"Bad luck always leads to something positive as well"

The season is heating up, and the coming weeks will be decisive for both TSG Hoffenheim and the MLP Academics Heidelberg. TSG are fighting to avoid relegation, and the Academics want to make it to the play-offs at all costs. Nevertheless, on Monday (5th May), basketball player Paul Zipser and footballer Finn Becker took the time to take part in the second edition of the Rhein-Neckar newspaper's talk format in the sports pavilion in Heidelberg. 

In a relaxed setting with journalist Nikolas Beck and 15 ticket winners, Zipser and Becker spoke about a range of topics, including the difference in fan cultures in Germany and the USA. "You feel a bit like a lion in a cage that's supposed to perform a few tricks," said Zipser, describing his time playing in the NBA. The basketball player played for the Chicago Bulls from 2016-2018 in the best basketball league in the world. 

Becker missed nearly the whole first half of the season due to knee problems. "For me that was brutally hard. I'd made the most of the break and wanted to start the season on great form. I wanted to give it my all and establish myself as a key player. That was my mindset going into it. And then I had the setback with the injury in the very first week, and kept having setbacks. But I made the most of the time and started studying. I'm also learning Spanish. I wouldn't have done that otherwise, because I always just put it off. Bad luck always leads to something positive as well. You can only see that later on. Looking back, it made me improve," said the midfielder, speaking about his injury. 

Both Becker and Zipser are very interested in other sports. The TSG first team player used to play handball before deciding to pursue football. And Zipser, who comes from Heidelberg, also used to play football, but his heart beat stronger for the basketball. 

After the conversation, both players gave some time to the audience and were happy to oblige any requests for autographs and selfies.