Sometimes in life things turn a complete 180 degrees from comfortable and successful to miserable and unsuccessful like ex 
NBA star Scottie Pippen who is trying to live a normal life in retirement, but claims he has been unfairly portrayed in the media as a walking financial disaster and suing every media outlet who reported he went bankrupt, the NBA trying to prepare for the upcoming season, but the many cancelled trades seeming to take the spotlight from the whole affair or the current Syracuse sex scandal that has tarnished that schools reputation quicker than Shaq can devour a Big Mac or yell Kazaam. For 2010 Eurochallenge winner BG Goettingen that success seems about as far away as Charles Barton ever returning to the Skyliners as their current season as been like a nightmare first losing their heart and soul John Patrick who led the team into the Beko BBL playoffs in three out of four seasons, their many stars following him to Wurzburg, the Marco Grimaldi tragedy of him losing loved ones in a car accident and on top of that the team living in 18th place for most of the season which might feel the same as if one was deserted in the never revealed Lok Halle dungeon if there ever was one. With the Christmas season nearing its end when the Fraport Skyliners arrive in Goettingen December 26th, BG 
Goettingen could use some late Christmas gifts from Santa with a win. The team recently replaced head coach Stefan Mienack with assistant coach Michael Meeks and won a game against Tuebingen. Despite all the hard ship that the team has suffered, the atmosphere seems in tact. “When we played in Goettingen, I didn´t sense as much sadness. The fans were good there and there seemed to be a sense of urgency. They played with a chip on their shoulder”, commented Tuebingen guard Josh Young. Nothing comes easy these days in Goettingen as the team plays with a very young and inexperienced team looking to gain experience and getting better while needing to win games each weekend and trying to escape out of the trap door that they have fallen into in the Beko BBL cellar all the while having the misfortune of the current season upon them like a dust cloud. “Every team deals with internal problems, but it seems like BG Goettingen have had to deal with a lot this season. I hope that they can turn their season around. They have to continue to work and do things the right way. I believe that even with bad times, you will always get out what you put in”, warned Tuebingen American Josh Young.
BG Goettingen
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.
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?
Face To Face With Chris Oliver (Strassburg IG)
Chris Oliver is a 25 year old 198cm forward that completed his first season with the The Walter Tigers Tuebingen. Next season,
he will make his debut for Strassburg in the French league. He is a athletic forward that has great hands, the versatility to play inside and outside, with three-point range on his jump shot, and has tremendous poise and maturity. He played at Radford from 2003-2007 and in his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 18.8ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.1apg, 1.9spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 48.7%, 3Pts: 25.8%, FT: 74.8%.
He came to Germany in 2007-2008 and played for the Kaiserslautern Braves of the PRO A playing 30 games: Score-2(20.5ppg), Reb-5(9.0rpg), 1.2apg, 1.3spg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 56%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 79.6%.In 2008-2009 in Goettingen, he averaged 10.6ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.4spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 75.5% in 34 games. In 2009-2010, he won the Eurochallenge and played ): EuroChallenge: 13 games: 11.5ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 77.1%; German League: 35 games: 14.1ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 80.9%. Last season with The Walter Tigers Tuebingen, he averaged 13,5ppg and 6,4rpg. Chris spoke to German Hoops recently about the 2010-2011 beko BBL season.
You are since a while in the States. what was the first thing that you did as you stepped on USA soil?
I went to eat with my family. I always eat Japanese when I come back home.
What did you miss from the States when being in Germany?
I miss my family and friends. I also miss the different restaurants that I eat at.
