Kaymer lauds Dirk's heroics
Source: Agencies |
June 15, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
GERMANY'S Martin Kaymer made sure he kept a close eye on the National Basketball Association finals, and especially the stellar performances of his compatriot Dirk Nowitzki, while preparing for this week's US Open.
A keen basketball player while at school, Kaymer was delighted to watch his role model Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks clinch their first NBA title with a 4-2 series victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday.
"Obviously it was huge for him (Nowitzki) and for basketball in Germany, as well," a smiling Kaymer told reporters at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, on Monday. "That was the only championship that he hadn't gotten yet. I hope those things will help to grow sports in my country.
"It's a little bit unfortunate that he doesn't get the recognition in Germany that he deserves. Basketball is not very big in Germany but in America he's a superstar."
Nowitzki, the most successful European of all time in the NBA, was named the Most Valuable Player of the finals after averaging 26 points per game. The 32-year-old produced six 30-plus scoring games during the playoffs as Dallas ended three decades of frustration by capturing its first NBA championship.
"Unfortunately I have never met him," world No. 3 Kaymer said of the 2.13-meter Nowitzki. "But that is one of my goals, to go to a game of the Dallas Mavericks and to meet him.
"For me, he's a big role model ... the way he comes across in the media, the way he's acting on the basketball court. What Dirk did last night ... and pretty much since he's been in America since '98, I think it's amazing.
"He came here with pretty much nothing and made his way up there to become one of the best players ever in the NBA. You should have a lot of respect for that."
Kaymer, who won his first major title at last year's PGA Championship, has been grouped with British world Nos. 1 and 2 Luke Donald and Lee Westwood for the first two rounds at Congressional.
A keen basketball player while at school, Kaymer was delighted to watch his role model Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks clinch their first NBA title with a 4-2 series victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday.
"Obviously it was huge for him (Nowitzki) and for basketball in Germany, as well," a smiling Kaymer told reporters at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, on Monday. "That was the only championship that he hadn't gotten yet. I hope those things will help to grow sports in my country.
"It's a little bit unfortunate that he doesn't get the recognition in Germany that he deserves. Basketball is not very big in Germany but in America he's a superstar."
Nowitzki, the most successful European of all time in the NBA, was named the Most Valuable Player of the finals after averaging 26 points per game. The 32-year-old produced six 30-plus scoring games during the playoffs as Dallas ended three decades of frustration by capturing its first NBA championship.
"Unfortunately I have never met him," world No. 3 Kaymer said of the 2.13-meter Nowitzki. "But that is one of my goals, to go to a game of the Dallas Mavericks and to meet him.
"For me, he's a big role model ... the way he comes across in the media, the way he's acting on the basketball court. What Dirk did last night ... and pretty much since he's been in America since '98, I think it's amazing.
"He came here with pretty much nothing and made his way up there to become one of the best players ever in the NBA. You should have a lot of respect for that."
Kaymer, who won his first major title at last year's PGA Championship, has been grouped with British world Nos. 1 and 2 Luke Donald and Lee Westwood for the first two rounds at Congressional.
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