The Deutsche Bank Skyliners basketball past in Bamberg in the last six seasons has been about as desolate as the 2007-2008 Oklahoma 
Thunder where they lost a franchise record 62 games, tennis pro Marat Safin losing 129 Grand Slam matches in a row before reaching a Grand Slam final or the sad demise of lovable actor Mel Gibson who was more in the headlines for his phone affairs then for his critical acting this year, but who is making an acting comeback with The Beaver, and How I spent my summer vacation soon. At times it has seemed that there has been some kind of curse on the Frankfurt club like there had been on the Boston Red Sox for 86 years and still is on the Chicago Cubs who have not won a World Series in 102 years as 2,186 days had gone by from 2004-2010 for The Deutsche Bank Skyliners not winning a game in Bamberg between game four win in 2004 and the First game of the final in 2010 as the long drought was finally broken as it was old coach/new coach Gordie Herbert that was able to win again in game one of the 2010 BEKO BBL finals 65-63. Since this thrilling win, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners have had little luck losing the next three games on the road in Bamberg including game five and the 2010 Champions Cup and being outscored 254-180 in the last three games in the Jako arena. 18 days ago, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners suffered a humiliating 85-58 loss in Bamberg in the Champions Cup, but were as handicapped without center Joe Dabbert and Quantez Robertson and only one true big man with Marius Nolte like as if one small tiny sweet cat was surrounded by five hungry lions, The Boston Celtics had to play without the GAP trio of Garrnet, Allen and Pierce or character Ethan Hunt of the Mission Impossible getting through life unhurt without his slick gadgets. This time, Frankfurt travel to the pretty Bavarian city with their Bucks(Buckman/Bucknor) in their 
baggage, plus 51 rebounds from the ugly Duesseldorf win and about as much self confidence as former president Bill Clinton has when he is out on the town. Frankfurt had to deal with the Duesseldorf sixth man Murat Didin on Sunday and now four days later have to deal with the Bamberg sixth man their fans. “It is tough playing in Bamberg. The fans are so much into the game. It reminds me of when we played at the University of Dayton. It was sold out and loud each time. It is tough to say if the Bamberg fans are their sixth man, but for sure when you play the Artland Dragons”, joked Phoenix Hagen American Quentin Pryor. Frankfurt can only pray that the game is as quiet as at the Champions Cup, because at times one could of heard the cash registers in the supermarket basement.
BBL
The Evil Eye Of Murat Didin Doesn´t Help As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Plow By The Gloria Giants Duesseldorf
With a packed Ballsporthalle, an atmosphere that could have been confused with the Akatlar arena in Istanbul and ex coach Murat Didin back in his living room, the Frankfurt fans could not have asked for a more delectable first home game, similar as if the Miami Heat would open up in Cleveland with Lebron James, actor George Clooney returning to an ER type of reunion show or Randy Moss returning back to New England making a winning touchdown with the Minnesota Vikings. The Deutsche Bank Skyliners sent nobody home sad as Murat Didin and the Gloria Ginats didn´t find the missing spice for glory on this sunny afternoon in Frankfurt getting trampled 58-43. “I had no personal feeling towards Murat. This was a delectable game and became more tasty in the second half. We prepared the meal in the third quarter and ate it in the fourth quarter”, joked Skyliner center Marius Nolte. Spinning a basketball on your finger can be classified as pure beauty, but this basketball game at times looked more like an episode of beauty and beast with 10 Vincents running around the court with missed shots and tons of turnovers. “This was not a pretty game. It was a hard fought game with good defense on both sides. Both teams missed a lot of shots, but we stuck with it, grinded it out and pull out the win at the end”, stressed Skyliner guard Grayson Moyer. For the Gloria Giants Duesseldorf, it was their second loss this season, but considering how new the team was an effort that was a lot 
improved over the loss in Bremerhaven. “I am from Detroit and there is not a special way how to classify a game like this except that it was real ugly. Frankfurt demolished us on the boards. We started off well and had a chance to push away but Frankfurt was able to capitalize on our mistakes. I have to blame this loss on us”, stated ex Paderborn guard Deandre Haynes. “This was a real sluggish game. Our offense was rolling, but we just weren´t hitting shots. These things happen and it is a part of life. We are happy that we won it and will take a win like this any day”, added Brad Buckman.
