May 18, 2013
 
50 YEARS CELEBRATION IN ROME, ITALY
Fulvio Polesello, Renzo Tombolato, Enrico Gilardi and Alessandro Tonolli (representing former coach Valerio Bianchini)
Remembering when Roma was king
The capital of Italy was the scene of another 50 Years of European Club Basketball celebration on Wednesday, November 28, this one commemorating that city's one and only moment as continental champion, courtesy of the 1984 Banco di Roma team. Euroleague Basketball CEO Jordi Bertomeu was joined by Walter Veltroni, the Mayor of Rome, and by Claudio Coccia, the Honorary President of the Italian Basketball Federation, in making presentations to several former champions at halftime of the game between Lottomatica Roma and AXA F.C. Barcelona, who were the continental finalists back in 1984. From the winning Banco di Roma team of 23 years ago, former players Enrico Gilardi, Fulvio Polesello and Renzo Tombolato were given commemorative awards at the halftime ceremony, as was Aliseo Timo, the former president of Banco di Roma. The coach of the 1984 champions, Valerio Bianchini was also honored, although he could not attend. "It is a satisfaction to remember important moments of the history of basketball and here in Rome we want to remember a team of champions that 23 years won an important title and was the pride of the city," Bertoemu said in Rome. "They have contributed to what basketball is now. As the Euroleague, we owe these coaches and former and current players the recognition they deserve. We have managed to find this opportunity to do so tonight."
ROMA CHAMPS

VIDEO

INTERVIEW: LARRY WRIGHT
Larry Wright


It is easy to think that 50 Years of European Club Basketball history lives on mainly in the minds of fans and players from the Old Continent. However, the fact that European basketball has consistently attracted great talents from around the globe has enriched the sport in many directions. One such case is Larry Wright, who came to Europe having already won an NBA title in his native United States, and eventually became one of the few men to win titles in the world's top two competitions.

"It's certainly an honor for me to know that people in Europe consider me one of better players to have played there. There's no doubt about that being an honor by itself. I don't have words to explain it. It makes me feel good that they appreciate what we did when we were in Europe, and I'd like to take a moment to thank them."