Welcome to “Attending to know Pounding the Rock’s writers”! Throughout the All-Star break, we thought it we be enjoyable to get to know somewhat bit extra about our writers right here at PtR.
On Saturday, my spouse requested, “Hey, when are you writing your ‘Attending to Know’ article?” and I instantly curled up within the fetal place and stated “I’m not prepared!” Then she learn the opposite PTR author’s wonderful entries and quipped “properly, it’s possible you’ll not be capable of outdo them, however you need to strive!”
A bit about myself
By day (and lots of nights), I’m a Licensed Marriage and Household Therapist working right here within the Bay Space. If you happen to’re not aware of what that’s, I counsel people, {couples}, households, and folks in group settings. I additionally pivoted to doing teletherapy (on-line work) with populations that is probably not ready afford remedy or have entry to counselors. I’ve fortunately taken on the function of mentor and professor significantly when it comes to supporting and educating college students new to the profession together with educating lessons like Group Remedy, Substance Abuse Evaluation and Remedy, and Household Remedy, all whereas sneaking in as many Spurs analogies and references as are legally and ethically allowable within the PowerPoints.
I’m additionally engaged on my first guide this 12 months — a handbook of psychological well being for Asian People as they’re typically probably the most underserved populations on this work and my inspiration for even broaching an endeavor like that’s the entire writing that I’m privileged to do for PtR.
How I grew to become a Spurs fan
I grew up within the Nogalitos space of San Antonio and located probably the most pleasure in my childhood by way of taking pictures baskets on my own on the neighborhood courtroom (with the chain nets!) adjoining to the previous Levi’s manufacturing facility. I’m lucky that my dad had, as an alternative of shopping for us children toys and electronics, plunked down for Spurs seasons tickets for the reason that ABA days, and I had nice seats behind the Spurs bench for a few of the halcyon days within the early 80s.
My earliest reminiscence of Spurs house video games (so most of the highway video games have been previous my bedtime within the dreaded Mountain and Pacific time zones, that I needed to learn both the Categorical Information or the Mild at my household’s grocery retailer the following day or generally the day after!) was within the 1981-1982 season when journeyman guard Ron Brewer was inserted into the beginning lineup for the injured Iceman and put up 39, 40, and 44 factors. As a streetball gunner myself, I discovered Mr. Brewer to be the primary of many Spurs’ ‘crushes.’
In my teenage years, I styled my recreation (at 5’7”) after Sean Elliott… right down to the knee brace and the jumpshot that began above his brow. I additionally loved mimicking Terry Cummings, David Robinson (a number of airballs – I’m proper handed), and Willie Anderson’s taking pictures motions. Later in my 20’s and 30s, which coincided with the arrival of 1 Manu Ginobili, I would normally strive (to reasonable success) a few of his forays to the basket together with the passes that may trigger Pop to shed hair. And in my final streetball motion in 2016, Danny Inexperienced was my offensive North Star, as I practiced the ‘Danny Inexperienced’ minimize to get myself open within the weakside nook away from the motion and shot perhaps 29% from three.
I typically discover myself re-watching many huge moments in Spurs historical past, such because the 2003 Sport 6 closeouts, Pop’s pre-game 7 (2013 finals) interview, and all the large moments from the 2014 championship run. In actual fact, I’ve many fond recollections of all of the championships. I watched 1999 in sports activities bar with my sister Lisa, which my dad stated was the happiest day of his life (outdoors of my wedding ceremony, after all). 2003 and 2005 have been watched with shut buddies, and 2007 with my sister Susan. My spouse and I watched 2014 at a kin’ place and my sister-in-law simply had a new child, so this was possible probably the most muted but prolonged celebration of the 5.
I even bought to attend the 2023 Corridor of Fame Enshrinement. My sister, who was going by way of a tough time in her life, got here with me to the ceremony, and we bonded over childhood recollections and lots of shed tears. Initially my dad was supposed to return, however he fortunately accepted a Wembanyama jersey as an alternative.
Maybe considered one of my fondest recollections got here final Friday. I spent the evening exhibiting the nephew that was born simply earlier than 2014 Sport 5 (their household lives simply outdoors of Sacramento) movies of a) the 2002 Sacramento Kings and b) Jason Williams (of White Chocolate fame) highlights. After I confirmed him who made the 2002 WCF Sport 4 winner (none aside from Robert Horry), I rapidly pivoted to exhibiting him the ultimate moments of 2005 Finals Sport 5 and he was amazed at Horry’s hovering left hand dunk and game-winning three to place Detroit away. Unprompted, this child left a handwritten thanks be aware in my baggage the following morning thanking me for these new recollections.
How I ended up at Pounding the Rock
My finest recall of how I ended up doing Closing Scores and different (hopefully) edifying items for this nice website was that J.R. Wilco very graciously requested me to do a vacation piece about our beloved Spurs in 2018, and I fortunately obliged. Although it’s been a few of the most disheartening and dismaying handful of years in my four-decades-long fandom, I’ve come to be glad about alternatives like this.
I’ve joked round (with some fact) that I’ve led the PtR employees in “Closing Rating” losses the final three years working, however in all fact, I’ve actually loved being related to a few of the most lovable, funniest, and gifted of us right here. I even have my favourite shortlist of commenters (whom I can’t reveal in any respect), however I largely love going to the positioning for Spurs content material on non-gamedays.
Extra bios:
Marilyn Dubinski
Bruno Passos
Mark Barrington
August Bembel
JeJe Gomez
Tanner Bowen
Devon Birdsong
Invoice Huan
