Bill Varner, the stylish American who won five consecutive titles with Racing Mechelen, returns to Telenet Giants Antwerp for a special tribute. Varner was active for six seasons with Racing Mechelen, winning five consecutive titles and three Belgian Cups. He averaged 33 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists during that period. When Racing Mechelen faced financial problems in 1995 and later merged into Racing Basket Antwerpen, Varner left Mechelen with a bittersweet feeling. He remained active until 2002, playing in Spain, Venezuela, and France. At 42, he returned to the United States, where he worked as a firefighter for a time. “Bill makes a ‘forty-something’ every week with the basketball team of the fire department,” said Eddy Casteels, former assistant coach of Bill Varner at Racing Mechelen. “I was indeed a time at the Fire Department. I found a new challenge quickly and became a bodyguard for celebrities,” said Bill Varner, who was solicited by the former fans of Racing Mechelen. “I lived with my wife in Hollywood and was a bodyguard for The Kardashians, Snoop Dogg, and Kanye West (Ye). I now live in Las Vegas and have my own bodyguard business.” Bill Varner received a standing ovation from the fans with his former teammates from Racing Mechelen before the game against Kangoeroes Mechelen and Telenet Giants Antwerp and gave a symbolic throw-in. “This is emotional. I saw guys like Rik, Ronny, Paul, Eddy, Jacques, and Dirk more than twenty years ago. They are my ‘brothers’. We had a nice dinner before the game. Tony Van de Bosch was, of course, a good guide,” Varner winked. “Racing Mechelen remains my best period as a basketball player. On and off the court. The connection with coach Van Kers (Lucien Van Kersschaever), my teammates, and of course, the fans will never be forgotten. Those memories are forever in my heart,” said Bill Varner. In the spring of 2023, a documentary by BELGA Sport will be released about the great Racing Mechelen of the eighties and nineties with icons like Bill Varner and co. They played in the Euroleague against top teams like Real Madrid, Cibona Zagreb, and Milan and against legendary world stars like Arvidas Sabonis, Drazen Petrovic, Mike D’Antoni, Bob McAdoo, and Dino Meneghin. The perhaps best Belgian basketball team ever even qualified for the Final 16 of the Euroleague and missed the Final 8 by a hair.