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The Slingers have launched a website quickly put together to bring news about the Singapore Challenge.

http://singaporeslingers.com/beta/

The team is now selling tickets for the first 5 home matches in the Singapore Challenge which include

Wed 17 Sept vs Air 21 (Philippines PBA Pro-team)
Sun 21 Sept vs Air 21 (Philippines)

Tues 30 Sept vs Purefoods (Philippines PBA Pro-team)

Sun 5 Oct vs Sydney Spirit (Australia)

Sun 12 Oct vs Beijing Asohen (China -was in ABA but will likely play in the CBL in China next season).

The pigs are going to Singapore for an exhibition game in the middle of the NBL season?

Seems like the slingers have there new league going, great idea, i hope the 36ers get involved, play in that league as well as the NBL, could be a great idea, and also a way to possibly earn more sponsorship, might be able to use this extra potential exposure and cash in recruiting, and if they dont have as strict salary cap or import restrictions for this league could use this as a really good recruiting tool, eg pay player x $250k to play in singapore league and only $100k to play NBL, and if they have a coupole of imports they wanna test out that could also be used, depending on how the series is set up and its success.
Will be interesting to see how it goes and how it works for the Spirit.

The Singapore Challenge is not the Asian League yet.

However there is no doubt that the Slingers are using the Challenge to showcase professional basketball in Asia and to make other Clubs interested for 2009. So far so good.

I've started a Sportal League. First in best dressed.

No doubt we may need to make a couple.

http://linky.com.au/fcpvn
http://nbl.sportalfantasy.com.au

League code is - SWG2L4JLR3

Bring it on!!

It seems they have got lazy this season. No values along side the players. You get 4 guards, 4 forwards and 2 centres and may only pick 1 player from each club.

Yeah how shit is that!!

Is there any other dreamteam comps?

Devastated! what a pathetic effort by Sportal. Hopefully the NBL website has one as well this year and continues with the old format.

Only one league?

And what's with the logo next to each player? The only one with any relevence to the player's team is the '36'.

Crap.

What the Rickert not listed as a Centre???

HTF are u supposed to trade when your only allowed one player from each team??? That means if a player goes down injured you have to trade him for someone of the same position... on the same team. This will not work.

Im in boys. Thanks for setting it up Skip. Good luck

Yea, it is certainly flawed. Once you chose a guard from say the Sixers, you can never have a forward or a centre from them.

LOL yea XztatiK your right...
Its hard to only have 1 player from each team.
Also, why did they take they the salary cap out? It was way better with that in because it was then tactical and you had to be smart with your selections

What kind of dickheads made this comp? Why did they need to change things? Even the scoring is different, now we will see high-scoring SGs become the best scorers rather than all-round stat gatherers like Redhage and Balls etc. They could have at least given the swingmen like Dave Thomas two positions (G/F) so we have more to choose from when we trade.

Most importantly, every time I log on I am going to see that stupid 'Football Superstar' ad. IT'S NOT FOOTBALL YOU STUPID SOFT WOGBALL FAGS!!!

They made way too many palyers 'small'

For example guys like Ingles, Mackinnon, Grizzard, Barlow, Saville, Sheridan, and dave thomas are listed as guards when mosty of these players will be playing the forward spot for the season.

Also guys like Rickert, Rychart, Roselle Ellis/Hinder and Tragardh are listed as forwards when they will be playing centre mostly.

Without any salary cap, theres really no point of putting in cheap development players or bench warmers as nobody will select them.

No advantage to the hours of research on new imports either lol.

Good call on Mackinnon, Grizzard and Saville. According to their positioning an NBL could play a team like this lol:

Anstey
Rickert
Tragardh
Grizzard
Mackinnon

This really does bite the big one...

There is zero incentive to go with a cheaper player or a new import and watching their value increase.

I liked last years comp with the value rising and salary cap. plus you weren't restricted to 1 player from a team

Wollongong don't have a centre. If anyone was dumb enough to select Rogers from Perth or Behrendorff from NZ, then if they got injured, you would be stuck with them for a loooong time because their the only centres listed for that team.

The Tigers starting 5 this season will probalby be:
C: Anstey
F: Grizzard
F: Mackinnon
G: Ebi Ere
G: Barlow

Both of their forwards are listed as guards and their starting 2 guard is listed as a forward.

oh jeez!

Try and log on to the site and it takes me to the EPL site..... Nice job Sportal.....

I think the objective now is to get players that can score a lot of points of of a lot of shots. It really does eliminate stat getters like redhage, ellis, ballinger, wortho because for every 4 rebounds that they get, it is as many points as a simple layup.

What are some players that you guys have?

