champion Michael Smith with a defeat from corse178's blog
Gregg Popovich spoke for about 15 minutes, sometimes unable to hide his emotions, all the while wearing a T-shirt that had Tim Duncans face printed on the front. Nike Air Max 2017 . When the last question was answered, the coach turned, put his hands in his pockets and silently walked into a new era for the San Antonio Spurs.Its a day Popovich knew was coming.That clearly didnt make it any easier.Hes irreplaceable, Popovich said.Choking up at times and making wisecracks at others, Popovich bade a public farewell to Duncans playing career on Tuesday. The five-time NBA champion announced his retirement on Monday in a statement released through the team, ending a 19-year career that was spent entirely in San Antonio.I figured I better come out here and do this and somehow say goodbye to him, Popovich said. Which is an impossibility, for a lot of reasons.Popovich spoke in a corner of the Spurs practice facility in San Antonio, the spot where he holds court with reporters after workouts during the season. There was no news conference, no elaborate setup, not even any live coverage permitted. Even for something that will have so much impact on the team, the league and the sport, the Spurs kept things as simple as possible.Duncan is leaving. In some respects, everything is changing. In others, nothing will.I think it will be a seamless transition for the team, former NBA coach and current television analyst Jeff Van Gundy said. I think who its going to be hard on is Gregg Popovich.Popovich gave no indications otherwise Tuesday.All in one answer -- the premise being picking one person in history to have dinner with -- Popovich made mention of Mother Teresa, Jesus, the Dalai Lama, William F. Buckley, Gore Vidal and actor John Cleese. But given the choice between any of those people, or anyone else, Popovich said he would choose to dine with Duncan.I can honestly tell you my dinner would be with Timmy, Popovich said. And it would be because hes the most real, consistent, true person that Ive ever met in my life.I can be on him in a game and ask him why hes not rebounding in a relatively stern way and really get on him in front of everybody, Popovich continued. And on his way back to the court, hell say, `Thanks for the motivation, Pop. Thanks for the support, Pop. Then hell turn away with his eyes up in the air and well both start laughing. And people dont see those things. But his teammates have and thats why his teammates love him.Duncan will go down as one of the best to ever play the game, and Popovich said he was the best teammate any Spurs player could have had.There were moments of humor, too, like Popovich saying Duncan made him wear the clothes he gave him -- including the shirt he donned Tuesday -- or else he wouldnt play.I remember a pretty neat summer league game when he first came in and (Greg) Ostertag blocked his shot, Popovich said when asked what moment of Duncans career he enjoyed most. That was pretty cool.Mostly, Popovichs words showed sadness and appreciation.He spoke at length about Duncans humility, and how that was instilled in him long ago. Popovich told a story about when Duncans father, who died in 2002, told the Spurs coach he needed to ensure his son would not be changed by fame or fortune.I can still remember before his father passed away, looking me in the eye and saying `Im going to hold you responsible to make sure that when hes done hes the same person he is now. And in that respect, he is, Popovich said. Hes grown as a person, as we all do, through experiences. But his inner core, he was over himself when he came in and after all these accolades and all this success, hes still over himself. Hasnt changed a lick.Duncan and Popovich won more games together than any player-coach combination in NBA history -- and Popovich said he owes his own success to the now-retired star, not the other way around.To think of a season without Duncan, Popovich said, is mindboggling.I would not be standing here if it wasnt for Tim Duncan, Popovich said. Id be in the Budweiser league, someplace in America, fat and still trying to play basketball or coach basketball. Hes why Im standing.---AP Basketball Writer Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis and Associated Press Writer Raul Dominguez in San Antonio contributed to this report.Air Max White Online . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. Cheap Air Max 95 . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. http://www.airmax2018sale.us/ . