Riding With the San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are one of only four former members of the American Basketball Association to remain intact after the league’s merger with the National Basketball Association in 1976. They are also the only team from that league that has so far managed to win an NBA Championship.

The team has actually been extremely successful, earning 17 division titles, four Conference Titles, and four Championships. They have made it to the playoffs in 19 out of the last 20 seasons and are one of only two teams to keep a perfect record though multiple Finals Series.

The home of the San Antonio Spurs is an indoor arena called the AT&T Center located in San Antonio, Texas. Formerly known as the SBC Center, the arena opened in 2002 and cost 175 million dollars to build. For basketball, the stadium seats 18,581 fans. Aside from the Spurs, the arena also hosts the Silver Stars of the WNBA, the Rampage of the AHL, and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo as well as several concerts each year.

Home games for the San Antonio Spurs are full of excitement both on the court and on the sidelines. In their hometown the Spurs are accompanied by their popular mascot, Coyote. Coyote can be seen during breaks in the game performing his wild antics and stunts, and during the game on the sidelines and in the stands. Perhaps one of the most famous moments in the mascot’s history came during a game in 2005 when he argued a call and was ejected from the game. The Coyote did not return to the court until given an official pardon by the Texas governor a few games later.

Of course, the Coyote is not the only entertainment at Spurs games. They also have several stunt and dance teams including the Sterling Silver, who are a group of seniors that perform at some home games each year. Team Energy, the Spurs Special Forces, and the Junior Jammers are just a few more examples of the offerings for entertainment fans experience when visiting the team in San Antonio.

Out in their community, the San Antonio Spurs are involved in various charities and programs to help people in need. The Spurs Foundation, now known as Silver and Black Give Back, works within the community to improve the lives of area residents, children in need and their families. Along with other area teams, the Spurs engage in activities that encourage sports and educational excellence, giving children the tools they need to have a brighter and better future.

The San Antonio Spurs are a largely successful team, entertaining and delighting fans of all ages, and earning the respect and loyalty of their fans and neighbors all year long.

Rockets reportedly land Lin as Knicks don’t match offer sheet

Jeremy Lin is headed to the Houston Rockets. ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON — Jeremy Lin is leaving New York and taking Linsanity to Houston.

The New York Knicks announced Tuesday night that they will not match the Houston Rockets’ three-year, $25 million offer for Lin, a restricted free agent.

New York officially had until 11:59 p.m. EDT to decide whether to re-sign Lin, who became an international phenomenon in the media glare of the Big Apple.

The Rockets made it tough for the Knicks to sign off on keeping him by backloading their offer sheet with a $15 million salary in the third season. If the Knicks agreed to that deal, they would have faced a hefty luxury tax in 2014-15 because of other big contracts on their books — between $30-40 million.

Lin now returns to Houston, where he spent about two weeks in December during training camp. The Rockets liked what they saw in the undrafted point guard but had to waive him because they had Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic on the roster.

The New York Times initially reported the Knicks’ decision, citing an unidentified person briefed on the situation.

One sports consultant said the adjustment to the offer sheet was a stroke of genius by Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.

“The Rockets deserve a lot of credit for the way they’ve gone about this,” said Marc Ganis, president of Chicago-based SportsCorp. “It was extremely intelligent — with an assassin’s touch.”

The Knicks, though, gave Lin his first shot, picking him up after the Rockets waived him. He was briefly demoted to the development league, recalled, and finally got his chance when coach Mike D’Antoni put him in with the Knicks floundering at 8-15. Lin scored a career-high 25 points in a 99-92 win over New Jersey, and “Linsanity” was born.

Lin had slept on teammate Landry Fields’ couch the night before, refusing to get his own place as he headed into that week, knowing the Knicks would have to decide whether to cut him or guarantee his contract for the rest of the season.

But Lin proved more than just an overnight sensation — he had 28 and 23 points in his first two NBA starts.

Mavericks work OT to finish off Spurs

The Dallas Mavericks outscored the Spurs 6-0 in a two-minute overtime period to secure an 82-76 win Saturday in the final game for each club at the 2012 Summer League in Las Vegas.

Jae Crowder led the way with 21 points for Dallas (4-1), which squandered a 13-point second-half lead. Justin Dentmon added 16.

Cory Joseph had 18 points for the Spurs (2-3), who rested Kawhi Leonard, and James Anderson tacked on 13.

The teams traded buckets and the lead in the fourth quarter. Joseph found Dwight Buycks on a fast break with 34 seconds to play to tie it at 74. Micah Downs then connected with 12.3 left to give Dallas a 76-74 lead, but L.D. Williams nailed a pair of free throws with six seconds left to play make it 76-all. Crowder missed a jumper from the top of the key at the other end.

The Spurs outscored Dallas 23-8 in the third period, taking their first lead of the game at 49-48 on a Buycks jumper with 3:55 on the clock. The Spurs owned a 54-50 lead to start the fourth quarter.

Joseph scored eight of the Spurs’ 10 second-quarter points, but with little support from his teammates, Dallas extended its lead to as many as 13 and owned a 42-31 advantage heading into halftime.