O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek Americans c v A WEEKLY GREEK AMERICAN PUBLICATION www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 13, ISSUE 632 November 21-27, 2009 $1.25 More Fears Over Greek Fiscal and Economic Mis- Management in Europe By Geoffrey T. Smith to Greek government debt will The Wall Street Journal soon disqualify the country from posting its debt as collateral for NEW YORK - A shakeout in Greek ECB loans. government bonds over the past Greek banks have a particular week underscores recurring con- problem in that a large part of their cerns over the country's public fi- assets are Greek government nances and its banks. The Euro- bonds, which they also use as col- pean Central Bank has dropped in- lateral for their regular loans from creasingly heavy hints that it in- the ECB. Currently, these total tends to start unwinding extraordi- around 40 billion euro ($60 bil- nary measures supporting the lion), according to a Greek banking banking system soon - possibly as official familiar with the matter. early as December - and return "The concern is that the finan- gradually to more normal policies cial system overall might become in 2010. But the health of Europe's over-reliant on the central bank," banking system in general - and said Daniele Antonucci, an econo- Greece's banking system in particu- mist with Morgan Stanley in Lon- lar - seems so fragile that even mere don. "The biggest increase in bor- hints of tightening are enough to rowing from the ECB has been in cause minor panic. Greece." The European Commission al- The market value of those bonds ready has singled out Greece as the has suffered from ratings down- worst offender with wide budget grades. And in a nightmare sce- deficits, and earlier this month or- nario, those bonds could be down- dered the Greek government to graded to a point where the ECB present regular progress on cutting red ink. Questions about the accu- Continued on page 9 racy of Greece's budget accounts are adding to the concern. The gov- The Dormition of the Virgin (above) was painted by El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) at the end of his Cretan period. A fine illustration ernment acknowledged last month of the cultural fusion that occured in Venetian-occupied Crete, the elaborate painting contains late Byzantine and Italian Mannerist elements. that its deficit will hit 12.7% of WITH THIS ISSUE gross domestic product this year - the biggest in the euro zone and twice previous forecasts from just two months ago. Onassis Center Exhibit and The Origins of El Greco ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said in an interview pub- By Sophia Stratakis Huling 2010. Curated by Dr. Anastasia “The point [of the exhibit] is not alistic” way, but to suggest their lished Tuesday by Le Monde news- Special to The National Herald Drandaki, a Byzantine art curator just to present beautiful objects, spiritual significance. During the paper -- and posted on the ECB Web at the Benaki Museum in Athens, but to tell a coherent, important Renaissance paintings became in- site - that some countries risked The legendary 16th-century Eu- the paintings are gathered from story,” said Drandaki. “From Crete, creasingly naturalistic and realistic, "losing credibility" if they didn't ropean painter Domenikos public and private collections in El Greco moved on to the main and this was also the case with reli- shore up their finances soon. Theotokopoulos – better known as Greece, Russia, Italy, and North stage of European painting through gious images, sharpening the con- The National Bank of Greece El Greco – has been called a “re- America, some traveling to the U.S. gateways that had been opened up trast between Western and Eastern said Monday that it had felt com- naissance man,” and the Onassis for the first time. The exhibit ex- by long-term coexistence, contra- Christian iconography. pelled to advise Greek banks to Cultural Center is demonstrating plores the interaction between dictions and interactions between Venice conquered Crete in 1211, "show restraint" at the central that more clearly than ever in its Eastern and Western artistic trends Greeks and Latins in Venetian right after the Fourth Crusade and bank's next tender of 12-month latest exhibit. in Crete under the Venetians, which Crete.” the Latins’ sack of Constantinople funds, scheduled for Dec. 16. “The Origins of El Greco: Icon was El Greco’s homeland and train- In the Byzantine tradition, every in 1204, which brought about a Many expect this auction to be Painting in Venetian Crete,” an ex- ing ground. It also follows his de- element of an icon is designed to new dialog between Byzantine and the last time that the ECB offers un- hibit of 46 rare paintings by 14th to velopment from his roots, through express and emphasize spiritual re- Western