It is a never wise to walk down Times square in New York City flaunting a New York Yankees jersey with symbolic skull painted across the name
of star short stop Derek Jeter, underestimating the love that fans still can give a lindsay Lohan after getting a standing ovation from Jay Leno fans during her interview or A Chris Paul who is trying to lead his New Orleans Hornets to an upset of the Los Angeles Lakers or Kobe Bryant dunking despite having a sprained ankle. It also wouldn´t have been wise not giving The Artland Dragons or The New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig a chance at the 2011 Top 4 in Bamberg even though the big favorites to reach the final were Frankfurt and Bamberg.. Both Braunschweig and Artland rolled into the Top 4 with a regenerated mystical self confidence playing magnificent basketball and there really wasn´t much missing for both teams to have landed in the final. Braunschweig got past Frankfurt and Artland might have been in the final if they hadn´t lost Tyrese Rice earlier than expected to foul trouble as well as a few other players. Both teams are in the playoffs and for anyone to doubt them this time of possibly reaching the final should have their head examined. “This will be a good series as both teams are playing well. Either could reach the final”, stressed Walter Tigers Tuebingen forward Chris Oliver. Both teams will as motivated
as any players in Europe heading back home to be with their loved ones who didn´t reach the post season, crazy William and Kate fans getting the perfect spot along the parade route or NHL hockey fans finding their perfect spot in sports bars for the next playoff round as four series has made the action exciting with seven game series. The Artland Dragons have been going through a tough drought not having reached the beko BBL playoffs since 2008 while The New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig want to build on their semi final berth last season and just get that title after they came so close in the Top 4 final bowing out to Bamberg in the last minute. This series also could be the last chance for two veterans to get a title.
Artland Dragons
The Artland Dragons Hold A Nasty Flame On The Treasure Beating The Deutsche Bank Skyliners 90-56 Reaching Third Place In The 2011 Top 4
At 13:30 on Top 4 final day, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners would rather have been in their hotel rooms chilling watching the Repeat of the UCONN win over Kentucky and seeing Kemba Walker flashing his Disney Land smile, dreaming about their 2011 home town summer fantasy or just playing a cute harmless prank on their room mate, but instead the gang of Gordon Herbert found themselves on the basketball court playing a meaningless constellation game for third place, which is as undesirable for a competitive player like the first day of school for a kid after the summer holidays, having to have played against the 2011 NCAA Butler team that has mowed away all of the competition so far except UCONN like a hurricane can the coast of Florida or having to go into a New York city bar as a Red Sox fan when their team is losing badly. The Deutsche Bank Skyliners still seemed to be a bit in sleep mode as they were creamed by The Artland Dragons 90-56 not reaching their goal as 2011 beko BBL cup champion, but coming home to the river Main with very sad faces in fourth place and with a whole lot of questions. “This was not a meaningless game to me, but meant a lot. You have to play each game as if it means a lot. If your going to lose at least lose with pride”, expressed Skyliner center Chris Moss. The Artland Dragons have often had very difficult games 
against Frankfurt and couldn´t believe what they were seeing on the court an dhow easy everything seemed. “I was very surprised how flat Frankfurt was. They had no energy at all”, witnessed Artland Dragon guard Bryan Bailey. “I don´t think it was tough playing at this time for us. We had the chance to learn from our mistakes in the Braunschweig loss, but we didn´t against Artland which was even worse”, stated Skyliner guard Dashaun Wood. “Even if you have to play at an early hour, you have to come to play”, warned Skyliner guard Jimmy Mckinney.
The Deutsche Bank Skyliners were thwarted by The New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig in getting their 2011 cup treasure, but at least they could of gotten a type of constellation prize from the treasure chest against The Artland Dragons, but were denied again but this time even more rudely as they lost by 36 points. “The Artland Dragons blew that flame all over the treasure chest not letting us to open it”, said current top scorer of the beko BBL Dashaun Wood. “Our anger didn´t allow them to get close to that treasure”, smiled Artland Dragon forward Adam Hess. The dragon in general isn´t only talented at sprouting a flame, but also other things. “We were able to hide the treasure well and they didn´t find it”, joked Bryan Bailey. It didn´t help the cause either that Dashaun Wood didn´t play as Frankfurt was without their top scorer and assist man. “It was awful being on the bench. I wanted to play very badly, but coach Herbert felt is was better to sit out not risking anything with two games coming up next weekend. My back was a little tight. If we had been in the final, I would of played”, expressed Dashaun Wood.
