In my opinion there is one domestic league game in Europe that stands out as the game of the week.
Electomagnetic fields saturated with negative ions have been used for decades by international militaries, international space programs and by Olympic athletes to increase alertness, attentiveness and give an overall sence of well being.
IonX represents a revolutionary performance apprel technology. A study conducted in the Sports Technology Laboratory at Loughborough University showed a significant increase in repetitive, short duration, high intensity exercise performance (power output) in both competitive and recreational athletes when wearing IonX versus non-ionised control garments. This improvement is likely to be functionally relevant to all team sport players or indeed anybody undertaking repetitive bouts of high intensity exercise during training or performance"
Dr Mike Caine, Senior Lecture, Sports Technology, Loughborough University UK
What are the effects of IonX?
Further more IonX garments carry a minimum of 3500 IEI. (Ionic Energy Index) which is literally the amount of energy needed to be on the top of a (really) high mountain. Just have a look at this:
Is it legal would the next question be. Apparently yes judging from this:
The International Rugby Board asked the World Anti-Doping Agency for a ruling. They replied that they were happy — for now. Spokesman Frederic Donze said:
'Since there is no scientific publication supporting claims that changes in the body ion charges or magnetic field distribution enhance performance, and since such technologies do not contain prohibited substances, these technologies should not be considered as a banned method to date.'
But as stated above this technology is not that new at all.
The Japanese long ago realised that standing next to a waterfall, where ionisation also occurs, makes people feel better and German scientists in the 1930s used ionisation chambers to train bomber pilots to stay awake longer and be more alert. That technology was then applied to athletes in the former East Germany and Soviet Union.
It took an American textile company, who made protective suits for the Chernobyl clean-up operation as well as Ian Thorpe's 'shark-skin' swimming outfit, to work out how to incorporate the technology into fabric. Canterbury have a 25-year agreement with that firm.
The final questions are obvious:What's next? Re-chargeable players?
The players who scored 40!!! points against Fenerbahce last week for a Euroleague match was interviewed by 'Athletiki', a Greek sports newspaper.
Here is the translation:
Q: How does it feel to play in the Euroleague? Do you feel that you compete at a higher level?
A: It's a wonderful experience. It is a great competition where some of the best teams in the world take part. Some of which can, in fact, compete with NBA teams.
Q: Many people believe that Roanne is one of the weakest Euroleague sides. What would you say to them?
A: Well i would say: 'You are wrong!!!' We lack some depth as a team but we have some great players who play very good together, we have a great chemistry. We have lost 3 games in a row but we fought in all three until the very end! It is not as if our opponents demolished us.
Q: You have played in Turkey, Italy, France and you are now settled in Roanne. Isn't this hard for a guy who was born in Chicago?
A: Well, i was born in Chicago but i now live in Florida, i own a house there. Roanne is a very nice, quiet place and i generally like the life in France. Truth to be said though, i have always preferred bigger cities.
Q: Like Athens for example?
A: Yes. I would love to play for an Athens team. It has always been a goal of mine to play in the Greek A1, which is one of the best.
Q: There is an impression that your coach, although French, prefers a free style of playing, more American per se. Is this true?
A: Yes, he likes fast basketball, he prefers faster basketball than the rest Euroleague coaches. Of course I prefer this. I like to have the go-ahead in the court and the fact that the coach lets me run the court.
Q: What do you know about Panathinaikos?
A: It is one of the best teams in the world! It is a great club with a huge tradition. Any role player of Panathinaikos can be a star in any other Euroleague team.
Q: Is there a Panathinaikos player you would rather have as a teammate instead of an opponent?
A: No! I would rather have them all as teammates!
Q: You score rather easily, what is your secret?
A: Who, me? I don't score easily... (laughs)
Q: Are you ready to brake your own Euroleague record by scoring more than 40 points?
A: If I am given the chance to do it, sure. I feel capable of scoring 41 points.
Q: What is your prediction regarding the Final Four?
A: The favorites for me at this moment are Panathinaikos, Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow. I'm not sure about the 4th team but these three teams are surely better than the rest!
Marc Salyers is the 2nd scorer of Roanne in the domestic French League where he averages 21.38 ppg and the 1st scorer of Roanne in the Euroleague where he averages 23.75 ppg. Against Fenerbahce-Ulker he scored 40 points in 33'12" having 9/11 2p, 6/13 3p, 4/5 ft, 6 rebounds, 1 block and 1 turnover.
I'm pretty sure that many of you are fierce fans of Euroleague Fantasy Challenge, and frankly i don't blame you, at all. This game can be addictive and attractive at times.
So what makes a great Euroleague Fantasy Team? What does it take to make it all the way to the top? Well, if I knew, wouldn't you think I would be leading the overall standings by now?
But... from my experience Euroleague Fantasy Challenge is a combination of game tactics and financial strategy.
You have to find that fine thin line between players who will bring you big points and the players who will give you the +15% maximum credits you need so badly to be able to purchase more expensive and therefore better players for your team.
A big part of the art of finding the players who will score big points for you is scouting. But in our case the scouting can be done from our own office using a computer instead of flying in order to watch the players.
You simply find the boxscores of the Euroleague teams with their weekend domestic performance...
Here are the top domestic competitions performers of the last weekend:
(Evaluation or Ranking Points - Name - Club)
Point Guards:
Shooting Guards/ Small Forwards:
Power Forwards/ Centers:
You can download the full list of ALL players who scored 10+ during the weekend HERE
