Traditionally there are four seasons, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. In South Texas of course, we have to be different. We traditionally have two seasons, football season and off-season. Since the turn of the century, however, another season has been celebrated by South Texans. That would be the season of Free Agent. The first stirrings of such were in 2000, when the thought of losing Tim Duncan was very real. And the possibility of the Spurs being transformed into Clippers South was, to say the least, nauseating. We survived though, thanks to Gregg Popovich's cajoling and David Robinson pausing his vacation to save the franchise.
Which brings us to 2003. The Spurs are in the unique and enviable position of just having won a championship, and possessing tons of Salary Cap space that can be used to only get better. Well, you would think it would be enviable. Free agency is anything but free, not just for the obvious reasons (the millions of dollars that players will earn) but for the mental strain and anguish it puts on the most important factor in the success of any sport.
The fans.
Fans of the Spurs have been racking their brains trying to figure out who is going where and it's starting to get a little rough. I am not saying that people on the FSP message boards are getting crazy but I really think that some of our posters have the purple Nikes and "special" kool-aid on standby just in case their player does not commit to San Antonio. I will give them this much, that whole dead zone thing we talked about last week? Blew that whole thing away. Such are the winds of the season of Free Agency.
I tell you what also has Spurs fans jabbering are the moves by the recently dethroned Evil Empire. Instead of worrying about what happened against the Spurs, Mitch Kupchak is proving that apparently he did take notes during Jerry West's tenure and has vastly improved the Lakers, at least on paper. Los Angeles has agreed to contracts with all-stars Karl Malone and Gary Payton and has the entire world buzzing about the team that the Lakers will be fielding in November. The bubbly just dried on the Spurs crown and already every major media outlet this side of Al-Jazzera has busted their humps to give the crown back to L.A. Due respect to our purple and yellow compadres but Houston and Portland tried this routine and to no avail. If Shaq can get on an exercise program that does not involve Krispy Kremes then the Lakers could take back the title. Big fella, I know that BK said "all the free whoppers you can eat" but that doesn't to eat all the free whoppers! As far as exercises go, Kobe is in good shape but I am not sure that the "Colorado Conga" counts.
So who is coming to join the run to repeat? I think I have got it figured out. Jason Kidd is coming here, Jermaine O'Neal is not, or wait, was it the other way around? No, no they are both coming. They are going to split the money and come together! Yeah, I have a big picture of THAT happening! These are, after all, still pro athletes. Ok so no Jermaine, but yes on Kidd. No? Ok, I've got it, no Kidd, no O'Neal but Alonzo Mourning. Or is it P.J. Brown? Wait, wait…its Brad Miller. No? Andre Miller? Bill Miller? No that's lunch. I'll have the poor boy plus with a side order of Elton Brand. Oh I am going crazy! Oh I am losing it! Oh…O…Olowokandi. He is coming and he is bringing Corey Maggette, Eric Piatkowski and a Clippers fan to be named later with him. No? Oh man, I am so confused.
It still remains to be seen what the Spurs will do. Remember this is the same organization that drafted Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker and traded Sean Elliott for Dennis Rodman then got Sean back for Bill Curley. This is also the same organization that drafted Alfredrick Hughes and Greg Sutton and traded away John Paxson and traded for Walter Berry. You folks will have to keep me posted. The confessional will be closed next week, as I will be in Houston coaching basketball and hopefully winning. I am fortunate to coach an outstanding group of young men and they are competing in a state tournament. When I come back, the moves should have been made and the second and third guessing will have begun. And please remember folks, its just basketball, drop the kool-aid and save the Nikes for the court.
