Hoops

Is Graeme Wade Already A Failure?

I'm with Mick and Speed44

And I'm sick of all the positive words leading to negative outcomes - sounds like another Pyramid Building Society kind of con. Give me someone who tells it like it is and gives me a realistic action plan.

Of course since the above in January he has had to deflect calls for the NBL to crash and re invent itself, remember the Andrew Gaze led media exposure after the Hawks and Crocs financial disasters.

He has had to pick up the pieces from the minute he has sat on the throne.

Reading the above again, it seems he understands most of what is needed, but whether he has the madate and the support of every team and their owners is going to dictate his success.

Unfortunately I don't see a Frank Lowe type of leadership possible, but give him time and let's see how it unfolds...

This article was in the Herald Sun in January 2015.

The NBL's new independent chairman isn't shy about admitting he knows "very, very little about basketball".

Graeme Wade, also the global president and chairman of CPA Australia, brings a great deal of governance and leadership experience to the table, if not basketball knowledge. Wade said on Friday he was looking forward to working with the league as it looks to expand into new markets around the country.

Wade was attracted to the role by the "impressive" operations of the NBL's various clubs, claiming basketball is "the second-biggest participation sport in Australia" at a grassroots level. "The other thing that attracted me to the basketball was the fact that it's a good thing," he said. "It's healthy, it's fun, it's family-orientated and it gets kids off the couch and off their devices. It's personally motivating to me to assist in getting something that's not violent video games, not beer and cigarettes, and promoting physical activity in the current environment."

When asked about possible locations for expansion clubs around the country, however, Wade refused to make any promises. "We're not making any premature announcements," he said. "All we can say is that negotiations are ongoing and we're quietly optimistic, and also, clearly as chairman of the board I don't want to have the board labeled as big talkers and not actors. Hopefully we'll deliver some definitive statements about that in the not-too-distant future, but at this point, we're not making any watertight commitments."

Advertisement Ex-NBL chief executive Fraser Neill had announced in September that the NBL would expand to include a Brisbane team in the 2015/16 season for the first time since 2008. Wade would not be drawn on whether these plans were still in place, as well as plans to include smaller teams such as a Tasmanian club. "The league is clearly looking for the team in the Brisbane area which is an obvious hole in the market, but the smaller teams in the other locations that you mentioned aren't critical to the success of the league. The league is going along quite well with the existing teams, but a few more - a couple of teams in key spots - will really enhance the competition."

Nick Marvin, the outgoing chairman, will remain as a board director to oversee broadcast negotiations for the next season. Marvin backed Wade to provide strong leadership for the NBL. "He has a wealth of knowledge and experience outside of basketball that will provide a fresh set of eyes as we look to expand and grow the League," he said.

What Mick said.

I'm done. Unless they (whoever "they" may end up being) can show some definite intent to change the direction of this rudderless ship, then my interest is LONG gone.

It seriously is the dullest sports league in Oz right now, and that's saying something as there is some heady competition.

I too am a basketball tragic, but have zero interest in this league anymore, which is astounding to me as I have followed it closely for near on 30 years now.

The last 10 years have seen me gradually go from massively interested, to each year that interest diminishing slightly to where it is now. Last season was the first season in maybe 24 years where I didn't at least go to one game.

So, as Mick stated, if a tragic like me isn't interested, why should non-b'ball fans even give a toss?

I think it is too soon to call wade a failure, he may well have an easier time of bringing in change, however with his ( proud ?)lack of experience in basketball , every hoary old failed thing will seem like a new idea to him,

Stern also had had years of experience as working a a lawyer within the NBA system before becomming commissioner, including the ABA and NBA "meger.

Ordinarily I would let this go bye to the keeper, as I generally chose to do so with those who are so oblivious to their own lack of nouse that the only commonsense they can actually demonstrate is to totally ignore their own advice, as you so clearly have done - but.

I agree re the eventual lack of anonymity when one consistently posts under a single non-de-plume , I happily bathe in the respect ( and occasional censure) of those who search/read my posts and are smart enough to work out who I am, really not very hard to do,judging by the number of direct emails and conversations I have had over the years.

When someone posts anonymously, they should fully expect outcomes similar to the proverb about getting fleas when lying with dogs ( hairy Trolls ?)

XoXo

I dont know about Failure. The Issue with the NBL is that it dosnt know .. where it wants to go. It treads water, It dosnt have the budget to put tv adverts on too often, it dosnt know how to connect with fans on the 2010's.

I just love anonymous trolls, without these bottom dwellers, "average" would be so much more unachievable.