Ewing is currently vice president of the union’s nine-member executive committee, headed by president Buck Williams, Ewing’s teammate.

Coulda been an All-Star: A penitent-sounding Marcus Camby said Friday that a scandal over his accepting improper gifts as a college player has hurt his NBA play.

But he claimed vindication from the outcome of a legal case against one sports agent in Connecticut.

“You will see the real Marcus Camby from now on,” he said at a news conference. “It was hard for me to focus and concentrate. You only saw a glimpse of what I can do.”

Camby, an All-American, was taken by the Toronto Raptors as the No. 2 pick in the 1996 NBA draft. A 6-foot-11 forward, he averaged 15 points and six rebounds per game as a rookie.

But he was also at the center of a dispute over cash and gifts he took from sports agents while playing for Massachusetts. The NCAA, which governs college sports, stripped the school of its record from the 1996 NCAA tournament for playing Camby, who admitted accepting improper gifts in his junior year before he entered the NBA draft.

Thursday, lawyer Wesley Spears agreed to perform community service to resolve Connecticut charges that he tried to blackmail Camby. “If I was innocent, I wouldn’t accept that … bargain,” Camby said Friday.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-14, By Jerry Briggs

罗宾逊的支持者称巨额捐款并非对近期批评的回应

圣安东尼奥马刺队的中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)最近从圣安东尼奥市民那里听到了很多反馈，其中大部分都是负面的。

许多人暗示他只是另一个贪婪的职业运动员，对居住的城市漠不关心。

罗宾逊在面对批评时一直忍气吞声，并且一直默默地计划向该市东区卡弗综合体资本改进项目捐赠数百万美元。

该项目将于周五宣布，总投资1000万美元，将启动一所大学预备学校，并在卡弗社区文化中心附近增加会议空间和各种社会服务。

预计罗宾逊将通过其基金会捐赠500万美元：初始赠款300万美元和200万美元的挑战性赠款。他五个月前就承诺了这个项目。

竞选主席纳瓦拉·威廉姆斯(Navarra Williams)是百视达有线电视公司的总裁，他表示应该赞扬罗宾逊的慷慨捐赠。

威廉姆斯还对那些指责马刺队最佳球员在球馆问题上的立场的市民的言论表达了愤怒。

“我们不能早点宣布，”威廉姆斯说。“我们还需要获得其中一些土地。我读了所有评论（在《圣安东尼奥快报》的读者来信中），我很沮丧，因为我不能写自己的文章。”

马刺队的中锋将在本周末举办他的慈善晚宴和高尔夫球赛，为大卫·罗宾逊基金会筹款，该基金会是一个由罗宾逊和他的妻子瓦莱丽(Valerie)领导的慈善非营利组织。

在宣布8月20日比赛的细节时，罗宾逊在回答记者的提问时暗示，他认为如果球馆没有建成，圣安东尼奥可能会失去马刺队。

尽管罗宾逊没有提出球馆的融资方案，但那些可能会为此项目缴税的愤怒的居民给报纸写了30多封信进行回应。无数其他人打电话到广播脱口秀节目中抱怨。

“人们应该知道，”威廉姆斯说，“这（对卡弗综合体的捐赠）不是对（批评）的回应。他五个月前就批准了这个项目。”

罗宾逊说他对这所预备学校寄予厚望。

“我希望这所预备学校能成为最好的学校之一，”他说。“我们想要招收孩子们，将他们培养成领袖。仅凭这个想法就足以让我和瓦莱丽为这个项目做出贡献。我对未来的可能性感到兴奋。我对社区的孩子们感到兴奋。”

罗宾逊拒绝回答有关球馆问题的提问，当时他在早上举行的新闻发布会上宣布了他的捐赠。

“我不在（马刺队的）建设委员会，”他说。“我在比赛委员会。”

点击查看原文：Robinson supporters say big gift not a response to recent criticism

Robinson supporters say big gift not a response to recent criticism

Spurs center David Robinson has heard a lot of feedback from San Antonio citizens lately. Most of it has been negative.

Many have insinuated that he’s just another greedy professional athlete who couldn’t care less about the city he lives in.

Robinson bit his tongue through the criticism, and all the while he quietly planned a multimillion-dollar contribution to the Carver Complex capital improvements project on the city’s East Side.

The $10 million project announced Friday will start a college preparatory school and add meeting space and a variety of social services as an adjunct to the Carver Community Cultural Center.

Robinson is expected to donate $5 million through his foundation: an initial grant of $3 million and a $2 million challenge grant. He committed to the project five months ago.

Campaign chairman Navarra Williams, president of Paragon Cable, said Robinson should be commended for the generous gift.

Williams also expressed exasperation at comments from citizens who have flayed the Spurs’ best player for his stance on the arena issue.

“We couldn’t announce it any earlier,” Williams said. “We still had to acquire some of this land. I read all the comments (in letters to the editor of the San Antonio Express-News), and it bothered me that I couldn’t write my own article.”

The Spurs center is hosting his gala and golf tournament this weekend to benefit the David Robinson Foundation, a charitable, nonprofit group steered by Robinson and his wife, Valerie.

In announcing details of the Aug. 20 tournament, Robinson suggested in response to a reporter’s question that he thought the city might lose the Spurs if an arena isn’t built.

Even though Robinson didn’t propose a financing scheme for the arena, angered residents who could be taxed for such a project wrote more than 30 responses to the newspaper. Countless others called to complain on radio talk shows.

“People should know,” Williams said, “that this (contribution to the Carver Complex) isn’t a response (to the criticism). He approved this five months ago.”

Robinson says he has high hopes for the prep school.

“I want this to be as good a prep school as any,” he said. “We want to take kids and mold them into leaders. That idea alone was enough for Valerie and I to contribute to this project. I’m excited about the possibilities. I’m excited for the kids in the community.”

Robinson declined to answer a question about the arena issue at the morning news conference held to announce his donation.

“I’m not on the (Spurs’) building committee,” he said. “I’m on the playing committee.”

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-14, By Glenn Rogers

珀杜享受着圣安东尼奥，等待交易

威尔·珀杜(Will Perdue) 发现自己处境相当不错。

上赛季，这位饱受伤病折磨的球员，经历了左拇指骨折、右眼眶骨裂、脚踝扭伤和腿筋拉伤，但仍场均能拿下9.8个篮板和8.7分，他对最近围绕着他的交易传闻泰然处之。

他认为，一段时间出现在“被交易名单”上，会让他在下一份合同谈判中占据有利位置，也许最早会发生在明年夏天。

“看来我做得还不错，各支球队都注意到了我，”珀杜说道。

珀杜说他绝对没有寻求换个环境。

“我认为我在圣安东尼奥找到了自己的位置，而且这里还有未完成的使命，”他说。

珀杜将继续成为吸引眼球的焦点。他知道，优质的首发或替补中锋并不多。明尼苏达和新泽西急需内线力量。如果开拓者将克里斯·杜德利(Chris Dudley)交易到尼克斯，波特兰可能会向他伸出橄榄枝。他最终可能也会被交易到底特律。

而马刺队，始终以利润为重，似乎并不热衷于留住珀杜超过一年。他们有权在1998-99赛季留住他，但这将花费他们420万美元。

圣安东尼奥认为，尽管珀杜是一名可靠且受欢迎的替补，但随着蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)的到来和戴维·罗宾逊(David Robinson)的伤愈复出，他已经不再是不可或缺的。正如珀杜所说，马刺队可能会孤注一掷，引进一名他们认为能够推动球队冲击总冠军的球员。

目前，德雷克·哈珀(Derek Harper)是球队考虑的目标，尽管交易另一位老将球员，再次冒着球员身体垮掉的风险。

交易信号可能会一直持续到二月交易截止日期。马刺队可能想再等几个月，然后再触发任何交易。一些比赛将让他们更清楚地了解罗宾逊的背部伤势恢复情况，以及他应该在球场上花费多少时间。

根源的腐败？76人队前锋马克·戴维斯(Mark Davis) 对卢修斯·哈里斯(Lucious Harris)、迈克尔·凯奇(Michael Cage)和唐·麦克莱恩(Don MacLean)被交易到篮网队感到兴奋。戴维斯说，他们就像坏苹果，腐蚀了整个76人队。

费城仍然拥有德里克·科尔曼(Derrick Coleman)，他们无法把他交易回篮网队，也无法交易到其他任何球队——至少目前是这样。戴维斯指出：“那是一个我无法控制的苹果。”

同样，拉里·布朗(Larry Brown) 也很难控制科尔曼，但也许科尔曼能满足布朗对焦虑的渴望，让其他球员能够安心地工作。

合同后续：特里·卡明斯(Terry Cummings) 在费城强势登陆，签下了一份为期两年的215万美元合同。76人队希望他能为球队带来成熟和领导能力，以及替补席上的篮板球——这正是超音速队希望留下他的原因，但他们无法提供超过最低工资的薪水。

这份合同让卡明斯对布朗赞不绝口：“无论何时为拉里效力，都像是看着一支大学球队第一次打进NCAA季后赛。这就像一个灰姑娘的故事。”

信任依然存在：罗恩·格林克(Ron Grinker) ，这位上周去世的经纪人，是球员经纪人中最受尊敬的人之一。

1994年，当丹尼·曼宁(Danny Manning) 与菲尼克斯太阳队签下一份为期一年的100万美元合同时，格林克是他的经纪人，他拒绝了亚特兰大队开出的3500万美元的报价。太阳队老板杰里·科朗吉洛(Jerry Colangelo) 向曼宁保证，在94-95赛季结束时，他会得到一份更高的合同。

然而，在帮助太阳队打出联盟最佳战绩后，曼宁在二月份膝盖严重受伤。在接下来的夏天，当曼宁仍在康复时，格林克告诉科朗吉洛：“你只需要填写合同就可以了。” 科朗吉洛给了曼宁一份为期六年的4000万美元的合同。

点击查看原文：Perdue enjoying San Antonio while waiting for trade

Perdue enjoying San Antonio while waiting for trade

Will Perdue finds himself in a pretty nice situation.