The Double D´s Reign On Mothers Day As Dashaun Wood Demonstrates Sweep To Dirk Nowitzki As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Advance To The beko BBL Semi Finals Over BG Goettingen 82-59
It was unknown if Boston Celtic coach Doc Rivers was moping around American Airlines arena in Miami after game 2 loss trying to forget his woes and instead cherish moments of him feeding the human highlight film Dominique Wilkins with ally-ops in the 80s, but in Kassel after the BG Goettingen loss and all the fans had disappeared into the cold night trying to forget the Veilchen loss with a beer at Mr Jones bar, BG Goettingen manager Marc Franz was still in the Rothenbach Halle sitting alone in the stands contemplating what had gone wrong like Bobby Knight used to do after Indiana loses or remembering how the champagne once tasted last spring as BG Goettinegn won the Eurochallenge. With BG Goettingen clinging to their lives down 2-0 against Frankfurt like a broken down Shaq is after finding out the last Mcdonalds was closed for the evening, Franz looked as sad in Kassel as Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness is after any kind of loss including the Munich basketballers , Marey Carey does during pregnancy not getting her favorite dish or Artland Dragons fans were not reaching the playoffs on the last day in 2009 and 2010. BG Goettingen had three match balls against them in the Ballsporthalle, but were still as focused as
Jimmy Mckinney is when he gets the green light to launch bombs from the parking lot, Jim Carey was showing his love to Jennifer Aniston in the movie Bruce Allmighty or Paris Hilton risking to go into the piercing hot July sunlight in Monte Carlo without her sunglasses, but Frankfurt showed no fear disposing of BG Goettingen 82-59 getting past their hard effort and advancing to the semi finals. “I think that we felt as much pressure as they did. I told the guys at half time that we could either have 20 more minutes in this series or possibly 80 more minutes. I have to give our team a lot of credit. To be able to beat this team 5 times in a row in one season is incredible”, stressed 2011 beko BBL MVP Dashaun Wood. “Frankfurt did a good job handling the pressure and taking care of business on Mothers Day”, added BG Goettingen guard Kyle Bailey. ” Coach told us to play aggressive. We didn´t expect them to fail, but just play our game”, commented Skyliner guard Quantez Robertson. “Frankfurt did what they had to do. They handled the pressure well”, said BG Goettingen guard Antoine Jordan.
Dashaun Wood Shows A Combination Of Bryant/Wade Leading The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Past BG Goettingen 76-67 For 2-0 Playoff Lead
It is always an advantage if you are able to do those things that you are used to doing as opposed to what you aren´t like strutting your beamer through the neighborhood instead of a broken down Ford Nova, New England Patriot star quarterback Tom Brady being able to riffle bullet passes to his favorite Texas tech target Wes Welker running routes or Hollywood actor George Clooney picking up women in swank clubs on the Cote D Azur instead of in third rate clubs in Boise, Idaho, but sometimes reality doesn´t let you do what you know and like. BG Goettingen have been playing in their beloved Lok Halle since 2007 and have had a lot of success playing in their locomotive turned basketball arena in the last years, but were struck with playing game 2 in the 40 kilometer away Kassel in the Rothenbach halle. Not being able to play in their usual home court train dungeon for opponents where the atmosphere is as fierce as any opponent getting the full work out treatment competiting against the American in his prime, It girl Paris Hilton having to wake up to After 8 mints in a Marriot hotel instead of a Hilton, Immanuel Mcelroy having to play in the old Max Schmeiling halle instead of the O-2 World arena, or Boston Redosx slugger David Ortiz having to blast moon rockets out of Nickerson field over the Charles river to Harvard instead of out of Fenway park. Despite many fans coming from Goettingen to support the team in Kassel and a strong atmosphere through out the game, BG Goettingen was unable to knot the series as they lost 76-67 to The Deutsche Bank Skyliners and trail the best of five quarterfinal series 2-0. “The atmosphere here compared to the Lokhalle is hard to compare. The Lokhalle is one of a kind. The atmosphere was very good though. Our fans supported us well”, stressed ex ratiopharm Ulm guard Kyle Bailey. “I thought the atmosphere was teh same a sin Goettingen. The crowd really got on you under the basket”, added Skyliner MVP Dashaun Wood. “The atmosphere was great. The only difference was that it was the same floor and baskets, but just another arena. Our fans supported us 100%”, commented BG Goettingen American Antoine Jordan. “The atmosphere was the same as in Goettingen. It wasn´t easy to play here. We showed a lot of moral and kept our cool despite the intense conditions”, expressed Skyliner sport director Kamil Novak. Marius Nolte friend Steven Esterkamp watched the game and was impressed by the atmosphere. “It was amazing to in the arena and witness this atmosphere”, added ex Paderborn Basket Steven Esterkamp. “This was a nice arena, but the atmosphere was not the same as in the Lokhalle. The Lokhalle is unique. I thought BG Goettinegn was a bit like a stranger in this arena”, stressed Marius Nolte.
Jason Boone (BG Goettingen): The Bulls-Hawks Series Reminds Me A Lot Of This Goettingen-Frankfurt Series
Jason Boone is a 25 year old 198cm power forward/center from Sugar Loaf, New York. He is playing his third full season with 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%. Two seasons ago, he played at Bernau (Regionalliga) before making the jump up three leagues to BG Goettingen. In 2008-2009, he averaged 4.4ppg, 4.0rpg, FG: 53.7%. Last season, he played 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%. He spok German Hoops before the game 2 against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners in Kassel.
