San Antonio Spurs

Not to be forgotten:. The opening of the new ballpark brought hope to fans, but the hope has quickly faded as general manager Ed Wade has once again been the target of criticism as the team has failed to meet expectations in the '00 decade. The Spurs have advanced to the NBA Finals for the third time in franchise history, and currently are tied 2-2 in the series against the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons. A series of terrible managers and general managers was briefly interrupted by 1993's magical run. In the postseason thus far, the Spurs have defeated the Denver Nuggets 4-1, the Seattle Supersonics 4-2 and the Phoenix Suns 4-1. Since the 1980s, team management has been consistently criticized as being cheap and uninterested in winning. With the acquisitions of Brent Barry from Seattle, Nazr Mohammed from New York, and veteran Glenn Robinson from free agency, alongside defensive specialist Bruce Bowen, international phenom Manu Ginobili, lightning quick Tony Parker, clutch shooter Robert Horry, and MVP candidate Tim Duncan, the Spurs finished the 2004-2005 season ranked number two in the Western Conference with a 59-23 record, finishing with the best record in the Southwest division. This is mainly due to the fans' appreciation of players who give maximum effort; many of the Phils' most popular players have not necessarily been the best or most talented, but rather the scrappiest.

Duncan was named both the NBA Regular Season and Finals MVP for the season. While some players have openly complained about a segment of fans who routinely boo their own team, it must also be said that Phillies fans are among the most loyal in the major leagues, turning out to support the team despite a multitude of losing seasons. The Spurs won the series 4-2, giving them their second NBA Championship in franchise history. Phillies fans have endured a reputation for generally rowdy behavior (an old saying was "Phillies fans would boo a wedding or a funeral"), but the stereotype of them as rampant hellions is far overblown. The series against the Nets marked the first time two former ABA teams would play each other for the NBA Championship. There are only fifteen times that this has happened. The Phillies have had three batters with four home runs in a game, this is more than any other team, past or present. In the playoffs, the Spurs defeated the Suns, Lakers and Dallas Mavericks en route to facing the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals. A rare distinction in baseball is to have hit four home runs in one game.

Mixing the inside presences of Duncan and Robinson with the newer outside threats, the Spurs earned a 60-22 record. The Phillies' recent failures have contributed a resurgence in the belief of the Curse of Billy Penn. Second-year French star Tony Parker was now the starting point guard for the Spurs and the squad featured a variety of three-point shooters including Stephen Jackson, Danny Ferry, Bruce Bowen and Argentina product Manu Ginobili. This collapse is widely known as one of the most notable collapses in all of sports history, only surmounted by the Boston Red Sox blowing a 14-game lead to the New York Yankees during the month of September, 1978 and by the play-off collapse of the New York Yankees to the Boston Red Sox in 2004. The Spurs had remade their team in an attempt to dethrone the three-time defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. Manager Gene Mauch was criticized for panicking down the stretch. This version of the Spurs was very different from the team that had won the title a few years earlier. During this stretch, the Phillies found new ways to lose.

Entering the 2002-2003 season, the team knew it would be memorable for at least two reasons, as David Robinson announced that it would be his last in the NBA and the Spurs would begin play at their new arena (approved in 1999 by County voters), the SBC Center, named after telecommunications giant SBC whose corporate headquarters were located in San Antonio. The Cardinals won that last game, and the Phillies had lost theiur chance at the National League crown. The Spurs finished with 58-24 records for both the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 seasons but found themselves suffering playoff ousters in both seasons from the eventual NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. It was not to be. The longterm viability of the Spurs franchise in San Antonio was however achieved during the 1999-2000 season, as Bexar County voters approved increases on car rental and hotel taxes which would allow for the construction of a new arena to be constructed near Freeman Coliseum. Louis Cardinals had lost on the final day, the Phillies would have been included in a tie (along with the Cincinnati Reds, forcing an unprecedented 3-team playoff for first place. The Spurs were not able to capitalize on their success during the 1999-2000 season. Although they finished with an overall record of 53-29, the Spurs lost in the first round to the Suns primarily due to an injury to Duncan which kept him out of the playoff series. Then they started to win again, and if the St.

The victory by the Spurs was not only the first NBA title to be won by a former ABA team, but also was the first Finals appearance by a team from the ABA. Up by 6 1/2 games with 12 left to play, the Phillies dropped 10 consecutive games, dropping behind. Duncan was named the Finals MVP. And of course, the famous collapse in 1964 is legendary. They faced the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals and won the series and the franchise's first World Title four games to one on the Knicks' home court of Madison Square Garden. His explanation: "I was released by the Phillies!" If the cartoon had been done a year later, it would have said "Mets", as the Phillies were starting to improve while the Mets lost 120 games in their first year. The team was just as dominant in the playoffs, rolling through the Western Conference with a record of 11-1. In a 1962 baseball magazine, there was a cartoon showing a ballplayer arriving at a French Foreign Legion outpost.

