Manu Ginolbi’s Olympic Injury Have The San Antonio Spurs Really Hating The Olympics Right Now

As much as countries love putting their best athletes out there for international competitions like the Olympics, there is a downside to the national glory when the sport they compete in generates billions of dollars. That downside is injury, and it’s exactly what’s happening to the NBA and one of its stars, Argentine Manu Ginobli. While trying to “defend his gold medal,” as Jason Kidd put it, against the US squad on Saturday, Ginobli went down with the same ankle injury that’s been bothering him since he entered the league. And now thanks to that, he has to scramble to the US to start treatments before the season and deal with “We’re disappointed in you” glances from Spurs management that would put a stoner’s parents’ look to shame.

Ginobili is 32 years old and Spurs management had understood that a decade with his national team has come at a cost for them. To watch him turn that ankle, hobble to the sideline and collapse just broke your heart. Ginobili would do anything for that Argentina jersey on his back – and did.

The Spurs never wanted Ginobili in these Olympics. Yet they understood the sentimental pull to play for Argentina, the way that his DNA almost demands that he don that uniform in this tournament.

As much as we admire Ginobli’s patriotism, it’s time for the Spurs to put a stop to the international competitions. They can legally tell him to stop playing… it’s called a contract stipulation. When you’re paying a guy millions–even if it is in deflated US dollars–we’re pretty sure you own that DNA, along with everything else, so you can do that. Unless they’re hoping Manu gets a sign from God sometime soon and sees the light.
Olympic glory too high a cost for NBA [Yahoo]
Image [AP]