Sunday People

Wiz bring the magic for Wazza

- By Tom Hopkinson

Washington Wizards v New York Knicks

WASHINGTON WIZARDS point guard Tomas Satoransky grew used to playing second fiddle to illustriou­s club-mates during his days at Barcelona.

The 27-year-old Czech and his teammates shared training facilities with

Lionel Messi, Neymar (below) and Co.

“You’d see the fans waiting for the football players to come out and their disappoint­ment when it was the basketball players,” said Satoransky.

“It was funny. The times I was with the football players was when we went to see their h games or they came to se see our games.

“Neymar, Gerard Pique, a bunch of other guys... you practise in the same training ce centre so naturally you do see them around.”

UK basketball fans can get an up-closeand-personal glimpse of Satoransky and the Wizards when they face the struggling New York Knicks at London’s O2 Arena on Thursday – that might even include one of the Wizards’ newest fans, DC United star Wayne Rooney.

Satoransky, who used to follow

Chelsea in the Premier League but switched allegiance­s to Arsenal when compatriot Petr Cech made the move across London, said: “We met Wayne the other day, he went to watch our game.”

 ??  ?? DEADLY: Tomas Satoransky
DEADLY: Tomas Satoransky
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