Myers and Cimberio
Myers the Great: “I like Varese”.
Carlton Myers, and where were we? One of the players who is a symbol of Italian basketball, able to leave a mark on the wonderful 1990’s and to divide the masses: you either loved him or hated him. Allergic of the middle ground and unable to be anything other than what he has always been: an absolute champion and personality. He, who has always come to Varese only as an adversary and who has always experienced conflicts and wars with Varese. He, who will participate in the All Star Game in Biella on Sunday, invited to participate in the 3 point contest, and will be on the court wearing a Cimberio jersey. The Cimberio in question is the team from San Patrignano, the rehabilitation community for drug addiction founded by Vincenzo Muccioli: Cimberio is the sponsor of all sporting activities played in the community, and Myers finished his career wearing the San Patrignano jersey. .
How important are sports to San Patrignano?
Sports are important to Sanpa, but it’s also important outside of Sanpa: in all contexts, in every situation. I think about, for example, my story and my past: and I think about how important sports have been for me.
Why?
At a certain point in my life I arrived at a fork in the road; sports made me take the correct one and allowed me to live in a certain way. But for other people my same age, some schoolmates and some friends, it didn’t work out that way. Unfortunately.
Why are sports played as part of the community’s rehabilitation process?
Because sports teach you how to correctly interact with others, it makes you part of a team and it lets you battle with your teammates towards a common goal, it makes you get used to obtaining a result and it provides healthy competition. It’s therapeutic, and for these kids it plays a fundamental role: the equivalent of many other things that they do at San Patrignano.
Let’s talk a little bit about basketball.
Gladly.
About Cimberio in Cimberio: have you been able to see Varese?
I saw them play against Sassari on TV, and I was in Rome two Sundays ago: yes, I’ve seen them.
And?
I’m not saying anything new, but Vitucci’s team is playing some great basketball: fun, spectacular. But there’s something that’s even more amazing: we’ve seen many teams play well and still lose. Varese puts on a show, it’s fun, and they are also able to win: it’s the absolute limit. But this, I repeat, is what everybody says.
Then tell us something new.
A thought came to me after I left the basketball arena in Roma. Its been a long, long time since I’ve seen such intelligent American basketball players: I’m talking about the four Americans on Varese’s team and the two that play for Rome.
Please explain.
These Americans understand that they need to play together. Unfortunately many other Americans have become accustomed to doing otherwise, playing for themselves first and for the team second: to score more points, make more assists, regardless of the final result.
How are the Americans that you saw in Rome different?
They understand. They put their egos aside and, even though they are very good individual players, they put the good of the team in front of their egos. And this is very important, for everyone.
For who, for example?
For the Italians, for their teammates who feel like they are part of a group and how a group can develop. Today more than ever companies need to understand that it’s wrong to blindly put themselves in the hands of agents, because it’s too important to carefully select the American players that they go and get. Evaluating every characteristic and all the variables.
Will you go and see Cimberio, even in Varese?
I would like to, and with regard to that, I have no ill-will towards the Varese public. Even if I come, clearly it would be difficult to think that no one would shout at me or say something to me. However I would, like I said, really like to be able to come to Masnago, to peacefully watch a game.
Can we take that as a promise?
Let’s say that I will think about it. Maybe I will come and watch the Varese-Virtus Bologna game, that way we can resolve the problem: at least I will hear them only once.
Francesco Caielli