A tough 77-58 loss in game 1 against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners. What does the team have to do better and differently without guys like Trent meacham and Mike Scott?
We just have to continue to go with what got us to this point. It’s unfortunate we are without two of the guys that helped get us to this point but it’s the playoffs and we can’t use that as an excuse. It doesn’t come down to anything more than playing the full 24 seconds of each defensive possession and using our mismatches on offense.
Jimmy Mckinney Hits From Downtown St Louis In Crunch Time As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Secure Game 1 With A 77-58 Win
Timely lady luck, having a four leaf clover land mysteriously on the bench, getting a couple of timely loose balls, hitting 12713 three pointers or hitting 90% of your free throws is fortune that belongs to the game of basketball sometimes, but BG Goettingen didn´t seem to bring any of this good luck in their baggage to Frankfurt as the team was without American Trent Meacham who had an elbow injury and the club had given the walking papers to American Mike Scott 72 hours earlier. BG Goettingen were unable to allow too much to really wrong as they met the second best team in the beko BBL and had to be a lot more focused than the Spurs and Magic as they had been upset in the NBA playoffs not being able to come back down from 3-1, the way future NBA MVP Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls who took care of business in game five dismantling the Indiana Pacers 116-89, or Face the Nation legend Bob Schieffer telling the world in a very direct way that Donald Trump is a racist, but The Deutsche Bank Skyliners took matters in their own hands in the fourth quarter ending the game with a 20-3 run and winning game 1 in the Ballsporthalle 77-58. “It is always hard against Goettingen. We have played them three times and each time it came down to the last minutes. We have have the home court advantage and have to win our games at home to advance. It will be difficult to win series and lose at home and steal a game on the road”, warned MVP Dashaun Wood. Even though Frankfurt won by 19 points, the score didn´t indicate how close the game really was. “The game could of gone either way at the end. We had a run at end which was key. We are happy, but can´t lean back on this win”, stressed Skyliner center Marius Nolte. “BG Goettingen players looked worn out as they exited the locker room after the game as it wasn´t Wood that beat them with baskets, but other players. “This was a very hard fought game for 36 minutes. The Mckinney three pointer hurt us which was the turning point for them to go on their 20-3 run at the end”, expressed Alaska native Kyle Bailey.
Even though BG Goettingen was without Trenton Meacham and Mike Scott, they didn´t seem to be effected by their absence at all as they held their own never allowing The Deutsche Bank Skyliners to run away with the game early. “Of course, it is tough to play without Meacham and Scott, but these are the playoffs and there can be no excuses. You have to focus on what you have and not on what you don´t have”, added Kyle Bailey. For The Deutsche Bank Skyliners, they didn´t even know that BG Goettingen was shorthanded. “Who was missing from BG Goettingen wasn´t important for us. Coach Herbert mentioned it during the game that Meacham and Scott weren´t present. BG Goettingen is a good team that won 6 of their last seven games. We came into this game not underestimating them”, stressed Marius Nolte. “I think it is important that we as a team focus on what we have to do to win and not on their players”, said Skyliner forward Kimmo Muurinen. Skyliner top scorer Dashaun Wood knows that no matter who is on the court, beating BG Goettingen will never be a cake walk. “BG Goettingen showed in the last game, that despite not having Bailey, that they were still tough. No matter which five guys are on the court, they will always play tough. It is never easy against them”, stressed Dashaun Wood.
Can BG Goettingen Go From 2010 Eurochallenge Spoiler To Deutsche Bank Skyliners 2011 beko BBL Playoff Spoiler?
