around brazil
O basquete brasileiro
U.S. Basketball
Tony Stockman, a
native of Medina, Ohio,
stars for Franca/Vivo
Glossary
1 in overtime - na
prorrogação.
2 steps to the free throw
stripe - vai para a linha
de lance livre.
3 the challenges he has
faced throughout the
night - os desafios que
enfrentou por toda a
noite.
4 his coach keeps
screaming - o treinador
continua gritando.
5 referees - juízes.
6 to call foul - marcar
falta.
7 hurl obscenities that
bounce off - berra
palavrões que ecoam.
8 turns downcourt - volta
para o seu lado da
quadra.
9 seals - confirma, sela.
10 grumble, upset their
catcalls couldn’t shake
- enraivecidos porque
seus xingos não
abalaram.
11 clutch free throws -
lances livres.
comes to Brazil
W ith less than a minute to go in over-
time1 at Club Athletico Paulistano
in Sao Paulo, Tony Stockman steps to the
free throw stripe2 with a chance to win
the game. A native of Ohio in the United
States and now star guard for one of Bra-
zil’s best basketball clubs, Franca/Vivo,
Stockman is surprisingly calm considering
the challenges he has faced throughout
the night3.
His coach keeps screaming4 at him to do
something important, but Stockman can’t
always understand the man’s Portuglês.
Stockman also hits a language barrier with
referees5, and sometimes thinks they fa-
vor Brazilian players over foreigners when
choosing how to call fouls6.
With ball in hand, Stockman’s feet steady
and arms raise, while the crowd hurl ob-
scenities that bounce off7 the gymnasium
walls. He exhales, makes the shot, and
evolui mais
rapidamente graças
à “importação” de
jogadores norte-
americanos. Mas...
como eles se sentem
jogando nestas terras?
By Bob Moser
Marcos Limonti/Franca
turns downcourt8 with a smile as Franca
seals9 another win this year in Brazil’s na-
tional basketball league, Novo Basquete
Brasil (NBB).
Ele é frio, Paulistano fans grumble, upset
their catcalls couldn’t shake10 the Gringo
and NBB All-Star.
If only they knew how easy clutch free
throws11 can be when you don’t under-
stand what the crowd is shouting.
Tens of thousands of miles from home,
Stockman is one of 13 Americans playing
in Brazil’s NBB this season, raising the
level of competition for a league that’s
trying to recapture the passion Brazil
once had for basketball. They came chas-
ing the promise of a paycheck and expect-
ing “everything to look like the Amazon,”
but these Americans say they’ve fallen in
love with Brazil like countless foreigners
before them.
twenty-three 23
 Basketball was Brazil’s second most pop- Brazilians don’t worry about the little Go see a game
ular sport throughout the 1950s, 1960s things here. There’s sunshine, the beach The NBB’s regular season ended
and 1970s, with the national team and people smile every day. Even the April 4. Of the 14 teams, 12
winning nine Olympic and FIBA World guy pushing a recycling cart16 says Bom qualified for NBB’s four-round
playoffs18. The playoffs go
Championship medals during that time, Dia,” Mcneil said. “No matter how bad through April and May, and the
and considered a Top-Five team world- you got it, somebody has got it worse. championship round should begin
wide. Brazil’s pro basketball league and Brazilians seem to know that, and are May 17. Games are broadcast
on SporTV, and you can learn
national team lost a lot of that talent in happy with what they got. In the U.S. more about the playoffs at http://
the early 1980s to European leagues and you always need more. Brazil showed me liganacionaldebasquete.com.br
the rapid growth of volleyball in Brazil, that’s not true.”
and basketball hasn’t recovered since. That type of bond17 with Brazil has mo-
But within the last two years, the NBB tivated two other American players to
has embarked on a long-term effort to apply for naturalization, in hopes of get- Glossary
redefine basketball in Brazil, developing ting to play on Brazil’s national team. 12 awful - horríveis.
local talent while recruiting foreign play- They are Shamell Stallworth, a California 13 kidnappings,
diseases and gangs
ers from countries like the U.S., Panama native who now plays for Pinheiros/Sky, - sequestros, doenças
and Cuba. and Larry Taylor, a Chicago native who e quadrilhas.
14 has embraced the
When Magen McNeil, a native of Phila- plays with Associação Bauru. “Brazilian way” of
delphia, was offered a chance to play for Most Americans in the NBB have played approaching life -
abraçou o jeito
Vila Velha Basquetebol Clube in Espírito in leagues around the world. Some are brasileiro de encarar a
vida.
Santo this season, he hesitated at first. chasing the ultimate dream – a chance 15 spots - lugares.
Awful12 images of Brazil from news and to break into the United States’ NBA. 16 recycling cart -
carroça de recicláveis.
movies were the first thoughts that came Stockman is happy simply to earn a nice 17 bond - vínculo.
to mind. living playing a game he loves, and get-
GO SEE A GAME
“Before this, all I knew about Brazil ting to explore the world with his wife 18 four-round playoffs -
quartas de final.
were rumors of kidnappings, disease and children at the same time.
and gangs13,” said McNeil, who played “The situation I’m in now is perfect: to SHAMELL STALLWORTH
19 applying for
in Ireland and Finland before Brazil. “I be in a different country playing ball, and citizenship -
wasn’t used to seeing such poverty in my family gets to come and experience requerendo a naturali­
za­ção brasileira.
the favelas.” a new culture,” said Stockman, who has 20 faster-paced - mais
corrido.
But after a few months of traveling the previously played in France, Israel and 21 the point guard - o
countrywithhisteam,McNeilhasembraced Mexico. “That’s another reason I came to armador.
22 runs the plays... end
the “Brazilian way” of approaching life14. Brazil, it’s a country I’ve never been to. - administra as
“Even though there’s crime, corrup- A lot of times I go to play in places and jogadas até o final (do
tempo).
tion and other bad stuff, there’s a lot it doesn’t feel like home. But we’re set- 23 you take the shot -
of spots15 here that are pure paradise. tling in here, it’ll be tough to leave.” você tenta o
arremesso.
24 to be a factor - ser
um fator de influência.
Shamell Stallworth
Shamell control. In Europe, basketball is understand what we want each
Stallworth, very structured, the point guard21 other to do. My vision of basketball
who has runs the plays all the way through to is different from a Brazilian’s vision
played the end22. But (in Brazil), if you are of basketball. But somehow, we
in Brazil open within the first five seconds, must find a way to meet in the
since 2004, you take the shot23. Coaches here middle, to better our team, and the
shared his still don’t really preach the concept sport here in Brazil.
thoughts of defense, which is different from
photo by Luiz Pires

with Speak the USA and Europe. Growing up, I WHY NATIONALIZE?
Up on how was told by my (American) coaches, I want to make a difference, to
basketball “Defense wins championships.” But be a factor24 in Brazil and help
varies from since I started here in 2004, defense basketball. I came from the best
country to in Brazil has improved a lot, and its country for basketball. I think
country, coaching has improved. basketball here is going in the
and his reason for applying for right direction, but Brazilians can
Brazilian citizenship19: LANGUAGE BARRIERS? learn more. If I become Brazilian,
The game here in Brazil is faster- Communication has been the I don’t think it will hurt anybody, I
paced20, there’s not that much biggest challenge, trying to can only help.
24 twenty-four