David Blatt finalizing deal to become new head coach of Darussafaka Dogus

I already made my point, so consider this last message is also a goodbye. You still fake to not understand what I write, like faking to believe I said Netherlands, Macedonia, United Kingdom, Bulgaria or Romania champions (which by the way are respectively Donar, Skopje Aerodrom, Sheffield Sharks, Lukoil Academic Sofia and Oradea; yes I know that, once again I love and follow basketball, and I really don't see how your ignorance can be an argument) should be in Euroleague. I just never wrote that. And you still avoid telling me how the 14 or 12 or 10 or 6 or whatever their number (it doesn't change nothing at all, even if it's funny you divided by two your wish in few hours) licenses should be atributed, on which criteria, and who the hell can arrogate himself the right to chose. Let me guess: you consider the Maccabi team you're a fanboy of in the teams that should have a license? (It's a rethoric question, answer is pretty obvious). The discussion is completely sterile. I believe qualifications and rewards should be obtained on the court, not in hotels meeting rooms closed to public. And if you don't, well that's not my problem. Shalom.

Funny thing is that you are so convinced to be correct, so you take 'decisions' for others without reffering to the WHOLE dialog (you did it before and now again...) - I shared with you openly my view that basicly it should have been only 6 licences, so the decision to add others is not for me to answer, but if you ask "why.." I would assume that as decision been taken recent years, it does probably reflect the situation sinnce the competition was founded (2001) - and you see, unlike our freind gagarin here, I have not even known where are you from as thats not the issue for me... I could assure you I'm devoted basketball fan and the fact I'm Maccabi supporter does not influence my reffering view... I wish to remind you the discussion was regarding Darussafaka wild card (which we both agree has no real basis...) but unfortunately, with regard to the Alicense to those few legitimate EL powerhouses you have not managed to convince me there is anything wrong with it... and two last points that will explain to you why those great attractive clubs are essential to that league and public interest - 1. would you be able to name the champions of Nederland, Maccedonia, GB, Bulgaria or Rumania ? I doubt it... 2. Are you watching the NBA ?...

Well, this is just pointless and hatefull. I know French clubs are not or wouldn't be competitive in Euroleague (Commercial Assets and Properties SA), I never said the contrary. And let me tell you a confession: I don't care, I'm not a fanboy. If some day I decide to turn fanboy, I'll have plenty to do with the NT. But thanks making my point showing some people are teams or nations fans before to be basketball enthousiasts.You see, you are usefull after all.

You should be thankfull to Euroleague, my dear friend ! If French teams would play in Euroleague (you cannot find a single criteria that would make this fair), they would be dominated and humiliated by almost any other Euroleague team. As a result, Euroleague helps you not to have any painful memories which would make you hate basketball...

You take UEFA Champion's League (and Europa League) as an exemple. Wonderful. Teams are qualified through their domestic competitions results, and the number of qualified teams is determined by the results in european competitions of teams from each country.
That's all I ask for.
The minute you grant licenses, you shoot sportmanship in the head. Who is Euroleague (Commercial Assets and Properties SA) to say this one has a license, this other don't.Why Zalgiris Kaunas and not Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar? Why Darussafaka (not formally a license but auto wild-card due to Dogus sponsor) and not Valencia? Why Cheap Perfume Milano and not Belgrad Red Star? Why Efes Istanbul and not Khimky Moscow? etc etc.
Do anyone knows the criteria? No. It's dishonest, unfair, and everything but transparent.No football team has free pass to Champions League, yet there still is european "power houses", like they say. It's just that from time to time they don't qualify, it avoid them to be ridiculous sometimes, like Maccabi was this year.