Playing a shortened 50-game season, the Spurs ended up with a 37-13 record. The small size of Baker Bowl used to be blamed for their problems, but the continuation of their losing ways after moving to the normal-sized Shibe Park undercut that theory. The season was delayed over three months until resolution on a new labor agreement was reached in January 1999. From 1919 to 1947, a stretch of 29 seasons, the Phillies finished last 17 times and next to last in 7 of the seasons. Prior to the beginning of training camps however, the NBA owners led by commissioner David Stern locked out the players in order to force a new collective bargaining agreement with the NBA Players Association (NBAPA). One hallmark of the Phillies throughout history is losing and inept management. With a healthy Robinson and Duncan and the additions of playoff veterans such as Mario Elie and Jerome Kersey, the Spurs looked forward to the 1998-1999 season. Indeed, following their 1983 World Series loss to the Baltimore Orioles, the team neglected to post back-to-back winning seasons until finally doing so in 2003 and 2004; the 2004 team also was second in the NL East, only the third time the Phillies have finished that high since the 1994 realignment (including a joint second-place finish with the New York Mets in 1995).

While both Duncan and Robinson played low-post roles, the two seamlessly meshed on the court. But with that season's (1994) players' strike, most of the Phillies' fan base was greatly offended, and since then the Phillies have had little success either on the field or at the gate - the realignment of the Atlanta Braves into the National League East in 1994 having had a negative effect on both as the Braves have won the division every year since joining it, often by lopsided margins. He was named First Team All-NBA while winning Rookie of the Year honors. The team ended up at 56-26 but once again lost to the Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals. The team was often described as "shaggy," "unkempt" and "dirty." The previous year, noting the presence of the clean-cut Dale Murphy, Kruk himself described the team as "24 morons and one Mormon." Their character endeared them to Philadelphia, and attendance records were set the following season. Duncan quickly emerged as a force in the NBA during the 1997-1998 season, averaging 21.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game as a power forward. Losing to the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series, giving the Canadians two consecutive World Series titles, was nonetheless disappointing. The Spurs used their pick to select Wake Forest University product and consensus All-American Tim Duncan. Beloved by the city of Philadelphia, this team with names such as Darren Daulton, John Kruk, Lenny Dykstra also known as Nails, and Curt Schilling surprised the city and the nation with their achievements.

With the third-worst record in the league, the Spurs won the NBA's draft lottery which gave them the top pick in the 1997 draft. After Mike Schmidt retired in 1989, the Phillies had a decade of losing seasons, save for a World Series berth in 1993. Although the 1996-1997 season was not successful on the court for the Spurs, the offseason proved to be the opposite. The Phillies franchise historically had four strong winning periods:. Hill only lasted 18 games that season, eventually being replaced by Gregg Popovich, who had once been an assistant for the Spurs during Larry Brown's coaching turn. So, Phillies it was, and Phillies it remains to this day for the National Leaguers. After an injury that limited Robinson to six games during the season, the Spurs wound up with a 20-62 record, the worst in franchise history. The time-honored team name in the city had been "Athletic of Philadelphia", but that name was already taken by the American Association entry and would later be adopted by the new entry in the American League.

Few observers could have predicted how far the Spurs would fall during the 1996-1997 season. Reach was the man to give the Phillies their name. The Spurs finished the next season (1995-1996) under Hill at 59-23 and lost in the Western Conference Semifinals to the Jazz. Their initial owners were John Rodgers along with Al Reach, the sporting goods magnate and the first ever professional baseball player according to many definitions. Throughout the season and particularly in the playoffs there appeared to be friction developing between Rodman and several Spurs' teammates, most notably Robinson, and Rodman was traded after the season to the Chicago Bulls. The name has absolutely nothing to do with horses, even if contemporary sportswriters sometimes called them "Fillies" just to be funny. The Spurs reached the Western Conference Finals, but lost to the eventual NBA Champion Houston Rockets. However, the team was not relocated - the Worcesters were expelled from the league, and the new Phillies were given their spot.

Elliott returned to the team after an uneventful season with the Pistons and the team finished with the best record at 62-20 while David Robinson was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player. Named for a verbal shorthand of their city of residence ("Philly"), the Phillies replaced the Worcester, Massachusetts Brown Stockings in the National League. Lucas was replaced by former Pacers coach Bob Hill for the 1994-1995 season which would turn out to be the Spurs' most successful season to date. Founded in 1883, the National League's Philadelphia Phillies are the longest standing, one-name, one-location team in all professional American sports. Prior to the season the Spurs traded fan-favorite Elliott to the Detroit Pistons in return for rebounding star Dennis Rodman. They play in the Eastern Division of the National League. The following season, the Spurs first in the newly built Alamodome, Lucas led the Spurs to a 55-27 record but the team suffered a loss in the first round of the playoffs to the Utah Jazz which led to the immediate firing of Lucas as head coach. The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The 1992-1993 season also marked the last that the Spurs would play in Hemisfair Arena. Gulf Coast League Phillies. His coaching propelled the team to a 39-22 finish over the rest of the regular season and the team reached the Western Conference semifinals, losing to the Phoenix Suns. Clearwater Threshers
Lakewood BlueClaws
Batavia Muckdogs. The Lucas era started out successfully. Reading Phillies. It was Lucas' first NBA coaching assignment although he had gained recognition in league circles for his success in helping NBA players rehab from drug abuse. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.

