Greeks in the VarangiansPAPALUKAS
Theo is a legendary player. And it would be so even without all its myriad trophies, team and individual. There are more legends about him in Moscow than about any other basketball player. One of them says that Papaloukas has Russian roots. There is even an argument: the leader of CSKA was born in the Athens region of Neo-Psychiko, where Russian immigrants traditionally lived. True, Theodoros himself assures that this is a coincidence - and in his family are solid Greeks. According to another legend, Papaloukas was invited to CSKA four and a half years ago, to some extent by chance - "to the load" to Nikos Hatsivretas, who was considered much more promising - to make it easier to adapt in Russia. Theo no longer undertakes to refute this myth: he says it is better to ask Dushan Ivkovich or Sergey Kushchenko. Well, yes, so they told ...
Theo also very much appreciates freedom and says that is precisely why he does not want to transport his parents or girlfriend to Russia - those, they say, have their own lives. However, when his girlfriend (a beautiful Greek woman with the magic name Fairy) arrives in Moscow, CSKA defender does not have any free time at all. Theo frowns with displeasure when asked about his personal life - he does not allow strangers into it.
Better ask Theo about his favorite dog, Pirate. Although you may not even ask: the Greek himself will tell you that his favorite pastime is to walk the Pirate along Moscow boulevards. “A pirate is like a son to him,” says American CSKA forward David Vanterpool about Papaloukas. “Or like some other close relative.” Papas takes him everywhere, talking to him. It seems even advised. Although it’s hard to make out what they are talking about in Greek there. ”
Apart from Papadopoulos, who lived in the Krasnodar Territory before the age of ten and even managed to become a pioneer, Papaloukas is the main Russian “long-liver” among all the legionnaires of the Russian championship. The current season for him here is the fifth. Probably, for such a period it is possible to study the country properly? "How? From the porthole of an airplane, or what? - Theo answers the question. - It is unlikely that I can call myself a great connoisseur of Russia, except for hotels and halls, I saw little. I got used to it in Moscow - yes, but Moscow is not Russia. This is a separate country, with its own characteristics and rhythm. Everywhere in Greece Athens is known as an anthill, but after Moscow my hometown appears as a quiet backwater. ”
In Moscow, this anthill in the square, Papaloukas is confident and comfortable. Even local, Russian players consult with him about cafes and restaurants. The streets clogged with vehicles, which Fotsis calls the main disadvantage of Moscow life, Theo is not at all frightened. He calmly drives his X5 into the bustling channel of Leningradka, with one hand clutching the telephone receiver to his ear and expressively speaking either in English or in Greek (I hope that the guys from the traffic police will skip this passage of text). A huge jeep dives into the traffic stream and cleverly bites into the free squares of asphalt. Looking at this, you somehow stop wondering at the incredible combination of courage, courage and dexterity that Papaloukas demonstrates from match to match on the court.
FOTSIS
Who is the least like the Greek in the Greek trinity? Of course, Anthony Fotsis. Russian girls are melting - his rounded, completely Slavic face seems to many to be the ideal of masculine beauty. To become Antonis a real playboy, only he is an exemplary family man, in love and very homely. Fotsis also denies assumptions about Slavic origin: “My mother is from Turkey, she was born there. True, all the same in the Greek family. And only when it came time to go to university, she moved to Greece. " The forward of the “blue and white”, by the way, is actually called Adonis - features of the Greek reading. Divine name. Yes, and his game sometimes seems like that.
Fotsis, when it comes to talking about Moscow, subconsciously shrinks as if he had hit the North Pole: “It's very difficult to get used to the cold. I’m getting used to it a bit, of course ... But anyway, in the winter months I prefer to stay at home. ”
Tony (as Fotsisa was called during performances in the NBA) in Russia was later compatriots. Outwardly, he appears to be the calmest of his comrades and somehow extremely positive. A benevolent smile always shines on the face, and English phrases turn out smooth and carefully built. This captivating smile does not disappear, even when Anthony speaks of an unsuccessful - American - stage of his career.
6-7 years ago, Fotsis was considered perhaps the brightest of the rising European stars. Even brighter than Kirilenko and Gasol. Until it is time to compare: the Greek chosen in the second round ended up on the same team with the Spaniard - Memphis Grizzlies. But there he spent only one year, and far from outstanding. The Americans never figured out how to use a basketball player, whom they considered too soft for a heavy striker and too slow for a lung. No matter how hard you try, you can’t catch regrets about the undeveloped American career either in words or in the intonation of Fotsis. He immediately recalls his appearances for Panathinaikos and Real, the Euroleague title and the ULEB Cup won. "Many dream of such a career ... Do I have anything to regret?"
PAPADOPOULOS
There is no need to search for Russian-Greek ties for a long time. Lazaros Papadopoulos is the rightful holder of a passport of a citizen of Russia, and he appears in the official protocols of the RBF only as Lazar Popandopulo. The father of Lazarus / Lazaros is a descendant of the Greeks who left Asia Minor due to Turkish repression, his mother is Russian. In Vityazevo, the hometown of the center Dynamo in the Krasnodar Territory, the surname Popandopulo (translated as son or favorite of a priest) is so widespread that children at school do not even think to tease, recalling the comic character from Wedding in Robin. “Sometimes it seems to me that there are more Papadopoulos in Greece than there are Ivanovs in Russia,” Lazaros says. “In every team where I played, I always had a namesake.” In Dynamo, by the way, there is also - Serb Popovich.