The man who endured a fractured left thumb, a busted orbit in his right eye, ankle sprains and hamstring pulls last season and still averaged 9.8 rebounds and 8.7 points a game is unperturbed by the recent rash of trade talks involving his name.

He figures a little time on “wanted” lists will put him into some bargaining positions when his next contract talks come around, perhaps as early as next summer.

“Apparently I’m doing something right. Teams are taking notice,” Perdue said.

Perdue said he’s definitely not striving for a change of scenery.

“I think I found a niche in San Antonio and there’s still the question of some unfinished business there,” he said.

Perdue will remain a lightning rod for attention. He knows there’s no surplus of quality starting or back-up centers. Minnesota and New Jersey are desperate for size in the pivot. Portland may come calling if the Blazers move Chris Dudley to the Knicks. He may still wind up in Detroit.

And the Spurs, ever mindful of the bottom line, don’t seem eager to keep Perdue beyond this year. They have the option to keep him for the 1998-99 season, but it will cost them $4.2 million.

San Antonio figures that Perdue, though a solid and desired backup, is expendable with the arrival of Tim Duncan and the return to health of David Robinson. As Perdue said, the Spurs might engage in the crapshoot and bring in a player they believe will juice the ride to title contention.

Right now, Derek Harper is on the team’s mind, although dealing for another aging player is again flirting with physical breakdown.

The trade flags could be up right on through the deadline in February. The Spurs might want to wait a couple of months before pulling any trade trigger. A bunch of games will give them a better idea of just how well-healed Robinson’s back truly is and how much time he should spend on the floor.

Bad to the core? Sixers forward Mark Davis was excited about the trade of Lucious Harris, Michael Cage and Don MacLean to the Nets. Davis said they were like bad apples, spoiling the whole Sixers team.

Philadelphia still has Derrick Coleman, a man it couldn’t trade back to the Nets or to any other team - at least thus far. Noted Davis: “That’s one apple I can’t control.”

It’s also doubtful that Larry Brown will be able to control Coleman, but maybe Coleman can satisfy Brown’s craving for angst and allow the rest of the players to toil on in peace.

Contract fallout: Terry Cummings has power-landed in Philadelphia, signing a two-year deal for $2.15 million. The Sixers want him for his maturity and leadership, and rebounding off the bench - the same reasons why the Sonics wanted to keep him but couldn’t offer him much more than the minimum.

The contract left Cummings smiling about Brown: “Whenever I play for Larry, it’s almost like watching a college team go through the NCAA playoffs for the first time. It’s like a Cinderella story.”

There is trust: Ron Grinker, the agent who died this past week, was one of the most-respected player representatives.

Grinker was the agent for Danny Manning when he signed a one- year deal for $1 million with the Phoenix Suns in 1994, turning down a $35 million offer from Atlanta. Suns boss Jerry Colangelo assured Manning that a loftier contract would be available at the end of the '94-95 campaign.

But Manning, after helping the Suns drive to the league’s best record, blew out a knee in February. In the coming summer, with Manning still rehabbing, Grinker told Colangelo, “You just fill in the contract.” Colangelo gave Manning a six-year, $40 million deal.

By Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-16, By Jerry Briggs and Glenn Rogers
Spurs guard Vinny Del Negro confirmed Monday that his agent is discussing a contract extension with team management, and that he is hopeful a deal can be worked out before training camp opens in a little more than two weeks.

Del Negro made the remarks after he participated in teammate David Robinson’s golf tournament. Sports and entertainment celebrities were in attendance at The Club at Sonterra to play golf and support charities sponsored by the Robinson Foundation.

If the talks break off, Del Negro could become a free agent next summer. Ideally, he said he would like to see the negotiations completed by the time training camp opens on Oct. 3.

“Hopefully, it’ll work out well for both sides,” Del Negro said. “I feel good about it. I’m not particularly worried about it at all. I’m just hoping we can get the team back to the level we want (because) the energy and the enthusiasm is very high right now.”

Jack Marin, who works as Del Negro’s agent, and Spurs general manager Gregg Popovich reportedly have been discussing a three- or four-year extension.

“That’s for Jack and the organization to figure out,” said Del Negro, who turned 31 last month. “I have to do what’s best for me. I don’t really want to get into that. That’s why I have Jack. And that’s why Pop’s not only coach, but GM. It’s their responsibility.”

Del Negro will make $2.3 million in the coming season, which ranks as about the average salary in the NBA. He has been a starter at guard for most of his five seasons with the Spurs and has served as one of the team’s most consistent perimeter threats.

He averaged a career-high 14.5 points in 1995-96 but fell off to 12.3 points per game last season. Avery Johnson, his backcourt mate, signed a three-year deal for $8.7 million, plus incentives that could boost the deal to more than $9 million, earlier this summer.

But Del Negro didn’t want to make any public demands or talk specifics.

“If I go out there and perform and continue to improve, those things will fall into place,” he said. “This is my sixth year here. I’ve been here as long as anyone except David. There’s no question I want to stay, not only because I love San Antonio, but because of the fan support and the team that we have here.” Tournament notes: The Robinson gala and golf tournament was scheduled to bring in more than $200,000 for local charities.

- Spurs sources downplayed the latest Will Perdue trade rumor. The Philadelphia 76ers called to inquire about Perdue, and the Sixers reportedly mentioned forward Clarence Weatherspoon as a player they would be willing to move.

But Spurs sources are saying that management wants to take a closer look at how the team develops before it pulls the trigger on a major transaction.

Besides, Weatherspoon’s contract ($2.8 million) doesn’t match with Perdue’s ($1.7 million). The Spurs would have to throw in another player to make the deal work under the salary cap.

- Atlanta Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens said NBA coaches deserve the escalating salaries they are commanding.

“If they’re responsible for the team, why not?” asked Wilkens, who agreed to a four-year extension earlier this summer. “If anything, it might make management slower to make a decision (on replacements). This has been a long- time coming, to be honest.”

By Jerry Briggs and Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-19, By Jerry Briggs

埃利奥特再次打出全明星水准表现

马刺队前锋肖恩·埃利奥特在股四头肌肌腱手术后状态提升至更高水平。

过去几天中，埃利奥特首次与 NBA 水平球员进行混战。

周四上午，他与马刺队新秀中锋蒂姆·邓肯和队友埃弗里·约翰逊、文尼·德尔内格罗以及蒙蒂·威廉姆斯一同在圣言大学进行了混战。

“昨天之后，我觉得自己没有以前那么好了，”埃利奥特在激烈的五对五、90 分钟的比赛后说，“昨天我感觉非常好。今天，我好像没有那么有活力了。”

尽管埃利奥特大部分时间投篮失准，但他展示出的速度爆发力与两年前他进入全明星赛季时类似。

他说：“我感觉很好，我的腿只是很疲劳。”

马刺队的训练营将在两周内开营。埃利奥特的体重为 220 磅，比上赛季减少了约 15 磅，队友们表示他们认为他已经准备好迎接一个好年景。

一些人说他甚至可能恢复到 1995 年的全明星状态。

“他动作更快，力量更大，”威廉姆斯在本周早些时候说。“加上他的经验，我期待他再次成为全明星。”

埃利奥特说，他不是追求个人荣誉，而是希望球队在季后赛中取得好成绩。

他说：“这可能是（我们最好的球队）。它有这样的潜力。关键是季后赛中的化学反应。这也是两年前我们对阵犹他输球的原因。一切都乱套了。”

埃利奥特赞扬了威廉姆斯的成长，表示马刺队需要为他找到常规出场时间。

埃利奥特说：“他看起来很好。我们必须要让他上场，这样才能赢得尽可能多的比赛。他将帮助我们与芝加哥等（有大个子运动后卫）的球队对抗。”

埃利奥特因股四头肌肌腱炎缺席了上赛季的 43 场比赛。这导致他的右膝上方出现刺激和肿胀，最终限制了他的行动能力。

2 月 18 日，他接受了肌腱部分撕裂的手术治疗，并在剩下的整个赛季缺阵。

马刺队笔记：此前一直与球队在圣安东尼奥一起训练的前马刺队前锋大卫·伍德表示，他已经接受了训练营的邀请。

“如果我不期待进入这支球队，我就不会参加训练营，”现年 29 岁、拥有 7 年资历的伍德说。

还有一个名额，可能还有两个，因为一些消息人士称大前锋查尔斯·史密斯不在球队的计划之中。

史密斯由于右膝骨关节炎而行动不便，上赛季只打了 19 场比赛。

点击查看原文：Elliot again playing like All-Star

Elliot again playing like All-Star

Spurs forward Sean Elliott has stepped to a higher plateau in his return from quadriceps-tendon surgery.

