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In a franchise that has no time for spotlights, with a roster that has no interest in headlines, R. Avalanche Jerseys 2020 .C. Buford may be the very embodiment of the all-for-one San Antonio Spurs. For more than two decades he has toiled in the shadows, happy to let the attention fall on coach Gregg Popovich and the team that Buford has played such a pivotal role in assembling. He quietly -- happily -- lives in the back channels and has built a reputation as one of the most respected executives in the NBA. Yet for all his impressive work over the previous 11 years as a general manager and architect of the most enduring success story in modern American sports, Buford had never been honoured by his peers as the leagues executive of the year. Until now. Buford won the award Wednesday, and as is the custom in the Alamo City, did as much as he could to downplay his significant contributions to a team that posted the best record in the NBA. "I think its not why we do what we do," Buford said. "I think its a great honour for the group of people that have been here and have been through here that have built and an ownership group thats allowed a continuity to build a program that were proud of so to be recognized as a program that people respect by your peers, thats rewarding." That Buford had never won the award before while helping to put together a team that won four championships and has posted a staggering 15 straight 50-win seasons has been one of the great mysteries in league annals. Hes helped put the Spurs at the forefront of the international invasion, implemented a system that demands commitment and humility over recognition and individual achievement, and has been partly responsible for so many teams pilfering his staff to run front offices or teams across the league. Yet he may have finally earned the award in his 12th season as GM because of what he didnt do. In the wake of a devastating loss to Miami in the NBA Finals last season, Buford didnt panic. He didnt give up on an aging Manu Ginobili. He didnt let Tiago Splitter get lured away by big money elsewhere. He followed the Spurs creed: Stay the course. Believe in the system. Never give in to outside influence. While other teams chased huge stars and made big splashes, Buford quietly re-signed Ginobili and Splitter and added second-tier free agent Marco Belinelli. The moves werent flashy, but were exactly what the Spurs, who enter Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Friday night leading Portland 1-0, needed to recover from that bitter defeat. "Its pretty cool," Popovich said. "Were all excited for him; long overdue. Hes done a great job for a very long time. Were giving him the requisite amount of you-know-what all over the offices. He walks down the halls we hit the walls we hit the sides to make room for him." Buford received nine first-place votes and 58 total points to win the award. Phoenixs Ryan McDonough (47) finished second for his superb job in turning the Suns from an afterthought into a 48-win team that just missed the playoffs. Neil Olshey, who added Robin Lopez, Dorell Wright and Thomas Robinson to bolster the Trail Blazers depth and get them into the playoffs, finished third in the voting with 34 points. Torontos Masai Ujiri and Miamis Pat Riley rounded out the top five. Popovich and Buford have made the Spurs the envy of the league, assembling one of the most uniquely stable systems in professional sports built around Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Ginobili, a trio that has won three championships together and keep coming back for more. "Weve been working with each other for a long time," Popovich said. "We participate in everything. Its been a great relationship in that regard. We share everything its benefited both of us and the organization without a doubt. Just having that ability to communicate and having an owner that allows us to do that." Popovich gets more of the credit for making the Spurs machine go, and thats just fine with Buford. But most around the league, and certainly everyone in San Antonio, recognizes what a big role Buford has played in helping the Spurs avoid the teardowns that almost every franchise has endured since he and Pop took over. "You recognize how difficult that is and how fortunate weve been that an ownership group has allowed us to stay together and have the opportunity to survive through the growing pains," Buford said. "To have a group of players that have wanted to be a part of what this community of San Antonio and what our fans mean to them. To have wanted to stay with an ownership group the sacrifices that theyve made to make this a unique environment and then how theyve handled themselves that presents a platform that other players want to come join. "Again, were not in this to win an award. Were in this to try to win a championship. Thats the reward were all hoping for." Colorado Avalanche Shirts .K. Subban and Matt Duchene will be the two skaters sitting out the teams opening game. Avalanche Jerseys 2021 . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/ . The alleged sexual assault is believed to have happened over the weekend of Feb. 1, when the hockey team was in Thunder Bay for two games against Lakehead University. The criminal investigation branch of the Thunder Bay Police Service is leading the investigation with help from Ottawa police.MEXICO CITY - Christina Kim had two eagles in a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead Thursday in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.Kim eagled the par-5 second and 17th holes at Club de Golf Mexico, the first-year venue after six seasons in host Lorena Ochoas hometown of Guadalajara.The course is really classic and classy. It reminds me of Lorena, Kim said.The 30-year-old American chipped in on the second hole.It was a good start to my round, Kim said. I had a good up-and-down on the first as well for par, so got myself on a good roll.On the 17th, she holed a 20-foot putt from the fringe.Just got a really good roll on the ball, Kim said. And for the first time in probably five months, Ive gotten excited. So I was like, Come on, come on! And it fell on the last rotation, so I was pretty pleased with that.Kim also birdied Nos. 4, 7 and 16 in her bogey-free round. She won the last of her two LPGA Tour titles in 2005.Spains Azahara Munoz was second. She eagled No. 17 to tie for the lead and dropped back with a bogey on the par-4 18th.People treat me like Im from Mexico, so thats really nice, Munoz said. After every hole, they sing Ole, Ole, Ole. Colorado Avalanche Gear. Little things like that. They make me feel good.I played so well today. I made a lot of good putts. I actually should have made a lot more, so that was nice.Third-ranked Lydia Ko birdied the final two holes for a 68. The 17-year-old New Zealander has two victories this year.Lizette Salas, Gerina Piller and Pornanong Phatlum shot 69. Top-ranked Inbee Park and Lexi Thompson, the winner last year at Guadalajara Country Club, were in the group at 70.Salas overcame an opening double bogeyI think I was a little bit nervous at the beginning, Salas said. Just kind of playing in Mexico, where my parents are from.Her father, Ramon, made the trip with her from California.He hasnt been out for a long time, Salas said. Coming back to Mexico has been special for him. His family, our family, is about six hours from here. ... Its funny, they thought I didnt speak Spanish and I said, Of course, I do! Im almost fluent.Michelle Wie bogeyed three of the first seven holes in a 73. She won the 2009 event for her first LPGA Tour victory.Second-ranked Stacy Lewis had a 76, leaving her tied for 31st in the 36-player field. ' ' '