The last time Max Weber had a Skyliner jersey draped over his sweat filled body while lunging for a loose ball over Darius Hall who was also on the floor battling, ex Fraport Skyliner head coach Muli Katzurin was winning titles in the Czech Republic with Nymburk in 2009. Weber was always the quintessential role player no matter where he played, but had to fight for his minutes like any other player. In his last season in Frankfurt, Weber reached the playoffs losing to the EWE Baskets Oldenburg in the quarterfinals 3-1 as his teammates included Derrick Mr ballerina Allen, Konrad the professor Wysocki, Pascal Mr reliable Roller or Illian swishhhhhhhhhh Evitomov. However his time in Frankfurt was up and he moved on to Giessen where he helped the team reach their best position of 14th and best since the 2005-2006 season playing 28 games and often sparkling through his defensive prowess. The next season he took a step back going to the Saar-Pfalz Braves (ProA, starting five): 27 games: 11.5ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 46.6%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 60.0%. His solid season got him a ticket back to the big game to the Beko BBL with BG Goettingen. However in the last three seasons, his luck has changed as the teams that he has played for BG Goettingen, Ludwigsburg all landed in the cellar. Ludwigsburg only remained in the Beko BBL, because it paid for a wildcard. So often in life and in the basketball world, three is a charm, but not for the German Weber who once gained experience in Peru, who has had a season to forget in Vechta as this team is also in the cellar and will move back to the Pro A. Weber has played only 20 games averaging 9,5 minutes per game and 1.4ppg and 1,5rpg. He just hasn´t been able to break the rotation of head coach Pat Elzie the way he has wanted to. In the first loss in Frankfurt, Weber played nine minutes. In the return game in Vechta, there was no teammate on Frankfurt that had played with him back in Frankfurt in 2008-2009 and Weber was only younger than Quantez Robertson and Skyliner captain Marius Nolte. Weber was focused to play his old team again, but his mood was severely dampened after the buzzer beater loss to Frankfurt 76-75 which officially sent them back to the second Bundesliga.and reflected on his bad luck of being on Beko BBL teams that have moved down the last years. ”This was a bitter loss and we knew that the season would be tough. I came to Vechta, because I wanted to study at the same time. I didn´t even go to morning practices, but just evening practices. I had injuries and pain and never found my role in the team. I thought I wouldn´t break even with Wayne Bernard with three times having to depart the Beko BBL, but I did against my ex team Frankfurt. But it was still the right decision for me to come to Vechta”, stressed ex Fraport Skyliner Max Weber. His teammate Richard Williams had an expression of sorrow on his face after the loss while eating a dish of fish in the second floor in the Rasta Dome arena and was content that no player can really be responsible for a team moving down. “Max Weber had bad luck. You never want to be attached with moving down, but that is a part of the sport. It can happen to anyone. Max played quality minutes for us. There is so much to love about his game. He helped us so much on the court”, stressed California native Richard Williams.