In the past few days, Elliott has started scrimmaging for the first time this summer with NBA-caliber players.

He ran with a group that included Spurs rookie center Tim Duncan and teammates Avery Johnson, Vinny Del Negro and Monty Williams on Thursday morning at the University of the Incarnate Word.

“I didn’t feel as good as I did yesterday,” Elliott said after a spirited, 90-minute five-on-five game. “Yesterday I felt really good. Today, I didn’t seem to have as much energy.”

Even though Elliott’s jumper was misfiring for most of the morning, he showed bursts of speed that looked similar to those that carried him to an All-Star season two years ago.

“I feel pretty good,” he said. “My legs are just tired.”

Spurs training camp opens in two weeks. Elliott’s weight is about 220 pounds, down about 15 pounds from last season, and teammates have said they think he’s ready to have a good year.

Some said he might even be back to his All-Star form of 1995.

“He’s quicker and stronger,” Williams said earlier this week. “Add to that his experience, and I look for him to be an All-Star again.”

Elliott said he isn’t looking for individual honors, but rather for the team to make a strong run in the playoffs.

“It could be (our best team),” he said. “It has the potential to be. The key will be the chemistry in the playoffs. It’s what killed us against Utah two years ago. It fell apart.”

Elliott praised Williams’ development, saying the Spurs need to find regular playing time for him.

“He looks great,” Elliott said. “He’ll have to play for us to win as many games as we want to win. He’ll help us match up with teams (with big, athletic backcourts) like Chicago.”

Elliott missed 43 games last season because of quadriceps tendinitis. It led to irritation and swelling above his right knee and, ultimately, limited his mobility.

On Feb. 18, a partial tear in the tendon was corrected surgically, and he sat out the rest of the season.

Spurs notes: Former Spurs forward David Wood, who has been working out with the team in San Antonio, said he has accepted an invitation to training camp.

“I wouldn’t be going to the camp if I didn’t expect to make the team,” said Wood, a 6-foot-9, seven- year veteran.

There’s one roster spot open and possibly two, because some sources say power forward Charles Smith isn’t in the team’s plans.

Smith, hobbled by osteoarthritis in his right knee, played only 19 games last season.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-19

“海军上将”是真正的MVP

我们经常利用这个平台来批评职业体育的糟粕，因此，我们现在很高兴向圣安东尼奥马刺队的**大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)**致敬，他向卡弗社区文化中心捐赠了500万美元。

罗宾逊因为发表了一些任何面临生计威胁的人都会发表的言论，而遭到当地“评论家”——用这个词要宽松一些——的抨击。他上个月告诉《快报》说，他不希望马刺队离开，也不希望自己离开自己的家和家乡。

当地那些唱反调的人，基本上告诉他不要在离开时撞到门，说他们不关心马刺队是否离开。

他们并不代表绝大多数的德克萨斯州南部居民。

罗宾逊的捐款将用于一项1000万美元的资本筹款活动，该活动将用于扩大东区文化中心，并增加一所大学预备学校和其他奇妙的服务。

不久前，美国国家篮球协会将“海军上将”评为最有价值球员。圣安东尼奥人应该也认可这位具有高尚品质的人，将他视为MVP——最有价值的人。

我们很高兴罗宾逊先生是这个社区的一部分。

点击查看原文：'The Admiral' is an MVP

‘The Admiral’ is an MVP

We often have used this space to criticize the dregs of professional sports, so we are delighted now to salute the San Antonio Spurs’ David Robinson for his $5 million gift to the Carver Community Cultural Center.

Robinson has taken a beating from local “pundits” - to use that term loosely - for making remarks any individual would make whose livelihood is threatened. He told the Express-News last month he would hate for the Spurs to leave and for him to leave his hearth and hometown.

Local naysayers essentially told him not to let the door hit him in the posterior, that they don’t care if the Spurs leave.

They do not speak for the vast majority of South Texans.

Robinson’s gift will be half of a $10 million capital campaign to expand the East Side cultural center and add a college preparatory school and other wonderful services.

Not long ago the National Basketball Association recognized “The Admiral” as its Most Valuable Player. San Antonians should also recognize this man of great class as an MVP - most valuable person.

We’re glad Mr. Robinson is part of this neighborhood.

via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-20, By Jerry Briggs

罗宾逊观点：有志者事竟成

马刺队中锋大卫·罗宾逊表示，球队管理层应抵制任何可能产生的交易替补中锋威尔·帕杜的冲动。

“很多人可能对他感兴趣，”罗宾逊周五说。“但我认为我们无法得到同等的补偿。”

整个夏天，帕杜一直是交易流言的主题。

其他球队打电话过来，认为马刺队可能会认为 7 英尺高的帕杜在替补新秀蒂姆·邓肯到来后是可以舍去的。

罗宾逊说，他希望球队不要做出草率的决定。

“你知道各支球队都在想威尔可能可用，”罗宾逊说。“但在我看来，拥有威尔、我本人和蒂姆，真的巩固了我们的球队阵容。”

上赛季，帕杜场均得到 8.7 分和全队最高的 9.8 个篮板，打出 29.5 分钟，他的价值得到提升。

尽管马刺队因罗宾逊等人的伤病而退步，但帕杜（职业生涯大部分时间都是替补球员）却脱颖而出。

他充分利用了增加的上场时间，并在参加的 65 场比赛中，有 40 场领先全队篮板球。

尽管有其表现，但管理层显然正在考虑所有选择。

他本赛季的 170 万美元薪水似乎符合马刺队的整体薪酬结构，但明年他的 420 万美元薪水可能无法匹配。

马刺队拥有交易最后一年的选择权，这意味着除非他们在本赛季交易他，否则他们要么在 1998-99 赛季支付给他 420 万美元，要么冒着失去他且没有任何补偿的风险。

帕杜的经纪人或球队管理层都没有发表评论，但显然在重组或延长合同方面没有进展。

从佛罗里达州布埃纳维斯塔湖举行的 NBA 会议上传出的最新消息是，球队希望留住帕杜。但交易猜测势必会持续到 2 月份的截止日期。

罗宾逊说，他不知道为什么球队想在赛季开始前交易帕杜。

他说：“我希望我们能团结一致。”“为什么要摆脱一位能让你变得更好的人？”

周五上午与邓肯在圣言大学进行短暂的训练后，罗宾逊说他对球队的可能性感到兴奋。

他说，唯一需要填补的漏洞可能是文尼·德尔尼格罗在得分后卫位置上的替补。

“自从我们让弗农（马克斯韦尔）离开后，我们可能需要另一名（得分后卫）来支援文尼，”罗宾逊说。“我想看到我们得到这样的人。”

罗宾逊说，他预见邓肯会取得很大的成就，他来自维克森林大学，身高 6 英尺 11 英寸，是选秀中的头号新秀。

“蒂姆的技术很棒，”罗宾逊说。“我知道很多人可能还没有亲自看过他的比赛。但他控球很好，而且传球非常出色，这对我有好处。我从未见过另一个能够给我传球的大个子。

“但是他在篮下技术很好。…我认为他的潜力很高。”

罗宾逊和队友肖恩·埃利奥特一致认为，小前锋蒙蒂·威廉姆斯在夏季取得了长足的进步。

“蒙蒂，”罗宾逊说，“进步了很多。”

马刺队笔记：一项拟议的三方交易将帕杜送到底特律，达拉斯后卫德里克·哈珀送到圣安东尼奥，显然正在消亡。

哈珀与小牛队有协议，允许他拒绝任何交易，他的经纪人曾表示哈珀的首选是奥兰多、迈阿密或休斯顿。

点击查看原文：Robinson's view: Where there's a Will, there's a way

Robinson’s view: Where there’s a Will, there’s a way

Spurs center David Robinson said team management should resist whatever urge it might have to trade reserve center Will Perdue.

“A lot of people may be interested in him,” Robinson said Friday. “But I don’t think we can get equal compensation.”

Perdue has been the sub ject of trade rumors all summer.

Other teams have called thinking the Spurs might view Perdue, a 7-footer, as expendable in the wake of rookie Tim Duncan’s arrival.

Robinson said he hopes the team doesn’t make a hasty decision.

“You know teams are thinking that Will might be available,” Robinson said. “But in my opinion, having Will, me and Tim really shores up our middle.”

Perdue’s value took a leap after he averaged 8.7 points and a team-high 9.8 rebounds in 29.5 minutes last season.

Even though the Spurs regressed as a team because of injuries to Robinson and others, Perdue - a reserve for most of his career - stood out.

He took advantage of the increased playing time, and he led the team in rebounding in 40 of the 65 games he played.

Despite his performance, management apparently is looking at all its options.

His $1.7 million salary this season seems to fit into the Spurs’ overall pay structure, but his $4.2 million next year may not.

The Spurs hold the option on the last year of the deal, meaning that unless they trade him this season, they will either have to pay him the $4.2 million in 1998-99 or risk losing him with no compensation.

