Thursday, September 3rd, 2009...7:23 am
A Number Never to be Worn Again
There are reports that Bruce Bowen will hold a press conference at Yardley’s Spa (which he and his wife own) this afternoon. After he was unable to reach an agreement with the Boston Celtics, he is widely expected to announce his retirement.
Whether he intends to announce his retirement or not (it is completely reasonable to assume he will), I think this is a worthwhile opportunity to begin advocating for the retirement of the number 12.
When making my case here at 48 Minutes of Hell for the retirement of Bowen’s number, I am most likely preaching to the choir. But it is worth taking the time to revisit why the craftsmanship he displayed on the floor is so significant for the franchise if not the league.
Players whose primary value is on the defensive end of the court are often overlooked, although less so by Spurs fans. But even in San Antonio, where “defense” is every huddle’s closing note, we still use the language of “the big three,” or, the three players whose contributions are felt most viscerally on the offensive end. We often characterize the team as comprising three superstars and a gaggle of roleplayers (a bunch of guys willing to run through a brick wall for you, as Tim always likes to say).
In actuality, there was a third category, inhabited by the players like Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry. Players whose talent did not merit superstardom but whose removal from the roster might have meant one or two, if not three, less championships.
And make no mistake, without Bowen, it’s difficult to say how many banners would hang in San Antonio’s rafters. Given the relative simplicity with which the 2007 championship was won (who expected the Finals to be a four game sweep?), it’s easy to forget what wars our previous campaigns had been, and how narrowly those wars had been won.
When I was a boy, my father used to talk a lot about Lawrence Taylor. In my Dad’s opinion LT was a new kind of player. In football the term “game-changer” is often only applied to offensive skill players. But my dad believed that, for the first time in the history of the game, you could genuinely use that term to describe a linebacker. Taylor’s ability to not merely counter the offensive’s attack but dictate pace and, in some startling instances, possession struck my Dad as unparalleled.
Bowen and Taylor have many differences: Taylor’s career was defined by his unique combination of size and speed; Bowen’s by his ability to be effective despite his lack of athleticism. But in some sense both inhabit a similar milieu: rather than abide by the traditional notions of defense in their respective sports, they somehow transcended their role. They took the simple task of stopping an opponent and transformed it into an act of expression.
Another difference between Taylor and Bowen may be the lasting impact of their style of defense: While Taylor’s athleticism has been replicated, signaling a paradigm shift in the NFL, Bowen’s greatness seems to derive from his singularity. Although player’s such as Shane Battier and Ron Artest keep Bowen company, their tenacious styles are more notable for their uniqueness rather than by younger players’ hunger to mimic them.
I have waxed poetic about the “creative negation” that I believe Bowen exemplified numerous times, so for the time being I will spare you another dose of my esoteric ramblings. But make no mistake: the words you have just read do not do Bowen’s career justice and, if he does in fact retire this afternoon, we will have more reflections in the coming days.
30 Comments
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:38 am
Bowen has done so much for the Spurs and has been a big part of why we have won 3 championships during his career in San Antonio. I’d love nothing more than to never see a player wear number 12 for the Spurs again, just so it is in its rightful place hanging in the rafters.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:15 am
It has often been stated that the key to the Spurs championships was defense. Who better symbolized that Spur trait than Bruce Bowen? (Okay, that Duncan dude is pretty good at D as well.) I too would like to see “12” in the rafters.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:43 am
hopefully 21 is next to 12 in the future
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:47 am
As a part of the choir I fully advocate retiring Bowen’s number
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:01 am
Parker, Ginobili, Duncan, and Bowen should absolutely have their numbers retired.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:01 am
My gut reaction is that I don’t think Bowen’s number should be retired. I imagine I’ll be in the minority here on that.
But if the Spurs do retire it, I won’t put up a fuss or anything.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:05 am
“Given the simplicity with which the 2007 championship was won…”
Huh? I thought that Horry’s thuggery in nailing Nash into the scorer’s table and instigating an outrageous suspension on Stoudemire and Diaw was quite complicated actually.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:06 am
I was referring to the 4-game sweep during the Finals.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:31 am
I would argue that the Nash incedent was actually pretty simple and Spur-of-the-moment, not some planned out, complex scheme…
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:50 am
#12 deserves to be retired even if the Spurs didn’t set the bar low with retiring #6.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:20 am
Why not hang the jersey of Bowen? He helped defined the Spurs’ identity and contributed mightily to the most successful period in Spurs history. I agree with the assertion that without him, we may be looking at one ring right now. After Manu and Tony (assuming they have their jerseys hung), it could be quite awhile before we have another player who is deserving of this type of honor.
I can imagine, 25 yrs from now, attending a Spurs game, looking up at those rafters, and telling my son about all these guys whom I idolized and loved. I someday hope to tell my son about Bruce Bowen, who hassled the game’s best players with quick hands and a quicker mind.
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:00 am
[...] September 3, 2009 by Prick Barry Bruce Bowen, known flatteringly as ‘the rash’ on wikipedia’s NBA nickname page, announced his retirement today after failing to come to terms with the Boston Celtics… Bruce Bowen’s retirement is unlikely to generate much, if any, nostalgia outside of San Antonio - where the fans have long since drunk the Poppovich-koolaid, and are already advocating retiring Bowen’s number. [...]
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 am
If AJ had his number retired, there is absolutely no chance #12 won’t be retired as well. Bowen without a doubt deserves it.
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:22 pm
[...] 48 Minutes of Hell » Blog Archive » A Number Never to be Worn Again [...]
