June 15, 2010 : Some news...

I am with you again after a short vacation ... which, believe me, left me absolutely no free time!!!!

And yet, I tried to follow basketball, I even attended the Euroleague Final Four in Paris.

At the end of the championship of Russia, I spent a few tumultuous weeks to think about my future in basketball. After an end of the season not as I hoped ... - The final round was played in an abrupt manner, and left an unpleasant aftertaste....

"Sparta and K" has offered to extend my contract, but I also received several interesting offers from foreign clubs. After weighing all the pros and cons, I decided to stay in Moscow, because despite budget cuts, my team next season will be very impressive. The club has set ambitious goals, it is crucial for me. I am interested and motivated to play in a strong and ambitious team that can fight for first place.

Having started my vacation in France, I managed to attend the Final Four (men), which took place in Paris. Of course, like all fans to come see Russia CSKA Moscow in the Final 4 in particular as a "red-blue", it was a real chance to see the match with Barcelona. But there are bad days where nothing happens and the ball falls literally hands, despite the efforts of players and coaches.

However, the bronze medals in Euroleague is correct, especially after a complicated game with Partizan in the match for third place. I enjoyed the match, the Serbs burned his outstanding and unpredictable actions. Always very interesting to watch the confrontation between experience and youth ... For example, as the 2007 European Championship Holden gave the victory to our national team, scoring a at the last second.

Also, during the Euroleague final, I was very impressed by the fans of Olympiakos - his anger, his passion for basketball. They are matched only by the fans of Maccabi.

In addition to basketball, I also managed to get to a place at the very exciting tennis in Roland Garros, Grand Slam tournament in Paris. You know, I love tennis, I often spend my holidays on the court. At Roland Garros, I watched the tournament especially for women and personally sick for Kuznetsova, who does not do as well as last year (win!). This year's tournament in Paris gave a lot of surprises, many leaders have been eliminated from the beginning ...

When comparing basketball and tennis, I think that tennis is a lot harder from a psychological point of view, there is a constant struggle with himself ... Yes, basketball is technically difficult, we are in constant contact and risk more injuries, but the shared responsibility of team work for everyone and decrease (a little bit!) psychological aspects.

I can not comment on a painful subject for many. On vacation, I discovered what has created an outcry in the world of basketball. It is a major scandal with the referees in Russia. I had to play such games, in which arbitrators are only a few, but the whistle not changed the outcome of the meeting. These acts are discouraging. I can assure you that the player in such situations, feels completely unnecessary, because all its actions on the ground simply lose their meaning. Why fight, give strength and emotion, when everything was decided before? The level of referees in the Euroleague is different in Russia - first and foremost, the referees working so sharp, and, secondly, they keep the neutrality of all teams. Remember also that Shabtai had repeatedly demanded that the foreign referees arbitrate the final of the Russian Super League ...

Many people - players, coaches, journalists and fans - are tired of injustice, and I think that the audio recording scandalous is brought to the light is not a coincidence. I really hope this will put pressure for change for the better, and for that you will take all necessary measures. I would like so much to believe it!

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