Frankfurt Skyliners
A Late Ronald Burrell Two Handed Stuff And Smashed Game Board Sums Up Another Frankfurt Crunch Time Loss To Bayreuth 72-64
A very exciting aspect to a professional basketball players season is when two players meet again for the first time as full blown professionals after making the jump from the NCAA ranks. This is something that happens every so often in any league in Europe. Back in December ex NBA player Andrew Rautins of the Fraport Skyliners and 2 time NCAA finalist with Butler Matt Howard met in Ulm and at the end Rautins was standing tallest as he had led his team past ratiopharm Ulm in three over time periods as Howard once again was at the short end of a game departing the floor as a loser. With the season winding down, medi bayreuth more or less was saved form the cellar and the Fraport Skyliners were closing out the season with pride wanting to win as many games as possible. However this wasn´t the only duel for pride, but there were also two guards from both teams that were meeting again after playing in the NCAA head to head. It was on March 14, 2012 on a comfortable evening in late winter in Los Angeles when Cal State Fullerton arrived to play Loyola Marymount. It pitted bowling aficionado and NBA aspirant DJ Seely of Cal State Fullerton against Jarred Dubois who were both juniors. After 40 minutes, it was Dubois and Loyola Marymount that prevailed 88-79. Dubois played 28 minutes netting five points and dishing out two dimes. It was Seeley who had a monster game with 32 points that probably would have needed a Bobby Brown who played at Cal Fullerton before turning professional as a reinforcement at the guard position to help win the game as he can score at an instant. 25 months later, both American guards faced off again in Frankfurt and this time DJ Seeley got revenge grinding out a hard fought 72-64 win with medi bayreuth in Frankfurt. After the game the numbers of 32 and 5 and schools Loyola Marymount and Cal State Fullerton brought a smile to his face. “I remember that game against Jarred Dubois. It was a win or go home game. It is nice seeing guys again and you can see how they have developed over time. Dubois is a good player a lefty that is hard to guard, shifty around the rim and a good defender”, stressed American DJ Seeley. Dubois who had two tough endings to the last two games also remembered the 32 points, but also was quick to reply that Loyola Marymount had won the game. “It is lovely to see a guy like Seeley again. He didn´t get the recognition that he should have, because of playing at a smaller school and it doesn´t surprise me how well he played”, added Jarred Dubois. “I have seen many guys over my career that I played against in the NCAA. I remember playing against Chris Mcnaughton when he played for Bucknell and it is especially nice when you can still see guys now at this stage when so many guys aren´t playing anymore”, stated ex Holy Cross guard Kevin Hamilton.
The Jacob Burtschi Three Pointers Put The Fraport Skyliners In Cruise Control Spanking ratiopharm Ulm 71-67
Back in college at Creighton, Dane Watts was as used to playing for conference titles and winning with guys like NBA forward Anthony Tolliver and Nate Funk as Telekom Baskets Bonn guard Ryan Brooks was to winning the Atlantic 10 Tournament in 2009-2010, but as the Missouri native turned professional in 2008, it took him a few years to finally have a chance of winning a title again in Germany. In his first three seasons in Germany, Watts played for middle class teams like Ludwigsburg and two years in Tuebingen. In 2011, he was signed by ratiopharm Ulm where he joined a top notch team in the making that was a Beko BBL finalist in 2012 and German Supercup finalist in 2013. These were two productive season for the American until his misfortune in January 2013 as he was injured and had to sit out a year. This season he is back with the Fraport Skyliners, but on a team that will need much luck to reach the playoffs with best a very long winning streak to end the season which is about as likely as his ex team Tuebingen staying in the Beko BBL. For a professional player it is always a treat to meet again with an ex team and with Ulm playing in Frankfurt, Watts was reunited with German national player Per Guenther and Jon Leuer friend from Wisconsin(NCAA) Keaton Nankivil who were his teammates for two seasons. Watts had a tremendous debut as a Skyliner in Oldenburg netting 22 points and eight rebounds in a bitter loss and scoring 12 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter in a bitter 77-76 loss in Ludwigsburg.Watts and the Fraport Skyliners met ratiopharm Ulm on a Sunday afternoon matinee and two weeks in a row Watts was unable to play and battle ex teammates like John Byrant and Per Guenther on account of his broken nose. Watts was able to enjoy two big wins the last two weekends against FC Bayern Munich and the latest 71-67 spanking against ratiopharm Ulm. “It was tough not being able to play against John Bryant last week and Per Guenther this week. I really wanted to play, but am alos happy we won. It was good for our confidence. I am really starting to get know the fan section to the left. I still have a ringing in my ear”, smiled Missouri native Dane Watts.”It is always nice to Dane Watts, but I am happy that I didn´t have to play against him, because he had told me that he wanted to set some mean blocks”, smiled German national player Per Guenther. Ulm American Keaton Nankivil exited the locker room with another loss as he is 0-3 in Frankfurt and also was unable to battle his ex teammate. “It was sad not to play him, but then again nice that he couldn´t hurt us. I am really happy that he is in a good situation in Frankfurt”, added ex Wisconsin forward Keaton Nankivil.
