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A Fonder Farewell 19 Years Later A Fonder Farewell 19 Years Later
(35 minutes later)
THESSALONIKI, Greece — No one noticed when Nick Galis, a former Seton Hall guard, left the Boston Celtics after attending their training camp in 1979 as a fourth-round N.B.A. pick with another newcomer, Larry Bird.THESSALONIKI, Greece — No one noticed when Nick Galis, a former Seton Hall guard, left the Boston Celtics after attending their training camp in 1979 as a fourth-round N.B.A. pick with another newcomer, Larry Bird.
A fellow Greek-American had approached him with an intriguing idea: go play basketball in Greece.A fellow Greek-American had approached him with an intriguing idea: go play basketball in Greece.
“I didn’t know at that time that Greece had basketball,” said Galis, who grew up in Union City, N.J. “My mind was on the N.B.A.”“I didn’t know at that time that Greece had basketball,” said Galis, who grew up in Union City, N.J. “My mind was on the N.B.A.”
After a sprained ankle reduced his chances of making the Celtics’ roster, Galis became the Michael Jordan of Greece. Children pretended to be him in pickup games. An American opponent named his son after him.After a sprained ankle reduced his chances of making the Celtics’ roster, Galis became the Michael Jordan of Greece. Children pretended to be him in pickup games. An American opponent named his son after him.
Galis inspired the nation when he led Greece over the Soviet Union in the final of the 1987 FIBA European championship. He scored 40 points in the 103-101 overtime thriller. It was the country’s “Do you believe in miracles?” moment. Galis inspired the nation when he led Greece over the Soviet Union in the final of the 1987 FIBA European championships. He scored 40 points in the 103-101 overtime thriller. It was the country’s “Do you believe in miracles?” moment.
But the story did not end there. Nearly 19 years after he played his memorable last game, in which he quit at halftime to protest a coach’s decision not to start him, his former team Aris paid tribute to him on May 7. Galis ended his career with Panathinaikos in Athens. But the story did not end there. Nearly 19 years after he played his last game, in which he quit at halftime to protest a coach’s decision not to start him, his former team Aris paid tribute to him May 7. Galis ended his career with Panathinaikos in Athens.
“We had to say sorry to Nick because now he’s 55 years old, and this should have been done many years ago,” said Lefteris Arvanitis, the president of Aris, who took over the team last year.“We had to say sorry to Nick because now he’s 55 years old, and this should have been done many years ago,” said Lefteris Arvanitis, the president of Aris, who took over the team last year.
Former teammates and opponents joined 5,500 fans in the Thessaloniki arena to feat Galis, who made a rock star entrance through fog. He delighted them by spinning a basketball on a finger and dribbling through his legs. Nicknamed the Gangster for his no-nonsense style and piercing stare, he warmly hugged his 7-year-old daughter and cried when he embraced his former teammate Panagiotis Giannakis. Former teammates and opponents joined 5,500 fans in the Thessaloniki arena to honor Galis, who made a rock star entrance through fog. He delighted them by spinning a basketball on a finger and dribbling through his legs. Nicknamed the Gangster for his no-nonsense style and piercing stare, he warmly hugged his 7-year-old daughter and cried when he embraced his former teammate Panagiotis Giannakis.
His yellow No. 6 jersey was raised to the rafters, and Greece’s deputy sports minister, Giannis Ioannidis, announced that the arena’s interior would be called Nikos Galis Hall. “It’s better late than never,” Galis, who rarely gives interviews, said. “I’m happy Aris is doing this now.” Galis’s yellow No. 6 jersey was raised to the rafters, and Greece’s deputy sports minister, Giannis Ioannidis, announced that the arena’s interior would be called Nikos Galis Hall.
Greeks say Galis’s impact on the country’s psyche and economy is immeasurable. “It’s better late than never,” said Galis, who rarely gives interviews. “I’m happy Aris is doing this now.”
“He made us believe that we could be champions,” said Panagiotis Kostas, a 33-year-old mechanical engineer who traveled 340 miles from Corinth to attend the tribute. “This is too small. There should be something much bigger.” Greeks say Galis’s effect on the country’s psyche and economy is immeasurable.