art. By the end of the 14th limited funds so inexpensively for 16th century artists from the island his reinvention in Italy, and ulti- alities rather than the actual physi- century, Cretan artists began re- so long, and analysts expect some- of Crete, opened at the Onassis mately to his maturity in Renais- cal world. Colors, human features, ceiving commissions from Vene- thing of a stampede for the funds. Center in New York November 17 sance Spain as one of the most rec- and positioning of people and ob- Market rumors have circulated sug- and runs through February 27, ognized artists in history. jects are often not depicted in a “re- Continued on page 3 gesting that a series of downgrades Gala Honors Alex Anthopoulos, Young Celebs; Gage Canadian American General Challenges Manager is Put to the Test SAN FRANCISCO - More than 700 By David Waldstein maining major league baseball prominent members of the Greek The New York Times team. American community, as well as “I understand he’s one of the Hollywood glitterati and political CHICAGO - The first time Alex An- best payers in the game and proba- notables and honorees graced the thopoulos called a baseball general bly the best Blue Jay to ever play historic Fairmont Hotel atop San manager was nine years ago. When and pitch for us,” Anthopoulos said Francisco’s Nob Hill for the Elios Jim Beattie, then the general man- at the general manager meetings. “I Society’s seventh Hellenic Charity ager of the Montreal Expos, an- understand it’s a big story. What’s Ball on Saturday, November 7. swered the phone, Anthopoulos, important is we need to continue to This year’s honorees were four just 23, panicked and hung up as if add good young controllable play- distinguished Greek Americans: he were a kid making a crank call. ers to this team.” Award winning actors George A little embarrassed and a lot Chakiris and Michael Chiklis, disappointed, Anthopoulos decided Continued on page 3 writer and investigative reporter that his dream of becoming a real Nicholas Gage, and actress/author baseball executive could not end as Marilu Henner. Greek American pathetically as that. singer Kalomira received the Elios “I smacked myself,” he said, Spotlight Award, and television “and said, ‘Come on, have some personality Maria Menounos was guts.’ ” ‘Short Trip to the gracious and elegant Mistress Almost a decade later, An- of Ceremonies. thopoulos no longer hangs up on The Edge’: A On hand were political figures AP PHOTO/SERGEI GRITS other general managers, not unless including former Governor Gray Greece reaches World Cup for 1st time since 1994 they offer a utility infielder for ar- Davis and former San Francisco guably the best pitcher in baseball. Man’s Search Mayor Willie Brown. Also present Greece players celebrate their win against Ukraine in the World Cup qualifying playoff second leg soccer And the guts he displayed when he were His Eminence Metropolitan match at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009. Greece won 1-0. It called Beattie back looking for a job By Angelike Contis Gerasimos of San Francisco, His is the second time Greece has qualified for the World Cup, the only previous occasion being the 1994 tour- will be tested again as he prepares The National Herald Staff Writer Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas, Di- nament in the United States. See related story on page 9. to make perhaps the most impor- rector of the Patriarch Athenagoras tant personnel decision in the his- NEW YORK –“That I am a sinner is Institute, Ambassador Ioannis An- tory of the Toronto Blue Jays. of no great surprise, as I’m sure it is dreades, Consul General of Greece In his sixth week as the Blue no surprise to anyone who knows in San Francisco, and The Hon- Jays’ general manager, Anthopou- me. That I might ask for mercy has orary Consul General of Cyprus, los has been thrust into the position been also a long-held, long-em- Nicolaos Theophanous. Sophocles’ Plays & The Anguish of War of deciding what to do with Roy braced comfort. That I might be- During his acceptance speech Halladay, the ace pitcher who will come less of a sinner, less distract- writer Nicholas Gage challenged By Patrick Healy formed at Fort Riley in Kansas; at Driver, a former Marine. be entering the final year of his con- ed, less broken, and more Christ- Greek Americans to do a better job The New York Times the Uniformed Services University The investigation of Maj. Nidal tract. like (but never seemed to do) has of channeling their resources and in Bethesda, Md.; and at last week’s Malik Hasan, the Army psychiatrist It is widely assumed that the been the nagging thorn in my side celebrity status to benefit Hel- The ancient Greeks had a short- Warrior Resilience Conference in accused of killing 13 at Fort Hood Blue Jays will not be able to re-sign to date…” lenism.