Cyprus: Dr. J Saves the Day

December 5, 2018

“Dr. J” Saves the Day


While living in Dhioros, I realized that the children of the returning Turkish families were seldom venturing out of their reclaimed neighborhood. For ten years they had been living away in makeshift housing in a refugee camp in the “Turkish Zone.” Having spent time in both sections of the town, getting to know many of the local teenagers of both ethnicities, I promoted the idea of having a basketball clinic and games at an outdoor basketball court located on the site of a former school. There was eagerness abounding.

Blessed with a court, my next task was to locate a ball. Nicosia had one small shop that carried limited athletic gear. Arriving there, I picked up a plastic, soccer sized ball and started to dribble it.  The curious proprietor, noticing my between the legs dribble maneuver, asked my country of origin, to which I replied, “American.” He immediately, took the plastic moon ball, declaring, “no, no, no good, Dr.J, Dr.J,” as he led me into a backroom, where he pulled out an official Rawlings Julius Erving. “Dr.J, DrJ, the best, the best!!!” He said with great excitement.

While there, he encouraged me to join his team, either as a coach or player, that played in the local four team Nicosia league. During our lengthy conversation, that included coffee and cigarettes, he revealed that each of the league teams had a political bias. One was pro-President Makarios (the current leader), another pro- General Grivas (Makarios political opponent), another for reuniting with Greece (Enosis Movement) and the last one pro-American, possibly CIA. Intrigued by the deep penetration of politics into sports, I purchased the ball and thanked Dr. J for his help in creating a language of commonality.

I returned back to the village eager to start the evening clinics. The first night a large group of young boys and men, from both Greek and Turkish communities, showed up to play. Most had never played basketball before and the notion of dribbling a ball versus kicking and running with Dr.J was quite alien and took awhile to grasp. Eventually, most got the basics and play started. As the head ref, owner of the ball and league commissioner, I got to assign the players, making sure to mix the Greek and Turkish  Cypriot kids on both teams. 

The games were scheduled on specific nights and soon the word spread throughout the town as parents and grandparents came out to see the action. Interestingly enough, various resident Greek Cypriots and returning Turkish Cypriots started to interact with each other as they watched the game. It had been 10 years since some of them had last talked and now bridges of communication and trust were building thanks to Dr.J.















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