“Bringing the game into disrepute” is one of many buzz phrases bandied about by sporting administrators these days when reprimanding players or coaches. In the National Basketball League’s case, however, it is not a player, coach or official who must be found guilty as charged of this offence. Instead, it is the [...]
Hip Hop Hoops
Julius Hodge’s return to the Adelaide 36ers last round may be just as influential to the future of Australian basketball as any recommendation in the recent Henderson report. Hodge may not have turned around his team’s fortunes on the court – the Sixers lost back-to-back games against Sydney and South Dragons – but [...]
Straight off the wires: AAP shafts NBL
As reported in yesterday’s Sunday Age, Australian Associated Press has cancelled its coverage of the National Basketball League. Instead of supplying the country’s media outlets with reports from every game, it will instead offer only a wrap of each round as well as selected coverage of games that hold “news value.” This is [...]
Why the AFL could end up kissing Cousins
The conditions attached to Ben Cousins’ return by the AFL were considered so “onerous” that some media commentators could smell a conspiracy. They believed that the league opened the door for Cousins’ return purely for the sake of avoiding litigation, and made the conditions so stringent that the fallen Eagle would opt out of [...]
Smoke, Mirrors and a Salary Cap
Smoke and Mirrors is a term that typically carries negative connotations. More bark than bite, it suggests. But as the National Basketball League gets set for its relaunch next season, this is exactly what the league will need for it to be successful. As Herald Sun basketball writer Grantley Bernard opined last week: [...]
Independent Board Takes Control, But Who Really Holds Power?
The inmates run the asylum no longer. That’s the result of basketball’s landmark vote on Saturday afternoon, which saw the NBL’s 10 club owners agree to hand over their power to a new Independent Board. The significance of this cannot be understated. The owners have little idea of what the NewNBL will look [...]
Television Coverage A Must In Today’s Digital Age
Television deals can make or break sports, and it will be no different for the NewNBL. Last week Channel Ten announced they would be launching a 24-hour sports channel from March 2009. This channel will be available on both high and standard definition, meaning it will have penetration into approximately fifty percent of [...]
