David Robinson to retire [Archive]

steddinotayto

05-24-2002, 12:37 PM

espn article (http://msn.espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/0524/1386410.html)

supposedly he'll play out his final year on his contract and then retire. IMO, i think robinson should retire now because he needs to heal and rehabilitate. what's more important? 10 million dollars or run the chance of losing the funtions in your legs and other body parts? though he got raped pretty badly by dream in the 95 playoffs, he's still a warrior and i will miss him.

ktheintz

05-24-2002, 01:15 PM

Why is he announcing now? Who does he think he is, Julius Erving? Moses Malone and Bob Lanier both had more distinguished careers than Robinson, yet neither of them was sufficiently arrogant to take a year-long curtain call, as Robinson is doing.

The Cat

05-24-2002, 01:46 PM

Originally posted by ktheintz
Why is he announcing now? Who does he think he is, Julius Erving? Moses Malone and Bob Lanier both had more distinguished careers than Robinson, yet neither of them was sufficiently arrogant to take a year-long curtain call, as Robinson is doing.

Funny how we didn't hear that opinion when Charles Barkley took his year-long curtain call, and he's probably less distinguished than Robinson, considering he didn't win a ring...

Rocketman95

05-24-2002, 01:49 PM

Originally posted by The Cat

Funny how we didn't hear that opinion when Charles Barkley took his year-long curtain call, and he's probably less distinguished than Robinson, considering he didn't win a ring...

That was his first post and he registered just 5 months ago, so of course we didn't hear that opinion from him.

The Cat

05-24-2002, 02:18 PM

Originally posted by Rocketman95

That was his first post and he registered just 5 months ago, so of course we didn't hear that opinion from him.

Whoops... should've checked the post count.

I just hope those thoughts aren't representative of everyone...

UNMKT4

05-24-2002, 03:16 PM

All people and teams are different. They have different ways of doing things. Not all people will go all out on there day of resignment, while others will.

I don't see nothing wrong or arrogant about what David is doing.

He sure looks happy to me talking to the media. And if you think about it, that's all that really matters.

Why do people, not you in particular, have to have a bad way of making something good into something arrogant or cocky?

MrSpur

05-24-2002, 03:20 PM

Free publicity for the Carver Center & Academy, a philanthropic endeavor of his. I'm sure he'll thank SA as well.

JAG

05-24-2002, 03:40 PM

Being a non-Texan Rockets fan, I probably don't have the same rivalry-based hate-on for Robinson that many of you do...In fact, my memories of him are pretty positive. For one thing, I have him to thank for maybe the single best playoff performance I've ever seen out of one player, the Dream. But seriously, I know he was sometimes a little soft, and didn't win without Duncan, but most of my recollections about him are of a pretty classy man. Maybe I've missed something, can anyone clear this up for me, or is it just residual hatred because of the Lone State thing, coupled with the Dream/Admiral rivalry for a while?

ktheintz

05-24-2002, 04:04 PM

Robinson has been consistently overrated (especially his undeserved MVP) by the right-wing sports press precisely because he's "a classy guy". But sports is about winning and losing, greater and lesser, and you shouldn't get bonus points for being associated with the military or for wearing your religion on your sleeve.
The focus on character has opened up a breach into which sportswriters can drive a cultural agenda. To be sure, there are aspects of character that correlate to winning. But "nice-guy" habits like signing autographs or not going with prostitutes are not among those winning qualities; whoring and dope-smoking didn't stop the eighties Lakers from being one of the greatest teams of all time.

Hydra

05-24-2002, 04:10 PM

The Little Mermaid had a more distinguished career than Sir Charles? You might as well say the same about Bill Wennington. When the Ensign is discussed as the best center of all time, then he can be considered the equal of the Chuckster, in other words, never.

The Cat

05-24-2002, 04:24 PM

Originally posted by Hydra
The Little Mermaid had a more distinguished career than Sir Charles? You might as well say the same about Bill Wennington. When the Ensign is discussed as the best center of all time, then he can be considered the equal of the Chuckster, in other words, never.

The statistics are virtually even, but Robinson has the one thing that Charles doesn't: a ring. Yes, Robinson had Tim Duncan with him the season they won the championship, but Barkley had his chances with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, all on one team. This is essentially like the Dream vs. Ewing debate... similar statistics, but when it comes down to it, show us the rings.

