Going for Fifty!

It is my goal to attend all of the Spurs home games this season. I have been working on this goal since October 2009. I nearly messed it up Wednesday night.  With the game starting at 7:30 pm, I was sitting at home undressed playing on the computer at 5:00 pm. The time by itself was not too late. The problem was my state of mind.

Several people have said or written that San Antonio Spurs fans have become spoiled. Thinking back over my time as a Spurs fan, I would have to admit that I could fall into that category this year.

{Note: I have enetered the URL for 3 videos because I had trouble embedding them. They are pretty tame but for me it is the words they say that count.}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBxLdZLWagI

I consider the San Antonio Spurs game on TV on May 19, 1990 to be the start of my becoming a fan. Having only been in San Antonio just over a year at that time, I did not know that I was not supposed to deliver my baby while a Spurs playoff game was on. I was the only patient in Labor and Delivery on that day. The bad part was that my son had no intention of being born on that day.  I was already 42 weeks pregnant and the Doctor scheduled me to be induced that day. My contractions started at 9 that morning, my son was not born till after 9 that night. As the only patient on the ward, only my TV could be on. At one time during the game, there were over 15 people in my room. This was the start of my indoctrination into all things Spurs. (The Spurs lost that game and the series.)

I saw my first live Spurs game in the Alamodome in 1994. I was hooked courtesy of my employers season tickets.  You have to realize that I was low man on the totem pole for getting the tickets. This meant I usually did not know I was going till the day of the game and it was usually one of the bottom feeder teams. I still enjoyed the games tremendously. The reason I loved the games so much is because all the players were trying. Other fans came to the games because they enjoyed watching the game. They were not as concerned about the win-lose record or standings as the fans are today.

Over the years I started going to more and more home games.  The year prior to getting season tickets, I attended 17 regular season games plus 5 playoff games.  I was unable to get tickets for the Finals, because I could not afford them. The amount of money I spent for the year and not being able to go to the Finals was what guided me to buy season tickets. Last season due to work and personal issues I only attended 6 or 7 games.

This year when I was making the decision whether or not to get season tickets, I committed myself to attending all the games regardless of the Spurs record. This decision was made in September 2009.  At that time I was not sure if the Spurs would be able to make a run for the title this year. I was concerned with our Big 3 as well as the supporting cast. I was worried about Duncan and Manu because of the age and injury factor. My worry for Tony was the wear and tear from international ball. As far as the supporting cast goes, no one can predict how a person will really fit into a system until the person is actually in that system. As for Richard Jefferson, I was trying to figure out why we were paying him so much money when we did not know what he could do. (As a season ticket holder, I do pay a small insignificant part of his salary. It's probably about a minute of 1 ballgame.)

I missed the Clippers preseason game. But I did attend all the other home games this year (33 regular season games so far). Watching the team through the season, I started believing in December that they could win it all.  I knew that they still needed a lot of work, but I was seeing flashes of promise that made me feel good about the post season.  Of course the Spurs also had those games where all I could think was WTF!

Then there was Saturday night in Memphis. I try to watch all the away games. But because the announcing usually annoys me I never have the sound on. I find it much more enjoyable. However, some things can be missed when the sound is not on. I did not realize that Tony was hurt till the start of the second half and Manu was starting. I looked for Tony on the bench but he was not there. I went online and saw Wayne's note. I was devastated. I told myself that it was OK; the Spurs would pull together and make sure that they make the playoffs.  Then they played the Lebronless, centerless Cavaliers and lost.  All of which brought me to my Wednesday state of mind prior to the Knicks game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJT6c-IRRwo

I had to literally step back and think about were the Spurs are at this point in the season. After the Cleveland game, the Spurs were firmly in 7th place in the race for the West. They could easily be as high as 5th in less than a week if the ball falls right. The Spurs are currently above 500 for the season. Manu is playing like a man possessed. Tim and George are doing their best to keep up with him. Overall, Spurs fans need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and be happy for what we do have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAO0QtvQcAI

Upon reflection, I still believe that the Spurs can win it all this year. Tony's injury is a blessing in disguise, because it forces him to rest so that he will be fresh for the playoffs. His injury also gives the other role players a chance to sharpen their games prior to the playoffs. It is my resolve to continue to support the Spurs in person at the rest of the home games. This is regardless of the outcomes. I became a Spurs fan because I enjoyed watching them play basketball and for their work in the community. This is why I will remain a Spurs fan. I just ask the Spurs to go out and PLAY every game. I have no problems with the Spurs losing to a team that simply played better basketball than us. I do have a problem if I am not able to say. "At least they tried their best."

So I resolve to attend 50 home games this season. I ask those Spurs fans in the area to make a resolve of support of the Spurs just because they are our Spurs.  You do not have to go to every game. But at least try to get to 1 or 2. (Ticket prices are at the lowest they have been with lots of extra enticements to buy.)  As with any good goal, I may not make it this year but I will make sure that I am able to say that I did all that I could. Will you be able to say the same?

[A non basketball watching friend of mine pointed out that I might need to explain how I came up with fifty games. I of course am including the playoffs. There are 41 regular season games. There are a minimum of 2 home games per round of playoffs. If the team does not have home field advantage there is a maximum of 3 home games per playoff round. I think it has already been established by other posts that the Spurs will not have home field advantage this year. I figure to win it all this year, the Spurs will have to play a minimum of 9 home games. 41+9=50.](Yes I am an optimist.)