Beyond the Arc: Good guys don't always finish last
I've been talking a lot lately about basketball, and I hope this will be the last column I write about basketball — at least until school starts.
I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs. Has there ever been a team made-up of such "good" and "respectable" guys?
There really hasn't been a more deserving bunch of guys than this season's Spurs.
I've been a Spurs fan since the organization decided to sign David Robinson to its roster back in the late '80s. To this day, I still have his rookie basketball card, and even then, I knew he would make a mark on the league. But I never imagined that the mark he would leave on the game would filter out so dramatically outside the realm of basketball.
It has been reported that Robinson has donated almost nine million dollars to organizations throughout San Antonio. He's made an impact, there's nothing more clear than that, but it's his demeanor and leadership that I have found so noble.
When Tim Duncan came to the Spurs squad, most players (guys like Shaq) would have squawked about the recent addition and the lack of attention. Robinson not only accepted Duncan as a superstar, he took him under his wing and helped make him the most dominate player in the league.
Duncan's modesty is almost maddening at times, but outside his talents on the court, that's probably why I like him.
Robinson's other teammates are certainly reflections of his kind heart and aggressive basketball spirit.
Legendary point guard Steve Kerr showed that no-matter how old you are, or how far down the bench you sit, you can help your team succeed, a lesson the youth of America can use.
Others also added their own mystic and fairytale-like morals, and I guess that's why I cheer so frivolously for the Spurs. They possess what I hope all future basketball players can possess — class, dignity, and respect. Congratulations, San Antonio.
