Spurs' Success Starts at the Top

This is a terrific article by ESPN's John Hollinger (1, 2) about the Spurs' organization. I think the national media may be waking up to exactly what it is we've been doing here for many years now. I think I even heard several "experts" publicly praising us - who have never, ever praised us - now that we've won 16-straight, and in dominating fashion. Greg Anthony, Tim Legler, Jeff Van Gundy, and more.

This is an ESPN "Insider" article, which means it's an article you only get to read if you pay ESPN for their Insider package. I'll let you know now, I'm not the one who ripped it and posted it. That credit goes to georgestephanopoulos. But I give the guy a ton of thanks for sharing an incredible article with a ton of people who would have otherwise not seen it.

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Once the rest of the league starts to pay attention to what we've been doing for years & years, I think they might start to figure it out. Then again why has it taken them so long? More importantly once the media drops their "old & aging team" moniker that has been present since about, oh 2007, perhaps they'll also realize this franchise isn't gonna have a rebuilding stage. We're gonna be there - competing with the best of them - winning 50 games a season - for many, many years to come. My only hope is that Timmy & Pop stick around a little longer.

Good Boy!

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Better Call The Fire Department

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San Antonio Spurs Named Top NBA Franchise In ESPN The Magazine’s 2011 Ultimate Standings List

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SAN ANTONIO (June 15, 2011) – ESPN The Magazine released its ‘The Ultimate Standings’ rankings for 2011 today and the San Antonio Spurs were named the top NBA franchise and the fifth-best professional team out of 122 total teams from the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB franchises. The Spurs have ranked as the top NBA franchise six times and is the only franchise to have been named the top overall team twice among the four major sports since ESPN introduced its annual survey in 2003.

"It is with great pride that we congratulate the San Antonio Spurs for being ranked as ESPN The Magazine's top NBA franchise for the sixth time," said NBA Commissioner David Stern. "San Antonio's commitment to excellence starts with owner Peter Holt, is instilled in every member of the organization, and makes the Spurs a model franchise both on and off the court."

The Spurs ranked number one overall in two categories that were part of the judging process to determine the best overall sports franchise; 'fan relations' and 'players.' 'Fan relations' is described as the openness and consideration of players, coaches and management toward fans and the 'players' category is described as the effort on the court and the likeability off the court of franchise players.

Spurs Chairman and CEO Peter Holt was ranked as the top NBA “Ultimate Boss,” second overall among sports franchise owners, based on the criteria of honesty, commitment to their communities and loyalty to core players.

“This is truly a testament to the outstanding leadership and dedicated commitment to excellence from our basketball and business operations,” said Spurs Sports & Entertainment Chairman and CEO Peter Holt. “Our success is measured not only by what we do, but how we do it. By once again ranking first in fan relations showcases our loyalty to our community and exemplifies the passion our fans have as the best among professional teams.”


Spurs Chairman & CEO Peter Holt (Source)

The Ultimate Standings debuted in 2003 with the Spurs ranked #3 overall with the Green Bay Packers at #1. and the Arizona Diamondbacks at #2. In 2004, the Spurs garnered their first title ranking from ESPN, followed by the Dallas Mavericks at #2 and the Green Bay Packers at #3. In 2005, the Spurs ranked an impressive #2 behind the Detroit Pistons, and ahead of the #3 ranked Indianapolis Colts. In 2006, a year after their third NBA Title, the Spurs were voted to the top of the list again with the Detroit Pistons at #2 and Pittsburgh Steelers at #3.The Spurs finished second behind the Buffalo Sabers and above NBA Division Rival the Dallas Mavericks (#3) in 2007. The following year, the Spurs were ranked second overall behind the Indianapolis Colts (#1). In 2009, San Antonio ranked #9 overall and in 2010 ranked 7th.

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Introducing The William

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The Greatest Golf Courses Ever

Pebble Beach #18 - Via

America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses For 2010

1 - Augusta National G.C.

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2 - Pine Valley G.C.

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3 - Shinnecock Hills G.C.

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4 - Cypress Point Club

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5 - Oakmont C.C

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See the rest of this list.. (Pebble Beach is ranked #6 this time.)




America's 100 Best Courses You Can Play

Golf Digest's List - Click on the "100 Greatest Public" tab.
1. Pebble Beach Golf Links
2. Pacific Dunes
3. Whistling Straits (Straits Course)
4. The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island
5. Bethpage State Park (Black)
...the rest

Golf.com's List - Find this interactive map.


1. Pacific Dunes
2. Pebble Beach Golf Links
3. Whistling Straits (Straits Course)
4. The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island
5. Pinehurst #2
...the rest

And both of those have state-by-state lists, but the best state-by-state list is:

Golfweek's list.

Golfweek doesn't provide an overall list like the other two, but the cream of the crop, top-10 type courses are pretty much the same anyway (they specifically state that Oregon's Pacific Dunes is their #1).

Here are a few highlights of Golfweek's state-by-state list:

Arizona #3: Troon North (Monument), Scottsdale
My Dad and I stood on the back deck of the clubhouse here for about 15 minutes trying to decide if we really wanted to pay the exorbitant green fee (this was 1996, and that price was about $125). Regretably, we ended up playing elsewhere for just more than half the money, and an ordinary-type course we could play here for $30. Remember that was 1996.

Louisiana #3: The Bluffs C.C. and Resort, St. Francisville
One of the most unique courses I've ever played, and also the highest green fee I've still ever paid (1999 or 2000 - $102). The beauty is so "far away" from the awesomeness of that hole pictured. Incredible design using a prime piece of real estate, and a superior CHARACTER grade.


Must enlarge!

I would LOVE to go play the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

Last but not least, Hawaii's #8: Ko'olau:
This is the course at the top of my own personal list of "courses I must play in my lifetime". (That'll be a later post!)

Obviously you must enlarge..

Throughout my entire course-design career for Jack Nicklaus GBC, nothing impressed me more than the design of this hole on this course. Supposedly one of the toughest golf courses in the world, too. And is it not gorgeous?

By the way, I've played 4 of the 20 listed Texas courses (7, 13, 15, and 20), and no less than 4 more that most definitely should be on there.

They are:
Cedar Creek in SA
The Bandit in McQueeney
Walden at Lake Conroe
The Falls, New Ulm

95 Totally Bookmark-Worthy Sites

From techradar.com, here are 95 sites everyone should bookmark.


Google is the internet surfer's best friend and worst enemy. If you know what you're after, just type it into the search engine's famous little box and – hey presto – you'll be given a list of related sites in order of relevance.

Such is Google's dominance that its name has become a synonym for search. And rightly so. When was the last time you Yahooed something? And good though Bing is, it's not ringing our bell just yet. There's a problem, though.

Searching for something implies you know what you're looking for. Gold prospectors search for gold; they don't scour the earth on the off-chance there's something which may or may not be of any value knocking around. So what happens if you don't know what you're looking for; if you just want to be amazed?

How do you ask Google for some brilliant sites, sites which will feed your mind, soul or just let you waste time in style? If you're in that kind of mood, you're in the right place. Welcome to PC Plus's directory of the best websites on the internet.

Our experts have put their thinking caps on and come up with a list of their favourite sites. So, do yourself a favour: forget Google for a while and put your trust in us. Continue reading.."

Thanks Interesting Pile