Feeling Dodger Blue

So I’m watching the recap of MLB Network’s 20 greatest games, which has been an amazing series, and my favorite game ranks #10 on the countdown. It’s the Dodgers vs. the A’s, Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. I find myself watching the Gibson homer for what has to be the 3,714 time, although my wife will swear its more. It always seems to take me back to that day, how I was feeling and what I was doing. As a 9 year old, watching a moment like that and watching my favorite team in my favorite sport win the World Series, it is something I will never forget. As 9-year-old witnessing that series, I thought that my team would win every year, or at least win more often than they lose. However, looking back on the memory I do the math. The year 1988 subtracted from the year 2011 and all of a sudden, it’s been over 22 seasons since the Dodgers appeared in any World Series. Twenty-two seasons is the longest drought of World Series appearances in franchise history, a franchise that dates back to the late 19^th century. If you haven’t noticed, the Dodgers in 2011 don’t seem to be anywhere near ending that drought. So it raises the question, what has happened to the Dodgers?

Fact: The Dodgers 1^st World Series appearance was in 1916. In a 72 year stretch, the Dodgers appeared in 18 Fall Classics, winning 6. It’s not a great winning percentage, but when you run into the Yankees, the odds say you’re probably going to lose. The Dodgers lost to the Yankees in 8 different Series matchups. In fact, only the Yankees have appeared in more World Series than the Dodgers, which shows that the Dodgers, at one time, were the class of the National League. It also speaks to the fact that 22 years have passed it is only the Yankees ahead, although way ahead by a long shot.

Fact: The Dodgers won their first World Series championship in 1955, against the Yankees. It was the only championship they won while in Brooklyn. That team had a collection of stars, known as the Boys of Summer: Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, all of which are Hall of Famers. Since then, the Dodgers had a good run of having at least one big star on the roster. That Brooklyn team passed the torch to Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax, followed by Steve Garvey and Reggie Smith, who then passed the reigns to Fernando Valenzuela and Orel Hershiser, who then ushered in Mike Piazza. But that’s where it stopped. You could make a case of Eric Gagne and Manny Ramirez, but their success was very short in the grand scheme of things, not to mention tainted. Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Clayton Kershaw could wind up having great careers but the jury is still out.  This leads to the next question. Where have all the stars gone?

It is possible to look at things a certain way and say, “1988 hurt the Dodgers.” Yep I’m saying it, and all my family and friends reading are about to call and yell at me. Good thing the thousands of Dodger fans don’t have my phone number. But here is why I say that: Before 1988, the last time the Dodgers signed a free agent was 1980. Sure they made trades, but it was mostly home grown products through the system. Not only was it baseball’s way at the time, but it was definitely the Dodger way, that and good pitching. However, in 1988, the Dodgers signed Kirk Gibson, acquired other veterans like Jesse Orosco, Jay Howell, Mike Davis, and Alfredo Griffin, who all had a hand in helping the Dodgers win that year. They seemed to have the formula figured out, go get the big names and reliable veterans, piece them together, and it was easy. Being successful that season, they continued to get big names: Willie Randolph, Eddie Murray, Darryl Strawberry, and Eric Davis, all of whom have seen multiple all-star teams. But it didn’t work like it had in 1988. The Dodgers strayed from their structure, home grown and pitching

Speaking of home grown and pitching, the Dodgers had a kid from the Dominican who looked like a diamond in the rough. They signed him in his teens. When he joined the big club, everyone could see the potential was there. His brother was on the team too, so what a great story it would have made. But the Dodgers needed a leadoff hitter, so they traded the younger brother to Montreal for Delino DeShields. The younger brother was Pedro Martinez, who went on to win 3 Cy Young Awards, led the league in ERA 5 times, and is likely headed for Cooperstown. Delino DeSheilds is not. Another example is Mike Piazza. He was drafted in 1988 in the 62^nd round as a favor from his godfather, Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda. Piazza, after a few seasons in the farm league, goes on to win Rookie of the Year honors in 1993. Piazza then goes on to have 5 amazing seasons, which are some of the greatest in the history of men who played behind the plate. But alas, he, along with Todd Zeile, were traded in 1998 for Bobby Bonilla, Gary Sheffield, Charles Johnson and Jim Eisenrich. Sheffield had a solid tenure with the Dodgers. The rest of them, not so much. As for Mike Piazza, he is a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame. What could have been if the Dodgers had a battery of Mike Piazza and Pedro Martinez?

