For new Skyliner Michael Thompson, jumping on a plane recently and jetting to wine country Treviso,Italy to join the Fraport Skyliners for a one week training camp must have felt as comfortable for the man that is known as the juice as if Paris Hilton had involuntarily been caught at a Mcdonalds, but finding swank delicious caviar in her Happy meal, actor George Clooney arriving anywhere in the world and being given not one, but two sexy Miss Universe ladies for both arms and Justin Bieber not having men jeans ready for him upon arrival in his hotel room, but ladies jeans since they fit better than pieces designed for men. There are many different kind of juices, but the fact remains that wine is a juice which is a beverage made of the fermented juice of any of various kinds of grapes, usually containing from 10 to 15 percent alcohol by volume. Thompson is a rookie coming from Northwestern and has a try-out with the Fraport Skyliners and at the age of 22 still a young buck which could due to time graduate from innocent Cool-Aid juice to the disciplined and elegant taste of fabulous Italian wine.
BBL
Marius Nolte Continues To Excell With Age Like Good Wine leading The Fraport Skyliners Past The Giessen 46ers 92-67
In the last few days the sporting world witnessed the loud ferocious home arena of Lithuania dashing the German basketball dreams of reaching the 2012 Olympics in London in a do or Dirk game, an unforgettable 2012 US open tennis final as Novak Djokovic finally was able to win in his third New York final against Spanish pitbull Rafael Nadal or Tom Brady showing once again how cool and dangerous he can be like Joe Montana was in Super bowls, Larry Bird making big plays and clutch shots or David Ortiz having a knack for the timely Big papi clutch hits as he passed for 517 yards in a 38-24 win against the Miami Dolphins, so the Fraport Skyliners didn´t have it easy with that stiff competition of the last days sports perfomances in the world showing the 20-30 fans who had come to witness a special preseason Hessen Derby against the Giessen 46ers an outstanding performance dominating the game from the get go crushing them 92-67. “I had seen the highlights from those games and something like that always puts you in the right mentality and motivation to want to step on the floor and stand out and create something memorable for the fans”, stressed Fraport Skyliner point guard Michael Thompson.
Josh Slater(BG Goettingen) I Really Think That The Tough, Hard-Nosed Playing Style Of BG Goettingen Fits Me Very Well
Josh Slater is a 22 year old 190cm guard from Nashville,Tennessee. He is starting his professional basketball career with BG
Goettingen. He played at Lipscomb NCAA) from 2007 to 2011 and in his senior year played 30 games: 16.5ppg, 6.1rpg, 4.6apg, 3.1spg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 72.1%. His teammate was new Walter Tiger Tuebingen forward Adnan Hodzic. In his junior year, he played 30 games: 17.1ppg, 5.4rpg, 5.2apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 69.8%. Awards/Achievements in his basketball career have been-Sun All-Freshman Team -08, A-Sun Tournament Semifinals -0, -Sun Regular Season Champion -10, All-A-Sun 1st Team -10, 11, and NABC Division I All-District 3 2nd Team -10, 11.He took some time to German Hoops this past summer about his future with BG Goettingen.
Welcome to Germany Josh. When you were looking at teams this summer what was the most important thing that came into consideration for choosing BG Goettingen?
When my agent told me that BG Goettingen had offered me a contract I was excited because I had heard that Goettingen has a great tradition in the BBL. The playing style and mentality of the team suits me very well and it just felt like a natural fit going into my rookie season. I only wanted an opportunity to compete and prove myself when looking for a team and I believe I will get a chance to do that for Goettingen.
What were the main reasons for coming to Goettingen?
Goettingen has established themselves as a solid team in the BBL and I believe that playing for them is an opportunity that many rookies would be very excited to have. I really think that the tough, hard-nosed playing style of BG Goettingen fits me very well and I will be able to contribute to the organization this season.
