Getting noticed "It helped me a lot that the team I played for was in a French part of Geneva, because I also speak French," Eka said. "That was one of many key components to my getting in the door to play overseas. "I basically marketed myself ferociously. I put together highlight tapes, clips, anything to put on the Internet to introduce myself to teams. I literally called 200 teams, and, fortunately, the team in Switzerland liked my tape, called me a week later and offered me a contract." Eka averaged 29 points and 11 rebounds for BC Cossonay. The pressure was constantly on to produce big numbers. "Unless you're playing in the higher leagues overseas, where everyone makes six figures, you, as an American import, better be the top player on your team, because you're one of the few guys getting paid," said Eka, who earned about $2,000 per month in Switzerland, and was provided a car and apartment free of charge.

"If you don't perform at your very best each and every game, teams, because they survive solely on sponsorships, and can go bankrupt and fold at any time, will find any excuse they can to send you packing back to the states. A lot of players don't realize that, and assume playing overseas will simply be an extension of college." Eka said "imports" also are required, with regularity, to represent their teams off the court by making public appearances. "The book is comprised of two parts -- the background to playing overseas, and what to expect as an import, and how to market and promote yourself so the right team discovers you," Eka said. "It doesn't matter how good you were in college, whether you played Division I, II, III or NAIA. You have to know what's going on, how to work the system, how to overcome home sickness and the many pitfalls to playing overseas while living in completely different environments and under completely different basketball structures."

Shrinking salaries Eka said that because of the current influx of foreign players in the NBA, non-Americans are getting more opportunities to play in overseas leagues, making it more difficult for U.S. players to find openings. "Consequently, the amount of money an import can ask for is starting to decrease, although places like Israel, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan are still paying players very well," he said. "Lebanon is paying about $80,000 a season, and Egypt is paying six figures. But you also better know what you're doing, and you better be careful, because some of those places are hot spots right now with everything going on in the world." Eka's self-published book can be obtained on-line at www.thekrazedcollection.com.