Instead, major changes came in the same year Piazza was traded. Peter O’Malley sold the Dodgers to the Fox Group in 1998, ending a 48-year ownership of the O’Malley family which oversaw 17 post season appearances and all 6 Dodger titles. The Fox Group went through general managers and field managers like Elizabeth Taylor went through husbands. It wasn’t until 2004 when Frank and Jamie McCourt purchased the Dodgers that L.A. won its first division title in 9 years. Things were finally looking up. The McCourt’s had the Dodgers playing in October again, 4 times in 6 seasons. 2008 and 2009 were very bright, but blown saves by Jonathan Broxton and too many walks by the Dodgers’ pitching staff gave the Phillies the win in both seasons. Then, the championship window was shut with a resounding slam heard throughout Dodger Stadium. The franchise falls again, possibly further down than before. The McCourt’s are on their way out. They and the Dodgers have become an embarrassment. The Dodgers may not make May’s payroll and more and more empty seats are appearing at Chavez Ravine.

Fact: The longest tenured current Dodger is not a superstar as would be expected. It is Hong-Chih Kuo, a relief pitcher.

Fact: From 1954-1996 the Dodgers had 2 managers. Don Mattingly is the 7^th skipper since Lasorda’s retirement.

Fact: The Dodgers have had 16 Rookie of the Year winners, none of which were after 1996.

Fact: The last Dodger MVP was in 1988.

This leads us back to the beginning. The past 22 seasons have gone by so quickly in some respects, but so slowly at the same time. The good moments have been overshadowed by the not so good moments. Other than Vin Scully, it seems that everything has changed. The outfield walls of Dodger stadium look like the yellow pages. Dodger Dogs aren’t what they used to be. The Lakers have easily surpassed “Los Doyers” in popularity among Angelenos. And to make matters worse, they have seen their northern California rival win a World Series, finally equaling the championship count at six. Unless the next owner stores credibility and a winning attitude back in to the Los Angeles Dodgers, it’s going to get darker before it gets brighter. I understand that other franchises have also suffered some even more so. The Royals and Pirates would love to have the Dodgers’ problems. The Indians have a current long drought of World Series Championships in their franchise. We all know about the Red Sox before 2004, and everyone feels sorry for the lovable loser Chicago Cubs. But as for the Dodgers, one of the classiest and most successful franchises in all of American team sports, they have spiraled downward leaving us to wonder when they will take our blues away?  

Foreclosing on a Big Shaq

It’s 1992. You’re watching your favorite NBA team play and there is a stop in the action for a commercial break:

A big man knocks on a big door. A tiny sliding door within the frame of that big door opens and a voice behind it says,

“Password!?”

In response, “Don’t fake the funk on a nasty dunk!”

“You’re early.”

The man outside the door says, “But I’m ready.”

“Then prove it.”

When the door opens, there stands the Mount Rushmore of the NBA big men: Russell, Wilt, Kareem and Walton.

There they are waiting to see what this youngster can do. “The Diesel” takes the basketball and dunks on the rim, destroying the backboard “Chocolate Thunder” style. The big fella grabs the ball and is ready to hand it to the legends on a platter as if to say, “Here I am.”

Kareem responds saying, “That’s not enough,” and gives him a broom and dustpan.

Shaq replies, “This is one of those rookie things, right?”

And thus begins the colorful, dominating career that somehow leaves us wondering, “Couldn’t he have done more?”

Shaquille O’Neal took the NBA by storm in his rookie campaign in 1992-93. Not only did he go on to win rookie of the year, he finished 7^th in the MVP ballot, and finished in the top 10 in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage. Finishing in the top 10 in those four categories is quite an accomplishment. He did it in his rookie season, and virtually every season after. Some people could be heard saying things like, “Wow, what power” or “How agile for a big man” and, “Another backboard bites the dust.” Meanwhile, at the same time, others were saying, “Can’t he hit a free throw?” or “He’s too much of a clown” and, “Stop doing movies and rap albums and focus on basketball.” It seemed all throughout Shaq’s career, it wasn’t possible to give him praise without some sort of caveat. Almost from the minute he left LSU, he was supposed to be the next Wilt Chamberlain, a dominating presence in the middle with size unmatched. Yet no matter how well he did, he would still get the backhanded praise like, “Of course he dominates, look how big he is.” And when the team would falter, he’d get, “How could he lose that game? He’s the biggest guy out there!” This is some of the criticism Shaq has always dealt with. If you were told that you would be a center taken #1 overall in the draft, go on to win an MVP, 4 rings, 3 finals MVPs and finish your career 2nd of all-time in field goal percentage, 12^th in rebounds, 7^th in blocks and 6^th in points, you would take it right? Of course, anyone would. So why has Shaq bounced around like a journeyman? Let’s review:

