Thanks to everyone who has shared their memories of The Admiral with those of us here at Spurs.com. We really love reading the memories you have of David Robinson and encourage more of you to share your thoughts with us. Below you will find some of our favorites so far. We hope you enjoy them, too. These entries are being used in their original, unedited form:

 

Name: Aaron
City: Philadelphia
State/Province: Pennsylvania
Comments: first of all, i grew up in SA and i've followed robinson's entire career...i'm only 25, so there aren't many people i can say that about. anyways, i got lucky enough to meet david briefly and he signed my jersey...but he ran off before i could get a picture. i called after him "mr. robinson! can i get a picture?" even though he was halfway down the players tunnel, he looked me in the eye, and came back to take a picture with me. i know it's not a big deal, but most athletes today wouldn't have done that. they would have just kept on walking. mr. robinson...you were worth the two year wait! you are in a class completely by yourself. thanks for 14 amazing seasons and one great moment for me!

Name: Daciel
City: Sacramento
State/Province: California
Comments: David you have been one of the few guys I love to watch when I watch the NBA on TV. I used to live in San Antonio until I was 6 and moved to Sacramento in 1990 but I was born a Spurs fan and I will remain one until the day I die. When I saw you guys win the championship in 1999 i flew down to San Antonio for the riverwalk celebration, it was the best. I am glad that you won a title before you retired. You have accomplished what most men only dream of. I wish you and your family the best in your retirement days. Good luck in the future, you have been a great man that I will always look up to.

 

Name: Mary
City: Fair Oaks Ranch
State/Province: Texas
Comments: My favorite memory of David Robinson was the night he was awarded the MVP award at the Alamo Dome. I am a grandmother and had never been to a NBA basketball game but had kept up with his career in the papers and TV. I thought he was a wonderful person and just felt strongly I should in some way honor him by attending the award ceremony. I remember most of the tickets were sold out and mine cost $11 and was next to the very top row. I learned 2 things that night. (1) Discovered I had a fear of hights and (2) avoid if at all possible sitting in the middle of the visiting teams fans! It was worth it though. It made me a Spurs fan for life.

 

Name: Karl
City: Hermitage
State/Province: Tennessee
Comments: I grew up in Illinois when Jordan played for the Bulls. I was always a diehard Spurs and David Robinson fan. I always took so much guff from everybody when we would talk basketball. But I remember when the Spurs won the championship everybody called me and would tell me how incredible Robinson was and I would just respond "I've known for years". Thanks for all the memories David, you will the game will never be the same without you.

 

Name: Dustin
City: Virginia Beach
State/Province: Virginia
Comments: Dear Mr. Robinson, I want to thank you immensely for all the joy you have brought me over the years. I do not have a father with me, so I look up to you as a father figure. You have been my role model for so long. I can not even express how much you've meant to me and basketball. Whenever I think of a true gentleman or hero, I think of David Robinson. When I think of your name, #50 for the Spurs doesn't automatically pop into my head. Instead I think of all the photos of you with kids, or reading, or somehow in anyway you can helping the community. These days, you can never be sure of who's the real deal. You have proven to me to be so. Whenever I have a problem, I stop and think about advice that you would most likely give to me. Because of you, I am inspired to follow in your footsteps. I have been a Spurs fan since I can remember back, mainly because my 4th grade teacher was J.R. Reid's mother, and I will always remember you even if Mariah Carey's not singing or there's no parade in your honor like certain number 23. I will always remembeer you. Thank You.

 

Name: Joseph
City: San Antonio
State/Province: TX
Comments: When I first heard of David during his senior year at Navy, the rumour where starting about the Spurs drafting David. I thought it was a bad move. At the time, David was an unproven commodity and I felt the Spurs needed someone more polished and immediately accessible.
I'm glad I was so wrong. Not only did we get one of the best players ever, we got the best person the NBA and most sports have ever seen. His contributions to the community and the sport are unparalleled.
I will miss watching him play. But I am confident that his impact on myself and San Antonio will continue. God bless him!

 

Name: Phil
City: Converse
State/Province: TX
Comments: David is the last of my heroes. He is one of the reasons I joined the Navy and will always regret not going active duty one week earlier when he swore in a group of new recruits. Sports to me will never be the same, for now everyone else playing is now younger than I am. I hated seeing Willie Anderson leave, Sean Elliott leave, Dereck Anderson leave, but hate seeing the Admiral leave does not justify the intensity of what I feel when he leaves the court. Part of it is joy for the man leaving healthy, the other part being sad for seeing such a great man play a great sport, he is the reason all my jerseys bear the number 50. Farewell Mr. Robinson and Bravo Zulu to all you did for the Spurs. EM2/SS(ret)

 

