BLOGS of pro basketball players overseas
Behind the backboard: the truth about life overseas
There are currently 6787 ex-college players, who play 2012-13 season overseas
    *the number is for both men and women players, who play outside of the U.S. (updated on 5/21/2013) Check Detailed list by College or by country

Login
Add New Blog
6
Posts
2
Posts
Phil Brooks's Blog
3
Posts
2
Posts
2
Posts
16
Posts
17
Posts
15
Posts
28
Posts
Chris Terrell's Blog
Philip Perre's Blog
Kristin Joyner's Blog
Majic Dorsey's Blog
Chudney Gray's Blog
Brandon Thomas's Blog
Romain Leroy's Blog
Glenn Stokes's Blog
Akeem Scott's Blog
Benjamin Raymond's Blog
Ronald Dorsey's Blog
Brandon Cole's Blog
Curtis Scipio's Blog
Desmond Penigar's Blog
Timothy Gainey's Blog
*AddMe's Blog
Corey Belser's Blog
Casey Archibald's Blog
Diamadis Farmakis's Blog
Derrick Obasohan's Blog
Dusty Rychart
DUSTY RYCHART'S BLOG    View profile
201cm / 6'7'' - Forward - 1979    USA Australian USA-Australian

BLOG POSTINGS


The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Jan 29, 2012

POSTED BY:
EUROBASKET CENTER
  follow us on Facebook Twitter


Chris
Terrell
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is one of my favorite movies of all time. I thought it was an appropriate title for this post about my experience in Romania for many reasons. Romania got it's name from the Roman Empire as they came to this part of Europe in their conquests of centuries ago. The culture, food, and language takes influence from many places and has it's own unique things that make Romania special. The movie too, takes things from different cultures and far away lands. Many of the characters are meant to be of Mexican heritage and the sets made to be the sweeping vistas of the old American west. But as many know, it is called a Spaghetti Western because it was filmed, cast, and shot almost entirely in Italy in the late 1960s... a true classic. Really the foreigner in the movie even though it is supposed to be the American west of the 1800s is the part played by Clint Eastwood. I too, am the foreigner in this country and this league so I, with my readers, learn more and more about each as the weeks pass by.

The Good: I've talked about it alot already. Very friendly, articulate, passionate people that love basketball and American culture. It is reflected in the food, the music, the secondary language for many (English) and of course that litle bouncing orange ball that we all love to talk about, play, and coach, and manage and it brings us all here to Eurobasket. I love it here. What can I say. Each day brings something new as I learn the culture, and the food, and the people all make it feel as close to home as possible for this I am truely grateful. The league has some really good players and the competition is a challenge especially for a club in it's first year in the top division. Each game we learn something new about eachother and we're growing day by day, now some 3 weeks into our time together, as I took over the coaching responsibilities on the 4th of January. This program will be a strong team in this division for many years to come and although their have been a few obstacles; no challenge and subsequent glory is really appreciated without the sacrifices along the way.

The Bad: There have been a few things that were done really before I became a part of this organization that were not beneficial to the team. We've worked hard to find out exactly what those things are and made steps to correct them. All clubs deal with off the court issues, some to varying extent. It's not my place to speak on off the court things but I will only say that the true intentions of the noble are rewarded ten fold and the greedy that seek to only benefit themselves will be shunned from the rest of society when their intentions are made known. Thank God, Giurgiu has weeded out these terrible things and every day will take another step forward and away from these types of people. Agents, I hope you get to the place where your business is done with transparancy and that the fear of everyone knowing the truth is no longer a worry to you. This isn't communist Russia any longer. Please, for the benefit of your clients, do things the right way and the reward will be years of a trusted relationship with the teams in which you work so hard each day.

The Ugly: I've coached in 8 professional leagues around the World and have seen enough to know the way things are done abroad and how that contrasts with the way they are here. Romania has a big problem with the officiating in this league. If this league is going to continue it's maturation towards being a more respected body of clubs moving forward in the eyes of FIBA, Europe, and the World it needs to deal with this problem. The arbitrators are some of the most one sided, deliberately guilty group I have ever seen. It is blatant and obvious, even to those who receive the benefit that the officiating here is not fair, unbiased, and mutually equitable. There are 4 or 5 clubs that pay the bigger salaries, that have tradition, and I don't want my words to be viewed as disrespectful to them. They've worked hard to build their organizations and have many hardworking good people and I would never try to imply that their accomplishments are some how tainted but the balance in the officiating here doesn't exist. I know, years of coaching in Asia, in Latin America, in the United States, that the home team has a small advantage, this is human, as the crowd applies a certain subconcious factor to the score of the game. It's ok, as long as it happens when we're at home too, no problem.

I don't want to throw all the officials in the same boat. I am sure there are several that take impartiality as a badge of courage and seek out each work day to bring justice to the court. Just like a judge, many of their judgements are questioned by many, and the job isn't full with lots of supporters. I have many many friends that put on that black and white uniform everyday and I know how hard your job is. But when I tell you that in a span of 10 minutes they can completely change the game it is true more than I've ever seen here. There are certain clubs that are expected to win and if the game is in the balance they will simply swallow their whistles and allow one team to take a decided advantage. It is so blatant and so obvious, not just a judgement call here or there, but an extended period of a quarter of the game or more, sometimes the 3rd, sometimes the 4th where the signal to one of the teams is this is your time to push and shove and slap at people's arms and knock players down and we're going to be silent and let it happen. As coaches, we feel the momentum and the way the game is called and adjust our tactics to take full advantage of this signal. It is the ugliest I have ever seen. On the other end a touch foul and a whistle. Back on offense, we can not make one pass without getting dislodged from our position and instead of a foul it is travelling or a turnover when the arm is seperated from the ball. If one team is better than the other team, why do they need so much help?