The Fraport Skyliners Don´t Need A Genie In A Bottle, But Have A Galloway Outplaying FC Bayern Munich 67-62
One of the many wonderful things about stepping on the court for basketball players is when two ex teammates meet again for the first time as opponents. This is a normal occurrence that happens often during the course of a season for each team in the Beko BBL. For two ex Beko BBL teammates to meet for the first time again after playing together may not be as emotional or as nerve wracking as the return of future NBA Hall of famers Brooklyn Nets Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce back in their old living room in Boston where they won their only NBA title in 2008. This season Ryan Brooks of the Telekom Baskets Bonn played against his ex team Frankfurt twice winning both games, Derrick Allen played against his ex team losing and ex Skyliner Konrad Wysocki and Dominik Bahiense De Mello swept their ex team. With the battle of Frankfurt against FC Bayern Munich, it was time for two ex teammates to duel even if they don´t play the same position. What do you get when you have big curly haired like teddy bear weighing 128 kilos that is known as big country and could probably carry ex teammate Per Guenther on his palm while batteling for position and a forward from Missouri that looks like a surfer boy that just arrived from Hawaii from the surf world championships? Well you get John Bryant and Dane Watts meeting again. They played together for one and a half seasons in Ulm reaching the Beko BBl final in 2012. Watts joined the Fraport Skyliners in January 2014 and was facing John Bryant for the first time since their days in Ulm. Even though they don’t play the same position, both guys were happy to see each other again, but on account Dane Watts suffering a broken nose in Ludwigsburg last weekend, he was unable to help the Fraport Skyliners upset the big mighty FC Bayern Munich 67-62, but rather watched closely from the bench as big John Bryant played in his new role with FC Bayern Munich. “It was nice to see him again and it is always fun to go against an ex teammate in a real game. Even if I didn´t play, I was just happy that we got the win. Bryant wasn´t so aggressive at the start, but he hit some big three pointers in crunch time. He was a league MVP twice for a reason. They have so many weapons that he just picks his spots”, stressed Missouri native Dane Watts. “I was sad that I couldn´t compete against Dane Watts tonight. He is a great guy and very smart player and it is always nice to see him”, added California native John Bryant.
Coby Karl Was Mowed Down By A Seemingly Invisible Shaq Leading To The Shocking Adam Waleskowski Game Ending Winning Shot Propelling Ludwigsburg Past Frankfurt 77-76
The number six has been present in the minds of the Fraport Skyliners in the last weeks as injuries and consecutive loses go hand in hand like Gold Medals and snow storms for citizens of the country Russia. Currently going into the next game in Ludwigsburg, the 2000 Beko BBL cup winner and 2004 Beko BBL champion has lost six games in a row and were still seeking their first victory in 2014. Winning six of seven games in a span from the middle of November to the end of December seems as ancient as remembering the last game Fraport Skyliner captain Marius Nolte played. The number six also has to do with the most number of injured players that Frankfurt has had out this season as they played in Oldenburg and almost won. One has to also mention that since the last game that Andy Rautins played was at home in the win against Vechta. Since then the club has only lost and there has been speculation that the ex NBA player might not even return back this season after having gone to the States to see medical specialists. The Fraport Skyliners already had one phase during this current losing streak where they had two weeks off between games, but couldn´t pull out the win in Oldenburg. Coming in Ludwigsburg, they had their second two week period off between the last loss in Bonn and wanted to make better use of the long preparation against John Patrick and co. The Fraport Skyliners with continued injured players on their game plan menu strutted into Ludwigsburg as motivated to finally break their long winning drought as Jason Collins is too show the world that he still has the basketball brute in him getting a 10 day contract from the Brooklyn Nets, wrestler Jake the snake Roberts telling a national TV audience “If the devil can’t defeat me, cancer doesn’t stand a chance in hell”, or singer Chris Brown getting through 90 days of anger management rehab school.The Fraport Skyliners prepared for the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg with a week of team building and intense practices on the Spanish island of Mallorca, but weren´t rewarded, but moreover heartbroken losing a nail bitter at the end in Ludwigsburg 77-76. Despite the bitter loss, the Fraport Skyliners were able to take many important basketball ingredients from Mallorca which was already incorporated into their game in Ludwigsburg. “The trip to Mallorca was important and we needed to to get away.We connected as a team. We stepped up as individuals in our play which carried over to the team as a whole”, stressed Fraport Skyliners guard Ramon Galloway. After the loss, Fraport Skyliners head coach Gordon Herbert exited the locker room with his hair standing up as if he had seen a ghost on the court and was also positive about the Mallorca training camp results up to that last play. “We came together as a team in Mallorca. We focused on roles and goals and team building. I think we made strides with that, but we worked also much on free throw defense, but it didn´t help us at the end with the Waleskowski bucket which is just frustrating”, commented Canadian Gordon Herbert.
