Why am a Spurs fan? It isn't just because of him!

 

I am 6"4", or I was at one time. He's (Victor Wembanyama) still growing at 7'4", but he's not why I am a loyal San Antonio Spurs fan. It isn't because Hall of Famer of Tim Duncan whose #21 jersey I am wearing. It is the Spurs organization that has made me a loyal follower for what they have done for the past 50 years.

I grew up a loyal Chicago Cubs fan and a pretty loyal Chicago Bears fan. I even rooted for the White Sox In the 50 years of the Spurs existence they have won 5 championships while the Cubs, Sox and Bears teams have each only won one. In the past 20 years the Spurs have had one coach. In that same time the Cubs have had 28 managers and fired the last winner. The Sox have had 19 managers and fired their last winner, and I think the Bears are on #12. Sure the Bulls have six championships but nothing since Michael retired and Phil moved to LA.

Still winning  isn't the only reason for being a Spurs fan. You could say it is mostly because of him or her and because of how they have treated us. 

I was at a game with Granddaughter Rachel because she had perfect attendance at school.  When she was 6 and 7 the Spurs or the Silver Stars(WNBA) gave her a free ticket to a game. Those tickets were up where the oxygen is rare, but I upgraded one so we could get a photo of the floor in the background.  Rachel held the Flat Stanley her cousin Tommy sent her as we tried to get it all in the photo. (Note Flat Stanley is also wearing #21). As we were on the mezzanine an usher asked if we wanted to take the photo from the floor! Yes the Spurs ushers are the kindest people. And that is not all.

At another game we again had nosebleed seats. As we entered the area, the ticket taker asked if we were alone. She said to go with the man wearing a  blazer and he took us down to the lower bowl for upgraded seats. That is how I became a Spurs fan for life!

So the Spurs have a winning tradition which has led to 5 NBA Championships under Coach Gregg Popovich. They haven't made it to the playoffs since 2019 and haven't won it all since 2014.  Yet Pop remains the coach.

The Spurs build teams over time and develop players. Yes, they have drafted three tremendous first round centers (Robinson, Duncan, Wembanyama), but they also developed very low draft picks into Hall of Fame players (Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker) and more undrafted players than I can count.

A Spurs player joins a family. From the first year the Spurs were in San Antonio, the players were taken to local gyms, food banks, libraries, and schools, and learned they were part of the community. The Spurs Give Back is the most appropriately named charity. They continue to do this whenever the team is in town. Coach Pop leads young men and lets them know they are more than athletes. That is why whenever a former player on another team comes to San Antonio the player makes a point to come and see and usually hug Pop. The Spurs honor the former players with a tribute video of their highlights before the first game back. All of the Hall of Fame players and many others still make San Antonio their home.

Scott recognized how much I love the Spurs. In 2022, in the middle of the pandemic, Scott bought me courtside tickets behind the Spurs bench.

Scott and I started attending many games last season. This year I bought season tickets for half of the home games. When he can't go I take Emily or Rachel or one of the fans from our Silver Sneakers class, where nearly everyone wears a  Spurs shirts to exercise.

Go Spurs Go! is the team slogan. Hurry back Coach Pop we miss your wisdom and humor, but thank you for making professional basketball into something to be admired for more than great athletes and winning records. You have taught your coaches well and we may be on our way to the playoffs again! 

 Hey Chicago, maybe someone will forward this to Ricketts, Reinsdorf, and McCaskey!