Found this report on Foxsports about the problems the Razorbacks are facing

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21222418-23769,00.html

119420 - a good point!

or to when players elbow other playes in the nuts deliberately

I find all this a bit sad, really.

The Pigs made the finals in 2003-04 - that's only three years ago. Win 1 more game in that series against the Kings, and that's one title.

Having the Sixers not come out and shoot the lights out in Game Three in 01-02, and conceivably that's another title.

Would one or two of those titles have made a difference? I'm not sure, but it appears now they're pretty much a carcass - another NBL licence that's going to wind up where the others before it have ended up: where the money is.

Yes, this is the nature of professional sport nowadays, but sport exists on an emotional level for fans and throwing licences around like paper money doesn't help the NBL in its bid to gain traction IMO.

But I'll take back all of the above if a third derivation of the letters B-U-R-T-O-N somehow enters this story: you've got a Burton and a Bruton, now we just need a Butron or a Bortun to be the mysterious financial saviour or some such, and then it's just a basketball story with great names. :)

Bo I have heard that Rob Nut will be making a play for the team today.

Butron - sounds like aan animated series featuring a gay robot.

Does it even have to be animated, thedoctor?

Let's go real life. And let's have Bruton and Burton as the other two co-stars:

"Next, on Seven: the zany antics of Burton, Bruton, and Butron in 'My Gay Robot'."

Add LeBron and you've got some tension, a reasonable subplot and possibly a worldwide audience. The rights could fund the pigs - hi ho financial solutuion. Could do an animated spin off to keep the bucks rolling in.

""Next, on Seven: the zany antics of Burton, Bruton, and Butron in 'My Gay Robot'."

this weeks episode, "what to do when you find yourself in a nob rut"

BO RUNT the junior man of the Hamburger clan will inherit the team on his 18th birthday .

NBL statement on Razorbacks
Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 02:50 PM
NBL

National Basketball League Commissioner Rick Burton issued the following statement with regards to the West Sydney Razorbacks.

"There has been a great deal of misinformation circulating within the media with regards to the West Sydney Razorbacks and their failure to sign the NBL's Commitment to Compete (CTC) form. Whilst the League office is not in the habit of commenting on media speculation, we cannot allow these inaccuracies to go unchallenged."

"All NBL teams were originally required under the Participants Agreement which governs the operation of our League to sign and submit the CTC by December 9. A decision by the NBL Board was made to extend this deadline to December 31 for all clubs. The Razorbacks failed to meet the extended deadline. I agreed to offer a furthur two-week extension until 16 January in an effort to assist the team."

"Despite emailed assurances from West Sydney that they were confident they could sign the CTC by the new deadline of 16 January, the Razorbacks failed to do so. Nor did they provide specific details to this office as to potential investors interested in supporting the club."

"The League office was left with no alternative but to issue a Default Notice as required under the Participants Agreement to the Razorbacks. This notice still gave the Razorbacks an additional 20 working days to sign the CTC."

"If West Sydney is unable to submit a completed CTC form to the League office by the latest deadline of close of business on Thursday 15 February, we will have no alternative than to advise the NBL Board that they are in Default. The Board will then have to determine what action is to be taken with regards to the Razorbacks failure to fulfil their requirements under the Participants Agreement, which they signed upon entry into the League."

"The NBL remains hopeful that the Razorbacks can fulfil their obligations under the Participants Agreement and continue to be a part of the Philips Championship. It is however imperative that we commence planning for the 2007/08 season with some clarity. The NBL is an international competition covering three countries and two continents. Creating a season schedule taking into account the incredible distances teams need to travel and the availability of stadiums cannot be delayed any further. The NBL must continue to move forward with its planning."


http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=4696

-This is the interesting part...

"If West Sydney is unable to submit a completed CTC form to the League office by the latest deadline of close of business on Thursday 15 February, we will have no alternative than to advise the NBL Board that they are in Default. The Board will then have to determine what action is to be taken with regards to the Razorbacks failure to fulfil their requirements under the Participants Agreement, which they signed upon entry into the League."

They're gone.

The league is moving to bring in Asian teams and become a superleague. Not all NBL teams will be included. Some suggestions have been that the 36ers wouldn't be included, but I'm not sure.

Given the 36ers level of support, I cannot imagine even an incompetent management team would leave them out of a "super" league.

i was actually attended the west syd v hawks game, and it was celebrated like it was there last match. It least i can say i witnessed there last win!

I agree they are gone.

The superleague has been mooted for some time now, Adelaide always featured in those plans.

I would think if marketed (viz A-League) properly, there could be a huge following in Adelaide, with a return to consistent "full house" signs.

Dr B,

You need to spend more time listening in your English class.

Why would Asian basketball teams neccesarily mean that we'd have a full house at the Dome? Nobody would know who any of the players are for a start. Interesting experiment would be to see how the Sydney and Adelaide fans take to the Asian Champions League football games starting next month.

Hmm...I am pretty sure I said if the Superleague idea took off, and was marketed properly.....

I'm also pretty sure I drew a comparison to the A-League...the old NSL had no marketing, like the NBL, but A-League is everywhere you look...it has more exposure than Lehmo and Andrew G out together.

My comment was if a new superleague, away from the NBL was to be promoted like tyhe A-League, Adelaide would have consistent full house signs again.

Pigs earn stay of execution

WEST Sydney Razorbacks have been given a three-week extension to find new financial backers and secure their future by NBL chairman Mal Hemmerling.

Full article on Fox sports here

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21227214-23769,00.html

I think the Asian push is about TV dollars.