Sorry again dear freind - you say 'we mostly agree' but you write something which is completely wrong !!...
Those 'few clubs' that built titles, history & fan legacy has not done it out of any 'illegitimate licenes' as you say - they were there much before Euroleage competition has been founded !! - go back to the 70',80',90's you will meet Real, Maccabi, CSKA, Barcelona, Milano much before any 'pot of gold' or license was on site... none of those clubs is 'afraid' to base qualification upon sportive results, but you can not ignore the reality today and the need of money to sports - are all the Football champions league teams really Champions of their local league ? why are there 4 places for Spanish teams or English teams ? why has the Israeli champion to go through elimination stages rather than Italien teams ? why are some of the teams 'graded' for easier qualification ? its kind of the same, just the Basketball field it much limited therefore any authority management (FIBA as well as ELCA) would like to ensure the interest & finencial resources of such league (FIBA was even willing at certain stage to confirm more permanent license teams upon having the control in hand...) so it is clear presence of those few teams is legitimate & essential !!
Regarding the second point of 'how many' - it's true I'm Maccabi fan, nothing to hide as you see, but I'm basketball fair fan at the same level, so for me the Maccabi aspect is no issue as based on sportive results net, even if said 3 teams only, there is no question Maccabi is one of those, so that's really easy -
I didn't say 10~12 because I thing so but because that was their decision - in case there would be competition of 32 (or 24 + qualification stage of additional 8 as used to be) it seems OK to me, I personally believe it should be 6 (or max. 8) but this issue is subjected to the final number of competing teams - as long sportive results are being considered fairly and champions has the open route to qualify, there is no problem if they choose to secure 2 more as of finencial aspects, but that has to be done fairly with care, not as with this case of Darrussafaka which does not have any sportiv real basis.

We mostly agree: some clubs buildt titles history and fan legacy out of illegitimate licenses whereas other teams could have done the same if they were given the opportunity to. I don't say it doesn't exist, I say it should be irrelevant if looked through a sportmanship eye.
But there is something I don't get: if they are such great clubs, why are they afraid to have to sportily qualify themselves?
Plus: how many clubs should have licences ? As Maccabi fan of course you said "10 or 12", but a Real or CSKA supporter would say only 2 or 3, a Zalgiris fan will say 14 is the exact perfect number, Cheap Perfume Milano or Bamberg or Galatasaray supporters may say something like 18 or 20.
You defend your club's position because you're a Maccabi fan before to be a basketball fan. Take a little step back and you'll see: 1) No one can decide who can be or can't be granted a license, because everyone will set the limit according to it's own interests. 2) If they are such wonderful clubs out there, they will qualify without a problem.

You only take small part of what I said and twist my words... I did not say place has been given 'because of fan legacy' ! - I said 'Titles, History and... fan legacy' !! fan legacy is only by-product, and saying that I reffer to the fans attending the games, not 'TV fans' !! -- however, you 2'nd claim regarding Maccabi 'not taking the title' is not relevant as 'Maccabi' (as well with few other clubs that are European powerhouses) is there thanks to titles, history & legacy so earned its position by right, and discussing Maccabi I can personally add it was eliminated last year not becaue of great 'malaga, bamberg or Darussafaka' but because of hedious mistakes made by its management, and if you go back with years you will find all of those 'big' clubs had a year of failure here and there - such occasinal seasons does not change the fact those clubs are leading the basketball continuously, and are usually among the champions or runner-ups at their local competition, to granting those the A licencse is strictly logical and understandable, both from the sportive aspect and the commercial one as well... I completely agree with you that in order 'enlarge the circle' and anable additional clubs to create such 'history and legacy' Euroleage must open the competition in way other champions would have the right to join the first stage, (exactly as I just said before...) - it is legitimate such clubs would be required to certain minimum budget like with champions league, but at least they would have the decision ! - that way is important (to my beleive) in order for Euroleage to gain its recognition as 'European championship title' rather than of commercial private league for the coming season.
one last thing regarding the TV rigths - as I'm veteran fan of Maccabi and has many close freinds of other clubs all around Europe, most of those are attending their team games and not neccesarily buy those EL TV' licencses, nowdays most of the 'interesting' games are bought by the broadcast channels by some arrangement with the local dealer, so I'm not sure how significant is the REAL money income from fans directly... especially as there are numerous ways to get those live streams today...

