Is Greece a heaven or a 3nd world country when it comes to playing basketballl???

Greece! Sounds like paradise for basketball players taking the challenge and going overseas (not you Coby Carl...)..That's it as long as you believe my man Josh Childress who enjoys a great vacation basketball season in Athens...

"Ακούς για μεγάλα συμβόλαια, εκατομμυρίων δολαρίων και συνήθως φέρνεις στο μυαλό σου μόνο ομάδες από το ΝΒΑ. Ούτε στα πιο τρελά μου όνειρα, δεν μπορούσα να φανταστώ ότι θα είχα μια τόσο μεγάλη οικονομική πρόταση από την Ελλάδα". Ωστόσο, όπως αναφέρει το κείμενο, είχε κάποιες ανησυχίες, οι οποίες βασίζονταν κυρίως στα όσα είχε ακούσει για παίκτες από το ΝΒΑ που πήγαν στην Ευρώπη και δεν πήραν όλα τα χρήματά τους. Αλλά μέχρι στιγμής "στην Ελλάδα είναι όλα όμορφα. Δεν έχω έρθει σε χώρα του Τρίτου Κόσμου!" Are you sure Josh? Wait til playoffs come Josh and the whole season is on the clock, then we'll check what you have to say about it...

Now, as always, there are 2 sides of a story and you might have to change your view about professional basketball in Greece if you listen to sharp-sooting journeyman, Tracy Murray, now 37, who spent a dozen years in the NBA and another 3 in Europe...

Talking about playing in Europe and especially Greece this is what he had to say:

"I was a little bit older, but I was able to steal a couple of years over there, I felt like I had some game left in me. At the same time, it’s a constant struggle and hustle, I don’t envy the guys who are over there that didn’t make the League that are trying to make a career over there. They have to deal with so much just to get their money. You don’t have to deal with anything like that in the NBA, you sign the contract and they honor it. Overseas, you have to fight for your money. These are guys that have families back home and they’re over there practicing twice a day and beating their bodies up. They might not get their check if they won their game. You have to be superman to play over there to get your check on time. Something has to be done about that. If I had to do it all over again, even though it was a good experience and got to live in France and Greece, if I know what I know now, I woudn’t have done it. I would have stayed here and started my life after basketball with my name fresh.

My second year, when I played for PAOK in Greece, the city was a cool, beautiful place. Dealing with the organization was another thing. They still owe me 45,000 Euro from 2005. I doubt if I’ll ever get it. I call them on it and they say they’re in the process but they’re not going to give me my money. Panathinaikos still owes Dominique Wilkins for winning the Euroleague championship over there in 1996. I don’t know what John Salley or Cliff Livingston’s situation was, but I don’t know if they’ve gotten all of their money. This is a major issue, especially in Greece.

Want more??? Wait, he's got some advice for our guy Josh!

I was on Facebook talking with Josh Childress the other day. Our families are friends, and I’ve been kind of looking out for him since he’s been in the League. I wanted to check and make sure that he was OK over there. He’s playing for the rival team that I played for. At the same time, when you’re an American and you’re in Greece, even though you’re on opposite sides, Americans have to be like family over there... I told Josh that if there is a day that he doesn’t get his check that he needs to sit out of practice. If he doesn’t stand up for himself, he’s going to be paying for free.(poor Tracy you really want Josh to get into trouble...). With the type of contract that he’s got, he’s says that there hasn’t been a problem. If I was Kobe or LeBron or any of those cats who they might offer $50 million to go over there, I would make sure I got $25 million up front before they get on the plane.

I really can't wait for playoff time......