Malik’s Tears Reflect Spurs Greatness By David Leister

No, this is not another “how could they trade Malik” column. The aim here is simply to praise the San Antonio Spurs organization for what it is: world class and comprised of personnel deserving of the highest accolades from any NBA critic.

It really is true that the story of the San Antonio Spurs tells one of the rare tales of a team where professional athletes truly support each other and help each other on and off the court. Its also illuminates that San Antonio has nearly impeccable team chemistry and nothing reinforces this fact more than the tear-jerker goodbye interview Malik Rose shared yesterday, thanking everyone from Peter Holt to his pastor to the fans to David Robinson to The Iceman to…last and certainly perched a little higher than the rest, his teammates. Saying goodbye to his teammates is what appeared to really shake Malik up. Eight years of basketball service, community service, a philly cheesesteak joint and eight years of becoming an icon for what defines the character of the San Antonio Spurs. A couple of years ago David Robinson retired and it was Malik Rose who spoke on behalf of his teammates in thanking the Admiral for his team and community contributions during halftime of a game. Everywhere you look within this franchise there seems to be countless feel good stories.

Its really quite astonishing how the Spurs can maintain such a stellar level of success while they appear more like a tranquil, earthy planet among a furious galaxy of turbulent star franchises and individualist ballers. On most teams, a role player like Malik Rose gets traded and the fans at best roll their eyes, but what’s more, the player, himself, thinks its all good because he’s still getting paid. Especially when that player is going to get a few more million bucks kicked into the trade. But not in San Antonio and not with Malik Rose. If Rose really did have a big beef with Gregg Popovich for years, as some have speculated, it was not a rift deep enough to ease the pain in his gouged heart over being shipped off to New York. No, Malik Rose was truly heartbroken, and this is a man from Philly who has overcome countless doubters and obstacles in his life. But to be so gutted over a trade to a big market team where he’ll likely earn significantly more playing time, not to mention a few million extra, speaks volumes of the tremendous character that is ingrained and so brilliantly reflected in the San Antonio Spurs franchise.

Nobody is perfect and neither is any organization. Some might say that the Spurs are being disloyal to Rose and, perhaps, were disloyal when they let Avery Johnson go. But loyalty has a price, and this is a business. Its one thing to maintain a club of nice guys for a noble sake, but how nice will these professional athletes appear over the long run when they remain millionaires and get knocked out of the playoffs regularly while the fans still get charged a high price for a game ticket and gear. No, the Spurs made a wise business decision in trading Malik, and once the pain settles most true fans will realize that this deal was best for all sides. It is because of the fans that not only the San Antonio Spurs, but the entire NBA, the entire entertainment industry, exists. But how many fans would remain loyal to the Spurs were they to become salary-cap strapped like the Knicks and unable to add championship-necessary pieces over the next few years during Tim Duncan’s peak years? With this trade, the Spurs will have the flexibility to add key potential pieces like Luis Scola and retain key pieces like Devin Brown to fill in for an aging Bruce Bowen.

The harsh reality is that the NBA, like most leagues and businesses in real life, is a cut throat league where a small market franchise like the San Antonio Spurs must go the extra mile to reign in their budget just to survive. Yet to do so successfully while still being able to compete on a higher level than most franchises, particulary against the New Yorks and Los Angeleses, and maintaining excellent team chemistry and a very special relationship with their fans and community, makes the San Antonio Spurs organization worthy of praise, not criticism. Sure there is revenue sharing and salary caps, but there are also 29 other rivals in this league and year in and year out the Spurs are among the top two or three winningest franchises, this year vying for the franchise’s third championship.

Everyone, including Gregg Popovich, will miss Malik Rose dearly. We fans are having to swallow lumps when we watch his goodbye interview. But through this sentimental moment and Malik’s tears shine a reality that the San Antonio Spurs and the city of San Antonio truly are something special. Its sad to see Malik go, while at the same time I feel blessed to be a true fan of the San Antonio Spurs. So while we fans grieve a bit over Malik’s departure, I’d suggest refraining from fingerpointing at the organization, that same organization which does its best to treat its fans to Riverwalk championship parades year in and year out. That same franchise which rewarded Malik financially for his contributions after the 2002 season. That same franchise which has a reputation league-wide for being straight shooters and world class.

The San Antonio Spurs truly are exemplary. Just ask Malik Rose.