Anonymous
Years ago
This is a great article, make sure you read it...
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/basketball/refugees-escaping-war-are-aiming-for-the-stars-20130810-2rovx.html
Whatever you make of it, there is a genuine chance to make peoples life better and change and improve basketball in this country, over to you BA, please
El Diablo
Years ago
I have no problem with them playing for Australia BUT ONLY IF....
They think of themselves as Australian.
Its hard to call someone who comes to Australia at say 7 lives here till they are 14 them moves to the US for high school and college and seldom comes back to Australia as Australian
An Australian accent is also preferable, not some aussie/american combo
The Situation
Years ago
El Diablo, why not just say they must be white?
Great piece. Pretty rare to read such a deep, well-thought out piece about basketball in a mainstream paper, although it obviously covers broader issues as well.
Also worth noting however is Thon Maker's pretty strong response to the article on twitter
The Situation
Years ago
I did see his response but couldn't quite understand it. Was he telling Stacker to piss off?
El Diablo
Years ago
@the situation.
Your missing my point, it seems that your instinct to think something racist speaks more about you than me.
I don't care what colour their skin as long as THEY think of themselves as Australian.
It's not whether I THINK of them as being Australian.
It would be the same as Kyrie playing for Australia, he thinks of himself as American, where as Leroy Loggins thought of himself as Australian.
What about the Aussies that go to college for a year and pick up an American accent? Should they be deported?
CT
Years ago
It's pretty hard to think of yourself as Australian when you've got bogans telling you that you're not a real Australian every time you leave the house.
"Also worth noting however is Thon Maker's pretty strong response to the article on twitter"
its not on his official twitter account now, what was written/published.
daneo
Years ago
Yeah there are couple "official" twitter feeds from him. There is one which has his responses, he pretty much just said that he was proud to wear the green and gold but not so much now after this article. Accused chagai and stacker of being jealous and alot of the information in the article incorrect.
''Australian junior basketball is beleaguered by politics and a Mom and Pop approach. The complexion of a rep program, elite training program, or State team will hardly change from under 12s to under 18s. The same kids are promoted time and time and again. I feel that there is so much untapped talent in Australia.''
True that.
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