In a lockout-shortened season of the NBA during 1998-1999, the San Antonio Spurs won their first-time NBA championship. I recall there were critics that said this victory was tainted because there were only 50 games played instead of the 82 games in a full season. That short season is marked with an asterisk. However, the Spurs team and fans didn't go for the idea that theirs was a championship with an asterisk that indicated something less than a real championship. "Winning is winning." "All the other teams also played 50 games and had an equal chance to win." However, I also recall that when the Spurs won their second NBA championship in 2002, San Antonio wanted an exclamation point to mark that season. The taint was no more.