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Dirk77 · 07-18-2002, 05:24 PM

Tough Policy
Insurance Rule Could 'Cripple' Game

By Mike Fisher – DallasBasketball.com
The future of international basketball’s relationship with the NBA – and maybe the future of international basketball itself – could be at stake. And all for the price of an insurance policy.
MAVS 2002-03 SKED
DallasBasketball.com has learned that there exists a distinct possibility that Dirk Nowitzki will not represent his native Germany in the World Games, and eventually in the Olympics, because of what is apparently a new NBA rule that requires sponsoring countries to purchase insurance policies that would compensate the athlete’s NBA team in the event of injury.
“Might Dirk not be able to play? That is correct,’’ says Wolfgang Brensheidt, the president of the German Basketball Federation. “I don’t know how we are going to solve the problem. This could kill basketball in other countries.’’
The same rule (which focuses especially on players recovering from injury) applies not only to Nowitzki, Germany and the World Games, but to every player for every foreign country in every non-NBA event. It is, up until now, a subject discussed almost exclusively in angry communications between European federation representatives.
“It could break us,’’ Brensheidt says.
Brensheidt carefully notes that Mavs owner Mark Cuban and executive Donnie Nelson have been especially helpful in trying to find a compromise solution. But Cuban tells us he sees the situation as cut-and-dried.
“There is no controversy,’’ Cuban says. “If Germany wants Dirk to play, all they have to do is buy him an insurance policy like every other team does. If they choose not to, I have no say in it.’’
Brensheidt, though, politely offers that it is not that simple. Some of the foreign countries’ basketball budgets total $2-to-$5 million annually, and an insurance policy for one athlete could cost “as much as $70,000,’’ he says. “A country like Yugoslavia, with (as many as) six NBA players on its team, does not have the economic strength to buy six insurance policies. A country like Germany paying that? That $70,000 is what our entire youth basketball program runs on. It could break us.’’
When Brensheidt suggests the rule would cripple basketball programs in countries such as his, he means that there could be a trickle-down effect from the insurance rule. In a worst-case scenario, Germany cannot afford the insurance. Therefore Nowitzki doesn’t play for his country. Without the nation’s figurehead of the sport representing the nation, youngsters will be less motivated to become “the next Dirk.’’ The sport’s popularity, financial support and talent base will backslide.
And, adds Brensheidt, “I imagine there will be some basketball federations that finally say, ‘Why work to send talent to NBA if that talent cannot come home and play for his country?’’’
If Germany doesn’t either get the money or get relief, Nowitzki and Shawn Bradley might be left off the National team. If Yugoslavia doesn’t pay for the insurance, the participation of stars like Peja Stojakovic (and Mavs prospects Mladen Sekularac and Oggy Askrabic) is at stake. We don't have information yet of how far-reaching the conflict is (does it affect Tony Parker and France? Steve Nash and Canada? Hidayet Turkoglu and Turkey? Pau Gasol and Spain?). But strip the NBA talent off the European rosters and you strip away many of the reasons for viewers in Europe – and the US – to care about international events.
“It’s completely up to them,’’ Cuban says.
“I believe we will find a way to work it out,’’ says Nelson, long the unofficial ambassador of the NBA overseas. “Certainly the NBA doesn’t want to do anything to stifle the game. And the countries themselves fully understand the need for insurance.’’
Indeed, Brensheidt says, “In Germany, we understand that the Mavericks cannot take the risk without insurance. I am proud to say there is so much cooperation with Donnie and Mark Cuban, who has been fabulous. … It’s an NBA rule, not a Mavericks rule.’’
Nowitzki has been a model representative of German basketball. He has started the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation for charity in Dallas and the Dirk Nowitzki Basketball Academy in Wurzburg. He will be a bit bothered to read that we know about his upcoming plans to sneak into a gathering of his country’s most talented teen basketball players and surprise the kids. “Dirk is a wonderful representative, a wonderful person,’’ Brensheidt says. “Kids go crazy for him. He means everything to the sport in our country.’’
Brensheidt tells the story of how Dirk always phones before the German National Team is set to travel, to check on the arrangements. He turns down the standing offer to sit in first class, because Germany’s budget will only allow his teammates to sit in economy class, and he wants to sit with them.
“’Please try to put me in an aisle seat,’ that’s all he asks for,’’ Brensheidt says.
Nowitzki himself has been frequently quoted in Germany this summer as being cautiously optimistic about participating in the World Games in Indiananapolis in late August. But up until now, we assumed his caution was related only to his ankle-surgery rehab.
“The National Team and the World Championships are very important to me,’’ says Nowitzki, whose dream is to lead Germany to qualification for the 2004 Olympics. “It’s a lot of fun to play for Germany.”
And he’ll get to play – as soon as Germany can pay.

