By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Unprecedented criminal activity was recorded throughout the week for the first time ever around the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague courts. It’s obvious that something unusual is going on, as the same criminals were seen at least in two different locations all over the old continent.
They are hard to track and it’s even harder to build a case against them. Despite their obvious wrongdoings the five alleged perpetrators were able to walk free once again and of course nobody knows yet where the stolen Euroleague trophy is hidden.
Sonny Weems: He was accused for mutiny, but he gave his answers on the court. And old mercenary of the Russian army is now wearing the yellow of Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv and he delivered. He had 23 points against Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul and 16 it Kaunas of all places, another of his former redoubts, against Zalgiris. He was acting like he had a chip on his shoulder and this probably made him even deadlier.
Nando De Colo: Speaking of the Russian army, the French sniper who was arrested three times a year ago, once again found himself in the hands of the authorities, albeit only for some hours, before slipping free. He just can’t be stopped, first with 26 points for CSKA Moscow against Anadolu Efes Istanbul and then having just 11 against Unics Kazan. He didn’t need to do anything more, as CSKA is still the invulnerable ruler of the underworld.
Ekpe Udoh: Here’s one more shady figure, well known to the authorities. The former bouncer who turned gang leader in Istanbul was arrested twice last year, so bringing him in was not a surprise. He was accused of destroying Zalgiris Kaunas with 14 points and 8 rebounds at home and then and Galatasaray Odeabank’s front lines with a monstrous double-double on the road (21 points, 13 rebounds). Of course he did it, both times, but the police could not prove it.
Nick Calathes: Nick the Greek is back for good. You may remember that he made his name after ripping off many casinos on the other side of the Atlantic, but for the past two years he is a resident of Athens, Greece. He is a versatile jack of all trades, having almost a triple-double for Panathinaikos Superfoods against Brose Baskets (13 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists) and a full night against Crvena Zvezda MTS Belgrade (16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists). Just as happened last season when he was arrested once, you just can’t contain him.
Erick Green: A new entry in the list, named Green but wearing the Red and White of Olympiacos Piraeus gang. Very few things are known so far for this trigger-happy smiling assassin, who is much more dangerous that he looks. He loves to work from long range, scoring 16 points against EA7 Emporio Armani Milano and 13 against Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz. In theory this is not much, but according to eye witnesses his timing is impeccable and he goes always for the kill. So be extra cautious around him.
Photo Credit: JPsporart