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After the gold rush

Two seconds, two songs and the same author: Neil Young . On Sunday, seconds before the end of the final of EuroBasket '09, came to my mind the title of one of the most popular songs of the Canadian giant: 'Heart of Gold' , written in 1972 for legendary album 'Harvest' . Three words can illustrate the way round the mood of almost any fan of the English team at the end of this strange September, lived with the nerves to the surface on the eve of the tournament and tranquility in a stunning final stage, the fruit of that style Bipolar game deployed our own in the championship.

Now, in the sweet hangover of a unique moment in our basketball, with the image of Juan Carlos Navarro joking to lift the heavy continental champions trophy still in the retina, I can not help thinking of another song by the same author: 'After the Gold Rush' , the self-titled LP released in 1970. After the Gold Rush, and cold, looking out the windows of English basketball trophies produces a pleasant sensation of vertigo. Not only the gold medal Poland, the first senior class in a EuroBasket absolute and the culmination of a unique summer who has broken the deck, surpassing any optimistic forecast with a total balance of the medal 8 (4 Gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze). In the end, global guilty of this "high" are 32 medals won in five years, holding a EuroBasket in our country, the designation as host of 2014 World and many other actions that have less notoriety media.

Each system has supporters and detractors. You can not please everyone, as it is impossible not to make mistakes, but the results should not leave room for doubt as to the actual performance of English basketball, why more than enough to feel a sense pride for a job well done. If less than a month ago we appealed to the confidence and perseverance, now long since we've caught cruising speed is a good time to stop a second, take a breath, enjoy the Americans call it 'momentum ' , and follow the same path.

1970 Minnesota Fats Pool Table

is still too early to take stock of game English team, but after a comfortable game against Cuba in Las Palmas, and then measured at the largest bank rivals as Lithuania and Slovenia in Sevilla, I think it is possible to evaluate some positive aspects that should cause us to be optimistic, not only with regard to the appointment of '09 EuroBasket in Poland next September, but for competitions to be held in future years.

usual setbacks If plans fall into any process of preparation, this summer the lesions are more virulent primer on a template that has not stopped to complain to bad luck, proving once again have unlimited travel or at least unknown.

fans to speculate on the future of the selection, either by having a proactive profile or enjoy apocalyptic theories developed, the tournament marks City Sevilla should have been the perfect setting for, at a stroke, erase their fears about what might hold the next championships in Spain. The Pavilion

San Pablo could see a Marc Gasol ubiquitous in ongoing activity required by the circumstances, having his brother on the sidelines and not allowed Felipe Reyes be a hundred percent in the three matches were played. The middle of the saga of Sant Boi has managed to conjugate his name next to the word 'style', something that seemed improbable a few years ago. In his tremendous physical strength has joined a speed of movement for a truly enviable '5 ' of its size, an explosive mixture when combined with good vision, especially in the movement of ball from the low post to the perimeter players.

With Victor Claver Has something similar. After the injury Mumbrú Alex has been observed that Valencian definitely left behind his knee problems to return to face the hoop with the ball as high eaves few are capable. As witnessed in Seville, where his progress was remarkable, his leap allows him to be a major threat in the offensive rebound and a warranty on the defensive.

Lo Ricky is a special case. Immersed in a complex situation, the base has become a surprise: we knew his maturity, but we never imagined such intense response in times of great uncertainty. Many veterans in his situation would have liked to have the mental toughness of which have displayed the genius of El Masnou over the four games this Tour Eñemanía '09 , where he has been able to take the field and perform at a high level, with that lively and creative game always add positive in all the areas related to statistical production.

If more young people feel as comfortable in the selection is because there is no generational divide. Non- keep walking in terrain and busy, good chemistry is a fact evident in the group, which conforms to the needs of the team and not themselves, showing a real sense of commitment, the meaning has taken shape this year's figure of Pau . After the longest season of his life and the satisfaction of having won an NBA ring, the Lakers guard has not allowed an untimely injury to a finger of his left hand he is deprived of further training to achieve its objective, hang the gold medal Sept. 20 in Katowice .

Topless Denise Milani

A promising future

few months ago, in the first 'post' posted on this blog , it seemed appropriate to start this blog by pointing and flashing, parked permanently since my playing career in 2006 to start a new path in FEB , I have been fortunate to live so close and intense two times as important as the historic conquest of the gold medal in the World Japan that summer and the celebration of EuroBasket 2007 in Spain, a challenge, despite not settle with the result we all wished we had in sports, consolidated as an organizational success at all levels.

We entered the key week of our bid to host the World 2014 and I can not help thinking that, if confirmed our expectations, in five years could reissue these two moments with the added baggage of having the experience of stepping on a land recently passed, which covers the organization of an event of great magnitude. An ambitious project that, in this case, and according to plan carefully woven into the FEB, would begin five years prior to the sports event itself and be characterized by its zeal to bring basketball to the last corner of every continent.

Of course I recognize my own selfishness for wanting to re-engage in something so special, but I doubt that, if finally achieve our goal on Saturday in Geneva, the organizational quality guarantees our bid project, coupled with the excellent health of English basketball, which surely will last-will ensure a successful call to make the 2014 World a phenomenon unforgettable in our country.