07-18-2002, 05:24 PM	#1
Dirk77 Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 631	Tough Policy Insurance Rule Could 'Cripple' Game By Mike Fisher – DallasBasketball.com The future of international basketball’s relationship with the NBA – and maybe the future of international basketball itself – could be at stake. And all for the price of an insurance policy. MAVS 2002-03 SKED DallasBasketball.com has learned that there exists a distinct possibility that Dirk Nowitzki will not represent his native Germany in the World Games, and eventually in the Olympics, because of what is apparently a new NBA rule that requires sponsoring countries to purchase insurance policies that would compensate the athlete’s NBA team in the event of injury. “Might Dirk not be able to play? That is correct,’’ says Wolfgang Brensheidt, the president of the German Basketball Federation. “I don’t know how we are going to solve the problem. This could kill basketball in other countries.’’ The same rule (which focuses especially on players recovering from injury) applies not only to Nowitzki, Germany and the World Games, but to every player for every foreign country in every non-NBA event. It is, up until now, a subject discussed almost exclusively in angry communications between European federation representatives. “It could break us,’’ Brensheidt says. Brensheidt carefully notes that Mavs owner Mark Cuban and executive Donnie Nelson have been especially helpful in trying to find a compromise solution. But Cuban tells us he sees the situation as cut-and-dried. “There is no controversy,’’ Cuban says. “If Germany wants Dirk to play, all they have to do is buy him an insurance policy like every other team does. If they choose not to, I have no say in it.’’ Brensheidt, though, politely offers that it is not that simple. Some of the foreign countries’ basketball budgets total $2-to-$5 million annually, and an insurance policy for one athlete could cost “as much as $70,000,’’ he says. “A country like Yugoslavia, with (as many as) six NBA players on its team, does not have the economic strength to buy six insurance policies. A country like Germany paying that? That $70,000 is what our entire youth basketball program runs on. It could break us.’’ When Brensheidt suggests the rule would cripple basketball programs in countries such as his, he means that there could be a trickle-down effect from the insurance rule. In a worst-case scenario, Germany cannot afford the insurance. Therefore Nowitzki doesn’t play for his country. Without the nation’s figurehead of the sport representing the nation, youngsters will be less motivated to become “the next Dirk.’’ The sport’s popularity, financial support and talent base will backslide. And, adds Brensheidt, “I imagine there will be some basketball federations that finally say, ‘Why work to send talent to NBA if that talent cannot come home and play for his country?’’’ If Germany doesn’t either get the money or get relief, Nowitzki and Shawn Bradley might be left off the National team. If Yugoslavia doesn’t pay for the insurance, the participation of stars like Peja Stojakovic (and Mavs prospects Mladen Sekularac and Oggy Askrabic) is at stake. We don't have information yet of how far-reaching the conflict is (does it affect Tony Parker and France? Steve Nash and Canada? Hidayet Turkoglu and Turkey? Pau Gasol and Spain?). But strip the NBA talent off the European rosters and you strip away many of the reasons for viewers in Europe – and the US – to care about international events. “It’s completely up to them,’’ Cuban says. “I believe we will find a way to work it out,’’ says Nelson, long the unofficial ambassador of the NBA overseas. “Certainly the NBA doesn’t want to do anything to stifle the game. And the countries themselves fully understand the need for insurance.’’ Indeed, Brensheidt says, “In Germany, we understand that the Mavericks cannot take the risk without insurance. I am proud to say there is so much cooperation with Donnie and Mark Cuban, who has been fabulous. … It’s an NBA rule, not a Mavericks rule.’’ Nowitzki has been a model representative of German basketball. He has started the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation for charity in Dallas and the Dirk Nowitzki Basketball Academy in Wurzburg. He will be a bit bothered to read that we know about his upcoming plans to sneak into a gathering of his country’s most talented teen basketball players and surprise the kids. “Dirk is a wonderful representative, a wonderful person,’’ Brensheidt says. “Kids go crazy for him. He means everything to the sport in our country.’’ Brensheidt tells the story of how Dirk always phones before the German National Team is set to travel, to check on the arrangements. He turns down the standing offer to sit in first class, because Germany’s budget will only allow his teammates to sit in economy class, and he wants to sit with them. “’Please try to put me in an aisle seat,’ that’s all he asks for,’’ Brensheidt says. Nowitzki himself has been frequently quoted in Germany this summer as being cautiously optimistic about participating in the World Games in Indiananapolis in late August. But up until now, we assumed his caution was related only to his ankle-surgery rehab. “The National Team and the World Championships are very important to me,’’ says Nowitzki, whose dream is to lead Germany to qualification for the 2004 Olympics. “It’s a lot of fun to play for Germany.” And he’ll get to play – as soon as Germany can pay.