Florida lawyer sues San Antonio Spurs for resting stars
You've Been Served
The San Antonio Spurs are being sued by a lawyer who is alleging the team violated the state’s deceptive and fair trade practices law.
On Monday, Larry McGuinness filed a class-action suit in Miami-Dade County, stating Spurs coach Gregg Popovich “intentionally and surreptitiously” sent their best players home without the knowledge of the league, the team and the fans attending the Nov. 29 game against the Miami Heat. McGuinness contends that he, as well as other fans, “suffered economic damages” as a result of paying a premium price for a ticket that shouldn’t cost more.
Before the game, Popovich sent Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green back to San Antonio, saying that he believed that resting his top players for their fourth game in five days was a smart decision.
Even though players aren’t guaranteed to play at any time, the lines are a little more blurred because teams charge fans more to attend games versus better teams. When asked how he thought the fans felt, Popovich admitted at the time that it wasn’t ideal.
“If I was taking my 6-year-old son and daughter to the game, I would want them to see everybody,” Popovich said. “And if they weren’t there, I’d be disappointed.”
It’s often assumed that fans might not see certain high-profile players because of injury, but McGuinness said this was different, given that all of the top players were not available to play.
“It was like going to Morton’s Steakhouse and paying $63 for porterhouse and they bring out cube steak,” said McGuinness, who said he bought his ticket on the resale market. “That’s exactly what happened here.”
NBA commissioner David Stern apologized to fans for Popovich’s decision at the time, calling it “unacceptable.” Days later, the NBA, which is not named as a defendant in this case, fined the team $250,000.
Gregg Popovich’s I Want Some Nasty Speech Sparks City
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich’s sparked his team and town imploring them to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in game one. Entering the final 12 minutes trailing by nine, the Spurs responded and went on an 11-3 run. They drew four charging calls and outscored OKC by 12 to win Game 1, 101-98. Manu Ginobili scored 11 of the team’s 37 points in the fourth quarter. Stephen Jackson blanketed Kevin Durant and held him to a mere six points.
Blake Griffin’s Tooth Goes Through His Lip
Los Angeles Clippers highlight machine and league superstar Blake Griffin caught the shoulder of San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili which lead to his tooth penetrating his upper lip. Griffin required at least two stitches before he was sealed up with a band-aid and allowed to return to the court.
Manu Ginobili Blows Wide Open Dunk
The San Antonio Spurs beat the Utah Jazz 106-91 to take game one of the first round of the playoffs but all wasn’t rosy for the Spurs as guard Manu Ginobili missed a wide open dunk attempt.
Italian Team Owner Offers Kobe Bryant $600,000 Per Game
Italian Fashion
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant has been offered $800,000 per game before taxes, $600,000 net, to play for Virtus Bologna, the Italian club’s owner, Claudio Sabatini said. The offer is through November 13 and for home games only. Bologna has three home games scheduled through that date.
Bryant is slated to make $25,244,000 with the Lakers next season which works out to $307,854 per game over an 82-game regular season.
Sabatini has previously stated that he’s pursuing Bryant, but there was no indication as to the specific amount of money he was willing to pay in order to sign him.Sabatini did say he was looking into insurance against potential injury to Bryant, and that if an away opponent is not willing to share the cost of the insurance, he would not allow Bryant to play in those road games.
“I am studying a new solution to pay his insurance game-by-game,” he said. “When we play away, if our opponent is not willing to share the (cost for) the game, I won’t pay the insurance for the player and I will keep him in Bologna.”
San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili is also on Virtus Bologna’s wish list, Sabatini has said.
San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker Believes Championship Window Has Closed
Just Like This Marriage
San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker interviewed by L’Equipe intimated that the days of his team competing for a championship are in the rear-view mirror. Speaking on a season in which his team finished 61-21 but lost to the Memphis Grizzlies before the calendar flipped to May thinks age has caught up the team and the rest of the NBA has passed them by.
“At the start of the season I said this was our last chance,” Parker said. “Tim (Duncan) and Gino (Manu Ginobili) are getting old. It’s going to be tough to regenerate ourselves. We will always have a good team but we can no longer say that we’re playing for a championship.”
Parker also see’s himself as being the most moveable piece of the Spurs should they look to start over and rebuild.
Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown: San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
Every Thursday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown. The recipient of this honor goes to the San Antonio Spurs who lost their fourth consecutive game of the year. The Spurs have been without starters Tim Duncan with an ankle sprain, Manu Ginobili a quad contusion and recently saw head coach Gregg Popovich sit Tony Parker and Antonio McDyess as the playoffs near. The Spurs have been slipping and just a week ago had a seven game lead in the Western Confernce over the Los Angeles Lakers but have seen that lead shrink to 3½ games. The Spurs (57-17) have eight games left and could be in serious jeporady of losing the number one overall seed, one that they have held since November.
A Bat Invades The AT&T Center Again
Back in November of 2009 a bat invaded the AT&T home of the San Antonio Spurs against in a game against the Sacremento Kings, fast forward to March 2011 with the same two teams involved another bat invaded. This time Spurs Manu Ginobili had no part of it, maybe that’s because of PETA’s outrage last time around.
Minnesota Timberwolves Meltdown & Receive 5 Technicals In 10 Seconds
The Minnesota Timberwolves had their own Mama Margies Meltdown moment in last nights game against the San Antonio Spurs as they received 5 technical fouls in just 10 seconds in the third quarter. The Spurs and Ken Mauer beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 107-96.
San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili Buzzer Beater
New York Knicks Amare Stoudemire and Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose have legit cases for early season MVP’s but the way San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili is playing right now is where my chips stack, even with the travel. Ginobili nails a buzzer beater last night to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 92-90.
San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobli The Step Master
I love watching San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobli play basketball because it’s like he’s writes his own rules on what’s deemed fundamental. With that said, soak in how Ginobli does his patented 1,2 Step on veteran NBA players.
Los Angeles Clippers Eric Gordon Gets Sick With It
Oh me oh my, that is sick. Los Angeles Clippers Eric Gordon slipped past San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili to crown Spurs rookie James Anderson and welcome him to the NBA. Ralph Lawler, Oh me oh my indeed!
Manu Ginobili Coaches The San Antonio Spurs
1-0 For Coach G
The San Antonio Spurs are playing on a goodwill tour against the Los Angeles Clippers in Mexico City. The Spurs Gary Neal hit a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds in a play that was more than likely drawn up by coach Ginobili. The Spurs over an 18-point deficit to earn a 100-99 preseason victory.
What doesn’t Ginobili do?
San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili Supports Gay Marriage
Tim Hardaway Is Not Impressed
San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili says he supports a gay marriage bill that made Argentina the first Latin American country on Thursday to legalize same-sex marriage. Ginobili told an Argentina newspaper that,
“I am all for marriage. I think we all have the same rights. Although in reality with regard to adoption do not feel able to give an opinion.”
Do you agree or disagree? Do you believe more U.S. athletes should take such stances or at least voice their opinion?
Should San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili Wear The Mask?
Can You Still Do The Dance Of Joy?
That’s right, that is the mask that San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili wore during shoot around this morning and if he decides to ditch the tape in game one against the Phoenix Suns for. After this mornings practice all signs pointed to him continuing to wear the tape. However later in the day Ginobili provided the Twitter world with a glimpse of what the mask looks like and asking whether he should wear it. I just want our Balki Bartokomous aka Bronson Pinchot back asap.
So what do you think he should do?
Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player: Manu Ginobili
Manu Ginobili
Every Tuesday Sports Grind Entertainment presents you with the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player of the Week. This week the recipient of this prestigious honor goes to San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili who has been simply BLAZIN.
Pretty much you could pick any week during this NBA season and give this award to Ginobili with the season he is having. But Ginobili’s worth to the Spurs this season was never more evident than this past week when he sat out against the New Jersey Nets due to back spasms. The Spurs would go on to lose to a team that night who was trying to avoid tying the 1972-1973 Philadelphia 76ers for the worst team in the history of the NBA.
The Spurs very next opponent was the Houston Rockets which saw Ginobili back in the lineup where he would go on to score 18 points and dish out 10 assists. His return against the Rockets was impressive but not BLAZIN, he however would show that in the next two games at home against the Orlando Magic and on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers. He torched the Magic for 43 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and once again showed how dominating he has been this season with his performance against the Lakers in the fourth quarter, a game in which he finished with 32 points. Ginobili has always been a solid performer but the timing of his deadliness couldn’t be more valuable for the Spurs right now as gear up for the playoffs.
