By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
As the smoke cleared at the end of a weekend-long battle royale in Berlin that was witnessed by millions, shocking details were at last revealed about the crime ring that has run roughshod all over Europe during the last eight months.
In a dramatic twist that no one expected, the denouement was divulged as the ultimate “inside job”, and it was planned from the beginning by none other than… police inspector Dimitris Itoudis!
It was evident for quite some time that some high-ranking officer was a shadow upon this case, covering the trails of criminals all around the Turkish Airlines Euroleague. Many believed that chief inspector Zeljko Obradovic was behind all this, especially after his public statements in the German capital. Many eyebrows were raised when Obradovic said that “it was planned by us for the semifinal game to go to overtime” and also “I have said to Itoudis during the preseason we will meet in the final”. But Obradovic was just joking. As it turns out, Itoudis had been pulling the strings since September. That’s why so many arrests were made and no one was prosecuted. Now, of course, the last five warrants are just unnecessary paperwork.
Itoudis and his gang fled to Moscow, where the only case they worried about was one they can fit a big, new Euroleague trophy into. The criminal case may closed, but this is not going to be the end. Citizens must beware and also enjoy something that is too brilliant to hide in plain sight, as Itoudis did. What’s that, you ask? The new Turkish Airlines Euroleague, which enters a brave new era in just a few months. Meanwhile, these are the suspects who once again got away scot-free from the final chase scene of the season.
Bobby Dixon: What you can say about this American cat burglar? He almost stole the trophy thanks to his stone-cold shots. He had 17 points in the final, stood his ground when Fenerbahce most needed him and almost got away with a heist to go down in history. He is still armed and dangerous, heading back to Istanbul.
Milos Teodosic: No explanation is needed about why this Serbian criminal genius is once again among the most wanted. He is unique, mesmerizing every one with his virtuosity and his ability to see three moves ahead of anyone else. Next time, watch closely how he operates and you will be amazed. Everything seems simple for him, like his totals of 27 points and 13 assists in the biggest games of the season.
Giannis Bourousis: The Greek gangster almost did it again. While he didn’t get to the end, he can only be respected by the rest of the underworld. After all, his 22 points and 10 rebounds against the mighty front line of Fenerbahce is no joke. Despite his long reign of terror in the paints around Europe, he proved that he is ready for more.
Nando De Colo: The French gunman of CSKA Moscow is the most feared killer around Europe. Just check his file. It’s never easy to score 52 points in the biggest showdowns of the year. Yet, he did it and he never blinked. It’s been years since a legendary criminal from France called “Le Rois” was dominating Europe. Now, finally his heir is on top of the gangland pyramid.
Malcolm Delaney: The lone shooter from the States did what it was expected from him. The aftermath of his work in Berlin was 47 points. Nobody believed that Lokomotiv could compete against the heavyweights, but he took care of the job at hand, doing damage everywhere around Europe. He has very few rivals, and even they wonder what mayhem he will be up to next.