It’s June, 1992. Shaq is drafted by the Orlando Magic, an expansion team at the time. By his 2^nd season, with the help of another lottery pick, Penny Hardaway, they take the Magic deep into the playoffs for 3 straight years. They reach the finals in 1995, only to be outplayed and outclassed by Hakeem Olajuwon’s Houston Rockets.

It’s 1996.  After 4 seasons, Shaq decides that he can no longer play with Penny and leaves for L.A. He is the decided savior of a franchise that has fallen upon hard times. Shaq would be the missing piece needed to lead a bunch of young guys back to prominence. One of those young guys is Kobe Bryant, a kid who went from high school to the NBA and also had the aspirations of being the greatest of all time. Teaming with Shaq, who proclaims he is on the road to becoming the MDE, most dominant ever, it seems like a match made in Hollywood. By their fourth year together, Shaq wins an MVP award and they win a championship, the first of what would become a three-peat.  During their success, Shaq and Kobe bicker and battle. Shaq wants to be the man and Kobe isn’t going to hold back his game for anyone. It is as if Shaq is hoping Kobe will lighten up while Kobe is hoping Shaq will get serious. After a finals loss to the Pistons in 2004, Shaq decides he can no longer play with Kobe and tells Lakers’ ownership, “Me or him!” They choose Bryant. Shaq packs his bags and is on his way to the Sunshine state, after being traded to Miami in exchange for three players.

It’s the fall of 2004 in the humidity of Florida. Rededicating himself, Shaq teams up with up-and-coming star Dwyane Wade, and together they bring to Miami its first NBA crown, and Shaq’s fourth. It seems as though the Lakers had chosen the wrong star. However, as Shaq seems to do, he wears out his welcome in South Beach, yet continues to live by his expression, “I got hurt on company time, I’ll recover on company time.” After a first-round exit the next season, Shaq decides he can no longer play with Wade (do you see a pattern here?) and asks to be traded to Phoenix, wanting to team up with Steve Nash and promising to bring that elusive ring to the Southwest.

It’s 2008 and the season begins promising. Unfortunately, he has yet another first round exit against the Spurs. From here, he moves to up to the Northeast to play with King James and his Cleveland Cavaliers. By this point, Shaq is only getting in the way of LeBron’s explosive drives to the lane. They lose to the Celtics in the second round of the playoffs.

It’s 2010. Speaking of Boston, they decide to take a gamble on the now broken-down center for one last gasp. Shaq plays just 6 minutes total from the All-star break to the end of the season, and the team leaves with another early playoff exit.

It’s 2011. We’re on the verge of a possible retirement of one of the greatest players in NBA history. You can argue that Shaq ranks in the bottom part of the top 10 players in history, or perhaps just outside of that top 10. You can also argue that Shaq has been a great role model. No drug busts, no bouts with alcohol, no spousal abuse or anything off the court that the public could hold against O’Neal. But if you’re keeping score over an 18 year career, Shaq was fortunate enough to play with Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash, LeBron James and Boston’s big 4. To add it all up, that’s 6 regular season MVPs, 4 Finals MVPs, and some of the greatest players in the past decade. He also played under Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, and Doc Rivers, who have a combined total of 17 NBA championships. When you look at it that way, are four championships enough? If he had stayed dedicated and hungry like his sidekciks along the way, is it plausible to say that Shaq could have challenged Bill Russell for rings, or at the very least Michael Jordan’s rings? And that, I believe, is how Shaquille O’Neal will be remembered. He won, he was funny, and he will be remembered, but the big question, what if?

Where were you?

