How Chicago helped a tiny Baltic country produce star NBA players
<p>VILNIUS, Lithuania — Arena Vilnius, half the size of the United Center, feels bigger than it is when hometown heroes Rytas play against the Žalgiris basketball team from Kaunas.</p><p>Sections of cheering fans wave giant flags and shout songs of adoration to their teams. Huge stationary flamethrowers send pillars of fire into the air, warming anyone within 20 yards.</p><p>When the underdogs Rytas briefly lead at the end of the third quarter, during a Sunday night game in April, the exuberance of the Rytas dance team makes it seem like they might get a win.</p><p>Domantas Purvys, a local high school basketball fanatic, volunteers at the arena to get free floor-level access to the games.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>VILNIUS, Lithuania — Arena Vilnius, half the size of the United Center, feels bigger than it is when hometown heroes Rytas play against the Žalgiris basketball team from Kaunas.</p><p>Sections of cheering fans wave giant flags and shout songs of adoration to their teams. Huge stationary flamethrowers send pillars of fire into the air, warming anyone within 20 yards.</p><p>When the underdogs Rytas briefly lead at the end of the third quarter, during a Sunday night game in April, the exuberance of the Rytas dance team makes it seem like they might get a win.</p><p>Domantas Purvys, a local high school basketball fanatic, volunteers at the arena to get free floor-level access to the games. He says basketball "is part of our religion. It's in our blood, basketball.
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- What's the story?
- <p>VILNIUS, Lithuania — Arena Vilnius, half the size of the United Center, feels bigger than it is when hometown heroes Rytas play against the Žalgiris basketball team from Kaunas.</p><p>Sections of cheering fans wave giant flags and shout songs of adoration to their teams. Huge stationary flamethrowers send pillars of fire into the air, warming anyone within 20 yards.</p><p>When the underdogs Rytas briefly lead at the end of the third quarter, during a Sunday night game in April, the exuberance of the Rytas dance team makes it seem like they might get a win.</p><p>Domantas Purvys, a local high school basketball fanatic, volunteers at the arena to get free floor-level access to the games.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 4m ago.
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How Chicago helped a tiny Baltic country produce star NBA players
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times