Longform 23
Let’s do more than lunch – How collaboration can spur European basketball
In part four of our long-form series on the civil war in European basketball, Emmet Ryan looks at the benefits real collaboration between FIBA and Euroleague would bring and examines the obstacles the war has created Check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 It turns out 2 June was THE day in European […]
The Basketball Champions League – FIBA’s brand of hard ball
After a lengthy absence, part three of BallinEurope’s look at the civil war in European basketball continues with analysis of what the Champions League actually means for the sport. For past coverage check out Emmet Ryan’s features on the problems with a closed shop Euroleague and the need for a strong Eurocup FIBA wants back […]
Fighting Football is foolish aka why Eurocup is vital
In the second part of out longform series on the business of basketball, Emmet Ryan looks at the vital role a secondary competition such as Eurocup plays in the overall growth of basketball in Europe. Part one, on the Euroleague proposal for next season, is here Football is big and people with money know this […]
Closing off sense – Euroleague, Champions League, and market stagnation
In the first of a series of pieces looking at the business and marketing of European basketball, Emmet Ryan reacts to the news that Euroleague may fully close off entry to the new 16 team competition The civil war has been ugly. The fans have been left hanging by and large. Money talks, naturally, but […]
A tale of two coaches
Aleksandar Djordjevic and Jonas Kazlauskas had a battle of wits on Friday. It was the Lithuanian supremo who prevailed and is going to the final. Emmet Ryan tells their story This place wasn’t full but it sure was loud. All day the talk was that this was Serbia’s to lose. The only people giving Lithuania […]
Pau fights to the last as Spain overcome France in OT thriller
Pau Gasol refused to quit even when his body begged him to. Pau’s heart told it to shut up and keep playing. It was just enough to stop France, writes Emmet Ryan Pau Gasol had sent the message clear before this game. He wanted to beat France in front of their own fans. He remembers […]
A rainy day in Lille
Rather than report on every game individually, Emmet Ryan has treated the second day of Last 16 play as one continuous piece. That and it rained 12.00 – My bed, Ronchin I realised something was up. My alarm hadn’t gone off. Turns out it doesn’t work if you turn the phone off. Not to worry, […]
Looking for EuroBasket
Emmet Ryan didn’t go to the arena on Thursday. Instead he hit Berlin to see if he could find an impact made by the tournament on the 3 million people here In the Mercedes-Benz Arena, EuroBasket was everything. In that bubble of basketball, the idea that these games weren’t the most important thing in the […]
Euroleague: It’s ours, that’s enough
The 2013-14 Euroleague season tips off tonight and Emmet Ryan is here to introduce you, old and new, to the year ahead. I’ve a really tatty pair of running shoes. I only got them in January but they are full of holes and pretty much a threat to my safety. My girlfriend hates them. It […]
Euroleague: It's ours, that's enough
The 2013-14 Euroleague season tips off tonight and Emmet Ryan is here to introduce you, old and new, to the year ahead. I’ve a really tatty pair of running shoes. I only got them in January but they are full of holes and pretty much a threat to my safety. My girlfriend hates them. It […]
Sergey Belov: A Soviet Icon
In a guest post, Uygar Karaca reflects at length on the late Sergey Belov and his legacy in Russia and Europe. On a recent visit to the website of Spartak St. Petersburg club, I found an interesting article with some famous names. It says that the club and players made a visit to the graveyard […]