Macedonia Is Wild Card of EuroBasket Quarterfinals - NYTimes.com

Macedonia Is Wild Card of EuroBasket Quarterfinals - NYTimes.com: "September 13, 2011, 4:48 PM

By CHRISTOPHER BELAC

Christof Koepsel/Getty ImagesA fan of Macedonia looked dejected after his team lost to Russia, 61-63, at EuroBasket 2011 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Most of the quarterfinalists at EuroBasket 2011 do not come as a surprise. Greece, Slovenia and Russia are no strangers to this stage of the competition. And Spain, France, Serbia and host Lithuania were touted as pretournament favorites. But Macedonia? It is bound to turn some heads when the quarterfinals begin Wednesday.

Macedonia is competing in its third EuroBasket and has never qualified for the FIBA world championships or the Olympics. After dropping its opening game to Montenegro, Macedonia has assumed the role of giant killer by rattling off six straight wins, including against Croatia, Greece and Slovenia. It would have been seven if not for a buzzer beater by Russia.

In a story that would make college basketball’s Butler Bulldogs proud, the naturalized Macedonian Bo McCalebb has averaged 20.6 points a game as the point guard. He has been the team’s leading scorer in every game, including a 27-point performance in a 72-58 victory over Greece.

While the Macedonians have outplayed some of Europe’s best during this run, their quarterfinal matchup against Lithuania will test their resilience.

McCalebb to the NBA?

McCalebb leads Macedonia over Georgia at Europeans:

September 09, 2011 02:05 AM

VILNIUS: American-born Bo McCalebb gave his adopted nation of Macedonia a present on its Independence Day, making a layup with two seconds left Thursday to secure a 65-63 victory over Georgia at the European Championship.


The victory on the 20th anniversary of Macedonia’s independence all but sealed an improbable place in the quarterfinals for the former Yugoslav republic and a shot at qualifying for next year’s Olympics in London.
“No one expected us to do anything, so we tried to take advantage of that,” McCalebb said.


After a timeout, McCalebb dribbled the ball as the clock ticked down before driving to the basket and putting in a left-handed layup for the win. The guard led all scorers with 27 points.


“Everybody in the gym knew they would play pick-and-roll and that McCalebb would drive to the left and still we couldn’t stop him,” Georgia coach Igor Kokoskov said.


McCalebb, who was born and raised in New Orleans, never played club basketball in Macedonia but led Partizan Belgrade from neighboring Serbia to the Euroleague Final Four. He is now with Montepaschi Siena and also guided the Italian team to the Final Four.


Macedonia, looking for a playmaker after injuries to two players, offered him citizenship last year.


“He is a fantastic player,” Macedonia coach Marin Dokuzovski said.


With a 3-0 record in second-round Group F, Macedonia has virtually secured a spot in the quarterfinals.


Four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. The two finalists will qualify directly for the London Olympics, while the next four teams will play an additional qualifying tournament.


Georgia (0-3) played without Atlanta Hawks center Zaza Pachulia, the team’s second leading scorer, who has been ruled out for the tournament because of a left calf injury. The Georgians also lost point guard George Tsintsadze to a left knee injury midway into the second quarter.


“They’ve beaten better teams than Georgia, but it’s a tough loss,” said Kokoskov, an assistant with the Phoenix Suns. “Maybe it’s better to lose by 20.”


Macedonia led by 14 in the third quarter but Georgia pulled back to within two in the fourth before McCalebb stopped its 14-2 run with two quick baskets.


Nikoloz Tskitishvili, who led Georgia with 20 points, made two free throws to tie the game with 16 seconds on the clock.


Macedonia called a timeout and McCalebb never let the ball out of his hands until scoring the winning basket.


“Bo can always find solutions,” Dokuzovski said.


“The Independence Day gave us extra motivation but it also put additional pressure on us.”

Ant-Macedonian Racist MP Karygiannis Caught

David Edenden
Bob Rae is a pathetic racist enabler!

MP Karygiannis accused of berating civil servants - Canada - CBC News:
By Laura Payton, CBC News Posted: Aug 26, 2011"

History of controversial remarks

MP Karygiannis

Karygiannis, the Liberal party's multiculturalism critic, is hosting 19 cultural groups this weekend for meetings in Ottawa with Liberal MPs to talk about issues they face.

But some major cultural groups in Canada are boycotting the meetings and demanding Karygiannis be forced out of his portfolio, alleging he holds controversial views that make him unsuitable for the job.

The groups point to statements made by Karygiannis that they say make him an offensive pick.

