CSKA Moscow 368
Eurobasket 2011: BallinEurope podcasts, makes Official Fearless Predictions™
As BallinEurope gets ready to hit the road for Lithuania – Panevezys, specifically, where BiE’ll be covering EuroBasket Group A action – there’s just enough time for a shameless plug and Official Fearless Predictions™. Last week, BiE guested on podcasts with the indomitable Freaknick over at the always fun and insightful Euroleague Adventures. We spent […]
FC Barcelona considers return of Rubio in lieu of Marcelinho Huertas signing
Now here’s a story BallinEurope’s been waiting for … with the lockout daily looking like impingement upon the 2011-12 NBA schedule will certainly happen, defending ACB champions FC Barcelona is talking about signing a high-profile NBA lottery pick to fill out its backcourt: Namely, Ricky Rubio. Spain-based Mundo Deportivo today reports that club officials are […]
WNBA names Top 15 of All-Time; so how about the greatest Euroleague Women's list…?
In advance of last weekend’s all-star game, the WNBA released its list of the 15 greatest players to ever play in the league. The official list runs as follows:
Coming to Europe: The top five most influential American players of all-time
With seemingly no end in sight to the NBA lockout situation forthcoming, BallinEurope has to admit to enjoying the schadenfreude of the situation … just a bit. Even more exciting than the day-to-day speculation as more and more players from the big league consider their Continental options are the possibilities for the future: History has […]
European Vocation: Early fallout from NBA lockout
The NBA fan’s nightmare came to pass yesterday with the expiration of the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the players, the concomitant announcement of a player lockout, and fresh new fear that professional basketball in 2011-12 might not even happen in the ‘States. BallinEurope’s gut reaction, at least on a visceral Eurocentric level? Cool! Bring […]
CSKA Moscow takes Russian championship; J.R. Holden announces retirement
The 2010-11 champion has been named in Russia and for the ninth consecutive season, it is CSKA Moscow. Along with the exultation of the Red Army’s 74-63 victory over BC Khimki, however, came the sad (if inevitable) news that longtime Muscovite J.R. Holden would be retiring from professional basketball. Playing nearly the entire game, Holden’s […]
From Zen Master to Euroleague Master in Los Angeles?
Whoa, well now. Los Angeles Lakers fans knew that life would be bizarre in the post-Phil Jackson world, but so immediately? And involving Ettore Messina, for Naismith’s sake? HoopsWorld reported last night (this morning by CET standards) that the four-time Euroleague champion coach might be coming aboard to serve under intriguing non-Kobe approved incumbent Mike […]
List of 2010-11 European Champions: Return from Barcelona edition
BallinEurope apologizes for the recent two-day drought of content in an attempt to catch up on “the day job” since returning from the Euroleague Final Four tournament. To (hopefully) make up for this dearth a bit, and in honor of Panathinaikos’ stirring win in the big league, BiE today presents an updated version of its […]
Euroleague Final Four flashback: FC Barcelona takes first EL title, 2003
While many of us (ahem) were shocked that FC Barcelona did not qualify for this year’s Euroleague Final Four to be played at the Blaugrana’s venue, Barca made good in defending home court the last time the Spanish capital hosted. In 2003, Barcelona brought a veritable dream team to the tournament to chase the team’s […]
Euroleague Final Four flashback: Kinder Bologna wows Palau Sant Jordi crowd, 1998
While Barcelona has played host to the Euroleague Final Four three times before, the Palau Sant Jordi has served as home venue only twice; the first of these was in 1998, some eight years after the stadium was opened. That year’s EL Final Four featured Kinder Bologna making the big tournament for the first time […]
Greek sports media pines for 2009, Panathinaikos' return as champions
BallinEurope isn’t the only one flashing back in the leadup to the Euroleague Final Four tournament starting on Friday: Sport.gr is also getting nostalgic, but for a slightly more recent past, namely 2009 and Panathinaikos’ 73-71 championship game victory over CSKA Moscow. See the heavily-weighted pro-PAO video here. (For slightly more balanced highlight clip, see […]
Euroleague Final Four flashback: CSKA Moscow vs. Real Madrid, 1969
The city of Barcelona has hosted the Euroleague Final Four three times before. In 1969, 1998 and 2003; for true devotees of European basketball, the memories of these three events will be nearly as tangible as this week’s on-court action. For those who don’t (or are too young to) remember, BallinEurope this week presents looks […]