Garbajosa A Go For Spain

Jorge Garbajosa will pull on his Spanish national team basketball jersey today and unimaginable emotion will wash over him.

On this side of the Atlantic, the feeling around the Raptors will be more trepidation than elation.
With insurance issues settled but questions about his health remaining, Garbajosa will suit up for Spain to open the Eurobasket 2007 tournament in Madrid today, giving him a chance to live out one of his dreams.

"When I was growing up I never really dreamed of playing for Barcelona or Madrid, I dreamed of putting on a Spanish national team jersey and so this meant a lot to me," Garbajosa said yesterday in Spain when he was finally cleared to play, two weeks after the Raptors had denied him permission to take part in the event.

It took a series of all-night meetings and negotiations involving the Raptors, the Spanish basketball federation and insurance companies before the 29-year-old got final approval to play.
The Raptors, mindful of Garbajosa's place on their roster and the $8.4 million (U.S.) they owe him over the next two seasons, aren't overjoyed that he'll play, but the insurance issue gave them enough peace of mind to withdraw their objections.

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source : thestar.com