Basketball!

You probably didn't expect me to post something about basketball. Maybe you're expecting some profound double meaning--that I'll start on bball and parallel it to some deep significance in our spiritual lives. Wrong. Not. It's just basketball. Specifically, I have a couple observations about the San Antonio Spurs and the way they play.

Before I get going, let me clarify for anyone who reads this and doesn't know it already (those who know me already know the following). It will be obvious to most readers that I know very little about bball. I am vertically challenged; so I don't play the game. And I only watch during the playoffs. Still, I have my favorites and I watch the games devotedly.

I used to be a big fan of the Spurs. I thought highly of David Robinson (when he was active) and Tim Duncan. In fact, I still respect them. But they should not hang around such players as now populate the Spurs team.

I'm thinking first of the cheap "groin shot" that Bowen threw at Steve Nash. Never mind that the ref was standing right there and failed to call a foul. What I saw was Bowen deliberately turned and kneed Nash in the groin (pc term for "in the crotch"). It appeared to be an intentional attempt to disable the Suns key player. Didn't work.

I might have let that pass. But then Monday night Horry body-slammed Nash near the end of the game. True, this was the phase of the game when common strategy calls for the losing team (in this case the Spurs) to intentionally foul the ball handler. But all Horry needed to do was hold Nash. Or he could have pushed him a little bit. But a body block--as everyone agrees--was totally uncalled for. I used to respect Robert Horry. No more. He used to be called Robert "Big Shot" Horry, for his penchant to hit the big shot when the game was on the line. Now he will be called Robert "Cheap Shot" Horry, because he lost his cool when the game was on the line.

Was it a coincidence that both attacks were aimed at the Suns' team leader, Steve Nash? I think it was intentional. Which leads me to switch my loyalties completely.

I've rooted for San Antonio in the past. No more. I'm sure this will not bother them in the least. They don't need (and apparently don't want) my support. But I think I'm not the only person of this position. We have cheered the Spurs in the past. But if they can't clean up their act, they will end up losing a lot more than our respect.

What do you think?