Bryan Bailey (Artland Dragons): We Have To Keep Our Composure In Different Parts Of The Game Against Bamberg
Bryan Bailey is a 30 year old 185cm combo guard that is playing his 9th professional basketball season playing his 4th with The Artland Dragons. He is a true team leader both on and off the court. He possesses a diverse game, with an ability to stroke the long-range jumper, penetrate to the rim or distribute the ball. He is solid on the defensive end of the floor as well. His fierce competitive drive rubs off on his teammates. He started his professional basketball career at Bucknell and player there from 1998-2002 and in his senior year played 17games averaging 18.1ppg,5.3rpg,2.4apg. He made All-Patriot League 1st Team in 2001 and 2002. In 2002-2003, he started his professional basketball season in Germany with DJK S. Oliver Wurzburg (Germany-1Bundesliga, starting five): 26 games, 15.4ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.4spg. In 2003-2004, he played in Holland for Landstede Zwolle (Holland-Eredivisie, starting five): 35 games: 17.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 3.1apg, 2.4spg, 0.2bpg. He then played with The Artland Dragons from 2004-2007 reaching the league and cup final in 2007. His best statistical season was 2005-2006 playing 33 games and averaging 11.4ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.7apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 25.3%. In 2007-2008, he played with Bosna ASA BH Telecom Sarajevo (Bosnia-D1, starting five): ULEB Cup: 12 games: 10.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 4.5apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 20.8%, FT: 84.3%. In 2008-2009, he played in Poland for PGE Turow Zgorzelec (Poland-DBE): Eurocup: 6 games: 7.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.7apg, 1.7spg; Polish League: 32 games: 8.0ppg, 1.8rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 77.0%. Last season, he played with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg playing Euroleague: 4 games: 8.3ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.8apg; German League: 6 games: 9.3ppg, 1.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 89.7%. He sat down and spoke with German Hoops before the 2011 beko BBL Cup game against The Brose Baskets Bamberg.
This is the first big chance for Artland to win a title again since the cup win in 2008. How excited is the team and fans this week?
We are definitely excited and ready to go to Bamberg and play good basketball. Winning the cup was one of our goals this season and we have a chance to accomplish that this weekend.
Brose Baskets Bamberg-Artland Dragons 2011 BEKO BBL Cup Preview: Can The Artland Dragons Find Some Of That Darius Hall Past Cup Magic?
36 months ago, the world according to the tiny frog footprint town Quackenbruck which is also referred to as Entenhausen was on top of the 
world as it had just won their first title the BEKO BBL cup in Hamburg against EnBW Ludwigsburg as the image of fan favorite Darius Hall “the wall” partying with fans in the stands as if all had been invited to his daughters birthday party will probably never be forgotten. With all the excitement and success, The small 13,000 town Quackenbruck which has been known to carry 1600 fans to away games(12%of town population) seemed to feel more like a 300,000 city as they were basking in the glory of finally winning that first title and the only thing missing was having Darius Hall do a special winners dance with Donald Duck who supposedly vacations in the Artland. However in the last two seasons, the euphoric rise of the club built by Marko Beens that entered the BEKO BBL in 2003 has rapidly declined like the endorsements of golf legend Tiger Woods has since his scandal with all his mistresses surfaced. The club has missed the playoffs two years in a row despite strong rosters and not reached the TOP 4 again. However this year, The Artland Dragons are back to the stomping ground that they experienced from 2006-2008, will reach the playoffs and need two wins this weekend against Bamberg and Frankfurt/Braunschweig to bring that second big title back to Quackenbruck. Maybe Bayern Munich coach Dirk Bauermann could give his player Darius Hall a few hours off to possibly transform some of his magic flair from the 2008 cup games in Hamburg to Bamberg this weekend?
Currently the Artland Dragons are in third place behind The Deutsche Bank Skyliners with a record of 20-9. So far the team of Stefan Koch is holding their own near the top. They have had two winning streaks of three games and there only rap could be that they have problems winning against top teams. They lost both times to the Brose Baskets Bamberg, but only with a total combined score of 8 points. Their biggest win of the season was a 78-74 win in Berlin. Despite not being able to beat top teams, the club is one that cant be underestimated. “Artland has been a great team this season and continue to get better each week. They are a team that will go deep into the playoffs”, warned John Bynum.
