Timmy's Slouch, Teaches Lesson
Jaime R. Valdes
July 27, 2005
How are you supposed to look when you’re down by 30 in Game 4 of the 2005 NBA Finals? Even more so, how are you suppose to feel, how are you suppose to act, what are your suppose to say? The majority of us will never be in that particular situation. That is unless your name is Tim Duncan and you are the starting power forward for the San Antonio Spurs.
After the Spurs were slaughtered by 31 points by the Detroit Pistons in game 4 of the 2005 NBA Finals, Duncan was highly criticized and to blame. Critics said his demeanor late in the 4th quarter, while he sat on the bench next to Spurs head coach Greg Popovich, reflected lack of effort, enthusiasm and most of all heart. By this time the game was completely out of control, as well as out of reach.
Timmy slouched, Pop talked, the critics had a field day. We can only imagine what went thorough Timmy’s mind, and we can only guess what encouraging words of wisdom Pop was revealing.
Although most of us will never be in that situation, if we look deep and hard into our own life, we have all gone through a time when we were down by 30.
We slouched on the bench, we were told never to give up, and were criticized. The game was lost, but only for that day. Tim Duncan responded by winning his 3rd NBA Finals MVP award in 7 years. Oh yeah, and he added a 3rd championship to San Antonio’s franchise. For us, we believed, we trusted, we had faith, and never gave up. What ever it was that got us through the fourth quarter of life, is more valuable than a 3rd championship.
In the game of professional basketball, Tim Duncan may never be down by 30 again. In the game of life, we may be down by 30 tomorrow. But by the way we respond, we can start our own collection of MVP awards.
After the Spurs were slaughtered by 31 points by the Detroit Pistons in game 4 of the 2005 NBA Finals, Duncan was highly criticized and to blame. Critics said his demeanor late in the 4th quarter, while he sat on the bench next to Spurs head coach Greg Popovich, reflected lack of effort, enthusiasm and most of all heart. By this time the game was completely out of control, as well as out of reach.
Timmy slouched, Pop talked, the critics had a field day. We can only imagine what went thorough Timmy’s mind, and we can only guess what encouraging words of wisdom Pop was revealing.
Although most of us will never be in that situation, if we look deep and hard into our own life, we have all gone through a time when we were down by 30.
- When we suffered the loss of a loved one or a dear friend, we were down by 30.
- When we were victims of injustice, crime, or any type of wrongdoing, we were down by 30.
- When alcohol and drugs grabbed a tight hold around our throat or someone we cared about, we were down by 30.
- When we made a choice in life that we wish we hadn’t, we were down by 30.
We slouched on the bench, we were told never to give up, and were criticized. The game was lost, but only for that day. Tim Duncan responded by winning his 3rd NBA Finals MVP award in 7 years. Oh yeah, and he added a 3rd championship to San Antonio’s franchise. For us, we believed, we trusted, we had faith, and never gave up. What ever it was that got us through the fourth quarter of life, is more valuable than a 3rd championship.
In the game of professional basketball, Tim Duncan may never be down by 30 again. In the game of life, we may be down by 30 tomorrow. But by the way we respond, we can start our own collection of MVP awards.
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