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Defending Fandom

I know that I am probably preaching to the choir here, but I've spent enough time around people who don't appreciate sports to hear them talk make comments about how watching sports is a waste of time or lazy. I know we've all heard it I even get onto myself from time to time and try to cut back the hours I spend on my fantasy basketball roster(s), PtR, and justintv. However, in an effort to begin a communal rethinking of sports fandom, I present to you, my PtR brethren and sistren, the 3 ways that watching the Spurs* has made my life better.

 

Couchfan-ttnsports_medium

via www.cbc.ca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Star-divide

1. Coaching: I spent the last spring coaching a group of palestinians high-schoolers who had never played basketball before. I was not a great basketball player in high-school. I did not have what some people call a "high basketball IQ." However, Spurs fandom has exposed me to the finer points of well-played basketball better than any coach has. I was able to instill in my guys a commitment to defense (and not just steals and blocks). I used video of Tony Parker to demonstrate the importance of getting in the lane to shoot. I showed my post players how Tim Duncan rarely leaves his feet on defense, even if that means getting shown up every once in a while, and why that makes him one of the best defensive big man of his era. 

 

2. Playing: During the time I was coaching, I was also playing on a Palestinian team called Thaqafi Beit Sahour. It was the second level of basketball clubs in Palestine. Every single player on the team (save one) was either taller or more athletic than me. The practices and games were all in Arabic. Somehow I was able to contribute and play on that team because I could use my body to gain offensive advantage a la Ginobili and Duncan. My presence on that team was one of the key reasons that I felt at home in Palestine after my first year and it is one of the reasons I am still living there. 

 

3. Community: There are not a lot of NBA fans in Palestine. Games usually start at 3 or 4am. Football (soccer) rules every heart and while basketball is the second most popular sport here, it is a distant second. My best friend and I started hanging out at 3am watching the 2007 playoffs. He has plugged my wife and I into a great group of friends and some great business contacts. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*all or some above comments may not be relevant for fans of teams such as the Nuggets, Suns, or Mavericks. 

3 recs  |  Comment 17 comments

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What’s the fourth way? The suspense is killing me. You are such a tease.

by tomasito on Feb 6, 2009 11:00 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

have you ever noticed how close the 3 and 4 keys are on a keyboard. It’s like they want people to make that mistake or something.

I'm comfortable winning -- Emmanuel Ginobili

by pollackj on Feb 6, 2009 12:17 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

At least you didn’t list the w ways that watching the Spurs has improved your life.

by tomasito on Feb 6, 2009 2:33 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

“showed my post players how Tim Duncan rarely leaves his feet on defense, even if that means getting shown up every once in a while, and why that makes him one of the best defensive big man of his era”…. Im always one of the taller guys on the court here, so I get to defend the paint. Some years ago I would go for the blocked shot into the stands, but gotta say that its a lot more effective defending the way Duncan does (besides im out of shape, cant jump over a phonebook to save my life).

"It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what."

by Chilai on Feb 6, 2009 12:24 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

This is great, pollackj. Basketball is a sport I love but hardly ever played, so I completely suck at it. Trying to explain love for sports in all (most) its form to a non-believer is difficult and frustrating, so it’s great to read about someone after my own heart.

Recced to Shangri-la.

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!

by LatinD on Feb 6, 2009 1:09 PM CST reply actions   1 recs

It appears to me that you just enjoy reccing. Alot.

And for the record, I recced it first.

I am happy. I am proud. - Manu Ginobili

by bellasa on Feb 6, 2009 1:51 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It’s not like you can rec yourself. I think it makes you go blind or something.

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!

by LatinD on Feb 6, 2009 4:57 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I didn’t rec myself… I recced P’s post.

and… that’s just a myth.

I am happy. I am proud. - Manu Ginobili

by bellasa on Feb 6, 2009 5:56 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

hilarious

TITLEBOT 21 READY TO PERFORM MISSION. BANK SHOT CALCULATING.
- Goathair at theblowtorch.blogspot.com

by jollyrogerwilco on Feb 6, 2009 8:47 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

And I recced your comment. Pretty soon you’ll run out of mythical resting places for the dead. How will you rec then?

by tomasito on Feb 6, 2009 2:32 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I still have a few. We’ll see what happens then. Suspense is killing me.

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!

by LatinD on Feb 6, 2009 4:56 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Isn’t that Powell?! Sure seems to be a spitting resemblance.

by SgtinManusArmy on Feb 6, 2009 3:33 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Hey, nice catch, SiMA — been picking up some extra $$ doing stock photography on the side, Powell?

TITLEBOT 21 READY TO PERFORM MISSION. BANK SHOT CALCULATING.
- Goathair at theblowtorch.blogspot.com

by jollyrogerwilco on Feb 6, 2009 3:43 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I didn’t notice at first, but that dude does look a little like me. Except I’m thinner / smaller / whatever.

by sungo on Feb 6, 2009 5:39 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

4. Personal Hygiene – when you grow a playoff beard to help the team get back on track during the RS, and vow to continue the growth until postseason if it appears to help.

by SgtinManusArmy on Feb 6, 2009 3:49 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

I'm done with growing playoff beards.

Mine followed successes in ’03 and ’05 with sad showings in ’04 and ’06. And the Spurs proved in ’07 that they can win a chip w/o me contributing any additional follicle growth.

TITLEBOT 21 READY TO PERFORM MISSION. BANK SHOT CALCULATING.
- Goathair at theblowtorch.blogspot.com

by jollyrogerwilco on Feb 6, 2009 8:54 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Watching the Spurs is awesome....

….especially when you can use what you’ve learned from watching them to tear people up at the gym. I had a Timmy bank shot, a TP teardrop, and a Manu-style step back 3 all in the same game the other day. Now, if I could just get that little height issue taken care of……

"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." -Davy Crockett
"Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a war." -Gen. George S. Patton

by spursfan4ever on Feb 7, 2009 4:57 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

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