Can't get no regard...

Our poor WNBA players...

The league is ridiculed in all forms of sports media and pop culture throughout the USA...

We are World Champions, but the heroics of Lauren Jackson (currently the Leagues leading scorer) Penny Taylor, and the countless others plying there trade OS gets no love in Aus, because it gets no love in the USA!

The crowds though I may add, are bigger than the NBL crowds here,

Here is the latest parody doing the rounds

Un momento Por favor!

Bill Russell before Andrew Gaze?... Un momento Por favor!!

I haven't used this blog to write anything about one of my all time favorite people, Andrew Barry Casson Gaze.

But his recent disclusion from the FIBA Hall of Fame innaugral inductees, left me somewhat broken. How could they leave out the great man, who embodied the FIBA International spirit his entire career, when it opens in Spain later in the year.

I have his autobiography (a signed copy) and DVD (some of the greatest banter of all time, and hilarious quotes!) I've defended this man many, many times, but a situation has now arisen to take my opinions to the internet!

Surely one of the Gaze's should have been on the 20! Lindsay Gaze, who was involved in every Olympic Games in basketball from 1956 to 2000, didn't even get on the original 33!

Like most people, I don't know who most of the people on this list are. Of the 20 who were chosen as the intitial group to be inducted, I know maybe 5. Oscar Schmidt, Meyers, Dean Smith, Stankovic and Bill Russell.

Let's use Russell as an example, as he is someone who most people would have heard of. What are the real reasons why this NBA star made the international Hall of Fame before Andrew Gaze?

My memories of Bill Russell are all from his Grey Haired later stages of life. I remember when he attended an NBA All star game in the late 1990's and everyone said how great it was that he was 'giving something back'. What a load of crap. If sitting in the stands looking like a sour old man, wearing a black baseball cap pulled down, with the statement "WHUT?" - is his endearing gesture and giving back moment, then this "Hall of Fame" really is a joke... Apparently he tried his hand at commentating after his retirement, but even then failed to be the personable star that the media was after.

Does that sound like someone who embodies what the new FIBA HOF is selling... According to them:

The primary goal of the FIBA Hall of Fame is to reflect the history of the sport and its protagonists. The key criterion for selection into the FIBA Hall of Fame is outstanding achievement, at the international level, to the development and status of the sport of basketball.

I don't really have anything against Russell, but come on, this reaks of Politics FIBA!

Sure Russell had an amazing NBA career, and even won an Olympic medal. Until recently, so did every other USA Olympic Basketballer, it's not like he dragged them up to the medal rounds, they dominated the CENTURY!

Russell was a great player, in the USA, but that is nothing to do with FIBA, surely Michael Jordan should be inducted now too, if accomplishments in the NBA pass for international achievements?

Russell led the University of San Francisco to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, earning the NCAA's Most Outstanding Player of the 1955 NCAA Tournament. In four seasons and 79 games at San Francisco, Russell compiled 1,636 points (20.7 ppg.) and 1,606 rebounds (20.3 rpg.). Russell delayed his pro debut so he could compete in the 1956 Olympics. He led the Americans to gold and an 8-0 record averaging a team best 14.1 ppg.

Following completion of the Olympics, Russell reported late to the Celtics but still managed to play in 48 of Boston's 72 games in 1956-57, and led the Celtics in field goal percentage and rebounding as Boston captured their first of many NBA titles while Russell occupied the post. Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975, Russell during his 13 year career (1956-57 to 1968-69) compiled 14,522 points (15.1 ppg.) and 21,620 rebounds (22.5 rpg.). A five time NBA MVP, he helped lead Boston to 11 NBA titles.
http://usfdons.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/061907aac.html

I obviously am a huge Andrew Gaze fan and supporter. Growing up an avid Melbourne Tigers and Boomers follower. I have been at many of Gazes huge occasions (particularly towards the later of his career) and watched many others intently from afar. This is not an entry about the validity of Andrew Gaze as a basketballer, his NBL and international statistics speak for themselves ....

