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Fernando Martin

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» Sunday, January 29 2012

Gasol came to the NBA in 2001 as the draft's third overall pick and played for Memphis for the first six and a half seasons of his career. He was the second Spanish player to make the transition to the NBA; the first, Fernando Martin, played for the Portland Trail Blazers in 1986-87. So, for the current crop of Spanish NBA players, Gasol was the one who paved the way. "He's like a mirror for us," Rubio said, his accent still marked with the shrill tones and exaggerated vowels that Gasol has long dropped. "He shows us the way to come here." Fox Sports North

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Fernando Martin 
 

» Monday, December 26 2011

In 1986, Fernando Martín (pronounced Mar-teen) became the first Spaniard to make it to the NBA. Then he then returned to his native land and played for Real Madrid, which soon hired a former NBA coach named George Karl. On Dec. 3, 1989, Martín was driving to a game when his car skidded off a highway and crashed. Martín died at a hospital. He was 27. "I remember consoling my son," said Karl, who was with 6-year-old Coby at the time. "It was one of those moments when time just stops. You don't know how to act. You're frozen by the moment." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Spain, Fernando Martin 

Last week, Karl and Fernandez got to talking. George told Rudy about his own experiences with Real Madrid. About the culture he embraced. The friends he cherished. The players he adored. "It was a difficult time," Karl said, "but it was a rewarding time. And our team, we were very close, a lot because of what happened to us." In its first game after Martín died, Karl's team was lost, playing in a daze of malaise. Karl recalled his halftime speech: "I said, 'No one expects you to figure this out. Other than Fernando. He thinks you're a bunch of (wimps) right now.' " Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Spain, Fernando Martin 
 

» Friday, January 21 2011

"I still remember the dinner after his funeral, when we had to play a game that night. In Europe, they have wine on the table [at team pregame meals]. And some of the guys drink it, but normally they don't drink it. Well, we drank it that day. This is like 3 p.m. for an 8 p.m. game. I mean, the emotion at the table -- guys were tearing up, crying, and a couple of the guys almost got in a fight with each other. "That night was the greatest game I ever coached. We were down 14 [points] to PAOK [a Greek club] at halftime. You have to understand, Antonio Martin was one of my better players -- Fernando's brother was on the team. Antonio was one of the best Spanish players, and he played that game but he was all messed up. SI.com

George Karl, Coaching, Real Madrid, Fernando Martin 

"The game was in Madrid, and the emotion afterward -- I still think it should be a movie. After the games in Europe you can chant the team back onto the court; sometimes the team will go off, and then the crowd will start chanting something to bring them back out. Well, for this game the mom [of Martin] is in the presidential box. And the chant is, Fernando esta aqui, Fernando esta aqui -- Fernando is here. And his mother is leading it. It gives me goose bumps today. SI.com

George Karl, Coaching, Real Madrid, Fernando Martin 

"So the players come back onto the court. And Fernando's mother is up there. And they all take different routes through the crowd to get to the mother. And they're running through the crowd up through and in the background, and it takes about two or three minutes until they finally get to the mother, and they all are now in the presidential box chanting with the crowd, Fernando esta aqui, Fernando esta aqui. It was very incredible.'' SI.com

George Karl, Coaching, Real Madrid, Fernando Martin 
 

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