Mango

05-24-2002, 06:17 PM

..........but when it comes down to it, show us the rings.

Neither Karl Malone or Charles has won a Championship Ring, but Carl Herrera has two of them.

Mango

Hydra

05-24-2002, 06:51 PM

Similar statistics except for 6'4" vs. 7'1". That alone should catapult Sir Charles past the Sadmiral, plus check out the Chuckster's assist numbers. :eek:

Asian Sensation

05-24-2002, 07:24 PM

lol Mango

hoopgod13

05-24-2002, 08:00 PM

I'm the biggest Spurs hater u'll find...but Mr. Robinson was the bomb.

He was a physical specimen, and along with Hakeem was one of the most versatile and best centers ever to play the game.

The only thing I really didn't like about his game was the 71 point outburst against the Clips to win the scoring title. I mean it's just a scoring title...Shaq deserved it that season.

Plus I got his replica jersey in the 8th grade! Woooo! Now he has to be good if i got his jersey!!! Right?? RIGHT?!!!

P.S. I have Hakeem (red), Penny, and D-Rob jerseys when they were popular in mid 90s. Stupid Penny. Biggest waste of talent ever.

Manny Ramirez

05-24-2002, 09:36 PM

Originally posted by Mango
..........but when it comes down to it, show us the rings.

Neither Karl Malone or Charles has won a Championship Ring, but Carl Herrera has two of them.

Mango

Amen. Don't forget about Will Perdue...he has like 3 or maybe more than that rings...lol

There is nothing more pointless than to argue that one player is greater than another due to how many "rings" they have won.

When Barkley first joined the Rockets, he, Drexler, and Olajuwon only played like 31 games together and they went 25-6. DOn't you think that if they had been able to play the full 82 games together that:

1) We would have been better than 57-25
2) We would have had homecourt advantage over the Jazz
3) We probably would have either come as close as anybody or had beaten the Bulls due to the fact that Olajuwon's Rocket teams always gave Jordan's Bulls troubles.

Hmmm...just forgot about Charles Jones and Earl Cureton...2 more players with "rings" - they're surely better than Barkley, Malone, and Stockton aren't they?:rolleyes:

The Cat

05-24-2002, 10:02 PM

Originally posted by Mango
..........but when it comes down to it, show us the rings.

Neither Karl Malone or Charles has won a Championship Ring, but Carl Herrera has two of them.

Mango

Before the statement you quoted from me, I said "similar statistics". Obviously, Carl Herrera's career statistics come nowhere near Karl Malone's or Charles Barkley's. Same for Will Perdue.

Mango

05-24-2002, 10:10 PM

duplicate

Mango

05-24-2002, 10:11 PM

.....but the point you are evading is that Duncan led the Spurs to the Championship and the Admiral was on the wagon. Same as Carl H rode on the wagon that Dream pulled for the Rockets in the mid 90's. Malone and Charles led their respective teams to the NBA Finals during their prime years which is something that the Admiral couldn't do.

Pip, Dream and Charles were all past their prime years when they were together on the Rockets.

Mango

The Cat

05-24-2002, 10:29 PM

Originally posted by Mango
.....but the point you are evading is that Duncan led the Spurs to the Championship and the Admiral was on the wagon. Same as Carl H rode on the wagon that Dream pulled for the Rockets in the mid 90's. Malone and Charles led their respective teams to the NBA Finals during their prime years which is something that the Admiral couldn't do.

Pip, Dream and Charles were all past their prime years when they were together on the Rockets.

Mango

It's hardly the same argument. Robinson was clearly an excellent second option during the Spurs championship season, as many posters here stated a few weeks ago when comparing this season's team to the '99 version. Carl was, well, a scrub. Getting to the NBA Finals isn't a noteworthy accomplishment... it's like the Buffalo Bills in football. I was a Bills fan, but I know that their legacy will be losing four Super Bowls, not making four Super Bowls.

The season I was discussing was the 96-97 team, when Dream was very close to his prime and Clyde was still a very good guard. Dream in that season was comparable to Duncan in '99, and Barkley served almost the identical role of David Robinson: the second interior player. When it came down to the wire in Game 6 against the Jazz, it was our offense's inability to get a basket that ultimately proved to be our undoing. The Spurs had similar situations in 1999, but found a way to win.

