THE VILLAGER Page 8 ~ March 16, 2012 www.theaustinvillager.com Sports Spurs Lose TJ Ford The Longhorns Will To Retirement Be Dancing In Nashville

By: Terry Davis

@terryd515 TJ Ford of the San An- tonio Spurs announced his retirement from the NBA this week. Ford was injured in a T J Ford. Photo courtesy of D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via game last week against the Getty Images New York Knicks. player and fully support the Ford suffered a spinal injury ”While this was a tough difficult decision he was that he would later have sur- decision to make, it is what forced to make. T.J. has a gery on which forced him to is best for me and my family bright future ahead of him and miss the entire 2004-05 sea- at this time,” said Ford. “I will always be a member of son. For his career, Ford By: Terry Davis credits his team’s selection the court for several minutes have been blessed to play the Spurs family.” played in 429 games, averag- The University of Texas to the NCAA tournament in extreme pain. While alongside wonderful team- Prior to signing with San ing 11.2 points, 5.8 assists, 3.1 will face the Cincinnati on two factors first having a Brown was the Tigers took mates for great coaches and Antonio the 6-0, 165-pound rebounds and 1.16 steals 27.7 Bearcats in the second round 9-9 record in the conference advantage of his absence organizations from high school, guard enjoyed stints with minutes per game. of the NCAA tournament in and playing a very tough and went on a 9-0 run and to college, to the NBA. Re- Milwaukee, Toronto and In- Ford enjoyed an out- Nashville, TN on Friday non-conference schedule. Texas was not able to the gardless of what the future diana. Ford was selected by standing high school and col- March 16 at 11:15 am cen- The Longhorns sealed game under ten points again. holds, I will carry the experi- the Bucks in the first round of legiate career in the state of tral. Texas enters the tour- their faith and the bid with Brown continued to a ences, the friendships and the the 2003 NBA Draft, with the Texas. In his final two seasons nament at the 11 seed in the an impressive win over the decorated season. Brown memories with me forever. The eighth overall pick, after play- at Willowridge High School, East Region. The game can Iowa State Cyclones in last was named to the all-tour- support I’ve received from ing two seasons at the Uni- his teams posted a 75-1 be seen nationally on CBS. week’s Big 12 conference nament first team. Brown family, friends and the fans has versity of Texas. He enjoyed record, capturing back-to- Should Texas advance tournament. The Horns was the only member to be been humbling and I am look- his best NBA season during back Texas 5A State Cham- to the Third Round, tip time defeated the Cyclones 71- named to the team that did ing forward to evaluating my the 2008-09 campaign, aver- pionships. In two seasons at for that contest on Sunday, 65. The Longhorns were led not play in the Championship professional options following aging 14.9 points, 5.3 assists the University of Texas, Ford March 20 has not been de- by J’Covan Brown in that Game. this season.” and 3.5 rebounds in 74 games averaged 12.9 points and 8.8 termined. Texas would face win. Brown scored 22 After Texas named ”The entire organization with the Pacers. In 2004, he assists. During his sophomore the winner of Friday’s Florida points in the win. was shown as part the has enjoyed having T.J. Ford was named to the NBA All- year he was named both the State-St. Bonaventure game. The Longhorns lost the NCAA tournament Barnes in San Antonio this season,” Rookie Second Team, after Naismith and Wooden Player This marks the 14th Missouri Tigers in the semi- said, “I’ve never seen a said Spurs Head Coach Gregg posting averages of 7.1 points of the Year Award winner and consecutive and 30th overall final round. Texas came as Texas that was so excited Popovich. “I congratulate him and 6.5 assists. Midway earned 2003 First Team All- appearance by the Long- close as 4 points of catch- before to making the tourna- on all that he has achieved as a through his rookie season American honors. horns in the NCAA Tourna- ing the Tigers in the second ment.” Brown said, “We ment. UT is one of just six half of that game before played one of the toughest schools to have advanced to Brown left the game with an schedules in the country. We each of the last 14 NCAA injury. are going to go into the tour- Tournaments (1999-2012). Brown hit his neck on nament and try to shock the Joining the Longhorns in this a camera and was lying on world.” elite group are Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State and Wisconsin. The Longhorns entered the weekend squarely on the NCAA bubble and went into the Big 12 post season bas- ketball tournament looking for at least one win. The Longhorns got that win in the second round game against the Iowa State Cyclones. Head Coach Rick Barnes Bruce Bowen Will Be Honored By The Spurs By: Terry Davis On March 21 the Bruce Bowen will be immor- talized by the . On that date Bowen’s jersey will be raised to the rafters and will never be worn again. Bowen’s No. 12 jersey will join, James Silas’ No 13, ’s No. 44, Johnny Moore’s No. 00 , ’s N. 50. Sean Elliott’s No. 32 and Avery Johnson’s No 6 in the Bruce Bowen rafters in the AT & T . Bowen is one of five Bowen Joined the nine seasons in San Anto- swingmen in NBA history to Spurs in 2001 and played nio. Bowen started in ev- ery game he played in for earn All-Defensive Team the Spurs and averaged 6.4 honors in eight-or-more points, and 1.3 assists per straight seasons game. Bowen was a part of The 6-7 guard out of three NBA Championship Cal State Fullerton earned teams with the Spurs. He ap- a spot on the NBA’s All- peared in 122 playoff games, Defensive Team in eight of averaging 6.2 points, 2.9 re- his nine seasons with the bounds and 1.4 assists. Spurs (was a second team Bowen can also be seen oc- selection in 2001, 2002 and casionally courtside at some 2003 before earning first Texas Longhorns basketball team honors in 2004, 2005, analyst for the Longhorn 2006, 2007 and 2008). Network.