December 2011 39
Posters absoluts & Monsterdunken: The Eurocentric slam dunk of 2011 – plus 25 others
Before BallinEurope signs off for 2011, let’s give a late Christmas gift to the dunkaholics out there, shall we? Below runs a collection compiled through the year featuring dunks by Europeans, on Europeans or perhaps simply in Continental games. The first 20 will listed by competition, followed the top five runners-up and the champion jam […]
Message from Zalgiris Kaunas fans after national anthem rendition
BallinEurope got this note posted in comments on the recently-run piece regarding Žalgiris Kaunas fans raucously singing the national anthem prior to games in response to a Euroleague ruling for 2011-12 which bans formal performance of anthems. Ran the comment: “BallinEurope, you can update your article with the pic i posted: Žalgiris fans showing this […]
In defiance of Bertomeu, Žalgiris Kaunas fans sing on
In the spirit of ’11, BallinEurope’ll call it “Occupy Euroleague.” CEO Jordi Bertomeu made official a Euroleague decree at the start of the 2011-12 season which banned the performance of national anthems before games. (BiE kinda agrees with this dictum, actually, as most rosters are stocked with Europeans while clubs are owned/controlled by corporations and […]
Euroleague Top 16 Draw: Final results, early reactions
Get ready for phase two of the 2011-12 Euroleague season, as today league officials will be determining the groupings for the Top 16 round. BallinEurope will be watching the live stream over at Euroleague.tv, though quite a few nations — Spain, Greece, and Israel among them — have local sports stations shows the draw as […]
Ricky Rubio produces dazzling highlights in debut; Timberwolves lose to Thunder, 104-100
In a game BallinEurope’s been (half-)awaiting for years, Ricky Rubio debuted for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the team’s opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder last night. Though the Thunder won the game 104-100, Rubio impressed with six points, six assists, five rebounds (!), zero turnovers and his first NBA YouTube-worthy highlights. NBA dish no. 1 […]
The Eurocentric 2011-12 NBA Western Conference preview (plus Official Fearless Predictions™)
Okay, after that Xmas distraction, BallinEurope is ready to write up some more stuff about good tidings and cheer*, namely, the start of the NBA season. With hours to go, BiE’s got just enough time to get in the part two of the Euro-centric big-league preview in this brief look at the teams in the […]
Ho, ho, De Colo! Nando goes Santa Claus
Hey, look, it’s a Christmas card from Nando de Colo via BallinEurope’s man in Italy, Enrico Cellini! Enjoy and happy holidays! With few seconds on the clock, French combo guard Nando “Aladdin” de Colo is the man that Valencia fans want to see handling the ball. Check out the acrobatic fashion by which he knocked […]
The Eurocentric 2011-12 NBA Eastern Conference preview (plus Official Fearless Predictions™)
While basketball lovers are getting something of a Christmas gift this season in the December 25 NBA opening day – BiE says “something of” there because this belated debut is kinda like your parents saying, “Well, we’ll just give you your birthday gift at Christmas.” When your birthday’s in October – BallinEurope would like to […]
In Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas vs. Santa Claus
Only in Lithuania would an NBA first-round draft pick take on the spirit of Christmas himself on the basketball court – and get more fan support. Jonas Valanciunas recently appeared in Vilnius alongside a slightly more infrequent visitor to the Lithuanian city, i.e. Santa Claus. Valanciunas and Claus appeared as part of the festivities closing […]
Euroleague Top 16: Sorting out the advancement scenarios (plus Official Fearless Predictions™)
It’s one Euroleague game remaining in 2011 for each of the regular-season entrants, and with only four teams mathematically eliminated – Asseco Prokom, SLUC Nancy, Spirou Charleroi, Union Olimpija – a great many of the 16 matches on tonight and tomorrow night’s slate remain significant. BallinEurope takes a look at the opportunities for advancement into […]
Rinus de Jong Invitational: Dusan Bogdanovic and Belgrade select squad aboard
A select squad of U21 players from Belgrade will complete the field in this bracket of the Den Bosch-hosted Rinus de Jong Invitational playing out December 27-30. Serbian team Mega Vizura took the inaugural competition in the U20 bracket of the Dutch invitational tourney last year. This year, Belgrade Select brings twin towers from the […]
British Basketball League wrap: Wolves beat Eagles with 43-point fourth Q, now top table
There’s a new leader in the BBL after last weekend’s action, as the Worcester Wolves got to celebrate Christmas early in defeating the Newcastle Eagles. BallinEurope’s Sam Chadwick runs down his list to separate the naughty from the nice over this past weekend below…