An American basketball star became a millionaire playing in a Russian club sponsored by a thief in law - ForumDaily
The article has been automatically translated into English by Google Translate from Russian and has not been edited.
Переклад цього матеріалу українською мовою з російської було автоматично здійснено сервісом Google Translate, без подальшого редагування тексту.
Bu məqalə Google Translate servisi vasitəsi ilə avtomatik olaraq rus dilindən azərbaycan dilinə tərcümə olunmuşdur. Bundan sonra mətn redaktə edilməmişdir.

The American basketball star became a millionaire by playing in a Russian club sponsored by a thief in law

American basketball star Sue Bird spent 11 years playing professionally in Russia at a club whose owner was once convicted of spying for the KGB. Insider.

Photo: IStock

Byrd told 60 Minutes that despite being the first overall pick in the 2002 WNBA draft, she was making less than $60 a year early in her career. Although she now only plays in the US, she has spent most of her career playing overseas to supplement her income, like many WNBA players.

On the subject: The United States confiscated $ 5,4 million from the Russian oligarch: the money should be transferred to Ukraine

Byrd said that after two seasons of playing in Europe, Russian billionaire Shabtai Kalmanovich recruited her to Euroleague Spartak Moscow.

“He said, ‘You know, I have a lot of money. And, you know, some people like to gamble. Some people like to buy cars. I like to spend my money on women’s basketball,” the athlete said about her recruitment.

Kalmanovich paid Bird 10 times what she earned in the WNBA. When asked if the money changed her life, Byrd said yes.

Like the article? Support ForumDaily!?

“Absolutely,” she said. “I became a millionaire because of this.”

Kalmanovich spoiled his players, and the payments were not limited to wages.

“Everything was literally first class,” Bird said. — We stayed in the best hotels. We stayed in the best hotel in Paris."

Diana Taurasi, her teammate, said they were also given a "mini mansion" with a pool and spa. According to them, Kalmanovich even gave American players his credit card to go shopping, telling the women to "buy whatever you want."

“I was thinking, 'Should I buy this $3000 Louis Vuitton bag that I would never buy? Yes, I will, and I will buy two—one for me and one for Jessica Taurasi,” she said, referring to her sister.

Taurasi continued, “We get in the car and we have something like 25, 30 bags. I feel like we robbed a bank."

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants, and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New Y.

CBS described Kalmanovich as "a former KGB spy and businessman with a background in outlawry". November 2, 2009 was killed in the center of Moscow.

Kalmanovich spent five years in an Israeli prison on charges of espionage. After his release, he made a fortune trading African diamonds.

Read also on ForumDaily:

400 products recalled in the US: sandwiches, yogurts, croissants, salads may be contaminated with listeria

How to find a remote job in the USA: 16 sites with the best vacancies

Frosts are not from this planet: a record winter storm hit the USA

Miscellanea basketball Educational program Russian oligarch Sue Bird
Subscribe to ForumDaily on Google News

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis. 



 
1070 requests in 1,030 seconds.