So far I have:

C: Anstey
Rampton/Khazzouh?? Melmeth probs coz im getting James Harvey instead of derrick Low

G:Corey Williams
Kavossy Franklin
Kirk Penney
Derrick Low (thoughts on him?)

F: Adam Ballinger
Wortho
Redhage
Abney

Im thinking of getting Hinson for Redhage but I have redhage because he gets injured/starts doing bad then I can trade him for Loughton, Victor, Garlepp or Dowdell. I think the best bet is to go for players that have solid players of teh same team and position with them so if tehy get injured then you can easily replace them. eg Horvath/Burston dragons, Grizzard/Mackinnon/Barlow tigers, Bruton/Penney NZ

Looks like Sportal have cut their ties with virtualsports and decided to run their own fantasy comps. Great move Sportal, exactly what I expect from people who call soccer football.

Does anyone else think there is still a chance that the NBL website will run its own virtualsports DT again?

On pre-season form, Derrick Low looks like he takes a LOT of shots! Could pay off seeing as points are worth so much now.

Last few hours for AFL Finals DT ppl. Code: 966390

aflfinals.virtualsports.com.au

Can't find this anywhere - is it possible they've removed it?

Ignore my stupid previous post - found it.

Guards are shit.

How's that for an informative, useful post.

Faaark! So hard making a team in this sh!tty format.

league is full, whats the next league?

make one, then post the code on here

Grrrr.

It's says, "make onfield" if you want to sub in a player.

Onfield!!!!!

ANGER TIMES A MILLION!!!

next league = SVX2L4JLR3

past post was mine....

new league = SVX2L4JLR3

I don't think you have to trade a player for another of the same team AND position, the rules page seems to indicate that you are allowed to make multiple adjustments and then hit 'save' when your done...

For example if you had Rodgers (centre) and Grizzard (guard) who both got injured... U could trade Rodgers for a Tigers centre and Grizz for a NZ guard before you make it final by pressing 'save'. If they allow multiple trades a round (3+) you would have a fair bit of flexibility to trade...

I'm not positive that's how it works but I think that is what the rules are saying...

P.S im not sticking up for Sportal... I think its crap too!!

Nash

Thanx 4 that info. that makes it slightly better.

But i still think my interest levels into the comp will be significantly less than previous years, which sux.

I cant believe they have butchered it like that. Lazy bastards!!

i hear the sixers got a new physio for the away matches...i hear he is decent as well. anyone else heard this?

Yeah he's good espically considering some of the cripples he has to work with.

is he your dad?

Whatever happened to the tanked-up midget waterboy?

His name is Kym Eyers - works at Wakefield Sports Clinic - his bio: (sorry for no link) http://www.wakefieldsports.com.au/practitioners.cfm?id=13

He takes over from Mike Woodcock - the 36ERS' longest-serving team member. (Also from Wakefield) Woody has been at the 36ERS for 22 years and seen all-four championships, so he's in a unique place to judge. Here's an interview with him:

http://www.wakefieldsports.com.au/files/articles/Woody_retires_from_Sixers.pdf

The "Tanked up Midget Water Boy" is Tony Rocca, and he is the uncle of a friend of mine. Caught up with him a few weeks ago at a party.

He's living in Sydney now, and recently had a call from Dusty now that he's at the Hawks, trying to get him to go work with them as their team manager. When we spoke about it, he didn't seem too keen on the idea.

why not nbl would be awesome to be involved with

1.Tigers
2.Wildcats
3.Sixers
4.Dragons
5.Cairns
6.Breakers
---------------------------

imo

sixers....this is there year and the rest can scrap for the other places!!!!!

I think Dragons will be a top 3 team IMO. I think they look like the best team other than the Melbourne Tigers.

My thoughts on the finish


Tigers (easily 1st)
Wildcats(easily 2nd)
Dragons (easily 3rd)
Breakers (easily 4th)
Taipans/Hawks/36ers/Crocs (tight 5 and 6 th position)
-------------------
Blaze/Sprit (not a chance)
------------------

I am very keen to meet you little boy and "discuss the NBL" do you wish to exchange emails.

1. Tigers
2. Dragons
3. Wildcats
4. Breakers
5. Sixers
6. Blaze

In the words of KC gone -"Hawks and Spirt not a chance"

hmm dont know y you lot have wildcats second they still dont convince me it should be like this

1. Tigers
2.Dragons
3.36ers
4.Wildcats
5.Breakers
then the rest are off the pace hawks though probably have the edge, with sydney and gold coast most likely being crap

1. Tigers
2. Perth
3. NZ/South
4. South/NZ

5. Cairns/Townsville
6. Cairns/Townsville
7. Hawks
8. Sixers

9. Blaze
10. Spirit

1 - tigers
2 - breakers
3 - dragons
4 - wildcats
5 - 36ers
6 - crocs
7 - tipans
8 - spirit
9 - hawks
10 - blaze

lol give the priest a ball.

tigers (obvious 1st)
dragons (not sure, but i think their 2nd best)

breakers (maybe wilcats)
wildcats (maybe breakers)

36ers (could be higher, they look impressive)
Taipans (Abney & Thomas will combine well)

Crocs (dont know but Homocide will give them a chance)
Blaze (not sure, may be better than i expect)

Spirit (look hopeless)
Hawks (even worse)

I don't normally post whole articles but this is worth it. A truly amazing articles by Boti about the Bizzare connections between the Dragons and 36ers.