ANDREW GAZE CAREER INFORMATION:

Domestic: Andrew Gaze began his stellar basketball career in earnest when he burst onto the Australian domestic scene in 1984, becoming the National Basketball League (NBL) Rookie of the Year at 18 years of age. By the time he retired 22 seasons later in 2005, he was the all-time leader in NBL games played (612), as well as points scored (18,908) and assists (3,531) with a career average of 31 points per game. He was also third all-time in steals (1,075). He won seven MVP awards (1991, ‘92, ‘94, ‘95, ‘96, ‘97, ‘98) and was runner-up four times (1989, ‘90, ‘93, 2001); he won 14 scoring titles (1986, ‘88, ‘89, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, 2000, ‘01); he was selected to the All-NBL First Team for 15 straight years (1986–2000); he was an 8-time NBL All-Star (1989, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97) and was named All-Star MVP in 1989 and 1992; and he won two NBL championships (1993, ’97).

International: Having competed in no less than five Olympic Games, in 1984 (Los Angeles; 7th), 1988 (Seoul; 4th) 1992 (Barcelona; 6th) 1996 (Atlanta; 4th) and 2000 (Sydney; 4th), Andrew is one of Australia’s greatest Olympians and was honoured as such with flag bearer and team captain duties for the Australian Olympic Team at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. He led the Boomers to their highest Olympic achievement of fourth place in 1996. He has scored more points than any other player in Olympic competition and is the second highest scorer of all time in World Championship play, having competed at the 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1988 World Championships. He was also named Australia’s International Player of the Year five times (1990, ’94, ’95, ‘96, ‘98) and was inducted into the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame in 2004.

Other: In 1991 Andrew suited up for Italian club side Udine, becoming the first Australian to play professionally in Europe. In a six month stint in Italy he averaged his usual 30 points per game, as he did when later playing in Greece. As well as performing with distinction in European Leagues, Andrew led United States Division 1 college side Seton Hall to the NCAA Finals in 1989, posting a season average of 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists on 51 per cent field goal shooting, after which he was honoured with the West Regional MVP Award. He also had two stints in the NBA in a back-up shooting guard role (1993/94 and 1998/9), winning an NBA Championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999.

This is being written by a man who was willing to shed a tear with the entire crowd at the cage during his final game there, and scream for the blood of anyone daring to mess with him.

FIBA is the international governing body for Basketball. This is not the USA Hall of Fame. That is located in Springfield, Mass. I have visited this great museum/dome and it is clearly dominated by Americans, but even that has a number of Andrew Gaze pictures, and I would think he may even be inducted there one day. Now, if he is inducted in the USA version of the Basketball Hall of Fame and not the FIBA version located in Spain... something is wrong!

How could Bill Russell be inducted here before Andrew Gaze, let alone Lindsay. It's not like us Aussies have no connections in the head offices, THE PRESIDENT OF FIBA IS AUSTRALIAN! Mr. Bob Elphinston (AUS)

Andrew of course played down the nomination, and instead chose to build up the case for his father Lindsay, who was unbelievably left off the intitial 35 nominations all together!

“He’s done a hell of a lot more than I’ve ever done,” he said.

"And there's been plenty of other great contributors to the game over the years like Barry Barnes, Adrian Hurley, Phil Smyth, Larry Sengstock - there's many worthy candidates."

Missing the short list Andrew conitinued to be as positive as ever:

"I didn't know much about it (induction nomination). The way I found out that I was nominated was by reading it on the internet," Gaze said.

"It's nice to be nominated, but it's an on-going process. It's a process where you've got to get to this point a few times before you earn your way in. Hopefully sometime in the future I get that same consideration again."

The official website of the NBL is running poll on the topic. It has been demonstrated over the years that polls such as these are not there strong point. This particular one doesn't really achieve much, except to show that there are some jokers out there (myself included) that are willing to show how ridiculous the question is by voting no.

OF COURSE HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED!!

Should Andrew Gaze have been included in the 2007 FIBA Hall of Fame induction class?
77%
Yes
23%
No
Poll Archive

It's not the biggest travesity of all time that Andrew Gaze (5 time Olympian) didn't get in the final 20? But...

How could Bill Russell make it in before him? Is it because he is older and more likely to die first?

I am disappointed.