A Conversation With Marcus Slaughter(Brose Baskets Bamberg)
Marcus Slaughter is a 26 year old 203cm forward from Riverside California. He played at San Diego State from 2003-2006. In
his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 16.5ppg, 11.0rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 49%, FT: 76.2%. He started his professional basketball career in Turkey for Pinar Karsiyaka SK Izmir playing 29 games averaging 13.3ppg, Reb-3(10.2rpg), 1.3apg, 2.3spg, 2FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 12.5%, FT: 67.2%. In 2007-2008, he was with the Miami Heat in preseason and then played in Israel and France for Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem, Israeli League: 8.0ppg, 6.4rpg, ULEB Cup: 5 games: 5.6ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.8apg, waived in Dec.’07, in Jan.’08 signed at BCM Gravelines Dunkerque Grand Littoral 15 games: 9.5ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP-3(63.2%), FT: 58.9%. in 2008-2009, he started with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven(8 games: 18.8ppg, 10.0rpg, 1.3apg, 2.6spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 60.0%) before moving to France to Le Havre playing 21 games: 16.0ppg, Reb-1(9.5rpg), 1.6apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 65.4%; Eurocup: 6 games: 12.2ppg, 8.7rpg, 1.0apg, 1.5spg, 1.8bpg. In 2009-2010, he played for Sluc Nancy Basket Pro (France-ProA): EuroCup: 6 games: 8.5ppg, 9.0rpg, 2.8spg, 2.0bpg, FGP: 50.0%, FT: 76.7%; French League: 29 games: 12.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.5spg, Blocks-5(1.4bpg), FGP: 64.5%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 69.1%. Last season, he played for Blancos de Rueda Valladolid (Spain-ACB, starting five): 34 games: 9.9ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.4spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 65.0%, FT: 67.5%. He is back in the Beko BBL with the Brose Baskets Bamberg. He spoke To German Hoops about basketball.
How was your summer been? Have you been able to do some things this summer that you haven´t been able to do the last years?
My summer was great spending time with family and friends.
Congrats on your new job with the Brose Baskets Bamberg. You are back in Germany in the Beko BBL.
It was a no brainer to sign with Bamberg.
What do you think was the main reason why this club signed you?
The coach told me they were looking to go far in the Euroleague and it would be my first time so I was excited about coming to Bamberg.
Face To Face With Jason Boone(s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg)
Jason Boone is a 25 year old 198cm power forward/center from Sugar Loaf, New York. He will be playing his first season with
the s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg and his fourth in the Beko BBL. He played three seasons for BG Goettingen. He played at New York University(NCAA 3) from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 28 games averaging 14.1ppg, 9.6rpg, 2.4bpg, 2.9apg, FG: 63.0%, FT: 64.3%. Three seasons ago, he played at Bernau(Regionalliga) before making the jump up three leagues to MEG Goettingen. In 2008-2009, he averaged 4.4ppg, 4.0rpg, FG: 53.7. In 2009-2010, he won the Eurochallenge playing EuroChallenge: 16 games: 10.7ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 59.6%, FT: 53.8%; German League: 35 games: 9.1ppg, 6.1rpg, FGP: 60.3%, FT: 55.9%. Last season with BG Goettingen he played 37 games: 8.5ppg, 5.9rpg, FGP: 59.8%, FT: 34.9%; EuroCup: 14 games: 9.1ppg, 6.2rpg, Blocks-4(1.1bpg), FGP: 59.8%, FT: 36.0%. Jason spoke to German Hoops this summer about his new team s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg.
How has your summer been? Has there been anything special you were able to do this summer that you haven´t been able to do the last years in your time off?
Summer is always nice. You get the chance to see family and friends, and I have the chance to get humbled back down. It’s nice being in NYC where no one knows who I am for a few months out of the year. I traveled a little more this summer than I had in the past but kept it pretty simple on a whole.
Congrats on your new job with s. Oliver baskets Wurzburg. How much did head coach John Patrick weigh into the equation for you to signing with the team?
