Frankfurt Skyliners

Frank Robinson (Maccabi Haifa Israel) Pregame Thoughts To Eurochallenge Game against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners December 7th

Frank Robinson is 26 year old 193cm guard that was born in Compton, California and grew up in Los Angeles. He played at Cal Fullerton (NCAA) from 2005-2008. In his senior year, he played games: 15.8ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3Pts: 34.2%, FT: 73.8%. In 2008-2009, he started with NBA club Atlanta Hawks (NBA), left in Oct.’08, then moved to Union Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia-Liga UPC, starting five): Adriatic League: 17 games: 4.5ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.1spg; Euroleague: 8 games: 6.8ppg, 3.3rpg, in Feb.’09 signed at EnBW Ludwigsburg (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 11 games: 11.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 53.2%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 73.5%. Last season, he started with the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) again, only pre-season, in Dec.’09 moved to Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League, starting five): 38 games: 12.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.7apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 49.8%, 3PT: 24.3%, FT: 69.2%. Last summer, he played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (LA Lakers). This season, he is playing for Maccabi Haifa (Israel-Premier League) and spoke to German Hoops before the Eurochallenge game against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners December 7th.

Hello again German Hoops and to all the basketball fans all over the world. Before we start the interview I want to ask you all to send a prayer or two for the citizens of Haifa, Israel. Something that SMALL could help the city recover from this horrifc event. Unfortunately over the weekend the city of Haifa has been battling a fire that has taking the lives of 40 plus people and detroyed most if not all of the forest in our city. It is being called the biggest fire in Israel history to date. My heart and the hearts of everyone here from Maccabi Haifa goes out to the families who have lost loved ones and homes due to the fire.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Keep The Face Of Michael Jordan Stone Cold Ripping Apart The MBC Wolves 83-52

The choice of having the Michael Jordan wolf like sneer or his gregarious smile is either way never really a positive experience. When he has his game face on, he can sneer and probably even scare Ratiopharm Ulm big man John Bryant and when he has his lovable smile which could probably even brighten up the darkest alley in Liverpool, which means that he is most likely undergoing a very beneficial situation on the court. However at the end of 40 minutes in the Ballsporthalle, Jordan left the court as his sneer had simply been ignored by Frankfurt as if it had lost value the same way the dollar has the last years and his usuall cheerful big smile had been replaced by a stone cold expression as if his Denver Broncos had just lost the Superbowl 55-0 as The Deutsche Bank Skyliners took apart MBC 83-52 after having lost in Berlin and in Eurochallenge play. “I had a blank stare on my face. It is just very frustrating to get spanked two weeks in a row. Basketball is a game of runs and they made two of them and we weren´t up to the challenge. There were times where they got a loose ball and easy basket or a hand on a ball leading up to a basket. You can´t allow a good team like Frankfurt so many second chances”, stressed Michael Jordan. “Jordan didn´t really have anything to smile about after this loss. But that is normal. Has we won, then he would of showed his big smile”, added Ronald Ross. Frankfurt didn´t play perfect for 40 minutes, but managed to win by 31 points. “We played great for three quarters. We had too many turnovers in the second quarter. We have to minimize our mistakes. We held them to under 60 points and anytime we do that we will always have good chances to win”, commented Skyliner guard Dashaun Wood.
Despite the cold weather in Frankfurt which has felt as cold or colder as experiencing a slay ride in a blizzard in Siberia, hanging out in a refrigerator that has +2c when its really -9c in downtown Leipzig, or challenging the local Eskimos to a fishing contest on the north pole, but the MBC Wolves seemed not be comfortable in the very much warmer Ballsporthalle as they seemed very lonely away from their dens in the lonely woods of Weissenfels. “I dont think the warmer weather really effected us. This was a great opportunity  for us to get over the hump, but Frankfurt kept the wolve sin their holes and we just couldn´t adjust”, warned ex Artland Dragon Ronald Ross.. For Michael Jordan playing in warm areas has been nothing new to him. “The heat didn´t distract us at all. Wolves like the cold, but I hav eplayed in many warm arenas. I remember when I was playing in Cologne, Marcin Gortat always kept pushing to turn down the hot lights. I love it warm”, stressed Michael Jordan.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Will probably Desire the Wolf Sneer of Michael Jordan Rather Than His Colgate Smile As They Meet MBC On December 4th

