Sports FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2016

Duncan thanks team-mates in letter

LOS ANGELES: Tim Duncan, the San Antonio Spurs talisman who retired on Monday after 19 seasons and five NBA titles, thanked fans and team-mates Wednesday in a letter posted on the Spurs website. Duncan, 40, hadn’t spoken publicly since the Spurs announced he was retiring. He spent his entire career with San Antonio, who made him the number one overall selection in the 1997 NBA draft. “If asked to write a script for my career 19 years ago, there is no way I would’ve been able to dream up this journey,” wrote Duncan, who led the Spurs to titles in 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2014. “I stand here at the end of this ride and look back in awe of what I’ve experienced. The wins and losses will be remembered, but what I’ll remember most are the people: The fans inside the arena and out, the staff and coaches who pushed me and held me together, the teammates (and even opponents) who will be life- long friends, sharing my ups and downs with family and close friends, and, most importantly, the snapshots of my kids growing up and levering in watching Dad work. “Thank you to the city of San Antonio for the love and the sup- port over these years. Thank you to the fans all over the world.” Duncan, a native of the Virgin Islands, was a three-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player and a two-time regular season MVP. Duncan, together with Tony Parker and Manu Ignobility, formed one of the most successful trios in NBA history. They hold the league record for regular season wins (575) and post-season wins (126). Although he opted to go out without fanfare-just as he played- LOS ANGELES: NBA basketball player LeBron James, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, accepts the award for best NBA player at Duncan did speak Wednesday with an interviewer from Vi Vid the ESPY Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Wednesday, in Los Angeles. — AP Streaming radio of the Virgin Islands, opening up on his thoughts about retirement. “I started not enjoying myself as much. It wasn’t LeBron James leads call to end fun as much,” Duncan said of the decision. “When it’s not fun any- gun violence at ESPY Awards more, I’m done.” — AFP List of winners LOS ANGELES: LeBron James won five tro- help strengthen and rebuild their commu- . Stewart helped UConn win a phies, including best male athlete and best nities. fourth straight NCAA basketball champi- at ESPY Awards NBA player, at the ESPY Awards on “We all to have do better,” he said. onship before going to the WNBA. Wednesday night when frivolity gave way In her speech, Stewart called for equali- LOS ANGELES: Winners at the ESPY Awards presented to a James-led call to end gun violence and RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE ty for female athletes. Wednesday night: racial profiling. Golden State star Stephen Curry “Female athletes don’t receive half the Male Athlete: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers The show honoring the year’s best ath- thanked the quartet for their message fame. I know everyone in this room loves Female Athlete: Breanna Stewart, UConn letes and sports moments opened on a while accepting the night’s first award for and supports women and girls in sports Record-Breaking Performance: Stephen Curry, Golden somber note, with James and fellow NBA record-breaking performance. He hit 402 and wants to be a part of that change, State Warriors stars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and 3-pointers during the regular season. right?” she said. “Equality for all takes Breakthrough Athlete: Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs Dwyane Wade standing four abreast on James won male athlete and champi- each of us making an effort. Together Play: Aaron Rodgers’ Hail Mary to Richard Rodgers, Green stage addressing the recent shootings of onship performance for the third time in let’s be better.” Bay Packers blacks by white police officers. his career and his fifth trophy as top NBA WWE star John Cena hosted the show Moment: City of Cleveland wins first title in 52 years “The urgency to create change is at an player. He shared the team and best from Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Upset: Holly Holm over Ronda Rousey, UFC all-time high,” Anthony said. moment awards with his Cavaliers team- Angeles. Comeback Athlete: Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs Paul, the nephew of a police officer, mates, who upset Golden State to deliver In one of the night’s most emotional Team: Cleveland Cavaliers recited the names of several men who the first championship for Cleveland in moments, Zaevion Dobson, a 15-year-old Championship Performance: LeBron James have been killed. 52 years. high school football player from Game: NBA Finals, Game 7 Wade urged a stop to racial profiling, a In accepting best moment, James Knoxville, Tennessee, was honored Coach: Tyronn Lue, Cleveland Cavaliers shoot-to-kill mentality and “not seeing the brought teammates Kyrie Irving and Kevin posthumously with the NBA Player: LeBron James value of black and brown bodies.” Love on stage, where he saluted Pro Courage Award for giving his life to shield MLB Player: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals “Enough is enough,” he said. Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown for his two young women from gunfire last year. NFL Player: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers James echoed Wade, noting, “We all early social activism in the hardscrabble His mother, Zenobia Dobson, and two NHL Player: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins feel helpless and frustrated by the vio- city. Breanna Stewart won best female ath- brothers accepted the trophy from Curry, Male College Athlete: Buddy Hield, Oklahoma lence.” James urged his fellow pros to edu- lete on her third try, beating WNBA MVP with last year’s honoree Female College Athlete: Breanna Stewart, UConn cate themselves and renounce violence Elena Delle Donne and two Olympians, joining the standing ovation. Male Tennis Player: Novak Djokovic while using their resources and time to swimmer Katie Ledecky and gymnast Dobson told the audience four months Female Tennis Player: Serena Williams after her son’s death his 12-year-old cousin Male Action Sports Athlete: Ryan Dungey was killed in a drive-by shooting on his Female Action Sports Athlete: Jamie Anderson way home from a basketball game where Male Athlete with a Disability: Richard Browne Zaevion was honored. Female Athlete with a Disability: Tatyana McFadden International Athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer APPLAUD Best MLS player: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC “I’m here to fight back,” Dobson said. WNBA Player: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx “We as a country need to take a stand to Driver: Kyle Busch consider the effects of gun violence on the Male Golfer: Jordan Spieth families throughout America.” Female Golfer: Lydia Ko Tears welled in the eyes of several ath- Jockey: Mario Gutierrez letes who applauded her comments. Bowler: Jason Belmonte “We need to rewrite laws to make it Fighter: Conor McGregor harder for people to get guns,” Dobson said. “All the athletes in this room, you SPECIAL AWARDS have a lot of power. People look up to Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Craig Sager you, I know Zaevion did. I urge you to Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Zaevion Dobson think tonight about why he died and Award for Service: Sgt. Elizabeth Marks LOS ANGELES: NBA basketball player Stephen Curry, of the Golden State what you can do tomorrow to prevent Icon Award: Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning and Abby Warriors, right and Ayesha Curry arrive at the ESPY Awards at the Microsoft the next innocent man or woman from Wambach. — AP Theater on Wednesday, in Los Angeles. — AP being lost.” — AP