Great Scott, what a plot
Article from: The Advertiser

BOTI NAGY

September 02, 2008 11:30am

SATURDAY'S pre-season showdown in Melbourne between the 36ers and Dragons is a scriptwriter's dream.

"The subplots for this game are terrific," said Adelaide coach Scott Ninnis - and he is spot-on. For starters, Ninnis was the man who put together the Dragons' first NBL team. He recruited, among others, Jacob Holmes from the 36ers and Joe Ingles out from under them.

South also grabbed Millicent prodigy Shannon Seebohm out from around them.

While that inadvertently did Phil Smyth - his predecessor in the Sixers' chair - more damage than either recognised, it also greatly strengthened Ninnis's position with South.

Not enough, though.

As assistant to the Dragons' inaugural coach, NBA superstar Mark Price, Ninnis - signed on a multi-year deal - survived when Shane Heal led a revolt which cost the American his job six games into the season.

Heal was elevated to player-coach - and sacked late in the following season - while Ninnis was retained for the rest of the 2006-07 campaign as second assistant to newly installed Guy Molloy.

Released at the end of the season, it took protracted legal proceedings for Ninnis to extract an appropriate dismissal package.

While Heal promoted Holmes to captain, that role was more a title than an actual role for a club with a playing-coach.

Holmes returned to Adelaide to play under Ninnis and will be seeing his former club for the first time on Saturday.

Nick Horvath will line up with the Dragons for the first time as a naturalised player, albeit a Kiwi, having played in the Tall Blacks alongside new 36er Paora Winitana.

Horvath, cut as an import by the 36ers after one season, was signed by South but axed as their import during the 2007-08 season. It kept him on the payroll, though, and now hits paydirt with him being naturalised.

Adelaide and South battled it out for the off-season signature of Brisbane championship point guard Adam Gibson before he settled on staying with the Bullets.

That club then folded and he signed with the Dragons. In his place, Adelaide swooped on Victorian country playmaker Aaron Bruce, precisely the type of player Dragons owner Mark Cowan initially declared would be the top priority for his franchise.

South again beat the Sixers to the punch by signing another of Winitana's mates from NZ, Mika Vukona.

Adelaide then secured Brad Hill back from South.

If that isn't enough to keep you salivating, South's new coach is Boomers boss Brian Goorjian, long an Adelaide fan favourite.

Goorjian coached Ninnis to his second championship as a starter for South East Melbourne in 1992.

Ninnis came off the 36ers bench to deny Goorjian's Magic the title in the 1998 championship series.

That was in Smyth's first year as coach.

Ninnis formally will begin his first year as coach on September 19 against Townsville.

The first game of Smyth's 10-year career was at home against the Crocs.

nice

Rehny, their current team manager, was also with the 36ers.

is he the guy with the funny hair?

anyone know how the sponsor is coming along havent heard much recently

Club X.

Huggies nappies

ABC Learning Centres

and

Firepower

Bonjela

if someone knew something, theyd post it. this is like the "Is Fox back?" topics every 3 days! zzz.

Masterfoods?

It will be tipex white out - the slogans gonna be Tipex NBL "Just white it out n start over"

Saw on the footy show last night that the new Gold Coast Football Club is to go with out a nickname, also they are to use the colours of the crows, Red, Blue, Yellow and White. The club mascot also looks like Popeye in a life gaurd outfit...

Thoughts?

Think they sould have gone with a Green Blue and White colour scheme. I like the Sharks as a Nickname and Popeye sounds ok

The whole thing was lame.....the logo looks terrible and uninspired, like a kid on MS Paint designed it.

Surely we don't need anymore red and blue teams, do we ? How do the AFL feel about this ? Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Western Bulldogs and now Gold Coast ? Stupid.

And what about merchandise ? If they had a good nickname like Sharks, Stingrays, Dolphins or Marlins, they could rake in the cash, and have a cool hook to drag in the kiddies of the region.

I agree that they should've had some form of green in there, but apparently red and yellow are eye-catching together (McDonalds, Hungry Jack's, Shell) so again, it was probably decided by some marketing firm, instead of real footy people.