Neither Perdue’s agent nor team management would comment, but there apparently has been no progress on restructuring or extending the contract.

The latest word out of the NBA meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., is that the team wants to keep Perdue. But trade speculation is bound to continue until the February deadline.

Robinson said he doesn’t know why the team would want to trade Perdue before the season started.

“I’d like to see us keep it together,” he said. “Why would you want to get rid of a guy who can make you so good?”

After a brief workout with Duncan at the University of the Incarnate Word on Friday morning, Robinson said he is excited about the team’s possibilities.

He said the only hole to fill might be a backup for Vinny Del Negro at shooting guard.

“Since we let Vernon (Maxwell) go, we probably need another (shooting guard) to back Vinny up,” Robinson said. “I’d like to see us get someone like that.”

Robinson said he forsees big things for Duncan, a 6- foot-11 star from Wake Forest and the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

“Tim has great skills,” Robinson said. "I know a lot of people probably haven’t seen him play personally. But he handles the ball real well, and he passes the ball extremely well, which is good for me. I never had another big guy who could throw me the ball.

“But he’s got great hands around the basket. … I just think his potential is just sky high.”

Robinson and teammate Sean Elliott agree small forward Monty Williams has made big strides over the summer.

“Monty,” Robinson said, “has improved a lot.”

Spurs notes: A proposed three-way deal that would send Perdue to Detroit and Dallas guard Derek Harper to San Antonio, is apparently dying.

Harper has an agreement with the Mavericks that allows him to turn down any trade, and his agent has been quoted as saying Harper’s preference would be Orlando, Miami or Houston.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-21, By Glenn Rogers

NBA 球场内外 - 卡尔已为失去明星球员而感到悲痛

西雅图主教练乔治·卡尔(George Karl) 已经进入了一个通常为逝者保留的哀悼阶段。

肖恩·肯普(Shawn Kemp) 是造成这种悲痛的原因。这位心怀不满的球员收拾了他的东西，当然，除了他的超音速队的比赛服，然后回到了位于印第安纳州埃尔克哈特的家中。他说他不会回来了。

如果西雅图真的启动了交易计划，将这位全明星超音速队的核心力量赶出西北部，卡尔将会在夜里哀嚎。

卡尔的西部联盟兄弟可能会伸出肩膀让他哭泣，但也会为通往总决赛的道路不会经过西雅图而感到高兴。

将肯普交易到雄鹿队换取文·贝克(Vin Baker) 看起来是那些关心此事的人最能接受的方案。这两名球员的薪水大致相同，贝克在他的合同中还有几年时间，而且他与肯普的身高相差无几，是超音速队能够得到的最好的替代方案。

用安东尼奥·麦克戴斯(Antonio McDyess) 进行交易似乎是不可能的。麦克戴斯不仅没有达到肯普的球员级别，而且还属于那些等待着高薪的危险的新秀群体。掘金队很可能从现在开始或最迟到下赛季，每年都要求麦克戴斯得到 1500 万美元或以上的薪水。

如果麦克戴斯被交易，他更有可能被交易到菲尼克斯或湖人队。

肯普的合同还有 6 年，他的年薪分别为 330 万美元、350 万美元、360 万美元、360 万美元、360 万美元和 1460 万美元。他对自己目前的薪水感到不满，因为目睹了太多能力不如他的人获得了更高的薪水。他似乎不愿意接受他将在合同结束后获得高额续约合同的保证。

肯普的焦虑不仅仅是关于数学。他仍然对超音速队在几个赛季前考虑将他交易到芝加哥换取斯科蒂·皮蓬(Scottie Pippen) 的事情感到愤怒，这一交易促使卡尔威胁辞职。

他更深层的困扰来自他认为管理层在关于他上赛季饮酒传闻中的缺乏支持，而大多数内部人士认为这些传闻是假的。

- 不可能发生：尚不清楚马刺队是否想得到三分球射手乔治·麦克劳德(George McCloud)，但很清楚的是，他们没有机会。

麦克劳德决心加入菲尼克斯太阳队，与他的搭档杰森·基德(Jason Kidd) 重新联手。

麦克劳德的经纪人比尔·波拉克(Bill Pollak) 说，他的客户甚至拒绝了骑士队提供的 150 万美元的合同，而接受了菲尼克斯队提供的最低薪水。麦克劳德在 1995-96 赛季与基德在达拉斯联手，表现出色，场均得到职业生涯最高的 18.9 分，三分球命中率为 38%。

“我甚至打电话给杰森，问他菲尼克斯是否真的是乔治最好的去处，”波拉克说。“他说‘绝对是’。”

- 领头人？关于帕特里克·尤因(Patrick Ewing) 当选球员协会主席将预示着工会和老板之间即将到来的冲突，有很多传言。尤因希望工会取消注册，拒绝在 1995-96 赛季之前达成的最后一轮集体谈判协议。

但是，尽管老板们正在考虑重新回到协议中，并寻求更严格的工资帽规则，但内部人士表示，尤因不会是反对派的真正支柱。

这个称号属于工会执行主任比利·亨特(Billy Hunter)，观察人士说，他将协会团结在一起，并且不会像他的前任西蒙·古尔丁(Simon Gourdine) 那样容易屈服于老板们的压力。

- 似曾相识？马刺队的球迷可以回忆起 NBA 和 ABA 在 1977 年合并之前之间的战斗。NBA 试图吞并这个年轻的联盟，并尽其所能从经济上将 ABA 球队逼入破产。

现在，这场战斗发生在 WNBA 和 ABL 之间，这两个女子职业篮球联盟，前者由 NBA 资助。

上周，NBA 采取行动，引诱了 ABL 1996 年的 MVP 尼基·麦克雷(Nikki McCray)。ABL 说，麦克雷要求的薪水是 ABL 其他奥运会球员的 3 倍，并且要求对提供给 ABL 球员的所有主要代言交易拥有优先购买权。

麦克雷与 WNBA 签署了一份更低薪的合同，据报道，这是因为 WNBA 的宣传机会可以为她带来高达 25 万美元的收入。

点击查看原文：Around the NBA - Karl already misses unhappy star

Around the NBA - Karl already misses unhappy star

Seattle coach George Karl already is in the mourning phase usually reserved for the recently departed.

Shawn Kemp is the cause of the bereavement. The unhappy Kemp has packed his belongings, minus, no doubt, his Sonics game garb, and traveled home to Elkhart, Ind. He says he won’t be back.

Karl will howl in the night if Seattle does indeed pull the trade trigger and banish the All-Star Sonic force from the Northwest.

Karl’s Western Conference brethren may offer crying shoulders but also delight that the road to the Finals won’t be going through Seattle.

The move of Kemp to the Bucks for Vin Baker would appear to be the most palatable for those concerned. The two players earn about the same dough, Baker has a few years left on his pact and he is about as close to Kemp’s stature as the Sonics can get.

A deal for Antonio McDyess seems out of the question. McDyess not only is not in Kemp’s player class but also resides in the dangerous group of rookies waiting for big paydays. The Nugget probably will be looking for $15 million or more annually starting now or by next season, at the latest.

If McDyess is moved, it will more likely be to Phoenix or the Lakers.

Kemp is under contract for six more years, paying him $3.3 million, $3.5 million, $3.6 million, $3.6 million, $3.6 million, $14.6 million. He is unhappy with those numbers, having watched too many less-talented cohorts drag in millions more. He doesn’t seem willing to accept assurances that he will receive a pay-back contract when his deal is done.

Kemp’s angst is beyond mathematics. He remains upset that the Sonics considered trading him to Chicago for Scottie Pippen a few seasons back - a move that persuaded Karl to threaten resignation if it occurred.

He was more deeply troubled by what he considers management’s lack of support during stories about his alleged drinking last season, stories that most insiders deemed untrue.

- No chance: It isn’t clear whether the Spurs would have liked to pick up three-point shooter George McCloud, but it is clear that they had no chance.

McCloud was determined to get with the Phoenix Suns and rejoin feeding partner Jason Kidd.

McCloud’s agent, Bill Pollak, said his client even rejected a $1.5 million deal from the Cavaliers and accepted the minimum from Phoenix. McCloud enjoyed a banner 1995-96 campaign with Kidd in Dallas, averaging a career-high 18.9 points while hitting 38 percent of his three- pointers.

“I even called Jason and asked him whether or not Phoenix was really the best spot for George,” Pollak said. “He said ‘absolutely.’”

- Figurehead? There’s plenty of buzz that the election of Patrick Ewing to the presidency of the Players Association augurs a coming clash between the union and the owners. Ewing wanted the union to decertify itself and reject the last collective bargaining agreement reached prior to the 1995-96 season.

But, even though the owners are considering going back into the agreement and seeking tougher salary cap rules, insiders indicate that Ewing won’t be the real backbone of the opposition.

That designation belongs to union executive director Billy Hunter, who observers say has pulled the association together and won’t be as malleable to owners’ pressures as his predecessor, Simon Gourdine.

- Deja vu? Spurs fans can recall the battle royals between the NBA and the ABA prior to the merger in 1977. The NBA tried to gobble up the younger league, and did all in its financial power to drive the ABA teams into bankruptcy.