Congratulations Manu Ginobili you are this weeks Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player.
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-Kevin Garnett
Manu Ginobili, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
San Antonio Spurs Top 9 Worst Injuries Of All Time
1996-97: The Gift & The Curse
The latest injury to San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, a broken the fourth metacarpal in his shooting hand, has cost him the rest of the regular season in a year that has already plagued him with plantar fasciitis, spraining both ankles, a strained hip flexor and food poisoning.
With the Spurs currently hanging onto the Western Conference seventh seed that already has many questioning their chances in the playoffs and with this latest injury it will sure cast a greater shadow of doubt. While injuries are part of the game, what have been the 9 most damaging to the Spurs franchise? Why 9? In honor of Tony.
- 9. Tony Parker 2009-10 season
Parker an NBA Finals MVP season looked shaky from the start when he suffered his first injury in a year that was filled with many. While playing overseas in the off-season for France against Hungary in Eurobasketball Parker turned his ankle. The bug was cast before the season even started but stayed with him until March 6 in Memphis, where his regular season came to end. Parker sat out numerous games in the year to a variety of injuries: plantar fasciitis, a strained hip flexor, spraining both ankles and food poisoning.
- 8. James Silas 1976-76 season
Possibly one of the best Spurs of all-time that the NBA never had a chance to see at his peak. In the last season ABA before the merger Captain Late broke his ankle by landing on the foot of New Jersey Nets guard Brian Taylor in the ABA Finals. Recovered and ready for the Spurs first season in the NBA he suffered a cartilage tear in his knee restricting him to play in only 22 games for a Spurs team that was poised to contend. Silas played only 37 games the following season and was out of the league in four years.
- 7. Manu Ginobili 2008-09 season
One of the greatest to put on a Spurs jersey was injured in the semi-finals of the Beijing Olympics. The injury carried through to the NBA season and limited him to appear only in 44 regular season games and missed the entire playoffs. San Antonio went in as the third seed with a 54–28 record but was eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round 4–1 the earliest exit since 2000.
- 6. Johnny Dawkins 1988-89 season
Originally drafted with the 10th overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft the former Duke all time leading scorer and Naismith College Player of the Year was suppose to be the point guard of the future for the Spurs and coach Larry Brown. Durring the 88-89 season he started to suffer from a nerve injury in his left leg and foot that allowed him to only see action in 32 games. The nerve injury in his leg would eventually force him to retire from the game.
- 5. Terry Cummings 1992-93 season
In a season in which the Spurs improved on its record and advanced out of the first round they did so with limited minutes from one of their best scorers in Cummings. In the off-season Cummings tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during a pickup game that forced him to miss the first 74 regular season games. Upon his return, he could no longer put up All-Star numbers he was accustomed and from then on was used in a role much like a reserve.
- 4. Derek Anderson 2000-01 season
Anderson was a vital part in the Spurs plans of providing outside help to Tim Duncan and David Robinson averaging 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game on the wing. The Spurs looked to be on their way to earining a second NBA championship in 3 years as the stars where lining up until Dallas Mavericks Juwan Howard drew a flagrant foul on Anderson. He separated his right shoulder when he drove for the basket and Howard swung his arm into Anderson’s side that caused him to land on his shoulder. He missed the rest of the Mavericks series and returned in the conference finals against the in limited minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers. Anderson and the Spurs where caught in a no win situation since it wasn’t adequate enough time for him to heal.
- 3. Tim Duncan 1999-2000 season
In the Spurs first chance at trying to repeat as champions after winning their first NBA championship, they entered the playoffs without Duncan. He was averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game in a season that he had earned co-MVP with Shaquille O’Neal during the All-Star Game. However Duncan injured his meniscus shortly before the end of the regular season against the Sacramento Kings. The injury forced him to miss the playoffs and the Spurs saw them lose to the Phoenix Suns 3–1 in the first round. Without Duncan the Spurs relied on Malik Rose and Jerome Kersey to play alongside David Robinson but in the series they saw them go down as well with injuries.