The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Give A Oscar-Like Gladiator Performance whipping The Artland Dragons 83-72.
On the eve of the 2011 Oscars, some movie fans might have gotten their Sunday rolling with some past awards moments dancing in their heads like the famous Halle Berry speech wanting more time for to talk after being named the first African/African to win in 2002, the inspiring and heart felt speech by Tom hanks for his best actor win in 1993 for portraying an aids victim in Philadelphia, 72 year old actor Jack Palance showing the world in 1992 his virility doing push ups after finally winning after four decades of acting for City Slickers, Robert Opal interupting the 1974 show as David Niven was introducing Elisabeth Taylor by running across the stage nude or the legendary stroll across the chairs by Italian actor Robert Benigni for winning best foreign movie for “Life Is Beautiful, but despite the historic day in films, there was still a basketball game to play as The Deutsche Bank Skyliners showed another spirited, inspired and hard fought win despite not having captain Pascal Roller and Dominic Bahiense De Mello getting by The Artland Dragons 83-72. After the win the players had some time to reflect about the Oscar like team performance. “This win was like any Rocky movie. They came out and punched us and beat us up bad and we were down by 14 points. We fought back and got the lead, but at the end they punched us again coming back. It was like a boxing match and we got beat a little, but better to go out with a win than with a loss”, stressed Skyliner guard Dashaun Wood. “This win reminded me of Gladiator. We fought hard and a gladiator never stops, but always fight back”, stated Skyliner forward Roger Powell. “This game reminded me of the movie “Cop Out”. We had a great start, but then slid off just like the movie did”, added Dragon gaurd Tyrese Rice. “This game reminded me of the movie “Life with Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy”, said Skyliner Quantez Robertson. “The movie 300 comes to mind in describing this game. I wouldn´t call this a Oscar performance though”, commented Skyliner foreward Kimmo Muurinen.
Dashaun Wood And Tyrese Rice Duel And Might Rekindle Small Traces Of Larry And Magic On The Court As The Skyliners Look To Sprinkle Dirt Over The Artland Dragons Flame
It seems like everybody in the BEKO BBL knows that The Brose Baskets Bamberg will win the championship and then kilometers later teams like Berlin and Frankfurt might be teams that could challenge them in a five games series, but no really has the Artland Dragons on the radar as a title team that could win it all, but they could possibly be a team to sneak into the final the same way Rajon Rondo does into the zone and be that team that laughs hardest last getting an upset like a Jack Black or Seth Rogen would after finding out that they beat out the Chippendales for a date with Paris Hilton. The Deutsche Bank Skyliners could meet The Artland Dragons again in the 2011 BEKO BBL cup final in Bamberg and their February 27th meeting against them will be an interesting and educational preparation that they have to take serious just like their last win in Braunschweig because their next meeting will be in the Cup semi finals April three. The Artland Dragons dont have to hide from any team in the BEKO BBL as their roster is as strong in appearance like the current Chicago Bulls who could be a sleeper, as actor George Clooney is in a Starbucks getting any woman with his non resisting appearance and raised eyebrows and actor Frankie Muniz being as credible to the press proclaiming that he isnt suicidal and The Deutsche bank Skyliners will have to be ready for this potential title team that nobody really has any eyes for at the moment. “The Artland Dragons are my dark horse as well as they are a talented team and they are deep in a lot of positions. They have experience and they are tough to beat on there home court. I really like them in the playoffs and they can compete with anyone in my opinion. Rice is getting better and Peavy is healthy and they are just clicking right now, and they are a team that most teams dont want to play in the playoffs or just at the end of the week”, warned TBB Trier guard John Bynum. Frankfurt will have to find a way to douse the Dragons fire possibly with dirt? “Well its cold and winter, but Frankfurt just has to let it rain on the Dragons fire”, joked John Bynum. “They are one of the best teams and I am looking forward to the challenge. They are playing well and it will be a good challenge. We will have to bring our A game against The Artland Dragons”, warned current BEKO BBL leading scorer Dashaun Wood.
