Bayern Munich

Ilian Evtimov (Malcolm Delaney Will Be One Of The Best, If Not The Best Player For FC Bayern Munich)

Ilian Evtimov is a 30 year old 201 cm forward that recently completed his third season in France for Chalon playing  30 games averaging  9.6ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 41.3%, FT: 86.5%; Euroleague: 9 games: 8.8ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 78.9%. He has the French-Bulgarian citzenships and played at North Carolina State from 2001-2006. In his senior year, he played 31 games averaging 10.4ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.5apg, 1.2spg, FG: 45.3%, 3PT: 40.8%, FT. After a short stint with Estudiantes Madrid in 2006, he played at VidiVici Bologna in the 2006-2007 season. He played FIBA EuroCup playing 15 games averaging 6.3ppg, 2.4rpg, 2FGP: 65.4%, 3FGP: 47.1%, FT: 72.2%; and playing15 games in the Italian league averaging 3.1ppg, 2.1rpg. In 2007-2008, he moved to The Deutsche Bank Skyliners playing 10 ULEB Cup games averaging 14.5ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 85%; and in the German League playing 44 games averaging 13.1ppg, 5.1rpg, 2.1apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 86.2%. In 2008-2009, he continued playing in Frankfurt playing 10 EuroChallenge:  games averaging 8.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 70.0%; and in the German League playing 34 games averaging 8.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 43.6%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 74.6%. In 2009-2010, he played for BC Levski Sophia (Bulgaria-NBL): 1 game: 6pts, 5reb, 2ast, 3steals; Balkan League: 1 game: 3pts, 1reb, 1ast, 2steals; in Oct.’09 moved to Proteas EKA AEL Limassol (Cyprus-Division EuroChallenge: 13 games: 10.9ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 45.6%, FT: 83.3%: FT-2(90.9%). In 2010-2011, he played for Chalon playing  33 games: 11.6ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.9apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 50.5%, 3PT: 39.8%, FT: 84.2%. In 2011-2012 he played French League: 35 games: 9.9ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.7apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 42.0%, FT-1(94.7%); EuroCup Qualifications: 2 games: 9.0ppg, 1.5rpg; EuroChallenge: 16 games: 10.0ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 35.7%, 3PT: 46.0%, FT-1(95.2% He spoke to German Hoops about Chalon and his ex teammate Malcolm Delaney who will play for FC Bayern Munich.

Evti where are you at the moment and how have you been spending your summer?
Im in Bulgaria right now, we are about to have our second baby. My wife is due very soon. I went to the States for two weeks, and then have spent the rest of the summer in Bulgaria.

How was your time in North Carolina at North Carolina State working out? Did you have any good duels with Deon Thompson this summer?
I was in North Carolina for only two weeks, and it was right after the season so I didn’t run into Deon as I took the time off from basketball right after the season.

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Robin Benzing Burns The Fraport Skyliners Again Leading FC Bayern Munich To The 79-72 Win

There are numerous exciting aspects that happen during basketball games like a crushing Larry Gordon dunk, a twisting cross over from Demond Mallett or a sweet catch and pop jumper from the Bremerhaven polar bear cage by Jacob Burtschi, but one thing that can´t ever be avoided is when ex teammates jostle again on the court.  Back in the 2007-2008 season, it was the last time Alba Berlin won the German championship, Robin Benzing was a 18 year old kid with huge potential playing for TV Langen and dreaming of the Beko BBL and Quantez Robertson(Auburn) was still tangling with friend MarK Dorris(Marshall) on the play ground courts during the summer and displaying their dunking talent. In the 2007-2008 season, also showed two Americans Dawan Robinson(Fraport Skyliners) and Jared Homan(FC Bayern Munich) pursuing the same goal with ASCO Slask Wroclaw (Poland-DBE) trying to win as many games and at the same time develop their game more as they had been playing as professionals only a few years. Robinson had a very solid season for the Polish squad playing  ULEB Cup: 12 games: 13.1ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.8apg, 1.8spg, 2FGP: 51.5%, 3FGP: 31.8%, FT: 78.3%; Polish League: 34 games: 11.6ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.6apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 45.6%, 3PT: 27.1%, FT: 73.9%. His teammate Jared Homan also had a solid season playing  Polish League: 28 games: 12.1ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.1apg, Blocks-2(1.1bpg), 2FGP: 45.8%, FT: 62.0%; ULEB Cup: 12 games: 11.0ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.0spg, 1.3bpg, 2FGP: 47.2%, 3FGP: 0%, FT: 45.7%. Both guys were key figures for their team and five years later they duel in a span of a little more than one month for a second time. Both players got further experience in the last years playing in countries like Italy, Croatia, Greece and in the D-league. In the first encounter in Frankfurt, FC Bayern was able to defeat the Fraport Skyliners 73-59 as Frankfurt played a solid game, but the Bavarian team was simply a class better. Homan finished with nine points and grabbed four rebounds while Dwan Robinson had six points and two assists. It was the second meeting between the two Americans and Robinson was highly motivated and sought revenge, but he lost for the second time to his ex teammate Jared Homan 79-72 registering 12 points, to rebounds and two assists while Homan produced 16 points and five rebounds. Ex LTi Giessen 46er Jeffrey Bonds who played five games earlier in the season for the Hessen club who is practicing with FC Bayern Munich looking for a new team enjoyed the game and could relate to ex teammates squaring off again. “ When two ex teammates like Robinson and Homan play against each other it is always very competitive and each guy always wants the upperhand. Both guys have mutual respect, but you always wants to win. Homan now has bragging rights”, smiled Jeffery Bonds.