When the MBC Wolves come in packs to the Ballsporthalle, the Deutsche Bank Skyliners will possibly have the choice of experiencing the aggressive wolf sneer of Michael hakim Jordan or his gregarious giant lovable smile that could melt ten feet of snow in the dead of winter in Winnipeg, Manitoba, get a weak, but positive smile from pro football player Terell Brown who is forced to diet on Thanksgiving and watch his teammates snack on a Turkey and spare ribs or even have the rare raw talent of getting a quick grin from the German politicians who were insulted in Wikipedia. Either way Jordan will be able to put on his competitive wolf sneer or model his irresistible and charming smile and will still play his typical hard game and be the strong MBC floor general that he has been this season leading the wolf attack. But current BEKO BBL players see the wolf sneer as possibly the better choice of attack form Jordan. “I think that any time when Jordan is on the court that his wolf sneer would be the better bet for Frankfurt. Because anytime when he is smiling with all those white teeth then means things are going well for him”, warned TBB Trier guard John Bynum. When Jordan was with Cologne in 2006, he flashed those whitey whites for days after the team won the title and players remember when Jordan uses his choppers to show the world he has had success. “For the sake of Frankfurt, they better hope that Jordan plays with the wolf sneer, because if he is smiling then it means that he is winning”, stressed ex Phoenix Hagen teammate Quentin Pryor.
MBC left the BEKO BBL in 2004 and returned back in 2009. For even the most dedicated MBC fans. five years of inactivity from the highest German Basketball league may have felt like five years without your favourite beer, or for a child being able to go into a candy store, but not grab for their favourite candy. How tough must it have been for the organization and fans in 2004 to win the prestigious Fiba Europe Cup against JDA Dijon 84-68 not losing  a single game in international play and a short time later have to learn that they would have to stop their successful run in the BBL due to bankruptcy.” I remember watching the Eurocup final in 2004. I am happy that MBC is back and it is nice to see how well a job young coach Bjorn Harmsen is doing. It is a special team that is playing with a lot of emotion and energy. It is refreshing to see that 10 players are sharing minutes, scoring and rebounding”, stressed Murat Didin.

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Derrick Allen Out Dances Road Runner Dashaun Wood As Alba Berlin Nips The Deutsche Bank Skyliners 81-77

When going to the spectacular German capital Berlin one can look forward to seeing new athletic wear at Nike town, taking in a spec of nature in the animal garden, visit the last remains of the Berlin wall across the street of the O2 world arena, or possibly seeing a squabble between German rapper Sido and a fan, but one thing the Deutsche Bank Skyliners weren´t looking forward to was having to get a live lecture in ballerina moves from ex Skyliner forward Derrick Allen. One can enjoy acting lessons from Denzel Washington, singing lessons from Mariah Carey or free throw help from Rick Barry, but who wants lessons in ballerina moves from Allen who can use it to his advantage and hurt The Deutsche Bank Skyliners? It wasn´t only the hectic play, spins and pull up jumpers from Allen who supports the Indianapolis Colts, but a supporting cast of teammates that stepped it up in the second half beating Frankfurt 81-77 and snapping their seven game winning streak. Alba Berlin copied what Frankfurt did all last season giving them a taste of their own medicine coming back and winning in the last minutes. “This is a game that we could have won. We led for 36 minutes and then didn´t have enough power at the end to win. We had some turnovers and Berlin stepped up their defense. They made us took tough shots, got easy baskets and we missed two key free throws. It was little mistakes at the end that cost us the game”, stressed Skyliner sports director Kamil Novak. “The key at the end was that we locked down our defense and made stops. We also made the right decisions on offense and executed well”, stated ex Telekom Baskets Bonn guard Bryce Taylor. Despite the loss, the Skyliners weren´t hanging their heads as they departed the locker room after the game. “We played a very good team that was very difficult to play. It was clear that at some point that they would make a run”, stressed Skyliner center Marius Nolte.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Want To Halt The Derrick Allen Ballerina Moves and His 10,7 Speed And Alba Berlin November 28th

