Post by brophdog88 on Jan 7, 2009 23:07:28 GMT -5
San Antonio, Texas
Following a difficult start to the season, the San Antonio Spurs GM stepped down admitting to his fans that, "I have no interest in my team." For many San Antonio fans, it will be tough to ever forgive the GM who was hired last year stating, "I will put this team into full blown rebuilding mode and will be a contender in a few years." But what the team did next may be even worse.
Due to the desperate situation with the trade deadline coming up and the lack of a first round pick in this years draft, San Antonio rushed its search for a new GM, and chose the first candidate it could find that wanted the job, in the hope that they could stay involved in trade negotiations. The little known GM, who had very limited experience after the team and league in which he formerly managed folded during his first season, admitted to the fans at the press conference announcing his hiring that he had applied for the job on a dare from his friend who had recently been hired as the GM for the Milwaukee Bucks. Little is known about the preferences of the GM, and San Antonio fans remain skeptical as to whether or not this hiring was really in the best interest of their team. One fan was quoted as saying, "Did we really just hire the first guy to apply for the job? I am sure there were more qualified GM's available, and its not like we made the hire in time to negotiate a trade of Garrett any way. I really don't understand the hiring at all. At the point that he was hired, why not just take your time and get a GM who is proven.
For the new manager, his confidence was not necessarily at levels you would see from a typical GM. For fans, his lack of confidence cannot be reassuring, as you would hope that a GM believes he can turnaround before he takes a job. In his press conference he even admitted, "If I suck, I suck." However he did say that he would not quit on his team due to difficulty, as he understood the dire circumstances that the team was in that led to his hiring, and has never been one to give up. He stated in an interview with local reporters that he "Will be focusing on the young core of his team, talented players such as Tony Mayfield, Jasen Eddie and Caue de Freitas. For this team, the most important thing is to get Mayfield to return to the Spurs. If I can get Mayfield to return to this team, it gives us a very good player to build around, and may give the fans some hope that I can bring this team back. I do know that I am on a short leash, and that if I do not do everything possible to move this team forward, I will lose the faith of the ownership, especially after what happened with the previous GM."
Can Spurs fans begin to believe in their franchise, as they could just 5 years ago? We will soon find out, as right now, an unproven GM has been put in charge of one of the most successful teams in the league over the past thirty years, even if they have fallen on hard times. For the Spurs, moving Garrett is out of the question with the trade deadline so close, and the lack of respect for the new GM amongst GM's around the league, there is no way a trade will be made with him being in place for such a short amount of time, making his job even more difficult. It has been a quick fall from glory for the Spurs, from NBA Champion to apathetic GM, to having to hire the first candidate interested, and the Spurs do not appear to be in any shape to return to their previous levels of success. In my opinion barring a miracle, it looks like the Spurs could be "cellar dwellers" for the forseeable future, as this reporter cannot see such an inexperienced GM turning this team around. For San Antonio fans across the country I hope I am wrong, but I don't see this team turning around anytime soon.
From this,
to this
Following a difficult start to the season, the San Antonio Spurs GM stepped down admitting to his fans that, "I have no interest in my team." For many San Antonio fans, it will be tough to ever forgive the GM who was hired last year stating, "I will put this team into full blown rebuilding mode and will be a contender in a few years." But what the team did next may be even worse.
Due to the desperate situation with the trade deadline coming up and the lack of a first round pick in this years draft, San Antonio rushed its search for a new GM, and chose the first candidate it could find that wanted the job, in the hope that they could stay involved in trade negotiations. The little known GM, who had very limited experience after the team and league in which he formerly managed folded during his first season, admitted to the fans at the press conference announcing his hiring that he had applied for the job on a dare from his friend who had recently been hired as the GM for the Milwaukee Bucks. Little is known about the preferences of the GM, and San Antonio fans remain skeptical as to whether or not this hiring was really in the best interest of their team. One fan was quoted as saying, "Did we really just hire the first guy to apply for the job? I am sure there were more qualified GM's available, and its not like we made the hire in time to negotiate a trade of Garrett any way. I really don't understand the hiring at all. At the point that he was hired, why not just take your time and get a GM who is proven.
For the new manager, his confidence was not necessarily at levels you would see from a typical GM. For fans, his lack of confidence cannot be reassuring, as you would hope that a GM believes he can turnaround before he takes a job. In his press conference he even admitted, "If I suck, I suck." However he did say that he would not quit on his team due to difficulty, as he understood the dire circumstances that the team was in that led to his hiring, and has never been one to give up. He stated in an interview with local reporters that he "Will be focusing on the young core of his team, talented players such as Tony Mayfield, Jasen Eddie and Caue de Freitas. For this team, the most important thing is to get Mayfield to return to the Spurs. If I can get Mayfield to return to this team, it gives us a very good player to build around, and may give the fans some hope that I can bring this team back. I do know that I am on a short leash, and that if I do not do everything possible to move this team forward, I will lose the faith of the ownership, especially after what happened with the previous GM."
Can Spurs fans begin to believe in their franchise, as they could just 5 years ago? We will soon find out, as right now, an unproven GM has been put in charge of one of the most successful teams in the league over the past thirty years, even if they have fallen on hard times. For the Spurs, moving Garrett is out of the question with the trade deadline so close, and the lack of respect for the new GM amongst GM's around the league, there is no way a trade will be made with him being in place for such a short amount of time, making his job even more difficult. It has been a quick fall from glory for the Spurs, from NBA Champion to apathetic GM, to having to hire the first candidate interested, and the Spurs do not appear to be in any shape to return to their previous levels of success. In my opinion barring a miracle, it looks like the Spurs could be "cellar dwellers" for the forseeable future, as this reporter cannot see such an inexperienced GM turning this team around. For San Antonio fans across the country I hope I am wrong, but I don't see this team turning around anytime soon.
From this,
to this
