The resurgent Rocks face table-toppers Newcastle Eagles on Sunday at Braehead Arena.
However, the “big game” wasn’t one of basketball. Two of British basketball’s best players were glued to the telly watching American football.
Davis hails from Dallas, Texas – home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Yanders comes from Milwaukee, Wisconsin where the Green Bay Packers reign supreme.
The Cowboys and Packers are each having their best season of this millennium and they took the field in Dallas Thursday night, both with just one loss in their first 11 games. When the dust had settled, Davis’ Cowboys came out on top by 37-27.
“It was a great game, and hopefully this will stop Rob from yappin’ about the Packers. The Cowboys dominated last night,” Davis said with a big smile. “With that one in the books, we can now turn back to basketball.”
Yanders had no comment, but gave a determined look that said “Just wait 'til the playoffs. We’ll get you then.”
Back to basketball…
The football rivalry is all in good fun, but British basketball’s biggest rivalry in recent years has been the SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks v. Newcastle Eagles. The two will clash at Braehead Arena on Sunday (5:00pm tip off).
Davis says his squad are in a good position to knock off the League leaders.
“We can do this. We’re playing well and the guys are ready to go get a big win on Sunday. We were one second from beating them last time and I think we’re a better team now than we were then,” he said.
The last time the Rocks and Eagles played, fans were treated to one of the greatest games in British basketball history – an epic double overtime thriller that won’t soon be forgotten. The Rocks led that game by 3 in the first overtime when the Eagles’ Jeremy Hyatt hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to extend the game. The Eagles went on to win by 110-117. That was on 10 October and the Eagles haven’t lost since.
The Rocks lost 3 of 5 after that heartbreaker as Davis settled in to his new dual role. However, the Rocks have turned the corner of late by winning 6 of their last 7. With the Rocks now just four points behind the table-topping Eagles, the whole League will be watching this game with interest.
“We could really shake things up with a win on Sunday,” Davis added. “Newcastle won’t roll over for anybody, but I know we’re good enough to beat anyone in this League. We’ll have to work extremely hard for all 40 minutes, or maybe more, but there’s no reason we can’t get a ‘W’ this time around.”
In Sunday’s clash of titans, Davis and Yanders will be teammates rather than opposing fans. Hopefully both will be smiling at the end of this one.
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Posted on 30 November, 2007