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Svetislav Pesic Is A Special Kind Of Mid Season Fireman

A fireman is someone who saves lives and can also be defined as a member of a fire department who tries to extinguish fires. A fireman not only is vital to fighting fires and saving people, but the term fireman is also seen in professional sports. In the sport of baseball, a fireman is a relief pitcher who can protect a lead in the last inning or two of the game and with guys like Mariano Riveria or Francisco Rodriguez who could put out fires best in late innings getting out of a jam or just retiring the side with no men on base. Firemen have also been as usual in the German Bundesliga soccer league in the last years as head coaches like  Peter Neururer, Jorg Berger or Rolf Schafstall coming to poor teams and saving them from rotting away in the cellar. The most well known fireman in Germna soccer has to be Hans Meyer who is like a nomad just seemingly waiting for that next job somewhere where a fire of balls are falling from the sky with no help in sight. Even the Beko BBL, there have been firemen even as players as Michael Hakim Jordan did it twice saving the Phoenix Hagen season and LTi Giessen 46ers season as his play, leadership and spirit helped the teams remain in the Beko BBL. A special mid season fireman recently also came to FC Bayern Munich with Svetislav Pesic. It is understood that FC Bayern is nowhere near the end of the standings, but the club had a record of 5-5 at the start of December 2012 which was like as if they were sinking in the Isar river as the traditional and most famous sports team is only used to winning and being at the top and there average record was keeping everyone affiliated and close to the team more than depressed. Pesic has come in and has had a more than immaculate record of 8-1. Since the 82-70 loss in Berlin, the team had a 7 game winning streak including winning four games in a row with 100 plus points. Pesic has turned the team around 180 degrees since taking over for the Greek Yannis Christopolous. Pesic that prides an organized defense is still looking for that consistency on the defensive end, but he can´t be disappointed with the potent offense of his team as they have averaged 93 points per game since the arrival of Pesic. Pesic also has in a short time, got the roles untangled as the players are playing with ease and have accepted their responsibilities and come together as a team as the next months will be interesting to see how much more potent this team will get and if they will be able to challenge the Brose Baskets Bamberg for the title in June 2013.  “The team has scored well and the defense will also be come, but it takes time to grow. I believe FC Bayern Munich is a candidate for at least the semi final or final”, warned basketball expert Steven Clauss.

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Robin Benzing (FC Bayern Munich) Comes Home Haunting The Fraport Skyliners 73-59