Can Murat Didin And The Gloria Giants Duesseldorf Win Their First Game Of The Season In His Old Stomping Ground Against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners October 10Th
Big play unusual moments are welcomed in sports about as much as rich tasty syrup is for your Sunday brunch pancakes as who could forget The Play in 1982 as Stanford was leading California 20-19 with four seconds left and on the last kickoff the Golden Bears took the kick back unleashing several lateral plays and getting unexpected help from the Stanford marching band who thought the game was over winning 25-20, or the classic game between Cibona Zagreb and Serbian team KK Partizan where Cibona nailed a three pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining and celebrating the victory which was squashed as Dusan Kecman heaved a 75 footer finding nothing but net and getting the improbable win or most recently the most criticised New England Patriots defense with no name Patrick Chung blocking two kicks and intercepting a pass for a touchdown as the special team stole the limelight of Tom terrific Brady silencing the Miami Dolphins 41-14, one might dream of having such an ending to add to the drama with the return of ex Skyliner coach Murat Didin with the Gloria Giants Duesseldorf on Sunday. Didin had quite some dramatic games in his four year tenure like the final game 5 loss in Bamberg in 2005, or the nail bitting game 5 win in Leverkusen in 2008 or the buzzer beater in Duesselodrf in 2009 by Quantez Robertson and some might be dreaming of some kind of magic occurring or a Agatha Christie type of ending which would get the Ballsporthalle decibles reaching an alltime high as if a Rihanna, Jay Z and Prince had rocked the arena a day earlier. “My favorite sports ending would probably be my boy Vince Young leading the Texas Longhorns to the NCAA title against USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl. He led the team down the field and scored the winning touchdown and it was really exciting since he scored with about 20 seconds left. They had been the two best teams in college football that year. I am sure due to circumstances that with Didin returning it will be an exciting game”, stressed American Marcus Sloan. Phoenix Hagen American Mark Dorris also has a special favourite sports moment. “My greatest Sports Moment has to be Michael Jordan against the Utah Jazz 1998 the year Michael Jordan would say good bye to the game he loved. It was like a story book ending the heros last bit of energy last shot of his career would be to win the NBA Championship and ride off into the sunset that is the way every body would want to go out. I pray I can have a similar ending one day“, added Phoenix Hagen American Mark Dorris. If the Frankfurt-Duesseldorf ending will be anything spectacular like the sports world has witnessed in the last 30 years is not known, but with Murat Didin anything is possible and he will have his famous tricks up his sleeve once the jumpball happens. “The coach will be motivated to win against his former club and the players will be wanting to win against their old coach”, warned Marcus Sloan.
The Rapid 10 Miles Questions Basketball Exchange With Travis Walton(Ratiopharm Ulm)
Travis Walton is a 23 year old 187cm point guard from Lima, Ohio. He is playing his first season with Ratiopharm Ulm. He played at Michigan
State from 2005-2009 where he served as team captain for three consecutive years, being the 3rd in history of Michigan State school to do that. Led the Big 10 in assist to turnover ratio 2.4 to 1 and broke Magic Johnson’s career assist record at Michigan State. Walton possesses great toughness, strength and leadership skills and is an exceptional defender. Last season he played shortly for Lugano Tigers (Switzerland-LNA, starting five), left in Dec.’09: 13 games: 8.9ppg, 1.2rpg, Assists-5(4.9apg), 1.5spg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 85.7% before returning back to Michigan State to help the coaching staff. Some achievements that he has received were Big Ten Tournament Semifinals -06, 08, 09, Big Ten All-Defensive Team -07, 09, NCAA Sweet 16 -08, Big Ten Regular Season Champion -09, and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year -09. Walton took the rapid 10 Miles questions basketball exchange for German Hoops.
Coach Mike Taylor is well known for having magical strength of getting players to come to Ulm to play. How did coach Taylor persuade you to come to Ulm?
Well firstly, Mike Taylor is a great guy and I had met him out in Vegas while I was playing basketball last year, so we already knew each other a little bit. Then when we talked over the phone and he told me about the team and that Ratiopharm Ulm is a great organization, I just knew it would be a great fit for me.
Quentin Pryor(Phoenix Hagen): I Think We Will Surprise Some Teams This Season
Quentin Pryor is a 27 year old 193cm shooting guard/small forward from Eupora, Mississippi and is playing his second season with Phoenix
Hagen. He started his college basketball career at Jackson State, before finishing at Morehead State from 2005-2007. In his senior year, he played 30 games averaging11.4ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 46.3%, 3Pts: 36.8%, FT: 71.7%. In 2007, he started his professional basketball career in Germany with FC Schalke 04 playing 29 games and averaging 15.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.2apg, Steals-1(2.5spg), FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 37.4%, FT: 75.2%. In 2008-2009 for Phoenix Hagen, he played 30 games averaging 14.7ppg, 3.8rpg, 3.0apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 60.5%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 75.2. He spoke to eurobasket after the loss in Goettingen. Last season, he played 33 games: 8.8ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 40.9%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 72.9%. He spoke to German Hoops about the current season
Your back in Hagen for your third season. What makes Hagen so special that makes you want to keep playing there?
