The victory of Trapani Shark in the A2 series championship and the parabola that Valerio Antonini gave to the basketball history of the Sicilian city in less than a year give the exact measure of how little is enough to make one’s way in a world in which professionals are only in field, because they are led by a merry band of amateurs in the control rooms, from those of the companies to the upper floors.
Money, clear ideas, concise programs and a great desire to put your face to it. An unusual character in the sporting panorama, a decisive and surgical Roman entrepreneur like Julius Caesar against the army of Pharnaces II of Pontus, so much so that he can be attributed the phrase “Veni, vidi, vici” (I came, I saw, I won) for his speed with whom he immersed himself in the world of basketball that was unknown to him and achieved his goals.
On Sunday evening, forced to celebrate the victory and conquest of Serie A in the PalaDozza press room after having argued at length with the opposing managers (here are his statements on the matter), he explained with facts that the fairplay heralded by “basketball professionals” it is pure facade, the pettiness of the nobles who have to give way is a constant. We’ve been saying it for years, now the proof has arrived.
In the media, LBA president Umberto Gandini is already rubbing his hands. A character like this, outside the lines and capable of catalyzing interest, can only be good for the popularity of basketball. It’s time to modernize, we can’t stand presidents and coaches who act touchy when faced with a technical comment and respond badly to the interlocutor on duty.
The time has come to retire the dinosaurs permanently. Ergin Ataman arrives at Panathinaikos and in just one season he takes home the EuroLeague. He too with boastful proclamations but a lot of capacity for work and analysis overwhelms the emblazoned and planned Real Madrid, Barcelona, Olimpia Milano. Antonini arrives in Trapani, takes over a company in disarray (including the management of Palashark) with an incredible reversal of perspective.
And be careful, it doesn’t end here. Because despite the planning, the projects and the (in)competent historians, the Pallacanestro Trieste of an unknown American coach completely ignorant of European basketball is about to reach the same goal. In spite of those who said it was a lost bet from the start.
2024-06-09 23:14:25
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