San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich Wins War Of Words With Owner Of Phoenix Suns
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The 2014-15 NBA preseason has been an interesting one for the San Antonio Spurs. They started it off by losing at the buzzer to an unheard of team out of Germany, Kawhi Leonard got an eye infection in both eyes, and now Gregg Popovich is at war with the Phoenix Suns.
During the Suns’ trouncing of the Spurs last Thursday, the Suns owner Robert Sarver had some choice words to say regarding the performance that the San Antonio had put together. He would go on to apologize to fans that spent their hard-earned money to watch the Spurs, who were missing many star players who apparently draw a crowd.
On Saturday night, Popovich broke his silence on the matter when he was asked about Sarver’s comments. In typical “Pop” fashion, he stated, “The only thing that surprises me is that he didn’t say it in a chicken suit.” Yes, you read that correctly — a chicken suit. Now if this seems absolutely off the wall, it’s not.
While playing in Phoenix back in 2005, Popovich decided to sit out Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili during a regular season game. Sarver reacted to the decision by flapping his arm like a chicken toward San Antonio’s bench. Apparently Popovich never forgot it and pulled out the comeback of all comebacks, which was nine years in the making.
Not only did Popovich earn points for his comedic relief, but he also backed up his decision with facts. He pointed out that Sarver shouldn’t have expected the Spurs to be at full strength for a meaningless preseason game. Patty Mills, Tiago Splitter and Leonard were out with various injuries and couldn’t make the trip. Duncan and Ginobili are just two old dudes that came off a long international road trip that took a toll on them, as it would most players.
Popovich isn’t a man of many words as we’ve grown a custom to, but his rebuttal to Sarver’s sour comments was genius. To revive a childish act by the Suns’ owner from almost a decade ago and spin it back at him was priceless. Sarver may have to spend another decade trying to figure out how to outwit Popovich, because he sure can’t count on beating him or the Spurs anytime soon.
Winston Harris is a San Antonio sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @winstonharris34. “Like” him on Facebook and add him on Google.
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