Some things in life are not extraordinary really, but just standard like if Glamour girl Paris Hilton were to visit Jack Nicholson in the Staple center and ask for his sunglasses, if New England Patriot Tom Brady wins another showdown against Peyton Manning as he did recently upping his record to 8-4 against the 49 touchdowns in a season quarterback or loved actor Wesley Snips having to go to jail because of forgetting to pay taxes, but one matter that is anything but common, but very special will be the reunion between popular Derrick Allen and his ex team The Deutsche Bank Skyliners who will meet head to head for the first time this Sunday since the Alabama native left for the German capital last summer. Allen played three years in the German bank capital and quickly became loved by the fans like a good old American hotdog is an American Baseball stadium in the States, similar to how Mr incredible Jeff Gibbs was cherished in Ulm and how German Formula one driver Sebastian Vettel is increasing his status in Germany every day more since winning the Formula One championship recently. This game will be a hard fought game, but at the same time should be a lot of fun for the man everyone calls D.A. “It has to be a great feeling to play against your old team. You want to prove that you belonged or you made the right choice to leave. It is always hard to play against that old team, because it is still in your heart. It is like fighting your brother. You don´t want to, but have to”, stressed Phoenix Hagen guard Mark Dorris. The game against Frankfurt might not be a final game, but will be of big importance either way for Allen. “I am sure that D.A wants to go out and have a big game against Frankfurt, but at the same time when the ball goes up, it will be just like a normal game for him and he will play as hard as any other game”, stressed TBB Trier guard John Bynum. Allen might also have the standings on his mind not only his Frankfurt memories. “It will be a big game with second place on the line. I am sure that Allen will want to beat Frankfurt”, stressed Phoenix Hagen forward Quentin Pryor.

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A Conversation With Aaron Smith (Agent Of AJ Moye)

Aaron Smith is highly regarded and recognized in professional athletics. He has extensive experience dealing with professional athletes and their careers. In addition, Aaron has a great understanding of the expectations of a NBA athlete from both the personal and business perspective. His duties involve compiling all recruiting materials, researching player contracts, creating and maintaining client profiles and marketing materials, correspondence with coaches and team personnel, client services, marketing and media opportunities for clients, business development and creating and analyzing information for distribution to key NBA personnel , international clubs and strategic partners. Aaron is also responsible for many of our clients off the court business ventures and personal affairs. Aarons career began in professional sports when he interned with Pacers Sports and Entertainment. A native of Indianapolis, Aaron attended Indiana University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Marketing and Management. Upon graduating from Indiana University, Aaron was the Business/Personal Manager for a 2002 NBA Lottery Pick. In this capacity, Aaron assisted with Draft preparations and workouts, the transition to a new NBA city, appearances, marketing, basketball camps and all other personal affairs. Aaron first joined the Exclusive Sports Group while completing his Masters degree in Athletic Administration and Sports Management. He is the agent for Ajene Moye of the Deutsche Bank Skyliners and spoke to German Hoops about the condition of the Skyliner.

Bio of Aaron Smith courtesy of Exclusive Sports Group

How did you hear about the stroke of your client AJ Moye?

It was a scary moment for me. I checked the box score of his game Tuesday against Maccabi Haifa and didn´t see him on the stat sheet and was surprised. I then got a call from someone who told me what had happened. I was shocked and had a sickening feeling. Aj is a good friend of mine.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Were Able To Feel The Spirit Of AJ Moye On The Court Discharging The Walter Tigers Tuebingen 79-76

