There are a slew of articles pre-game in the Italian media-- some translated into English...with M, that showed his(& the entire team's) preocuppation/obsession with stopping Z...things like we have guys & methods of dealing with him.
Of course, this is nothing new for live baskets & soccer fans in particular.
Neither side comes out looking like roses here.
But i'm a fan of the Jackie Robinson school of self-defense: his particular adversary's name escapes me, but-- on a play with Jackie taking a throw to first, the runner completely dug his cleats on the exposed calf. Robinson said & did nothing then, and as time passed that incident seemed totaly forgotten / accepted by Robinson...as he never uttered a word to his aggressor, despite many games played against each other.
But one day a long time later, Robinson happens to be covering second base for the start of a DP, with lo & behold his illustrious adversary running from first base...can you guess what happened? I'll spare you the gory details re how many teeth & bone splinters flew all over the place.
NOW, to his credit, that individual took his punishment well: he also never complained / said one word in public...or tried ever to retaliate.
