UNCASVILLE, Conn.- The Mohegan Sun is a gamer’s paradise in this slice of the Northeast. Lavish complex with two casinos, hotels, shops and restaurants, has a frenetic pace. The sound of the slot machines acts as a musical curtain. A few meters from the machines, however, in one of the most important rooms of the complex, “El Teatro Cabaret”, a space with capacity for 400 people, carpeted floors and pastel colored walls, another reality is lived. Reserve, respect, emotion. On stage, the various elect from the class of 2022 to enter the prestigious Basketball Hall of Fame (Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame), speak, one after the other, with moist eyes and a lump in the throat.
Manu Ginobili in the Hall of Fame: the value of his income among the best and the comparison with other sports
The first to address the audience is longtime Denver coach George Karl. They follow him, telling anecdotes and answering questions from the press, other former players such as the charismatic Tim Hardaway, former Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat, among other clubs. There are also protagonists from other areas, such as arbitration and technical assistance. And even Kobe Bryant is remembered. Until the clock strikes 3:49 p.m. in Connecticut (one hour less than in Argentina) and it is the turn of Emanuel Ginóbili, from Bahia, an artist sitting at the imaginary small table of the best Argentine athletes of all time (for many, the best , a true international ambassador). Manu, winner of four NBA rings with the San Antonio Spurs (2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014), will be the first player from our country to have a place in the same place as, among others, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson , Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Kareem Abdul-Jabar and Larry Bird.
This Saturday, between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. (local time), in a ceremony at the Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts (the city where the Hall of Fame is located), Ginobili, retired in 2018, will receive the highest recognition for a basketball player. Legend among legends in the Hall of Fame. As if something were missing from his resume, his figure will be perpetuated there. In the “most complete basketball library”, Manu will contribute his work.
“It is unreal to be in this moment. You don’t grow up in Argentina expecting that you’re going to get to this place. I come from a small city in Argentina, passionate about soccer. My most important achievements are those achieved collectively. I don’t have MVPs and all those accolades, so I’m here for having been part of great teams. It’s incredible,” said the Argentine, dressed in a gunmetal gray shirt, jeans and white sneakers.
Other of his phrases
“Michael Jordan was my undisputed childhood idol. But when he became so popular, I chose another team, the Warriors. And it’s a pleasure to share this ceremony with Tim Hardaway, who was a reference. All this brings pressure, responsibility, nerves. But it’s over, I prepared my speech, my guests arrived, now to enjoy everything. It will be like a gathering of friends.”
“At one point, in ’98, ’99 and 2000, when things started to happen in the game, I noticed that there was something different in me, one more gear. Then it intensified until 2005, 2006, which was my best moment. But until then I was stuck, I felt I was missing things.
“Initially, as soon as they told me I would enter the hall, I didn’t enjoy it so much. The speech had to be made, I began to receive messages, invitations… You want to thank everyone and you can’t. The last 24 hours, from the moment I got here, I started to enjoy it a lot more.”
“There is a bond between all the Spanish-speaking players in the NBA. Especially with the South Americans who arrived; one tried to approach and chat for a while”
“There wasn’t an individual award that he didn’t take because he competed in a very good team. The sixth man award, the All-Star… I’m here for the San Antonio rings, for the titles in the Argentine team. I take this income in the same way”.
“If I achieve perpetuity with this award? After this nothing else comes. It is the greatest achievement you could have. Three years ago, with the jersey retirement ceremony, it was very San Antonio. But this is basketball in general.”
“The greatest legacy I left will be that of the bat [en 2009, ante Sacramento, detuvo con un golpe]. You put on Youtube and you get the bat thing (smiles). Seriously speaking, one works very hard to achieve good results. It is impossible not to think about the championships won. But when you see it from the outside you want to thank your teammates, the masseur, the one who cleaned the court. Because they create a beautiful atmosphere and make you want to go to training. I keep all those moments in a very important place in my memory.
