Hoops

New NBL plans hit turbulence

Thanks LA - I am really just throwing a few ideas out that sound good to me. Not being involved in basketball in any official capacity means I don't really know what is realistic or not. I'm just really hopeful that we can find a solid owner for the 36ers and get a stable, competitive league. Am sick to death of of the crap that basketball seems to go through in this country. I used to love NBL back in the 90s but it really lost its way over the past decade.

While I am thinking about this, if the NBL did have a year off, why not actually take the opportunity to sit down with One HD and work out a made for TV basketball tournament?

Obviously One has just taken up the IPL and would be looking for other new tournament type content. And if netball can successfully sell a league to One then basketball MUST have a shot!

If you sell a short, intensive 'World Cup' style event to One (ie, a group stage then knockout) with say 5 Aussie teams, NZ, and two invited Asian teams, they would have some good content that they could easily slot into their schedule somewhere.

With so few teams, we could really concentrate the talent and guarantee high quality ball. This would work especially well if you could get a big prize together like the IPL does to really raise the stakes!

I reckon you would get an exciting tournament with big FTA exposure, and because it is only for a short time, you leave people wanting more.

This gives One a chance to try the product out with little risk and the possibility of a big ratings reward. If it is successful, I reckon you would see them stump up some cash for a full season next year. Then we'd be cooking with gas!

Anyway, I know there are a lot of things that would have to be worked out to make something like this happen, but it would be an awesome way to get some hype going for basketball instead of another ho-hum NBL season that local media basically doesn't even bother with these days.

That's amazing news that South and Perth have got exemptions from the $1 million guarantee! I don't see how the NBL can fairly demand guarantees of any team if two teams don't have to do it. Talk about no credibility.

If this is the kind of decision that is coming from the league it sounds to me like basketball needs to take a year off after all to work through the issues properly.

Its not a great sitch for people who earn a living from the league, but basically life is tough right now. At least some people have been making a living from SPORT for awhile - most people would love to have that chance.

There might be a few who will go looking for work overseas and not come back, but if you were a good NBL player, had to miss a year, but were offered a new contract to come back and play the next year, you'd do it wouldn't you?

I think its more important to really thrash out a new business model that will be sustainable. So if push comes to shove, I'm all for delaying for a year.

Why not scrap the $1m guarantee altogether? How many people work for companies that guarantee their pays if they go bankrupt? Its an employment risk everyone faces, why is it any different in Sport? Players have chosen to earn their income playing basketball, they need to do it understanding the risks. Its not a pleasant situation but like everyone else, if one job doesn't work out, you look for another. Another job does not necessarily mean in the same field either. What's worse about a team like Adelaide (with one of the best fan based support) not meeting the guarantee is not participating in the league. Do you think its a good thing for the league to lose 5-8,000 fans? I'm not saying Adelaide should be an exception and get away without the guarantee, I'm saying to scrap it for everyone. Its getting late in the year and teams have to get down to organising their teams for next season. My message to the NBL is let them get on with it and stop putting hurdles in way.

I can't believe they don't have top put up the $1m guarantee! Surely it is the same rule for all?

Maybe the NBL Premier League?