Please find below the list of 20 inductees for the 2007 Class of the FIBA Hall of Fame:

PLAYERS:Mr. Sergei BELOV (RUS) Mr. Dražen DALIPAGIC (SRB)Mr. Ivo DANEU (SLO)Mr. Oscar FURLONG (ARG)Mr. Nikos GALIS (GRE)Ms. Hortência MARCARI (BRA)Mr. Pierluigi MARZORATI (ITA)Ms. Ann MEYERS (USA)Mr. Amaury PASOS (BRA)Mr. Emiliano RODRÍGUEZ (ESP)Mr. Bill RUSSELL (USA)Ms. Uljana SEMJONOVA (LAT)

COACHES:Ms. Lidia ALEXEEVA (RUS)Mr. Dean SMITH (USA)Mr. Togo Renan SOARES, "Kanela" (posthumous) (BRA)Mr. Ranko ŽERAVICA (SRB)TECHNICAL OFFICIALS:Mr. Mario HOPENHAYM (URU)Mr. Ervin KASSAI (HUN)Mr. Allen RAE (CAN)

CONTRIBUTOR:Mr. Borislav STANKOVIC (SRB)

Andrew was not your prototypical basketball superstar like Russell:
"I'm fully aware of my limitations physically," said Gaze.
"I think I'm a little bit more athletic than people think," Gaze said with a smile.
"You exaggerate," said teammate and fellow sharpshooter Shane Heal. "You've got no athletic ability, mate."

But we'll always love you!

Running Diary & Thoughts of Cavs - Spurs Game 4!

Welcome to the unconventional running diary of game 4 of the 2007 NBA Finals. It’s the Cavs vs Spurs
It’s just myself, Rob, a couple of bottles of ‘V’, a variety of beers… and some Milky Ways (thanks Rob!)

Just a couple of observations on the great opening montage with the past champions spliced together. It really shows me the way finals used to be… Getting up on cold June mornings to watch Shaq and Kobe (with hair and goatee). Rudy T and his “never underestimate the heart of a champion!” Speech. Not to mention the least unlikely looking superstar of the day, Larry Bird (that title now belongs to Gasol), and Magic Johnson, someone who I based my alter ego Magnificent Johnson. Anywho, man that pumps me up! Too bad I have seen the first three games and remember that this certainly is no riveting battle…

The game is coming to us from CLEVELAND OHIO, Lebron enters and I can’t decide if he’s dressed up or not wearing a nice vest over t-shirt and sunnies (maybe suffering from the effects of becoming a father the evening prior, more on my issue with that later)
It’s encouraging for us fans hoping to see the Cavs avoid going out in straight sets that MIKE BREEN rates their chances as “impossible”...

You have gotta love the look of Big Z, Surely when he finally retires and his feet or necessarily amputated and used as kids snowboards. He could surely get a movie role in the next bond movie, as a crazy European guard smoking in the cold playing poker on porno cards villain ala John Salley in Bad Boys!

I really love ESPN - ads! – Particularly some of the Sportscenter ads, like when they rip off their warm up suits to reveal their game time suits! Classic… but there are a couple I have issues with… Three words “Chattanooga choo choo” Now this ad isn’t around anymore, but it’s the same guy with the same dumb ass tricks… who is your target audience here? Why are they on so often? Is pool so popular in other parts of Oceania that we have to be subjected to this hick??

And then there’s the AFL (not the good kind) The Arena football league – poor mans “Baseketball” – which I’m not even sure is on ESPN?... I’m conveniently forgetting the one dubbed over by the Aussie guy about us kids growing up worshipping baseball… please just don’t show us! It only makes me angry and my blood pressure is high enough after all this caffeine!

First Quarter
First basket Drew Gooden layup – what the hell is the deal with hair patch, it’s growing out and looks atrocious. Oh no! Vertebeard is growing out, “that shit is gross!” – to quote Dave Chappelle

Finley Mr Nice Guy first spurs bucket- He played with Anstey in Dallas, there is a great play where an Anstey block leads to a Finley Tomahawk, but I couldn’t find it. This is sweet though, as they hook up at around the 3.20 mark of the clip!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXixmaZDSPA
This was during the 1997-98 NBA season. DID YOU KNOW? 4 Aussies were drafted in the NBA that year! Four!
Chris Anstey @ number 18 overall, CJ Bruton @ 53! Paul Rogers @ 54! And Ben Pepper @ 56!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_NBA_Draft

