Tony Parker, training with the French national team in advance of the Eurobasket 2009 qualifying tournament, suffered what appeared to be a minor ankle injury during a scrimmage against Austria last week. He left the gym on crutches, but an MRI executed by the French and overseen by a Spurs official on location revealed no ligament damage. Parker planned to be ready for this Wednesday's tournament opener against Italy.But the Spurs have told Parker to return to San Antonio for more tests and observation, according to the San Antonio News-Express. And Parker isn't too happy about it.
The French team released a statement regarding the matter. This Parker quote (translated by moi) is included:
San Antonio demanded that I return to be seen by the franchise's doctors. I sincerely do not understand the decision considering the tests carried out by both French and Spurs doctors. I regret what has happened. I must follow my club's requests but I hope to return to the French team as soon as possible to participate in the qualifiers.The Spurs may or may not clear Parker. If they do, he may or may not be back in France in time to rejoin the team before Wednesday's match. (Swollen ankles tend not to do well in flight. Let alone transatlantic flight.)
This isn't new for the Spurs. The team fought rather strongly to keep Manu Ginobili out of the Olympics last summer after an injury limited his playoff effectiveness months prior. But Manu proved he was fit, and convinced the Spurs to let him free. Of course, Manu re-injured his ankle in a 20-point loss to the United States in the Olympic semifinals, eventually requiring surgery and potentially costing Ginobili a contract extension. Manu missed the first dozen games of the NBA season and eventually called it a season early due to continued problems with the ankle. This injury basically sunk the Spurs' season, and it can be argued that it could have been avoided had Manu skipped the Olympics. (As it is, Argentina only earned bronze in the Games four years after taking gold.) Some reward for letting Manu play, right? So the concern for Parker (who has consistently refused S.A.'s pleas to sit out international play) is understandable.
It's in San Antonio's best interest to keep Parker off the court without angering Parker. Throwing a cautious wrench into his plans is a good way to start. France needs beat Italy and Finland in round robin play, as well as beat the winner of a group made up of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium and Portugal, to qualify for September's Eurobasket tournament in Poland. Without qualifying for Eurobasket, it will be virtually impossible for France to qualify for the 2010 World Championships in Turkey, and very difficult to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-01-2009 @ 4:49PM
paulautrey said...
The Spurs should stop drafting the forien idiots. They have no loyalty. Too much money is ruining all pro sports. If the idiot made alot less money he might be apprecitive of the people that pay him. I am a huge Spurs fan but idiots like this are selfish and they dont care if they let thier teamates, fans and the whole city down, much less they could care less about Holt who pays them thier riches
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8-03-2009 @ 3:02AM
henryclemente said...
Hmmm... I wonder if you'd say the same thing about Team USA players. I guess they're all "idiots" and "disloyal" too?
8-03-2009 @ 10:44AM
Michael gifford said...
let me see... who does Parker get paid millions by? spurs? or French national team? hmmmm....I guess that would be spurs. And while it's important to support his country in that way, if the people who are paying you want you to come back to be examined then STFU and get examined. Unless of course you don't like the spurs money. And it's not like the spurs don't have precedent for bad things happening while players play for their national team (see Ginobili) so they have both a right and a vested interest in Parker's health.
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8-06-2009 @ 6:38PM
David said...
Appreciate his loyalty to his country. But Spurs have a legitimate concern. Besides who would want to trust their health to a French doctor?
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8-25-2009 @ 7:51PM
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9-16-2009 @ 9:55PM
Kitty said...
I don't see this as a ploy to extract money, attention or fame by this man. If at all imaginable, this is a man without a wife- and desperately trying to lose her in a flurry of activity-a 7 million dollar house built in 06 for his mexican diva wife who is using her money to help the drug cartel women latinos of Mexico-6000 shot in one city last year-become better people. Now she is going to school to learn their history-desperately filling her days with worthwhile projects. Like advancing the licenses of illegal immigrants I guess. Don't forget it was her husband who said if he knew how she would hang on him every possible second, he would not be where he is today. Not an endearing statement. He won't order her food and orders ahead of her. Totally uncharacteristic of a Frenchmen-I have had a few boyfriends from France-and I would have married one of them if not for the difference. Oh, the secure home was just completed-added a basketball court. It's like being where I am in my career-world famous and everyone takes me to art museums. I'd like to see an ostrich again.
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