04 September, 2006

Greece come second in FIBA Basketball World Championship 2006

The Greek basketball team finished in second place in the FIBA Basketball World Championship. Along the way, Greece defeated Qatar, Lithuania, Australia, Brazil, Turkey, China, France and America. The 101-95 semifinal victory over the Americans was the greatest moment in Greek basketball history. The Greeks beat the Americans at their own game, outshooting them from the field and outhustling them in defence. I am sure that everyone watching (and not watching) loved every minute of it.

After the final buzzer, the Greek players danced in a circle on the halfway line, while American journalists quickly played down the loss in their online sports sections. One group of reporters who weren't playing down the result were the Greek news. The match was the top story of the day, and it took up 40 minutes of the 1-hour time slot. Who cares about news, stocks and weather when Greece beats America? In Greece, people took to the streets, waving their flags and sounding their horns in mass celebrations all around the country. I am sure that the Greek team will be welcomed by thousands of fans upon their return home. Oh yeah, Spain won the final (but they smell).

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