- 2. Johnny Moore 1986-87 season
An assist man, who lead the league in that category in 1981-82, a steal man, an all around NBA player in his first five season with the Spurs. Moore often found the open man and wasn’t afraid to make the extra pass as he is one of only three players in teams history to record 20 assists during a game was hospitalized December 26,1986 with the devastating disease, Desert Fever. Doctors warned him that the disease could be fatal. Desert Fever luckily did not cost his life but ended up costing his basketball career as Moore lost three years of playing. He finally was able to return to the court to play in 53 games during 1989-90 season, which would be his last.
- 1. David Robinson 1996-97 season
The year that will be known as the gift and curse for the Spurs franchise. That season saw Robinson hurt his back in the preseason, an injury that would plagued him the rest of his career, limited him to 6 games before breaking a bone in his foot. He wound up missing the entire season and the Spurs finished 20-62. The curse is it cost the Spurs their best player in franchise history and their season but the gift came in the form of ping pong balls and the drafting of Tim Duncan out of Wake Forest University with the number one overall pick.
Is there a Spurs injury you believe that was missed to be of greater significant than these 9? Feel free to leave your feedback.
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-Kevin Durant
Manu Ginobili, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
San Antonio Spurs Tried To Get Chris Paul For Tony Parker?
Not Far Out Of The Realm Of Possibility
An interesting report comes from Hoopsworld saying league sources had the San Antonio Spurs trying to make a trade for New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul and the offering piece was Tony Parker.
The offer was immediately turned away by the Hornets.
Parker has one more season remaining on his deal worth $13.6 million and could be one of the top free agent guards in the summer of 2011. Paul is signed through the 2011-12 season, one year longer than Parker.
If this is true, do the Spurs have a strong belief that Parker will not be returning to San Antonio once he becomes a free agent? Tim Duncan will be obviously older in basketball years come summer of ’11 as will Manu Ginobili, and will he even be here, are questions that have got to be going through Parkers mind in the off season.
PETA Attacks Manu Ginobili
By now everyone has heard and seen of Manu Ginobili’s encounter with a bat on Halloween night. As expected PETA has now chimed in, from PETA.org:
“To bludgeon a 4-ounce animal to death, it takes either a small man or a totally unthinking one-with no respect or consideration for lives humbler than his own. This is a time when athletes in particular need to be on their best behavior around any animal and show that they have brains and a heart, not just reactionary brawn.”
PETA is absolutely ridiculous and I believe they are taking this stand so they stay in peoples minds at all times, but it’s crying wolf when the wolves really need it
Ginobili also posted on his Facebook page that he had to get rabies shots, which is pluarl.
Mark Cuban Tells J.J. Barea To Sit Out FIBA Tourney, Tension Between FIBA & NBA?
Cuban Sticks It To Everybody
The Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki is not the only player sitting out of international competition this summer’s on the Mavericks roster. The team has asked guard J.J. Barea to not play for Puerto Rico when it hosts the FIBA America’s tournament Aug. 26-Sept. 6. Although Barea had left shoulder surgery May 28. FIBA rules give NBA teams the right to hold a player out if the player is injured or recovering from injury. Barea told El Nuevo Dia that he has never failed to represent his country in competition dating back to when he was 16 that he is
“devastated.”
San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili’s injury helped spark the debate and now Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has taken it to another level. A long time opponent of NBA players participating in international competitions, had an agreement in place with Nowitzki that he would sit out German National Team in the 2009 when they compete in European Basketball Championship held by FIBA Europe after participating in the 2008 Olympics.
FIBA disallows players under contract with its teams to participate in Summer League play without permission from their club. Recently Nick Calathes, whose NBA contractual rights belong to Cuban’s Mavericks, was not granted permission by his Greek Club Panathinaikos. FIBA and the NBA have an agreement which states that neither the NBA nor its teams will prevent its players from participating in international competition as long as said competition doesn’t interfere with an NBA regular season or playoff game and so long as the player is covered by insurance provided for the NBA team by the player’s foreign federation.
Growing the sport on a global level has continued to be the focus of the NBA but how does these latest moves, the increase of NBA players going overseas and continued injuries to multi million dollar investments effect such agreements and the relationship they share?
