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Americas game, basketball, is catching on in Italy
How long before we have International League?
This past month, my team has been doing a lot of traveling. Not only in Italy, but Yugoslavia and West Germany as well.
Through these trips I have run across many vacation-
Kyle Macy
Cats' Pause Columnist
ing Americans. After I respond to their questions of what brings me to Europe, their next comment us usually. "Oh! I didn't know they played basketball in Italy."
I am not sure if this is just the American mentality that basketball is our sport and no one else plays or because they just are not sports fans. But, times are changing and Americans should take note.
If memory serves me right, Italy won the silver medal in basketball at the LA Olympics. I also recall the Yugoslavian team on the gold medal platform in Seoul. Not the John Thompson American team. So basketball is fast becoming an international sport. I wonder how long it will be before there will be an International League?
I know the USA Today newspaper is covering more of the Italian League results this year because of Danny Ferry and Brian Shaw signing for S2 and SI million, respectively.
If memory serves me right, Italy won the silver medal in basketball at the LA Olympics. I also recall the Yugoslavian team on the gold medal platform in Seoul. Not the John Thompson American team. So basketball is fast becoming an international sport. I wonder how long it will be before there will be an International League?
There are also many good players here.
As you can see, if you take a look at the accompanying chart, there are a good many Americans playing. Some are young and trying to get experience so one day they can play in the NBA. Some are older, with many years of NBA experience that still love to play. The latter seems to be the category I fall in. I still feel I could play for some NBA team, at least a solid reserve role, but after my last year with the Indiana Pacers, where I was not even given that opportunity, other teams were unsure. That is why I decided to play here.
I get a chance to play. Not just to score, but the opportunity to do all the things on the court I knew I could do, and be successful. Not just sit and watch as the team goes 42 and 42 with a coach that won't make any changes. But then, that's the NBA, and I have not even mentioned agents, maybe another day.
Hopefully now, you are a little more knowledgable of European basketball (at least the Italian League). And if you ever are traveling abroad and you come across an American basketball player playing in Italy, you can say, "Oh, yeah! I have heard about that league. One last thing, talk to them in English!
Heading to the Hoop,
Kyle
Non-Italians who have played in Italian League in '89-90
squadra a-1
Team  Players
Phillips Milano  McAdoo, lavaroni, Cureton
Enimont Livorno  Alexis, Binion
Scavolini Pesaro  Daye, Cook
Knorr Bologna  Richardson, C. Johnson
Benetton T-eviso  Gay, Macy
Phonola Caserta  Oscar, Gluckov
Arimo Bologna  McNealy, Feitl
Ranger Varese  Thompson, Matthews, Green
Paini Napoli  McQueen, Berry, Sunara
Vismara Cantu  Mannion, Bouie
Reggio Calabria  Henderson, Caldwell
Irge Desio  Talbert, McGee, K. Johnson, Gibson
Riunite Reggio Emilia  Gregory. Reddick
Neutroroberts Firenze  Anderson, Kea
Messaggero Roma  Ferry. Shaw
Panapesca Montecaftnt  Knego. Landsberger
J First-year players listed in bold type
squadra a-2
Team  Players
Ipifim Torino  Dawkins. Kopicki
Pall. Livorno  Addison, Rolle
Hitachi Venezia  Radovanovic, Lamp
Alno Fabriano  Israel, Solomon
Glaxo Verona  Bailey, Schoene
Kleenex Pistoia  Douglas. Rowan
Marr Rimini  Wright, Smith
Annabella Pavia  Lock, Montenegro
Filodoro Brescia  Mitchell, Pittman
Fantoni Udine  King, McDowell
Braga Cremona  Griffin, Sappleton
Jolly Forli  Fox, Smrek, Garrett
San Benedetto Gorizia  G. Johnson, Vargas, Poquet
Teorematur Arese  Vranes, D. Middleton
Stefanel Trieste  Tyler. L. Middleton
Popolare Sassari  Allen, Sheehey
u First-year players listed in bold type