Gibson starting again
My main Sasha hits for 3 – there is something about him, more like an Aussie type player, Glen Saville like attack.
First of Tony Parkers amazing drives, making Cavs look like, well, a slow team
Q1 9.50 remaining: James first bucket
Don’t really like this camera view following player. Neither does Rob “I don’t like it” like video games, can’t see whole court Rob is somewhat viewing challenged as it is and at this view you miss seeing what is happening on the opposite side of the court in the Bruce Bowen, or Donyell Marshall corner (which ever way you are going)
First 3 for Boobie Gibson– how do you get that nickname?
Is that true
Do it for Bryce! says one sign! for new daddy James, lots of congrats from spurs before game.
Mum 16 when she had him
Q1 5.46 remaining: SA 8 CLE 12 Phoenix Suns basketball it is not!
B Bowen bad boy Bowen first bucket
Parker just breaks the whole of Ohio’s ankles sick move! “See you later Boobie” – Mark Jackson…
“It’ll get ya drunk!”
Q1 3.37 remaining FIRST EVA SITING – Not disappointing at all!
Rob regales me with tales of screwing up with love. Tells me forgot to put clutch on. Stalled in front of chick sitting in car next to him ‘I felt like the biggest tool’

What was up with those awkward silent shots leading into end of ads no sound jut view.. strange..
I just know it’s caught out so many people double checking the batteries in the remote control! These ads have people thinking their TVs are screwed no volume
Eric snow in 96 rookie for Sonics in finals
Oberto makes me think Mackinnon could make it as a mature rookie. He would eat pieces of Fabricio for breakfast one on one!

Donyell Marshall not done a thing except look scary
Lebron first* baseline dunk 1.17
Varageo side show bob
Gibson playing like he looks young and scared, he has to be the youngest looking starter in the NBA Finals since BJ Armstrong

Quarter time SA 19 CLE 20
Meanwhile on channel v fitty cent is back, and his rhymes haven’t lost any of their intellectual prose… “i'm laughing straight to the bank niggas hahahahahaha ha ah…”

Michelle Tafoya – tells us Poppo tore them a new one in huddle.
Yawn… Spurs layup after layup.

As I struggled to differentiate between my v and beer, I started to think how to describe players as drinks. If these players and their respective games were drinks:
Donyell like Tooheys Red - too shit for anyone to try more than once.
Bruce Bowen is like cask wine – cheap, dirty, effective, and I’ll leave you with a headache at least!
Duncan is Beer – does the job after repeated doses, always a safe bet!
Parker is ‘shots’ – hit you fast and often leave your head spinning (see:Boobie)!
Ginose-bili is a Jaga bomb – Jaga half leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth i.e; all the flopping, Red Bull half - Reckless abandon, health be damned!
Andy V – milky way and Grolsch – not a good combo all round. Definite chance of throwing up! (see: last shot game 3)
Lebron? - really depends on how strong the mix is - Bourbon and Coke!

My hopes for an LBJ scoring 40 pts are fading aren’t they?
Freeze cam shows time after time Lebron 1 on 5 hitting open men who always miss! (see my comments on Marshall and Gibson)
Random metro sexual thought of the half: Tony parker clearly has a monobrow that he shaves
Q2 7.36 remaining: SA 27 CLE 25
BOOBIE BLOWS LAYUP… hehe I love that I can say Boobie.
Rob is getting side tracked. I can’t blame him? He tells me of his drunken late night questions of Seek 1234 – are the ass hairs pubes ‘they have the answers for everything’ – yes they are?- on the cheek is just hair.
Now that that is cleared up.
Duncan flash back Jamaican wig turk dirk and a jerk joke…
The less Big Z uses his feet the better, like Dennis Cometti would say “Like Pavarotti on a skateboard.”

The Spurs, remind a lot of a team that currently is the bane of my playing existence Tuesday night B1 at Eltham (((sporting pulse link)))Northside cobras demoralise us in the second half and spend it organising the pizza they want to order, then call time out to organize. Too good. Jerks. Much like the Spurs.
Sa 37 cle 31 Parker 6-6 fg 15 points 2.26 Duncan 0-5fg
Early pick Finals MVP…. It’s big.