From what the CEO (or whoever it was) said last night, it seems as though they will probably have a nickname eventually, but one that just come to them. Which is fair enough, the team won't in the league until 2011.

If they use that for a jumper, it look like a bit of a play on the old Brisbane Bears Jumper. Wont look too bad if the jumper is mostly yellow, - wont clash with anyone!

pretty poor if u ask me they definately need a name, i like the sharks too. Also i think they should have gone with the same colours as the titans and blaze have gone so as nation we automatically identify gc teams in all sports by there colours.

The mascot is totally lame and rather gay

Pathetic.

Drb: I agree with what he said. All GC use the same colours and we'll always ID them as being from the GC.

Simple!

There gurnsey isnt set yet. Just remeber they wont be playing until 3years time. They havent even got a coaching panel. let them get the more important things out the way before they have a nickname or gurnsey.

Absolute disgrace! Champ33 is right, they should have gone with the light blue, orange/yellow and white like the Blaze and Titans. Waaaaayy too much like the Crows and Brizzy. Yellow and red is possibly the ugliest colour combo ever (i'm not gay btw) and I wouldn't be suprised if the logo was designed by the CEO's toddler son.

I think people will eventually give the team a nickname themselves. Gold Coast Fags???

As for their actual team, they're getting 9 of the best young players in the country in 2010, in 4-5 years they will be a top4 team... and they still feel hard done by. pfft.

Where are the 36ers playing this weekend?

Knox Basketball Stadium in Melbourne, tomorrow night against the Dragons.

Who Is Twane Bugeja?

I was just having a look on the Sporting Pulse website earlier, after being told in the ABL MVPs thread that I could find ABL stats there. I noticed that there was a player for Forestville 2 in Div 4 Mens named Twane Bugeja who had some great scoring numbers. Over 25 games during the Winter season, this player averaged 33.5 points per game, and topped the 40 point mark 7 times, with a high score of 60.

I know it's only Div 4, so it's probably nothing to get too excited about, but it takes some sort of talent to score that many points each game. They must at least be able to shoot well.

I don't know who this guy is, and don't play district myself nowdays. But for those who know of this person, what sort of player are they? Are they that good? And should they/why aren't they playing in a higher div?

Freakish shooter from anywhere on the court and the only way to shut him down is generally to play a box and one defense against him and his team.

Is lazy in D though and is not willing to work that hard off the ball, hence why the box and one is best. Is probably about 6 ft 3/4 and if he was fit and played D, who knows where that freaky scoring ability could have taken him. He's quite solid through his torso too.

ONe downside though is his temper - has been known to get ejected and did so during his team's first final resulting in automatic disqualification the next week which contributed to his team being knocked out in the semi's.

If you think he has a bad temper in district you should see him in social bball! There he explodes out of control, fuelled by his friends/family and unfortunately the refs are not skilled enough or/and too scared to eject him. All refs would hate to ref his games as he Continuously complains and resorts to dirty cheap shots on other players.

He has an amazing 3 point shoot (Bit of an unusual action). Hits them at a very high percentage if left open. Has a trade mark move inside where he shoulder barges his defender which then creates enough room for him to score. If the player was to fall down they would get the charge call but as they don't he gets away with it and gets easy points. In the better div's he would be against taller stronger opponents and wouldn't be able to do that. Defensively he is lazy and not good enough to play in the better div's.

It would suck to play in a team with him as you would be required to pass him the ball in offence and have him do everything. Then he will play lazy D. Add to that the frequent tech fouls.

If he actually played team basketball, stopped being lazy on defence and cut out his dirty cheating ways then he would be a decent player in the better divs.

I played against him many times - cant tell you how many times he single-handedly killed our team. He was shooting fade away 3 point shots from the corner that you cant block. Like you say - he doesnt play D and does have a temper. Dont think he has the engine to play in a higher div.

We played a box and one against him in the first final that we played against Forestville 2 and he lost his temper, threw the ball at one of our guys heads and got ejected.

Good size for div 4 meaning it's very hard to contest his shot. He's also never met a shot he doesn't like which contributes to his big numbers...

#202870 - What social comp is that - at Wayville? Might have played against him.

Used to play against him at Wayville, had a couple of games called off for fights (not me of course).

He used to play Juniors Div 2 for Sturt with his brother Johnny.

Yeah, he plays social at Wayville. Teams have not turned up to play against his team a few times. I think this is fair enough and teams that continue to show anti social behaviour should be banned as it discourages everyone to play. If they want to be thugs go play football.

I played with T Bug in juniors at Sturt. He has the most talent i have seen of anyone not to go further.

In scrimage our squad would normally whip the Div 1 team which had a lot more brand name talent.

He was regularly going for big scoring games then although he was not the team high scorer from memory.

