TEL AVIV, Israel - While chatting with Omri Casspi's brother, Eitan, at the family's home in the southern suburbs of the city, the Kings rookie grabbed his laptop to see if the NBA schedule had been released. He was about six hours early - and sure to be disappointed. His friends have all been wondering where he would make his NBA debut. He was hoping for a game in Sacramento or Cleveland against LeBron James. But no such luck. Instead, he gets a trip to Oklahoma City and a three-game road trip.
Coachie grabs the cigar
During one of my most enlightening interviews, I met with former Israeli national team star and ex-Rutgers standout Steve Kaplan, who told me that one of his biggest regrets was rejecting a scholarship offer from Pete Carril and Princeton. Kaplan, who said Geoff Petrie escorted him around campus during his visit many, many, many lives ago, also related one hilarious anecdote about the Kings special assistant: During a rainout at a Carrill basketball camp in the Poconos, Kaplan swears Coachie got onto the court for a few informal games of two-on-two, and competed with a cigar hanging out of his mouth. I would pay to see that.
This is what happens to the kids
While people can debate the issues regarding any deadly political conflict, and undoubtedly will continue to do, there can be no minimizing the devastaing impact on the children. For example: In the dusty city of Sedorot, with about 20,000 residents and a mere 45 minutes south of Tel Aviv, Israeli children are rarely allowed to play outside for fear of mortar or rocket shelling. Though attacks have subsided during the past several months, virtually every house has shed-sized concrete bomb shelters in the front or back yards. When children become restless, parents accompany the youngsters to a large indoor community sports "playground" that features everything from a mini-basketball court to a mutlipurpose room where dances and parties are held. The overhanging roof of the structure isn't secure enough to withstand bombing, but all along the interior, there are numerous anterooms reinforced with 1 1/2 feet of concrete walls. Inside, kids can be seen playing video games, studying on computers, kicking soccer balls, among other things, while their parents participate or observe from a nearby coffee bar/seating area. It wasn't until I visited the "playground" that I truly grasped the significance of the timing element: The alarm system only offers a 15-second warning before an attack. Understandly, parents want to keep their children close. The one outdoor park for the kids ingenuously attempts to disguise bomb shelters as concrete dragons and other animals. I'll be writing about the impact of the shelling on the local pro basketball team shortly upon my return to Sacramento.
