Hoops

Tim Duncan announces retirement

Almost like your comment KET

It was coming for like a decade

I shed tears even though it was coming

As a Spur fan

<3 Timmy Forever

Bear, you put it beautifully.

It's his time to go, but Jeez I'll miss him. He was the ultimate team player.

Pretty happy I have been lucky enough to watch the big fundamental play twice, once against the Celtics in Boston and then against the Warriors in Oakland.
An amazing player and person who younger guys should be looking to emulate.

A legacy player, franchise player, future Hall of Fame and so humble that even the great Bill Russell probably respects him as much as he respects Bill.

And there in lies the true spirit of the man, a player no one would love more to play with than, a guy who always put 'team first' into action, not just treating it as words uttered by others and my favourite player of all time!

The game will miss him, but those coming through can at least learn from him, be inspired by him and like him they can perhaps continue to show high respect for a game that has given so much to them...

Of course he was going to announce his retirement like this. Unfortunately you could see his time was up against OKC in the playoffs.

I never liked the Spurs but The Big Fundamental goes down as the greatest power forward to ever play the game. In fact if you were starting a franchise would you take many players ahead of Duncan? Don't really need to talk about his basketball skills as they speak for themselves but an outstanding character and locker room presence and his longevity has been incredible. Been mentioned many times but the fact that he let Pop yell at him set the example for the other players being allowed to be held to account and be fully coached. No egos and no prima donnas and Duncan was a major factor in driving the culture of the Spurs.

Legend!!!

The end of the season is here and what a night it will be on the BMC.

WOMEN
West-Eagles
The cream always rises to the top and both these teams are worthy contenders in the grand final. Both have a right to have one hand on the cup. Forget elbow sharpeners at Officeworks, this is going to be one tough game from the start.
Minor premiers Eagles had a hiccup in the first week of finals, but came back strongly to book their deserved place. Splitting the captaincy hasn’t hurt them and all season they have had solid performers across the board. 3 girls in the All Star 5 and suprise, surprise, the Eaglettes pulled the most Halls votes (80) with Westies coming second (69). Two Eaglettes even polled more votes than an entire team.
West have been lead by the ever reliable Sam Woosnam both on and off court. Is there anything she can’t do? The return of last season’s MVP looked like it would add a dimension to the team, but she only played 5 games. Imagine if she played a full season. Nikita-Lee finished second in Halls and I reckon she will be looking to prove why she deserved an All Star 5 spot. This will be a battle of attrition with only the fittest standing at the stripe in the final quarter. Eagles deserve to win, but I reckon the battle of the stripe will decide the winner and considering the Eagles FT%, irony says that Nikita-Lee sinks them from the stripe in the dying seconds. OMG wouldn’t the feathers fly if that happened!

MEN
West-Sturt
Both teams did well last week in the Woollacott. Sturt polled 64 votes and West 63. Both pipped by Nor-would who got 70 and are conspicuous by their absence in the GF. West finished minor prems and have been well coached by COTR Paul Bell, who last week out-foxed the master to snuff out the flames. Coach has be relegated to U14 boys? West are a big team and have a physical presence on court that can be intimidating. Minor Prems always deserve a GF spot and it wouldn’t be South Australia if Sturt weren’t in the GF. It’s like not having frog cakes on Popeye after a fritz sandwich drinking Woodies lemonade, then whinging about progress, on a public holiday with no open shops in Rundle Mall. Sturt go into the GF looking to make ammends for last year. The Sturt team is nothing but class across the board and it’s hard to pick a weakness in their armoury.
Like the election, there will be some upsets, some close calls, and of course some swingers – we all love them! The key to this game will be Jacob and how well Westies can tame him, or even foul him out. No knuckle dusters allowed on court. If they forget about the rest of the team, then then Ninja and Co. will sink their merry ship beyond the arc. To have any chance, Sturt will need to contain Davo, who is showing those young lads how the game should be played, and the “curly haired Frisbee Fetcher”.
Like the women’s game, it’s hard to see either side dominating the other and so just like a fortnight ago, this should get down to the last play. If Jake pulls off another buzzer beater, he’ll be as popular at West as Tony McGuinness is at a bikie’s BBQ.
West have some big scalps this year and tonight might just be a rare West double “magic” act.