In the past week playing beko BBl and NBA spoiler has been as common as little kids annoying their parents with the uncomfortable phrase “where is the Easter bunny really”, humans contemplating when a day will go by without seeing has been Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan in the tabloids and her latest sunglasses fashion, or Atlanta, Georgia citizens imagining driving the Lamborghini of Allen Iverson and wondering if the ex NBA star would give them his shiny sports car if the police department doesn´t want it even if he has a collection of ten more rotting away in his garage. In the beko BBL spoilers were on the prowl as The Artland Dragons sent TBB Trier into summer vacation with a heart breaking one point loss or The Deutsche Bank Sklyinersgiving an unforgettable Globetrotter showcase not giving EnBW Ludwigsburg any real chance giving the players an early ticket home to the beaches and cafes of the world as both clubs were ousted on the last game day while in the NBA teams like Portland, Memphis and Indiana aren´t allowing Dallas, san Antonio or Chicago from dragging out the brooms as they have annoyed the favorites with pesky and a ruthless display of basketball. “I am enjoying the NBA playoffs now. The top teams are getting more of a challenge, because the underdog teams are playing with their backs to the wall and giving all that they have. I have no real idea what is going on in the Spurs-Grizzlies series, but I think the injury to Manu Ginobolli is really hurting the Spurs. I think that Dallas-Portland are evenly matched. I think it will be a toss up to who wins this series”, stressed Eisbaeren Bremerhaven guard Tyrone Brazelton. Last season BG Goettingen played spoiler entered the Eurochallenge tournament as a long shot, but plowed through the competition winning the title and letting coach John Patrick taste his first giant success of sweet champagne German style, while this season BG Goettingen want to get back to that spoiler role against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners in the opening round of the 2010-2011 beko BBL playoffs which start on April 30th. Actor George Cloony dying his head red while growing a beard of the same color, Cheyene Woods, the niece of Tiger Woods stealing the spotlight from him just a bit with her golf or world class designer Karl Lagerfeld taking off his sunglasses for an interview may be very unexpected, but the chances of BG Goettingen winning a 5 game series against Frankfurt should not be unexpected either. Frankfurt demonstrated last year that it can be done as they snuck by second seed Alba Berlin as the seventh seed 3-1. This time the roles are reversed as Frankfurt is seeded second and BG Goettingen seventh. “I think that anything is possible in this series, but I think that Frankfurt might be a little to strong to handle for BG Goettingen. But I remember when I was with western kentucky we were the underdog against Drake who were the fifth seed in the NCAA and we pulled off a win, because we had as a team, had better players and good coaching. As a pro playing in Poland for Asseco Prokom in the Euroleague we were evenly matched against Armani Milian, but we came out with the win, because we had more determination from the start and that is exactly what BG Goettingen will need to have to beat Frankfurt and will need someone else to beat them besides Dashaun Wood”, warned Bremerhaven guard Tyrone Brazelton.
Another Typical Day At The Office For Dashaun Wood Displaying A Strong Combination Of Monta/Kemba/Lebron Stats As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Outgrind BG Goettingen 88-82
This season, it has become a fact that Skyliner Dashaun Wood has been reigning the BEKO BBL and has been as dominant in his sport as internet hero Mr facebook Mark Zuckerberg is with his company worth of 23 billion, Sergey Brin co founder of the search engine Google and Jimmy “jimbo” Wales who came up with the unique website Wikepdeia as his net worth is calculated at 25 million in their jobs. Wood might not be making the astronomical sums of these internet junkies, but his worth to The Deutsche Bank Skyliners is seen each weekend as he is the motor that makes the Frankfurt engine run so smoothly at all types of precarious situations and on top of that his engine is as vital to the club as that of a X-43 plane. Wood has to see different defensive guard formations on him each weekend, but he always finds a way to have great games. Against BG Goettingen, he didn´t have to put up with organized chaos, but moreover a controlled pressure that gave Frankfurt some problems in the first half, but in the second half as if somebody had ordered him to finally take control, Wood showed why he is the 2011 BEKO BBL MVP leading his team to a 88-82 win. It doesn´t really matter what type of pressure defense BG Goettingen hurled at Wood, the American was able to escape all danger as if a halo was over his head at all times. BG Goettingen coach John Patrick was sad about the loss, but in awe about the play of Wood. “I have been coaching 12 years now, but Wood is about as close to unstoppable as I have ever seen. We tried to use so many different strategies on him, but nothing seemed to work. I thought we did a pretty good job on him, but his 25 points and 12 assists shows how good he really is”, stressed BG Goettingen skipper John Patrick. “Wood is a great player. He hit a couple of three pointers and then the basket gets a lot bigger. We wanted to keep him out of the lane, but that was easier said than done”, added BG Goettingen guard Trenton Meachem. Wood teammate Quantez Super Tez Robertson, who might be a regular in the highlight films, but knows who the real BEKO BBL MVP is. “Wood didn´t make many shots in the first half, but got us going. In the second half, he hit big shots and got to the free throw line. For me he is the BEKO BBL MVP and has a big lead over the other players”, warned Quantez Robertson.
German Hoops 