Name: Jason
City: London
State/Province: Ontario
Comments: I'm 22 now, and over the years I've had many fond memories of #50. Being from a small city up here in Canada, I didn't get many chances to see the Admiral up close and personal. However, in March of 1994, my dad drove me the 2 hours to the Palace of Auburn Hills to see the Spurs play the Pistons. For a 14 year old kid, this was a big deal. I swear I was the only one in attendance wearing a Spurs jersey. I wore the #50 with pride that night. Near the end of the game, Lindsey Hunter of the Pistons had what looked like a wide open lay-up on a breakaway. Out of nowhere, David came storming in and at the last minute swatted the ball away. Amazing! I was going nuts, while all the stunned Pistons fans looked at me. The Spurs went on to stomp Detroit that night, the Admiral dominated as usual. I'll never forget that night as long as I live. Anyway, that's my fondest memory of one of the best players to ever play the game of basketball. I would just like to thank David for all the wonderful memories and experiences over the years. GO SPURS!!!

 

Name: Mary
City: San Antonio
State/Province: Texas
Comments: I was at H-E-B early one morning on Mother's Day and there was Big Dave checking out in the next register over. He was talking with everyone who asked a question and I asked him "I sure hope that's not Valarie's Mother's Day Present"? He laughed and said "No ma'am, I've already taken care of that". I told OK just checking...he laughed and walked out with everyone following him to his car...:)

 

Name: David
City: El Paso
State/Province: Texas
Comments: When David and Tim lifted the the championship trophy will remain a memory forever. I've been a Spurs fan since 1977. Spurs have been and always will be my team. That moment was worth all the wait. I was in Taegu, South Korea when the championship was won. My Korean neighbors must have thought I was a crazy American because I was yelling in the front yard with jubilation. What is equally important is how S.A. conducted itself during the parade and hoopla. Unlike other championship cities that experienced damages and police arrests. The fans were model citizens. In my mind that is a tribute to the city but also a tribute to the model set by 'The Admiral' and the Spurs players/organization. Thanks for the memories. Lets do it again this year.

 

Name: Torben
City: Hambuehren
State/Province: Germany
Comments: I remember a game a couple of years ago against Minessota. Only few seconds left in the game. Spurs down by one. Big Dave gets the ball. Layup from the right but ... he misses.
I can't belive it!
But then ... he just got his own rebound on the other side of the basket and ... tipped it in as the time expired.
Spurs win!
Clock management at its best!

 

Name: JM
City: Tallahassee
State/Province: FL
Comments: I just wanted to say how much David has meant to me as a fan of the Spurs. I moved to San Antonio the same year he began playing for the Spurs. It was exciting to see the transformation of the city from a "mild" basketball city to an all-out basketball frenzied city. David had A LOT to do with that. I have since moved away from the Alamo city, but will always be a Spurs fan because I watched David's work.
Besides basketball - I want to say that I truly admire David for his ethical and spiritual convictions and for his commitment to the community of San Antonio.
Thanks Dave! You will be missed, but I imagine you will change lives in your next path in life, just as you have done as a basketball player.

 

Name: Mike
City: San Antonio
State/Province: TX
Comments: Back in 1991,I saw David Robinson at a club that has since closed.That year, I had a son that had been diagnosed with brain cancer. Richard really loved David alot. So when I told David about it, he gave me an autograph for Richard with absolutely no hesitation!He said "God Bless", and from that moment on, I knew that David was no ordinary man. Richard did die later that year, but the autograph really made his day when he got it. He cherished it, and kept it near his bed all the time. My whole family loves David very much.

 

Name: Fran
City: Quezon City
State/Province: Philippines
Comments: David Robinson is one of the reasons why basketball is more than a sport here in my country. The grace that he showed on and off the court is one thing to admire. Even without so much hoopla, he made a mark on the sport, a stong mark. That you can always keep your values even you are on top. If the measure of a great athlete is what one has done inside and outside the arena, then David Robinson is the greatest! We'll surely miss him!!

 

Name: Gracie
City: San Antonio
State/Province: Texas
Comments: The best memory I have of Mr. Robertson: when I worked at the Alamodone, as an usher, I looked after the Spurs Wivies Room, and the look in David's eye as he search for his loving wife after the game. His eye would light up when he'd see her, he'd go straight to her and give a small kiss, then they would walk out hand in hand as if they were newlyweds. He is "An Officer and a Gentlemen." Thank you David for all the great memories.

 

Name: Dereak
City: San Antonio
State/Province: TX
Comments: During the river parade celebration after the Championship David was on the last float holding the trophy. As the boat was passing by some fans on the bank, David held the trophy out and let the fans touch it!!! I was so impressed that he thought enough of the fans to let them touch it. That is class!!!

 

Name: J'son
City: Gilmer
State/Province: TX
Comments: He's been my hero since i was ten. This yr, at age 20, i made it to the game that his retirement ceremony was held at (March 25). After the ceremony i had the chance to go down to the court and reach over a few people to shake his hand. When he grabbed it and looked at me, I had the chance of a lifetime and took it. It was the best feeling in the world to be able to tell Mr. Robinson face to face, "You're my hero."