EJ Rowland(Vanoli): Darius Hall Has Been My Favorite Teammate In My Career
EJ Rowland is a 27 year old 188cm guard from Palma, California that was born in Frankfurt, Germany. This season he is playing his second season
in Italy for Vanoli Cremona. He is a good point guard who always find the open man. Very intelligent ball player and good athlete. A tireless defender that steals lots of balls to the opponents. Rebounds well because of his size. Can guard both guard positions in defense, at the offensive side is better penetrator than shooter but can knock down the open shot. He played at St Marys from 2003-2005. In his senior year, he played 34 games: 11.0ppg, 3.8rpg, AssistsWCC-3(3.9apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 38.2%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 69.2%: Finished two-year career at St. Mary’s ranked tenth all-time in total assists (263) and fourth in assist per game average (4.2). In 2005-2006, he started his professional basketball career for the Florida Flame (D-League, starting five): 44 games: 5.6ppg, 2.5rpg, 3.0apg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 25%, FT: 61.8%. In 2006-2007, he played for Sydney Kings (Australia-NBL), in Nov.’06 moved to Townsville Crocodiles (Australia-NBL, starting five): Australian League: 21 games: 12.9ppg, 5.2rpg, 4.8apg, Steals-1(2.0spg), FGP: 48%, 3Pt: 35%, FT: 71%; in March ’07 signed at Barons/LMT Riga (Latvia-LBL, starting five): Baltic League: 6 games: 10.7ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.8apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 40.7%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 70.0%; LBL: 17 games 15.2ppg 4.9rpg 4.2apg 1.9spg. In 2007-2008, he came to Germany and played for the Artland Dragons Quakenbrueck (Germany-1.Bundesliga): ULEB Cup: 14 games: 7.6ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 51.4%, 3FGP: 14.3%, FT: 58.1%; German League: 37 games: 7.5ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.2apg, 2FGP: 52.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 60.9%. In 2008-2009, he played for The Telekom Baskets Bonn (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): German League: 45 games: 13.6ppg, 3.4rpg, 3.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 65.4%; Eurocup Qualifications: 2 games: 11.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.5apg, 1.5spg; EuroChallenge: 14 games: 10.6ppg, 3.0rpg, Assists-5(4.1apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 47.6%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 61.0%. Last season, he played his first season for Vanoli Cremona (Italy-SerieA, starting five): 30 games: 13.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.6apg, Steals-3(2.9spg), FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 73.8%. He won the 2008 BEKO BBL cup in 2008 with The Artland Dragons. He is a member of the Bulgarian national team and played at the European Championships in Poland 2009 playing 3 games: 17.7ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.
What was it like playing against big Serb point guard Stefan Markovic?
He is a young good player. He sees the floor well and it is hard to crowd him, but as a smaller guard, I have an advantage since bigger guards have more problems with small defenders. I pressured him a lot.
You are playing your second season in Italy in the Serie A. How have you been able to be so successful on the court so quick?
I simply have had good people around me. I got a lot of experience on the fly which quickly gave me confidence. It also has helped since I have been aggressive and learning from mistakes quickly.
Bryan Bailey (Artland Dragons) The Basketball Atmosphere Is Special In Quackenbruck
Bryan Bailey is a 30 year old 185cm combo guard that is playing his 9th professional basketball season playing with The Artland Dragons. He is a true team leader both on and off the court. He possesses a diverse game, with an ability to stroke the long-range jumper, penetrate to the rim or distribute the ball. He is solid on the defensive end of the floor as well. His fierce competitive drive rubs off on his teammates. He started his professional basketball career at Bucknell and player there from 1998-2002 and in his senior year played 17 games averaging 18.1ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.4apg. He made All-Patriot League 1st Team in 2001 and 2002. In 2002-2003, he started his professional basketball season in Germany with DJK S. Oliver Wurzburg (Germany-1Bundesliga, starting five): 26 games, 15.4ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.4spg. In 2003-2004, he played in Holland for Landstede Zwolle (Holland-Eredivisie, starting five): 35 games: 17.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 3.1apg, 2.4spg, 0.2bpg. He then played with The Artland Dragons from 2004-2007 reaching the league and cup final in 2007. His best statistical season was 2005-2006 playing 33 games and averaging 11.4ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.7apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 25.3%. In 2007-2008, he played with Bosna ASA BH Telecom Sarajevo (Bosnia-D1, starting five): ULEB Cup: 12 games: 10.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 4.5apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 20.8%, FT: 84.3%. In 2008-2009, he played in Poland for PGE Turow Zgorzelec (Poland-DBE): Eurocup: 6 games: 7.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.7apg, 1.7spg; Polish League: 32 games: 8.0ppg, 1.8rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 77.0%. Last season, he played with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg playing Euroleague: 4 games: 8.3ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.8apg; German League: 6 games: 9.3ppg, 1.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 89.7%. He sat down and spoke with German Hoops about basketball.
