Post by elp525 on Jul 19, 2011 5:00:25 GMT -5
July 18, 2011
By Mitch Vingle
The Charleston Gazette
IF YOU'RE LIKE me, your knowledge of Romania starts and ends with Transylvania, the Danube and goulash.
But now we can add former George Washington High basketball guard Chris Long to the list.
According to his father, Long has signed to play professionally for the Romanian team of BC Miercurea Ciuc.
"We're kind of excited," said Long's father, Scott. "We don't know much about it, but we're excited."
The point guard played collegiately at Elon after departing GW, earning second-team All-Southern Conference honors as a senior.
Well, through a friendship between Long's father and WVU coach Bob Huggins, a connection was made with Huggins' agent Rich Katz, who went to work.
The wheels started to turn. The talent was spotted.
"Rich was working a deal with a Portuguese team," Scott Long said. "The new coach there really liked Chris and wanted to sign him. The [general manager], though, didn't want a rookie running the team. The coach wanted us to wait, but Chris got the offer from the Romanian team, which wanted a decision by midnight last Friday.
"I talked to Hugs, who said it doesn't matter where you play. If you work hard and improve, you'll move up."
A contact was also made with 7-foot center Jonathan Huffman, an American who played for the Romanian team last season and said he enjoyed it.
"Chris wants to keep playing for a year or two more," said the father. "I just want him to be safe and enjoy himself. He can always go back to school or start a job."
The player will make a little money. An apartment and car will be provided, as well as two meals a day and a round-trip air ticket. He'll also be eligible for bonuses.
Here's wishing Chris a great experience.
nn
The most stunning news of the weekend from this vantage point came when former Marshall and Georgia coach Jim Donnan was accused of earning more than $5.4 million and directing more than $14.5 million to family members in a Ponzi scheme.
That scheme is allegedly connected to a bankruptcy involving Mountain State company GLC Enterprises. According to the Associated Press, Donnan and his wife filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month.
Donnan was a former ESPN analyst. He's also a friend to many in the Huntington-Charleston area.
nn
And finally ...
In case you missed it, the judge that ended Roger Clemens' perjury trial last week is a West Virginia State University graduate.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton ended the case in a mistrial, blaming the prosecutors and said a "first-year law student" would have known what to avoid.
Well, Walton wasn't a first-year law student at State, but close. He earned his B.A. from State in 1971 before being that first-year guy at American University.
By Mitch Vingle
The Charleston Gazette
IF YOU'RE LIKE me, your knowledge of Romania starts and ends with Transylvania, the Danube and goulash.
But now we can add former George Washington High basketball guard Chris Long to the list.
According to his father, Long has signed to play professionally for the Romanian team of BC Miercurea Ciuc.
"We're kind of excited," said Long's father, Scott. "We don't know much about it, but we're excited."
The point guard played collegiately at Elon after departing GW, earning second-team All-Southern Conference honors as a senior.
Well, through a friendship between Long's father and WVU coach Bob Huggins, a connection was made with Huggins' agent Rich Katz, who went to work.
The wheels started to turn. The talent was spotted.
"Rich was working a deal with a Portuguese team," Scott Long said. "The new coach there really liked Chris and wanted to sign him. The [general manager], though, didn't want a rookie running the team. The coach wanted us to wait, but Chris got the offer from the Romanian team, which wanted a decision by midnight last Friday.
"I talked to Hugs, who said it doesn't matter where you play. If you work hard and improve, you'll move up."
A contact was also made with 7-foot center Jonathan Huffman, an American who played for the Romanian team last season and said he enjoyed it.
"Chris wants to keep playing for a year or two more," said the father. "I just want him to be safe and enjoy himself. He can always go back to school or start a job."
The player will make a little money. An apartment and car will be provided, as well as two meals a day and a round-trip air ticket. He'll also be eligible for bonuses.
Here's wishing Chris a great experience.
nn
The most stunning news of the weekend from this vantage point came when former Marshall and Georgia coach Jim Donnan was accused of earning more than $5.4 million and directing more than $14.5 million to family members in a Ponzi scheme.
That scheme is allegedly connected to a bankruptcy involving Mountain State company GLC Enterprises. According to the Associated Press, Donnan and his wife filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month.
Donnan was a former ESPN analyst. He's also a friend to many in the Huntington-Charleston area.
nn
And finally ...
In case you missed it, the judge that ended Roger Clemens' perjury trial last week is a West Virginia State University graduate.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton ended the case in a mistrial, blaming the prosecutors and said a "first-year law student" would have known what to avoid.
Well, Walton wasn't a first-year law student at State, but close. He earned his B.A. from State in 1971 before being that first-year guy at American University.