Aris forward Antonis Asimakopoulos sobbed as video highlights rushed him back to his childhood. He was 11 when Greece won the 1987 EuroBasket and celebrated in Omonia Square, which like other parts of Athens is now a recession-battered mess. “He made us believe that we could be champions,” said Panagiotis Kostas, 33, a mechanical engineer who traveled 340 miles to attend the tribute. “This is too small. There should be something much bigger.”
“It’s national pride for us,” he said. “We are a small country but we are so tight together especially when we achieve something.” Aris forward Antonis Asimakopoulos sobbed as video highlights rushed him back to his childhood. He was 11 when Greece won the 1987 EuroBasket and celebrated in Omonia Square, which, like other parts of Athens, has been battered by a recession now in its sixth year.
The 1987 victory gave Greece a big economic boost, as advertising money began flowing. Just as Bird and Magic Johnson revived the N.B.A., Galis’s success boosted players’ salaries and created jobs. “It’s national pride for us,” Asimakopoulos said of the sentiment surrounding Galis. “We are a small country but we are so tight together, especially when we achieve something.”
Gregory Ioannidis, a sports lawyer in the United Kingdom and a university lecturer, is studying the economic impact of the ’87 championship and estimates that 7,500 jobs were created in the eight years afterward. “Nick Galis basically gave a lot of people a reason to exist,” Ioannidis said. “People owe a lot to him. Basketball before 1987 was a just a sport. Immediately after 1987 it became a commodity. Sports marketing became a big thing. Everyone wanted to advertise.” The 1987 victory gave Greece a big economic boost as advertising money began flowing. Just as Bird and Magic Johnson revived the N.B.A., Galis’s success boosted Greek players’ salaries and created jobs.
Greeks were not sure what to make of Galis, who arrived sporting an Afro and a New York accent. He made few friends, and kept to himself. Gregory Ioannidis, a sports lawyer in the United Kingdom and a university lecturer, is studying the economic effect of the ’87 championship and estimates that 7,500 jobs were created in the eight years afterward.
With Galis, Aris won eight Greek league titles, including seven in a row after signing Giannakis before the 1984-85 season. Aris was 25-1 in their first season together, before going undefeated for three consecutive domestic league seasons. Galis and Aris also wowed crowds throughout Europe, playing in three consecutive Euroleague final fours (1988 to 1990), but fell short each time. “Nick Galis basically gave a lot of people a reason to exist,” Ioannidis said. “People owe a lot to him. Basketball before 1987 was a just a sport. Immediately after 1987, it became a commodity. Sports marketing became a big thing. Everyone wanted to advertise.”
Greeks were not sure what to make of Galis, who arrived with an Afro and a New York accent. He made few friends and kept to himself.
With Galis, Aris won eight Greek league titles, including seven in a row after signing Giannakis before the 1984-85 season. Aris was 25-1 in their first season together, before going undefeated for three consecutive domestic league seasons. Galis and Aris also wowed crowds throughout Europe, playing in three consecutive Euroleague final fours (1988 to 1990) but falling short each time.
“Nick has always, for me, been like my secret hero,” said Audie Norris, who played for Barcelona. “His presence, his persona and the energy that he brings to the game and the things that he can do on the court, you don’t see too often.”“Nick has always, for me, been like my secret hero,” said Audie Norris, who played for Barcelona. “His presence, his persona and the energy that he brings to the game and the things that he can do on the court, you don’t see too often.”
Galis averaged just under 33 points a game in his professional career. In his senior year at Seton Hall, he was the nation’s third leading scorer. Bird was second. Galis averaged a little less than 33 points a game in his professional career. In his senior year at Seton Hall, he was the nation’s third-leading scorer. Bird was second.
“You have to appreciate his game to love it,” said Norris, who liked Galis’s game so much that he named his son after him.“You have to appreciate his game to love it,” said Norris, who liked Galis’s game so much that he named his son after him.
Galis and the national team played against Jordan in October 1983 when the University of North Carolina visited Thessaloniki for a tournament. Galis fans like to say that he “scored 50 points on Jordan,” but Galis himself could not recall specifics. Galis and the national team played against Jordan in October 1983 when the University of North Carolina visited Thessaloniki for a tournament. Galis fans like to say that he “scored 50 points on Jordan,” but Galis could not recall specifics.
“I scored high, I don’t remember,” he said. “They switch. Everybody was switching, guarding everybody.” “I scored high; I don’t remember,” he said. “They switch. Everybody was switching, guarding everybody.”