The Artland Dragons have missed the playoffs the last two seasons. Do the players feel added pressure to make the playoffs?
No I feel we dont feel any pressure. We all have the same goals and that is too reach the playoffs.
Roger Jordman Powell Sends Toby The Dragon Whimpering back Into The Dungeon A Monster Dunk As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Demolish The Artland Dragons 82-56
Skyliner captain Pascal Roller is usually as reliable with his shot as Larry Bird was in crunch time, Tom Brady early in his career with unforgettable fourth quarter comebacks or Red Sox slugger David Ortiz coming through with big clutch hits in the late innings, but in the first five games of the season Roller was averaging a dismal 10% from the field and 11% from outside was about as unlucky as the couple Cairns-Lawrence who experienced the 9/11 Terrorist attacks, 2005 London bombing innocent and 2008 bombing in Mumbai, but Roller finally found his shooting touch back last weekend shooting 4/6 against Braunschweig, but had misfortune again shooting only 1/6, but it didn´t harm The Deutsche Bank Skyliners as they recieved enough production from AJ Moye, Dominik Bahiense De Mello or Brad Buckman as they took apart the Artland Dragons 82-56. Roller might be one of the few shooters on earth that can have a bad shooting day, but always be remembered for the incredible worth of his talent of making big time shots. “Pascal is just a clutch shooter. You can wake him up at 2.00 am and he will make the winning shot. He will always have his ups and downs, but when it counts he always makes the shot. I can remember with the German national team he would not have played 38 minutes and coach Dirk Bauerman just put him in for free throws”, warned ex North Carolona Tar Heel Ademola Okulaja. “Roller found his shot at an early age. He has been shooting like this since he was 15 or 16 years old. He is just a pure technical shooter, that doesn´t think, but just shoots. He could always rely on his shot even if it didn´t fall tonight”, added ex BEKO BBL player Marvin Willoughby. “We had Buckman in the first half, Moye in the second half and the leadership of Roller the whole game”, said Quantez Robertson.
Can The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Follow Roar Runner Dashaun Wood And Outrun The Artland Dragons Flame October 30th?
This season The Deutsche Bank Skyliners have received a human like road runner in Dashaun Wood who has displayed game after game that he can get into the zone quicker than Jerry Magiure could say “Show me the money”, George Clooney can flash his million dollar smile or wink at a beautiful women sneaking a peak into his yard on the Coma lake in Italy or world class sprinter following the Skyliner into the zone with two cinder blocks attached to his back as Frankfurt hope that the flashy guard can continue to show his magic sprints into the Artland Dragons zone on Saturday and lead his team to victory on October 30th. Last season, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners had point guard Aubrey Reese who found holes in the zone and often finished with a difficult fade away jumper or off balance lay up. With Dashaun Wood, Frankfurt has a no hesitation point guard that will dash to the basket as if there were a million bucks waiting on the rim and he had to get there as quick as possible as there was a cheetah chasing him on his tail. “I am sure that Wood can out run the dragon flame, because he has even more extra strength now that he got that contract extension. I saw Wood play on TV and it seems like he has that extra gear like a Lamborghini”, joked Phoenix Hagen American Quentin Pryor. “I think if Wood can run even faster than he can now, then he should be able to be faster than the flame of the dragon”, joked Chemnitz guard Achmadschah Zazai. Wood might not win a 100 yard dash against Usain Bolt, but could compete with the quickest BEKO BBL players this season. “If Wood would run against Mark ´Dorris, it would be a tough race. I would have to take Dorris right now only because I haven´t seen Wood in person yet, Said Quentin Pryor. For a player to pick another player over himself in any kind of sporting match is about as unlikely as former president Bill Clinton not having a wandering eye on a busy street for at least a day. “I would say I would win and he would say himself”, joked Mark Dorris. “I would make a 100 yard dash interesting with Wood by giving him a head start and then coming and rolling forward ove rthe line”, joked ex Artland Dragon Achmadschah Zazai.
German Hoops 