Marc Salyers, former player of basketball club “Sokhumi”, applied to our editorial office with a letter where he talks about the scandal between him and the mentioned club. Here is his letter:
“I am Marc Salyers, professional basketball player from USA. This year, it is the 11th season of my European career. I have played for French, Italian, Turkish, Polish and Ukrainian clubs. I am 2-time champion (in 2004 and 2007) and finalist (in 2008 and 2010) of France. I have played in all star games of France, Turkey and EuroCup. I have become the best player of France (MVP) twice (2007, 2008). Also, I have been the top scorer of Euroleague and the best player (MVP) of French club “Roanne” (2007, 2008).
I decided to write this letter to Georgian basketball society to let everyone know what conditions I had in basketball club “Sokhumi”. I want to tell you about my adventure which started on August 20 when I signed contract with “Sokhumi” and ended up on October 16 when I broke contract because of unbearable situation.
I had 180 000 USD contract with “Sokhumi” by 2011-12 seasons. I was to receive the first salary 180 000 USD three days after passing medical test. I was to receive other salaries on 25th of each month, from September till May.
I arrived in Tbilisi with my fiancée on September 4. On September 5, I passed medical test and I was to receive my first salary in three days, till September 8.
OnSeptember 9, we were leaving for Lithuania for meeting. My former teammates Pier Pierce and Frank Robinson were not going to participate in the meeting because “Sokhumi” did not pay them salary. Of course, I know about this fact though the local representatives of the club told us that we would receive our salary on September 12. This was the first lie.
Our team meeting in Lithuania and Latvia was horrible and it will always stay in my memory as the worst period of my 10-year European career. There was no discipline in the team. There was nobody in the team who could solve any problem. Most of the players were on strike and did not participate in trainings. Frank Robinson, Pier Pierce and Greg Stiem did not train in Latvia. Georgians also joined them. That is why our friendly games were not held with Latvian champion “VEF” Riga. Later, it was found out that the club named injuries as the reason.
“Sokhumi” had 20-day limit for giving salaries which of course, considered fine. The fine was 100 USD after the 7th day. After 20 days, we, players, had right to break contract and to demand annual salary.
Greg Stiems, former center of our team, behaved this way. On September 22, he sent official letter to the club and demanded annual salary. Then, he left the club and departed for the USA.
I returned to Tbilisi on September 24. We were to hold the first EuroChallenge qualifying game against “Minsk” after 10 days. No one said anything about the first salary. We only heard promises and explanations.
I started training 4-5 days before, when the president of the club transferred 5-5 000 by “Western Union”, in total 9, 800 USD. Following to my information, Franck and Pierce also were transferred less than half of the salary. We hoped that in case of success everything will be fine, that’s why we did our best and achieved our goal. We won over “Misnk” with 16 points, but club’s attitude towards us did not change. I was given 9,800 USD from 18,000 USD, which I had to receive on September 8. I had to receive the next 18,000 USD on September 25 as I have already mentioned. On October 4 I again played for “Sokhumi”, but after September 28 I could leave the club as Stiems did, but I did not do it.
Atmosphere is the club was psychologically as well as physically hard for me. I am 205 sm and in the flat where I was living was very uncomfortable bed, they promised me many times that would change the bed, but they did not. According to the contract I had to have private driver, but of course I did not have. The fact that the club could not provide the club with ice apparatus during the training means a lot.
On October 11 we had the second match against Minsk. After the first match, which was held on October 4, I trained with the club only once. Before leaving for Minsk I was given 8, 000 USD by cash. So I was given the first salary, which I had to receive on September 8.
Whole staff left for Minsk and still had hope that after qualifying round of Euro Challenge everything would be change. On the previous day of the match, the president who arrived from Russia for attendance the match came to our hotel. He started talking about his political opponents, while the players wondered only their problem. We heard completely irrational arguments from this person. We assured that for him the primary was his ego and then terms in our contract. He promised us that on October 24 there would be financial stabilization period and all the dept would be paid off, they used to say the same thing very often.
Before October 4 we had video-conference by Skype with him about it. He had information about our problems and at this meeting he had such reaction as if he heard first time about our financial problems. His indifferent treat surprised me very much. Unfortunately, on the next day psychologically and morally destroyed club shamefully lost with “Minsk”. After the match, completely strange person on behalf of “Sokhumi” came to us and said that the managing board asked him to search new club for us, because the club was not going to pay our next salary to us. It was sharp “joke”. I said good-bye to this person and at once wrote to my agent to involve legally in this problem, because I was to leave “Sokhumi”. On October 13 I arrived in Tbilisi and at once moved to “Holliday-Inn” with my girlfriend.
My agent Gay Zuker and my Georgian agent Levan Mikeladze had negotiations with the representatives of the club to solve everything without using basketball arbitrage situated in Geneva. Our proposal was to pay off all the dept till October 24 and paying the next month salary. We received request that Georgian basketball federation was demanding me to have drug test. Of course it was not defined in my contract. It was completely dirty step from “Sokhumi”. Me, Frand and Pierre had the same opinion, the club wanted to blame us using doping or some other illegal intoxication. We doubted that the club even could falsify test results. I am ready to have drug test any time at any normal clinic in the world. I am a professional basketball player and I have never tried any illegal intoxication.
On October 16 I finished contract with the club and on the same day I left for Italy. The club refused to buy tickets for me and I bought tickets for me and my girl-friend. Today, on October 24 is a deadline for compensation all my depts., but “Sokhumi” has not put even a cent on my deposit. I really did not want to use arbitrage against “Sokhumi”, but I do not have another choice. According my information, Frank Robinson and Pierre Pierce and Gregory Stiemsma are going to do the same.
I would like to apologize Georgian basketball society in advance, if my behavior put the reputation of Georgian basketball clubs in doubt, but unfortunately the managing board of “Sokhumi” did not leave us another chance. As for me, I promise that I will not identify “Sokhumi” to Georgian basketball players, wherever I am I always mentioned, that Tbilisi is very good city with lovely population. I want to use this chance and thank to my Georgian agent Levan Mikeladze, who was always next to me and was doing his best in difficult situation to find out the peaceful way out. I want to thank my landlord Mr. Gia and his family, who paid big attention to me and my girl-friend while being in Tbilisi”.
Sincerely
Mark Salyers
P.S. Our editorial is ready (and always was ready) to show positions of basketball club “Sokhumi” about this topic.