It’s Slowly Becoming A Curse As The Fraport Skyliners lose Another Crunch Time Game In Oldenburg 68-66
Waiting, waiting and waiting can be the easiest thing for some people who have patience, while for others who are as impatient as blond bombshell Marilyn Monroe was in the day, it can be the most difficult thing like when your waiting in front of the Apple store for it too open to snatch the newest gadgets, trying to focus on something positive when your at an overcrowded airport during a snow storm in Topeka, Nebraska waiting for your flight to be rescheduled, or when your trying to solve some important problem on the phone concerning some incorrect bill and have to be on hold for minutes and minutes and start humming the boring and annoying elevator music that is disturbing one´s ears. The back injury of new Fraport Skyliner Dane Watts may not have taken as long as four years to get heeled as did the long injury of NBA player Greg Oden who recently made his comeback with the Miami Heat or been as horrific and nasty as the Allan Ray injury back in college at Villanova when Pitt guard and ex Oldenburg player Carl Krauser accidently popped out his eye ball or been as annoying as it has been for NBA player Shaun Livingston to have damaged his knee as he tore both the anterior and posterior cruciate ligament, as well as the lateral meniscus, sprained the medial collateral ligament, and dislocated his patella and tibia-femoral joint. But for the Missouri native the waiting has been tough as he has been out of action for more than a year as his last game was on January 12th, 2013 in a 95-91 road win in Oldenburg where the American steered six points, five rebounds and two assists while logging 26 minutes. After this came a long road back to recovery as he had back surgery and now finallyhad the possibility to get back on the floor again and do damage for his new team the Fraport Skyliners. Watts already was scheduled to play in Quackenbruck against the Artland Dragons more than two weeks ago, but then didn´t get the green light as the 2000 cup winner Skyliners still wanted to check his basketball fitness before letting him play, because the team had to make a wise choice to let him play or not, because the club only had one more license to give this season. Watts had to wait 393 days until touching the basketball floor again in an official game and also made his debut in the new EWE Baskets arena and despite 22 points was unable to celebrate his first game in a Skyliners jersey with a win as the Ewe Baskets Oldenburg won another squeaker against Frankfurt in their own living room 68-66. Watts looked as good as new on the court, but one could sense a bit of sadness and dam we let it get away feeling after the game. “I felt good on the court and my legs are getting stronger each game. I was happy for the most part with my game and my fitness is getting better. I feel that I am adjusting well to the system and coach gives us trust in making plays and we made plays tonight. I think that I fit well into this system as the club has guards that can make plays and bigs that like to pass the ball. I think that I can show my leadership qualities well”, stressed Missouri native Dane Watts. Watts hit four three pointers, grabbed eight rebounds including four offensive rebounds and at times was like a ghost coming out of nowhere to pounch on the ball like a cat does on a helpless mouse had three steals and one block. Rickey Paulding had a big smile on his face after the game when he heard the name Watts. “Watts looked great. I am really happy that he is back. It is always a shame when a guy is injured. It is amazing that he came back and could play so well in his first game”, added 2004 Detroit Pistons Draft Pick Rickey Paulding. Many see Watts as only a scorer and rebounder, but Skyliner young gun Johannes Voigtmann sees unending qualities in Watts. “Watts was super tonight. He brings so many things to the court not only scoring and rebounding. His experience is so important and he is communicative on and off the court. He does so much on the court and you feel so comfortable with him on and off the court. He also has a great character”, expressed Eisenach native Johannes Voigtmann.
