Open Thread: Determining my San Antonio Spurs spirit player

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Which player best represents your inner self

What is a spirit animal?

In some traditions, a spirit animal refers to a guide who protects a person on their journey and whose characteristics exemplify that individual. Similar to a zodiac sign, your spirit animal has similar traits.

It is also used as a humorous metaphor for something a person relates to or admires. Recently I was passing through a rough patch in my life and I told a friend, “in my current state, Wampa is my spirit animal.” For those unfamiliar, Wampa is the yeti-like creature living in an ice cave on Hoth from The Empire Strikes Back. Yeah, I wasn’t doing so hot, but you get what I mean.

It is in the second tradition that I have decided to share my Spurs spirit player.

During my teens, I considered myself an outcast. A fan of punk rock and horror films, I felt as if I existed on the outside looking in toward my high school full of privileged kids. Ignoring that I was one of them, I latched onto Sid Vicious and Repo Man in a semi-forced act of rebellion. In reality, I was only as defiant as a clean-cut, church-going Boy Scout could be.

As a San Antonio Spurs fan, I ditched my fandom in high school as I turned away from interest in organized sports. That is, until Dennis Rodman came to town.

Rodman, a fellow Texan, made a name for himself in Detroit with the Bad Boy Pistons. I preferred their brand of ball to the dying, and what I considered overrated, rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

Rodman’s “could care less” attitude resonated with me. And when he was sent to San Antonio in 1993, I was rejuvenated. I felt like his angst in comparison to the clean cut, David Robinson led Spurs, was what was missing from my life.

His hair, his perspective, the way he spoke to the press, his relationship leading to Madonna making appearances in the Alamo City, I was smitten. I eventually had Rodman trading cards, jersey, books, the works.

Dennis Rodman was, and in some ways still is, my Spurs spirit player.

I noticed as I was watching the Olympics. Anytime a player, in any sport, is wearing #10, I tend to take notice. #10 still resonates with me because it is what The Worm wore while playing with the Silver & Black.

So imagine my surprise when I saw daughter playing soccer in the Paris Olympics. Scoring the first goal of the competition, she additionally scored the winning goal in the Quarter-finals against Japan, propelling the US Women’s national soccer team into the Semi-finals against Germany tomorrow.

Hmm, might be time for a different Rodman to serve as my spirit athlete.

Who is your Spurs spirit player?

Welcome to the Open Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.