By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Once more, there was uncontrolled bedlam to deal with in Europe this week as police in multiple jurisdictions were forced to chase down all sorts of bad guys who are waging an open battle for domination. Five more arrests were made and four of the alleged perpetrators were more than well known to the authorities. But the end result didn’t change.
For no clear reason, all five criminals were released and no charges were filed against them. It’s obvious that this particular underworld enjoys high-level connections that protect them from justice. No one can be safe anymore. The war for supremacy continues with the casualties pilling up and the crowd asking for more. Please, if you encounter these brutes, protect yourself and your loved ones.
Pau Ribas: He shouldered his way onto the most wanted list for the first time – and for a good reason. Despite being a jack of all trades for FC Barcelona Lassa, he proved also a more-than-capable shooter while invading Lithuania to take on the Kaunas gang. He scored 14 points in just 13 minutes, making all of his four long-range shots. He has a shady past in Vitoria and Valencia, but now he has resurfaced, working for one of the most dangerous crews in Europe.
Jaycee Carroll: Even if he looks like a choir boy, you must not mistake him for anything less than trouble. This well-known American assassin was last arrested for an alleged lethal blow that he delivered in Munich. So guess why he was wanted this time: when Real Madrid needed him the most, he had 23 points in 23 minutes against the Khimki outfit from Moscow. He made things right for the Spaniards with his trusty dagger. No one is more dangerous than him when turning a corner.
Darius Miller: He was arrested two months ago in Piraeus, posing as a tourist. He seemed harmless enough, but that changed in a second and the Reds paid for it. This time, in Bamberg, his cover was the same, and so was the result, although now he was greeted as a local hero. Brose Baskets Bamberg prevailed one last time in the fight against the much more seasoned Vitoria gang. According to the police, he was responsible for 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
Dario Saric: He had nothing to gain except the satisfaction of making the veterans of the criminal fraternity look over their shoulders. Nonetheless, the young criminal prodigy from Croatia added some more pages to his growing rap sheet with 15 points and 7 rebounds against a tough Panathinaikos Athens crew that didn’t know what hit them. Even if the Anadolu Efes Istanbul gang proved to be less dangerous than expected, Saric showed why his notoriety is well deserved.
Nando De Colo: The fact that just days after his release he was arrested again proves that something fishy is going on. The French gunman of CSKA Moscow was seen now in Piraeus, operating in broad daylight, but the charges were dropped against him and he was permitted to return to Russia. He had never done as much damage before than his 20 points and 36 index rating this time, but the Greeks couldn’t nab him and so he is on the loose again, armed and dangerous.
Art credit: JPsportart