By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The Greek derby was on the books, and Olympiacos beat Panathinaikos for the 11th straight time in the EuroLeague.
At the end of the press conference, however, Olympiacos coach Giorgos Bartzokas was asked to comment on the current events in the world.
To be exact, he was asked how the current situation in the Middle East may affect players and coaches on a personal level, because this is also part of the league with the relocation of three teams, Dubai BC, and the Israeli duo of Hapoel and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Bartzokas gave an answer that covers the whole idea of war, which seemed obsolete, but also remains a sad reality, starting on how this affects on a personal level anyone: “It depends on the social consciousness that everyone may have and empathy for what’s happening in the world, and not just in front of us, or wherever we have an interest. Obviously, some great leaders of countries don’t think the same way as regular folks because wars are usually fought because of financial interests. Right? So human souls are becoming sacrifices for financial interests, children, and non-combatants”.
Bartzokas also talked on a more personal level: “Personally, I have given up. Some years ago, the way I saw societies thriving, I believed that we would not see wars again, and this was the stupidest thing I had ever thought. My daughter told me that right now, more than 100 wars are happening on the planet; she was told that in school. And I was thinking that there will be no wars, because societies can communicate differently. So I was completely wrong, and I am not the best guy to talk about this”.
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