Now the fight is between the WNBA and the ABL, the two women’s professional basketball leagues, the former underwritten by the NBA.

This past week, the NBA struck by luring the ABL’s 1996 MVP, Nikki McCray. The ABL said McCray was seeking a salary as much as three times that paid to other Olympians in the ABL and was demanding first refusal on all major endorsement deals offered to ABL players.

McCray signed with the WNBA for a smaller salary, reportedly because of the promotional opportunities that could net her as much as $250,000.

By Glenn Rogers, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-24, By Jerry Briggs

蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)因拇指骨折被迫休战 前马刺球员罗伯逊(Alvin Robertson)与球队一同训练

马刺队周二宣布，前锋蒙蒂·威廉姆斯左拇指骨折。

球队表示，威廉姆斯可以继续进行体能训练，但将被禁止参加篮球比赛两到三周。

在这种时间范围内，马刺队上赛季进步最快的球员将至少无法参加训练营的前几天比赛，甚至可能更长时间。

训练营将于10月3日在科尔维尔开营。

在另一项进展中，前马刺队后卫阿尔文·罗伯逊周二上午与教练组进行了训练，并确认他正在寻求参加训练营的邀请。

当被问及周五在家中发生的意外事件时，威廉姆斯明显感到沮丧。

“我只是在家中做一些园艺工作时弄伤的，”威廉姆斯说道，他在圣徒大学的训练结束后拒绝了进一步的评论。

这是威廉姆斯今年夏天遭遇的第二次意外受伤。在7月初，他在一次钓鱼旅行中踩到一根棍子。这次受伤需要在7月下旬进行手术。外科医生排除了感染并清除了棍子碎片。

自从脚部手术后，威廉姆斯一直顺利地进行跑步训练，并因其身体状况而受到队友的赞扬。现在，他又有了一个新的问题要克服。

“他一直都是个行走中的事故，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)说道，试图淡化事态。“我想我会在每场比赛之前把他冻起来，然后解冻。”

球队发言人表示，威廉姆斯是一位右撇子，他正在左拇指上戴着可拆卸的夹板，以便定期治疗伤口。他将在准备比赛时佩戴另一副夹板。

在周二的训练结束后，身高6英尺4英寸的罗伯逊确认，他正在与波波维奇讨论获得训练营邀请的可能性。

“我正在努力，”罗伯逊说道。“还没有确定下来，但我一直在跟他沟通。”

波波维奇拒绝推测罗伯逊获得邀请的可能性。

“我们一直在考虑阿尔文，就像其他人一样，”波波维奇说道。“他经历过一段艰难时期，遇到过一些问题。但他是一个正在寻求第二次机会的人。”

在与前女友之间长期存在的争端案件中，罗伯逊于8月18日对一系列轻罪认罪。当时，贝克萨尔县第五法庭法官蒂姆·约翰逊(Tim Johnson)判处他一年监禁。

但罗伯逊表示，他在被判刑后的几天就被释放了。

之前的报道指出，罗伯逊可能会提前获释，因为他被认定有123天的监禁时间——在等待审判期间服刑的天数。

约翰逊法官法庭的一位女发言人周二晚些时候表示，他的缓刑条款尚未公布。

罗伯逊表示，他相信自己能够与马刺队想要试训的任何后卫竞争。

“这是一个道德问题，”罗伯逊说道，他曾在马刺队效力五年，三次入选全明星。“这将取决于我场外发生的事情，以及我可能会如何影响球队的表现。我只想为我认为能在季后赛中走得很远的球队做出贡献。”

35岁的罗伯逊上赛季没有参加任何比赛，因为他正在处理法律问题。他还错过了1993-94赛季和1994-95赛季，因为他当时正在康复背伤。

但观看过他训练的人士表示，他身体健康。在他效力NBA的最后一年，他在1995-96赛季为多伦多队打了77场比赛，场均得到9.3分、4.4个篮板和4.2次助攻。

波波维奇确认，最近获得训练营邀请的老牌前锋大卫·伍德(David Wood)很有可能加入球队。

马刺队新闻：据报道，本赛季没有被球队列入计划的大前锋查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith)在一次电话采访中表示：“目前，据我所知，我会参加训练营，我仍然是一名马刺球员。”

点击查看原文：Williams spurred by broken thumb Ex-S.A. guard Robertson works out with team

Williams spurred by broken thumb Ex-S.A. guard Robertson works out with team

The Spurs announced Tuesday that forward Monty Williams has suffered a fractured left thumb.

Williams will be allowed to continue his conditioning, but he will be prohibited from playing basketball for two to three weeks, the team said.

Under that time frame, the Spurs’ most improved player last season will not be able to play for at least the first few days of training camp, and maybe longer.

Training camp opens Oct. 3 in Kerrville.

In another development, former Spurs guard Alvin Robertson worked out for the coaching staff Tuesday morning and confirmed he is seeking an invitation to camp.

Williams was clearly upset when confronted about the mishap that occurred at his home Friday.

“I just did it working around my yard,” said Williams, who declined further comment after drills at the University of the Incarnate Word.

It was the second freak injury of the summer for Williams. In early July, he stepped on a stick on a fishing expedition. The injury required surgery later in July. Surgeons drained an infection and removed fragments of the stick.

Since the foot surgery, Williams has been running smoothly and has drawn praise from teammates for his conditioning. Now, he has another problem to overcome.

“He’s been a walking accident,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, trying to make light of the situation. “I think I’m just going to freeze him and thaw him out before each game.”

Williams, a natural right-hander, is wearing a removable splint on the left thumb so that the wound can be treated periodically, a team spokesman said. He will be fitted for another splint when he is ready to play.

After Tuesday’s workout, the 6- foot-4 Robertson confirmed he is talking with Popovich about the prospect of landing an invitation to camp.

“I’m working on it,” Robertson said. “It isn’t solidified, but I have been in his ear.”

Popovich declined to speculate what chances Robertson would have to earn an invitation.

“Alvin is someone we’ve thought about, like everyone else,” Popovich said. “He’s had a hard time. He’s had some problems. But he’s a human being who’s looking for a second chance.”

In a case involving a long-running dispute with his former girlfriend, Robertson pleaded no contest Aug. 18 to a string of misdemeanors. At the time, Bexar County Court-at-Law No. 5 Judge Tim Johnson sentenced him to a year in jail.

But Robertson said he was released a few days into his sentence.

Previous reports indicated Robertson might be released early because he had been credited with 123 days of jail time - days served while he was awaiting trial.

Terms of his probation weren’t immediately available, a spokeswoman in Johnson’s court said late Tuesday.

Robertson said he is confident that he could compete with any guards the Spurs wanted to try out.

“It’s a question of morality,” said Robertson, who played on three All-Star teams in five years with the Spurs. “It’ll be based on things that have happened with me off the court and how I might affect things on the team. I just want to contribute to a team that I think will go far in the playoffs.”

Robertson, 35, didn’t play at all last season as he sorted out his legal problems. He also missed the 1993-94 and '94-95 seasons while he rehabilitated a back injury.

But observers who have watched his workouts say he is healthy. In his last year in the NBA, he played 77 games for Toronto in '95-96 and averaged 9.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

Popovich confirmed that veteran forward David Wood, recently extended a camp invitation, has a good chance to make the team.

Spurs notes: Power forward Charles Smith, who reportedly isn’t in the team’s plans this season, said in a telephone interview, “Right now, as far as I know, I’ll be in training camp and I’ll be a Spur.”

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-25, By Jerry Briggs and Matt Flores

罗宾逊认为马刺队应该谨慎对待罗伯逊

马刺队中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)周三强烈质疑球队是否应该考虑邀请有麻烦的前全明星后卫阿尔文·罗伯逊(Alvin Robertson)参加训练营，他声称“我们最不需要做的事情就是引入一个麻烦”。

“我对过去有过很多问题的球员最大的担忧是，他是否表现出真正开始改变的迹象？”罗宾逊说。“也许他已经吸取了教训。也许没有。如果他已经吸取了教训，他可能可以帮助我们。但我们最不需要做的事情就是引入一个麻烦。”

罗伯逊一个月前从贝克萨尔县监狱获释，周三早上在圣母大学(University of the Incarnate Word)第二次为马刺队教练进行了训练。

他没有参加与马刺队队员的训练，但与其他球员进行了三对三的练习，这些球员要么在提高自己的技能，要么在为10月3日训练营开幕而争夺位置。

35岁的罗伯逊在伤病缠身的NBA生涯中四次入选全明星阵容。但他过去几年在圣安东尼奥也多次触犯法律。

即使他可能是马刺队最后一名球员名单中最有天赋的球员，罗伯逊并没有受到球队老将的欢迎。

罗宾逊说，你根本无法判断一个有过麻烦的球员是否真的改变了。

“你不知道，”罗宾逊说。“你只能从人们的行为来判断。他说了什么是一回事。关键是他做了什么。我们观察他，看着他，人们看到他在城里四处走动，这本身就说明了一切。这比他的言语更有说服力。”

罗伯逊上个月在监狱里呆了不到一周，以满足因与前女友发生冲突而被捕的几项轻罪判决中的一年刑期。

罗伯逊的律师埃迪·加西亚(Eddie Garcia)解释说，他的当事人已经在候审期间在监狱里呆了123天。在那段时间里，他还获得了信赖身份，这让他获得了“减刑”的权利。

