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Sometimes, we tend to ignore the obvious. In the case of San Antonio Spurs superstar Tim Duncan, he hasn’t been ignored so much as he’s been under and even unappreciated.

BORING! That’s the word most often associated with the Duncan and the Spurs by casual fans. Whenever they’ve appeared in the NBA Finals, TV viewership dips lower than George Bush’s approval ratings. The cries for exciting teams with photogenic personalities that thrill with awe-inspiring slam dunks and flashy play rises to ear-deafening levels.

For some reason, the casual fan that doesn’t watch, or fully appreciate, the game of basketball until the playoffs and the finals holds sway over the desires of network television executives. And as an individual for whom the essence of the game courses through my veins, I stand ready to send Mike Tyson to the address of every such “fan” in the universe armed with these simple words: “Their ears are more scrumptious than Evander Holyfield’s.”

How can one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and the franchise that he’s elevated to a dynastic level be boring? First of all, Tony Parker is one of the most electrifying point guards in the league. The Argentine sensation Manu Gibobli - who’s name in Spanish loosely translates to “good God’a'mighty!!! Did you say what he just did?” -  does things with a basketball that convinces you that your eyes have the capacity to lie.

And Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward ever in the history of the game. Boring? Are you nuts? Just because his precision is so complete that it seems mundane, the magnificence in his understated dominance should be held aloft and celebrated. And this is especially true, given today’s climate of sports thugs gone wild (see O.J. Simpson, Rae Carruth and Pac Man Jones for further clarification).

Now factor in the instability of our housing, banking and automotive crises, and that elevates the nerve of the Duncan haters to the level of audacity. What’s wrong with consistent excellence?  Every night, the man gives you 20 points and 10 rebounds. He’s also an amazing defensive player with great hands, long arms and superior balance and body control. When you factor in the intangibles that he brings as a teammate, who can match his combination of ability, likability, work ethic and the quality of his positive personality?

In 1997, the Spurs selected him out of Wake Forest University (where he’d graduated at the age of 19) with the #1 overall pick. And they’ve played at an elite level ever since. He’s one of only eight individuals with back-to-back MVP seasons. Those other guys happen to be Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. Smell what I’m cooking?

In 1998, he shouldn’t have been named the Rookie of the Year, he should have been tabbed the Rookie of the Decade! Without boring you with stats, all you need to know is that the Spurs won 56 games his first year. The season before, they only won 20. During his tenure, the Spurs have won an amazing 70% of their games, along with 4 Championships. Shaq, who nicknamed Duncan “The Big Fundamental”, is the only active great with as many rings.

In the 2003 NBA Finals against the Nets, Duncan AVERAGED 24 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocked shots. In the series-clinching Game 6 victory, he was within two blocked shots of the only quadruple-double in NBA playoff history with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and eight blocks. INCREDIBLE!

If the numbers don’t really mean anything to you, let’s put it like this: he has put it on any and everybody like Barack put it on McCain.

He’s been better than Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Kevin McHale and every other transcendent talent that’s ever played the power forward position. Name another 7-footer that used the glass as well. Name another who was as versatile as a passer, scorer, rebounder, facilitator and defender. Admit it, you can’t do it.

In a league that seems to thrive more nowadays on style over substance, Tim Duncan continues to amaze with a selfless, fundamentally pure all-around game that’s a joy to behold. And it makes no sense to me that his peers and purists seem to be the only ones that look forward to watching him play. That’s like someone telling me that they just can’t listen to Stevie Wonder, laugh during Chappelle Show re-runs or watch Jamie Foxx portray Ray Charles. Are you serious?

Tim Duncan was never the strongest or fastest guy who jumped out of the gym for spectacular highlight reel plays. He stood out while managing not to stick out. Now, at the age of 32, his athleticism is not what it once was. And yet, he continues to make the young, up-and-coming studs, look more foolish than the Flavor Flave reality TV/love genre.

And as LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony and the next crop of greats put their stamp on the game, Duncan continues on like Oprah, as reliable as ever. He’s a once in a generation type of player who blessed his sport in the way that Miles Davis blessed the world of Jazz.

Are you one of those “casual fans” who thinks they know basketball and thinks that what Tim Duncan does is boring?  Would you rather watch some scrub dunk than witness the smooth poise of the baseline spin and ambidextrous hook shot? Do you moan every time the Spurs make it to the NBA Finals? If so, please shoot me your home address so my friend Mike Tyson can be sure to pay you a visit.

This story is filed under: Leave Me Alone, I'm Watching the Game!, Sports