<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SAN ANTONIO, May 4 -- Bruce Bowen saw a name flash across the television three years ago and could not fathom what he was hearing: "With the 28th pick in the 2001 NBA draft, the San Antonio Spurs select......Tony Parker." "No way, can't be that kid," Bowen, the Spurs shooting guard, said to himself. Not the kid whose father, Tony Parker Sr., counseled an immature malcontent in the French League almost a decade ago, when Bowen was doing more complaining than playing for Evreux. Not the koala-bear cute, little 12-year-old, who introduced himself in a halting Parisian accent, "You are Bruce Bowen, yes? Hi. Nice to meet you." Not the kid who would grow up, find Bowen on the right wing, find Tim Duncan underneath the rim, find a way to direct the San Antonio Spurs past the Los Angeles Lakers and to a championship at a mere 21 years old -- while still managing to look 12. Not the unquestioned floor leader, who skittered past the Lakers and made Gary Payton look 38 in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals here on Sunday, the point guard who stopped and popped for 20 points and 9 assists in 42 minutes. That kid? That kid. "It wasn't until I saw his face come across the screen that I was sure," Bowen said. "I remember thinking, 'It's him, with less hair.' " </div> <div align="center"><u>Full Story</u></div>
