Saturday, 5 March 2016

Basketball, From Armani to Bogoncelli: Olimpia has conquered the world

The coach No. 1 tells the story of Milan: "It was the first foreign team to be known in the US"


Amarcord. The first time I heard the name Olimpia Milano, called Simmenthal. It was the summer of '65 and I had just arrived at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, as deputy of Ben Carnevale. The US team for the Universiade was training there, the star was Bill Bradley, just graduated from Princeton. I read that Bradley would play that year for the Simmenthal Milan. And I thought: "Excellent idea of ​​Bradley; great shot of this ... Simmenthal. "

MCGREGOR - The second 'message' was by the legendary Jim McGregor, who was traveling around Europe every summer with its Gulf Oil All-Stars. It was the team in '68 and wanted my star at the University of Delaware, Kenn Barnett. Was an Olympic and McGregor spoke to me of the international basketball year of its growth, the fact that the richest clubs and more organized they were, for the most part, in Italy. He also cited the Simmenthal, President Adolfo Bogoncelli and gm-coach Cesare Rubini. The third "flash" came in '72, when I coached the national team of Chile and Italy Giancarlo First arrived in the Olympic semifinals. I thought, "Oh, very good basketball in Italy." The last flash came in 1973, I was still in Chile and lawyer. Richard Kaner asked me if I wanted to coach in Italy. I said, "Simmenthal Milano?". He said, "No, Virtus Bologna." I: "They play in the same league?". Kaner: "Yes, sure." Me: "Ok, I'm interested." So, Olimpia had hit me in very difficult times. When I arrived in Italy, I understood many other things in a flash. I learned that Bogoncelli had "invented" the modern basketball in Italy: the first sponsors (Borletti, 4,000,000 lire in 1946), so no more of a recreational club; with this, the semiprofessionismo; the recruitment of players from all over Italy (Rubini, Pieri and Iellini from Trieste; Riminucci from Pesaro; Stefanini from Marostica); identity with the city (Sandro Gamba, born in via Washington); the modern plant (PalaLido); the first attempts in Europe (Champions League) ... and much more. I also realized that Ruby was a mythical figure. Still, here in Milan, there are fans older than I who say to me, "Peterson, I'm a fan Olimpia since she coached the Red Shoes." I correct them: "Thank you, but I have not trained the legendary Red Shoes. Their coach was Rubies ". This is the greatness of Rubini, not only for the 15 championships won on the bench, but total identification with a club, a name, a brand, a city, a legend. In all, Rubini was larger than life.



RUBY - I loved to Rubini, always close to the team and me. Once, after a race won at PalaLido, I saw him in the hallway. It was spontaneous: "Caesar, I wanted to thank you for how you're always with me, with us, and for the legacy you left us." The legendary Rubini, Olympic gold in water polo, man all of a piece, began to cry and hugged me. "No, Dan, thank you for ....". A time so do not forget it. The greatest character in the history of Italian sport, only national and hall of famer in two sports, as they say in the US, "covered my shoulders." A legend. In truth, I had a mini-sull'Olimpia insight even before but I was not knowledgeable enough to seize it. When I was a student at the University of Illinois for one year, '54 -55, I met George Bon Salle, Illinois pivot. Bon Salle played for the Simmental, in '57 -58, winning the league title. Bon Salle returned to Milan to see Bogoncelli around 1980. I should have guessed something, but at that time it was only known that Bon Salle had gone to play 'in Europe. " I was not as good as ... detective. Fast Forward. 1978. Immediately after my arrival in Milan. I'm in San Antonio, where he trains Doug Moe, the legendary player Petrarca Padova '65 -67, the era of Simmenthal. I see him in a gym in Summer League. I do not know how to introduce myself. The arrival in front, extend your hand, "Doug. Dan Peterson, Coach, Simmenthal Milan. " We were not Simmenthal 5 years but wanted to cut it short. Doug Moe: "Okay, Dan, the Simmenthal. How's Dr. Bogoncelli? Rubies? ". That's what mattered the Olimpia in the US. The unusual fan knows the sport outside the US. Football? Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid, and the Italian national team after the 2006 World Basketball? Only that nearly 100 foreigners playing in the NBA today, many Europeans. Instead, the insiders know the Euroleague. But in front of all there is the Olympia, because of our Hall of Famer Bill Bradley, Bob McAdoo, Dino Meneghin, Rubini, Leg.


BANDA BASSOTTI - I can not not mention the greatest satisfaction of my career: the Beagle Boys. I arrived at Milan in '78. 5 In previous summers, Bogoncelli had as many as 8 national sold: Giomo, Masini, Cerioni, Iellini, Bariviera, Brumatti, Vecchiato and Paolo Bianchi. I found myself with a 20 year old (Paolo Friz), three 19enni (Dino and Franco Boselli, Vittorio Gallinari) and two 18years (Valentino Battisti and Francesco Anchisi). All gave us the last and relegated to A-2. We tipped the odds, reaching the finals, with amount of work to stamp out the horses, people willing to carry it out, a unified group, the Beagle Boys. Why that name? We were not only the youngest but also the children, who bit their opponent's ankles. Even today, those players will tell you that it was the most incredible moment of their career. C. J. Kupec still signing e-mails with "C'mon Billy." Unrepeatable. I would not forget the other teams, and I loved them all. Even in the most bitter years: 1983 (2nd in Italy, 2nd in Europe) and 1984 (ditto). They called me "the John Wooden of second places." Light, the largest was the 87, one of the Grand Slam. With Meneghin, D'Antoni, McAdoo, Premier, Gallinari, Bargna, Franco Boselli, Barlow, Pittis. We won the Italian Cup by 2 points, 2 points for the European Cup final championship by 2 points.


RED SHOES - The saga of the mythical "Red Shoes" took place before my arrival, in the '60s. But I know the story well. What names: Coach Cesare Rubini. Team: Pieri, Leg, Riminucci, Vittori, Vianello, Ongaro, Iellini, Masini. Then Bariviera, Brumatti. I knew of titles, 47 victories in a row, of 77 points in a race Riminucci, the aura of PalaLido, the charm of the name that went beyond basketball. When I have had the opportunity to train her, in 1978, I caught on the fly. Olimpia's history is told with the names of our three major owners: Adolfo Bogoncelli, Gianmario Gabetti, Giorgio Armani. Because I respect them? I gave her to Bogoncelli and she continues to do the Gabetti and the Maestro Giorgio Armani. Their secret? The values ​​above all: what is right or not right. What is important or not. He still speaks of the 'Simmenthal Style' of Bogoncelli. Today we speak of 'Armani Values ​​", more important than any other thing. I walked with giants. I can not neglect my return to the bench, to 75 years in 2010-11. The deal, with Livio Proli, a truly great, lasted 10 seconds and was the greatest joy of my life. Finally, Giorgio Armani. Do not become the number one in fashion for 40 years for the event. His genius and he himself is the Olympia today. In January, for my 80th birthday, he has rewarded me in the Forum. During the pandemonium, in English, I told him what was in my heart: 'Thanks for everything! Thanks for Olimpia. And, Master, I love you. " I think I have spoken to all who have the Olimpia in the heart. And I can say this: every time the team takes the field, he also wants to win for him. It 'the first step towards new triumphs.
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