And this is yet another reason why it frustrates me to see everyone, except for people who live in southern TX, completely ignore the Spurs.  And what is America's excuse?

"WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!  The Spurs are BORING!!!!"

But for some reason, the only time I see them mentioned in the Express-News is when they make the Sports pages (or winning another championship, in which case they are placed right on the front page), or when they are out doing something for the local community. 

Another example I can think of is the Astros' Craig Biggio, who retires this year after a 20 year, 3000+ hit career.  Not only was he a great baseball player who played three positions over that time, and was once looked at as the most feared lead-off man in the majors, he had raised huge amounts of money for the Sunshine Kids, a charity that looks after terminally ill children.  Yet, when he got his 3000th hit...barely a peep, except for ESPN.  When he goes to Cooperstown, the only people who are going to appreciate him will be the Astros fans who knew of him for all this time.   

Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.

1995. My son’s first baseball game. My wife says it was July 4th, but I don’t remember that. We took him to Camden Yards to see the Orioles play the Twins. The game was scheduled to start at 7:05. Just before the game, the rain begins. They delay the game.

• After ten minutes of delay, Cal Ripken comes out of the dugout. Starts signing autographs. In the rain. The delay was something like two hours … during the whole time, Cal Ripken signed autographs.
• About twenty minutes after Cal started signing, Kirby Puckett came out. He started signing autographs. In the rain.
• Other players came out of the dugout. They didn’t stay out there all the time, but they came out. Cal never demanded that they come out (how could he? He was signing autographs), but they came out because they saw how athletes with class and dignity are supposed to act.

My son’s first experience of a pro athlete was Cal Ripken signing autographs for hours in the rain. Priceless. Cal goes into the Hall of Fame … in my book … not just for what he did on the field … but because of what he did in the rain …

(Oops - accidentally hit new response instead of reply. This is a reply to Carl Kolchak.)

Yeah, Cal wasn't much for a work ethic, was he?

Oh man ... Camden Yards was such a great experience for me. I grew up in Philly, and our stadium was the Vet. The Vet had all the charm of a slab of concrete that people urinated on, which is basically what it really was. The fun at the Vet was all with the people ... let's face it, we faced many years of Phillie and Eagle teams that weren't very good, and we had to entertain ourselves. The stadium itself was horrible. Then I went to Camden Yards, and it was like when Dorothy opened the door after landing in Oz. There was color! The food was edible! The beer had taste! I always tell my son that he doesn't appreciate how good he has it.