San Antonio has 'A Few Good Men'

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Created on Friday, 30 November 2012 16:07

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 May 2013 07:51

Written by Russell Banton

Greg Popovich: "I'm resting my starters tonight."

David Stern:   "I'm entitled to give you Substantial Sanctions."

Greg Popovich: "It's my team."

David Stern:  "Truth is this was an unacceptable decision."

Greg Popovich: " You can't handle the truth!  Sir, we work in a league that has challenges.  And these challenges have to be overcome by men with talent.  Who's going to it, you?  You, Mr. Silva?  I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom.  You weep for the fans and you curse the Spurs.  You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing how to do what I do know how to do: that the fans loss, while disappointing, probably saves injury or wins, or both.  And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves injury and wins.  You don't want the truth.  Because deep down in places your conscience doesn't admit to the media, you want my team meeting those challenges, you need my team meeting those challenges.  We use words like character, sacrifice, corporate knowledge ..... we use these as the backbone to a career spent defending something.  You ignore them in the interest of promoting 'me first', 'street cred',  'physically gifted' individuals and teams.  I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very success that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it!  I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way.  Otherwise, I suggest you discard your self-imposed high hat of royalty and pick up a hard hat of team management.  Either way, I don't give a flip what you think you're entitled to.

David Stern: "Did you do this because you don't like my scheduling?"

Greg Popovich: "I did what you forced me to do."

David Stern: "Did you do it to make a point?"

Greg Popovich: "You're darn right I did !"