There was also an article about him some time back in the Tiser about him having a huge Nike collection.

Good guy off court but these days does suffer from a touch of white line fever

This guy can shoot!!!! However has attitude problem,played against him,but wouldnt shake his hand afterwards.He plays Social Basketball and thats correct the referees there at Wayville are too scared to eject him or report him.Years ago he was reported many times!!!His team was banned many years ago,but now his team is back on Tuesday nights!!!Whoever made that decision has no brains.If no attitude propblem and pull his weight in D he be playing in Top grade for sure.Hes a bad influence ,mark my words.

Boti Nagy has noted on Adelaide Now that Brad Davidson's back injury has worsened and he will skip the 36ers game against the South Dragons this Saturday.

Davidson has been rested during the pre-season and the injury now prevents Adelaide from suiting a full squad before the season tips off.

Adelaide, however, have some depth at point guard with new recruits Aaron Bruce and Ryan Kersten.

The Dragons' point guard, Adam Gibson, is in good form, dishing 10 assists in a recent pre-season game and would provide a good match-up against Bruce.

Reckon Tyndale might get the defensive job on Ingles?

I would be interested in seeing Tyndale's defensive technique in containing that first step of someone who has great penetration, so it will be an interesting match up. He doesnt mind being in up and close to a driver, real NY street defense style. Winitana and Hill also should see some time on Ingles .

Certainly in our last trial when Bruce sat down we lost a beat, so it would be good if Kersten can pick his game back up.

The other question is though who have they got that can guard Adam Ballinger? Will Wortho be up to it?

Where is this game held?

Planning to road trip it from Melbourne to the 36ers V Dragons game on 22 November.

Checked the '6ers site and saw that Adelaide sell their tickets through the DHD?

Just wondering how I can pre-book them? Would I be able to VISA them over the phone?

Also, roughly how much?

Cheers

Yes you could book them over the phone but probably not until a couple of weeks before the game.
For adults you are looking between $20 - $30 each (inc booking fee) depending on where you wanna sit.

Not sure on prices. Phone (08) 8444 6444 and ask for Cheryl. Cheryl should be able to answer any queries and sell you tickets.

Tickets are sold through venuetix. If you ring the Dome they'll just give you the venuetix number, unless of course you go into the ofice but the Dome is a long way from Melbourne.

(08) 8255 8888 tickets on sale from sept 8

Anon - The Dome is a venuetix agent.

The dome may be a venuetix outlet but does not accept telephone orders. If you ring the main venuetix they can handle telephone orders.

Can also do it online via Kev replied 14 hours ago (re: Buying 36ers tickets from Melbourne?)

see there is a few Friday night games scheduled. Hope it does not clash too much with juniors

well you can always record it. plus it is usually replayed saturday afternoons. (edited version)
know it is not the same as seeing it live though.
by saturday you always know the result.

Not every Friday night game is on tv though knowledge

How many of the Juniors actually come anyway ?
Will it realy make much difference ?

abc2 generally have a wnbl game every friday night at 8pm. well they did last season.

"It's more than a feeling" GREATEST. Thoughts

Boston is the bomb. you have Garnett really slick dresser, Pierce has the macho confident attitude and can back it up and best of all super lucious Ray Allen so smooth, slick and just all round sharp shooter it makes you want to swoon

I recently rang BA and they told me they already had a group of people together discussing the revamping A-League style of the NBL (no surprises there). However they wouldn't disclose any of these moves, is there anyone there with an inkling of what might happen? If the new bullets and Kings return, there will be 12 teams AND... will there actually be any major changes in the 2009/10 season? If all they do is change the name, good luck to them getting anywhere.

Well a two tier competiotion within OZ will be the further death of Basketball in this Country,

If you go to Asian Super league, it will be great for the 2 teams that make a profit the rest will die.

If your local NBL team gets put into a 2nd tier , say good bye, unless you are an ardent supporter.

Goodbye to Imports of note.
Goodbye to 3000 plus crowds.
Goodbye to any TV coverage.
Goodbye to Major Sponsorship.
Goodbye to the Team.

I realy hope they understand that the aim of Basketball Australia, as a whole, should be to promote the "enjoyment of", and "parpicpation in" Basketball at all levels.

Focusing on restructure to just improve the Boomers and Opals, or the National Competition is self destructive and elitist.

The BA's agenda should not be driven by
############
Coaches inspirations of coaching
Administration wishes to play in the big Sports league
Etc Etc
############
but how does Dad and Mum afford to let Jonny and Sally play at the local Basketball venue.

Everything else is mute.

KC - "moot", not "mute".

Goodbye to imports of note? The SEABL teams, on pretty slim budgets, manage to get imports, a number of who make it to the NBL. Who are imports of note anyway? No import in our league has any significant profile IMO. Ere plays for Nigeria but would be virtually unknown outside of the NBL. Same with Dave Thomas. A few might remember Rick Rickert as 'the guy KG punched', but what else?

