Basketball in my country (The Philippines) is not really the cerebral one, so the play style can be too cookie cutter. I think watching him play just made me more of a basketball purist, even as a fan. Pring: "Manu saw the game in a different way. Thank you, Manu!"įellow Air Alamo writers Kyle Pring and Jonah Kubicek had some words about Manu Ginobili as well.
You will always be my favorite athlete in any sport, and I will always try to emulate you in whatever I do. He sacrificed fame and money for team success, being willing to take massive discounts and come off the bench and play fewer minutes for the good of the team, which led to four titles and showed me that even without money, loyalty can pay off.Įven today, it shows again that this game that he has given so much to, that he still loves so much - is not more important than his family. He twisted and turned and made impossible shots as a skinny white guy in a league of 7-foot players. First, just because someone doesn’t look the part doesn’t mean they can’t play it. It sparked my love of the game, which is already a big part of my identity, but he also showed me so many things. "I went to a Spurs-Nets game and was in awe at the gangly, moppy-haired man who was the best player on the court. I felt it was only right to share the entire thing, given the meaning behind it. Gabe Cassorla had a more personal touch when he penned a letter to Manu Ginobili upon his retirement announcement. How could you not cheer for someone who literally gives everything he has game after game, season after season?!" You knew that if Ginobili was playing, he was going to give 1000%. Watching his intensity on the court and how humble he was off the court was so memorable. "Ginobili quickly became not only my favorite Spur but my favorite basketball player ever. That fist pump still gives me chills."Īnother lefty, user on Twitter, had similar feelings about the legend: My favorite moment is his dagger three versus the Heat in 2014. "I remember always emulating his moves and celebrations. "Growing up, Manu was one of the few lefties I saw playing basketball," said Tre' Johnson. I sent an open survey on Twitter to share your thoughts on him, and here's what some of you had to say. Of course, I'll be sharing plenty of my own thoughts on Manu himself all week, but when I began this venture for Manu Ginobili Week, I also wanted to spotlight you all, the fans. #GoSpursGo /xWYzsKvk7i- Josh Paredes AugSpurs Fans share their thoughts and memories of Manu Ginobili I mostly went because my older sister had a crush on him.įlashback to me in November 2002, when rookie Manu Ginobili did a signing at IHOP.
Like everyone else, I barely knew anything about him at the time. My first in-person interaction with Manu came in 2002 when he did an autograph signing at IHOP in San Antonio. As a result, fans everywhere he went would often sport Argentina flags, wear his jersey, and scream his name in unison to encourage their favorite player. That combination made him a household name not only among NBA fans but among sports fans worldwide.Įverything about Manu, from his unlikely meteoric rise as a late draft pick to his tendency to always put his body on the line, made him extremely easy to root for. The combination of a shining personality off the court and a flashy game on it made Ginobili must-watch-TV every time he stepped on the court. Whether it be feelings of admiration, respect, love, or all of the above, there was just no way to escape Manu mania for many years. If you were a fan of the San Antonio Spurs at any point since 2002, the chances are high that you developed some strong feelings about Manu Ginobili.
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