For NBA Dish; notes on Big Dave's career. For you Rocket fans; a couple of homages to the Dream; one direct, one not. http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=1010&xlc=1082890&xld=1010 1. Eyes straight ahead, shoulders back, arms stiff at his side. For over 1,100 national anthems. 2. An MVP award as his career zenith? He admits years later, because the Spurs lost in the Western Conference finals that season, he put the trophy in a closet. 3. Unused and still fresh for another 14 seasons: His right hand. 4. The distorted reputation that, if extended today, would include third-graders at the Carver Academy, reacting to what they believe to be a lack of discipline at the school, calling him "soft." 5. In his gym bag: Socks, shoes, shorts, keyboard. 6. Wondering out loud in the summer of 1997 how good Tim Duncan would be as a rookie. 7. Admitting more loudly, after just one pickup game against Duncan later in the summer of 1997, that the rookie could already do things he couldn't do. 8. A half-dozen golf clubs in one large hand, outfitted in giant, white overalls. Then caddying for Corey Pavin during the Masters par-three contest. 9. Swept by Shaq. 10. Sweeping Shaq. 11. Pushing in his hernia at the Atlanta Olympics, then leading the U.S. in scoring in the gold-medal game. 12. Retiring, too: The infamous floating particle. 13. Years ago, when asked about one of his "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood" commercials that included a classical pianist, he looked over a reporter's shoulder to make sure the man's name had been spelled right. It hadn't. 14. Grabbing 17 rebounds in his finale? Elway in sneakers. 15. Pushed out in front of cameras, his teammates and coaches waaaay behind him, he risks his image by going public in pursuit of a chartered jet for the team. 16. Not trashing Tark when he could have. 17. Being told he needed to talk more to refs, then racing to rage at one that same night, only to be ejected. 18. A 30-inch waist. 19. Biceps about as large. 20. Standing in the locker room after a bad loss, facing the media, alone. 21. "Saint David" spread across a Sports Illustrated cover. 22. Unfolding out of a private jet, wearing shorts and a long-sleeved shirt, seeing San Antonio for the first time. 23. His oldest son at a playoff news conference podium, then about 4 years old, resting his head on one of Dad's massive arms. 24. Residence in Hawaii, residence in Aspen. Home in San Antonio. 25. Taking less money on his second contract. Taking more on his last. 26. Becoming the first NBA player to use the word "impunity" in a postgame quote. 27. Playing too few games with Maurice Cheeks and Doc Rivers as his point guard. Playing too many with Rod Strickland. 28. Stretching, extending, his left arm forces Latrell Sprewell to miss. The Knicks would not get another chance in 1999. 29. The power within: Stuck with one of Bob Hill's worst ideas, he still plays along on stage in a Tony Robbins seminar. 30. Avery Johnson perched on a shoulder like a parrot. "5 Oh! 5 Oh!" 31. Saving the franchise by signing in 1987. By winning the first championship to create momentum for the SBC Center. By convincing Duncan to stay. 32. The game didn't matter. The moment came against the Clips. But 71 points? 33. With a saxophone. On a hotel rooftop at night. With the Barcelona Olympics below. 34. Unconscious, dropped by a Karl Malone elbow. 35. Reborn but needing to recharge the battery: Talking to a reporter for an hour on his cell phone on a drive to Austin in the early '90s about his new-found faith. 36. Donating more money. Than any pro athlete. Ever. 37. After a tense timeout late in a game, going back to the bench to tell Larry Brown that cursing in the huddle isn't necessary. 38. Cursing himself. Three times, maybe four. 39. "Who's Soft Now?" spread across another Sports Illustrated cover. 40. Shocked because Dennis Rodman dared to eat pizza with the crust first. 41. With the commercial shoot over, shocked at just about everything Rodman did. 42. Still up in the air? Dream Shake nightmares. 43. Able to win the league's computer-formulized award a record five times. 44. Able to understand how the computer worked. 45. In his physical prime, on a dare from John Lucas, walking on his hands across half the court to get the Spurs out of practice. 46. After his physical prime, unable to bend over to tie his shoes. 47. Never to be repeated: A pro athlete with enough confidence in his masculinity to list "The Little Mermaid" as his favorite movie. 48. Monday night, after being asked for the one word that would sum up his life thus far. "If I hoped there was a word," he said, "faithful." 49. Six coaches, three buildings, two rings, one city. 50. Representing David Robinson, the number means a lot.
Yeah, when they fed him the ball everytime down the court for that sole purpose. I'd like to know how they know this.
Sure, David was the only player to get in a zone and keep getting the ball. He was making everything in that game - AND the Spurs blew the Clippers away; so it's not like the strategy was ineffective. Somebody know everything.
David has always had my respect and admiration. Of course, Jumpin' Jack Robinson in '95 is etched forever 'in my Dreams'. DR said after Mr MVP was schooled by the previous MVP that he felt as tho he had done a good job. The bad job was done by Hill who left the undermanned DR alone on THE MAN, H'TD'O!
I respect David Robinson. A lot of Rockets fans diss him, especially for that MVP award. But he's not an arrogant b****. He knew and admitted he got owned by Dream. And he admitted Duncan was better than him. It takes a real man to do that. Also, I don't think the "soft" reputation is fair. He didn't play soft. He just didn't like fighting or hurting people.
What took this long for a Robinson tribute? With nothing else to listen to, I listened to WOAI on the way to Austin for the entire ceremony last night. Well done. For a night, I had to tip my hat to the guys over there (and for beating the Jazz). The NBA will miss such an articulate, classy spokesperson, who made time for people. I'll never forget the article on the terminally-ill girl in Denver who died just before getting an opportunity to meet him before his game there, and his kindness to the family.
the most interesting comment, imo, was why david robinson chose #50: ralph sampson! dave wanted to play like ralph, who was KG before there was KG. go ralph!!!
That's very true, and sad. Too many great athletes tarnish their careers by not knowing when to move on.
Not enough, for absolute sure. Dream wasn't smart enough to quit after his last Rox game. More the shame.
Do you really think Hakeem squandered his money or did you not mean it to come out that way? Do you think all athletes who hang on too long do it for the money?
Money is certainly a factor. But I think the main thing is ego. They just can't except the fact that their bodies are not responding to their skills anymore.