With the shocking stroke that AJ Moye suffered earlier in the week, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners wanted to play in honour of the injured Skyliner who lives, eats, drinks and dreams of basketball and the club was as motivated to win against his ex team Tuebingen like all of Britain now is in anticipation of the royal wedding of William and Kate, or the whole organization and fans of the Gloria Giants Duesseldorf are for winning their first game and giving coach Murat Didin a few less sleepless nights and Bayern Munich soccer club getting back to the top of the Bundesliga standings and giving president Uli Hoeness his arrogant touch back that everyone seems to love and accept and Frankfurt was able to transform that real eye of the tiger energy from AJ Moye on the court as they nipped The Walter Tigers Tuebingen 79-76. Frankfurt ha dtheir game faces on for 40 minutes, but it was obvious that their thoughts was with the lovable AJ Moye. “I feel that the spirit of AJ Moye was on the court tonight. We wanted to win for him and played very hard. We knew that this would be a very difficult game. We knew that AJ would have wanted us to play hard and that inspired us. We pulled it out for AJ”, stressed Skyliner shooting guard Jimmy Mckinney. The Walter Tigers Tuebingen also played their hearts out and had Moye in their thoughts even guys that never played with him. “I think his eye of the tiger was on the court tonight. I am sure he wanted to physically on the court and was probably thinking about the game all day. Moye is a fighter and I wish him all the best getting well again”, commented Walter Tuebingen forward Dane Watts. In the end, no team deserved to lose, but Frankfurt was able to pull it out at the end. “We knew that it wouldn´t be easy for us without Powell and Moye Basketball is a team game and we understood how to adjust to these tow key loses. We got big games from Mckinney and Dabbert. Key was getting defensive stops at the end and their turnover sealed the win for us”, stated Skyliner guard Dashaun Wood. For Tuebingen losing like this was just bitter. “We had a very good chance to take a win from a undermanned Frankfurt team, but we were unable to pull it out at the end”, stressed Tuebingen forward Dane Watts.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Seek To Transform The Real Eye Of The Tiger Energy From AJ Moye Into Their Game Against The Walters Tigers Tuebingen On Saturday November 20th

Lovable Skyliner AJ Moye playing against his old club Tuebingen might not be as spectatcular as when Lebron James will face the Cavs for the first time, Randy Moss facing the New England Patriots for the first time, or when Dominican Republic baseball hulk Manny Ramirez faced his old club Boston Red Sox for the first time and stroking out a home run in his second game back at Fenway park, but the zeal that AJ Moye has for the game of basketball is as great or even greater as Formula one racer Michael Schumacher has for that sport, singer Justin Timberlake has for not using facebook, but rathr staying in touch with his loved ones with his phone, or former tennis legend and three time Wimbeldon champion Boris Becker has for not hiding in the closet, but displaying his private life now as a retired tennis player at boris-becker.tv. Moye might not document his life yet daily with the camera, but Moye would have given an extra 180% when he faced his old club Walter Tigers Tuebingen after playing for them from 2006-2009, but as is so often the case, sometimes life threatening situations arise which can´t be stopped. Skyliner forward AJ Moye suffered a stroke and is currently in a Frankfurt hospital undergoing intensive tests. On Monday, Moye and another player collided with their heads, but the two players were able to continue to practice. On Monday night, the step father of Moye spoke with his step son and noticed that he had problems speaking. On Tuesday at the morning shoot around before the Eurochallenge game against Maccabi Haifa, there was abnormal behavior detected with the Los Angeles native. As his behavior got more intense, Moye was brought to a Frankfurt hospital. At the hospital his condition worsened. The diagnosis that Moye had a stroke has been confirmed in the hospital. Further diagnosis about his recovery and therapy can not be determined at the present moment. Skyliner sports director Kamil Novak spent the whole day in the hospital with Moye yesterday. ‘The family of AJ arrived in Germany today. AJ is the most professional player that ever played in our organization. There are situations in life where basketball becomes a minor matter. Right now our concern is with AJ’, stressed Kamil Novak. ‘AJ is a strong person, he will pull out of this situation. God Bless him and his Family’, said Glen Mcgowan who is playing in South Korea now and played in the BEKO BBL with Cologne.’A.J. is a very good player in my eyes because he was very tough to score against. He played with his heart and left it all on the court. Get well soon because basketball not only needs you, life itself do. God Bless and you are in my prayers’, stressed Monta McGhee who played against Moye with Nordlingen and is currently playing for Zorg and Zekerheid Leiden (Holland-DBL). “On the court or off the court AJ Moye is great guy. I just want him to know that everybody out here is praying for his speedy recovery. Honestly Im at a lost for words right now”, strtessed 2009 BEKO BBL leading scorer Omari Westley.

