I just got to the office and got some interesting news – well more or less rumors but I really want to let you all I know.
It goes the rumor that the four players talked to their agents and got the advice to go on a plane and fly to Belgrade. I will make some phone calls and send out some emails to keep you updated here through the day.
EDIT (8:45pm): The game is about to start in Belgrade and none of the four players is on the court.
EDIT (4:12pm): Want to join the up and down rollercoster? Krepsinis.net reports (thanks to our reader “name”) that the four players are in Serbia and will play tonight.
EDIT (3:20pm): As BallinEurope Reader Marcutis points out, Drew Nicholas said yesterday:
The flight to Belgrade was scheduled for 12 am today, but I informed my team about my decision and I had a talk with coach Blatt. I explained that there’s nothing more important than my life and that it was impossible for me to go there knowing what happened to the American Embassy. I have nothing against any country and nothing to do with any politics whatsoever.
I feel very bad for not being able to help my team in a such important match for the top 16 of EL. I also feel bad knowing how good professional players we are( with Hutchon, Woods, Wright) and how sad we feel. Just a moment ago I read that the team’s manager want us to leave the team but besides the internet, I have no formal information about the issue. Anyways, it’s a shame cause I have done my best for the team.
EL shouldn’t have allowed the match to be played there. They should better choose a neutral arena to ensure the safety of the players. OAKA for example, as PAO plays at Siena. Anywhere else but not at Belgrade. They said there is a Police Official paper that guarantees no fights or problems but how can just a paper stop an angry bunch of fans ?
I believe what I did was right.
EDIT (12:07pm): After talking to a Efes Pilsen official on the phone, he confirmed that the four players, Drew Nicholas, Loren Woods, Rashad Wright and Andre Hutson will NOT play tonight. He also told me that they did not fly and will not fly to Belgrade.