Meanwhile, the Papadopoulos family is becoming more and more Russian. If Lazar himself is half as such, then his daughter is three quarters, because the wife of the basketball player is from Ivanovo. By the way, he owed it to his family that he began to wear long hair, varying styling: “My wife likes it that way. And the daughter loves to drag for cosmas ".
The spouse can be understood. Remembering Papadopoulos in the early years of his career is a little creepy - his shaved head, dark eyes, sternly looking at you from beneath the superciliary arches ... His rivals have always been afraid of him, and now they are. But in life, Lazaros is a real good man. All aggressiveness, as it is, spills out on the court.
TEAM
Strange as it may seem, the strongest emotions towards the Greek national team of all three are demonstrated by the former (and, as it turns out, newly appeared) Russian Papadopoulos. He says that he is looking forward to the next stage of the European or World Championships all season, although he does not rely on any fees for participation in matches under the flag of his native country (except for bonus for the championship - but go ahead and win them). And that he was terribly offended before when he was not accepted into the team - as at Eurobasket 2003. “It's not even about being able to fight for medals,” Lazaros says. - It's about the company. Most of my friends are national team players. And we greatly value each other’s company. This is partly why I think we are winning. ”
How big is the difference between team and club games for them? “I really like playing there and there,” says Papaloukas. - Both CSKA and the Greek national team are smart teams, you enjoy playing with such partners. I always thought that good basketball is intellectual basketball. ”
The Greek team advanced to the first roles precisely thanks to the current generation - the generation of Papaloukas, Papadopoulos and Fotsis, although before it had enough cool players. But for the former generation, the generation of the Icon, Sigalas and Alvertis, for some reason, only club trophies were won.
“We were just lucky,” Papaloukas puts forward his version.
“We have achieved a tremendous degree of teamwork,” Papadopoulos objects. “The core of the team remains unchanged, and, say, Fotsis, I understand literally telepathically.”
At the 2006 World Cup, the Greek team lost in the finals of splendid Spain, but it was she who, perhaps, gave the most striking match of the tournament - the semi-final against the Americans. “Partly tonight, the stars came to our advantage,” Theo said. “We played extremely competently, so as not to let the Americans turn around.” “Yes, yes, we did not let the Americans appear as a team, but we ourselves were her,” adds Fotsis.
But to the hypothetical question “Who would be the winner in a series of 10 Greece-USA fights?” Each answers differently. Naturally, the eldest - Papaloukas is the most careful: “What would be the outcome? I do not know. Maybe we would have won just one match out of ten. But who cares? This only victory happened when it was necessary. " Fotsis replies fervently: "If you could have won all 10, the mood would have been enough." But Papadopoulos has practically no doubt in victory in such a virtual match: “And what would prevent us from playing at the same level in nine more matches against the USA? I do not think that we have shown anything supernatural. This is our current level, if you want, be surprised, if you want to, no. ”
DIASPORA
Lazaros Papadopoulos says that the Greeks and Russians have a lot in common, and as a confirmation of their words, they cite not history or religion, but such properties as carelessness, openness and hospitality. True, to manifest this remarkable quality is obtained not very often. Especially in relation to fellow countrymen. The schedules of CSKA and Dynamo are not joined: when some play at home, others, as a rule, on the road. Friends do not see each other as often as they would like. “We even hardly intersect with the Greek Dynamo coach Vangelis Agello, although we live in the same house,” Papaloukas sighs. - However, I do not have to constantly see Anthony and Lazaros in order to maintain a good relationship. After all, it’s not the conversations that connect us, but the memorable moments experienced together. ”
And if you manage to get together with the company - most often this happens in a Greek restaurant near Moscow State University. "It is there that at certain times the greatest density of Greeks per square meter of the city of Moscow arises, and not on the site in CSKA - Dynamo matches, as many consider," says Fotsis, using the ancient Greek word “diaspora”. “I know many Greeks living in Moscow,” says Papaloukas. - One of my closest friends, for example, has nothing to do with basketball - he is the general manager of a large company. We met him here, in Russia, and not in Greece. ”
When Papaloukas, Fotsis and Papadopoulos get together, they rarely talk about basketball. The main topic is news from the homeland, the second most important is football, which Theo is especially passionate about. No less important is to arrange the Greek analogue of KVN. “Usually we just find some clue to“ pin ”each other, and begin to unwind the topic in full,” smiles Papadopoulos. “Lazaros and Antonis together are a nuclear combination,” says Papaloukas. “They complement each other perfectly, and when they are in a mood to joke, they will not be beaten off.” True, Papas notes, he has in extreme cases one reinforced concrete argument. No matter how Dynamo tries, no matter how many stars he doesn’t invite, he still does not manage to become an equal competitor to CSKA.
“The matches with CSKA are the most important for Dynamo this season,” says Papadopoulos. - If suddenly someone forgets about it, the club management will vividly remind him. For the victory over CSKA, Dynamo are ready for anything. And I think that is normal. It’s like the Panathinaikos - Olympiacos derby in Athens. Unless the audience is in Greece ... How to say it ... A little more crazy. " “Come on, derby,” says Papaloukas. - Dynamo is not an easy opponent, but let them win at least a couple of matches at first. In the meantime, it’s more interesting for me personally to assert ourselves in the Euroleague. ”
It seems that this is his next joke. But Fotsis is in no hurry to pick up the glove thrown to him with Papadopoulos. “CSKA is a cool rival, you don’t have to tune in to this,” says Dynamo striker. “But besides everything else, I am glad of these matches against Papaloukas, as an opportunity to see him once again.”