Thank you. Obviously having the chance to play for someone I’ve been successful with for the past 3+ seasons was appealing, but it was also a combination of playing with John Little again as well as being reunited with Ben Jacobson.
There was some speculation that you might get offers from other top leagues in countries. Was taking the next step to say a country like France too soon for you?
I entertained a lot of offers this summer but at the end of the day I wanted to go somewhere where I could continue to prove myself as a starting center. I have a chance to do that in one of the best leagues in Europe and will be surrounded by players I know and enjoy playing with. Why go anywhere else?
Joe Herber(Fraport Skyliners)Is Like Grizzly Adams Surviving In The Basketball Wilderness
Seeing big, bushy, hairy, well trimmed and sometimes unproportional beards that sometimes look as if a mischievous bird has set up its living quarters on the basketball court is about as unlikely as Paris Hilton buying lipstick in a second hand shop, Christina Aguliera sitting down at the dinner table to get diet tips from rocker Ozzy Osbournes daughter Kelly Osbourne or Dirk Nowitzki going home to his mothers birthday party in NBA bling bling jewelry, but seeing basketball players with extreme facial hair does happen from time to time. Beards on the court mostly come to mind in the post season, but sporting a beard in the regular season hasn´t been an uncommon occurrence as in the 70s you had ex Gloria Giants Duesseldorf Brendan Winters dad Brian Winters parading around with his ominous black beard, Portland Trail Blazier Bill Walton dunking with his orange colored beard as if he had just entered the court with the Hells Angels, in the late 80s, you had Vlade Divac who played 9 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers who probably could have gone unnoticed on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and most recent beards that stay in our heads is the unique Muttonchops from Cavalier Baron Davis who could pose as a dead ringer for rapper Rick Ross or the Gasol brothers Pau and Marc who seem to worry as much about their appearance as Will Smith and Jada Pinket aren´t worrying about their marriage having any riffs. Currently with the German national basketball team, new Fraport Skyliner Joe Herber is sporting a full fuzz which he had already demonstrated last season with The Walter Tigers Tuebingen.
A Conversation With John Bynum(TBB Trier)
John Bynum is a 33 year old 191 cm guard from Visalia California that will commence his second season with TBB Trier. He is a 
good fighter, fast and good in offensive playing. He is great athlete who can shoot the ball with consistency from 3 and finish with authority on the break. He is a tremendous defender on the ball. He played college basketball at College of the Sequoias Junior College:from 1996-1998 and then transferred to Metropolitan St. (NCAA2): and played there from 1998-2000. He started his professional basketball career in 2001 in the Uk for the Solent Stars (United Kingdom-NBLConf): 31 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assist. In 2002-2003, came his first tour of duty in Germany for BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga): 24.7ppg, 9.2rpg, 6.7apg, 3.5spg. In 2003-2004, he played for the Ulriken Eagles (Norway-BNLO): Regular Season: 14 games: 20,1ppg, 8,1rpg, 2,5apg, 2,9spg, 0,4bpg.In 2004-2005, he was back in Germany playing for BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-2.Bundesliga): 30 games: Score-5(26.0ppg), 7.7rpg, Ast-4(5.4apg), 1.7spg, 2FGP: 55.5%, 3FGP: 33.3%, FT: 63.6%. In 2005-2006, he played for InterCollege Etha Engomis (Cyprus-A1): only pre-season, then joined COOCOON Baskets Weiden (Germany-2.Bundesliga, starting five): 8 games: 15.6ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.0apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 51%, left in Jan.’06 and later that month signed at Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 21 games: 7.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 56.5%. In 2006-2007, he played for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 31 games: 5.7ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.2apg, 2FGP: 43.1%, 3FGP: 25.0%, FT: 55.9%. In 2007-2008, he played for USC Heidelberg (Germany-ProA, starting five): 14 games: 14.4ppg, 4.4rpg, Assists-5(4.6apg), 2.3spg, 2FGP: 54%, 3FGP: 27.3%, FT: 58.5%, left in Jan.’08 due to shoulder injury, in Feb.’08 moved to Digibu Baskets Paderborn (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 13 games: 6.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.4apg, 2FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 70.0%. In 2009-2010, he played in the PRO A for Proveo Merlins Crailsheim (Germany-ProA, starting five): 27 games: 16.9ppg, 7.1rpg, Assists-3(5.4apg), 1.1spg, FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 62.8%. Last season with TBB Trier, he played 35 games: 6.9ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 24.0%, FT: 64.3%. He sat down with German Hoops to talk basketball this summer.
