"It is just a sport,'' he (Haddadi) said. "I don't know what happened with the two countries. I...

"It is just a sport,'' he (Haddadi) said. "I don't know what happened with the two countries. I don't care. I just do my job. I don't think about politics ... I do not think what the two positions of Iran and Israel is.''

But Haddadi realizes the high-profile position he is in as an NBA player. In order to make a statement that this is indeed just sport, he was asked if he would shake Casspi's hand before the game.

"Why not? Which is his number? Haddadi said of Casspi, who wears No. 18. "I think it could be good (to make a positive statement).''

With the Kings not practicing Sunday, Casspi was unavailable for comment. However, he was asked last July at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas about the possibility of facing Haddadi this season.

"It's not a problem for me,'' said Casspi, whose Kings and Haddadi's Grizzlies both were in the summer league but did not play. "I don't know about him.''

Welcome to the NBA: Representing opportunity for peace on a basketball court. Via the always illustrious Chris Tomasson of Fanhouse.

19 days ago pookeyguru 13 comments 0 recs |

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Honestly,

I think it’d be pretty damn cool to see a handshake between the two before tip off on Monday

www.mancancook.net

by vfettke on Nov 1, 2009 4:38 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

I agree.

Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.

by Aykis16 on Nov 1, 2009 7:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

With

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Nov 1, 2009 8:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Here's to hoping that the politic of two men can rise above the politics of two nations.

it may make no difference, but just maybe it will.

by betweentheeyes on Nov 1, 2009 8:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It could

but honestly, I don’t know what Haddadi’s status is back home. If they love him like the Israelis love Omri it could have a surprisingly profound effect.

www.mancancook.net

by vfettke on Nov 1, 2009 9:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And quite frankly...

if bringing peace to the Middle East doesn’t help with the new arena project this franchise is screwed

www.mancancook.net

by vfettke on Nov 1, 2009 8:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And peace may be easier to achieve than getting a new arena built.

Rocks are free, and slingshots easily stolen.

by andy sims on Nov 1, 2009 9:57 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Sports can cross borders and ideological lines

If this small gesture can make even an iota of difference, nothing else is more important. I just hope the yutzes at Comcast Sports put it on camera instead of Peaches yukking it up with Chuck Peterson’s newly fixed dog.

Rocks are free, and slingshots easily stolen.

by andy sims on Nov 1, 2009 9:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs