January 2013 23
BC Khimki crisis update: Strike is on, but players practicing independently until Friday
The plot thickens. With the players apparently not willing to grant the BC Khimki front office another week to sort out its financial mess, the roster is reportedly now officially on strike. Russia-based blogger Vladimir Spivak of YouthHopes.ru provided a few updates on Twitter at about noon CET today. Spivak tweeted word from Zoran Planinic, […]
On BC Khimki crisis: Desperate plans made; club president meets with players; an ocean without water
BallinEurope was going to run its Euroleague Power Rankings — and perhaps a paean to Dimitris Diamantidis’ deceptively excellent play in Panathinaikos’ win over Unicaja Malaga last week — this morning, but a greater issue calls. BiE feels a rant coming on, so let’s present part one of the power rankings for the week, instead. […]
All eyes on Bobby Brown going into Montepaschi Siena-BC Khimki match
“In the future, everyone will be famous for one news-cycle” — that’s how BallinEurope would update Andy Warhol’s well-worn line for the 21st century. Until the story’s been beaten to death (and the public consciousness’ short-term fascination ends) on Friday, everyone gets a turn in the media spotlight: Honey Boo Boo, McKayla Maroney’s face, UFO […]
Podcast: On Tracy McGrady, other names in China; bizarre Japanese ball; awesome Hong Kong film
Episode number (sexy and) 17 of the Taking the Charge podcast series is now online. Admittedly, BallinEurope and heinnews deviate a bit from the Continental hoops with this show’s emphasis on Asia. However, our return interview with Jon Pastuszek of China-based NiuBball is certain to be of interest to any fan worth his/her salt. Get […]
Eurocup Last 16: Ratiopharm ulm must stop Rakocevic to top Red Star
A rough week doesn’t get any easier for Ratiopharm Ulm in its inaugural Eurocup Last 16 game tonight, with the Bundesliga side playing host to Red Star Belgrade after losing an 80-78 heartbreaker to FC Bayern Munchen on the weekend. Sport Eagle TV got a few minutes with Ulm head coach Thorsten Liebenath and player […]
Union in San Antonio: Spurs reportedly buy out Aron Baynes contract, sign to multi-year deal
This just in from TalkBasket.net: According to the international hoops-centric website, the San Antonio Spurs have signed Union Olimpija’s Aron Baynes to a multi-year deal and will complete a $400,000 buyout to land the player’s rights. Baynes had worked out for NBA teams including the Sacramento Kings in 2009, but didn’t stick in the big […]
Los Angeles Lakers reported appeal: Please trade for Pau Gasol (with video)
Now here’s a scoop. Seemingly a new website, Ballerball.com may put itself on the map with some nice undercover work. Reportedly the website got access to an as-yet secret advert put together by Los Angeles Lakers Basketball Inc. on the subject of shopping that perpetual object of trade rumors, Pau Gasol. Sarah McLachlan unwittingly lends […]
Highlight clip of the weekend: Valencia outlasts Bilbao in 113-111 shootout
Who needs “more speed, more excitement, a more free-flowing style” of basketball? Certainly not a couple of teams in the Liga Endesa this weekend, namely Eurocup contenders Valencia Basket and the Euroleague-bounced Uxue Bilbao. Valencia ultimately triumphed in overtime by a whopping final tally of 113-111. The boxscore alone is worthy of goggling over, with […]
Sonny Weems learns Russian, enjoys bathtub with cheerleader while hocking pizza
In a series of advertisements featuring CSKA Moscow players and dance team, Papa John’s hopes to be hocking a lot of pizzas in the big city. The advertising campaign is your fairly standard stuff; a representative sample runs starring Milos Teodosic, Andrey Vorontsevich, the team mascot and Anton Ponkrashov resembling the world’s largest pencil with […]
Follow the leader: FIBA commission likely to approve NBA court dimensions, rules
This one goes out by request. After a few hours of research (and lots of time spent frustratingly chasing dead ends) BallinEurope comments on FIBA’s first big official move of 2013 – the seemingly inevitable rule changes coming to international basketball representing further acquiescence in the shadow of the NBA. The story So here’s what’s […]
Podcast: Interview with Sonny Weems; Talking Minnesota with a Wolf Among Wolves
Happy new year wishes go out to everyone in online basketball land this evening from BallinEurope and BiE’ll even throw in a gift as bonus: 2013’s first episode in the “Taking the Charge” podcast series hosted over at heinnews.com. This week, host David Hein and yours truly sit for interviews with Sonny Weems in a […]