Plus, the reading of national championship results is biased by illegitimate Euroleague (Commercial Assets and Properties SA) incomes perceived by the 14 clubs sitting on the pot of gold. Instead of having a virtuous circle of money coming to the better team on the court, you have a vicious circle of capacity to build a better team out of money for the team that already had the money in the first place with wich they bought their licence.

Granting places for clubs with "fan legacy" instead of sporting results is exactly what i said. It's done that way so more fans Watch it on TV to increase Euroleague (Commercial Assets and Properties SA) incomes.
Last year Maccabi didn't won the Winner League but was the only Israeli team on Euroleague (Commercial Assets and Properties SA). Result: 5 out of 6 in the first round and eliminated by teams like Malaga, Bamberg, and... Darussafaka (lol). And eliminated from eurocup straight right after.
Always keeping the same teams running in circle in the same televised competitions no matter their real level is what creates the fan legacy thing you talk about. Free some place for better but moneyless teams and the "fan legacy" will develop on them too.
But that suppose to have a long term vision for the sport, and not just a will to milk the dumb fans: that's what an private company is by definition incapable of.

That's not completely true - there is obvious difference between granting A licencse to European powerhouses like Real Madrid/CSKA/Maccabi/PAO/Barcelona/Milano etc.that are legendary clubs many years and has always been at the top of European basketball, for which it is legitimate to be permanent part of such league, to some peripheral club which haven't got any record, neither won any single title and has been 'prefered' over legitimate other clubs (who won championship at their local league) just and only as result of their finencial EL support ! - with all due respect to the Euroleague that is perceived as 'European championship' as of being the top level competition, I truly beleive this coming year format of 16 teams only which actually avoid other legitimate clubs (who won titles) even the basic chance to join it is pure mistake which will not last long... with all respect to money factor, no one can take the 'sport' atmosphere & results out of the way !! so it is acceptable to guarantee top 10~12 clubs, but there should be (at least to my view) open way for genuin sports champions to join the competition - either by setting any 'initial' stage of 32 teams, or by short 'qualification' tournament that will offer at least 8 more places to the start point of lets say 24 teams... coming back to Darusaffaka - that's the worst situation, as such club is there only for money, while many others with titles, history & fan legacy are out :-(....

"this club has earned his EL ticket only by money"
It's the very principle of Euroleague (Commercial Assets and Properties SA).

Blatt is not overrated, he is great person and great coach, no doubt about it - as much he (or 'smart' reporters/commentators) will try to claim 'there is a challange' or 'he is thrilled to arrive to uprizing club' that's bad joke - signing with such isoteric club (with all due respect to their nice budget) while other leading euroleague powerhouses are looking for a coach is kind of 'running off expectations' or 'its all about money'... either cases does not contribute to his position.... it is nice to chat about 'building for long term' and other 'justifications' but there is nothing behind it - this club has earned his EL ticket only by money, and next year is not expected to be there at all, so what's the story man ??

Working with Mehmet yagmur and Metin turen instead Lebron and Irving :) Life

no way, he won a Euroleague title with an underdog team thanks to his tactical ideas, especially the matchup zone defense. he's not overrated and he's the better option since Bartzokas and Trinchieri aren't available because one is the coach of a Final 4 team (that was frankly unexpected) and the other is a soon to be Bundesliga champion and author of a great run in the past EL season, so they aren't going anywhere next season.

Blatt is too much overrated. Bartzokas and Trinchieri would be better options than him.

David pick said they will sign long term but according to present format darussafaka won't be able to play at Euroleague next year. Looks like Euroleague's format will be changed and team number will be increased

Sounds like a bad joke... what interest could Blatt have to coach Darusafaka ? Top coach, Euroleague champion that could actually choose now one of the leading Euroleague powerhouses as Maccabi, Real Madrid, Barcelona will go to peripheral club as Darusafaka ? Money is not the issue here, no way....