Lithuania 191
In the midst of Zalgiris mess, gauntlet thrown by Kaunas mayor
With regard to the current insanity engulfing Lithuanian League Championship participant Zalgiris Kaunas – i.e. its fourth coach this season being suspiciously canned by outlandish owner Vladimir Romanov in the midst of the best-of-five playoff – the city mayor Andrius Kupčinskas yesterday released a statement, which reads in part: “During the LKL finals, a coach […]
Romanov’s “dream”: that Marcus Brown coach Žalgiris Kaunas (Huh?) [UPDATED]
What’s the word for “beyond crisis”? Whatever it is, that’s the word for what’s going on at Žalgiris Kaunas. No coach – again, that would be coach no. 4 this season – has been named as of yet, while Žalgiris fights for the LKL title against perpetual rival Lietuvos Rytas. But Žalgiris owner Vladimir Romanov […]
What the…? In Lithuania, Romanov fires third head coach of season midway through championship series
There’s nothing so bizarre – and often barely newsworthy – about the firing of a head coach, even one leading a successful team. Even one who is replacing a legend who was also fired in the same season. But when a coach is fired in the middle of a national championship series, that’s already nearing […]
Giant re-discovered in Lithuania: Could 217cm Ovidijus Galdikas become the next *big* thing?
When you grow to reach 2.17 meters (7’1”) at age 17, the question – especially in Lithuania – surely becomes rote: “Hey, do you play basketball?” As BasketNews.lt tells his story, however, it’s clear nothing has ever come that simply for big guy Ovidijus Galdikas. Despite being blessed with string-bean genetics (i.e. a father of […]
Kuzminskas declares for NBA draft: Knicks interested?
Website LithuanianBasketball.com is reporting that Mindaugas Kuzminskas has declared his intent to enter the NBA draft. According to the ‘site, Kuzminskas was reportedly checked out by New York Knicks vice president for basketball operations Glen Grunwald and international scout Kevin Wilson last month in Lithuanian League (LKL) play. In last summer’s FIBA U20 European Championship […]
A brief YouTube history of Žalgiris Kaunas vs. Lietuvos Rytas
Friday will see the Baltic Basketball League final four tip off, while the Lithuanian Basketball League starts up its own domestic tournament next Wednesday, April 28. At this point, both seem once again inevitably headed to a final confrontation of those superpowers of Lithuanian ‘ball, namely Žalgiris Kaunas and Lietuvos Rytas. In the BBL, the […]
Jordan Brand Classic scoop: Roster changes, player briefs, how to watch online
Just in case international youth basketball fans weren’t sated by the recent Albert Schweitzer and Nike Hoop Summit youth tournaments, perhaps the upcoming Jordan Brand Classic in New York today will go a bit further in sating the craving. Three games will be played between some of the world’s finest U18 players. Game two of […]
Kaukenas out in Madrid and onto Milan?
And so it goes: With Morris “La Almendra” Almond in in Madrid, Rimantas Kaukenas is reportedly out. Of course, in again Kaukenas may soon be – with Olimpia Milano. Spain-based sports website AS.com yesterday reported that Real will be releasing Kaukenas later this week and that the Serie A team would thereafter sign the Lithuanian […]
Lithuania victory at Eurobasket 2011 > 20th-century Russian geopolitics
If there were any doubt anywhere in the world as to the level of insanity that is basketball obsession fandom, a crack by Lithuanian prime minister Andrius Kubilius on Russia-based RT.com should dispel any underestimation of the power of roundball in the Baltic country. Amidst what was ostensibly an interview about Lithuania’s “stance on Europe […]
Athinaikos goes one up on Nadezhda in FIBA Eurocup Women finals
Kudos this morning to the Sony Athinaikos women’s team, who took game one away against Nadezhda in Russia, 65-57. Biggest for Athinaikos was Team Greece point guard Dimitra Kalentzou, who turned in a dope line of 18 points, seven boards and three steals. But Lithuania’s Irena Vizbariene turned in a none-too-shabby 14 and 11, while […]
In return to Cleveland Cavaliers, Big Z gets W, standing O
Absence does make the heart grow fonder, it seems. After being away from the NBA team he’d called home since entering the league in 1997 for six due to some financial manipulation by the Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards, Zydrunas Ilgauskas returned to the floor for the Cavs. On “Kid’s Night” at “Quicken Loans Arena,” […]
Beyond Vesely: Five European names North America must know for 2010-11
With BallinEurope’s profile piece on Jan Vesely in, today we’re adding a bit of a primer on some other names certain to get increasing mentions in NBA culture from your team’s elimination from the playoffs through to the draft and into the 2010 FIBA World Championships in August/September. NBA fans who want to get in […]