Well, what basketball in this state needs is a big injection of money (and some advertising like the A-League). Pickard could help with both of those things I imagine.

Not sure about the super-club though. You are talking here about privatising the Sixers, and then tying the club to the financial success of the A-League (and the A-League to the success of Basketball). That is two sports with horrible track records depending on each other for future survival. Could be a recipe for disaster.

The opportunities for two sports like Soccer and Basketball to work together however are worth investigating. Some sort of partnership may be beneficial to both. But I would be concerned about any proposal to join them at the hip.

If basketball switched seasons (again), could you have a staff set who managed both sports? e.g., a PR guy who worked soccer/basketball 80/20 for 6 months, and then 20/80 for 6 months. Though one fault with that concept is that you want someone who is enthusiastic about both sports which would be rarer.

Beware,

It would be illuminating to see what effect his involvement with soccer had on the juniors and female components of that sport. Would he only be interested in the 36ers as a franchise which could be made into a profitable exercise for himself or is he ready to help with the Fellas and the rest of the sport?

pickard to help out is awesome

I can't see it working.

Do one super club? People who like Basketball don't usually like Soccer. If the seasons were different, then yes for sure it could work. Just can't see people forking out to goto two games a week.

If he wanted to put money into Basketball and turn it around and leave some what of a legacy of his name, then that would be great.

I believe this is a smoke and mirrors trick for him pulling out of Soccer, it is not my place to say why he is pulling out of soccer, but I'm sure the truth will come out within the next 6-12 months.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

I guess I can mention it now, yes he is very sick and I doubt he will see the year out.

He doesn't want many to know (no one here will say anything I'm sure :)) So this was the perfect escape out of soccer, to say that he is looking at a new challenge.

He is a passionate man with experience, positive track record and fresh ideas. There is nothing more he can do with United and Im sure he wants to go out helping out. If his participation lasts 6 months, a valuable 6 months it would be.

you would think that if he was to take it on you would expect him at least to TALK to the powers that be whether that be Mike Daws or the administator before he made an announcement.

at the moment IMO it is media hype, but I don't like the idea of a super club it might work for Real Madrid with a population in the millions. but would it seriously work in Adelaide?

No it wouldn't. Especially when the two sports are played at the same time of year.

And let's think about it, the majority of people that like either basketball or soccer, don't like the other sport.

"you want someone who is enthusiastic about both sports which would be rarer."

Isaac - Libertine...?

Dunkenstein, yeah, I can imagine running a really successful business when your staffing potential is limited to a single individual. Who's in Europe. And not currently interested in working.

"So, we need to hire someone who likes basketball and soccer."

"Yes, but the only person who fits that description suddenly wants to be paid $600,000/year."

"Right."

I'm pretty sure the Perth Wildcats & West Coast Eagles share admin & staff. I'm not sure exactly which roles over lap, but I remember them joining forces a few years back.

It does happen in other parts of the world. Where you join one club and in that club has more then sport you can go see for your money. So why can't it work here? Yes it would take some admin to do but I can see it may just work here. The only down side I can see is. Is Adelaide big enough to try something like this?

The multi-sport club idea is actually very common, both at grass roots level and at the professional level.

In Europe, Real Madrid have a soccer team (obviously) but also have a basketball team. Manu Ginobili I believe played for them, as did Drazen Petrovic. They share training facilities and benefit from a common brand.

At grass roots level, plenty of local footy and netball clubs share clubrooms, fundraising etc. It is at least worth investigating if those pricipals are applicable to the Sixers/United situation

bit of a story on Pickard and his generosity.

A number of years ago we were raising some money to play in Eltham. We were doing a car wash and we see a Ferrari pull up at a stop light. One of my fellow teammates goes up to the ferrari and asks if we could please wash his car. The driver said he was too busy but asked what we were raising money for. My mate explained. The driver of the ferrari proceeded to pull out $200 out of his wallet to go towards the trip. $200 back then was a lot more than it is now. The team manager recognised the ferrari driver as Gordon Pickard. Next week the team manager rocks up to deliver a thankyou letter (thinking Pickard could use it as a tax deduction etc.) and pickard proceeds to donate another $1000. This was not asked for nor was it really needed.

However Pickard liked that the club was local, we were working hard to raise money for the team and the fact we took the time out to thank him. He did not ask us to wear his company name, his donation was not profit driven and there was no reason for it, other than philanthropy.

The guy is one of the most ethical, giving business men in this state. he has done so much for the state. The fact that people try to find holes and suggest he has a second agenda in what he is trying to do demonstrates one the reasons why basketball is struggling at some levels. maybe he is just a nice guy, who has plenty of money who likes the challenge and kudos of helping out a financially ailing sport.

(Mod: *wipes tear from eye*)

"And let's think about it, the majority of people that like either basketball or soccer, don't like the other sport."

And this is based on what evidence? (They asked EC! Haha! Sorry EC!)

You certainly are not talking on behalf of myself or my friends who go to basketball with me. Personally they are the only two sports I can watch and find them very similar in pace, atmosphere etc.

Pickard would be one of Adelaide's biggest philanthropists, but always something he does with very little publicity.

As far as the super club idea goes, I like it.

How about a combined members ticket, which gets you into both games?

Imagine the benefits this weekend, being able to watch the 36ers kick some Taipans butt, only then to see the Reds go through and win their final on Sunday.

Obviously at the same time, you would still offer member passes for the individual sport as well.

Has a lot of potential..

the cross support would be great. I always thought why don't they play up the 6ers-crows more. They have the charity game, brett is a ambassador for the crows i think, the sports don't really clash time wise and we could really use the extra PR. You don't really need to offer more concepts just hype up the connection, kinda like a sporting family thing.

Mr Pickard would bring enormous benefits in marketing, sponsorship, management, development and financial nouse to basketball in this State with spinoffs across all levels of the game.

You don't emigrate to a country post WW2 parent-less, sleep under bridges in the city, lose tips of fingers as an apprentice carpenter, build your first home in Glenelg and decades later become a multi millionairre, quietly giving, and humble philanthropist without having dreams, goals, dedication, enthusiasm and vision, something basketball here desperately needs!!

That Red Ferrari Testarossa or clapped out bomb matters not. If he offers anyone his time for anything, the experience is worth all spent with him. No amount of money can ever buy that! Let's hope the media is correct and not headline sensationalising.

GP/HC : Dinner & John Riddoch Coonawarra Estate Cab Sav on me!