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Maccabi Haifa Had Enough Tail Wind From The Carmel Mountain Squeezing Out A Win In The Opening Eurochallenge Game Against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners 83-78

Maccabi Haifa may not have the name, tradition or player personal of neighbor Maccabi Tel Aviv, but the club has proved this season that they can beat any team on any day and have made a fine transition to the Premier league similar to how Phoenix Hagen is slowly making a name in the BEKO BBL in the early going, BBC Bayreuth American Jaivon Harrs making a solid jump from the German PRO A to the BEKO BBL and showing his potent basketball skill or Formula one German racer Nico Hulkenberg making his mark as a rookie this season as he was the first German racer getting a pole position in his first season. Maccabi Haifa displayed a calm and cool head down the stretch in the fourth quarter that they can beat teams in Israel, France or Germany as they defeated The Deutsche Bank Skyliners 83-78 in the first Eurochallenge game in Frankfurt. “The Israel league is tough. Maccabi tel Aviv has a lot of tradition and history and are always in the final game. I think that we can give them  a good game this season. I would put us in the top half of the league in israel. We hope to keep moving up ladder and getting as good as Maccabi Tel Aviv”, warned 22 year old Maccabi Haifa American Derrick Low. Skyliner forward Roger Powell who played in Israel a few years ago and was lauded in the best merits from Maccabi Haifa management didn´t have to think much about what a Maccabi Haifa can do in Israel. “In Israel any team can beat anyone. Maccabi Tel Aviv is a great team while Maccabi Haifa is a decent team.You can´t take any team for granted in the Israel league”, warned ex NBA player Roger Powell.

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With Moral Support From Soccer Club Eintracht Frankfurt Cheering In The Crowd Nothing Could Stop The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Defeating EnBW Ludwigsburg 74-67

The last time the Deutsche Bank Skyliners lost to EnBW Ludwigsburg at home was in 2006 as Lionel Richie look alike Jerry Green was putting up MVP stats in the BEKO BBL(even though Bingo Merriex could also pose as a Lionel Richie double), ex Skyliner Rudy Mbemba was still a teenager and for many basketball fanatics the hottest Swedish commodity since the pop group Roxette and singer Paul Potts was still practicing his opera talent at home in front of the mirror and selling cell phones before he finally became a household name in 2008 winning Britain´ s Got talent and Frankfurt was able to keep their unbeaten streak alive at home beating EnBW Ludwigsburg 74-67. Frankfurt was able to win their six game in a row and players had mixed emotions about the way the home team was able to win the game. Skyliner center Marius Nolte had a glowing smile after the win, but not so much about how the team played. “I am smiling about how we survived the last weeks. We had injuries and guys coming and going, but we stayed together as a team which is important. We were a bit tired mentally tonight, but I am happy that we won. Ex Tubingen American AJ Moye had a stern expression after the game and wasn´t to thrilled with how the team played. “A win is a win, but I didn´t like our purpose on offense tonight. We pushed the ball nicely on transition, but we were breaking out of our offensive sets to quickly. Normally Ludwigsburg is a team where we should have 5-6 guys in double figures and 18-20 team assists. We gave up 43 points in the second half which is trash. I am happy we won, but not satisfied”, stressed Skyliner American AJ Moye. EnBW Ludwigsburg lost their third in a row and fourth of their last five games and had to play catch up basketball all night long. “We play well at times, but we played too much up and down tonight. We were unable to be consistent tonight. Frankfurt decided the game with their penetration. Our bigs aren´t quick enough to help when the Frankfurt guards penetrate”, stated EnBW Ludwigsburg assistant coach Steven Clauss.

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