My memories of Cesare Rubini |
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When last year I was asked in an interview for a US website, among the other questions, who was the character that I respected more among those who I met in the world of basketball, I remember the interviewer's surprise when my answer was Cesare Rubini.  I was even asked if, having met people like David Stern, Phil Jackson and Pat Riley, my answer was emotional or parochial. I insisted, stressing the fact that this feeling came from the respect, almost awe, which sprang from a conversation with Rubini, a feeling that I didn't feel when meeting all the other basketball myths I mentioned. I remember those 4-5 times when my phone rang and on the other end of the line there was him, with his slow-paced, cavernous, unmistakable voice "this is Rubini", almost forcing me to stand up. One day I remember when, in a bit of an unusual situation, probably doing a favour to his friend Riccardo Sales who was my head coach at the time, he called to tell me that I had been chosen to coach the Lombardy regional team for the "Decio Scuri Trohpy". Another time offering me to join the coaching staff of the national teams sector, and last one, not many years ago, to propose me to write a technical book for the Italian basketball Federation. In the last two cases we didn't find an agreement but my emotion for speaking with someone who had made the history of Italian, and not only Italian, basketball was still very strong. I have rarely met anyone with more natural charisma and a stronger personality than Cesare Rubini. I remember how I had been struck by the fact that he played for the Italian national team in two different team sports, basketball and waterpolo. Perhaps ahead of his time as in many other things, he was one of the most ardent supporters, when we were forming the Italian basketball coaches association, of the need for coaches to unite to be heard, as he had the feeling that coaches in Italian basketball, both at club and federation level but also in terms of public opinion, were losing their influence, and he considered that unacceptable and dangerous. By the time I began to have use of "basketball intellect" Rubini had already retired and so unfortunately I can't say anything about his coaching skills, even if all those who knew him and competed against him tell me that they met very little characters with the ability to manage teams and motivate players like Rubini. He himself once said that he didn't understand anything about basketball, but that he knew about people. I believe that tonight not only Italy but all the basketball world is mourning one of the founding fathers of its modern era, "The Prince", and that all of us coaches, Italian or not, from now on will be a bit poorer. |
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