Gianluca Basile spoke to Il Resto del Carlino after the premature death of Reuben Douglas, hero of Fortitudo Bologna’s 2005 scudetto. “Ruben is history. I believe he should be celebrated in the best way. In the pain of receiving such news, I think that the idea that Bologna could dedicate a street to him could be useful to all of us who mourn him“, began Basile. “My memory? An extraordinary boy, kissed by talent. He was the only black guy on the team. So every now and then, in the general silence, he started shouting “black power, black power”. And we all laughed with him. We were in touch. He also sent long vowels to Poz, often full of swear words. They were the first things he had learned. Or rather, we had taught him. He was tied to the city and to Bologna. He was due to return these days.”
Basile also remembered his basket which in 2005, after the instant replay, gave the championship to Fortitudo: “I started off the dribble after the wrong shot from Calabria. I made a couple of serpentines, I had the idea of shooting. I found myself closed and I passed the ball. Almost by chance, Douglas was free at that moment and was the only one I could give it to, I must admit that it was completely without my knowledge. He remains the hero of that championship. Our Ruben. We will remember it, but I believe that Bologna should do so too. A historic championship for Fortitudo. But also for the Italy of baskets, the first title decided with the instant replay. I believe a street in Bologna that bears the name of Ruben Douglas is the minimum to honor his memory“.
