By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
As officially announced on the Italian team’s website, Olimpia Milano will honor Dan Peterson with a special night on April 2, during the LBA game against Reyer Venezia.
On that day, the red-and-white club will retire jersey number 36, the year of birth of both coach Dan Peterson, who guided Milano from 1978 to 1987 and for some months in 2011 winning several domestic trophies and the 1987 European Cup, and of the Italian team.
“For me, it was a bolt out of the blue, totally unexpected. This is not only a beautiful and appreciated honor, but also an exciting time for me. As I will say on April 2, I want to thank everyone. First, my champions: without them, I would never have received this great honor. Second, the club: starting with Adolfo Bogoncelli, who wanted me at Olimpia; to the general manager Toni Cappellari, who managed the team perfectly; to the Gabetti family, who always thought and acted big; to Cesare Rubini, always in my corner, every day and every game”, Dan Peterson said.
“Then, our fans: it was an honor to be the coach of my champions and it was a pleasure to be the ‘Coach’ of the Olimpia fans. Finally, Mr. Giorgio Armani, who wanted me back in 2010/11. That was the best gift I could have received. And I wish to thank him also for everything he does, for Italian sport, for Italian basketball, and for what he is doing for our Olimpia, which he brought back to the top of Italian and European basketball. I also thank the Olimpia of now, President Dell’Orco, and Coach Messina. Once again, I feel like the luckiest man alive”, the legendary head coach added.
The other jerseys currently retired by Olimpia are Mike D’Antoni and Sandro Gamba’s 8, Dino Meneghin’s 11, and Arthur Kenney’s 18.
PHOTO CREDIT: EA7 Emporio Armani Milan