CBC News has obtained a letter from B'Nai Brith Canada, a leading Jewish group, as well as press releases from Macedonian, Turkish and Chinese groups, demanding Liberal Interim Leader Bob Rae replace Karygiannis in his role.

Rae wasn't available Friday for interviews.

The letter and statements are, in part, in support of complaints by the Macedonian Human Rights Movement International, who noted a 2011 event in Toronto where Karygiannis used a derogatory word to describe Macedonians.

Karygiannis says he was referring to a term that's used in Greece to describe Macedonians from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

"The Macedonians of FYROM in Greece are referred to as Skopjans. That's a statement which is true. That's how they're referred to," Karygiannis said.

He's also championed causes that have split cultural communities, including successfully pushing Parliament to pass a motion that "acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity." Karygiannis says he's willing to sit down with anyone and talk.

"If they don't like it, then they will say OK, let's do a number on Jim. Well, that's fine. But my motto is respect, accept, celebrate and embrace."

Anita Bromberg, general counsel for B'nai Brith Canada, says the organization is concerned about some of the positions Karygiannis has taken.

"Our point today is that multiculturalism is a call for a united front, for bringing communities together ... where he's been so divisive in the positions he's taken, then we are suggesting to the Liberal Party that they reconsider whether he's the best representative of putting forth that aim."

Irene Hurricane Victim Was Worker From Macedonia

Irene victim in Wilmington was Mount Snow worker from Macedonia | Burlington Free Press | 

Brent Hallenbeck

Wilmington Police Chief Joe Szarejko confirmed Monday afternoon that a 20-year-old woman from the Eastern European country of Macedonia drowned when the car she was in became trapped by flooding Sunday from the Deerfield River.Ivana Taseva, 20, was in southern Vermont on a work program at the Mount Snow ski area in Dover as part of its housekeeping staff, Szarejko said. She, her boyfriend and two other men came upon an area covered in water while driving Sunday, Szarejko said. They were unable to drive away, he said, and the car began to be swept away by the floodwaters. Taseva and her boyfriend tried unsuccessfully to get to higher ground, and while he was able to hold onto the car, Szarejko said Taseva was swept away. All three men escaped uninjured.

Customers enjoy Berkley eatery's ethnic fare | Observer and Eccentric Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies | hometownlife.com

By David Edenden


Macedonians mean business!

Customers enjoy Berkley eatery's ethnic fare | Observer and Eccentric Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies | hometownlife.com:

"The Ilievskis don't seem to mind the hours and speak fondly of their regular customers who enjoy such dishes as Hungarian goulash, beef tips over dumplings, stuffed cabbage, pickerel and chicken paprikash. A Macedonian mixed grill includes pork with rice, tomatoes and roasted vegetables. Breakfast is served all day."

Macedonian Muslim Looks Good in Sweden

Muslim-Jewish tensions roil a Swedish city

By KARL RITTER | Published: 03/20/10 

Bejzat Becirov

Sweden prides itself on having taken in tens of thousands of the world’s war refugees, and Malmo, its third largest city, should be a showcase: 7 percent of its 285,000 people were born in the Middle East, according to city statistics, and it has large numbers of from the Balkans, including the Macedonian who heads the city’s largest mosque. 

After the Holocaust, it took in many Jews who survived the World War II Nazi genocide. 

Bejzat Becirov, the mosque head, said he feels “great sympathy for the Jewish community” and knows what it’s going through because “the Muslim community, too, is exposed to Islamophobia.”

Bush Likes Mike Zafirovski

By David Edenden

Good for Mike Zafirovkski being appointed By George Bush to this very important committee which will fight the electronic "War on Terror". Mike, if Bush was listening, I take back everything I said.

President George W. Bush to Appoint Nortel CEO Mike Zafirovski to National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee



President George W. Bush has announced his intent to nominate Nortel(1) (TSX: NT)(NYSE: NT) President and CEO Mike Zafirovski to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). In its advisory role to the president, the NSTAC provides industry-based analysis and recommendations on a wide range of policy and technical issues related to telecommunications, information systems, information assurance, infrastructure protection, and other national security and emergency preparedness concerns.

As a presidential appointee to NSTAC, Zafirovski would serve as a resource for the President and his national security team in efforts to safeguard critical U.S. infrastructure and telecommunications networks. In this capacity, Zafirovski would participate in discussions on a broad range of policy and technical issues related to telecommunications, critical infrastructure protection, homeland security, and other security concerns.