The top tier would keep all of these guys and potentially more. The second tier would keep getting the cheaper starting imports like Rychart, Ballinger, Redhage, Gruber looking for an opportunity to prove themselves.

If it was carefully planned and managed, I don't think it would be the death of the league at all. And it's certainly not going to mean a guaranteed loss of major sponsorships and TV coverage hopes.

If anything, someone like Fox will favour covering a top league playing only out of the larger cities. And more regional teams in the second league will increase the potential sponsorship base - regional companies with not much else to sponsor in places like Darwin, Cairns and Hobart.

You mention that the goal of BA should heavily favour grass roots basketball, but the sport is already very strong at that level. I agree that the focus should not just be on the Boomers/Opals, and that leaves the NBL and WNBL.

With approximately 4 clubs throughout asia and the opening of import restrictions on asian players plus players from the southern hemisphere tv rights from pay tv outside of australia would put profits through the roof. By putting teams in say hong kong, taiwan, singapore (again) and either jakarta/KL/Guam, the road trips in this 'division' would be minimised.

In terms of grass roots level an AIS team comprising of the current AIS starting five, five of the best Aussies under 22 and two imports.

problem solvered.

KC-GOne this could be the biggest thing ever for basketball in Australia. The games would still be played in Australia and the money would flow into basketball in Australia. Imagining going to BHP or Rio Tinto for $15 Mil to sponsor a team playing in the CHinese league???

China has a population of 1.5 Billion people and basketball is their most popular sport. You are talking about massive amounts of opportunity. If the money flows back into basketball in Australia and gives our players more opportunity to make more money than AFL players then great!!!

Everything else could be silent Issac
but yes Moot was what I meant to type.

As to the other comments re TV,crowds etc it was stated relevant to your local NBL team gets put into a 2nd tier.


They have to set up a Competition structure that is funded, preferably self funded. Not charity.

The real point I wanted to make is that unless they address
############
"how does Dad and Mum afford to let Jonny and Sally play at the local Basketball venue"

Everything else is moot..

Yes 844, I'm sure BHP or Rio Tinto are good for $15 Mil, who over the past have had reluctance to sponsoring sports,and that they would choose OZ Basketball as their global vehicle to get back into it. Can just imagine the sales man that gets that sale.(ask Firepower for a reference)

If anything big happens in China it will be with the NBA.


How about we have an OZ NBA and WNBA teams sitting on top of the NBL/WNBL.


I only hope they don't throw out the baby with the bath water in this review/restructure.

I wouldn't put any hope into a Chinese team being involved.

The NBA and Bball China are starting up a League very soon.

The NBA wants a major share of sponsorship and merchandise money from China.

So I don't think they will really care about the NBL.

Interesting that we talk about Darwin as playing in the second tier competition. With its location so much closer to Asia and the cheap flight options, would Darwin be a better place to house an Asian Super League team?

Darwin will be playing in the Singapore Challenge Series, have the 36ers been invited?

moot....points are certainly worth discussion in a legal sense, otherwise just an overused word....

the two tier competition has a lot of merit.

the pluses are clear, the minuses obvious but its always the "interesting's" that catch you....

Here is my interesting......could a second tier league be launched without private ownership? That is, could associations be involved in the second tier.

My answer, probably not, because promotion to the top tier might well be unsustainable should it happen (and it has to happen once a year). This is based on current budgets for say top ABA programs (some around 250-300k pa) versus NBL (in the millions).

Given BA's new governance model (60% constitutent /40% ownership via the NBL) where would private ownership of the second tier teams fit?

A solid "Interesting" comment HO

The 60/40 rule of BA, soon to replace the old 80/20 rule.

Its costs $2million plaus to run an NBL team, could not see many Associations wanting to take the plunge in to thoose sort of expenditures on a hope Sponsorship $ would be vailable or/follow.

Two teir or multi teir Leagues survive becuase the earn enough $ at across the board to survive on the whole.

I'm yet to see how the 2nd teir will fund anywhere near a $500,000 salary caps plus league expenses?

If you are going to have a teir above the NBL it has to external to OZ and include Asia, and then maybe the top 2 finishers in the NBL play in it.
Try and maintain the NBL at athe level its at.

Anyone got any good ideas for the GC Blaze team song? Something new and upbeat?

Last year it was Timbaland - The Way I Are.

FYI, bullets had Kanye West Stronger as their team song.. Blaze had Timbaland

"GOLD" by Spandau Ballet

Gold Vito.

KC and the Sunshine band

Now players can't transfer midyear club's see it as the greenlight to poach kids during the off-season. My daughter will be effected by a player coming in after 4 yrs at the club.