The Fraport Skyliners Celebrate 122 Years Of Basketball With Their Own Historical 108-102 Triple Overtime Victory Against ratiopharm Ulm
With Christmas only three days away in Germany, players on both squads of Frankfurt and Ulm might have had some X-mas thoughts on their minds like Per Guenther wondering what FC Bayern Munich big man John Bryant will send his favorite little buddy, Aziz Ndiaye wondering if he will see snow again after seeing it for the first time when he was a Washington Huskie, if Adam Hess can sing the famous Christmas song Oh Tannenbaum in German or Jacob Burtschi possibly wondering if his new growing beard will look appealing during the holiday season if he isn´t moonlighting as a Santa Claus. These are all thoughts that could be dancing in the minds of the players, but before any Christmas thoughts get served up in the minds of Andrew Rautins and Matt Howard, they will still have some basketball memories brewing in their brains. It is always exciting when two players who dueled in the NCAA meet again for the first time as professionals especially after a big NCAA tournament game sent one guy home and the other was still alive. The last time Rautins and Howard met face to face was on March 25th, 2010 as number 5 Butler with Howard upset number one Syracuse 64-59. Rautins was a senior and played his last college game and had teammates like current NBA player Wesley Johnson and former Boston Celtic Kris Joseph who now plays with ex Skyliner Illian Evtimov with Chalon in France. Howard had current Atlanta Hawk Shelven Mack and current Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward on his team. Rautins won the stat duel scoring 15 points and dropping four three pointers while Howard finished with nine points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block and most importantly the win. 33 months after this big tournament game, both players met again in a routine beko BBL game with the only similarity to that NCAA tournament game was the loud and feisty atmosphere that was present in the Ulm arena. Both guys play different positions and even if it was more than three and half years ago since that NCAA loss, Andrew Rautins got sweet revenge on Matt Howard even if it took him 55 minutes to do it as the Fraport Skyliners won a thriller in Ulm 108-102. “I always feel some kind of disappointment when I see Butler players and remember that loss, but Matt Howard is a great player and hard worker, but this game was about today and not about what happened in college. We gave a great team effort and I am proud of my teammates”, stressed Fraport Skyliner American Andrew Rautins. No matter if Jacob Burtschi plays 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes or 46 minutes in this thriller win, he always has the same appealing and heartwarming smile after the game and he was also thrilled that his friend got revenge on Matt Howard. “We players all love what we did in college and Rautins had a great career in the NCAA and he was fired up to play Howard. He left that NCAA loss behind him and came up big here helping get this huge win”, stressed Oklahoma native Jacob Burtschi. “I felt really good for Andy. Howard has a big heart and I am sure it was probably a lot of fun for him to get revenge like this”, stated Los Angeles native Jared Dubois.
