The World Championships Wild Card Race Update Vol. V

[by Kris SANTIAGo] - Merhaba!

Here I am back with some more, as the rumor mill is spinning on the web before the final showdown this Sunday.

One of Germany's leading newspapers just put up an article about Germany's chances of getting a wild-card and they talked to German Basketball Federation president Ingo Weiss, who told the "Frankfurter Rundschau", that they secured also a six-figure-deal with a sponsor which is going to pay the late registration fee by FIBA. Also, Jan Szyszka talked to Steven Clauss, who is the Sports Director of the DBB and Clauss tells him, that if there is a third wild card behind Russia and Lithuania, then Germany may receive it. But a hurdle is the fact, that in 2006, Japan was the host when three European countries got the cards, while this time, its Turkey and ten European countries would certainly mean a domination of the European continent in the upcoming World Championships. The most important topic between FIBA and the Germans was Dirk Nowitzki and his possible participation in the event next year, as he gave no 100% commitment to join Germany in Turkey so far, but supports their bid. Another plus for Germany is the main sponsor (Beko) for Turkey 2010, which is also the sponsor of the German basketball league. Their influence will be also playing a role in FIBA's decision, according to the author.

"Newsclick.de" writes:
Heiko Schaffartzik, who is Germany's uprising point guard, would love to play in Turkey next year together with Dirk Nowitzki, as he never played together with him before.
Germany's basketball federation general secretary Wolfgang Brenscheidt told Newsclick, that they did their preparations very professional but he refused to give a prognosis about the outcome on Sunday, because he is not really sure if Europe will be getting three wild cards again like in 2006.

The "Wall Street Journal" did a pretty interesting piece about the wild-cards and the push for a wild card by Great Britain and the role of the NBA as well as the financial boost British basketball has received to develop the game on the island(s).

One comment made by FIBA's head of communications Florian Wanninger is also important:
"A wild card would not guarantee Great Britain a place in the London Olympics, but they would not have to go through qualifications for Eurobasket 2011-of course that's an advantage for them," he says.
It would give GB a bye which is playing also a role in Germany's bid, as I doubt that both countries will be getting the support of their NBA-bound players like Nowitzki, Deng, Kaman or Gordon in the qualifications and may fail to even reach the Eurobasket 2011 which serves as a qualifier for the Olympics 2012.

Chris Finch (Great Britain's coach) is once again talking about how important participation would be.

Russia's basketball president Sergei Chernov has doubts about Lithuania's wild card because of the lack of influence within FIBA.

Ball in Europe sees Nigeria filling the fourth spot.

For our Spanish speaking fans, here is an article of "El Mundo Deportivo".
But it's simply a summary of most of the stuff that you have read here on my previous blogs, so nothing spectacular here.

Popular Spanish newspaper "Marca" tells, that Lithuania got a discount (500.000 Euros), as they were supposed to pay one million but as the possible organizers of the European Championships 2011, they were charged less. Author David Sardinero also includes the Philippines as a possible receiver of a wild card due to the immense popularity of basketball in the country.

I hope you enjoyed all my recent blogs about the wild cards and you should be around the next week when I'm giving my two cents about the decisions as well as the draw which is set for Wednesday!

I'm out like rumors.