The AltRaps Blog

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/276255The explosion, by far the most serious incident at an Israeli league basketball game, has led to calls from all quarters for increased security.

It has been difficult in the past to attract American-born players to Israel, precisely because of the threat of violence that pervades the area. Parker, a huge supporter of Israeli basketball who remains close friends with several former Maccabi teammates, and fellow Raptor Maceo Baston say the incident is so isolated, it shouldn’t deter others from going or Tucker from staying.

“I was never worried, that’s why it caught me off guard that it got that close to the players on the court,” said Baston. “I never felt scared or anything; that was one of my fears, that I would be, but luckily in three years I never witnessed anything like that.

“We went through some pretty big rivalries with Halpoel Tel Aviv team, or Jerusalem, we had some pretty intense battles but nothing other than flares going off. Nothing like this.”

“I can see if it was my first year over there and something like that happening it would really shake me up but it’s not something that you have to be afraid of,” Parker said. “It’s not something like suicide bombers bombing next to your house. It’s not one of those situations.”

Security at Israeli games is not unlike security at NBA games. Fans undergo a rudimentary search of bags and backpacks, although that’s certain to be tightened in the wake of Sunday’s incident. Fans of all sports in that area of the world and Europe are known for their passion and emotion but the Sunday scare went far over the line.

“I remember we were in Greece and they started throwing lighters and coins and spitting on you,” said Parker. “I mean that was worse than anything that happened to me in Israel.”