Some examples of what I have heard talking to those in the know.

A club offering a player a HS academic scholarship at an elite college.

A club employing a players mother in an admin capacity and offering their children free fees to play.

A Coaching Director becoming friendly with random parents of tall kids at certain clubs when they see them at stadiums.

A club telling a young player that their best chance to play college basketball would be at their club.

A club offering free uniforms and $25 fees for a country based player to transfer.

There are no patterns from 1 club and no consistency here. It seems to me that the clubs that shunned poaching have decided to jump on the band wagon so they can compete. Almost every club is having a crack it seems, although your traditional poachers are still harder at it than ever before. Its different to back in my day - when it was all about playing for fun and learning the game!

A couple of suggestions from afar.

My local association has a 'no transfer' rule - completely stuffs the comp because some coaches are better at player development than others. End up with 80% of the rep team in one team 'organically'. Doesn't work.

But... was implemented in response to abuse of 'open slather' rule where kids became mates in rep (read State teams for your situation) teams and naturally (they are kids after all) wanted to play with the kids they spend a lot of time with. Doesn't work.

Obviously the 'no poaching' rule doesn't seem to be working in SA.

Don't be too quick to write off the possibility of school scholarships. Should I be so inclined my daughter would have no trouble getting a boarding scholarship in Sydney based on her contribution to the school - the club getting her would simply be a bonus but the suggestion has been made by the club. Not poaching by your definitions but the effect is the same.

Don't think there is a perfect system (particularly one that is enforceable - it'd be great if triathlons were draft-free but how do you enforce it - so it becomes a runner's race) so perhaps the answer lies in improving coaching standards.

What is the driver for most families? The best deal for their kids - improvement, environment, playing time, representative honours, social environment, coaching - probably all in the mix to varying degrees depending on the family. Get that mix right and you'll hang on to kids (at least the kids that you want!?!).

If you are worried about poaching - fix your club!

To the original poster - I know that one of your claims is true, it also indicates to me which club you are from. Were you told confidentially and have you broken that trust - yes. Is it poaching - no, I dont think so. Are you bitter because your kid will miss a spot for the new player coming in - yes. All things apparently are not equal, if your kid misses out it is because she perhaps is not ready for the grade that you wish her to be in.

Stats room, I said improve playing against div1 kids not develop better skills during the game.

Hahahaha.

Aren't they the same thing?

"Anon", you seem to know of a particular incident at a particular club. Are you willing to share with us?

This thread and another have had a lot of hearsay thrown up.

(#202820)"nearly all apply" is very different to "all get" anon!

Just pointing out that applying for full or part scholarships at "elite colleges" is happening every year by people from all walks of life.

No mystery; nothing underhanded, just plain fact.

The original poster probably subscribes to the theory that man never walked on the moon as well.

#202827 - Probably the most sensible thing I have read on this site in ages.

"....get rid of parents who meddle in the team..." best suggestion ever!

"...If your kid is good he or she will get court time....." absolutely the truth!

"....If parents spent as much time helping their kids to practice...." ... when you are whinging you are teaching your kids to whinge ... spend some time with your kid, it's actually good fun!

People who whinge about poaching are choosing to ignore the real causes for players leaving clubs.

"A club offering a player a HS academic scholarship at an elite college."
I wouldn't call the college in question elite

I liked this story:

Mario Chalmers hit the clutch three in the title game that led to Kansas winning the national title earlier this year, and now he's in the NBA:

The players [Chalmers and a former Kansas teammate now also in the NBA] were caught by hotel security at the Doral Arrowwood resort in Rye Brook, N.Y., where 69 of the league's rookies arrived last night for the four-day seminar in which coaches, referees and former players speak about adapting to the league. Having visitors at the rookie transition program is not permitted.

Johnny - I had a confused laugh at that one too. Couldn't see what one thing had to do with the other.

Journo on Today Tonight - "So, do you really have cancer?"

Charlie Church (through oxygen mask) "I did, but it's a miracle! It's gone!"

TT Journo "You never had cancer, did you?"

Charlie Church (removes oxygen mask) "It's true! I'm so sorry - I faked it. I've been addicted to porn since I was 12!"

TT Journo "I never said anything about porn."

Charlie Church "Ummmm...... neither did I. I have to go now.......to........ (don't say watch porn!!!)......watch.....porn. DAMN IT!"

When that story broke, I thought it was a bit amusing how they had to specifically clarify that it was "adult" porn!

OKC announced last night the team name would be the "thunder" new logo and colurs were also released

http://www.nba.com/thunder/

linky didnt work

what does everyone think?

Suddenly that name is looking awesome compared to the Gold Coast... somethings.