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2.Gary Anderson crashed out of the Ladbrokes World Series of Darts Finals to Joe Cullen at Glasgows Braehead Arena on Saturday night, as Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor avoided potential upsets. World champion Anderson was knocked out in a deciding leg by Terry Jenkins in his opener in Glasgow a year ago, and suffered the same fate as Cullen continued his impressive 2016 by holding his nerve against the Scottish favourite.Anderson had won the World Series events in Dubai, Auckland and Tokyo earlier this year, but was unable to mark his first appearance on stage wearing glasses - and using a new design of dart - with victory. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. The Scot started brightly enough in front of the passionate Scottish crowd as he opened up a 2-0 lead with legs of 15 and 13 darts, but Cullen levelled before finishing 124 on the bull to move himself ahead.The next five legs were won with throw to send the contest into a decider, which Cullen took with a 13-dart finish of his own.Its brilliant, said Cullen, who had edged out Joe Murnan 6-5 in the first round earlier in the day. Its great to beat the world champion in Scotland - it was a great atmosphere, up there with the best Ive played in front of.Cullen will now play Peter Wright, after last years runner-up in this event impressed in his 6-3 win over Daryl Gurney in their second-round clash.Northern Irelands Gurney had defeated youngster Josh Payne by the same scoreline in the afternoon session, taking out a key 141 finish, but found Wright too strong as the world No 5 backed up his firework-themed outfit with a strong display.World No 1 Van Gerwen, the champion in both Shanghai and Perth, held off Gerwyn Prices fightback to claim a narrow 6-5 win over the Welshman, who had defeated Steve Beaton 6-3 in round one. Michael van Gerwen battled past Gerwyn Price in Glasgow Van Gerwen - last weeks European Championship winner - led 3-0 and 5-2 before Price battled back to level, but the Dutchman was first to a finiish in the decider as a 13-darter secured his triumph. Mens Air Max 90. I did enough to win the game, said Van Gerwen. Gerwyn tried everything he could to make it as close as possible but I out-scored him.The win was the most important thing and Im through to the quarter-finals. Im feeling confident and playing well and Ill get myself ready because its a big day.Van Gerwen now takes on Simon Whitlock in the last eight, after the Australian defeated Brendan Dolan 6-5 and Raymond van Barneveld 6-2. Phil Taylor avenged last weeks defeat to Mensur Suljovic. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Matchroom) Phil Taylor came from three legs down to avenge last weeks defeat to Mensur Suljovic in the European Championship quarter-finals with a 6-3 win over the Austrian.Suljovic - who went on to reach the European Championship final - had been in brilliant form as he whitewashed Robert Thornton in the first round, taking out finishes of 120 and 116 as he punished ten missed doubles from the Scot, and started superbly on his return to the stage against Taylor by taking the first three legs.Taylor, though, sparked his revival with a 12-darter and also landed an 11-dart finish as he took five successive legs before finishing 120 to complete a fine comeback.Taylor now meets Dutch youngster Benito van de Pas, who followed up his first round win over former World Youth champion Michael Smith with a defeat of James Wade on Saturday night.First round results:Max Hopp 5-6 Cristo ReyesBenito van de Pas 6-3 Michael SmithJelle Klaasen 5-6 Kim HuybrechtsBrendan Dolan 5-6 Simon WhitlockMensur Suljovic 6-0 Robert ThorntonJoe Murnan 5-6 Joe CullenGerwyn Price 6-3 Steve BeatonDaryl Gurney 6-3 Josh PayneSecond round results:Adrian Lewis 6-3 Cristo ReyesJames Wade 5-6 Benito van de PasDave Chisnall 6-4 Kim HuybrechtsRaymond van Barneveld 2-6 Simon WhitlockPhil Taylor 6-3 Mensur SuljovicGary Anderson 5-6 Joe CullenMichael van Gerwen 6-5 Gerwyn PricePeter Wright 6-3 Daryl GurneySundays quarter-finals:Adrian Lewis v Dave ChisnallMichael van Gerwen v Simon WhitlockBenito van de Pas v Phil TaylorJoe Cullen v Peter Wright Also See: Van Gerwen completes treble Van Gerwens major milestones Wholesale China Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Nike Basketball JerseysHockey Jerseys China Supply Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Sale Authentic College Jerseys MLB Jerseys China Stitched Soccer Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap Nike Jerseys ' ' '
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