We all have moments in our lives that we always remember just where we were, what we were doing and what we were feeling. The first time you heard that certain song on the radio, the first time you saw that unforgettable movie, especially something as intense as a world stopper like the Twin Towers falling. For me, this is also true in sports. I am the first to acknowledge that this list is not without omissions. Clearly there are dozens, even hundreds of sports moments that are worthy of recognition. So forgive me if I failed to mention the likes of Buckner, Bartman or Boone. I apologize for not adding the Drive, the Catch or the Play. I cannot help that I was too young to remember Mike Eruzione, Lorenzo Charles or Doug Flutie. Nor was I born to see the likes of Franco Harris, Carlton Fisk or Hank Aaron. I am also not against female sports, so pardon me for not including Billie Jean King, Kerri Strug or Brandi Chastain. That being said, here is my list of moments that stick with me to this day, moments that transcended the sporting world:

January 4, 2006

It was the clear cut #1 vs #2 in the Rose Bowl for the National Championship. But it was more than that, it was USC with 2 Heisman Trophy winners, coming off back to back championship seasons (now forfeited) and a 34 game winning streak. Texas had their Heisman hopeful, runner up Vince Young, who was the Rose Bowl MVP just a year prior. I was in Sacramento at my girlfriend’s house (girlfriend at the time) trying to explain to her the magnitude of this game. She never did understand. Because of Vince Young’s super human performance, 267 yards in the air, 200 on the ground and 4 TDs, Texas ended USC’s mini dynasty in what many call the greatest college football game ever. Where were you?

January 27, 1991

The best games are usually between contrasting opponents. This was never more evident than Super Bowl XXV between the run-and-shoot high powered Buffalo Bills vs the Parcells/Belichick defense and ground game of the New York football Giants. In the background, but also in the back of the minds of Americans, was Operation Desert Storm. America united behind Whitney Houston’s perfect rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and saw the Giants outlast the favored Bills 20-19. Most remember the wide-right game-winning field goal attempt by Scott Norwood. I remember this at my grandparents’ house as the closest Super Bowl yet. Where were you?

March 28, 1992

The Duke Blue Devils were the defending champions and were ranked #1 the entire season. They had a relatively easy first 3 games in the tourney until they reached the Elite Eight against Rick Pitino’s Kentucky Wildcats, a program on the rise from probation a couple years prior. This would be the Kentucky team that would set the trend of success for the Bluegrass State. However, Christian Laettner had other plans: A perfect 10-10 from the field and 10-10 from the foul line, 30 points, his last 2 in OT on a full court baseball pass from Grant Hill. With 2.1 seconds to go and down one, Laettner caught the pass, dribbled and faded from 18 ft for the win and a trip to the Final Four. I was just home from a family barbecue, missed the entire 1^st half but caught one of the most amazing games in college basketball history. Where were you?

June 17, 1994

My family and I had just got back from a weeklong vacation in Mammoth. All we saw on the TV and in the newspapers was the killing of OJ Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and friend Ronald Goldman. I had no idea what was going on and could not expect what happened later that evening. While watching game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks, NBC’s coverage was interrupted by this white Ford Bronco in a chase. Driving the Bronco was Al Cowlings, who was chauffeuring a despondent OJ Simpson, supposedly holding a gun in an apparent suicide situation. Following them was the LAPD in full force and the rest of the nation learned just what the 405 freeway was all about. The chase finally ended sometime around 8pm that evening at Simpson’s house in Brentwood. Where were you?

June 23, 2010

There are plenty of Americans who claim that soccer is not a real sport. However, I bet most of those Americans remember where they were the moment Landon Donovan scored in stoppage time, advancing the US men’s soccer team into the knockout round. I was getting ready for work and found myself unable to leave the living room. With today’s technology, we can enjoy this moment on YouTube and watch the reaction of Americans in bars and other social settings around the country. Thankfully I DVRed it. Where were you?

July 19, 1996

I’m not sure who was in the hotel room with me, and it doesn’t even matter if I never remember. What I do remember in that hotel room in Fort Myers, FL was the self-proclaimed “greatest of all time,” Muhammed Ali, capping off an opening ceremony with lighting the cauldron at the Olympic Stadium of the Atlanta Summer Games. When Bob Costas uttered the words, “but look who gets it next!” I got chills and still do when I see the replay today. Where were you?