A sad day for basketball. Leading NBL referee Geoff Weeks has retired.

Refer to Boti's article in The Advertiser. Who said Boti was a referee hater.

Geoff called his last game on July 12 at Morhpett Vale stadium. To the Southern Tigers and North Adelaide women you were very privileged.

Enjoy your break Geoffrey

I was wrong, it wasn't Weeksy!
Sorry about that.
Just got confused seeing him hobble around the court

Darren Ng shot 28 in 22 minutes as the Slingers won 96 to 67 against the Hong Kong national team in Malaysia.

Slingers play South Korea's Kyung-hee University tomorrow.

Later in the week the National teams of Malaysia ( including Jamal Brown and Brad Bridgewater), India and then Pure Youth and Construction which is a club team from Taiwan

Box score on http://www.malaysia-basketball.com/

Well....the Slingers lost 93 to 92 in OT to the Malaysian National team reinforced with US Jamal Brown ( 32p,8rb) and Brad Bridgewater (12p,6rb).

Darren Ng 16p - but 5 fouls including a technical !, Blagoj Janev had 19p, Eric Sandrin 17p/14rb and Shane McDonald also 17p. Turnovers seem to have been expensive for the Slingers . Next match tomorrow.

interested to see if anyone has had a fling with work colleague...lol...i only just recently did and it turned bad now i have to still see her everyday...wont be doin that again!!!!

Hey if you want to rid yourselves of any spare office girl affairs, post their phone numbers here and I would be happy to knock em up and over for you.

looked at squad numbers for u14 G - 53 names

that is 7 or 8 teams ! huge

Last time you said God was a Sturt man anon. You gotta get your story straight.....then I'll look for it in the Fiction section.

And if they were ordinary players, they wouldn't win right?

(#202817)How many different ways do you want it?

If a new player comes to the club and takes an existing players spot then the player who is bumped has two choices.

1) play in a lower division

2) move clubs to find someone who will let you continue to play div 1.

Isnt the "move option" what most people on here are saying should happen in the 1st place?

Ordinary players? Did you see the Gems play last time they came to town? Tell me how many "ordinary forestville players" made up that team!

If your kid is good enough it wont be a problem - if your kid gets bumped a division then someone, other than you thinks they are not up to the grade.

You may be interested to know that my kid will come under pressure from the new influx next season. We have a plan B. I suggest you get one too.

what is your plan B Pink - netball or footy?

I dont think you have what it takes for a plan B anon in as much it would take a little bit more of a back bone than moaning to your coach; welcome to the real world.

Protect little johnny snot nose or sally itchy ass as long as you can; fight their fights; whine to their coaches.

One day they will have to stand on their own two feet without mummy and daddy wearing out coaches with your high pitched moaning.

I have never read so much crap in all my life. No wonder SA ball is f........ Bout time some of u so called experts grew up. My advice to kids that want to develop their individual ability and not their coaches - play another sport.

like your boy's program you are a joke pink

Pink, they played NZ, a lot of U16's would beat them.

Pink, they played NZ, a lot of U16's would beat them.
Plan B is buy the right people drinks in your bar and
as for kids standing on their own two feet, cant think of one set of parents in your club that allows that.

Anon you are full of it. How's your club going. They must have it all together, but let me guess it's easier to make up fantasy stories about another club than actually speak about your own. Wow, deep down you mustn't be to happy with your own club, would that be gealousy I sense.

Try enjoying your own club and save the crap, it's boof heads like you that bring down a sport that is already on its knees. It's people like you that the AFL and the A league treasure. Grow up.

Yeah, I can hear the tears from here, but none of you anons can tell me how many "ordinary forestville players" made up that team!

Can you get your collective IQ's around that little task?

"buy the right people drinks in your bar" - oh thats right, its the eagles fault for having a bar that they actually OPEN and use. Anyway, the drinks worked the 1st time around, always an option!

It's finals time!
Where are from the stats room people to give us fans an insight of who is playing who and who should win etc.

STURT, STURT, STURT

End of story.

Sturt, Sturt, rub them in the dirt, put them in a frying pan and have them for dessert.

Noticed on John Rillies Blog a rumour that Joe Ingles has recieved an offer from Europe and is considering leaving the dragons.

Anyone know anymore? That would put a big dent in the dragons squad. Especially with Ingles still only being a 1 point player there.

"He's my brother and I love him"?

Yeah, me too. I wonder what hes doing now, I have a feeling hes in jail. Keep your head up super mario.

One person guessed he might've been in gaol and was probably just confusing him with another player. Everyone else has spoken of him in positive terms.

Looking at purchasing either an Ipod or just a straight forward mp3 player. Any suggestions with what I should go with, does it really matter?

My MP3 Tag Editor can apply easily so I must go through http://www.id3butler.com