More On NBA Players In Lebanon

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

                     NBA players play friendly
                     games in Lebanon

                     By Rodeina Kenaan
                     Associated Press

                     BEIRUT, Lebanon -- After
                     overcoming security fears, a
                     North American basketball
                     team led by current and
                     former NBA players opened a
                     series of friendly games
                     Wednesday in Lebanon.

                     Playing the first game in
                     Beirut's Sports City, which
                     was rebuilt after the
                     country's 15-year civil war
                     infamous for the kidnapping
                     of Westerners, the North
                     American team beat the
                     Lebanon national team 90-81.

                     During their stay through
                     Sunday, the North American
                     team will also play an Arab
                     all-star team and practice
                     with a local team.

                     Leading the North American
                     team are Rick Brunson of the
                     Portland Trail Blazers,
                     Michael Stewart of the
                     Sacramento Kings and Sam Mack
                     of the Vancouver Grizzlies.
                     Former NBA players on the
                     team include Brad Davis, Dell
                     Demps and David Wood.

                     North American coach Anthony
                     Ronzone of San Francisco said
                     it took two months of
                     negotiations to round up the
                     team to play in Lebanon,
                     which is still struggling to
                     shed its civil war image.

                     "It took me a lot of effort
                     to get it done," said
                     Ronzone, leading the team on
                     behalf of FIBA, the
                     international basketball
                     federation. "I had to talk to
                     many people, their families,
                     their wives."

                     Ronzone said the players'
                     first question was "Is it
                     safe?"

                     He termed that
                     "understandable," and added:
                     "Now that they are here,
                     everything they are getting
                     is outstanding."

                     The games are the first in
                     the Sports City's indoor
                     stadium and are designed to
                     promote basketball in a
                     region where soccer is the
                     public's first love.

                     "The growth of basketball in
                     the Middle East and Lebanon
                     is phenomenal," Ronzone said.
                     "People love the game, and my
                     role is to promote that
                     entertaining game."

                     The Sports City, which was
                     destroyed during Israel's
                     1982 invasion of Lebanon, was
                     rebuilt to host the summer of
                     1997 pan-Arab track and field
                     games.

                     During its 1975-90 civil war,
                     Lebanon became synonymous
                     with violence. Lebanese
                     gunmen attacked and kidnapped
                     foreigners, mainly Americans
                     and other Westerners.

                     In July 1997, the U.S. State
                     Department lifted a 10-year
                     ban on American travel to
                     Lebanon, replacing it with a
                     travel advisory. Since then,
                     Americans have begun
                     returning. o

                     Wednesday, Sep 30, 1998

                      © 1998 San Antonio Express-News