After Rex Hughes filled the coaching shoes for one game, NBA veteran John Lucas was named head coach. National League
. The Tarkanian experiment proved a flop, as the coach was fired 20 games into the 1992-1993 season with the Spurs record at 9-11. Pitching saves: José Mesa, 45 (2002). McCombs made national headlines during the summer of 1992 with the hiring of former UNLV head coach Jerry Tarkanian. Pitching shutouts: Pete Alexander, 16 (1916). The team became a perennial playoff presence although were never able to advance further then the second round of the NBA Playoffs under Brown's tutelage. Late in the 1991-1992 season, McCombs fired Brown and replaced him with Bob Bass who finished the season as interim head coach. Pitching ERA: Pete Alexander, 1.22 (1915).

The Spurs began the 1990's with great optimism. Pitching strikeouts: Curt Schilling, 319 (1997). Robinson had one of the most successful rookie seasons for a center in NBA history, finishing the season as Rookie of the Year while averaging 24.3 points and 12.0 rebounds. Pitching wins: Kid Gleason, 38 (1890). The Spurs eventually lost in the Western Conference semifinals after losing a seven-game series to the eventual Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers. Strikeouts: Jim Thome, 182 (2003). Led by Robinson along with the newly added Terry Cummings and 1989 draftee Sean Elliott, the Spurs achieved the biggest one-season turnaround in NBA History, finishing with a record of 56-26. Walks: Lenny Dykstra, 129 (1993).

As the 1980's ended, the 1989-1990 season proved to be the rebirth of the Spurs franchise. OPS: Chuck Klein, 1.123 (1930). Additionally, the 1988-1989 season featured the debut of Larry Brown as the Spurs head coach who moved to San Antonio after winning the NCAA National Championship with the University of Kansas in 1988. On-base percentage: Billy Hamilton, .523 (1894). It was the first season of full ownership for Red McCombs, who was an original investor in the team and helped solidify local ownership for the team. Total bases: Chuck Klein, 445 (1930). Although the 1988-1989 season was the worst in Spurs history at 21-61, it was notable for several reasons. Extra-base hits: Chuck Klein, 107 (1930).

Although drafted in 1987, the Spurs would have to wait until the 1989-1990 season to see Robinson actually play due to a two-year commitment he had to serve with the United States Navy. Slugging average: Chuck Klein, .687 (1930). The Spurs used this selection on United States Naval Academy standout David Robinson. Hitting streak: Chuck Klein, 26 games (1930-twice). The lone bright spot during this period was the Spurs' being awarded the top pick in the 1987 NBA draft through NBA Draft Lottery. Stolen bases: Billy Hamilton, 111 (1891). The next four seasons were a dark time in Spurs' history, with the team having a combined record of 115-215 from 1985-1986 till 1988-1989. The losing seasons and dwindling attendance caused the Spurs to often be mentioned as a potential candidate for relocation to another city. Triples: Sam Thompson, 27 (1894).

After the 1984-1985 season, Gervin, who arguably had been the Spurs' biggest star, was traded to the Chicago Bulls in what effectively signaled the end of the era that began when the Spurs first moved to San Antonio. Doubles: Chuck Klein, 59 (1930). Despite their regular season success, the Spurs were unable to win any NBA championships, losing in the Western Conference playoffs to the Houston Rockets in 1981 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982 and 1983. Singles: Richie Ashburn, 181, (1951). For the first few seasons of the decade, the Spurs continued their success of the 1970's with records of 52-30 in 1980-1981, 48-34 in 1981-1982, and 53-29 in 1982-1983. Hits: Lefty O'Doul, 254 (1929). The decade of the 1980's marked both highs, then lows, and an eventual high. Runs: Billy Hamilton, 192 (1894).

The Spurs would go on to capture 5 division titles in their first 7 years in the NBA and became a perennial playoff participant. RBI: Chuck Klein, 170 (1930). Although there was some initial skepticism in league circles regarding the potential success and talent levels of the incoming ABA teams, the Spurs would prove worthy of NBA inclusion during the 1975-1976 season with a record of 44-38, good for a tie for fourth place overall in the Eastern Conference. Home runs: Mike Schmidt, 48 (1980). The NBA however decided to admit four ABA teams into the league, with the Spurs being one of them along with the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and the New York Nets. Batting average: Ed Delahanty, .410 (1899). Even though playoff success would elude the team in the ABA, the Spurs had suddenly found themselves among the top teams in the ABA. In 1976, the ABA folded, threatening the future of San Antonio's sole professional sports franchise. Harry Kalas (2002).

The early Spurs were led by ABA veteran James Silas and bolstered by the acquisition in early-1974 of future NBA Hall-of-Famer George Gervin from the Virginia Squires. By Saam (1990). The team quickly made themselves at home at San Antonio's HemisFair Arena playing to increasingly large and raucous crowds. Ford Frick (2):