It only seems like yesterday that a boyish, tall, inexperienced lanky 17 year old Robin Benzing played his first season with second Bundesliga club TV Langen. The year was 2006 as he was already displaying his talent with American teammate Ty Shaw who now coaches that team or Igor Starcevic who know coaches PRO B team Licher Basket Baeren. Benzing developed nicely in Langen the first two seasons and then really exploded in his third year 2008-2009 where put up 18,7ppg, 4,4rpg, 1,1apg, 1,0spg and 1,1bpg and was also playing with the big boys with the Deutsche Bank Skyliners 15 kilometers north in Frankfurt and was dreaming of the Beko BBL. He had a game that looked like that of German national player Jan Jagla, but in appearance looked totally different with his short cut army type haircut and looked like the friendly kid next door. He had the height of a power forward, but could play like a small forward that would create numerous mismatches during games. He could already hurt you with his shot at a young age and penetrate like a mal nourished bear as he demonstrated during the 2009 European championships in Poland putting up sweet stats without ever having played a game in the Beko BBL. Many Frankfurt fans had hoped that he might make the jump to the Deutsche Bank Skyliners, but instead went south to ratiopharm Ulm where D league head coach Mike Taylor of the Maine Red Claws gave him freedom  and sufficient playing time and was able to develop further. Benzing was top German scorer in the 2010-2011 season with 15,1ppg. After that potent season, it was only obvious that he would make the next step and did moving to famous German name team FC Bayern Munich. In his first season, his production slipped dramatically, but he was packed into a stronger and deeper roster. However he seemed to have received some fortune with the move bringing legendary head coach Svetislav Pesic to the Isar as he has improved and been in the starting lineup and there is no more talk about his development stalling, but he now seems headed into becoming  a leading player in a club staked with top American players. His potential is unending and talk of getting to the NBA is present again. Benzing returned back to Frankfurt with Bayern Munich after losing last season there with FC Bayern Munich for a fourth time and led the most famous German team in Germany to a 73-59 victory. That Benzing is a much liked player there is no surprise. “I coached Robin in the Hessen team when he was 15 and in the A-2 German national team. I said many years ago that he has much potential and was a bit surprised that he wasn´t drafted. What I like about his game that he is never afraid and has that killer instinct. I see him making the NBA. In Treviso where top players play for a chance for the NBA, he was over motivated. In Treviso, it can be tough for a player to get noticed since the play is so crazy as it is difficult to observe the strength of a player. He didn´t shoot so well in Treviso which hurt his rating. Robin shoots so well for his height at the position three. He really has the right head on his shoulder. His summer program helped him  a lot get more self confidence and I think that he has made a big step in the last months. The arrival of Pesic has helped him as he has more confidence and gets the green light. Pesic is perfect coach for him as he will improve and gain more experience”, stressed basketball expert Steven Clauss. Benzing finished the game with a team high 21 points and eight rebounds on six for nine shooting in 30 minutes. After the win Benzing was humble and taking his performance in stride like a real professional. “I really looked forward to this game since I am from here and my family was here, but I was concentrated on my work and the win was most important. My teammates found me and I hit my shots. But this was a team win”, stressed Robin Benzing. Fraport Skyliner Ted Scott was impressed with the German national player. “I liked the game of Benzing. He played a heck of a game made his shots and could also put it to the floor. I am sure if he could find the right system that he could bring it in the NBA”, stressed Ted Scott. It is no secret that Benzing is a new player under head coach Svetislav Pesic. “I am playing a lot better under Pesic. I think my game suits his system. But I think as a whole, the whole team is playing better under Pesic not only me”, added Robin Benzing.

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Can Svetislav Pesic Lead FC Bayern Munich To New Heights?

The FC Bayern Munich soccer team is known as FC Hollywood as scandals have been as common in the last years like Pat Riley uttering his famous line Defense wins championships, Arnold Schwarzenegger uttering his famous three word phrase “Ill be back” in the Termainator films or Tom Brady bringing the New England Patriots back from being down in heroic come back wins in his career at least most of the time. Bayern Munich soccer scandals and news stories seem to be a daily ritual as who could forget Jurgen Kilinsman kicking the Kodak advertisement can, The speech outburst he held 2007 at a annual stock holders meeting where he was showing his discomfort of unhappy fans or Frank Ribery giving Arjen Robben a slap last season during a game. FC Bayern Munich basketball department are only in their second season in the Beko BBL, but have had their share of little negative happenings like  rudely dismissing Dirk Baureman shortly before the season, the berlin disco visit by some players and the suspension of Jared Homan for a game. Recently the basketball team named Svetislav Pesic head coach and despite his successful coaching record, the team will more likely have  a better chance of getting on the winning track than escaping the negative scandals that can always happen,  because FC Hollywood is something that is has a patent on FC Bayern Munich sports department. “One really doesn´t really know what happens behind the scenes with FC Bayern Munich. It was very unusual that they got rid of Dirk Bauermann shortly before the start of the season.  It wasn´t like Bauermann wasn´t successful in his time, but he was. I think that the media plays a role with every team in the league, but Munich is simply more in the public eye than other teams and get more focus. One shouldn´t value their scandals too highly. At the end of the day the only important thing is that the players work hard in practice and are successful in games. I think it was tactical that they kept the young Greek so long. FC Bayern Munich had a difficult schedule during this time, but as soon as they brought in Pesic the schedule got a bit easier and I think with wins this could get Pesic roling easier into his new job and get the team forward better. I think one has seen the signature of Pesic so far with his first games. The team has scored well and the defense will also be come, but it takes time to grow. I believe FC Bayern Munich is a candidate for at least the semi final or final”, warned basketball expert Steven Clauss.

