We have probably attended the final of Greek league most convulsive in history. Confrontations, insults, police flights, allegations of racism, postponement of parties, cancellation threats and even government intervention to reign peace … that never reigned.
And finally there was end. He Olympiacos sentenced in The Pireo The fourth game, 85-71, and with that it took the Greek title that, as the thing was put, they have celebrated more than if it were the Euroleague. In sports, the fourth game had the focus on Shaquielle McKissicauthor of 20 points and from which by the way it was rumored that he could decide to withdraw, a decision that would have rethink after his heroic action, and the injury of Sasha Bezenkov In the second quarter, he had to be helped by his teammates for a problem in the ankle and did not play again.
But at the end of the crash, again the prominence focused on Ergin Atamanthe volcanic coach of Panathinaikos That, how could it be otherwise, ended up exploding before journalists at the press conference after defeat. Ataman He tangled up in all the problems in the final, pulling, above all, against Evan Fournier.
The first thing he did Atamanyes, is to admit the superiority of Olympiacos. “Congratulations on what they have done on the track. They have deserved it, they have played better than us in the last two games“Then he continued.”But outside the apista, well, I have to talk with respect for everyone, except one“, making clear reference to Evan Fournierwho did not explicitly mention.
To Atamanthe obscene gestures of French in the Oak to the public of Panathinaikos In the third game they were unacceptable and had no punishment beyond a technique, which demonstrates according to the Turkish coach, “The double standard of Greek basketball leaders“.
His complaints with the Balonsto administrators in Greece, extended even more. Ataman He recalled that he had trained in Greece, Türkiye and Italy: “We will continue fighting on the court but what I have seen in this country …, I had never seen something like this in my 30 years of career“.
The technician also referred to a recent meeting he had before a Committee of the Greek Federation about his complaint for racist insults in Piraeus: “I had to defend myself in front of a jury for three hours to protect my country. That doesn't happen anywhere else“He denounced.
In the postpartid press conference, Ataman He referred again to racist insults and against his country received in the fourth game from the stand of the Pavilion of Peace and Friendship. “There were many insults against my country during the party. And again nobody did anything, nobody stopped the party, neither the referees nor the federation“The coach revealed a conversation with the Turkish ambassador to Greece, anticipating the insults of the fourth party, to inform the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye.
At one time for the delirious press conference of Atamanthe coach of PAO compared its template with that of the Olympiacos In relation to the Greek players of both teams: “I love Greece. I have seen many Greece flags in the stands but how many giegos players play at Olympiacos? Only one. Others are Greeks of Lie, such as Walkup, veilswho plays to Bulgaria, or Dorsey. In the Panathinaikos we have many Greek players, important players such as Sloukas, Mitoglou, Papapetrou, Kalaitzakis, Samodurov…, and they come against me with the Greek flag because I'm Turkish … it's fine. “
The end of the press conference was the time for the explosion of Ataman. A journalist asked him about Fournier's action by comparing it with another occurred months before in a match of the Euroleague of Kendrick Nunna gesture with your finger. Ataman He went from less to more until he ended up shouting in his argument: “If, as a journalist, you accept the unsportsmanlike gesture of this Olympiacos player (Fournier) and compare it to Nunn's finger, then you have to go to do journalism to another section“. The Turk coach ended up hitting the table and abadoned the room. Despite the end of the Greek League, La Paz is far from being reached.
