Heal was the original Hater of the NBL. Hodge is just filling the void for a year.

Shane has never been one to mask what he thinks. Granted on a "National" level, I actually like his smack-talk; I still have good memories of the Barkley encounter.

Unfortunately as a commentator, you're supposed to be un-biased towards either side (even though that's rarely the case); and comments about Groves should be saved for fans, not has-beens.

I'm still waiting for the day that someone slaps Heal and makes him cry. (Barkley should have done it)

Hopeully, Shane get's a commentating gig in the NBA (I mean he somehow made the NBA after all so he must have a horse shoe up his arse). I would love to see him make comments like that about someone like a Ron Artest. Artest would get wind of it and jump the announce table and beat the piss out of him.

Anon, how good a player he is has nothing to do with it. I don't think I've seen Tez act like a sook once - Heal is the one that gave the finger to the crowd, argued with people in the crowd, whinged to the refs, etc. etc. etc.

He couldn't substantiate his comments when asked to Wednesday night, coz he didn't have anything to base them on. From what I've seen of Tez, Heal's comments couldn't have been further from the mark.

The best thing in this would be for Cortez Groves to fire up tonight.

Shane Heal is a massive tool, no question, but he's just calling it like he sees it. I'd prefer that than the usual dry commentary - even at the Sixers expense. Gives me someone to hate and firs up more.

Besides, he wasn't wrong about Cortez always needed to have the rock.

There's a difference between sooking/moping, and complaining to the refs/getting fired up at the crowd etc.

I think sooking is a reference to having a bad game and not playing hard as a result. No one can accuse Heal of not playing hard. Always did whatever he could to win.

Haven't seen Groves sulk. Shooting form is poor and he might have questionable decision making skills going by some on here, but I don't think he sulks.

Ahh suck it up people, Heal isnt a class person, BUT the NBL needs this kind of 'drama' game to game. True or not, it creates some kind of discussion, out of a 23 point blow out. I was just surprised to see he was actually taller than Steve Waugh haha

Besides, for me, there is some truth to it. Im sure Heal saw like we all did how bad Tez was at the Dragons, and he isnt any better in Adelaide. You telling me he was thinking clear and positive when he blew THAT layup against the Breakers. No. He'd already cracked the sh*ts. How long can you wait for a guy to have THAT big game? His style, whatever that is anymore, demands he has the ball in his hands, which doesnt suit the system the 36ers are trying to put together. This will be Groves last pro gig for sure....

thedoctor I disagree with you. In his last few seasons Heal would continue to shoot even if it wasn't in the best interest of his team trying to win the game.

If you're talking about Boti article in today’s Advertise, it was a load of horse dropping and only makes the 36ers look like insecure children.

This is a primary reason why a fan should never become an owner; Ben Fitzsimmons is the one looking like a sook. Shane Heal and the 36ers have a very tenuous history but this looks like a very cheap shot. Poor form Sixers.

If Cortez Groves sooks about this isn’t he just perpetuation what Shane Heal is saying?

The best advice anyone could give Cortez would be to get on with it and play good basketball. If in the future he sulks, looks like Shane Heal is right, if not, what it matters.

And to say, it "could impact on Groves' chances of employment beyond his 36ers' contract" won’t his actions on the court take care of this. If he plays good basketball, no one will remember and the Sixer will offer him another contract. If not, well, why would get hired.

I think a few people need to stop being so precious.

The game needs personalities, and whether you like him or not, Heal certainly is that!

I wasn't saying Groves is a sook, just saying I always thought Heal played as hard as he could and never backed down. Probably played a few seasons too long, but always thought he was the best player on the court. Backed himself, probably to his team's detriment in the later years.

Boti's article makes reference to the Sixers "considering legal action." Is this a joke? Agree or disagree with Heal's comments, but legal action would be a gross overreaction.

Yeah, I think it's a bit much doing more than emailing the NBL to see if they think it was a warranted comment, but that'd be it.

Wouldn't be surprised if Boti was just jumping on the further comments by Heal that this would hardly be headline news stuff. As soon as I heard that in the commentary last night I commented that surely it was too good of an opportunity for Boti not to have a dig ;)

Joe M said it all perfectly!!!

It's all a beat-up to get some publicity, so the risk is mostly that people think that the 'legal' reaction is over the top and real.

Heal's comments come from the bad blood between them during their time at the Dragons. (neither covered theselves with glory there)
Heal should not be able to slag a player on National TV in the way he did, when it comes from a personal vendetta.

