The French Rucker
Words. Aron Phillips
Driving through the French countryside looked a lot like driving back home in Vermont. With lots of greenery and farmland, the fields seemed to go one for days. But when we arrived back in civilization and made it to the gym in Le Cateau, you understand when they call it le Palais des Sports.
The gym is amazingand I’ve never really seen anything like it before. If I had to equate it to something, I’d say it’s France’s equivalent to Rucker Park. The fans here are vocal, and Team France isn’t even on the floor. I could only imagine what it was going to be like when Team USA took the floor.
As you can see in the pictures, the space is like an indoor/outdoor gym with the concrete court painted dark green and covered in tons of miscellaneous lines. It looks as if they completely gut renovated the inside of a library, paved the floor and put in a skylight. It’s pretty cool.
This game means something. Not just because they don’t want to go down two straight, but because they need to finally realize their potenital.
I was at the game yesterday. beautiful game, wasn’t it? the best of the day for sure…
USA lost against an amazing and older litunia team. Most of the Lituania players were already there last year.
super-fast super-skilled Motiejunas and #15 (forgot his name) were too much to handle for your big guys. Though, Sullinger was impressive. the big fella is a beast!
Le cateau-palais des sports used to be a factory (40years ago?). It’s so noisy! People were screaming “Hu S Ha (USA)” at the end of the game… not sure the player recognize what the crowd was saying…
Hell of a game!
Good luck to you fellas!