The crowd is joined by OHIO’N’s (that looks like onions!) Usher (who I’m sure I spotted recently in the Gods Must Be Crazy” and Good ol’Drew Carey – considering the lame ass music they have had on the telecast I’m surprised they didn’t get Drew up there to give the old “Cleveland rocks! Ohio!” Song from his show?
Plus footballers Tom Brady, ah wrong town Tom? (well Celtics wont be in the Finals for a while) & Terrell Owens in a bright Jordan t shirt…

Random thought number # 3 Brent Barry looks a lot like Chris Anstey.

Daniel Eades vote for Cavs in 6, not looking good….
I would not want to cop a headbutt from mike brown…
This game is truly affecting me now obviously.

Halftime score – sa 39 and cle 34 POINTS IN A HALF!!
9 points for Akrons finest…
Halftime Break– Grant Hill “Tony Parker is this series finals mvp”… already said that! Plus, grant hill drinks Sprite!
Jon Barry – “didn’t think it could get any worse… this is terrible!”…So is his your make up/fake tan job Jon…
Ryan Mobilia - “Lebron should just try and dunk on them all!” - the would couple the most entertaining outcome with the most effective!

Now to the 2nd half
Gooden first bucket again, what happens in between first plays? He's good…
mark Jackson is dying from how James isn’t doing much..
Dancun half white
We are informed that both James and Bowen had sons during series.
James girlfriend Savannah? gave birth to King James 2nd Eyre to the Throne, Bryce Maximus, just the evening before the game.
They could be d’ing up on each other in 20 years?
Parker again blowing by the Cavs
Q3. SA 44 CLE 36 q3 9.15
Z bucket then block on Duncan
Bowen’s birthday
You know this is terrible when Lebron is the high scorer for cle with 9 points! 7.31 left in 3rd
I get distracted. Rob tells me… 2.30 metres tallest man in china, just got married. Z is 7 foot 3, Yao 221cm?
We learn Cavs haven’t led in 2nd half any game! 33% shooting.
David stern in crowd - surely cringing at the awfulness of these Finals.
What number would you choose?
11pt lead very quiet in the arena sa 56 cle 45.

BRING OUT LEBROOM!!

He needs to watch more ‘My Name is Earl’.. karma is a bitch.
Treat me like shit and get swept… Sorry should have warned the reader(s) with a *personal vendetta alert!*
Ahh I miss jump balls, and “Jump Around” by Naughty by Nature - It’s just always a feel good song and the NBL isn’t the same without it! See: Happy Gilmore and Mrs Doubtfire (thanks rob)

Start of 4th sa 60 cle 52
4pt game after lebron aggressiveness, tip in by mad dog marshall.
Then some random thoughts, which ultimately lead to me yelling at the screen!
Mutombo UNICEF add.. Ask me about my “Who want to f##k Mutombo!” story… Classic!
Chris Jent of nbl giants standing in background of cavs…
Snow looking like gibsons dad.
Side show bob draws offensive foul… most in league
Why does it take him so long to drive the ball!
SHIT!
Then all of a sudden! They catch up!

Here is my relatively unedited version of the events from this point. The alcohol, V, Milky Way combo, was having some strange affects on my thought process…

We’ll pick up the action SA 60- CLE 57 9.12 remaining in 4th.

Closest they’ve been
bucket james! 1 pt game! 8.32 first 7 pts of 4th theirs…
airball parker… for three.
James bucket! DRIVE cavs lead!
Offensive andy! Keeps it alive
Spurs 0 in 4th 7
Boobie layup over td! Cavs by 3 – 11 striaght
Marshall wide out 3… airball
Andy another foul of td! That hair goes wild!
Cavs by 1. 5.47 left
Manu Ginose-bili schooled Damon Jones –
Spurs by 3 on Duncan tip in

Every time Duncan catches the ball someone is yelling AHHH AHHH AHHHHA! Like a Screaming caterpillar lady in crowd!, (Simpson’s reference) “Then why don’t I hear sleep screaming?”
Offensive board after offensive spurs 11-0 run, ending with Oberto 3 point play.
Hustle by ‘the big fundamentals’ (Duncan) is amazing!