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Jimmy McKinney And Devin Gibson Wear Their Energy Lederhosen Propelling The Fraport Skyliners Past FC Bayern Munich 68-49

Ever since the German Fussball Bundesliga opened the door in 1963, one would always see the powerhouse FC Bayern Munich each season in Frankfurt in the Wald stadium and later the Commerzbank arena. There have been many unforgettable games and scenes between FC Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt over the years like the Klaus Augenthaler goal from mid field or the hard fought 1-0 Munich win in the 2006 cup final in Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt is trailing in the 86 game history at 44-22-20. FC Bayern Munich wasn´t in town for soccer but for basketball and seeing the red and white FC Bayern Munich jerseys for the first time in the Fraport arena was something to get used to, but a new basketball FC Bayern Munich era had began as Stefan Hamann was back with his piercing blue ocean eyes, head coach Dirk Bauermann wearing his typical men in back outfit with sunglasses only missing to go as a Jack Nicholson, Demond Greene sporting his standard tough all around play and basketball joker Darius Hall were all back in the arena where they had been in before, but for other teams. Being able to say the magical words FC Bayern Munich and not be referring to a soccer pitch, but to a basketball court was soothing and a premier as the Fraport Skyliners were able to take revenge for their 58-57 loss in Munich earlier in the season with a strong team performance 68-49. Just playing against the mighty FC Bayern Brand was something that players reflected upon without even talking about the outcome of the game. “It is great that FC Bayern Munich is in the Beko BBL. Everyone knows Bayern Munich and its great for the competition. It is cool having a soccer and basketball team. I remember it to well from my playing days in Leverkusen”, stated American Jared Newson. “It was a great feeling playing against this great name where there is so much tradition with the soccer team. It was  a great atmosphere and we felt the fans energy”, added Skyliner guard Michael Thompson. “They are FC Bayern Munich rich in tradition like the New York Yankees. Los Angeles Lakers or Boston Celtics or Boston Red Sox. It is always great to win against great competition”, stated Skyliner guard Jimmy Mckinney.

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Will The Fraport Skyliners Have A Solution This Time Against Je Kel Foster And FC Bayern Munich In Crunch Time?

In the world FC Bayern Munich has a reputation and is a household name in Germany, the way Heinz Ketchup is in the United States, Iberia airlines is in Spain, Ferrari is in Italy or IKEA is in Sweden. However in Germany when uttering the word FC Bayern Munich, it is Soccer and one usually affiliates the 22 German meisterschaften, 15 cup wins, the world class players that have graced the red and white jersey like Franz Beckenbauer, Karl Heinz Rummenigge, Gerd Mueller, Oliver Kahn, Lothar Matthäus, the sometime minor scandals that has given the club FC Hollywood status or the famous Uli Hoeness Wutrede at the 2007-2008 stock holders meeting where his head was as red as a bolied lobster. FC Bayern Munich and basketball in the same breath in the past was about as distant as Heidi Klum and Seal are now. However since this season, Basketball is back in the first division since their last visit in 1986-1987 and with the expertise coaching from Dirk Bauermann and ultimate Bayern fan Uli Hoeness giving the needed financial support, the organization is looking to become an FC Barcelona in the Beko BBL sometime down the road. However the route in the direction of a FC Barcelona seems to have taken a severe wrong turn and landed in Sitges(Beach resort near Barcelona) and at the moment the basketball team led by ex German national head coach Dirk Bauermann is about as far away from FC Barcelona as British tennis ace Andy Murray is from winning a Grand Slam event. The FC Bayern Munich bosses never predicted a title in their first season, but were expecting to belong to the top teams and be a force in the Beko BBL playoffs. FC Bayern Munich has been up and down in the last months and if they keep it up, may get gobbled up by the competiton and be in the Munich beer gardens in May instead of the Beko BBL arenas. “One can´t say that FC Bayern Munich is only playing bad. They had good efforts against Oldenburg and BG Goettingen. A team like Munich just can´t become  a title team from today to tomorrow. This takes a lot of development, something that Bamberg has behind them. I am sure that we will see a totally different team when the playoffs start. They just have to continue to find themselves something which has taken longer due to injuries. Every player has the ability to score 20 points or more. The team just can´t mislead themselves. I still see FC Bayern Munich as a serious title candidate”, stressed Walter Tiger Tuebingen forward Ruben Spoden.

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Keaton Nankivil’s Buzzer Beater Seals 76-75 Win Over Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich seems to have a knack for losing close games. After unfortunate overtime losses against the Telekom Baskets Bonn (80-78) and the Artland Dragons (86-83), Bauermann’s team also lost the road games in Bremerhaven (73:71) and Würzburg (64:55).

In the game against Ulm Bayern Munich was able to come back from a double digit deficit and take a 2-point lead within the last few seconds. But then former Badger Keaton Nankivil made a 25-foot three point shot and gave Bayern Munich another close loss on the road. Thorsten Leibenath’s (Ulm’s coach) time out speech looked quite desperate as he was not really sure what play he wanted his team to execute. Somehow the ball ended up in Nankivil’s hands and with just a few seconds remaining he just took the shot.

You can watch the full game here:

Bayern Munich’s soccer team is known to sign the opponent’s best players. I don’t know what Bayern’s team manager Marco Pesic and Dirk Bauermann have in mind for next season. But maybe we see Nankivil in a Bayern Munich uniform next season. I would not bet my money on this though. If Bayern should really be interested in a player who defeated them it should rather be Artland’s David Holston…