'lotta sports

This column appears in the Summer 2018 issue of Heart Beat of the Texas Hill Country

As I write this, I just finished watching the elimination game of the San Antonio Spurs to the Golden State Warriors.  Sadness fills me as it is possibly the last game we will see the #20, Manu Ginóbili on the court.  Manu was again in double digits just as he was in a lot of the games – Mr. Dependable.  After the game was over, he immediately headed to Golden State Head Coach Steve Kerr.  The two men go way back – they were teammates for the Spurs in 2002 – Kerr’s last year as a player.  As the two men hugged (Yes, real men hug and eat quiche!), the reporters’ microphones caught part of their exchange.  “Keep going, OK?” Kerr quipped.  Seriously Steve?!?  I know better!  Manu and a healthy San Antonio team is the LAST thing you want to see next season.

If this was indeed Ginóbili’s ride into the sunset, he sure went out with a bang – record after record!!  He became the only player in NBA history to have multiple 20-point games off the bench at age 40 or older.   He was also the first player in his 40s to score 15-plus points in back-to-back games since Michael Jordan in the 2002–03 season.    He surpassed David Robinson’s franchise record of 1,388 for most steals – with 1392.  Teammate Patty Mills refers to him as “Grandpa Juice.” I beg to differ – he’s more like the Energizer Bunny leaving the younger players in the dust!    Whatever he is doing, I want his secret formula!

In addition to Michael Jordan, Manu is in great company with others in the “Over 40” club for athletes.   There’s Jack Nicholas, the oldest Masters winner in history, when he was 46.  Five days before his retirement, 40 year-old Babe Ruth went 4-for-4, three of those home runs.  Who could possibly forget Nolan Ryan’s seventh no -hitter thrown when he was 44?!?!  I was at that game.   Jack Daughtery had left me comp tickets behind home plate. In the 7th inning, I saw the scoreboard and excitedly said, “LOOK! Nolan has a ….”  Before I could say what I planned to say…. “a you-know-what,” my hubby’s hand was across my mouth!!

We’ve seen Ginóbili through two Olympic medal winning performances for Argentina, four NBA Championships with the Spurs and two All-Star appearances.   Yes, Manu…. You can flirt with the “R” word…. or heed Steve Kerr’s advice.   Either way, we’ll see you someday in the NBA Hall of Fame.