Monday, May 09, 2005

European Champs

Maccabi Tel Aviv have overcome the best that Europe has to offer, taking the Euroleague basketball championship for the second year in a row with victory last night over TAU Vittoria. (Jpost, Ynet, Ha'aretz)

Whilst in general, I'm not particularly fussed about basketball, particularly the European variety (as opposed to the razzle dazzle of the NBA), I found myself glued to last night's game and the familiar sense of relief when it became clear that they had built up an unassailable lead.

The sense of pride that I feel this morning is one that I recognise as being of the fair weather supporter - the sort who doesn't care until it's a big occasion and then starts talking in terms of "us" and "we" - the type of supporter who I really don't like when it comes to football. That little Israel has a team that can take on the best that Spain, Russia, Greece and Italy have to offer and to be the best for the second time in a row - that gives me cause for great pride and I'm going to enjoy basking in the glory of association.

What price the threepeat?

Gilly

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