You no doubt have noticed that Rudy is wearing something a little different tonight. I'm not talking about the all red shoes (though those are nice), but another piece of apparel. Rudy is wearing the No. 10 jersey of Fernando Martin, the first Spaniard to play in the NBA. Martin, a 6-10 power forward, signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers on May 6, 1986, playing 24 games for Portland in 1986-87, recording 22 points, 28 rebounds, nine assists and seven steals in 146 minutes.
After one season with the Trail Blazers, he returned to Spain to play for Real Madrid, where he played from 1981-1986 and 1987-89. Martin made 86 appearances on the Spanish National Team, earning the silver medal in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Tragically, Martin died in a car crash on Dec. 3, 1989 at the age of 27.
Martin was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame in the inaugural class on March 1, 2007
Enrique Garcia, a fan of Fernandez living in Spain, suggested the idea and Rudy thought it was a great way to honor Martin as the 20th anniversary of his death approaches.
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Casey, if you talk to Rudy you tell him that we all think he did great in the contest. It was obvious the NBA had it setup so Nate Robinson and Dwight Howard would get into the final round, I mean Nate Robinson's dunks were weak.
So if you talk to Rudy tell him his dunks were sick and he should be proud of himself. Kinda sucks Pau was tossing him passes (especially when the announcers started askin why he couldn't find a blazer teammate, why did't Brandon do it?) but oh well. So yeah, tell him good job for us. Thanks.
It's great that Rudy was able to honor him. He did a great job and should be proud of his performance. I am extremely upset about the obviously rigged scoring. That was shameful, seriously. But, Rudy did not dissapoint me and I knew he wouldn't. Do it again, but next time, drag Sergio with you! (I respect your decision to rest Sergio, NO hard feelings.) I am sure I speak for all the fans when I say GREAT JOB RUDY!!!!
Re: The fix. I would bet everybody knew ahead of time. Rudy included. Maybe not in so many words. But come on.
It was WWF lite. And despite that...kinda entertaining.
Rudy was....magnifico!!!!!
Mr. Fernandez, you are a class act. Well done! Great performance tonight as well.
(Español) Saludos desde España. Creo que los jueces han sido muy injustos con Rudy porque lo ha hecho muy bien, no se merecía una nota tan baja. Ha sido una pena, pero está claro que la NBA no le quería en la final. Espero que todo vaya bien en Portland, desde España os vemos muchos partidos y lo estáis haciendo muy bien, aunque dadle más minutos a Sergio Rodríguez que es muy buen jugador.
(English) Greetings from Spain. I think that the judges have been very unjust with Rudy because he has done it very well, such a low note was not deserved. What a shame, but it is clear that the NBA didn't want him in the final. I hope that everything is OK in Portland. In Spain we see many games and you are doing it very well, but give more minutes to Sergio Rodríguez who is a very good player.
Rudy...you did Portland and Spain proud tonight! We love you..thanks for bringing the entertainment to Portland,and tonight,sharing it with everyone else!
Rudy, you did a great job. It was amazing saw you, and Pau, and Marc in this All Star Weekend.
I am from Spain but living in Miami, and a basketball lover. Your tribute to the big Fernando Martin was very emotive and many people celebrate with you guys. For me was one of the biggest moments yesterday.
You guys are the best. Good luck to all, also Sergio. Thanks a lot for the fun, for the emotion. We love this game.
Viva España
Rudy was fantastic tonight! In Spain we are very proud of him. It was incredible when he shows Fernando Martin, jersey. He was a legend in Madrid. Blazers: now you have the best spanish player in history. Rudy is magical. If McMillan gives him more minutes he will show you his potential. He played better in Spain than he's doing this season. Confide in Rudy and he will become an all-star. No doubt.
Saludos desde Cartaojal (España). Está claro que los jueces han cerrado las puertas de la final a Rudy. Gran concurso de nuestro compatriota y felicidades a Portland por tan acertado fichaje.
I was something very touching for us, Spanish people, to see Rudy with Martin's Jersey. For all the spanish players in NBA (Rudy, Pau and Marc Gasol, Sergio or Jose Calderon), Fernando Martin was a TRULLY TRAILBLAZER. I mean, the one who opened a path that now they are running.
About the comments of Kenny Smith (i think he is the one in NBA videos, no?) saying... Ricky Martin? well... what a tiny brain he has... ;)
Fernando Martin was a player ahead of his time. I grew up watching his duels with Sabonis when both were in their 20's and played in Europe. Martin, Sabonis and Petrovic were my basketball idols and all of them played in Portland so, I presume this team must be something special for many european people who are in the mid thirties, early forties.
Rudy was great. Everybody in Spain remember the great Fernando Martín, and the dunk in honour of the first Spaniard in NBA was cool.
Martín was a pioneer. He decided to go to NBA when a European player was like sh...
¿Martín, Petrovic, Sabonis? Yes, all of them was between my favourites of all times. And all of them played for Blazers.
Hyyy I am Spanish and i think that rudy's dunks were better than the others. All my friends and a lot of people from Spain watched the Contest and it disappointed us. Rudy did a good job !!! The juror was very hard with him... only 42 points..rudy didn't deserve the last position... I hope that the next year won't be like this. uff I hope... but... rudy maybe won't go the next year... =( RUDY !! SPAIN STAY WITH YOU!! SOY PILAR de cordoba ESPAÑA y aqui somos super forofos tuyos !! y todos creemos que eres un crack !! sigue asii porque nos encantas !! xirimoya_@hotmail.com LEELOOOO !!!! por dioss !!!! jejeej
It was a pity, Judges have refused the whole world to see the Rudy's rainbow kick dunk... Thanks Majerle,Ceballos, and company...
Portland, Thank you for supporting Rudy. From Spain, we greatly appreciate your help and your support, and Rudy also do it. About the racist comments of the commentators, no comment. They were ridiculed in front of many millions. Rudy put his heart in his work, and although he did not perfect it did with the heart. I know many Americans are with him and the Spaniards too. Thanks again.
Viva Rudy!
Viva España!
Viva Portland!
Go Blazers!
Viva USA!
The NBA, has not much interest to get those kind of games here in Mexico, but thanks to internet some of us can see the great performance of Rudy F. It´s really bad to hear the guys that made the broadcast, to be so ignorant, their job is to know players and they dont even know Rudy well!!! I believe that al was set up to see "Superman" and Nate made the finals, That is sooo NBA... sucks they just jump... No imagination. Anyway I want to say to Rudy " Macho!! que hiciste un gran trabajo y te FELICITO, soy tu fan, saludos y buena suerte el resto de la campaña" Go Blazers Army!!!
Watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udfXU7LSYQQ
NBA owes spaniards an apology! Awesome Rudy! You made all Portland fans, and half of the world proud to show that not only Americans can dunk!
Watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udfXU7LSYQQ
NBA owes spaniards an apology. Awesome Rudy! You made all Portland fans, and half of the world proud to show that not only Americans can dunk!
Rudy Fernandez is a great player and he made a great a dunk but let's be honest with ourselves and not look at this thing in terms of nationality. Everyone had two minutes to complete their dunks. Everyone else completed their difficult dunks in two tries with much time left. Rudy took about 10 tries and used more than two minutes. Of course he isn't going to get a high score. Nate Robinson won because he is one of the smallest players in the league and was dunking better than everyone else. Would we say the NBA was rigged against Dwight Howard? No, so give credit where it's due.
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