Wat a load of ..... sooky sooky la la la

GET OVER IT

Who cares wat the idiot Heal said. If you got nothing better to worry about. Stop the 6ers being so full of their own importance. No one really cares !!!!!!

Must agree with Moose. Also Shane Heals comments" when I was his coach" cracked me up... didn't the great authority get fired half way through the season.

Actually Victorian, by the looks of this post, a fair few people DO care.

Proven, are you seriously suggesting that in the NZ game, after the come back the 6ers had just put on, the Tez was being a sook - he was concussed!

I just don't think the commentators should be able to say comments like that on TV - as someone else pointed out, you wouldn't see it happening in commentary in the AFL, or the NBA. Have an opinion is fine, but it shouldn't be defamatory. Makes our league look second rate.

as is always the way arseholes a the first to get the bullet followed by bums heal fits both say6 what you like you do not air your own bitch fights on tv it makes you what you are and in heals case just that a HEEL AND A BIGGER SOOK AND POOR LOSER

AND AS FOR YOU PEOPLE WHO THINK HE HAS PERSONALITY HE HAS ABOUT AS MUCH AS A CANETOAD SEEN AND HATED

Regardless of whether Heal was correct or not, he didn't come across as being a 'professional' commentator with those comments. It sounded totally personal and like an excuse for the shocking season that South had when Heal was the 'coach' and the 'captain'. Don't give him more attention and over-react by taking it too far

Hey Barra use a full stop here and there mate.

I have no problem with Heal saying what he said, NBA commentators do it all the time, especially the ex-coaches. If Tez was playing well nobody would care about the comments, but his bad form has people wondering if Heal is right.

Tez should take a page from Julius book when dealing with this, like Hodge did about Davo's blog comments. Just be the bigger person and dont bite back. Tez just needs to come out and play hard, hussle his ass off and be a good teammate.

vanexe131 your right sorry.............. just joking.

He got what he wanted. All you South Aussies over reacting!

This is the biggest over-reaction to anything ever. All Heal said was what first comes to mind when he thinks of Tez. He didn't do it to stir the South Australians, he didn't do it to deflect attention away from his poor coaching, he didn't do it to try and drum up some much-needed publicity. He simply said the first thing that came in to his mind.

Just commentate the game Heal. That's what you are paid to do.

And thats what he did do!!

orbit, everyone got what they wanted - more publicity for the games.

Regardless if the whole situation has been a beat up which IMO it has been) what Heal said is unprofessional in his role as a a special comments man....... his comments were too personal & not necessary given the history between the pair.

Sounds like Heal still has sour grapes after leading South to the wooden spoon. He was given the flick & Tez was asked to stay. How was his form with Mark Price?

Regardless if the whole situation has been a beat up which IMO it has been) what Heal said is unprofessional in his role as a a special comments man....... his comments were too personal & not necessary given the history between the pair.

Sounds like Heal still has sour grapes after leading South to the wooden spoon. He was given the flick & Tez was asked to stay. How was his form with Mark Price?

i thought he called it like he sees it,36rs have 5 dragons players on this side, and i would bet if you asked anyone of them they would say the same about tez.used to be a great player not anymore lost his mojo and jumper,boti needs to get over his problem with heal, he bags players every other week .

I,m waiting for the backlash with the commentator in the ABC's coverage of the Lightning game.He tried to bait Rachel Sporn on "backward Adelaide".But he was in a Forest and no one heard him?

orbit my dear friend once again you pop up like a toad to express your hate of the 36ers .just a word as a basketball lover keep your up yours comments to your self because just like hodge heal wankers like you we dont need GO 36ERS

Cortez's performance on court is what will decide what contracts he gets, not the criticism made against him. However, having said that, its not for Heal to make comments like that on Television and take advantage of his position there to make adverse comments about players he has played with in the past and had a poor relationship with. Heal has an unfair advantage there because if Cortez was afforded the same luxury, he could probably say a few words about Heal which were not to complimentary. I just think that Heal is a jerk for making those comments and abusing his position especially because I have never seen Cortez sulk.

Victorian, 2 points about your comment - "Who cares wat the idiot Heal said. If you got nothing better to worry about. Stop the 6ers being so full of their own importance. No one really cares !!!!!!"

1. The nothing better to worry about comment is so inaccurate, it is confirmed by the 50 different threads that people have commented on at this present time and not just this one.

2. No one really cares!!!!!!! comment. If you are a Victorian and you come onto a South Australian Basketball website, who do you think you are making a comment like that. Once again, 50 different threads at this present time is evidence of how many people really do care.