加西亚说，综合考虑他的服刑时间和减刑时间，他的服刑时间等于他的刑期。

但罗伯逊还没有摆脱困境。他被判处180天监禁，作为其因入室盗窃和刑事破坏罪被判有罪的缓刑条件。

最初，加西亚对第187区法院法官雷蒙德·安吉利尼(Raymond Angelini)做出的监禁判决提出上诉。周三晚些时候，第四上诉法院批准了罗伯逊撤回上诉的请求。

这意味着罗伯逊现在必须服刑180天。安吉利尼将决定罗伯逊何时开始服刑，以及他是否可以获得他在监狱中度过的120多天的减刑。

罗宾逊将罗伯逊的处境与前马刺球员弗农·麦克斯韦尔(Vernon Maxwell)的处境作了一些比较。

两人都在圣安东尼奥开始了他们的职业生涯，并展现出潜力。两人都触犯了法律。马刺队在去年夏天重新签下了麦克斯韦尔，但在赛季结束后立即将他裁掉。

“你（关于罗伯逊）的问题是，一是，他健康吗？”罗宾逊问道。“二是，他会对球队做出承诺吗？我们对弗农做到了，但结果对球队和弗农来说都不是很好的经历。”

波波维奇周三在市中心扶轮社发表讲话时表示，他正在考虑是否邀请罗伯逊参加训练营。

“阿尔文仍然是一位优秀的篮球运动员，”波波维奇说。“而且，无论他过去发生了什么事，他都是一个人。因此，我们的任务是赢得篮球比赛。弗农（麦克斯韦尔）去年也是这样。

“我们想要赢得比赛，我们认为（他）可以帮助我们。问题的第二部分是，你能处理（像弗农）这样的）球员吗？他在你的球队里会是什么样子……在你的社区里？你希望（他）成为你家庭的一部分吗？”

关于罗伯逊的类似讨论正在进行中，他最后一次在1995-96赛季为多伦多猛龙队效力。

“这是一件需要认真讨论的事情，”波波维奇说。“而且，无论你如何处理它，无论你做出什么决定，你都会有赞同或反对的人。这很像政治。”

波波维奇还确认，前李高中球星阿提·格里芬(Artie Griffin)已经收到了训练营邀请。他说，球队最多可以邀请20名球员。

点击查看原文：Robinson insists Spurs should be leery of Robertson

Robinson insists Spurs should be leery of Robertson

Claiming “the last thing we need to do is bring in a problem,” Spurs center David Robinson strongly questioned Wednesday whether the team should consider inviting troubled former All-Star guard Alvin Robertson to training camp.

“My biggest concern with a guy who’s had a lot of problems in the past is, is he showing signs that he’s really started to turn things around?” Robinson said. “Maybe he’s learned his lesson. Maybe not. If he has, he probably could help us. But the last thing we need to do is bring in a problem.”

Robertson, released from jail in Bexar County a month ago, worked out for Spurs coaches for the second day in a row Wednesday morning at the University of the Incarnate Word.

He didn’t participate in drills with Spurs personnel, but he scrimmaged three-on- three with other players who are either sharpening their skills or battling for favor leading to the opening of camp Oct. 3.

Robertson, 35, has made four All-Star teams in a injury-marred NBA career. But he also has been in trouble with the law repeatedly in San Antonio for the past few years.

Even though he may be the most talented player the Spurs could sign for their final roster spot, Robertson isn’t being received with open arms by the veteran leadership.

Robinson said you simply can’t tell whether a player with a troubled past has changed for the better.

“You don’t know,” Robinson said. “All you have to go on is people’s actions. What he says is one thing. It’s what he does. As we watch him and see him and people see him around town, that speaks for itself. It speaks louder than what his words say.”

Robertson spent less than a week in jail last month to satisfy punishment on a one- year sentence for a handful of misdemeanor arrests involving a conflict with a former girlfriend.

Eddie Garcia, Robertson’s attorney, explained that his client already had served 123 days behind bars while he awaited trial. During that time, he also achieved trusty status that earned him “good-time” credits.

When taken together, his time served and his credits equaled his sentence, Garcia said.

But Robertson is not out of trouble yet. He has been ordered to serve 180 days in jail as a condition of his probation on felony convictions of burglary and criminal mischief.

Originally, Garcia appealed the jail term handed down by 187th District Judge Raymond Angelini. Late Wednesday, the 4th Court of Appeals granted Robertson’s request to withdraw the appeal.

That means Robertson now must serve his 180-day sentence. It will be up to Angelini to determine when Robertson will begin serving his sentence and whether he will be given credit for the 120-plus days he spent in jail.

Robinson drew some comparisons between the situation with Robertson and that of former Spur Vernon Maxwell.

Both started their careers in San Antonio and showed promise. Both ran afoul of the law. The Spurs re-signed Maxwell last summer, but cut him immediately after the season.

“The questions you have (about Robertson) are, one, is he healthy?” Robinson asked. “Two, is he going to make that commitment to the team? We did it with Vernon, and it didn’t turn out to be a very good experience - for the team or for Vernon.”

Popovich, speaking at the Downtown Rotary Club on Wednesday, said he is trying to decide whether to invite Robertson to camp.

“Alvin’s still a good basketball player,” Popovich said. "And, no matter what has happened in his past, he’s a human being. And so we have a job to win basketball games. Vernon’s (situation) was the same way last year.

“We want to win games and we thought (he) could help us. The second part of it is, can you handle (a player like) Vernon? What will he be like on your team … and in your community? Do you want (him) to be part of your family?”

A similar discussion is taking place in regard to Robertson, who last played in 1995-96 for the Toronto Raptors.

“It’s something that needs to be discussed very seriously,” Popovich said. “And, no matter how you approach it, no matter what you decide, you will always have people who will agree or disagree. It’s a lot like politics.”

Popovich also confirmed that former Lee High School standout Artie Griffin has been invited to camp. He said the team could invite up to 20 players.

By Jerry Briggs and Matt Flores, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-26, By Jerry Briggs

罗伯逊可能面临牢狱之灾

前马刺后卫阿尔文·罗伯逊(Alvin Robertson) 显然将重返监狱。

罗伯逊的律师埃迪·加西亚(Eddie Garcia) 表示，罗伯逊希望在下周开始的马刺训练营中获得邀请，但他将在今天向当局自首。

加西亚表示，罗伯逊因入室盗窃和故意破坏罪将面临 180 天的监禁。

“这是最初的判决，”加西亚说。“我们希望要求法官重新考虑。”

第 187 区法院的法官雷蒙德·安吉利尼(Raymond Angelini) 于周四签发了对罗伯逊的逮捕令。

安吉利尼去年判处罗伯逊缓刑。监禁是缓刑的一部分。加西亚对缓刑提出上诉，但最近撤回了上诉。

第四巡回上诉法院周三批准了撤回，并将案件发回给安吉利尼，法官迅速要求罗伯逊回到法庭。

“我们一个月前（向第四巡回法庭）发出通知，”加西亚说。“我们希望他们比现在更早做出裁决。只是时间对我们不利。”

罗伯逊于 8 月完成了一年期的轻罪刑期。

“我们对此感到非常惊讶，”一位接近罗伯逊家族的消息人士说。“当他上次进去的时候，他以为自己已经结束了（在监狱中的时间）。”

在过去的几天里，这位四届全明星和前 NBA 防守球员一直在为马刺教练进行训练。训练营将于 10 月 3 日在克尔维尔开营。

点击查看原文：Robertson may see jail time

Robertson may see jail time

Former Spurs guard Alvin Robertson is apparently going back to jail.

Robertson, who hoped to earn an invitation to Spurs training camp starting next week, will turn himself in to authorities today, his lawyer, Eddie Garcia, said.

Garcia said Robertson is facing a 180-day term as punishment for charges of burglary and criminal mischief.

“That’s the original imposition,” Garcia said. “We hope to ask the judge to reconsider that.”

Judge Raymond Angelini of the 187th District Court issued the warrants for Robertson’s arrest Thursday.

Angelini sentenced Robertson to probation last year. The jail term was part of the probation. Garcia appealed the probation, but withdrew that appeal recently.

The 4th Court of Appeals approved the withdrawal Wednesday, sending the case back to Angelini, and the judge acted swiftly in calling Robertson back to court.

“We gave notice (to the 4th court) a month ago,” Garcia said. “We were hoping they’d rule earlier than they did. It was just the timing working against us.”

Robertson completed serving a one-year sentence for a string of misdemeanors in August.

“We are so surprised about this,” a source close to the Robertson family said. “When he went in last time he thought he was finished (with his time behind bars).”

In the past few days, the four- time all-star and former NBA Defensive Player of the Year had been working out for Spurs coaches. Camp opens on Oct. 3 in Kerrville.

