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San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan, left, holds the NBA championship trophy as he and and center David Robinson, right, respond to the crowd while riding a barge during a parade celebrating their NBA championship win, in downtown San Antonio.
Spurs’ championship remembered at Alamodome
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs celebrated their second NBA championship Wednesday in a familiar way. Taking a cue from their first title celebration in 1999, the Spurs had a barge parade down the city’s famous Riverwalk, followed by a boisterous rally with 50,000 people at the Alamodome.
The Riverwalk was packed with fans, who cheered players and the glimmering gold trophy that the Spurs won Sunday by defeating the New Jersey Nets in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
A loud chant of “MVP! MVP!” rang out as Tim Duncan, the most valuable player during the regular season and in the finals, hugged the trophy and waved to the tens of thousands of well-wishers lining the river’s edge.
“It was a lot of fun to be out there and hear all the people screaming,” Duncan said afterward. **“It was everything it was in '99. … San Antonio fans are so loyal to their teams.” **
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Tim Duncan & David Robinson.
Joining Duncan on the final barge was David Robinson, who ended his stellar 14-year career as a winner. Robinson smiled broadly as fans in silver and black cheered for him, many of them also waving American flags.
Near the beginning of the barge parade, Victoria Bustos held up a homemade poster for Robinson.
“He’s the biggest inspiration in my life when he came here,” Bustos said of the 7-foot-1 center, credited with saving the franchise when he joined the Spurs in 1989. **“There’s serendipity, and then there’s David.” **
Duncan said it’s going to be strange to not have Robinson for the first tipoff next season.
“He’s been there from Day 1,” he said. “I’ve been whispering all year for him to stick around for another year.”
At the Alamodome, Robinson received the biggest burst of applause while Tina Turner’s hit “Simply the Best” played in the background. He heaped praise on the Spurs who will remain after he retires.
“San Antonio, you have the best group of guys in the NBA,” he said of his teammates. **“These men, not only can they play basketball, they have character.” **
While many came out to see Robinson, other players were also celebrated. Ryan Faircloth, 12, was at the Riverwalk mostly to see shooting guard Stephen Jackson, while his 12-year-old cousin Ariel Calderon was giddy about the chance to see French point guard Tony Parker.
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San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker of France tosses water on the crowd as he rides a barge during a parade celebrating their NBA championship win, along the San Antonio River in San Antonio.
“I love Parker — I just love him,” she said while waiting near the end of the parade.
And she was not disappointed when he and Manu Ginobili floated by just ahead of Duncan and Robinson: “I love him even more,” she said.
Marcelo Cueo, an Argentine who recently moved to San Antonio, said he and some countrymen came out to thank Ginobili for playing so well in his first NBA season.
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Emanuel Ginobili video tapes fans during a championship celebration.
“When he puts on his shirt, he plays with so much passion,” said Cueo, wearing an Argentina soccer jersey. **“Right now, he’s probably the most famous athlete in Argentina.” **
At the Alamodome, the players stood on a stage — many of them with their children — and were introduced one at a time to thunderous applause by co-emcees Steve Kerr, who won his fifth NBA championship ring, and Malik Rose.
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Tim Duncan videos his teammates during a championship celebration in San Antonio. In the backgroud, Steve Kerr.
As each Spur briefly took the microphone to thank the fans, Duncan stretched out on the floor with a small video camera and taped the festivities.
Perhaps taking in the Alamodome rally the most were three players who each played for more than 10 seasons without winning a title: Steve Smith, Danny Ferry and Kevin Willis.
“I’ve been in this league 19 years,” Willis said, “and this is the biggest and most satisfying time of my career.”