It's not always about being the star. It's about performing the role your team needs you to do. Whether you're the star or the second star, the goal is to win championships, and David Robinson did better in that regard than Chuck. I love Chuck as much as most here, but IMO, I'd rather have a career average of 22 points and 11 rebounds while winning a championship as a 2nd option than average 22 points and 11 rebounds and get to the Finals as a first option. It's debatable, I suppose, but I'll take the ring, first or second option. Just IMO, of course.

Manny Ramirez

05-24-2002, 10:44 PM

Originally posted by The Cat

The season I was discussing was the 96-97 team, when Dream was very close to his prime and Clyde was still a very good guard. Dream in that season was comparable to Duncan in '99, and Barkley served almost the identical role of David Robinson: the second interior player. When it came down to the wire in Game 6 against the Jazz, it was our offense's inability to get a basket that ultimately proved to be our undoing. The Spurs had similar situations in 1999, but found a way to win.

Don't forget Malone's bearhug on Clyde right before Stockton hit his shot....

As I said earlier, the 96-97 team had a chance to be the greatest Rockets team of all-time; however, when your 3 main cogs are only able to be on the court together for 31 out of 82 games & you still win 57 games is pretty damn impressive.

Unfortunately, the Jazz didn't have the same luck that we had when it came to injuries and thus they got the homecourt advantage, which was HUGE for them.

There is no doubt in my mind that if we had homecourt over them that season, we would have been in the finals & may had won it.

Now, I find it interesting that Robinson has won a ring.

I mean if it wasn't for the deliberate tank job that the Spurs did in 96-97 they never would have gotten Duncan and never would have gotten that asteriked championship, I mean strike-shortened, championship.

Deckard

05-24-2002, 11:13 PM

Carl was a scrub? I don't think so. Before his shoulders went out, he was an excellent player. One of those "role players" that are so important to a contending team... hardly a scrub.

The Cat

05-25-2002, 12:47 AM

Originally posted by Manny Ramirez

I mean if it wasn't for the deliberate tank job that the Spurs did in 96-97 they never would have gotten Duncan and never would have gotten that asteriked championship, I mean strike-shortened, championship.

Championships are championships... like I've said before, for the asterisk argument to have any merit, it should've been said before the season started. I'm willing to bet anything that this BBS was practically blazing with excitement once we got Pippen, and I doubt there was talk that a title that year would have less merit.

The only person who used that excuse before the season started was Phil Jackson, and his reasoning was pretty obvious: he wasn't coaching.

BTW, for the majority of that season, the Spurs really were hurt. However, with the season over, there was little need to try and rush anyone back. What do you think the Rockets did this season? I sure didn't see Steve and Cuttino giving 100% in the final games this season (they weren't even on the floor), but you didn't have a big problem with that when we got the top pick...

Carl was a scrub?

Sorry for overstating that. I was just trying to show the huge difference in comparing David Robinson to Charles Barkley and Carl Herrera to Karl Malone. Carl was a quality role player, but he was never near the quality of David Robinson in '99.

RaptorsDynasty

05-25-2002, 06:05 AM

Originally posted by The Cat

The statistics are virtually even, but Robinson has the one thing that Charles doesn't: a ring. Yes, Robinson had Tim Duncan with him the season they won the championship, but Barkley had his chances with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, all on one team. This is essentially like the Dream vs. Ewing debate... similar statistics, but when it comes down to it, show us the rings.

Remember the 93 playoffs when Barkley served up a jumper right smack in Mr. Robinson's face in the series clincher to knock the *purs out of the playoffs?

Barkley led the Suns to the Finals once at least. No team with David Robinson as its best player ever made the NBA Finals.

Barkley played at a level in 93 which David Robinson never approached. Robinson only has a ring because of Duncan carrying him to one in 99, the half season. Do you seriously think a team with D Rob as its best player was ever going to win a title?

junglerules

05-25-2002, 09:15 AM

I think a lot of people are letting their blind hatred of the spurs get in the way of an objective opinion about Robinson. Like others, I hate the spurs as much as anyone. But Robinson was clearly a superstar in his own right over the majority of his career. (Conversely, he is no worse now than hakeem, or barkley would be, on the court. They all creak when they move, when they are actually healthy enough to play.)

