San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker Improves Image by Joining French Team for Cheap

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker has always been well-respected on the court, but after his divorce with Eva Longoria, his public image took a hit.

That's why his latest gesture to join French team ASVEL for cheap during the NBA lockout is more critical for his image than probably even he realizes.

Parker, while waiting out the lockout, will reportedly be making $1,995 a month playing for his home team, mere chump change for a professional basketball player.

Parker told L'Equipe, via USA Today, "I''ll be playing nearly for free—If I play the entire season, we'll go for the title."

There will always be those that turn a cold shoulder to Parker based on his rumored actions that brought upon his divorce, or the fact that he was seen partying all over the globe shortly after his divorce.

But he did show character in this situation, and it shows that he does have class in some arenas. There will always be those who look down on him after his divorce, but at least we know now that he isn't the kind of monster some have made him out to be.

I'll admit that when I read the rumors about Parker, I lost some respect for him. Of course, they were rumors, but there did appear to be some truth to them.

But for the majority of his life, Parker has shown a lot of class. I think we may be coming down on him too hard.

I'm certainly not condoning cheating (as was the rumor), but everyone gets lost at some point in their life—we all make mistakes. If he did what he they say did, it's unforgivable, and that will always hang over his head, but at least he can start making amends now and working to improve himself.

And I don't believe this was done as some kind of PR stunt.

Parker has always displayed a loyalty to his homeland. It's where he came from. And this appears to be simply a kind-hearted gesture to give back to his country. We can all relate to that, right?

Parker may never live down his alleged transgressions of the past, but that doesn't mean he still can't be a respectable person from here on out.