To take excerpt from the book Michael Jordan Rules: One player might be given the benefit of the doubt in certain situations, but I have never seen the bias that entire teams of players receive for obvious segments of the game like I've seen in this league. I know the federation is trying to fix it and I don't want my words to discourage their movement in this area. Again, there is an old communist way of doing things in Eastern Europe and the people have spoken, we need change, we need transparancy, we need justice, give us Integrity. You know who is the problem. If you want the level of this league to rise in the minds of the basketball world, make these things right.

Maybe if I set my chair at halfcourt in the middle of the floor during the game and cross my arms I will make my point to 3 men, but if I set my chair in the middle of the basketball World's court of public opinion, hopefully I can influence the masses. I may not be Clint Eastwood but I am going to borrow one of his lines from another classic; A Fistful of Dollars: 'I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. You see my mule don't like people laughin'. He gets the crazy idea that you're laughin' at him. Now if you appologize, like I know you're going to, I might be able to convince him that you didn't mean nothing by it.' I am not a man with no name, I am Coach Chris Terrell . I stand before you ready to be judged.

Thanks for reading, I hope you found it equally educational as you did motivational. It is together that positive change is made throughout the World. I hope to have your support.   


SHARE ON:
      


Marcus
Melvin
CSS Giurgiu new additions Marcus Melvin and Bryson McKenzie- Dec.26, 2012  (by Eurobasket Center)

CSS Giurgiu has announced the signings of Import Center Bryson McKenzie (211-C-83, college: N.Illinois) and Import Forward Marcus Melvin (203-F-82, college: N.Carolina St.). Bryson McKenzie is a 6'11 (2.11m) Center from the USA (Indiana). He has played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Summer League as well as helped his club in Hungary to a division championship. Last season Bryson was a big part of the success in Romania for CSM Bucharest [read more]

Jefferson
Mason
Sibiu makes a series of moves before the break- Dec.8, 2012  (by Eurobasket Center)

After a strong performance in the Romanian Cup that saw his club advance to the round of 8, Dragan Petricevic stepped down from the helm of Sibiu after a rough start to the season saw his club at 3-6. Sibiu has a long standing basketball tradition and has one of the largest fan bases in the region [read more]

Sean May
Group E (Eurochallenge) Paris (France) vs. Pitesti (Romania)- Nov.2, 2012  (by Eurobasket Center)

Former Charlotte Bobcats Big Man Sean May(206-F-84, college: N.Carolina) and Paris Levallois (France Pro A) take on 2011 Romanian Cup Champion BCM U Pitesti in the Eurochallenge matchup November 6th. The game is available live in Romania on Dolce Sport but is also available on the net. Just search tvr online and most every game broadcast on Romanian television is also made available online [read more]
Week 3 round up - Team Scoring Oct.18, 2012
The time is Now!! Oct.4, 2012
Giurgiu defeats CSM, Mobitelco, and Dinamo in Romanian CUP Sep.30, 2012
Romanian Cup - Regional Qualfier (Dobresti) Sep.27, 2012
Romania, Russia, Austria, Hungary, Serbia - Preseason action 9/16 Sep.16, 2012
Giurgiu and Rovinari meet in Championship of Cupa Energia Sep.11, 2012
Energy Cup Sep.3, 2012
Romania: Preseason underway Aug.22, 2012
Perry Petty signs with Giurgiu Aug.20, 2012
Josh Simmons and Chris Ware sign with Giurgiu Wolves Aug.15, 2012
Summer Time Aug.13, 2012
CSM Bucharest signs Damjan Kandic Aug.2, 2012
Marcel Jones to Pitesti Jul.26, 2012
BC Timisoara inks PF/C Delvon Johnson Jul.25, 2012
Kinloch returns to Pitesti Jul.23, 2012
Timisoara signs Capusan Jul.23, 2012
Player Movement Jul.23, 2012
Giurgiu inks Center Trevor Harvey Jul.22, 2012
Giurgiu inks forward Devon Pearson Jul.22, 2012
Giurgiu inks guard Brandon Johnson Jul.22, 2012
Vlaicu and Burrell return to Giurgiu Jul.16, 2012
Asesoft wants to join EuroCup - Timisoara to play in EuroChallenge May.23, 2012
The bigger they are - The harder they fall Mar.13, 2012
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Jan.29, 2012
When you get snow, make a snowman Jan.26, 2012
Coach Terrell in Romania Jan.18, 2012
Joshua blog! Dec.5, 2011
Copyright (c) 1998-2013 Eurobasket Inc. Disclaimer

WARNING:
Do not copy, redistribute, publish or otherwise exploit information that you download from the site !
Do not encumber, license, modify, publish, sell, transfer or transmit, or in any way exploit, any of the content of the site, nor will you attempt to do so.

Global Player Search: