On May 14, the New York Times dedicated a 1,244-word dithyrambic tribute to Nick Galis, the legendary basketball player who “changed the face of basketball in Greece.”
The American newspaper calls Galis the “Michael Jordan of Greece,” and reminds that Galis led the Greek national basketball team to the EuroBasket 1987 gold medal. Galis scored 40 points in the final against the Soviet Union national basketball team for a 103-101 victory. “It was the country’s ‘Do you believe in miracles?’ moment.”
Galis’ effect on Greece’s psyche and economy is immeasurable. “Nick Galis basically gave a lot of people a reason to exist. People owe a lot to him. Basketball before 1987 was a just a sport. Immediately after 1987, it became a commodity,” said Gregory Ioannidis, a sports lawyer in the United Kingdom.
New York Times particularly mentioned the ceremony for 55-year-old Galis organized by his former club Aris in the Thessaloniki arena. Five thousand and five hundred fans came to honor and applaud him. “I’m looking at it as the people don’t forget. Don’t forget the good times we all had, and happiness I hope I gave them,” Galis said about the tribute.
Finally, the newspaper mentions that Galis will attend the soccer’s Champions League final on May 25 at the Wembley Stadium as a special guest of the UEFA president, Michel Platini, a longtime fan of his.
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