Ball Outrageous in Greece? Not Quite...

So one of the areas that I was really interested in when I came to Greece was what playing pick-up sports would be like.  Obviously, when I am at home, the games are usually 2v2 or 3v3 and pretty competitive.  Things get a little chippy sometimes and people don't shy away from contact.  Lots of pick and rolls, cuts to the baskets and for the most part defense is pretty solid.  At BC, it is basically the same.  It is always 5v5 there, so you are bound to get a few more lemons once in a while on the courts, but the average BC student is a pretty good athlete with a firm concept of the game.  Same basic ideas apply: play tough defense, generally physical, hustle and just play smart basketball.

Greece?  Man, we're looking at a black and white difference here.

American basketball fans' perceptions of European players is that they are generally soft and complain excessively about fouls.  Let me tell you that that is the case all the way down to the worst kids here in 2v2.  Playing 2v2, my man's teammate sets a screen on me.  I wrestle my way over the top of the pick but am still a step behind him.  Fortunately, due to a basic lack of basketball skills that most people possess here, I blocked him off the bleachers.  One of the biggest blocks I have had in my life.  He calls a foul and my jaw drops faster than the ball sailing out of bounds on said block.  And yeah, I realized that I am a biased party in this description but I would bet my life that I did not foul him.  Not to mention, I have about a dozen of these stories as well.  To sum up: Europeans play softer than the Pillsbury Doughboy.

Now, nobody plays 5v5 here.  It all goes back to what I have talked about earlier in which I said that this culture is just generally not very motivated and driven.  After a game of 3v3 in which there was actually some good competition, I made a remark to my teammate about how I was tired because I had been playing for 2 1/2 hours.  He goes "well you shouldn't try so hard man, you were playing way harder than us.  This is just for fun."

...


GOOD COMPETITION IS FUN.  Sure, I enjoy screwing around with my friends as much as the next guy, but playing intense basketball is significantly more fun than just dicking around.  There is no two ways about it.  And this is not an exception to the rule -- basically everyone plays at 50% and not a lick of defense.  To sum up: Greeks just don't seem as interested in competition as Americans.

A few small nuances.  You don't check the ball.  Ever.  If you score a basket, you grab the ball, take it to the three point line and just go.  Nobody takes time to let play restore some structure.  It's just grab and go.  If a shot is missed and you grab the rebound, you can take it back, but you have to immediately pass it after that.  You are not allowed to score.  Huh?  Really?  Really.  And of course, the one rule I have never liked, even when it is attempted to be played in the US: you don't have to take out an airball, you can just lay it right in for your team's points.  Silly.  That's all that is.

Now, to wrap this all up, here's a little fun fact for you today: I made the college team.  Yep, that's right.  Cut freshman year, CYO since 4th grade Pete made the team.  Unfortunately, since I am only here for a semester, I can't play in the games, although the coach told me that it's too bad I was only here a semester because I would have seen the floor during games.  So instead I will practice with the team, but be an unofficial member.  Peter, we're not in America anymore.  The team here is roughly the equivalent to a good intramural team at BC playing NCAA or a mediocre NBA team.  So yeah, that's how I made the team.  Not quite as impressive anymore, right?  As you nod your head yes, I agree.

Oh yeah, and even on the team, nobody plays defense and the big men are softer than a kleenex.

I guess some things just don't change, regardless of skill level.