As Marc Stein reports, Chris Webber said no to Europe, Greece and Olympiakos. Basically he said no to everybody but the Pistons and retirement.
I’m not going to Greece,” Webber said. “It’s no disrespect to [Olympiacos], but I can’t do that. I’m an NBA guy. I don’t want to just chase money. I want to make sure I respect the game.
“To tell you the truth, it’s kind of stupid in a way to turn down stupid money, as my dad would call it, but I can’t just do it for the money. If I’m going to play, I’m only going to play as a Piston … unless something crazy happens.”
Now if you call Olympikos’ money, which was about $10-12 million, stupid, you can count on it that some Greek fans will take that as disrespecting their holy club. This is not the NBA, this is more like the love Eagles fans have for their club (and a fan must love the Eagles pretty much right now to call himself a Eagles fan).
I am sure whatever decision Chris Webber would have chosen, it would have been a good one. People would have loved him Athens, people will love him in Detroit and if he retires even more people will love him for pursuing the great charitable things he is already involved in.
Just don’t call some Greek guys money stupid Chris – they don’t like that for sure.
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