I actually signed a two year deal with Hagen the year we made to the BBL. I like the location being around 4 of the major cities in Germany. And basketball is the main sport here.
Kyle Hines(Brose Baskets Bamberg): My Role Is Bring Energy Play, Strong Defense And Provide Rebounding
Kyle Hines is a 24 year old 198cm power forward from Sicklerville, New Jersey that is playing his first season with the Brose Baskets Bamberg. He is a powerful player who loves to attack the basket. Has a good 1-vs-1 game and likes to go inside. He is undersized to play the power forward, but his great wingspan (7-1) allows him to guard taller players and to intimidate. He’s also a great leaper and reads the opponent’s game well He played at NC-Greensboro (NCAA) from 2004-2008. In his senior year, he played 31 games: 19.2ppg, 9.1rpg, 1.4apg, 1.8spg, 3.1bpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3Pts: 12.5%, FT: 62.8%. He was invited to play at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft): 3 games: 17.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.3apg, 2.3spg, 3.3bpg, FGP: 78.6%, FT: 72.7%. He then had predraft workouts with Sacramento Kings and the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA). He then went to Europe to Italy and played with Prima Veroli (Italy-Lega2, starting five): 34 games: 16.9ppg, Reb-4(8.6rpg), 3.0spg, Blocks-2(1.8bpg), FGP-2(66.0%), FT: 58.5%. In 2009, he took part in the Orlando Pro Summer League (Oklahoma City Thunder). In 2009-2010, he stayed in Italy with Prima Veroli (Italy-Lega2, starting five): 40 games: 18.5ppg, 8.1rpg, Steals-2(3.5spg), Blocks-4(1.6bpg), FGP-3(64.0%), 3PT: 18.8%, FT: 57.8%. He played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (New Orleans Hornets) in the summer of 2010. He took some time to talk to German Hoops about the current season.
You are playing your first season in Germany for the Brose Baskets Bamberg. Was the main reason for coming because the team is playing Euroleague?
It was one of the main reason I wanted to play in Bamberg. To have the opportunity to play against the top competition in Europe is something that I’m definitely looking forward too.
The Deutsche Bank Skyliners And Their Two New Bucks(Buckman/Bucknor) Can´t Stomp On The EWE baskets Oldenburg Thunderbirds Losing A Heartbreaker 70-67
A few days ago, the Deutsche Bank Skyliners roster had some holes in the roster and appeared weaker, but then all of a sudden as if the
charming tooth fairy had come to make basketball house calls, left two bucks under the Skyliner pillow with Brad Buckman and Jermaine Bucknor making the Skyliner world look a lot more enticing again similar to the world of FSV Mainz 05 and their current seven game winning streak, the last 14 years of Seal´s love life sharing champagne non stop with the likes of models Tatjana Patitz, Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum and the average German person feeling elated about the 20th anniversary of the German unification, but unfortunately the two new very hungry bucks were unable to slow down the EWE Baskets thunders birds loosing a nail bitter in the last minute 70-67. “We were unable to stop the flight of the thunderbirds at the end. We played well enough to win”, stressed San Diego native Grayson Moyer. Ricky Paulding had a huge grin on his face after the win and no one knew if it was because he had recently become a dad for the second time or because he had beaten friend Jimmy Mckinney for the sixth time as a pro, but actually it had to do with one of the new Skyliner bucks. “I don’t know why the bucks couldn´stomp on the thunderbirds, but I do know I got revenge on Brad Buckman. I can remember that he beat me all the time with Texas when I was playing at Missouri”, stressed 2004 Detroit Pistons draft pick Ricky Paulding. The Skyliner played well for 39 minutes and then lost the game in the last minute. “We had problems executing in the last minute. There was a problem getting the new guys integrated so fast, but we showed that we could stick with one of the top teams”, warned Skyliner captain Pascal Roller. Oldenburg showed in crunch time that they have nerves of steal coming back to win. “We dug ourselves a hole, but we never gave up. We came back got stops and made plays on offense. The ball bounced our way at the end”, added Rickey Paulding.
The Deutsche Bank Skyliners had been without the two bucks 96 hours ago and considering how long the two players had been with the Skyliners and how little time that they could practice with the team, the Frankfurt club played a very strong game against a tough Oldenburg team. “It was tough integrating the new players, but they gave everything just like the rest of the team. What many teams did in six weeks in preseason, we have to do within hours concerning getting the team to find a rhythm”, added Skyliner sports director Kamil Novak. Buckman and Bucknor combined for 19 points in 34 minutes. “The two new guys had one practice together. I think that the guys did a pretty good job in their first game”, said Skyliner coach Gordon Herbert. Buckman left the dressing room with a positive outlook on the future of the team once everyone is on the same page. “You couldn´t really expect too much in this game from us. It was the first time that we played together. Once we learn each other then we will be more successful.We were thrown into the fire today and we didn´t really know what we should do. Once when we have the plays down then we will be very good”, warned Texas native Brad Buckman.
