Dribbling from Desert Sands to the Cotton Fields of Gorgan

How did you first hear about Iranian basketball?
I have known about Iranian basketball for a few years, but I never thought I would end up here. A friend of mine told me about the league when I was on a tour in Chile. I started to pay closer attention to it this summer after they won the FIBA Asian games.

So, is this your first experience of Asian basketball?
No, I actually played in Saudi Arabia last season.

What brought you over to Iran, then?
I decided to come to Iran because I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to play in a good league and earn good money. I figured this must be one of the best leagues in Asia this year, because of their performance last summer.
 
What other options did you have in the Middle East?
Well, I could have stayed in Saudi Arabia to play in Mecca or to move to a team in Qatar. But I thought if I was going to play in this region, it should be in the best league.

What was your idea of Iran before you came over?
I didn't know much about the actual country. When I started to do research, I started to hear about how the relationship between Iran and the USA was not good.  Also, a lot of people think Iran is a war zone but I haven't even seen a fist fight here.

How do you spend your free time here?
I am a friendly person and I like to be with people but there are no social clubs or social settings where people can interact. Plus there are not many things to do for fun here besides watching TV.

How can sports close gaps between countries?
History has shown that most people can be brought together through common interests. I think that sports can definitely bring countries with conflict together. Most people would rather love than hate.  Most conflicts are between governments and it trickles down through its people. A country, no matter how big or small, is nothing without its people. So if you can bring the people together through the love of sports, you can bring countries together for the sake of its people.

Is it true that due to the ongoing US sanctions against Iran, it is illegal for the Americans to play basketball in Iran unless you get permission from the US government?
Well, no matter what country you live in, you are subject to its government's laws and rules, and you need the permission of your government to do almost anything. I did not receive any resistance from my government when I decided to play in Iran. I think the nations are only divided from the political standpoint not a social one. I am not a politician, so I am not really qualified to answer that question in depth.

Have you found any similarities between the Iranian and American life?
Yes, in both countries family and religion play a very big part in everyday life.

Have you ever experienced a culture shock here?
Yes, I would say the reckless driving has definitely shocked me. I have never seen anything like it. I thought the driving was bad in Saudi Arabia, but it's much worse here. People here cross the street like they are made of steal. Some don't even look; they just carelessly walk in front of cars.

What is your opinion of the Iranian Basketball?
I think the basketball here is surprisingly strong. There are very good foreign players and a lot of the local players are also very good.  There are some surprisingly tall players here like Jaber from Zob Ahan. He has to be at least 7'5". Samad from Mahram and Hadadi from Saba are just as good as any player that I have seen outside of the NBA.

What about the Iranian basketball fans?
The fans are good. They are really rowdy and make a lot of noise, but I think my city, Gorgan, has the best fans. They are absolutely crazy about their home team and they show up at every game. They even come to our practices.

But some other teams who have come to play in Gorgan said they weren't at ease there, especially when local spectators were present?
I think it is because our fans are not usually very nice to our opponents, and they will scream, shout and call names. They will do anything to distract our opponents. They definitely give us a home court advantage.

With fans like that, do you have anything to complain about?
Well honestly, some of the gyms have a really hard surface and can get pretty cold in the winter. That takes a toll on your body. Also, I found that for me it is really hard to receive foul calls, which can change your game a bit. But all in all it has not really been that difficult.

Did you ever find it hard to communicate with your team mates?
Yes, there is a definite language barrier because most of my teammates do not speak English and their way of life is very different to mine. At first I did not agree with every player voicing his opinion about how the game should be played. I always thought you lead by example because anyone can tell you they are great, but someone that is actually great can show you their greatness.

So why didn't you try to adapt others to your style?
We have a saying in the USA, "when in Rome do as the Romans do." It is easier for me to adapt to the style of eleven other players than try to have them change to fit my style. I feel I can win playing any style. I prepare myself for all conditions in the off season.

Mahram was the first team to reach the semis rather early because your team did not play the second game against them in first phase of play-offs. Why did this happen?
I am not sure exactly. I was told that the weather was too bad to travel by bus and there were no plane tickets available. I was really disappointed because my teammate Eddie Elisma and I really wanted to play against them again. During the first game, they caught us off guard with a lot of double teams. We felt we were ready for them for the second game, but we never got a chance to show it.

Have you learned anything about Islam and Iranian culture since arriving here?
Well, my wife was raised as a Muslim, though she no longer practices the religion. So I have a great deal of respect and understanding for Islam. As for the Iranian culture, I have learned that the people here are very hospitable. All Iranians seem to be like one big family, and they easily welcome a foreigner like me into that family.

And what souvenirs will you be taking back home from your time in Iran?
I think Iran is a great place with a lot of history and many beautiful cities. The people here are amazing and I would rather be here than any place in the world, except the USA with my wife and family, of course. However, life here is very different from the life in my country. You have to have a totally different mentality to live in my country. But I will never forget my teammates and coaches. They have been great. They have treated me like family no matter how I have played.

Will you consider staying in Iran if you get new offers or do you prefer to go back home?
Yes, absolutely, I hope I can play here for many years in the future. I feel I had a very good season here on and off the court. I had no problems with the game or the people, and I would love to come back if I receive the right offer. The only problem is that I have been away from my wife. Next season, I think she may come to Iran.

Iran's basketball team has qualified for the Olympics after an absence of over 50 years. How do you assess this?
I think it shows just how far Iranian basketball has come, and it is only going to get better. The Olympics feature the best teams in the world, and Iran didn't just qualify, they qualified as the top team in Asia. In my opinion, that is a huge achievement. And I think if the Iranian basketball organization catches up with the talent of its players and provide them with better facilities and more decent statistics, the Iranian league would be respected all over the world.

Thank you Anwar for your participation in this interview.
Thank you.