Basketball: Bologna president hopeful over Bryant

Bologna president Claudio Sabatini says he is hopeful a deal can be worked out to bring NBA star Kobe Bryant to Italy despite the two parties remaining a way apart over economic matters.Bologna have made an offer to the 33-year-old in the hope of bringing him to the club either for a handful of matches or for the whole season should the NBA lock-out continue.And while Sabatini acknowledges their original offer was some way off Bryants financial expectations, he believes a deal can be reached.We were also working on this last night, there was a positive exchange with his agent, Sabatini said.There are differences to overcome but we want to tie-up this contract.Bryant spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport and gave encouraging signs as to his interest in such a move.Its very possible, it would be a dream for me. Theres an opportunity and were talking about it at the moment, said Bryant.Its very possible and thats good news for me.Italy is my home, its where my dream of playing in the NBA was born.Its here that I learnt the fundamentals, I learnt to shoot, to pass, to move without the ball.These were all things that on my return to America the kids my age didnt know how to do because they were concentrating only on jumping and dunking.Bryant spent eight formative years in Italy while his father played over here following the end of his own NBA career with the Houston Rockets.