Murat Didin(Gloria Giants Duesseldorf) Duesseldorf Will Be A Top BEKO BBL Team In The Future
Murat Didin is in his first full season as head coach of TheGloria Giants Duesseldorf. He coached the Deutsche Bank Skyliners for four and 
reached the playoffs each season. In 2005, his team lost a hard fought five game series battle to Bamberg in the BBL finals and in 2008, he lost in the semi finals to The Telekom baskets Bonn and in 2009 in the Quarterfinals to eventual BBL champion EWE baskets Oldenburg. He had a 12 year playing career from 1970-1982 in Turkey. He played 12 times for the junior national team and four times for the senior national team of Turkey. He started his coaching career in 1982. He has coached 14 teams in his career including VIP Rimini in Italy and top Turkish teams Galatasaray, Fenerbache, Ulker Istanbul and Besiktas Istanbul. He took some time to talk with German Hoops after the 97-70 loss in Bremerhaven.
48 hours ago, You signed five new players and three players had to pack their bags. Was this not a risky decision to do on the day of the first game in Bremerhaven?
No I don´t think it was risky. We were looking for the right players since the start of preseason. The season is long and there are still 33 games more to play. Jamaal Tatum didn´t play in the first game. We will be ok.
Can The Undermanned Deutsche Bank Skyliners Out Smart Predrag Krunic And Cage The EWE Baskets Oldenburg Thunderbirds?
Not only does the course of a basketball game change dramatically with a sudden and unexpected massive run similar in astonishment as to when New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriquez steps up to the plate with his broad shoulders and bulging pecs and squares to bunt with the bases loaded instead of hitting the baseball out of the park, but the start of a new season can change also within days due to certain events. The Deutsche Bank Skyliners recently had a 8-0 preseason winning streak and any doubts of a possible sour start were stopped with injuries and an unexpected released player have turned sweet expectations to a positive beginning somewhat to raised eyebrows to the uncertainty of success just like if pop singer Rihanna started a concert with a Metallica cover, Tom Brady played a whole game without releasing bullets to wide receiver Wes Welker or The Los Angeles Lakers allowing Lamar Odom to run the show for a quarter instead of Derrick Fischer. Frankfurt enters the 2010-2011 season with some question marks as energy spark plug Quantez Robertson who is as active on the court as comedian Jim Carey can be with his facial expressions and basketball hulk Joe Dabbert are injured and roaming the sidelines. Forward Carlos Powell had a brief stay in Frankfurt and had to depart on account of not passing the medical check. With the season just around the corner, the current situation isn´t an easy one for the club, but captain Pascal Roller is confident that the club can be successful this season.. “This is a difficult situation for us. We have big games this week, but it is what it is. The injuries have been bad timing. I have a good impression of team so far. We had a good preseason and it has taken some time to get the new players integrated. We have a strong coaching staff that will find the strength of each player and how to use it best. The team has good character and I am sure that we will learn how to use the strength successfully”, warned guard Pascal Roller.
Vlade Divac Look Alike Cevher Ozer Helps Besiktas Istanbul Rally With Win In Eurocup Qualifying Game Against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners 68-61
After having to play against a strong and well rehearsed Bamberg team last weekend, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners didn´t have a breather long
having to face Turkish power house Besiktas Istanbul and without reinforcements, the chances of winning were slim and about as unlikely as if funny man Will Smith were to shut his mouth for a day, Bayern Munich and Louis Van Gaal not winning anymore games or tennis ace Roger Federer never winning Wimbeldon again as Frankfurt gave a superb effort, but missed too many open shots down the stretch as the Turks snuck out of the Ballsporthalle with a 68-61 win. Frankfurt knew that it would be tough going into the game without a starting center and power forward, but didn´t try to think about it. “Once you are on the court there are no excuses. Every player had to step up. We just focused on what we had on the court and we played well”, stressed Skyliner point guard Dashaun Wood. There was some pressure on Marius Nolte to fill the void and finished with six points and three rebounds in 14 minutes. “I thought a lot about this game this afternoon and how we have to go into it. I wanted to be aggressive and bring energy, but not get quick fouls. I got fast fouls and need to be more clever in the future”, warned Paderborn native Marius Nolte. Frankfurt now needs to return to Istanbul next week and win by 8 points or more to advance to the next round.
