How the idea of writing the book Kostas Petropoulos started. The “Nureyev” of… Basketball, Diapolitismos editions?
A large part of my ergography is occupied by the biographies of figures of recent Greek history with the aim of preserving collective memory. The life of Kostas Petropoulos is inextricably linked with the sports history of the city and especially with that of Patras basketball. Since 1987 when he stopped competing on the floors, the fullness of time had arrived for his life to be recorded on paper. Thus, after the prompting of my longtime friend, author and publishing consultant Interculturalism Yannis H. Pappa, I got down to writing the biography of Petropoulos.
Why did you choose Costas Petropoulos to write his biography?
Kostas Petropoulos, also known as “Nureyev”, is the all-time leading basketball player of the Achaean capital. He is the player of Apollon Patras, who glorified the “black and white” jersey with the number (7). A modest MAN, an anti-star ATHLETE. In an era where the genocide of memory is sought and the pedestals of values are deliberately “closer” so that everyone can reach them, his sports case in the local and pan-Hellenic sports scene is unique and at the same time necessary for the sports tomorrow and a useful legacy for the future.
How did Kostas Petropoulos start his basketball career?
Ten years old, with a body type that made for all sports, enchanted by the round goddess had emerged as a great balladeer. In September 1966, after a random event, Kostas and his 14 months older brother, Takis, started playing basketball, which was less known at the time, depriving football of two good players. On February 21, 1969, his name is written in the athlete register of Apollon Patras, serial number 88. The Petropoulos finished reading and ran to the field, where they played until the evening.
What made him stand out and become known all over Greece?
Kostas Petropoulos was the athlete who essentially changed the fate of Patras basketball. He had great dunk appeal and scored most of his points, getting to the layup with ease. He says that his qualities were jumpiness, balance in the air and explosiveness in my game. Admittedly, he “walked” through the air and could make very difficult baskets. He was “dancing” non-stop on the parquet. Like a true dancer, he enchanted the fans with his game and went down in the country’s basketball history with the nickname “Nureyev”.
He wrote his own story from a group in the province of Apollon Patras. What is the reason he didn’t transfer to another team?
With a height of 1.96 m., he played throughout his career at Apollon in almost all positions, but mainly in the “el” position (today small forward). He was one of the best players in this position in Greece and in Europe. He remained at Apollon, although he could have had a longer and international career. It is true that many teams made an offer to Apollon to add him to their roster. First AEK and later Panathinaikos, Ionikos Nikias, Aris Thessaloniki… but as he himself says “Apollo didn’t give me”. In the summer of 1986, Petropoulos, while he was legally free from Apollon, respectfully refused the offer to transfer to PAOK from Nikos Vezyrtzis, due to the serious problems that had happened to his legs. Referring to the event, the historical president of PAOK had to say about the honesty and integrity of “Nureyev”.
Player, coach and family man. Can one man accomplish all this together?
Throughout his life, he is an active political being. He was successful in everything he did. As a Physical Education teacher he worked in education teaching the students ethics and sports education. After the end of his sports career, he followed the path of coaching, which in fact brought him in the period 1999-2001 at the helm of the Men’s National Team. Furthermore, he distinguished himself as a coach in the National Women’s, Youth and Children’s teams, as well as in various A1 teams. Multi-talented, with an artistic nature, he likes to paint. In his canvases, the human figures with the diversity of color intensity convey the characteristics of today’s society. As a family man, he “painted” his environment with the brightest and most beautiful colors.
How have readers responded to your book?
Kostas Petropoulos was then and is today accepted by all Achaeans for his footprint, his clean look and his mark remains indelible in the city. The presentation of his biography in Patras, on Monday, January 29, was a great success. The large event hall of the “My Way” hotel was packed with people who had seen him compete, as well as others who had heard of his sporting achievements.
THE APPEARANCES IN THE NATIONAL TEAM
His great talent, discipline and hard work earned him recognition in the various national teams, starting in 1972, aged just 16. The first major distinction of his career was at the Pan-European Junior Games in France in 1974, where he was selected in the top five of the games and was invited to the equivalent of the Mixed Europe, which he never went to, because he was injured. Later, in 1979, he was a member of the National team that, together with Giannakis, Koronaios, Kokolakis, Karatzoulidis and the other children and coached by the American Duxaire, won the gold medal in the Balkan Games in Athens at the Panathenaic Stadium and in the Mediterranean Games in Split, twice defeating Yugoslavian world champions. He played with Galis in the Challenge Round and in the 1981 Eurobasket and many times they were rivals in the Greek championship. Due to repeated injuries, he did not participate in winning the gold medal at EuroBasket 1987.
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