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Byron Scott Leads Greek Team To
National Title; Riot Breaks Out--(May 26, 1998)

We're not certain how much former Laker, former ASU and former Inglewood star Byron Scott really likes Greece or playing for Panathinaikos Athens, but the Greeks sure like him. On Sunday, Byron's Panathinaikos Athens team won the Greek basketball championship for the first time since 1984, defeating PAOK Salonica 68-58 to win the series 3-2.

Scott let Panathinaikos with 21 points.

The fans were so happy with the victory, that they started a riot in Athens. Rampaging fans hurled rocks and flares at riot police and torched a subway construction site. The rioting was among the most serious sports-related violence in Athens in recent years and reflected the highly violent nature of some fan clubs in Greece. Hundreds of fans who gathered in the square to celebrate the victory threw flares into tourist hotels and shops around Omonia. Several cars also were damaged. As for the subway site, it was engulfed in flames. The extent of the fire damage was not immediately known; the site was one of the key stations in a new subway line that will help accommodate the crowds for the 2004 Olympic Games. The square was plastered with signs advertising the Games. They carried the slogan: ``Lighting a brilliant future.'' Baton-wielding riot officers fanned out from the square and arrested at least six people. Rioters hurled stones, bottles and flares at police, but there were no serious injuries, reports said. The game was played before 15,000 spectators at Olympic stadium. Hundreds of police also were at the scene in case violence erupted in the arena.

Maybe the Lakers should think twice before they let Byron get away again this year. Goodness knows, they could have used his scoring against Utah.