GERMANY: BASKETBALL: NBA star Dirk Nowitzki welcomed in his hometown Wuerzburg with all the pomp of a hero
Record ID:
1519940
GERMANY: BASKETBALL: NBA star Dirk Nowitzki welcomed in his hometown Wuerzburg with all the pomp of a hero
- Title: GERMANY: BASKETBALL: NBA star Dirk Nowitzki welcomed in his hometown Wuerzburg with all the pomp of a hero
- Date: 29th June 2011
- Summary: WUERZBURG, GERMANY (JUNE 28, 2011) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) NBA STAR DIRK NOWITZKI ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF NOWITZKI ON STAGE FATHER OF DIRK NOWITZKI, JOERG NOWITZKI, SITTING IN FIRST ROW AND PULL-OUT TO FAMILY (SOUNDBITE) (German) NBA STAR DIRK NOWITZKI SAYING: "The last two weeks were non-stop. There was a lot going on, also in Dallas, parties like there is no tomorrow of course. The parade was an incredible event for me and the entire team. More than two hundred thousand people came and cheered us. It was an incredible experience. And then the media and photo shoots. And then travelling here. So the last two weeks were really non-stop. And I've tried to enjoy it all, take it all in, have fun. And later today it will also be a bit smoking as well I think. So it'll be a while until it all sinks in, until I'll go on holidays, until I can calm down a bit." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) NBA STAR DIRK NOWITZKI SAYING: "It was a similar moment when after so much hard work all the emotions came out. I just ran into the changing rooms, and all the PR people came after me: you can't do that, there is the trophy now. And I said I don't want it now (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE), I can remember I did hide in the showers and had a towel in front of my face and said they should give it to someone else, but after a few minutes it was okay again and I came out and everything went crazy." AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) FAN EVA WIDMANN SAYING: "He is the greatest German basketball player of all times. It says it all." (SOUNDBITE) (German) FAN JULIA WACKENREUTHER SAYING: "He plays great. He is the greatest German player. And I just want to celebrate that he delivered such a great game and that they won." (SOUNDBITE) (German) FAN MARCO DOSCH SAYING: "I like it that he comes from Wuerzburg and that he remains grounded. He knows where his roots lie and he likes coming back, and we will celebrate today that he brought home the title." MAN WITH T-SHIRT READING "WUERZBURG IS BACK!"
- Embargoed: 14th July 2011 03:37
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany, Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Sport
- Reuters ID: LVAAA3BLA3HPJW4HSA5LRCGNU7XO
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Dirk Nowitzki was all smiles when he stepped onto the stage at the Wuerzburg Arena on Tuesday (June 28). Fans cheered the basketball super-star of the Dallas Mavericks for what seemed like hours.
Sixteen days after wining the title of the North-Amercian basketball profi-league with the Dallas Mavericks against the Miami Heat more than 3,000 fans celebrated their hero at a huge news conference. Then the local hero went on to sign his name in the city's "Golden Book," thereby making this the first occasion for the Dallas Mavericks to appear within the same volume as Winston Churchill.
Nowitzki said that he was "overwhelmed" by the reception, adding that the partying hasn't stopped for the last two weeks. "The last two weeks were non-stop," he told his fans. "There was a lot going on, also in Dallas, parties like there is no tomorrow of course. The parade was an incredible event for me and the entire team. More than two hundred thousand people came and cheered us. ... And later today there will also be a bit smoking as well I think."
Nowitzki said it'll be a while until it all sinks in, until he can calm down.
Despite all his success the the two week party-marathon, Nowitzki sat relaxed in stage and answered questions for more than an hour.
About the minutes after winning the match he told the crowd of his emotional turmoil. "It was a similar moment when after so much hard work all the emotions came out. I just run into the changing rooms, and all the PR people came after me: you can't do that, there is the trophy now."
He recalled, to the great amusement of the audience, that he said that he didn't want the trophy. "I can remember I did hide in the showers and had a towel in front of my face and said they should give it to someone else, but after a few minutes it was okay again and I came out and everything went crazy."
Nowitzki who was named "Most valuable player" of the match did not bring the trophy back with him after all. He said that it is in New York at the moment, being engraved with his name.
His fans are convinced that he is one of the great ones. He is the greatest German basketball player of all times. It says it all," said fan Eva Widmann. And Julia Wackenreuther added: "He plays great. He is the greatest German player. And I just want to celebrate that he delivered such a great game and that they won."
Marco Dosch says that Nowitzki has done much for Wuerzburg and its sport: "I like it that he come from Wuerzburg and that he remains grounded. He knows where his roots lie and he likes coming back, and we will celebrate today that he brought home the title."
However, Nowitzki said that the long season has taken its toll and that he was unsure whether he would represent his country at the August 31-September 18 European championships in Lithuania. He would like to play, he said, but right now Nowitzki said he is very exhausted. But he said the he "would like to play." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None