by Alessandro Gallo
He left Bologna in 1978. 45 years have passed, but Dan Peterson’s bond with the Two Towers is still very strong. We’ll see him again soon, in the city, to present his latest work: a book of memories concerning the figure of the lawyer Porelli. But Peterson is not just anecdotes, Dan is basketball played and told. Let’s try to discover the Bologna (Virtus and Fortitudo) that will come by listening to him.
Coach, shall we start with Virtus?
“It has changed a lot since last year.”
Stronger or weaker?
“More suited to the Euroleague. Let’s not forget, then, that Virtus only returned to the Euroleague last year, after a long period of absence. It went so well that, at one point, they were two games ahead of Milan “.
Virtus more suited to the Euroleague: why?
“Because he’s more flexible in defence. I’m thinking, for example, of Achille Polonara, a great acquisition. He’s tall, he’s left-footed, with great elevation. He can mark pivots, strong forwards and small forwards because he has great foot speed. He’s a wild card, who ensures flexibility in defence”.
She hits the defense button a lot.
“Of course. And losing Teodosic means a lot in some ways. But Milos wasn’t exactly a stopper. This means that Virtus will gain from it in their half. Not only the great agility of Polonara, but also the physical toughness of Shengelia. They are all aspects that make themselves felt”.
Milan and Virtus.
“Finalists of the last three seasons. There is little distance, but always in favor of Milan. Also because Mirotic has arrived in the meantime”.
Some say that the Olimpia-Virtus duopoly is bad for Italian basketball.
“I beg to differ”.
Explain why, though.
“When I arrived in Italy there were three great teams. Ignis Varese and Simmenthal Milano with a balance of 24 wins and 2 defeats in the league. Cantù 21 wins and 5 defeats”.
And the others?
“The others, from fourth place down. all under 50 percent successes. Abysmal distance. But no one felt sorry for themselves. They rolled up their sleeves and bet heavily on the Italians”.
It was easier in those days.
“Yes, first one foreigner per team, then two. The rest are only Italians. But the Italians make the difference. Always. I’m thinking of the A2 for example. However, even in Europe, the big national teams are the ones that focus on young players and build up young players in home”.
The Italian national team?
“I’m happy with Poz and the grafts he made, Spanish, Procida. And Caruso, even if in the end he was left out of twelve. Do you know what the secret is?”.
No, say.
“Trust the Italians. Which doesn’t mean letting them play by regulation, but really trusting them. And their talent. I’m thinking of my Virtus from a few years ago: Bertolotti, Bonamico, Villalta and Caglieris. Or my Milan, Bariviera, the two Bosellis, Premier and Gallinari”.
We return to the importance of nurseries.
“And the ability to teach the fundamentals. Ettore Messina and Sergio Scariolo are masters in this. But I am also thinking of the directives of the past”.
Which?
“Sandro Gamba was in charge of the Milan youth team. He said he would fire the coaches who would play in the zone in defense or with patterns in attack. He wanted counter-attacks and one-on-ones. And Avvocato Porelli also wanted trained coaches to teach the fundamentals to the young people”.
The figure of the lawyer. Almost legendary
“I tell it in a book. But it is not a sanctification of the lawyer. Because I also narrate some points, five, in which we did not agree. There are scenes to die of laughter. He was a cinema character. My five years in Bologna have trained me. I arrived from Chile in 1973 as a good amateur. I came out as a modest professional”.
Is it true that he fired you after the 1976 Scudetto?
“Yes. He was on the field and he was crying with emotion. He saw that, as an American, I didn’t have the same passion”.
So?
“He yelled, ‘Damn American.’ He actually told me much worse. And added, ‘You don’t understand. I’m firing you.'”
And she?
“I let my anger cool off. Then, timidly, I asked if I could get on the bus, a few hours later. Everything came back”.
Where will we find this and more?
“In a volume edited by Minerva”.
Virtus without Peterson 45 years ago. Today without Teodosic.
“Scariolo was exceptional in managing him. I would have always wanted Milos on the pitch. But Sergio was right. He managed him and had him ready in the last quarter”.
Via Teodosic, arriva Dobric.
“One from Red Star, one from the Serbian national team”.
And so what?
“Great fundamentals, great personality. As the Americans say, it’s like having a bank account”.
Let’s jump to A2.
“Yes, Fortitudo. I remember Stefano Tedeschi, I wish him good luck. To him and to Virtus”.
At Virtus?
“Yes, because Bologna can’t live without the derby. With the derby, internal rivalry increases and everyone aims for the top”.
You, 10 derbies, 9 wins.
“But the week of the derby I locked myself at home”.
Why?
“The city went crazy. Everyone asked me for something. Depending on how the game ended, I went from my height of one meter sixty-five to two meters. A stress, however, that helped the city grow”.
Fortitudo in the hands of Attilio Caja.
“A big one”.
What will Attilio give?
“Order, organization in attack and defense. Hard hand. He’s old school. He’ll stand his ground.”
And the derby?
“I hope you come back soon.”
First it’s her turn, though.
“Already perhaps in September, perhaps later. But I’m going back to talk about the Lawyer, the book and Bologna. That formed me. Five years with the Lawyer are worth as much as a degree”.
2023-08-20 16:37:28
#Word #Dan #Peterson #Polonara #Dobric #stronger #Virtus
