Spurs' Ginobili has rabies shot after catching bat

By The Associated Press

(AP) -- Manu Ginobili has decided to stay away from bats in the future.

The San Antonio Spurs star says on his Facebook page that he had to be vaccinated for rabies after catching a bat and removing it from the court during a victory over Sacramento on Halloween.

Ginobili posted Monday that he doesn't know if the bat had rabies but he had to get vaccinated to make sure he was safe. He also encouraged people to "avoid contact with bats, skunks, raccoons, rats and animals like that."

The bat swooped into the AT&T Center on Saturday night and descended onto the court late in the first period. The bat circled and left only to return - briefly.

Ginobili swatted it out of the air with a bare hand and carried the creature off the court to thunderous cheers.

Updated November 3, 2009