Prior to the rox championship years, I remember HATING to play the spurs because of Robinson's abilities more than anything else. His athletic ability allowed him to drive to the hoop and score or draw a foul unlike any center i'd ever seen, and he was a new breed of centers that could consistently nail jumpers from 14 or 15 ft out. On his own, he helped that team achieve some great things, though a championship, or even reaching the finals, was not one of them. Yes, Barkley did get to the finals, but I would argue that he easily had a better supporting cast around him than robinson did in those earlier years...hell, even now, that phoenix team was more talented than the spurs team with duncan. With that said, I think Chuck may have had a slightly more distinguishable career, and i essentially base that on impact on the game overall.

All in all, don't let your disdain for robinson cloud your thinking. And, don't let the *ss-kicking dream gave him in the playoffs think of him as less a player than he was. He was great as well for a while, and hakeem was simply a buzzsaw those two years. I have no problem with this retirement announcement. With the decision made, he'll get to just play, and appreciate all of the little things that make the game special to him in his last year, plus the spurs don't have to wait around on his decision to make personnel moves.

(I can't BELIEVE i just posted that much defending the little mermaid! Oh well....:)

pasox2

05-25-2002, 09:18 AM

Rockets fans can Hate Robinson the Spurs for the ridiculous, arrogant sense of entitlement that went along with the red carpet the whistles laid for Mr. Navy and his shipmates. That and the pious Church lady diatribes inspired evil, seething hatred everywhere but backward-headed, myopic Spurville.

Choke on your whistle on the way down, Admiral! Pride goes before a fall, and I can't wait to see your ship sink, sucking your whole crew to the icy depths with you.

:mad: :p :mad:

heypartner

05-25-2002, 10:57 AM

steddinotayto

10 million dollars or run the chance of losing the funtions in your legs and other body parts?

Did his balls ever function?

Manny Ramirez

05-25-2002, 11:06 AM

Cat:

I don't know why I continue to argue with you on the Spurs, but a couple of points:

1) The Spurs were sure as helluva a lot closer to a championship back then when they did their tank job than the Rockets were.

2) The Spurs had been in the playoffs the season before their tank job and the Rockets hadn't.

3) What RaptorsDynasty said....I thought I would never type this, but I actually agree with him on something here.

The fact remains that David Robinson was a soft player that had to rely on a younger and better player in Tim Duncan to get him his "ring". That younger player only came through a deliberate tank job (yea, maybe the Rockets tanked, but it wasn't as obvious as the Spurs) and that one, lone championship came in a shortened season.

If Robinson is so great and that much better than Barkley, then why Cat, has he (Duncan) not won more championships??

MrSpur

05-25-2002, 06:59 PM

This is such a sad thread. Full of immature armchair jocks running a lot of empty smack against a man who has done nothing but tried to be a positive role model. If you have a problem with that, well don't complain the next time a pro athlete gets busted for trying to have his pregnant girlfriend capped, drugs, theft, and whatever else.

Sure, Robinson isn't the only good guy in pro sports. No one has said that he is. I have plenty of respect for other pro athletes, such as Hakeem. He's another classy star athlete who recognizes the impact he has on his community.

Most Spurs fans I know are rather ambivalent about the Rockets. If you guys are that obsessed about the Spurs...well, it's only a game.

In regards to the 'tanking' comment...coming from a fan of a team who provided an impetus for the draft lottery, that is rather rich.

So go ahead, regal us with how 'tough' you are and how awful it is for a man who tried to do the right thing.

Manny Ramirez

05-25-2002, 07:26 PM

I find it sad that Spurs fans can't tell the difference in a team that was making the playoffs every year tanking to get a sure thing in Duncan to a team that hadn't made the playoffs in 3 seasons tanking to get a great unknown (possibly) in Ming.

That is all...

TheFreak

05-25-2002, 07:36 PM

Barkley had more support when he was with the Suns (KJ, Majerle, Ainge, etc.), that's the only reason he went to the Finals and Robinson didn't. Robinson was clearly the 2nd-best center in the league and a top 5 player (in a better league than now) the entire time he was in the league. He led his team to the Conference Finals as a ROOKIE (they would've went to the Finals if not for bonehead Rod Strickland). This was a team that completely sucked the year before. His team won 62 games in '95 and would've went to the Finals if not for Hakeem and the Rockets. He was without a doubt one of the best defensive players to ever play. We have some real dumbasses on this board.