NEWS » ens Park Rangers - quietly suggested

SAN ANTONIO -- Tim Duncan brought more than gaudy numbers night after night for 19 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs.Fittingly, while the Spurs retired Duncans No. 21 on Sunday night, those stats rarely came up.I dont even want to talk about rebounds or points and all that sort of things, coach Gregg Popovich said. This individual made it possible for everybody that we brought in to be a part of this culture and be a part of the program.Duncans jersey was raised to the AT&T Center rafters in a ceremony following a 113-100 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. His number now hangs not far from banners celebrating the five NBA championships he and the Spurs won during his career.Ive gotten just an amazing response and just an overwhelming amount of love from these guys of what I meant to them, Duncan said during a five-minute speech. It doesnt even explain how much they meant to me. I got so much more from you guys, from my teammates, than they can explain that they got from me. I know that.With his son, daughter and girlfriend by his side, Duncan listened and laughed as Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili ribbed and praised their longtime teammate.Ginobili and Parker teased Duncan about his attire after he chose to wear black slacks and a sports coat instead of his normal jeans and a T-shirt. Duncan was clearly out of his comfort level, and it had nothing to do with the suit. The Virgin Islands native spent his career avoiding the spotlight, and the retirement ceremony put him squarely in it.Duncan was left speechless at points by cheers and shouts of we love you! He pounded his heart with the microphone as the crowd roared.The ceremony even left him and Popovich -- two guarded fixtures during San Antonios two-decade run of dominance -- fighting back tears.Thank you coach Pop for being more than a coach, Duncan said, pausing to choke back emotions, for being like a father to me. Thank you.Duncan became the eighth player to have his jersey number retired by the Spurs, joining James Silas, George Gervin, Johnny Moore and former teammates David Robinson, Sean Elliott, Avery Johnson and Bruce Bowen.This stretch for the Spurs of 25 years of excellence, Tim is at the center of the whole thing, Robinson said. I dont know that theres another athlete thats as appreciated by a city as Tim.Duncan helped lead San Antonio to its only NBA championships and was twice named league MVP. As dominant as he was in the regular season, Duncan was at his best in the postseason. He averaged 20.6 points, 11.4 points, 2.3 blocks and 3.0 assists in the playoffs and has the most career double-doubles in the postseason with 164.It was his work off the court that made him so beloved by Popovich and teammates.Ginobili recalled being devastated after he turned the ball over on a game-winning attempt in a loss in Game 3 of the 2006 playoffs against the Sacramento Kings.Ginobili locked himself in his hotel room and refused to answer the phone even though it was continually ringing. After hanging up twice and pulling the cord out of the wall, Ginobili was stunned to hear a second phone go off in the bathroom.By the fifth time, I go pick it up, I said `What? Ginobili said. And it was `Nanuuuuu. Thats what he called me. `Nanu, he said, `Whats up buddy? `What TD? I dont want to talk to anybody. He said, `Come on, come with me. Come with me. He started insisting and insisting and insisting and you dont say no to Timmy. He invited me to dinner. We talked for hours, we talked about computers, cars, TV shows. My mental state shifted and I had a way better night.The Spurs won that series in six games thanks in part to the message Duncan delivered: were all in this together.Thats the way it was for Duncan and the Spurs from the day he was taken first overall in the 1997 draft, according to Popovich.I can honestly say to Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, who have passed, Popovich said, that that man right there is exactly the same person now as he was when he walked in the door.Kenley Jansen Dodgers Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Mike Piazza Dodgers Jersey . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. http://www.dodgerssale.com/dodgers-babe-herman-jersey/ .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. David Freese Jersey . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season. Corey Seager Jersey . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff.No one in the Socceroos camp is playing down the threat of Iraq in Thursday nights World Cup qualifier.Not when the prize is so great, and the margin for error so fine.The Socceroos are assembling in Perth before Thursday nights clash, which begins the final group stage on the long road to Russia.Alex Gersbach will complete the 23-man squad when he arrives on Tuesday night, with fellow left-back Brad Smith predicting a very difficult challenge.Once hes in well do team meetings and video sessions on what we need to work on and how we can take them down to get the win, he said.The first game is very important to get under way and get a good result.Itll be one of the tougher games in the group so we need to make sure were ready.Iraq were Asian Cup semi-finalists in 2015, the tournament won by the Socceroos on home soil.In the visiting squad is former A-League player Ali Abbas, as well as another familiar face to two Socceroos.Yaser Karim, a dangerous attacking midfielder, is a former teammate of Smith and Massimo Luongo at English club Swindon Town.Bizarrely, Iraq are the more settled nation in Western Australia.The bulk of the Lions side arrived well beforre the almost solely overseas-based Socceroos and drew a behind-closed-doors friendly with Perth Glory 2-2 last week.dddddddddddduongo enjoyed just a few hours sleep after arriving in Perth early on Tuesday morning.He said his club manager - Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at Queens Park Rangers - quietly suggested staying in London might be easier.I dont think many club managers like the idea of international duty. He does give a few little hints that he wants me to stay, he said.Its a big thing for me.All my focus is on the Australian team and getting over what jet lag I have.Smith, who will win a 10th cap if he plays on Thursday, said finding the motivation for intercontinental travel was easy when the lure was playing in a World Cup.Thatd be the best thing, the best thing in my career, he said.Its what you dream of as a boy ... we have a very good squad and we can do it.Two sides from the six-team qualifying group - containing Australia, Japan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Thailand - are guaranteed a place in Russia. ' ' '