Another Big Nighthawks Signing
First international superstar Tamir Goodman. Then streetball icon Tyron "Alimoe/The Black Widow." Plus a high-socked head coach named Lawrence Moten. And now? Hold up, you should guess.....I'll wait.....
The Premier Basketball League and the Maryland Nighthawks announced today that, for the first time in history, a Thai basketball player will be playing in a professional league in the United States. Ratdech Kruatiwa, known in Thailand as "J.O." will be joining several other international players on the 2008 Maryland Nighthawks roster.
You guessed it, you basketball savant, didn't you? Why is Ratdech known as J.O.? Long story. We'll save it for a slow winter afternoon.
"This is a very great day for the PBL as we continue to work with other countries to bring talented players to the US and to help develop basketball programs in these countries," stated Dr. Sev Hrywnak, Chairman of the Board for the PBL. "Not only will our fans in the States be able to see the talent that J.O is, but the people of Thailand will also be able to watch all of his games over the internet. Our Vice President of Global Strategies, Mark Schlossenberg is in Thailand now, and we will be hosting a National Press Conference on December 17, 2007 in Bangkok to celebrate this wonderful announcement."
Do the National People of Thailand know about Tamir? Will the concessions now sell both Knishes and Pad Thai? Is it too early to dub the Nighthawks the Phoenix Suns of the PBL?
Ratdech, a 6'3' shooting guard, has played for the Thailand National Team and was a member of the 2006 Asian Universidad in Vietnam championship team. He ranked first in three-point shooting at the 2007 World Universidad in Bangkok and won the King's Cup MVP in 2005 and 2006.
And did you know that Asian Universidad in Vietnam was ranked ninth in the Asian Schools You've Never Heard of Bog Poll. You can read more about him in Siam Sport Talk. Provided you speak Thai. The Jan. 5 home opener against the Wilmington Sea Dawgs just got that much better.
By Dan Steinberg |
December 11, 2007; 3:02 PM ET
| Category:
Minor League Basketball
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Posted by: WaPoLiveFan16 | December 11, 2007 03:17 PM
and the actual Bog Poll is coming when?
Posted by: jamie | December 11, 2007 03:18 PM
Hey, that "high-socked head coach" is the leading scorer in Syracuse history!
Posted by: Hayden Alfano | December 11, 2007 05:33 PM
Great opportunity for such a small, yet nice country like Thailand.
Posted by: Nina | December 12, 2007 08:19 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
My Thai massage therapist knows all about J.O.