Basketball player Charles Tabet was once a national hero blocking shots for Lebanon, but a crumbling economy has forced him into a new life of selling cars in Michigan.
After a decade playing in his country of origin, the 33-year-old Lebanese-American last month returned to his native US state to start a new career.
“I sold my first vehicle today,” the 2.05m-tall player wrote on social media, posting a snapshot of himself, eyes smiling above a mask, next to a much shorter woman and her new white sport utility vehicle.
Photo: AFP
Basketball was once the sporting pride of Lebanon, with the national team qualifying for several world cups, and two clubs that were dominant forces in the Middle East and Asia two decades ago.
In its heyday, basketball could draw huge crowds and TV audiences in Lebanon, whose soccer team never made it past the Asian Cup group stages, let alone qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
However, with the economy in free fall, the tiny nation is losing some of its best basketball players, who are emigrating or swapping their jerseys for business shirts.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to retire,” Tabet said. “I’ve played 10 years in Lebanon. I’ve made some great friends, who I call family.”
“Playing basketball was how I supported myself and my family,” Tabet added. “With the economic crisis, it’s better for me to start my career in the States.”
Over the past year, players have seen the Lebanese basketball league suspended, their dollar savings trapped in the bank and buying power plummet amid the country’s worst financial crunch in decades.
“It’s sad and not the way I wanted to retire, but I’m excited for my next chapter in life,” Tabet said.
During its golden era, Lebanese basketball attracted players from as far as the US and some of the league’s “stars” could earn up to US$250,000 per season.
The 2019-2020 season was suspended and four of the country’s international players have quit.
Tabet has started selling cars.
Fellow Lebanese-American Daniel Faris, 33, has returned to the US state of New Mexico to peddle medical supplies; Lebanese player of Armenian origin Gerard Hadidian, 25, is off to play for an Armenian team; and Elie Chamoun, 26, has remained in Lebanon, but has hung up his jersey to become a management consultant.
“While many once returned from the diaspora to play in the Lebanese league, today you can’t convince a single player to come,” Lebanese coach Ghassan Sarkis said.
FRUSTRATION: Alcaraz made several unforced errors over four sets against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who had never made it past the third round in a major competition Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the French Open after laboring past Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Friday night session. The second-seeded Spaniard had never before played Dzumhur, a 33-year-old Bosnian who had never been past the third round at any major tournament. “I suffered quite a lot today,” Alcaraz said. “The first two sets was under control, then he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. It was really difficult for me.” Dzumhur hurt his left knee in a fall in the second round, and had treatment on Friday on his right leg during the
‘DREAM’: The 5-0 victory was PSG’s first Champions League title, and the biggest final win by any team in the 70-year history of the top-flight European competition Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever with teenager Desire Doue scoring twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory. Doue supplied the pass for Achraf Hakimi to give PSG an early lead and the 19-year-old went from provider to finisher as his deflected shot doubled the advantage in the 20th minute. Doue scored again just after the hour mark, ending any doubt about the outcome before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ran away to get the fourth and substitute Senny Mayulu, another teenager, made it five. Inter were
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
Defender Steph Catley says her UEFA Women’s Champions League title win with Arsenal last week will act as motivation to secure continental glory with Australia when the country hosts the Women’s Asian Cup next year. Catley and compatriots Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross were part of the Arsenal squad that defeated Barcelona in Lisbon on Sunday last week, before flying to Melbourne to feature in the Matildas’ 2-0 win over Argentina on Friday. The game was the first in a two-match series against the South Americans as the Australians continue preparations for the continental championship in March next year, when they would
RSS