The Fraport Skyliners Crunch Time Welcome To The Jungle Defense Squashes Tuebingen 76-67
What cities and ex teammates do you get if you take a California city that is adjacent to the west of Oakland and east of San Francisco, observes many wind and kite surfers, has the official offices of the Oakland Raiders and hosts the second oldest and longest Fourth of July parade and an Oklahoma city that has the annual festival of light, the muscle car ranch hosting an annual swap meet and concert that has featured well known rock groups like Jefferson Airplane and Bad Company and has an NFL player Stephen Jackson form the Denver Broncos as a notable person? Well you get Alameda, California native Alex Harris of the Walter Tigers Tuebingen and Chickasha, Oklahoma native Jacob Burtschi of the Fraport Skyliners. Last season, the 27 year old 196cm forward Alex Harris and the 29 year old 199 cm Jacob Burtschi played together with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven and both had less than solid seasons and the California native was injured for a part of the season and never found a smooth rhythm while Burtschi was captain of the team and didn´t find that consistent touch in his game and had his hands full with a team that had internal problems. Both guys who shared a good camaraderie in Bremerhaven came back on the court again, but as opponents and while Burtschi and his Skyliner teammates had to find a way to deflect the annoying pink of the Paul Horn arena and Harris and his teammates had to find a way to get along without important scorer Johannes Lischka and find a way to keep an eye on sharp shooter Andrew Rautins with possibly unleashing the Tiger mascot for some havoc. However Jacob Burtschi won round one against his buddy Alex Harris as the Fraport Skyliners silenced the Tiger jungle with a big 76-67 victory in Tuebingen. Burtschi who found his touch from outside was happy to see his buddy again. “Alex is like a brother to me. He had a rough start to game, but finished strong with a dunk and three pointer. He has been up and down with Tuebingen, but once he gets everything figured out there, he will be a very tough player in the league”, stressed Oklahoma native Jacob Burtschi. After the game despite a tough loss, Harris had a golden smile when he could reflect on the game and character of his ex teammate Burtschi. “The thing I respected most about him was his work ethic in Bremerhaven. He took everything serious and even when he had to guard bigger players he never complained and fought like hell. He is undersized, but a great rebounder that works his butt off. He has an outstanding character and one of the closest friends that I have and he is one of those guys that I will be friends with for the rest of my life. I really wish that I could of beat him, but he deserved to win”, added ex Ludwigsburg American Alex Harris. Injured Fraport Skyliner Quantez Robertson knew what it felt like for teammate Burtschi seeing Harris play as the American is good friends with Mark Dorris who will enter the Fraport arena next weekend with Phoenix Hagen, but not play against Tez. “It is always good to see Dorris. We played against each other last summer. I will talk some trash and get under his skin from the bench”, smiled Robertson.
Malcolm Delaney Plays Havoc In His Audi Dome Playground Sparking FC Bayern Munich Past The Fraport Skyliners 97-65
Fans in the Audi Dome Munich always have a treat as they get a smorgasbord of different kind of players racing up and down the floor from the home team from quick footed Malcolm Delaney who seemingly can draw a foul as easily as David Ortiz can squash an orange with his palm, Heiko Schaffartzik dazzling the fans with his wild and acrobatic shooting from outside as the only thing missing from his collection of amazing shots is trying to hit the bells in the city hall building at the top of the hour or big John Bryant making the zone as uncomfortable for opponents as it is for New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton to watch the Drive of Tom Brady in the recent 30-27 loss to the New England Patriots. Fans may not have as many familiar faces on the Fraport Skyliners to watch, but guys like Andrew Rautins who can shoot out the lights and exchange catch and pop stories with Heiko Scahffartzik, Dawan Robinson who can penetrate like a Georgia Bull dog without biting his opponent and having him for dinner, or Jacob Burtschi who will do anything on the court to win except for begging for shots like a well nourished dog who knows better but tries its luck. Both FC Bayern Munich and the Fraport Sklyiners have very talented players, but there is one difference in the rosters. When one releases the two numbers of 524 and 44, the difference is as great as it is for a poor dog having to cross the Rhine river or it is for Tim Tebow ever finding another NFL team as the closest he is too playing football now is touch football on the beach of Hawaii. These two numbers show the difference in international club games between the two clubs as FC Bayern Munich players have 524 and the Fraport Skyliner players have only 44 games. Fc Bayern Munich little used guard Steffen Hamann almost has twice as much as Frankfurt with 81 games. The Fraport Skyliners came into the game with a two game winning streak going up against the 4-0 FC Bayern Munich team and played without Quantez Robertson and Azit N’Diaye and got clobbered 97-65 as the experience factor was as huge as the Olympia tower compared to the bear that greets people who arrive to Munich on the highway. “Having the experience factor is huge for us. The club found many experienced players and that really has helped us so far. It is one of the reasons why we are 6-0. We gain experience each day and that will help us throughout the season”, stressed 2 time Beko BBL MVP John Bryant. After the loss Skyliner point guard Dawan Robinson was doing his stretching and got wide eyes when talking about the FC Bayern Munich experience. “Their vast experience showed tonight. They started quick and executed well and did the little things well. We fought against their experience, but it wasn´t easy playing against the best team in Europe”, stressed Philadelphia native Dawan Robinson. Despite the shell shocking, ex Alba Berlin guard Bryce Taylor tried to have comforting words for Frankfurt. “Our experience hurt them, but you play to get experience. I think these type of games will help them down the line. The German players will keep growing”, commented Bryce Taylor. Fraport Skyliner Konstantin Klein who played 21 minutes scoring seven points explained that it wasn´t only experience that hurt Frankfurt. “I don´t think that experience played so much a factor tonight as it does in close games. Munich worked harder than we did on rebounding and hustled more”, warned Konstantin Klein.
