Big disappointment in the Final Four in 2007: "Hit us terribly, referee did not steal the match" • Correctional win: "It was our goal to win the title against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Yad Eliyahu, huge moment in club history" • Interview with Timmy Bowers, Ex Hapoel Jerusalem

• Bowers in the salt. "In Jerusalem there was a family atmosphere"

  Photo: 

  Alan Shaver

Timmy Bowers is 38 years old. From 2018 he wears the Andrea Costa Immola media, but for a moment does not forget his time in Israel, especially in Hapoel Jerusalem.

I picked up a phone for him at his home in Imola, a small suburb near Bologna, where it was closed for weeks because of the Corona virus that raged in the streets. He did not forget the painful loss in the 2007 Final Four (with the same whistle of Sammy Bacher for a fifth offense against Meir Tapiro), recalling the famous comeback in the 2008 Cup final and the memorable Bali-Hop in the salt with Omar Snid (delivery with the board). And also talks about the career that hasn't gone up since leaving Israel and the day after.

Why didn't you return to a family in the US like most American players and stay in Italy?

"We didn't want to risk a flight and move to an airport at a time like this. My mom is older and it's dangerous for her, so right now I'll sit tight and wait for everything to end. For myself, I'm not worried, because I'm supposed to be statistically okay. .

Best period in career 

"I always tell people that my time in Israel was probably the best in my career, especially in Jerusalem. Everything there was a professional writer, but unlike professional groups that sometimes everything is business, in Jerusalem there was a family atmosphere. I've been playing in Italy for a decade and love to be here, but I really miss Jerusalem. "

The loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv 

"I will never forget this game for many reasons. Me and Mario Austin still talk every day, and sometimes it comes up. It was a game that could change a lot in terms of the team's players that season. Hapoel Jerusalem has not won the championship and for us, after we already won the Cup and led In the Final Four all game, it hit us terribly.

"The one we led caused a certain reason that Dan Shamir got me out in the fourth quarter very early and I didn't play nearly all quarter, I don't know why, and we lost by two points. That hurt me and affected me for a very long time. I think we were better that season, but Unfortunately, I feel that our game is not being managed properly. "

Did you feel that the judges hurt you?

"I don't think the referee stole the game. Every game has some controversial whistles. I think in the end, we didn't function in the offensive at the end of the game, there was the Arnold offensive rebound that if we shut it down we would win. In the end, basketball and individual moves affect Games. It was a very difficult moment for me. "

The big comeback in the 2008 cup final 

"The win in the Cup was sweet. We won the Cup the year before, but we beat Bnei Hasharon and people said it didn't count because we didn't win Maccabi. We had another team and Maccabi led us in a huge gap, but we didn't stop believing. "That was our goal - to win the Maccabi Cup in Maccabi Hall. It was a huge moment in Hapoel Jerusalem's history."

When Omar Sneed shook Malha 

"Listen, Omar and I were in a good relationship, and we were doing it all the time, so it was so natural in the game, too. He grabbed and dribbled on the field. It was special and it was a special way to release a statement and beat Maccabi in a way where they would know we were serious. I'll remember it forever. I listened to the broadcast, and they certainly were right - Omar had no fear. .

The retreat after Jerusalem and wandering in Italy

"Look, I wish I could explain why. I always aspired to high-level teams. I left Jerusalem for Italy and had a very good season there and was happy to bid from the Euroleague group, but it never came. I lost in the Euroleague qualifying, I had a successful Eurocup season, I played for example in Venice "And that's where we were hoping to get to Euroleague, but it didn't happen and in the second season there I was injured in the shoulder. At the end I started to drop at the level of the teams I was playing in. I don't know why.

Returning to Last Dance? 

"I started the season thinking this could be my last season. I feel I gave it my all for the game and that I can play for another 4-3 years, because my body feels good and I still manage to make good basketball, but the question is if I want to. From my kids' childhoods, so I'm really waiting to go back to them. I don't think I'll go on to 95 percent of it this past season, but you can never know for sure. When I talked to Mario Austin, I told him that if there's a place I want to end my career - it's In Israel, one last thing and that's it. "

Have you ever thought what to do the next day?

"Yes. In recent years, I've been doing basketball camps in Houston and Mississippi and developing young players. I want to make it a business and grow in that area. I want to do it full-time. I'll invest in that after retirement."