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Please don’t mention the Horry bump, it was a simple hip check and Nash overeacted by acting like somebody just shot him. He wasn’t even in the air driving to the hoop…15 years ago that’s a regular foul. And those theatrics caused his teamates to overeact as well and it cost their whole team. Anyway, Bowen was the man..you don’t get past LA without someone who could at least make Kobe work HARD for everything.
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Bowen absolutely deserves to have his number retired. He is one of the most important Spurs of this Championship Era.
I can’t see how any Spurs fan could argue against it.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I believe Bruce deserving of having his number 12 jersey retired as a San Antonio Spur not only because of his defensive & slight offensive attributes on the basketball court. But more so for his service to the San Antonio community, goodwill throughout charities and other off the court ventures, thanks Bruce much love!
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Agreed Texxus Boy, besides his contribution to defense and being a key guy in the Spurs 3 titles, he is also active in helping the community through his foundation a class act… and I always thought that he wis retire as a Spur! Hang his jersey #12 to the rafters…
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Order of Retirement Jerseys Now And To Come
1. Duncan ( enough said)
2. Robinson (HOF) tie
2. Gervin (HOF) tie
3. Ginobili tie
3. Parker tie
4. Silas (Captain Late)
5. Elliott
5. Bowen
That would be it. I am not a fan of Avery(punk coach and whiner) or Johnny Moore(assists to Gervin who could score from anywhere?) getting in. I am a bigger fan of what Horry did than those two.
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:54 pm
[...] guys at 48 Minutes of Hell and Project Spurs are doing the rhapsodizing thing, and a campaign has already started for the [...]
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:02 pm
i dont know if it should be as a Spur, but for Horry not to have his jersey retired somewhere or to make the HOF i think would be a shame.
September 4th, 2009 at 3:30 am
Bowen #12 should be retired into the Spurs rafters…
Regarding Horry, I think his jersey should be retired too… the only question is where? he has 7 rings:
2 with the Rockets
3 with the Lakers and 2 with the Spurs… based on numbers Lakers has the edge… or maybe to all three of them… (that would be great for Horry!)
September 4th, 2009 at 7:38 am
My 2 cents:
I absolutely disagree with the sentiment that Bruce Bowen’s jersey should be retired. Sure, he was a contributor to the Spurs championships, but did he really contribute enough to get his jersey retired?? Retiring the jersey of someone like Bruce Bowen really cheapens the honor to someone like David Robinson and Tim Duncan, whose jersey will eventually get up there since you are likening the contributions made by Bruce to those made by David and Tim, which is patently ridiculous. Retiring the jersey is the ultimate honor a franchise can bestow on one of its players - it should NOT be given to someone like Bowen.
Like everyone else I loved Bowen in his prime, but he just has not done nearly enough to get this honor.
September 4th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Bowen should have his 12 retired. He was a great player who provided a great skill that is hard to come by. Great man to man positional defense. For a team with scorers on the team in Duncan etc. his specific skill set was far more valuable than a high scoring forward. He played his role and on many nights had the biggest impact in a spur victory. The team hall of fame is not the same as sport hall of fame. Sports hall of fames recognize the greatest players in a sport. However a team hall of fame needs to recognize players that were great for the team. This is the place where a specific team can recognize a player that was great for them and a perfect fit where in other places he might not make the same contribution. Spur number retirements should recognize great teammates that had a profound effect on the franchise. Bruce Bowen certainly fits in this criteria. I would not object to seeing him in Basketball Hall of Fame either. His specific skill set was a great asset to his team and the game, and is just as important that a scorer. Cause as we all know DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. Although you still need some people to put the ball in hoop.
September 4th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Jimbo,
Once the bar was lowered to Avery and Johnny Moore, you can’t deny a Bowen or an Elliott. If you said only the Big 3 to come along with Robinson,Gervin, and Silas I would understand your point. But, Bowen has done more than Aj and Moore to me and as much as Elliott.
September 4th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Jimbo, first of all each franchise draws the line at what is “good enough” to have a jersey retired. I think being a clear starter and an “indentity-definer” for 3 rings should be good enough.
Second, you mention it would cheapen D-Rob or Duncan’s jersey retirement - actually these guys have the HoF as supreme recognition. For me retiring jerseys is something else entirely - otherwise it’s just redundant with the HoF. I’d like the Spurs going “sentimental” on that instead.
September 4th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Agreed Will, very well said…
September 5th, 2009 at 10:34 am
If Bowen doesn’t get his jersey retired, I’ll cry
September 5th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
[...] 48 Minutes of Hell: "When I was a boy, my father used to talk a lot about Lawrence Taylor. In my Dad’s opinion LT was a new kind of player. In football the term ‘game-changer’ is often only applied to offensive skill players. But my dad believed that, for the first time in the history of the game, you could genuinely use that term to describe a linebacker. Taylor’s ability to not merely counter the offensive’s attack but dictate pace and, in some startling instances, possession struck my Dad as unparalleled. Bowen and Taylor have many differences: Taylor’s career was defined by his unique combination of size and speed; Bowen’s by his ability to be effective despite his lack of athleticism. But in some sense both inhabit a similar milieu: rather than abide by the traditional notions of defense in their respective sports, they somehow transcended their role. They took the simple task of stopping an opponent and transformed it into an act of expression." [...]
September 11th, 2009 at 3:40 am
[...] when looking into retiring numbers in the future. Sure, it may seem like a great idea now to retire Bruce Bowen’s number in San Antonio, but in twenty years will it really be necessary to remember him in the same light [...]
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