David Liao's Blog

這篇文章是2005年8月份空中英語教室內的文章
當然也是有人PO在PTT上我才有機會能看到這篇文章
雖然這篇文章算是歷史舊文章了
但還是希望能保留這篇文章
也順便學些英文囉^^

Tim Duncan--A champion's heart

提姆鄧肯--王者雄心

This NBA super star triumphs on and off the court

這位美國職籃巨星不論上場下場都很成功

Growing up on St.Croix in the Virgin Islands, Tim Duncan never thought he would be a professional basketball player. During his childhood, Duncan was a competitive swimmer. Duncan only started playing basketball when Hurricane Hugo destroyed his practice pool in1989. He was about 13 years old at that time.

Two years later, NBA player Chris King saw Duncan play in a high-school basketball game. King was so impressed that he convinced the coach at Wake Forest University, King's former school, to recruit Duncan.

提姆鄧肯在維京群島的聖克洛伊成長，從未想過自己會變成一位職業籃球員。小時候，鄧肯是出色的游泳選手。1989年雨果颱風毀壞了練習泳池，那時他約十三歲。

兩年後，美國職籃球員克里斯金看到鄧肯在一場高中籃球賽中的表現，對他印象深刻，於是就說服之前就讀威克森林大學的教練網羅鄧肯。

College Years

大學時光

At Wake Forest, Duncan excelled on the court. In fact, experts predicted he would be the NBA's No.1 draft pick if he left college after his junior year. But Duncan had made a pledge to his mother that he would graduate from college. Besides, he really enjoyed college life. He continued his studies at Wake Forest one more year and graduated with a degree in psychology.

That year, he was honored as college basketball's Player of the Year. And after graduating, he was still the No.1 NBA draft pick.

就讀威克森林大學時，鄧肯在球場表現出色。事實上，專家預言，假如他在唸完大三時離開學校，將會成為美國職籃的新秀狀元。但是鄧肯曾經向母親發誓，保證會唸完大學(鄧肯母親在他14歲時病逝)。而且他也非常喜愛大學生活。他繼續在威克森林大學讀了一年，獲得心理學學士學位。

那年，他獲得大學籃球年度球員的榮耀。畢業之後，他仍然以新秀狀元之姿進入美國職籃。

NBA all-star

美國職籃明星

For many players, the transition from college basketball to the NBA is a hard one. Players often take a few years to adjust to the tougher competition. If Duncan had a hard time, it didn't show. In 1998, the NBA named him its Rookie of the year.

Duncan is one of the few players who have been honored as an all-star for both offensive and defensive play. He not only scores for his team; he keeps the other team from scoring. That makes him a truly unique NBA player.

對許多球員來説，從大學籃球隊轉換到美國職籃是很辛苦的。通常他們都得花幾年的時間來適應這更加嚴苛的競爭。就算鄧肯真有過這樣艱困的調適時光，外人也看不出來。1998年，他獲得美國職籃的年度最佳新秀。

鄧肯是少數曾獲得進攻與防守明星兩項殊榮的球員。他不只為自己的球隊得分，也阻止對方得分。讓他成為真正傲視群倫的美國職籃球員。

Humble champion

謙遜的冠軍

In 1999 and again in 2003, Duncan and his all-star teammate David Robinson helped the San Antonio Spurs win the NBA Championship. Duncan was particularly happy about their victory in 2003 because it was Robinson's final season.

Though Duncan was named MVP in both championships, he was quick to give credit to his coach and his teammates. This humble attitude has won Duncan admiration from the entire sports community. In fact, he and Robinson shared the 2003 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award for their selfless play on the court.

1999年以及2003年，鄧肯與他的明星球員隊友大衛羅賓森兩度協助聖安東尼奧馬刺隊贏得美國職籃冠軍。鄧肯對他們2003年的冠軍特別興奮，因為那是羅賓森最後一個球季。

雖然鄧肯在兩次冠軍賽中都獲選為最有價值球員，但是他卻馬上將榮耀歸功於教練與隊友。這種謙遜的態度，讓鄧肯獲得整個運動界的推崇。事實上，他和羅賓森以球場上無私的表現，共同獲得了2003年最佳運動精神獎的殊榮。

Making the best of the hard times

化悲哀為力量

Along with his triumphs, Duncan, 29, has had to deal with his share of tragedies. In 1990, his mother died of cancer. Then 2002, his father alsodied of cancer. To honor his parents, Duncan and his wife, Amy, created the Tim Duncan Foundation. They host fundraiser s for cancer research. So far they've raised over $550,000 dollars.

Duncan also works with kids who have lost parents at an early age. And every time the Spurs play on their home court, he donates 40 game tickets to children from poor families.

When he's not playing basketball or doing charity work, Duncan visits his family. He really look up to his sisters and loves being around them. When he wants to relax, Duncan likes watching movies and surfing the Internet. Those hobbies are not surprising for a guy who has a reputation for being quiet.

Despite his quiet manner, Tim Duncan really stands out in the sporting world--and not just because he's 7 feet tall. This truly gifted athlete uses his big talent to make the world a better place.

在諸多勝利之餘，29歲的鄧肯仍舊必須面對他的人生悲劇。1990年，母親死於癌症。然後在2002年，父親也因癌症過世。為了紀念雙親，鄧肯和太太艾咪成立了鄧肯基金會。他們為癌症研究主持募款活動來籌募經費。到目前為止，他們已募得超過55萬美元(2005年)。

鄧肯也為幼年失親的孩子供獻心力。在每一次馬刺隊的主場比賽時，他都會捐出40張門票給窮困家庭的孩子。

打籃球及公益活動之餘，他會去探視家人。鄧肯十分尊重他的姐妹們，也樂於和她們在一起。想要放鬆時，他喜歡看電影及上網。這些嗜好對於一個以沈默寡言著稱的名人來説並不意外。

儘管態度內斂，提姆鄧肯在世界體壇仍十分醒目，這並不只因他身長七呎。這位天生的運動員用他的天賦異稟讓世界更美好。

資料來源：[NBA]Tim Duncan我中心的籃球之神沒有之一