Spurs named ‘Team of the Decade’ in ESPN the Magazine’s issue that is all about sports franchises

ESPN the Magazine has been ranking all NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL  franchises — there are now 122 of those — each of the past 10 years using a complicated formula that ranks such categories as ownership, coaching, bang for the buck, fan experience and affordability. The magazine judges 25 areas to compile the rankings.

Ranked No 1 in both 2004 and 2006, the Spurs have appeared in the Top 10 each of the 10 years, the only franchise in the Top 10 each year. So it came as no  surprise that the magazine celebrated a decade of its rankings by naming the Spurs its “Team of the Decade.”

The Spurs ranked third in this year’s rankings, behind No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder and No. 2 Green Bay Packers.

The magazine refers to the Spurs as “an old friend” of the franchise rankings, noting that “it excels in just about every category we’ve ever measured.”

The magazine also names Spurs coach Gregg Popovich as its “ultimate coach,” ranking ahead of Ne Englad Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Celtics coach Doc Rivers, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and Tampa Bay Devil Rays manager Joe Madden. It also cites what it refers to as the franchises “anonymous architects” of success: Owner Peter Holt, superstar forward Tim Duncan and general manager R.C. Buford.

The  Spurs, the magazine concludes, deserve recognition for “elevating small-market success to an art form.”

“We are once again honored to receive a top ranking in ESPN’s Ultimate Standings,” Rick Pych, president of business operations for Spurs Sports Entertainment, said in a statement released by the club. “The reason this survey means so much to us is very simple: it’s a direct indication of how our fans feel about us. The number one priority of our organization is to provide the best possible fan experience each and every day and treat everyone we touch as family.  The relationship between the Spurs organization, our fans and the San Antonio community is truly extraordinary.”

Blog brother bemoans that he’ll never see CP3 in silver and black

Blog brother Trevor Zickgraf of Project Spurs.com has had a dream for several years.

Zickgraf fervently hoped for the day when Chris Paul would be running the point for the Spurs.

Alas, recent reports of a dustup between Paul and Spurs owner Peter Holt probably have killed any hopes of Paul coming to the Spurs in the future to follow in the footsteps of fellow Wake Forest alum Tim Duncan.

Needless to say, Zickgraf .

Here’s a mess of  other Spurs-related takes from across the blogosphere.

Enjoy them responsibly with your weekend.

  • David Robinson makes the New York Daily News’ list of .
  • Run for the Cube provides a primer for Indiana fans to learn how to pronounce George Hill’s name in .
  • Andrew Lail of Bloguin.com pegs Richard Jefferson as the . 
  • Old pal Mike Bernal explains to the Express-News’ Jerry Briggs why Duncan is his for his participation of the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon — again.
  • Duncan and Robinson both make the selected by Dime Magazine’s Kevin Smith.
  • Brazilian coach Ruben Magnano tells esporte.com (Hat tip: Project Spurs.com) that Tiago Splitter is during the lockout.
  • Jesse Blanchard of 48 Minutes of Hell.com wonders if NBA owners will everand how Charlotte owner Michael Jordan may .  
  • Yahoo.com contributor Todd Jones pitches an idea to and end the playoffs in early August.
  • Actress Nia Long has announced the , her second child, according to the Afro-American.com. Her child’s father is former Spur Ime Udoka.
  • Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com in a podcast with 48 Minutes of Hell.com’s Andrew McNeill and Graydon Gordian, who also conduct the second episode of the website’s new television show at this .
  • Diane Smith of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports of Benjamin Schmidt’s . Schmidt is the late son of Spurs’ team physician David Schmidt.
  • San Diego State coach Steve Fisher tells Goaztecs.com that Kawhi Leonard will be in recognition of his All-American season last year with the Aztecs.
  • Tim C. of Pounding the Rock.com catches us up with .
  • Doug Brodess of Bleacher Report.com ranks Sean Elliott as the. Brodess also places and among his list of the top 25 former Wildcats in school history.
  • Rookie Spurs point guard Cory Joseph tells ESPN.com of leaving Texas after one season.
  • Sherron Shabazz of the Examiner.com calls Manu Ginobili perhaps the greatest and the No. 22 player currently in the NBA.
  • Janie Annie of Pounding the Rock.com wonders if during a recent talk in Argentina expounding about his love for mathematics.
  • David Weiss of  Bleacher Report.com predicts that during the 2011-12 season by the Spurs.

TP, TD work out with Spurs rookies

While the fate of the season hangs in the balance at negotiating sessions in New York, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are taking their elder status with the Spurs rather seriously.

Duncan and Parker aren’t wearing their suits arguing with David Stern, Adam Silver, Peter Holt and the other representatives of the NBA owners.

Instead, they were working out Tuesday with Spurs rookies Kawhi Leonard and Cory Joseph in San Antonio.

Parker had a couple of pictures of the workout andon his website. The work can’t do anything but help their acclamation into the NBA.

While other NBA teams have conducted organized workouts, the Spurs haven’t taken that step. The main reason is because the team is scattered around the world and many of them have been taking part in international hoop pursuits over the past few weeks.

But Duncan and Parker showing Leonard and the Joseph the ropes was a strong sign of leadership. It should only help them once the lockout ends.