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-27, By COMPILED FROM WIRE REPORTS

快讯 - 马刺称史密斯不会退役

马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)周五否认了一份关于大前锋查尔斯·史密斯(Charles Smith)已决定退役的报道。

“这太可笑了，”波波维奇说道。“查尔斯·史密斯是马刺的一员。他整个夏天都在（恢复膝盖）。我们将在训练营里看看他的腿恢复状况如何。这绝对不属实。”

《拉雷多晨报》援引消息人士的话称，史密斯预计将因反复出现的膝盖问题而退役。

史密斯无法联系到以发表评论。

开拓者签下阿斯库: 经验丰富的自由球员文森特·阿斯库(Vincent Askew)与波特兰签署了一份合同。

周五的公告中没有包含条款，但由于开拓者已经达到了工资帽，所以据信这份合同是联盟规定的最低薪资，即272,250美元。

老鹰队签下自由球员: 亚特兰大签下了五名自由球员，包括回归首发的泰伦·科宾(Tyrone Corbin)。

其他签约的球员包括前佐治亚理工学院明星德鲁·巴里(Drew Barry)、安东尼·米勒(Anthony Miller)、唐纳德·怀特塞德(Donald Whiteside)和来自南加州的7英尺新秀大卫·克劳斯(David Crouse)。

猛龙队留下了替补前锋: 多伦多与大前锋雷吉·斯莱特(Reggie Slater)续签了一份为期两年的合同。

财务条款尚未公布。

沃德腿部受伤: 纽约尼克斯控球后卫查理·沃德(Charlie Ward)的右小腿有轻微的应力性骨折，这将使他无法在下一周开始的训练营中进行全面的训练。

点击查看原文：Quick Hits - Spurs say Smith not set to retire

Quick Hits - Spurs say Smith not set to retire

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich on Friday denied a published report that power forward Charles Smith has decided to retire.

“It’s ridiculous,” Popovich said. “Charles Smith is a Spur. He has been (rehabilitating his knee) all summer. We’ll find out what shape his leg is in at camp. It is unequivocally not true.”

The Laredo Morning Times, quoting a source close to the situation, said that Smith is expected to retire because of recurring knee problems.

Smith could not be reached for comment.

Blazers sign Askew: Well-traveled free agent Vincent Askew has signed a contract with Portland.

Terms weren’t included in Friday’s announcement, but, since the Blazers are at the salary cap, it was believed to be for the league minimum of $272,250.

Hawks pick up free agents: Atlanta signed five free agents to contracts, including returning starter Tyrone Corbin.

The others signed were former Georgia Tech star Drew Barry, Anthony Miller, Donald Whiteside and 7- foot David Crouse, a rookie from Southern California.

Raptors keep backup forward: Toronto re-signed power forward Reggie Slater to a two-year contract.

Financial terms were not released.

Ward injures leg: New York Knicks point guard Charlie Ward has a slight stress fracture of the lower right leg that will keep him from participating in full workouts when training camp begins next week.

Tennis: Sampras advances

With the Davis Cup final on his mind, Pete Sampras beat Sweden’s Jonas Bjorkman on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Grand Slam Cup at Munich, Germany.

Sampras and his United States teammates will face Sweden, whose top player is Bjorkman, at the end of November for tennis’ most prestigious team trophy.

Sampras used his booming serve to win 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, but the match was decided when Bjorkman double- faulted at key points in both sets.

Britain’s Greg Rusedski rallied to beat Russia’s Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-1 while firing a 143 mph serve, tying his record for the fastest serve ever.

U.S. Open champion Patrick Rafter of Australia will meet Czech Petr Korda in the other semifinal.

Leipzig Open: Defending champion Anke Huber, battling stomach pain, upset French Open champion Iva Majoli 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 to reach the semifinals at Leipzig, Germany.

Huber will face Jana Novotna, the world’s No. 2 player. In the other semifinal, top-ranked Martina Hingis plays Amanda Coetzer, who defeated Magdalena Grzybowska 6-1, 7-6 (8-6).

Romanian Open: Unseeded Richard Fromberg beat fourth-seeded Albert Portas 6-4, 6-3, leaving just one seeded player in the semifinals at Bucharest, Romania.

The survivor was Kevin Goellner, seeded No. 7. He outlasted Carlos Costa 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

Boxing: MGM Grand tosses Tyson

Under an agreement reached this week with promoter Don King, the MGM Grand terminated a contract that had one more Mike Tyson fight remaining.

The hotel moved to terminate the contract in July, after Tyson was banned for at least one year from boxing for biting Evander Holyfield’s ears during their June 23 fight at the MGM Grand.

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

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-27, By Matt Flores

罗伯逊重返监狱，仍心怀NBA梦

阿尔文·罗伯逊(Alvin Robertson)周五重返监狱，他向当局自首，开始服刑180天。

监狱发言人表示，这位前圣安东尼奥马刺队的球星在下午1点左右自首。但罗伯逊的律师埃迪·加西亚(Eddie Garcia)表示，他的当事人很快就会重获自由，并重返篮球场。

罗伯逊是一名35岁的非受限自由球员，本周早些时候他曾与马刺队一起训练，并希望能获得一份1997-98赛季的球衣号码。NBA训练营将于周五开营。

马刺队不太可能认真考虑签下罗伯逊。马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)拒绝猜测如果罗伯逊出狱并且球队有空缺名额，他是否会追求这位四届全明星球员。

“我不会回答尚未发生的事情，”波波维奇说。“我们已经发送了训练营邀请函，他不在名单上。”

去年，罗伯逊因入室盗窃和故意破坏罪被判处10年缓刑，这两项罪名都与他的前女友莎伦·雷福德(Sharon Raeford)有关。

第187区法院法官雷蒙德·安吉利尼(Raymond Angelini)将180天监禁作为缓刑的一部分。当罗伯逊对裁决提出上诉时，刑期被暂缓执行。

然而，罗伯逊的律师上个月审查了此案，并决定提交撤回上诉的动议。周三，第四巡回上诉法院批准了该请求，为罗伯逊开始服刑扫清了道路。

上诉法院的裁决是在罗伯逊因一系列与雷福德相关的轻罪判决服刑一年，在监狱中度过了三天之后一个月做出的。

罗伯逊的律师埃迪·加西亚周五表示，他计划要求安吉利尼考虑一项工作释放计划或减刑 - 这些措施都将让罗伯逊有机会在今年打NBA。

“自从被判刑以来，阿尔文没有造成任何麻烦，”加西亚说。“他对纠正错误并回馈社会很感兴趣。”

加西亚指出，罗伯逊缓刑条件之一要求他保持就业。

“这就是他正在努力做的事情，”加西亚补充道，指的是罗伯逊想打NBA的愿望。罗伯逊因法律问题缺席了整个1996-97赛季。他最后一次在1995-96赛季为多伦多猛龙队效力。

安吉利尼周五表示，他只会在他确信罗伯逊在支付法院判决的约40,000美元的赔偿金和罚款方面表现出诚意之后，才会考虑减刑请求。

周五无法联系到罗伯逊发表评论，但这位1986年NBA最佳防守球员本周早些时候坚称，如果他为马刺队效力，也许可以重建自己的声誉。

“我觉得如果我要打球，圣安东尼奥是最好的地方，”罗伯逊说。“如果我在那里，人们可以看到我在做什么。这是把这件事抛在脑后最好的方法。”

马刺队球员对罗伯逊出现在非正式训练中的表现和他的最新法律纠纷做出了不同的反应。

本周早些时候，中锋大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)提出了一个问题，即球队是否应该追求一个有麻烦过去的人。但周五 - 在他得知罗伯逊的最新困境之前 - 他说，如果罗伯逊“努力让自己的生活重回正轨”，他会欢迎像他这样的人。

“如果他正在这么做，我会非常兴奋，”罗宾逊说，“因为他是一名非常有天赋的球员。”

罗宾逊说他计划与罗伯逊谈话。当被告知罗伯逊再次被送进监狱时，罗宾逊表示惊讶，但没有发表评论。

马刺队前锋肖恩·埃利奥特(Sean Elliott)表示，他对罗伯逊感同身受。

“你不想看到任何NBA球员身处那种境地，”埃利奥特说。“我当然为他感到难过。但你知道，他做了一些不该做的事情，我认为阿尔文是第一个承认这一点的人。他已经承认了。”

埃利奥特表示，在罗伯逊最近被捕之后追求他，对于马刺队来说可能是一个艰难的决定。

“这将取决于管理层的精神状态，”埃利奥特说。“我不知道球迷会有什么感觉，但（他们的意见）必须在这样的举动中得到真正的考虑。”

新闻快报的作者杰里·布里格斯(Jerry Briggs)和格伦·罗杰斯(Glenn Rogers)对本文做出了贡献。

点击查看原文：Robertson returns to jail still hoping for NBA shot

Robertson returns to jail still hoping for NBA shot

Alvin Robertson was back behind bars Friday after he surrendered to authorities to begin serving a 180-day jail term.

The former San Antonio Spurs star turned himself in at about 1 p.m., a jail spokeswoman said. But Robertson’s attorney, Eddie Garcia, said his client could soon be out of jail again - and back on a basketball court.

Robertson, a 35-year-old unrestricted free agent, was practicing earlier this week with the Spurs and is seeking a roster spot for the 1997-98 basketball season. NBA training camps open Friday.

The Spurs likely wouldn’t seriously consider signing Robertson. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich declined to speculate on whether he might pursue the four-time All- Star if Robertson gets out of jail and a roster spot is open.