It has been more than 4 months since you last played a Beko BBL game. How has your summer been? Were you able to do some things this summer that you haven´t been able to do the last years?
Well my summer was great it went by extremely fast but I got to get back to California and spend time with the family and although I didn’t travel that much it was good to be home and just relax a little bit.
How does an offseason training session look like for John Bynum?
Offseason training is mostly a lot of playing really. I am not big in working on certain individual things, for me it’s about keeping in somewhat shape and keeping a ball in your hands and not get too lazy.
Justin Gray Makes One Forget The Departure Of Dashaun Wood Just A Bit Leading The Fraport Skyliners Past Japan 89-73
It was 90 days ago where the Deutsche Bank Skyliners were as rudely kicked out of the semi finals of the 2011 Beko BBL playoffs by 8 time champion Alba Berlin in their own living room three times as if society lady Paris Hilton were to be declined a room in a Hilton hotel in Paris and banned to a kitchen closet. With ex Skyliners Dashaun Wood climbing the Great wall of China, Roger Powell getting ready for his first tour of duty as an assistant coach with Valparaiso, Dominik Bahiense De mello looking for a rain coat and playing one on one with ex NBA player Bobby Brown in Oldenburg, Jevohn Shepherd getting ready to take flight in Holland with Leiden and Pascal Roller going about his dad role more thoroughly and giving reliable basketball information on Sport 1, basketball life in Frankfurt was starting all over again now with Fraport on board. Frankfurt played their first official exhibition game in preparation for the upcoming season beating the Japanese national team 89-73, but memories of last season were still around with players. “It is always important to look forward, but we had a great season last year. We had great team chemistry and 90% of it had to do with Gordie Herbert. I am very happy for Dashaun Wood and my big brother Derrick Allen for winning the tournament in China. They are great guys and we will always have long term friendships. I think that Muli Katzurin will be able to bring team chemistry to this team. He is laid back, but can be tough to, but he just wants the best out of us. The biggest difference to last years team is that we are bigger inside this year”, stressed Skyliner guard Jimmy Mckinney. “We had good outside shooters last season, but this season with Justin Gray we have a real knock down three point shooter”, stressed Quantez Robertson. It is always nice not to forget the past, but fans that witnessed the win saw a new team that has a lot of potential. The Fraport Skyliners were never seriously in danger of losing against Japan. “We were unselfish and ran the floor well. We got easy buckets on transition which helped”, stated 2011 Milwauke Bucks NBA draft pick Jon Leuer. If it hadn´t been for the sharp shooting of Keijuro Matusi´s 26 points, Japan could of gone back to their hotel rooms at half time to watch the start of Germany-Israel as they would have been blown away early. “We gave up too many wide open shots. We played zone, but they moved the ball well. Our defense broke down. We like to play a fast paced game which we did more in the second half. We were more aggressive and got more stops”, stated ex Columbia guard Keijuro Matusi. “We played together as a team, were aggressive and executed our offense”, added Fraport Skyliner guard Quantez Robertson.
Phillip Schwethelm(German National Team): I Have Never Heard A Single Bad Word About Dirk And It´s All True.
