Tag: Express-News

Spurs make it official: No McDyess

The Spurs had until the end of business Monday to guarantee the other half of veteran big man Antonio McDyess’ $5.2 million contract, but they won’t drag the process to the end of the day.

The teams acknowledged that McDyess won’t be back, and the club will get to remove $2.6 million, the non=guaranteed portion of his contract, off its player payroll for the 2011-12 season.

McDyess, a former All-Star and an Olympic gold medal winner i n 2000,  started all six playoff games last season.  After the Game 6 loss in Memphis that ended the playoff run of the No. 1 seeded team in the Western Conference he made it clear to the Express-News  that he intended to retire after 16 seasons.

“This was not at all how I wanted it to end, but signing here was one of the best things I did in my career,” he said then. “I wouldn’t trade these two years for the world, one of the greatest times of my whole career. I just wish we would have gone farther.”

The Spurs had hoped the shortened post-lockout season might enable them to talk McDyess into playing the final season on his contract, but officially gave up the quest on Monday afternoon.

Spurs team doctor’s son killed in Afghanistan

The Spurs and all of Spurs Nation are mourning the loss of team doctor David Schmidt’s son, Benjamin, who died Thursday in Afghanistan while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Benjamin Whetstone Schmidt, 24, had done a four-month tour of Afghanistan about two years ago and.

His mother, Becky Whetstone Schmidt, a former Express-News columnist, told the paper that her son hoped to complete his military service in May with eventual plans of becoming a military history professor.

On a personal note, I’ve known Dr. Schmidt for more than 25 years. I can remember seeing him bring Benjamin to Missions baseball games many years ago when he was about the age of my own son now.

Remember to keep Dr. Schmidt and his family in your prayers.