Basketball / Maccabi goes for sixth European crown
By Ofer Matan
MADRID - Ironically, Maccabi Tel Aviv - the most capitalist brand in Israeli sports - arrived in Madrid yesterday ahead of the Euroleague Final Four at the same exact time as a mass socialist demonstration.
Out of all of the participants at the press conference that kicked off Final Four weekend, it was actually CSKA Moscow coach Ettore Messina who managed to break the exaggerated formality.
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"I think this press conference is too politically correct," he said after about 15 minutes of answering hollow questions. "I miss [former Maccabi Tel Aviv coach] Pini Gershon, who would tell a few jokes."
Everyone laughed, and even current Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Zvika Sherf managed a smile, but that concluded the informal part of the event.
Euroleague CEO Jordi Bertomeu opened with this gem: "The competition level this season was high, and we are proud of that," and then he surprisingly countered the claim that there were not enough tickets available for Maccabi Tel Aviv fans: "Fans are important to us, but you have to understand that this is not just an event for one country, it is a pan-European event."
Sherf would not answer a question as to whether he would use Nikola Vujcic, Derrick Sharp and Tal Burstein; Tau Vitoria coach (and former Maccabi Tel Aviv coach) Neven Spahija denied that he had any feelings of getting revenge on Maccabi, and Messina elegantly evaded the question of where he will be coaching next season. Even Siena coach Simone Pianigiani was surprising when he resolutely claimed that, "Any time you face Maccabi, you are the underdog," which can be interpreted as a psychological tactic in light of Siena's impressive Euroleague record, including a victory over Panathinaikos.
Sherf would not make any comparisons, saying only, "Next week, we are celebrating 60 years of independence in our state, and therefore a lot of people will be watching the game and supporting us."
In any case, the grandiose Euroleague production managed to fool a number of people, but not the American players with NBA experience.
"The Euroleague has invested a lot in this event," said Maccabi's Will Bynum after practice yesterday. "Can't you see that the Euroleague is getting close to the attractiveness of the NBA?" Bynum could not hide a derisive smile, and provided the answer: "I don't know, I hope some day it will happen."
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