While I disagree JR should've been let go, I don't advocate clubs having to spend valuable time sitting down with one particular sponsor who admits to being a friend (so is he primarily upset as a friend, fan or sponsor- the water is a bit muddy there?) and having to justify their place.
Despite sponsors being an invaluable part of the game, they don't get to pick rosters.
Imagine if everytime there was a change on the roster, a club had to justify it to every individual sponsor?

If the guy just pulled out because he was upset and is a mate of Rillie's, then fair enough. However, blackmailing the club with your sponsor dollars to try and get your way is bad form... especially when you start calling the club's actions "immoral". Bollocks. Someone get this guy a waahmburger and some french cries!

Ultimately, it's his money and his choice.

But where I think it will be awkward is that a team can't easily backtrack from a decision like this. A coach cannot really be held hostage by fans - if you had fans and sponsors voting for the composition of their team, I suspect they'd quickly find themselves out of the play-offs as chemistry suffered or the majority voted for flashy players, or running out of money going for stars.

The coach has made the call not to re-sign Rillie and Egan. Bring them back now and what does that do to team chemistry?

Given that, I don't think making his move public will do much to help Rillie or the club. The Crocs can't take him back, it doesn't encourage another team to pick him up sooner, and can only potentially damage the team. Might mean a bit of publicity for the sponsor themselves, but how many people would respond positively to this sort of thing?

I think when considering it all, you have to isolate two components of the issue:

1 - whether 'breaking' a contract that had technically been made void by the league is right by you

2 - whether you think the Crocs should've kept Rillie and Egan

Given that the sponsor made no mention of Egan, I think this is more about wanting Rillie in the team (meddling) than taking the high road. But, like I said, his money, his choice - just could've done it privately.

I am glad that we never had a sponsor pull this crap over Mark Nash!

Agree. Obviously, the sponsor is too close to be objective about things, and that's understandable. I'd probably feel the same way if I was in his position (ie. a passionate sponsor, Crocs fan and personal friend of Rillie's). However, my empathy runs out when he starts trying to cast moral aspersions on the club's actions. The Crocs followed the rules; end of story. The new/interim league is a whole new proposition. Even if he thinks that their actions were morally "inappropriate", one might suggest it would have been "appropriate" to keep that thought to himself.

^ Lol, I was agreeing with Isaac, not the Mark Nash call.

Or just donate the $30k to sponsor JR's blog instead!

I like THAT idea!

I love coming to this site to post things like this because I have been able to read educated opinions from fans who obviously know basketball. Beats the hell out of Ozhoops in that respect.

I have learnt a lot coming here and have taken my medicine a few times, but its good to see other ppl's opinions.

The thing I will add is that a lot of ppl I have talked to aren't disappointed with just this one incident, more a build up of things over the past 5 years... kinda the straw that broke the camel's back.

Or maybe you just didn't like the comments over on Ozhoops due to many not taking Rillie's side on the matter.

WHAT?

DJ, do you use 2 pc's to make comments at hoops?

I get confused that your nick is DJ Rod & djrod...yet all seem to be on the same page..this is not a go, just wondering if it is someone trying to piss take...

I wish this forum was based a little like whirlpool.net.au...that type of set up so all users had to register and no name changing type of shit...

He is more then welcome to perth

Damien martyn/brad robbins
Peter Crawford/John Rillie
Shawn Redhage/
Martin Cattalini/isiah Victor
Matt Burston/Paul rogers.

Note rogers has re-signed and cattalini, burston and martin are very close to signing as well.

yeah i do - i own 4 laptops - use them at gigs that i do... 4 weddings last night plus NQ Cowboys and 2 weddings tonight.

Interesting point made over on OzHoops - didn't Rillie bail on the Pigs in less than ideal circumstances when he signed with the Crocs? He was even fined at the time. How'd Dennis feel then?

That sounds vaguely familiar :P

Wow- had totally forgotten about that actually!
Funny how lessons come back and repeat themselves without you realising until the lesson is learnt.
I still wish JR well either way, but the Pigs example helps put it in better perspective.

Here's a brief news piece covering JR's fine for dealing with the Crocs while still contracted to the Pigs:

Crocs, Rillie fined over deal