Thursday, 09. February 2012

:: Home > Sports > Basketball 'warrior' Frank Richards on his fight for the Knights

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
30	31	1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	1	2	3	4

Add your event FREE

Today

Polls

05. 02. 10. - 12:00

Basketball 'warrior' Frank Richards on his fight for the Knights

G�ssing is not exactly what could be described as the place to be.

The remote southern Burgenland district capital has been fighting to get its struggling economy back on its feet � something that worked out better over the past few years thanks to generous EU subsidies. But the end of this financial support is looming, and local political leaders seem to have no concept about how to convince the youth to start a career in the town of barely 4,000 residents if Vienna, Graz and other Austrian and foreign cities offer thousands more opportunities.

G�ssing is not the place you would come up with when asked to guess where a professional American basketball player in his best years who has played in the top-flight in Finland and Germany decided to sign a contract.

But Frank Richards opted for a move to G�ssing, and the Austrian Times has learnt the 27-year-old has not regretted his decision for a minute.

He said: "I�ve not felt more comfortable at any other club in my whole career. The G�ssing Knights owners are probably the kindest people I�ve ever met. They are perfect bosses and it�s amazing how everyone at the club gets along with each other."

Richards has become the Knights� playmaker and leader since joining the team � currently in ninth in the 12-team Bundesliga � ahead of this season.

"I played for Essen in Germany, in Finland and in Croatia before I signed with the Knights. I was aware we would have a tough season since most other Austrian teams are considered stronger, but I enjoy playing for G�ssing," he said.

Richards is outspoken about the mediocre season of the team and his own performance.

"This is the first year since I�ve played in which I�ve not really been satisfied with myself," the point guard � regularly rated the team�s best player in various match reports � told the Austrian Times.

"I�ve been knocked up all year. Injuries on my knees and hands have given me a hard time. But this won�t get me down since I consider myself a warrior," he added with as much self-confidence as he has on the court.

Richards grew up in tough conditions. "We never had a lot of money," he said about his childhood in a rough area of Rockford near Chicago, Illinois.

Richards � who has two sisters and one brother � said: "I was only the third member of my whole family to go to college, and I think experiences I had as a kid made me as strong as I am today."

"I�ve seen a lot of friends taking the wrong paths in life," he revealed.

Asked what he thought of political slogans such as "Vienna must not become Chicago" by the right-wing Freedom Party (FP�) when the party attacked city leaders over soaring crime figures, Richards said: "Crime will always be there. But those making such statements should come and see the city first. Chicago is great when it comes to sports and a great city."

"I enjoy living in Austria. People are very humble and open-minded here. Everyone I�ve met so far has been very supportive. No one had any prejudices.

"But I miss my family, of course, especially my four-year-old son. That�s quite tough," Richards, who describes himself as "a Christian and a big believer", said.

Speaking about Austrian basketball, he said: "The league is more compatible than I thought. I enjoy playing with our young team and seeing them getting better and better.

"It�s a bit of a shame the season is now drawing to a close since we have improved as the year has gone on after a bad start.

"The young guys at the Knights have all got talent, but a lot of room to improve as well. The weak point of most of them might be that they are not self-confident enough in games. And they don�t know what it takes to keep the lead � we lost some close games unfortunately. But many have gained some confidence over the last couple of months."

Richards said he was a good organiser of a team�s play. Asked for his weak point, he said it might be that he was not selfish enough on the court.

The 188-centimetre tall point guard also revealed his life had not always revolved around basketball.

"I didn�t get serious about playing basketball until my senior year at high school. I played [American] football too, and it was my father who brought it to my attention that I had the talent. I�m not sure where I�d be without basketball," the former US Junior Olympics basketball team member said.

Richards � who names Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan and former New York Knicks shooting guard John Starks as his childhood idols � graduated with a business degree before deciding in 2005 to try his luck in Europe.

Richards said he would not want to live anywhere else at the moment than G�ssing � despite the fact that the district has no motorway access or railway service connections.

"I don�t mind life in small towns, although I would prefer to live in a slightly larger town in some years time. But the guys at the Knights are great and we�ve had a good time. We go out now and then, but I prefer focusing on basketball.

"The fact that the gym is always available is an advantage. And I love that there are not too many distractions in contrast to life in a big city."

Richards said he was positive about playing for G�ssing longer than just this season.

He said: "My contract runs until this April, but I can imagine staying here for some time. I assume the club bosses will approach me for talks soon. I love this club and I wear their colours with pride."

>> www.guessing-knights.at

Austrian Times

Write your comment to this article here

Tag cloud:
Knights talent Austrian career Vienna club games Richards Finland confidence self player basketball Germany Chicago playing guys season leaders ssing

Latest News

Foglar infuriated by 'tactical games'
Austrian Trade Union (�GB) President Erich Foglar has accused the vice chancellor of "playing games".

Le Carr� novel hits the big screen
A new espionage film is now on at the Burgkino Vienna where all movies are screened in their original versions.

Kadyrov welcomes Austrian right-wingers
A delegation of representatives of a rightist Austrian party met with Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, it has emerged.

Gourmet evenings at Linsberg Asia
Less than an hour away from Vienna is the Linsberg Asia - four star hotel, spa and culinary hotspot. For several years now the Linsberg restaurant has been producing award-winning food, receiving the ultimate accolade in the most recent Gault Millau when its lamb was described simply as melt in the mouth.

Felderer 'disappointed' as government eyes up tax hikes
A leading economist has criticised the government for making tax hikes an essential part of its upcoming savings package.

Unionists criticise hotels over mini-jobbers
Labour union leaders are alarmed as the number of tourism sector mini-jobbers is climbing.

Satek snatches Zielpunkt
A German businessman has taken over Zielpunkt.

Europe's highest brewery in Austria
Europe�s highest brewery has opened in Austria. The "Asitz Br�u" which opened for business on 17 December last year, is located at 1,760 metres and is run by the Altenberger family, owners of four star hotel "Der Krallerhof" in Leogang.

Austria registers decrease of business bankruptcies
The number of Austrian business bankruptcies is in decline despite increasingly difficult economic circumstances in Europe.