Basketball: Last shot at glory

Sunday 16 September 2012

EJ Harrison confesses that he opted to return to Glasgow Rocks for one last season hoping to end his career on a high.

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Mark Woods

The 36-year-old American pondered retirement in the summer after a campaign blighted by injury, the death of his father, and the inconsistencies of his team's performances in the British Basketball League.

It would have been easy, he admits, to walk away and seek a fresh challenge after more than a decade overseas.

"It was tough mentally because before I got hurt, I thought I was playing really well. Then when I got injured, it threw everything out of whack. I had to go home for a month because of my dad. Things were up and down. But now that's in the past. I have to look forward."Now fully fit, and re-installed as the team's captain, he will have a key role in guiding a new-look Glasgow team, who begin their challenge on Friday with a visit to Newcastle Eagles, the winners of all four domestic prizes last term. With a cap on overseas players, there is expected to be greater parity in a league which has been boosted by the revival of Manchester Giants, and the re-location of the Lions from Milton Keynes to London.However, collecting silverware will be no easier. Rocks player-coach Sterling Davis unexpectedly lost leading scorer Mychal Green in the off-season and has gambled on recruiting two rookies from the United States, Donald Robinson and Meneptha Darden, while bringing back Brice Fantazia for a second spell."Not having Mychal, who was a great player, especially at crunch time, is a loss," Harrison said. "But Sterling will have a good rotation. I'm anxious though now to see how it will look against Newcastle." The champions will provide an instant cross-examination of the newcomers' credentials. "I wouldn't have it any other way. They're a great team. They won everything last season. They're favourites again, but we have to start somewhere," Harrison said.The Rocks also have a new home, becoming the first tenants at the Commonwealth Arena. Harrison hopes the 6000-seater venue will finally witness an end to a 10-year wait for a major prize. "I've been telling the guys: 'that's our goal'. I think Sterling deserves it. I think the organisation deserves it. And hopefully, I deserve it."

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Basketball: Last shot at glory

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