Peterson: “Rubini, the Colossus of Rhodes of Italian basketball”

The greatest and most important figure in the history of Italian basketball, Cesare Rubini, would have turned 100 today. Instead, we lost him in 2011, at 87. But his figure and the myth of him grow bigger with each passing day. He was one of the few to play two sports for the national team: water polo and basketball. At just 24 years old, he was captain of the Italian team that won the Olympic gold in London in 1948, beating the heavy favorites Hungary, 3-2, in the decisive match. Today Rubini is in the water polo Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is also in the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, for his incredible career as coach of Olimpia Milano, 25 years, from 1949 to 1974.

15 championships and the first champions cup

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In that period it won 15 scudetti (to which are added 8 second places), the first European Cup of an Italian team, with Bill Bradley as the main star. He, “The Godfather”, created the cult of the Red Shoes, as Charlie Recalcati said with great eloquence a few years ago, with the Blond Angel (Sandro Riminucci), the Professor (Gianfranco Pieri) and the Warrior (Sandro Gamba) . He was a figure like the Colossus of Rhodes, larger than life. It was important for me too. He called me in 1977 to come and coach Olimpia but I couldn’t. I arrived in 1978 and he was present when I signed the contract with Dr. Adolfo Bogoncelli.

Champagne

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He was close to me physically and with words during my nine years with the club, from 1978 to 1987. He also opened the champagne in the dressing room when we won the scudetto in 1982. My first year at Virtus, 1973-74, was It was his last year as coach and he beat me in both matches, coming back from -15 at Palalido (27-12) to win by one point, a masterpiece from the bench, to say the least. I never allowed myself to sit where he sat when he coached Olimpia. For me, that place was sacred, like a throne. Promise kept. Then, grateful for how he helped me, I promised myself to support a coach who would take over Olimpia, without wanting to impose myself. Another promise kept. He was a legendary character. One day I asked him: “Cesare, how did you manage to do both water polo and basketball?”. He, with his disarming simplicity: “Dan! Water polo in the summer, basketball in the winter!” End of speech! For all of us at Olimpia, Cesare Rubini is always present, in our hearts and minds.