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<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>by Samr</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>SpursCentral.com</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br>
January 25, 2005<br>
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<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>“What a valuable player the Spurs have in Robert Horry. Anytime you have a guy who can step out and shoot the three pointer, and then come back and cover a guy on defense like Kevin Garnet. Gregg Popovich put it best when he said 'three-point shooters are usually soft, like you Steve'” –Steve Kerr</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br>
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Robert Horry has redefined the forward position. He shoots like a guard, posts like a big, and defends as solidly as anybody else on the court. Baseball teams have “utility players.” The Spurs have Big Shot Rob. He has the shooting prowess of a Dirk Nowitzki, the defensive tenacity of a Ben Wallace. He has the quiet leadership of a Tim Duncan and the heart of a champion. 5 champions, to be exact. (it's not that I can't say anything bad about him. I can. Just Misti will kill me.)<br>
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Robert Horry a.k.a. Big Shot Rob is one of the few players in the league who has built his reputation on hitting the game-winner. It does not matter how bad he may have played in the previous three quarters, when it comes time to live or die by a single shot, Horry is one of the most dangerous options in the league. But it is what he does when he’s not winning the game, the series, or the championship that most people to not realize, let alone appreciate. It’s the rebound, the put-back, the block, the steal, the assist that wins more games than not. Do you really think it’s a coincidence he leads all active players with most championship rings?<br>
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Robert started out with a modest beginning. After first picking up a basketball in the 7th grade, he watched as his older brother became a McDonald’s All-American in high school. He dreamed of the Dream, and modeled his career after the dominant Hakeem Olajuwon. It wasn’t the high school accolades, the fact that he was Alabama’s all-time leader in blocked shots, his being named to First Team All-SEC, All-SEC Defensive Team, and All-SEC Academic Team in his senior year. It was a trip his college coach took him on to visit disabled children in the hospital where he learned to appreciate the ability to just do every day things. When he had his daughter at age 23, she was born with symptoms of cerebral-palsy. Basketball no longer became the top priority in his life, family did. It was this new found sense of calmness, of tranquility and focus that allowed him the ability to remain cool and collected under some of the most stressful situations professional sports has to offer. The rest is history.<br>
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Spurs fans everywhere welcomed Robert Horry to the Spurs with open arms, and a need for a dependable outside shooter. It quickly became apparent that the change from the L.A. system to that of the Spurs made it rather difficult for Horry to find his niche on the squad. Despite the confusion, Robert continued to impress both on the offensive and the defensive end. The 03-04’ season saw Robert average career lows in both minutes per game, and turnovers, which were more or less a product of the former. But despite playing career low minutes, at 15.9 per contest, he still managed to shoot over 40% from the field for the first time in over three years and play in all but one game. He showed glimpses of the raw athleticism that once helped define his game. Unfortunately for Robert, he lost his shot in a playoff run that would come to a screeching halt in 0.4 seconds. <br>
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Spurs fans held their breath at the Spurs opted not to activate the second year team option on his contract. While other teams courted the famed sharpshooter and utility player, it was the Spurs who managed to resign him to a fairly modest contract. The city of San Antonio was able to breath a collective sign of relief. This season saw the Spurs break out to the best start in franchise history, and highest win margin the city has ever seen. A few games past the halfway mark, the Spurs appear to be on pace to easily clear the 60 win mark which helps define a truly dominant team. Utilizing one of their deepest rotations in years, the Spurs have added a powerful offensive to their formerly strict game plan of defense only. Robert Horry has been an integral part of the transition. Malik Rose, who’s bench time is currently sponsored by Pets Mart, has yet again sacrificed minutes to the larger Horry. <br>
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Averaging a career high in free throw percentage, while yet again receiving a career low in minutes per game (15.3), Robert has modestly accepted his role and made the best of the minutes he does receive. When he is sent into the game (starting third quarters is his specialty), he willingly gives it everything he has, and often leaves the court with the Spurs being in a better position than they were without him. He has taken on the role of being one of the veteran leaders on a squad which is getting younger and younger by the draft rounds. Although his numbers have slowly been on the decline, Robert still has an affect not only in the game, the locker room, or the box score, but he has become a welcomed member of the city of San Antonio.<br>
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The future still looks bright for Horry. With the Spurs being the mid-season favorites to grab their third championship, Robert has a chance to grab his elusive sixth ring. When he’s not making the hustle plays and blocking shots, he’s granting candid interviews and ragging on his teammates. When he’s not getting media attention, he’s helping kids Read to Achieve. Robert Horry has made those who wear the silver and black love him, those who stand in his way fear him, and those in the community love and respect him. He is, and always will be, Big Shot Rob. But until he fades away into the peacefulness of life away from the court, it certainly is nice having him on the team.<br>
<p><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>"Somebody may beat me, but they're going to have to bleed to do it."</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> -Steve Prefontaine</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p204.ezboard.com/bsanantoniospurs62937.showUserPublicProfile?gid=samr@sanantoniospurs62937>Samr</A> at: 1/26/05 3:40 pm<br></i>
2003 