The Explosive Andy Rautins Show Eclipses The Fraport Skyliners Past The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven 88-72
When you look back at the rosters of the Frankfurt Skyliners between the seasons of 2007-2010, you will come across players that one never saw again in action playing for another German Beko BBL team like an Adam Emmenckar, Jimmie Hunt, Greg Jenkins, Dragan Labovic or Seth Doliboa. The list grows however when you list the names of guys that one saw play again since their stay in Frankfurt with guys like Jimmy Mckinney, Konrad Wysocki, Anthony King, or a Dominik Bahiense De Mello. There are even a few guys that changed jerseys more than once like a Koko Archibong who played in towns like Giessen, Bayreuth and Munich or even a Max Weber who really might have had a rebate on Regio trains in Germany as he was shuffling all over the place from Giessen to Kaiserslautern, to Goettingen or to Ludwigsburg and now is closer to home playing with SC Rasta Vechta. But if one had to choose one player that one has the most affection for when seeing him dazzle the paint area even in a strangers uniform then it is Mr ballerina Derrick Allen. He also has changed uniforms more than once in the Beko BBL since his last season in Frankfurt in 2009-2010. His last game was the bitter last second loss to the Brose Baskets Bamberg in game 5 of the 2010 finals. Since then he went for the money in the twilight of his career playing for Alba Berlin form 2010-2012 and last season in Belgium for Belgacom Spirou (Belgium-Ethias League). He is known as being one of the hardest workers in the game of basketball and in his time with the Frankfurt Skyliners was the go to guy playing a total of 148 games for the 2004 BBL champion. He was second in league scoring in 2008 and was just a delight to watch and one of those guys when asked why you came out to the arena saying to watch Derrick Allen play. His trademark was his unconventional, overhasty moves that at times looked like a factory worker stumbling to punch out at 4.30 in the afternoon to get over to the bar to join the boys. He may be 33 and is his twilight of his career, but he can still be a force as he has formed a solid forward punch with Brian Harper with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. He was back again at the office dueling against his ex coach Gordon Herbert who he had as coach in Frankfurt and Berlin, but couldn´t put a dent in the explosive Andy Rautins Show as the Fraport Skyliners snapped their two game losing streak 88-72. Allen was sold again in his third game scoring 13 points, grabbing five rebounds and finding the open man from the post with two assists. Brian Harper who was a force last season with TBB Trier and is 5 years younger than Allen scored only two points and is always able to learn something from the Alabama native. D.A is the ultimate professional. He plays hard every minute in practice and game. It is awesome to watch him play and I can still learn from him and get better. It is an honor to play with him. He is a great captain”, added Bremerhaven forward Brian Harper. Allen was playing a lot of center in the game and Skyliner Jacob Burtschi was glad he didn´t have to be perplexed by his ballerina moves. “He works so hard and I am happy that I didn´t have to guard him. He makes you play and never takes any possessions off. I have a lot of respect for him”, added Jacob Burtschi. After the loss Bremerhaven head coach Calvin Oldham had little mimic in his expression, but when he heard the name Derrick Allen, his face lit up as bright as the New York skyline. “As a professional, Derrick is at the top of the list. There are always guys you like to be around no matter their talent. I always feel like he says and does the right ting at every moment”, lauded Bremerhaven head coach Calvin Oldham.
German Hoops 