[media-credit name=’Herald file photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]Kirk Penney, the tall New Zealander who once graced the courts of the Kohl Center, is facing something new this year: a new nickname and a chance to play with the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team in Israel. The former UW basketball star, dubbed "Kiwi" by Israeli fans, signed a one-year contract with the two-time defending Euroleague champions in August.

"I was honored to be offered a contract from the team," Penney said. "When I signed, I figured I was going to a great team in a dodgy place. … However, after being here for a few weeks, I find Tel Aviv to be like a little American city on the beach. The team is a family, and everyone involved with the team is instantly involved in your life. We have five Americans, one Croatian and the rest Israeli players [on the team]. Everyone here calls me 'Kiwi' because 'Kirk' seems to be hard to pronounce."
Before signing with Tel Aviv, Penney brought his game to the NBA, where he spent part of the 2003 basketball season with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Miami Heat.

After being released by both teams, the 6-foot-5 guard played the remainder of the season in Spain.

Penney then took his talents to the Asheville Altitude, where he showcased his talents for the NBDL champions before heading to Los Angeles to play for the Clippers.

Playing for five teams in two years, the New Zealander learned a valuable lesson in contractual dealings.

"You learn very quickly in the professional world the importance of guaranteed contracts," Penney said. "Without guarantees, things happen regardless of how you are performing. Initially you may not understand why someone says one thing then does another. However, the NBA is a very successful business and, like any business, there are business and political decisions."

Though Penney might not have reached celebrity status in America, his arrival in Israel drew quite a spectacle.

"When I arrived here, there were around 30 people in the airport to greet me, although many were media," Penney said. "Since that point it has been a whirlwind of practices, appearances, media commitments and a little traveling. My teammates are awesome. Everyone speaks English — all of the team talks and huddles are in English, which is huge. In fact, everyone in Israel seems to speak English as well as Hebrew."

"As for the team, they take unbelievable care of their players," Penney continued. "They provide you with a lovely three bedroom apartment and a 2005 Nissan (the team sponsor). We have a great locker room, with a plasma TV and DVD player in each player's locker. I am beginning to understand why this team has won the European title the last two seasons. They take care of everything off the court so you can take care of business on the court. In saying this I do not want to paint a false picture of Europe; not many teams even come close to the care Maccabi can give you. So I am very grateful to be in this situation."

Though the new Maccabi star is enjoying the fast-pace life of a European elite basketball player, Penney still misses the overwhelming atmosphere supplied by the Kohl Center.

"From a basketball standpoint, I would have to say I have been searching since leaving college for a real team-orientated environment like I had at UW, where you play for each other and enjoy winning and pulling together in the losses," Penney said. "Maccabi is so stacked with good players. When they recruited me to come here, they talked extensively about the importance of character on the team, in many cases over sheer talent. This made the experience more enjoyable. We are playing hard in practices but there are plenty of jokes circling throughout. Sure there is a lot of pressure for us to succeed, but this environment keeps everyone level."

While Penney has finally found a good fit in Maccabi — where his teammates include fellow former U.S. college stars Maceo Baston, Will Solomon and Anthony Parker — he has also found comfort and support in his new Maccabi faithful.

"On the court, we have 12,000 crazy fans, called the 'Yellow Heart,' at every home game. It may not be the 17,000 I loved at the Kohl Center, but it isn't too shabby," Penney said.

Despite the fact that basketball takes up the majority of his time, Penney still manages to venture off the court with his teammates to explore the beautiful landscape of Israel.

"I visited the Dead Sea and some of Jerusalem with my teammates [last week]," Penney said. "The history here is so rich, and floating in the Dead Sea was kind of unreal. It is so salty that you literally float. Then you cover your body in mineral mud and the whole nine yards. Like I said, Israel has a rich history and culture and I finally got to ride a camel."

Although he may be thousands of miles away, Penney still calls Madison home. He is still taking courses at the UW and enjoys visiting every chance he gets.

"I love Madison, it is my home in the states," Penney said. "I am still chipping away at my landscape architecture degree during the summer and have returned for at least a couple of months each summer since leaving."