"During the past nine seasons, Spurs point guard Tony Parker has picked up a trick or two for keeping his wits on the team's annual rodeo road trip.

The secret to sanity, it turns out, begins with sticking close to coach Gregg Popovich.

"Just go to nice restaurants with Pop and get tipsy sometimes," Parker joked. "That's the secret. Drink a lot of wine. It goes faster."

In the 18 days to come, Parker and the Spurs will have plenty of time for wining and dining out, in between a little road basketball.

Tonight in Memphis, the Spurs tip off their 10th annual rodeo road trip, having again been ejected from the AT&T Center until after the All-Star break by the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo."