Hoops

Potential NewBL owners not convinced of plan

LA Boy wrote:

as I said to one of the NBL promotional guys earlier this year

kent brockman:
"i think you are a little off Jordan. They got that money because Lowey convinced the government how much business and good working relationships would come from cross polinating the A League into Asia."
Sweet, the "Bee-league" drones got it done. ; )

I hadn't heard $3M. That would be way too much.
Heard it was about $1M.
Eight teams were rumored, but Harmison said, on Saturday nite, that they won't be cutting back numbers just for the sake of it.
'Ten plus others if they meet criteria'

Oops - sorry, forgot I was already signed in.

Jordan - perspective is interesting - the Boomers bombed out (finishing 7th) which is widely regarded as disappointing while the Opals were shattered by having their worst game of the week in the final and ONLY finishing with a silver medal. And we are still ranked #2 in the world as far as overall rankings go.

Can you imagine how out of control the soccer crowd would be if they were in a similar lowly position in the world. The W-league (part of the Gov't $30m funding) was based partly on the exceptional performance of the Matildas in QUALIFYING and then progressing into the second round of the World Cup! Soccer has sold itself as THE ONLY WORLD GAME incredibly well.

I can understand the reservations of potential owners but remain convinced of the need for an integrated organisation. The existing NBL is a failed model (not sustainable without external funding) and is dragging the name of the sport (which is otherwise in reasonable health) down with it because it is the flagship in this country.

The reality may not be palatable for players at the moment but the NBL thrived when the structure was more integrated, when players were not full-time and the spectators still came - it was sold!! Bring back the sell and the players still go full-time but maybe paying players over the odds is not on any more.

The sport needs a National League which sells the sport, whatever form that may be. The sport (BA) is funded by the government through the Sports Commission based on Olympic and World Championship performance, not the strength of its National League. Increasingly those players will be overseas-based (already true with the Opals, heading that way with the Boomers) and not participating in the NBL - Boomers 2012 starters potentially Mills (should be NBA), Bogut (NBA), Jawai (NBA), Newley (Europe) and Ingles (potentially overseas by then). This is simply our place in the world.

So BA's role in developing players and performing internationally can't be overstated - its what drives the sport's funding. Again, may be unpalatable to the 'weekend warrior' but the way it works.

It's the 9th Nov. I think, the big meeting, to decide on whether the revamp is accepted. The existing ten teams and any others, will submit for their licence, if they agree to go ahead with the proposed changes.

The Government won't fund the NBL
It funds Basketball Australia

That was Rachael Sporn on radio just then. She is now on BA board.... that's more on Opals.