Phillip Schwethelm is a 22 year old 201cm forward that was born in Gummersbach and is currently in Lithuvania participating
in the 2011 European Championship and will embark with FC Bayern Munich in the 2011-2012 Beko BBL season. He started his basketball career in 2004 with the Koeln cadet team. He played for Rhein Energy Cologne from 2004-2009. He already played Eurocup at age 16. In total, he played 61 BEKO BBL games in his 5 years. He also played 2 Euroleague games, 8ULEB Cup games and 3 Eurocup games. In 2010-2011 for Bremerhaven, he played games 44 games averaging 7.0ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 67.8%. He played for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven fro 2009-2011 and last season played 36 games: 10.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 44.9%, FT: 72.9%. He has achieved numerous awards in his career including U16 National Team -05-06,FIBA EuroCup Quarterfinals -06, International Tournament in Mannheim (Unofficial World Championships U18) -06: 6 games: 5.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 37.5%, 3PT: 23.1%, FT: 55.6%, German U18 National Team -06-07, German Bundesliga U-19 All-Star Game -07, European Championships U18 in Madrid (Spain) -07: 8 games: 8.5ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 56.5%, 3FGP: 47.6%, German Bundesliga U-20 All-Star Game -08, Eurobasket.com All-German Bundesliga Newcomer of the Year -08, Eurobasket.com German Bundesliga All-Newcomers Team -08, German U20 National Team -08-09, European Championships U20 Division B in Targu Mures (Romania) -08:(Champion): 8 games: 10.4ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.8apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 64.3%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 77.8%, European Championships U20 in Rhodos (Greece) -09: 6 games: 11.2ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 78.6%, German Bundesliga Semifinals -10, German National Team -10,World Championships in Turkey -10: 5 games: 4.4ppg, 1.0apg, and German Bundesliga All-Star Game -11. Phil took some time to talk to German Hoops about the 2011 European Championships.
Last summer there was no Dirk and Chris Kaman. Now both are on board. How intense has the whole Last atmosphere on and off the court been for you?
Like last year everbody gives a 100% and tries to do everything possible to win. What changed now is the fact that we got higher aims. We are trying to get under the top 6 teams at least. Off the court everything stays the same. We got a great team chemistry which is definitely one of our biggest strength. Ofcourse more people in Germany are interested in basketball now which makes everything become more fun.
Dirk Nowitzki belongs to the best players on earth now. What things have surprised you most about the player and person Dirk Nowitzki?
People told me a lot about Dirk, before I met him the first time. I have never heard a single bad word about Dirk and it´s all true. I was wondering before, if people might exaggerate a little bit, but they don´t. He is a great teammate.
Brandon Brooks(Phoenix Hagen): I Want To Earn The Starting Point Guard Spot Nothing Is Given
Brandon Brooks is a 24 year old 188cm guard from Dallas, texas. He is starting his third professional basketball season with
Phoenix hagen in the beko BBL. Last season, he got experience in the D-League playing for Tulsa 66ers playing 36 games: 4.7ppg, 1.8rpg, 3.3apg. He started his professional basketball career in Germany with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven averaging 7.4ppg, 1.8rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 53.2%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 72.8% He played at Alabama State and as a senior he played 32 games: 13.7ppg, 4.2rpg, 6.6apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3Pts: 36.9%, FT: 77.1%. He was the SWAC Regular Season Champion in 2008 and 2009. He spoke to German Hoops before he came to Germany to play for Phoenix Hagen
Congrats on the contract with Phoenix hagen. How happy are you about being back in Germany?
Im very happy to be in familiar territory again.
What did you miss most about Germany and the beko BBL?
I miss the fans. Even when Iwas in the D-league the people still wished me luck.
What convinced you most about taking the job with Phoenix Hagen?
The playing style they have is very much up and down run and gun type of offense.
You played last season in the D-league for the Tulsa 66ers. How much was your game able to develop in the States?
I learned a lot in the D-league. My basketball IQ is much better now. I hope to transfer it to Hagen.
