Divine Intervention? Who the 'Spurs Nuns' Are That Inspire the Team
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
New York has celebrities like Ben Stiller, Tina Fey, and Tracy Morgan among its superfans; San Antonio, on the other hand, has a group of nuns who wear Spurs jerseys over their habits. They are the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco. On game nights, they are known as the 'Spurs Nuns.' This relationship dates back at least 20 years, and for the sisters, it makes perfect sense. 'We serve the poor and the youth. To connect with young people, you have to love what they love; that way, they will love what you love. That's why we have an affinity with the Spurs, because it gives us a way to fulfill our mission with the youth we serve,' said Sister Bernadette Mota, director of the mission development department of the Salesian Sisters. This story began in a very particular way. According to reports, about two decades ago, some retired sisters—originally from Texas and big Spurs fans—watched games on television or listened to them on the radio, even while hospitalized. They cheered for all the players and coach Gregg Popovich. However, at times, Popovich seemed to lose his cool on the court, which led some sisters to write him letters. 'They wrote to Coach Popovich to congratulate him when he did a good job and also to point out when he lost his patience, but always from a place of support. He was the one who responded, thanking them for backing him and the Spurs. It was a very natural conversation that started all of this,' explained Mota. Yes, it's true: the nuns scolded Popovich for his behavior. Popovich and the Spurs have maintained their relationship with the sisters since then. Popovich's late wife, Erin, also had close ties with them and their work. The relationship has been beneficial for both sides: the Spurs enjoy having the sisters at games, and their story has inspired many to support their mission. 'We have had many people reach out and donate anywhere from $10 to $100, and also others with greater capacity to help. All of this is divine providence, a gift from God, because we really have many needs. Our mission depends on the generosity of those who collaborate with us,' Mota commented. The sisters are not the only group of fans that the Spurs have adopted. This season, the 'Jackals' emerged, a group driven by Victor Wembanyama to recreate the atmosphere of European soccer, with organized chants and drums during games. The nuns pray. The Jackals chant 'Olé, Olé, Olé.' Different styles, same intention. 'I always knew that the Spurs community had this energy. And now seeing it channeled in an organized, efficient, and effective way is a great joy,' said Wembanyama. Joy: that is also the word the sisters use. Around the team, it was noted that the sisters gave a special blessing to Luke Kornet during the Western Conference Finals, and shortly after, he made an impressive block in Game 7 in Oklahoma City, helping secure San Antonio's victory heading to the Finals. Divine intervention? Perhaps. It also does not go unnoticed by the sisters that Pope Leo XIV's prayer intention for June is dedicated to the value of sports and its ability to promote peace and respect worldwide. 'I don't know if those who helped choose the Pope's intentions were aware of what happens with the sisters and the Spurs. Maybe they were, maybe they weren't. I have no idea. But it seems incredible to me that the intention for June is about sports,' said Mota.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
