Westfalen Mustangs

Kris Douse (BBC Herford) The Last 3 Months Have Been Like Law School Where I Learned The Ins And Outs Of My Rights In Germany

Kris Douse is a 31 year old 198cm forward from Toronto, Canada that recently completed an unforgetable season for the Westfalen Mustangs (Germany-2.Regionalliga). He will play this season for BBC Herford(Regionalliga). He played at Laurinburg (N.C.) Institute while Fraport Skyliner Quantez Robertson also played at Laurinburg (N.C.) prep. He started his college career at Nebraska (NCAA) and then played two seasons at Delaware State. As a senior he played at Point Park (NAIA) playing 27 games: 20.1ppg, 12.6rpg. In 2011-2012 he started his professional basketball career at Liverpool Mersey Tigers (United Kingdom-BBL, starting five): 18 games: 15.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 13.6%, FT: 54.6%; then agreed terms with Keflavik (Iceland-Express League): 6 games: 9.5ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 44.7%, FT: 69%.In the 2012-2013 season he played for Turi Svitavy (Czech Republic-NBL): 2 games: 0pts, left in Oct.’12, in Nov.’12 moved to BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 17 games: 14.1ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.6%, 3Pts: 10.0%, FT: 50.4%. In the 2013-2014 seaosn he played for EVL-Baskets Limburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 25 games: 26.2ppg, 11.6rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 58.4%, 3Pts: 32.1%, FT: 59.1%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for the Plymouth University Raiders (United Kingdom-BBL): 3 games: 5.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.3bpg, in Nov.’15 moved to Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus-Division A): 6 games: 1.5ppg, 1.7rpg, in Jan.’15 signed at SG ErftBaskets Euskirchen (Germany-Regionalliga): 9 games: 21.8ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.7spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 62.9%. Last season he played for Rot-Weiss Cuxhaven (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 26 games: 10.2ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 18.4%, FT: 53.2% He spoke to German Hoops about his nightmare season with the Westfalen Mustangs.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Kris Douse in 2013 in Limburg, Germany

Kris thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how sad are you that you can´t be enjoying the Canadian summer now?

Hello Miles, it’s a pleasure to update you on the situation and let you know how this whole fiasco is going. Currently I am in Herford with my new club that has been nothing but great the last few weeks and has really helped me get grounded and familiar to my new stomping grounds. As far as not being able to be home this summer this is mainly due to the legal circumstances, which is definitely not what I had planned for my summer, but I can say that it does give me a huge sense of pride to know that I am all in to fight the mistreatment towards me this season by the Mustangs organization.

Congrats on signing with Regionaliga team Herford. Was there a time in the last months where you lost trust in the game you love basketball or will any struggle not hinder you from continuing to be a professional

This whole situation definitely made me reflect and consider other avenues because stability is an important part of life, but I don’t believe I should stop playing because of another person’s actions and when I stop playing it should be on my terms. What is more surprising is how Florian Eichstädt is able to avoid court dates as he called the courts and asked to be excused from the first date for Temur and knowing him I am expecting him to do that on July 13 for Albert as well as myself on July 14. This has been a knowledgeable experience which I believe in the long run will be useful for my development as a person. I’ve been able to learn a lot about the German system and how the laws and regulations dealing with any job in Germany is regulated, and thus have gain a much better perspective on player rights especially when referring to contracts. I would like to take this chance to thank everyone in the BBG management especially coach Messenburg our Vorstand Mr. Jürgen and our president Mr. Steffen for the new opportunity in Herford and i am looking forward to an exciting season this year.

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Michael Smith (Westfalen Mustangs) Players Were Treated Like Slaves Given No Money While Being Expected To Win Every Game By 30 Or More Points

Michael Smith is a 28 year old 188cm guard from Canada that also has the Italian citizenship and just completed his rookie season in Germany with the Westfalen Mustangs (2.Regionalliga). He got valuable experience in Canada playing at Regina University, then moved to Brandon University (CIS) playing 36 games and then as a senior played at the University of Northern British Columbia (CIS) playing 15 games averaging 5.9ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 34.8%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 66.7%. He had a rollercoaster season in Germany and spoke to German Hoops about the season he will never forget.

Michael thanks for talking to German Hoops! Where are you at the moment and have you lost trust in the game you love basketball or will any struggle not hinder you from continuing to be a professional basketball player.

Thanks for the opportunity to tell my story. I haven’t lost trust in basketball but I have lost trust in the people that are allowed to run professional basketball teams. Right now this situation is hindering me from continuing to play, where my time with the Mustangs was so unstable throughout the year it is difficult to recover from. For example, there was no game film, which means I have no way of making any tape for other jobs next year. There was also no physiotherapy for athletes where I played on a torn hamstring with no treatment for the last 4 games. The biggest problem was the living conditions, no clean water in a refugee house; it was a mentally handicapping experience that has left me financially unstable and jobless.

When you joined German Regionaliga 2 team Westfalen Mustangs at the start of the season would you ever have thought in your wildest dreams that you rookie season would be such a bizarre and disappointing experience?

When I came to the Westfalen Mustangs at the beginning of the season I was aware that it was a small club and that they would probably have problems. However, what I did not account for was the evil that existed within the club. Where players were treated like slaves, given no money while being expected to win every game by 30 or more points. The president Florian Eichstädt even brought in players from the US who were willing to pay to play. Two of these individuals were mentally handicapped, therefore adding another layer of evil to who he was taking advantage of. The extent of everything that happened even on a daily basis was a recipe for disaster.

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Kris Douse(Westfalen Mustangs) Our Goal Is Not To Lose Any Games And Ride The Wave As Long As Possible

Kris Douse is a 30 year old 198cm forward from Toronto, Canada that is playing for for the Westfalen Mustangs (Germany-2.Regionalliga) this season. He played at Laurinburg (N.C.) Institute while Fraport Skyliner Quantez Robertson also played at Laurinburg (N.C.) prep. He started his college career at Nebraska (NCAA) and then played two seasons at Delaware State. As a senior he played at Point Park (NAIA) playing 27 games: 20.1ppg, 12.6rpg. In 2011-2012 he started his professional basketball career at Liverpool Mersey Tigers (United Kingdom-BBL, starting five): 18 games: 15.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 13.6%, FT: 54.6%; then agreed terms with Keflavik (Iceland-Express League): 6 games: 9.5ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 44.7%, FT: 69%.In the 2012-2013 season he played for Turi Svitavy (Czech Republic-NBL): 2 games: 0pts, left in Oct.’12, in Nov.’12 moved to BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 17 games: 14.1ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.6%, 3Pts: 10.0%, FT: 50.4%. In the 2013-2014 seaosn he played for EVL-Baskets Limburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 25 games: 26.2ppg, 11.6rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 58.4%, 3Pts: 32.1%, FT: 59.1%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for the Plymouth University Raiders (United Kingdom-BBL): 3 games: 5.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.3bpg, in Nov.’15 moved to Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus-Division A): 6 games: 1.5ppg, 1.7rpg, in Jan.’15 signed at SG ErftBaskets Euskirchen (Germany-Regionalliga): 9 games: 21.8ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.7spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 62.9%. Last season he played for Rot-Weiss Cuxhaven (Germany-Regionalliga). He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Kris thanks for talking to German Hoops again. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your fifth season in Germany as a professional?

Hello Miles I am currently playing for Westfalen Mustangs which is located in Wiedenbruck. So far it has been a great start to the season being undefeated and excited to build on the franchise winning streak of 112 straight wins.

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