U.N.C. won the tourney, Jordan was the most valuable player and Galis was the top scorer. U.N.C. won the tournament. Jordan was the most valuable player, and Galis was the top scorer.
There were disappointments and personal tragedy along the way. Galis’s first wife died in a car accident in 1988. He remarried. Professionally, he did not win a Euroleague title, and things did not end well with both of his Greek teams. There were disappointments and personal tragedy along the way. Galis’s first wife died in a car accident in 1988. He remarried. Professionally, he did not win a Euroleague title, and things did not end well with both of his Greek teams. After the 1991-92 season, the basketball power base was shifting south to Athens. The Aris team president proposed that Galis, now in his mid-30s, begin coaching.
After the 1991-92 season, the basketball power base was shifting south to Athens. The Aris team president proposed that Galis, now in his mid-30s, begin coaching.
“I said, ‘I want to play.’ I remember leaving his office crying because 12 years I’ve been playing here,” Galis said. “I had the offer from Panathinaikos, and I took it. It was a huge decision.”“I said, ‘I want to play.’ I remember leaving his office crying because 12 years I’ve been playing here,” Galis said. “I had the offer from Panathinaikos, and I took it. It was a huge decision.”
Galis became the country’s first million-dollar player. Panathinaikos also lured the N.B.A. star Dominique Wilkins to Athens in 1995.Galis became the country’s first million-dollar player. Panathinaikos also lured the N.B.A. star Dominique Wilkins to Athens in 1995.
Galis was accustomed to starting and playing the full 40 minutes. As a Seton Hall freshman, he once quit because he thought he should be starting, he said, before returning a week later on advice of his high school coach.Galis was accustomed to starting and playing the full 40 minutes. As a Seton Hall freshman, he once quit because he thought he should be starting, he said, before returning a week later on advice of his high school coach.
Early in the 1994-95 season, Coach Kostas Politis sat the 37-year-old Galis against a weak opponent. Politis, who also coached the 1987 national team, said through an interpreter that he wanted to give playing time to younger guys. There was a confrontation. Politis said he told Galis, “If you think this is unacceptable, it’s better you stay in the locker room and don’t join the team in the second half.” Early in the 1994-95 season, the Panathinaikos coach, Kostas Politis, sat Galis, then 37, against a weak opponent. Politis, who also coached the 1987 national team, said through an interpreter that he wanted to give playing time to younger guys. There was a confrontation. Politis said he told Galis, “If you think this is unacceptable, it’s better you stay in the locker room and don’t join the team in the second half.”
Galis packed and walked out. And that was the end of his career.Galis packed and walked out. And that was the end of his career.
“I got mad,” Galis said. “I left. Some people might think of this as childish. Everybody has a different philosophy.”“I got mad,” Galis said. “I left. Some people might think of this as childish. Everybody has a different philosophy.”
Greeks are not alone in their adoration of him. Alvertis recalled being shocked that “old people, not fans of the game” recognized Galis when the team passed through a tiny Italian village. Greeks are not alone in their adoration of Galis. Fragiskos Alvertis, a young star with Panathinaikos at the end of Galis’s career, recalled being shocked that “old people, not fans of the game” recognized Galis when the team passed through an Italian village.
Galis will attend the Champions League final May 25 at Wembley Stadium as a special guest of the UEFA president Michel Platini, a longtime Galis fan. Galis will attend the Champions League final May 25 at Wembley Stadium as a special guest of the UEFA president, Michel Platini, a longtime fan of his.
Meanwhile, Galis remains little known in the United States, which was delighted by the likes of Bird, Magic and Jordan during Galis’s career. On the same day that Greece defeated the Soviet Union in 1987, the Lakers beat the Celtics to win the N.B.A. title. Despite his popularity in Greece, Galis remains little known in the United States, which was delighted Bird, Johnson and Jordan during Galis’s career. On the day that Greece defeated the Soviet Union in 1987, Johnson’s Los Angeles Lakers beat Bird’s Celtics to win the N.B.A. title.
Galis does not view the tribute as a step toward a return to basketball, though he does not rule it out. Galis says he does not view the tribute as a step toward a return to basketball, though he does not rule it out.
“I’m looking at it as the people don’t forget,” he said. “Don’t forget the good times we all had, and happiness I hope I gave them.”“I’m looking at it as the people don’t forget,” he said. “Don’t forget the good times we all had, and happiness I hope I gave them.”