From walking under a waterfall to inspecting a plane crash and seeking out the Northern Lights, Emmet Ryan took in the opening night of Euroleague in a different way to most. BiE’s editor found a way to watch basketball by any means necessary in Iceland.
After waiting since May for Euroleague to return, of course it would be only natural that I made opening night as tough to watch as possible. Sport is a journey that brings you places. Basketball and football combined to bring me to Iceland. I worked to ensure that I could stay connected wherever I was.
Start as you mean to continue
The arrival on Tuesday into Reykjavik was pleasant. The rain greeted us and kept on greeting us wherever we went. The first stop was Seljun, to see fumaroles. These boiling hot puddles have steam rising out of them at foot level. It was a good opening salvo from Iceland to remind me that it is dangerous.
Then it was on to Selfoss, to see the grave of former chess champion Bobby Fischer. All of this travel itinerary is included to ensure you all bear one thing in mind. I had a commentary gig that evening.
Euroleague wasn’t the only competition getting underway this week. As soon as I checked into my shoebox of a room, it was time to prepare for the Basketball Champions League. Fashioning a makeshift desk from my suitcase I took the mic for Filou Oostende vs Unicaja Malaga. Fortunately the wifi in Iceland is excellent, as is mobile data coverage. That made life an awful lot easier.
It’s really quite wet
Going to Iceland just for basketball, and I feel bad using the word just there, is a big ask. This was a busman’s holiday as UCD AFC were playing Stjarnan in the UEFA Youth League in football. The rest of my travelling party were in town squarely for that match and, after 29 years of going to UCD games, it was an easy choice for me to make the trip. That was cemented when I saw that I could also catch a basketball game on Friday.
Gullfoss and a great pair of waterfalls greeted us on Wednesday morning. The libations of Tuesday night meant I slightly delayed my pals but we managed to fit in those waterfalls, the geysers at Geysir, and the continental divide at Thingvellir. Iceland may be small but it makes you feel insignificant.
The football out of the way that evening, UCD went through, and I could focus on how to watch Euroleague. At least after I got wet again.
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A matter of timing
There was no dallying on Thursday. It was all about timing, albeit for different motivations. The boys were focused on when we could get back to the city for food and beer, while also keeping an eye on a late night adventure.
For me, it was about keeping enough power in my phone to be able to tune in when the action started. The stops were all amazing. Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss was home to many waterfalls. The wreck of a DC-3 from the 1970s made for quite a way to take in the brutal nature of the climate here. After dinner in Vik, it was time for the smartphone to work its magic.
Three quarters, the first, second, and fourth, of Zalgiris Kaunas vs FC Barcelona marked my first Euroleague viewing of the season. The third was during a spell where I had to navigate for our driver and I couldn’t let the game distract me. Still, the bulk of a good one was an excellent start and I’d have been happy with that as a result.
Emmet Ryan in the Irishman pub in Reykjavik, Iceland, watching Euroleague on his phone.
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Going for it all
Through all the movement, adjustments, and other work, it wasn’t until late in the late games that I managed to get back to viewing. The picture above is from the Irishman pub, where I first jumped on the end of Baskonia vs Partizan. There was only a minute or so left by then, not a lot of basketball really but enough for some drama.
Then, of course, the denouement of FC Bayern vs Real Madrid. Joining the action as the hosts built an 11 point lead with around half the final quarter left was perfect timing. Real Madrid’s remonstrations at the end made for a solid end to a good night’s viewing of Euroleague.
With that ending, it was back in the car. We went in search of the Northern Lights. Iceland didn’t quite deliver more than a shimmer sadly but it still allowed for quite the view of the night sky. Tonight, Euroleague takes a back seat. It’s Icelandic league basketball for me. The adventure of the season is only beginning.