"I am very proud of this honor, and look forward to contributing to this important committee and serving the President during what will be a critical new era for technology and communications," said Zafirovski. "The rate of technology innovation promises to surpass that of any other time in recent history. We are entering a hyperconnected era that will not only transform the way people interact, but enable work, education and social interaction across all corners of the planet."

As President and CEO of Nortel, Zafirovski is building on the Company's strength in networking innovation to deliver new technologies that enable new levels of personalization, security and mobility to communications. Zafirovski, 53, is a 30-year business veteran with global management experience at Motorola and General Electric. He also serves on the board of directors of Boeing.

An active member of civic and business communities, Zafirovski serves on numerous professional, educational and non-profit business organizations, including The Economic Club of Chicago, Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Duke University Parent's Board, The Canadian Council of Chief Executives and the Macedonian Arts Council.

A native of Macedonia, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2004.

Pece Naumovski Wins International Karate Championships

Pece Naumovski Wins International Karate Championships

Kicking Towards His Goals

Forget the Hollywood version - Melbourne has the real-life Karate Kid. Ten year-old Pece Naumovski has returned triumphantly from the Go-Kan-Ryu Karate international championships in Britain. The tiny fighter punched, kicked and blocked his way to the gold medal on with more than 60 different defensive and offensive moves.

Just 18 months into his chosen sport he is being hailed a true talent of a martial art that combines explosive fight action with the grace and poise of a slow dance routine. 'I practice six days a week and I have got very professional trainers who help me reach the best of my ability,' said the humble hero. Not content to let his hands and feet do the talking, Pece gets his father, Vasil, to keep his impressive Mohawk clipped. 'It makes me look like a warrior,' he said.

Already a brown belt with the coveted black belt in his sights, Pece said he owed a lot to the local Lalor community, which helped fund his recent winning trip to Birmingham. Thomastown Meadows Primary School, where he is a grade 5 pupil, and the City of Whittlesea chipped in to send Pece to the competition. GKR Karate coach Jason Knight said Pece was ahead of the pack. 'To get to black belt would normally take about five years and the fact he is almost there is incredible"

Trpceski: Piano Master!

By David Edenden

Trpceski's webbsite:
JMM Record company
A brief biography


In the footsteps of a Macedonian master
Telegraph: 27/06/2007
Geoffrey Norris reviews

Simon Trpceski at Wigmore Hall

In a piano recital so rich in imagination and finesse, it is perhaps gratuitous to single out individual pleasures. Simon Trpceski's BBC Lunchtime Concert of Chopin and Liszt was an unalloyed joy, but there was one moment of especially haunting beauty.

It came in the third of Chopin's Waltzes Op 70, where Trpceski floated the theme weightlessly on a quietly rippling stream of sound. The effect was spellbinding. No words can do it justice.

The more one hears Trpceski, the more one appreciates how closely he identifies with the distinctive soul of the music he is playing. This was equally evident a few days earlier at a concert in his native Skopje.

The programme began with a foretaste of the works he was to play at Wigmore Hall, but then shifted focus, because he yielded the limelight to some younger musicians, with whom he played as duettist, accompanist or as part of an ensemble.

When Trpceski first made his mark here in 2000, I was probably not alone in being shamefully unaware of other Macedonian musical talent, but this concert exposed some winning examples of it.

With two of his pupils, Andrej Naunov and Edita Hadzi-Hamza, he played some of Grieg's Norwegian Dances, both of the younger pianists revealing the fusion of sensibility and technique that is a hallmark of their teacher.

Two promising singers, the baritone Goran Nacevski and soprano Irena Krsteska, performed songs by Grieg and Dvorák. Trombonist Viktor Ilieski played a transcription of Schubert's Serenade and, with panache, a concerto by Vladislav Blazhevich.

Notably impressive were three violinists, the 16-year-old Sofija Nikoska playing the Ponce/Heifetz Estrellita with eloquence of line, and boldly tackling the stratospheric Paganini/Kreisler La Campanella.

Gjorgi Dimcevski was dazzling in that Vengerov favourite, Bazzini's La Ronde des lutins. Kliment Todoroski was outstanding, not only for his confident stage manner but also for the tonal shading, sensitivity and élan he brought to Elgar's Salut d'amour and the Falla/Kreisler Spanish Dance.

All the artists joined in a final encore of a rip-roaring arrangement of a Macedonian folksong by Damir Imeri.

Trpceski embraced the spirit of this diverse repertoire with exceptional insight, just as each of the Chopin polonaises, mazurkas and waltzes in his solo programme encapsulated specific moods, and the two Liszt Soirées de Vienne had that enveloping atmosphere and consummate artistry which mark him out as one of the great musicians of our day.