August 8, 1992

There was no drama, no game-winning shot, and no individual excelling over his peers. It was simply one unit so far above the rest of their competition. For the first time, professional basketball players were allowed to participate in the Olympics. Dubbed the Dream Team, the US squad, featuring Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson (who was by this time in retirement due to the HIV virus), took Barcelona by storm. They created an atmosphere that was like a rock-and-roll band touring the world. The growing popularity of basketball around the globe began with this two week extravaganza. The event ended with a punishing 117-85 gold medal win vs Croatia. I was in the living room with the rest of my family when Marv Albert proclaimed, “this is the greatest team ever assembled.” Where were you?

August 9, 1988

They called it the trade of the century. At least that’s what Kings’ TV play-by-play man Bob Miller called it. Wayne Gretzky had come off a season that saw his Edmonton Oilers lift the Stanley cup for the 4^th time in 5 seasons and saw him win 8 of 9 Hart Trophys as the NHL’s best player. This would be like Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan or Jim Brown being traded in their peak and to a team in another country, within the same division. I remember as a 9 year old boy growing up in Los Angeles, seeing the “Great One” cry at the press conference. I had an instant interest in hockey. The city on the beach had a star on ice. Where were you?

September 26, 1999

I was at my girlfriend’s family’s house (yes, another girlfriend) for her birthday. She just had her tonsils removed so she was in no mood to celebrate. In fact, everyone in the house was pretty quiet the whole day until the 17^th hole at Brookline. The United States was in the midst of the greatest comeback in the history of the Ryder Cup when the struggling Justin Leonard sank a 45 foot birdie putt, ensuring a point and giving the US a dramatic victory. As the putt went in, I yelled something like, “He made it, I can’t believe he made it.” And yes, I was yelling, which is what shocked and surprised the rest of her family as they had very little interest in golf or whatever tournament they had to watch because of me. Where were you?

October 15, 1988

In the land of Hollywood movie endings, the Los Angeles Dodgers had a season of dramatic endings in 1988. I was at a birthday party with some friends from school watching game 1 of the 1988 World Series. However, when Jose Canseco’s grand slam gave the powerful Oakland A’s an early lead, my friends left the TV to go play football outside. I stayed and watched, and was joined by the birthday boy’s father sometime around the 5^th inning. Not a word was said between us, not even when we saw a hobbled Kirk Gibson emerge from the Dodger dugout to the on-deck circle and then limp to the batter’s box. But when Dennis Eckersley’s full-count offering was lifted into the right field pavilion, we both started yelling in jubilation. I raced out the front door yelling, “Gibson won it, he homered, they won it!!!” Where were you?

October 23, 1993

It started out as a bad day, a day that I felt awful. I was actually just sick, but sick enough to stay home from school. As game 6 of the 1993 World Series began, I was still very much under the weather in the living room of my grandparents’ house. In a back and forth contest between the defending champion Blue Jays and the rag tag Phillies, Joe Carter delivered in a moment that we as kids all dream of, winning the World Series with a homerun in the bottom of the 9^th inning. As Carter was about to touch home plate, CBS play-by-play man Sean McDonough said it perfectly, “The winners and still champions, the Toronto Blue Jays.” Where were you?

November 7, 1991

My mom picked me up from soccer practice on a Thursday afternoon and took my sister and me to my grandparents. I turned on the TV and there it was, plain as day. “Because of the HIV virus that I have attained, I will have to retire from the Lakers, today.” At that point, it was perhaps the saddest day of my life. My favorite basketball player was not only retiring, but he was going to die, at least that’s what a 12-year-old kid thinks when he hears that someone has the HIV virus. Yeah, we saw Magic Johnson play in the All-star game, the Olympics and also in his brief return to the NBA in 1996, but the curtain had closed on Showtime. And the smile was gone. Where were you?

The End of a Good Run

How do you build a champion? Ever since Red Auerbach’s Celtics, GMs and coaches who followed have had their ideas and theories. It sounds simple. You find a coach, get a star, and build around him with other quality teammates and role players. The San Antonio Spurs began using this formula in 1997 when Gregg Popovich took over for head coach Bob Hill, who was fired after a 3-15 start. With star center David Robinson hurt for most of the season, Popovich did a little better than Hill going 17-47 for an NBA season worst of 20-62. The bright side was that the lottery ensured them the 1^st overall pick in the draft, and as fate would have it, a 6’11” power forward/center out of Wake Forest University originally from the Virgin Islands was the pick.