“I don’t answer questions on events that haven’t even happened yet,” Popovich said. “We’ve already got a list of (training camp) invitations we’ve sent out and he’s not on there.”

Last year, Robertson was sentenced to 10 years probation for burglary and criminal mischief, felonies involving ex-girlfriend Sharon Raeford.

Judge Raymond Angelini of the 187th District Court imposed the 180-day jail term as part of the probation. The term was put on hold when Robertson appealed the ruling.

Robertson’s lawyers reviewed the case last month, however, and decided to file a motion to withdraw the appeal. On Wednesday, the 4th Court of Appeals granted the request, clearing the way for Robertson to begin serving the sentence.

The appeals court ruling came a month after Robertson spent three days in jail to satisfy a one-year sentence for a string of misdemeanor convictions that also involved Raeford.

Eddie Garcia, Robertson’s attorney, said Friday he plans to ask Angelini to consider a work-release program or a reduction in the jail sentence - either of which would put Robertson in position to play in the NBA this year.

“Alvin has not caused any problems since before he was sentenced,” Garcia said. “He’s interested in righting wrongs and giving something back to the community.”

One of the conditions of Robertson’s probation, Garcia noted, requires him to maintain employment.

“And that is what he is trying to do,” Garcia added, referring to Robertson’s desire to play in the NBA. Robertson missed the entire 1996-97 season because of legal problems. He last played in 1995-96 for the Toronto Raptors.

Angelini said Friday he would consider a request to reduce the jail sentence only after he’s satisfied Robertson has shown good faith in paying the roughly $40,000 in restitution and fines the court has ordered him to pay.

Robertson couldn’t be reached for comment Friday, but the 1986 NBA Defensive Player of the Year insisted earlier this week that perhaps he could rebuild his reputation if he played for the Spurs.

“I feel if I am going to play, the best place for me is in San Antonio,” Robertson said. “If I’m here, people can see what I’m doing. It’s the best way to get this thing behind me.”

Spurs players expressed mixed reactions to the Robertson’s appearance at informal workouts and his latest legal entanglement.

Earlier this week, center David Robinson raised questions about whether the team should pursue a player with a troubled past. But Friday - before he learned of Robertson’s latest dilemma - he said would welcome someone like Robertson “if he’s trying to get his life right.”

“If he’s doing that, I’d be very excited about it,” Robinson said, “because he is a very talented player.”

Robinson said he planned to speak with Robertson. When informed that Robertson had been sent to jail again, Robinson expressed surprise, but didn’t comment.

Spurs forward Sean Elliott said he empathizes with Robertson.

“You don’t want to see any NBA player in that situation,” Elliott said. “I certainly feel for him. But you know, he’s done some things he shouldn’t have done and Alvin - I think - would be the first one to admit that. He has admitted that.”

Elliott said pursuing Robertson after his latest arrest might be a difficult decision for the Spurs to make.

“That’ll have a lot to do with the state of mind of the management,” Elliott said. “I don’t know how the fans would feel, but (their opinion) would really have to be considered in a move like that.”

Express-News staff writers Jerry Briggs and Glenn Rogers contributed to this story.

By Matt Flores, via San Antonio Express-News

[这也将成为过去]

1997-09-28, By Jerry Briggs

马刺把犹他爵士队记在心里 波波维奇说伤病使得努力变得重要

马刺主教练格雷格·波波维奇惊叹于犹他爵士队上个春天在季后赛征程中是如何逐步打败对手的，一路杀进西部决赛和 NBA 总决赛。

爵士队通过老将天赋、精准执行力和头脑强韧取得了成就，即使一些球队粉丝对该队是否会重蹈覆辙而担忧不已，其精神坚韧也未曾动摇。

波波维奇很好地观察到了爵士队的表现。由于球队伤病严重，最终战绩跌至 20 胜 62 负，自 1989 年以来首次无缘季后赛，他在电视上观看了比赛。

“犹他队执行得很好，在联盟中拥有最顽强的精神力。”波波维奇上周告诉一群圣安东尼奥商人，“在赶超他们之前，我将（爵士队）看得非常重要。”

波波维奇的任务将于周五正式开始，届时他将在 Kerrville 训练营中接待 18 到 20 名球员。为备战 10 月 11 日在华盛顿举行的首场表演赛，两场每日训练将于下周移至 Boerne。

该组织规模与过去几年有所不同，当时最多有 15 或 16 名球员组成早期核心，后来将减少到 12 人。

“训练营的理念会略有不同，”波波维奇说，“我相信由于上个赛季的伤病，我们现在落后了。现在，我们有蒂姆·邓肯这样的新球员，所以我们需要一点时间执行，做好所有的小事。”

“我们可以整天做训练，但这对我们作为一个五人组并无裨益。我们需要很多对抗练习。我们需要进行很多篮球比赛。如果你要这样做，你需要更多的人手，因为人们不能整天练习对抗。”

在球队备战训练营磨练之时，还有一些问题萦绕不散。

上赛季遭受伤病挫折的所有球员的健康状况如何？大前锋查尔斯·史密斯是否决定退役，马刺队周五对此传闻进行了迅速否认？去年夏天 NBA 选秀中的状元中锋蒂姆·邓肯表现如何？

最重要的是，在全明星大卫·罗宾逊与邓肯联手，以及一群渴望为上个赛季做出弥补的老将的共同努力下，马刺的表现如何？

“如果我们健康，”马刺后卫维尼·德尔·内格罗说，“我们非常可怕。”

波波维奇说，上个赛季导致崩溃的疾病的球员已准备就绪。其中包括罗宾逊（下背部扭伤）、肖恩·艾利奥特（右侧股四头肌手术）、查克·帕森（背部手术）和史密斯（右侧膝骨关节炎）。

作为球队特许球员的罗宾逊上周每天都在健身房开展他的技术训练。他投篮手感不错。他在球场上移动得很好。罗宾逊在每次训练后似乎有点僵硬，但似乎会在第二天恢复过来。

他整个夏天进行的艰苦的核心稳定练习显然是值得的。

波波维奇说：“他比职业生涯中任何时候都更加努力。我多年来都观察过他，我知道他什么时候努力过，什么时候没有。他非常敬业。他的身体状况，他的背部，都非常棒。”

艾利奥特两个赛季前是一名 20 分得分手，上周晚些时候出现了酸痛。

他说：“有点酸痛。这一周我行动缓慢。”

点击查看原文：Spurs begin with Utah in mind Popovich says injuries make work important

Spurs begin with Utah in mind Popovich says injuries make work important

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich marveled at how the Utah Jazz methodically cut down the opposition last spring on its march to the Western Conference championship and the NBA Finals.

The Jazz accomplished it with a mix of veteran talent, precision execution and mental toughness that wouldn’t crack even while some of the team’s own fans agonized about whether past playoff failures would materialize again.

Popovich had a good view of the Jazz’s run. He watched on television after his team, destroyed by injuries, plummeted to a 20-62 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1989.

“Utah executes as well and has as much mental toughness as anyone in the league,” Popovich told a group of San Antonio businessmen last week. “I’m going to hold (the Jazz) in the highest regard until we catch their butts and pass them.”

Popovich’s task will begin in earnest Friday when he welcomes 18 to 20 players to training camp in Kerrville. The twice-daily practices will move to Boerne next week in preparation for the first exhibition game at Washington on Oct. 11.

The size of the group is a change from years past when 15 or 16 players at most would form the early nucleus, which later would be cut to the 12-man limit.

“The philosophy of camp is going to be a little bit different,” Popovich said. "My belief is that we’re behind right now because of all the injuries (from last season). Now, we have a new player like Tim Duncan, so we need time to execute, to get all the little things down.

“We can do drills all day long, but that’s not going to help us as a five- man unit. We need a lot of scrimmaging. We need to play a lot of basketball. If you’re going to do that, you need more bodies, because people can’t just scrimmage all day long.”

A few questions linger as the team prepares to start the training camp grind.

How healthy are all the players who suffered injury setbacks last season? Has power forward Charles Smith decided to retire, a rumor the Spurs quickly denied Friday? And how good is center-forward Tim Duncan, the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft last summer?

Most importantly, how good will the Spurs be with All-Star David Robinson teaming with Duncan and a cast of veterans hungry to make amends for last season?

“If we’re healthy,” Spurs guard Vinny Del Negro said, “we’re scary.”

Popovich said the players whose ailments led to the collapse last season are ready to practice. That includes Robinson (lower back strain), Sean Elliott (right quadriceps surgery), Chuck Person (back surgery) and Smith (right knee osteoarthritis).

Robinson, the team’s franchise player, could be found in the gym every day last week working on his skills. His shooting touch is fine. He seems to be moving well on the court. Robinson appears to be a little stiff after each workout, but he seems to bounce back by the next day.

The arduous trunk stabilization exercises that he performed all summer have apparently paid off.

“He’s working harder than he ever has in his career,” Popovich said. “I’ve seen him through the years, and I know when he’s worked and when he hasn’t worked. He’s been very dedicated. His physical shape, his back, is in great shape.”

Elliott, a 20-point scorer two seasons ago, was complaining of soreness late last week.

“There’s a little soreness,” he said. “I took this week kind of slow.”

By Jerry Briggs, via San Antonio Express-News