Tim Duncan, who was the last number one overall pick that played 4 years in college (what a concept), joined “The Admiral” David Robinson and a collection of veterans and began contending right away. In just his 2^nd year, Duncan would lead the Spurs through the strike-shortened season all the way to the Finals, where they topped the Knicks in five games to earn the franchise’s first NBA crown. The Spurs would go on to win three more titles in 2003, 2005, and 2007, four in a 9 year stretch. Dynasty? Well not exactly. Sure, the Spurs over that stretch were among the class of the league. Duncan won 2 MVPs and sent David Robinson off into the sunset with 2 rings, the 2^nd coming in 2003, his final season. Other stars would aid Duncan in their run. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili turned out to be steals in their respected drafts and go on to play in numerous all star games. Along the way, the Spurs have had very reliable role players, veterans who knew their place and supported the stars in many ways. Avery Johnson, Sean Elliot, Malik Rose, Steve Kerr, Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry, Brent Barry and many others made big plays when called upon and didn’t need the spotlight. In fact, none of the Spurs’ stars needed the attention. Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili have all led their team in scoring for at least one season. Duncan and Parker have each won NBA Finals MVPs. Even Gregg Popovich, it seems, would rather sit back and just let his team play. So as you can see, the Spurs have had a great nucleus, a great balance and great success. But here is why they wouldn’t be considered a dynasty:

1.       Let’s look at some of the great dynasties in sports, just rambling them off here in no particular order: 1960’s Celtics, 1960’s Packers, 1970’s Steelers, 1970’s A’s, 1980’s Lakers,  1980’s Edmonton Oilers, 1980’s 49ers, 1990’s Bulls and take your pick with the Canadiens and the Yankees, they each had multiple dynasties throughout the decades. All of those teams have at least a couple of things in common including multiple Hall of Famers and legendary coaches for starters. While the Spurs will have 2 Hall of Famers, they did not have a legendary coach, especially not a coach who rivals names like Auerbach, Lombardi, Noll, Walsh, Phil Jackson and others.

2.       Those dynasties also had a transcending style of play, giving each team some sort of special identity. For example, the 60’s Packers have the Vince Lombardi trophy and the legendary Packer sweep. The Steelers have the Steel Curtain. There are also The Showtime Lakers and Murderer’s Row, just to name a few more. The Spurs have the fundamentals and a knack for playing solid team defense but nothing that stands out.

3.       All of those teams were able to repeat. The Spurs could not. What’s that old saying? Winning the first is hard but staying on top is harder. And what’s more, they couldn’t even get to consecutive Finals. They were not able to sustain greatness many years in a row.

4.       Here’s the big one: in the same decade when the Spurs would be considered a dynasty, the Lakers have overpowered them and have staked claim as the recent/current dynasty. Tim Duncan, under Gregg Popovich, has won 4 rings. Kobe Bryant, under Phil Jackson, has won 5. Spurs’ fans are probably saying right about now, “The Lakers missed the playoffs in ’05, they had 2 years straight of getting knocked out in the 1^st round.” Here’s how common sense combats that. While the Spurs shut down the Forum in 1999 and eliminated the Lakers again in 2003, L.A. has eliminated the Spurs in the 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2008 playoffs. To summarize, the Lakers, in the same timeframe, have more rings, more Finals appearances, and also have the edge head-to-head in the playoffs

Fast forward 30 years from now. We’re going to look back on the great teams in sports and when we come to the Spurs, what will we say? Let’s try this, “The front office did a fantastic job with draft steals and free agent acquisitions for a mid-sized market. Tim Duncan was among the best players of his era and arguably the greatest power forward in history. Manu Ginobili was so exciting to watch. Robert Horry and Steve Kerr got it done wherever they were. David Robinson had his moments of greatness but was not quite Shaq or Olajuwon. Gregg Popovich came from where? Pomona Pitzer? Tony Parker was very versatile, just ask Brent Barry’s wife, ouch!!!! Ok, so throw out that last jab. But other than Duncan, nothing there says “among the best of all time.” Nothing there says legendary. Nothing there says truly memorable. Nothing there says dynasty.