72-66 2.23 Left
14 point run. Ended by james 3
I really want to see someone knock Duncan the f##k out.
Or Gooden to punch out Bowen, Gooden is a bad ass.
The fat lady is singing…
30 secs left 7 points.
Brett brown and Chris Jent connection? Pat Reidy anyone? On the scoreboard.
Eva embarrassing 16 secs left only second siting. David Robinson siting!
Three free throws for damon jones to bring it back to 3? 7 secs
79-76 7.5 left…
James for 3! Hits it!
Ginobili fouled no timeout soooooo….
Game over!!
Jones on buzzer for 3 – 83-82…. NBA champs 2007
Hugging like crazy!

Timmy is giddy like a school girl! Still sounds like a nerdy teenager. But wow, 4 championships is huge!
Oldest team in the NBA 8 players over 30
Duncan 4 rings Horry 7 Parker 3 + Eva every night!
Eva overload
Dan Patrick stern presents trophy…
MVP trophy goes to le Tony Parker!! Bonchonts!!!
Interview Mike Finley – I might just put it in (the ball) the bed between me and my wife now!
Most successful franchise in any major sport over the past decade!

Turnover at crucial moment’s killers! Mike brown fault? Perhaps? Lebron too though!

That was fun!
*and only dunk.

I should've known better!

By Ryan Mobilia


I should've known better.

In the past week I have experienced some highs and lows.


In the blink of an eye, quicker than a new york minute, or any other cliche that would drive Paul Shirley mad. He was gone.


Last week, http://www.sportal.com.au/ reported an interview with Al Westover, that caused a minor stir I’m sure with Tigers fans, but the impact on Shirley fans (of which there are many in Australia) was far greater. His Myspace site, was flooded with well wishes for the try out with the Tigers and pleads to join various NBL teams and how much he would be loved in Melbourne. I resisted commenting personally, but obviously was excited about a potentially marriage between my favourite ball club and favourite ball writer/player!


I had learned that Paul Shirley, a man who I had followed on ESPN.com since he first began writing for them, a man whom (thanks to the amazing service of Amazon.com) I had not seven days earlier began reading his first Book entitled, "Can I Keep My Jersey?: 11 Teams, 5 Countries, and 4 Years in My Life as a Basketball Vagabond" in which he chronicles his experiences as a basketball player.


Said Westover:

"He's an American guy who played with Chris in Russia. He's a well travelled guy who's had a few years in the NBA, Russia and Spain,"

Westover told Sportal on Tuesday afternoon.

"Paul's a bit of a media personality over there. He writes for ESPN and has written a book. We're bringing him out next week. If things work out we'll have our squad in place."

I wanted to see the man I’d read so much about from, well, himself. I wanted to hear him speak, see how he played, see how he sweats (that’s not a sexual comment, apparently he sweats as much as my alter ego ‘Patch Adams’!) And generally just pick his brains, about basketball and life, and the outrageous events of his time in Kazan with Chris Anstey (someone who he seems to really like. Trust me that’s a big deal, he's not exactly an endearing teammate.)

On http://www.anstey.com/, which firstly I was annoyed I haven't been looking at lately, because as Chris himself told us last time i checked the site, that the "Ask Chris" section specifically, of which I was a huge fan, was to become defunct. I guess as Seinfeld and Kramer can attest, it's not that easy when people keep up with the requests, such as questions to be answered. (Jerry: "You kept making all the stops?" Kramer: "Well. People kept ringing the bell!") Anstey's continues to answer the bell on his site, and I've been missing it!

Anyway (stop me if I keep going off like that!), after a week in which my hopes had risen to "OJ Simpsons head" sized proportions, Anstey flatly shot a hole in my big headed hopes, and my short lived dream of actually having this person become my mate. But the question was asked straight, is he a chance of coming? To which Chris replied and my heartbroken self, glazed eyes read "He's not coming, he'll be playing in Spain."

I should have known. I've been reading his blog for as long as it's been around, and I just sped through the entirity, 300+ pages of his book. I should have known I was crazy to get my hopes up.

If I learned anything from his stories and life, he doesn't know where he will be from season to season, and things never really pan out the way they seem they might!

The problem is far worse than my selfish dreams of being Paul Shirley’s Protégé, who now will be the Tigers second import? He would have been a great fit for the team, a Neil Mottram type player who can hit jump shots!

We definitely need a better 4 man, Stiffy and Axel were admirable, but certainly didn’t equate to Mottram of the season before….



The search continues, for the Tigers new import and a new Protege!

The Trek.

The Trek.



By Ryan Mobilia

For two weeks during May 2007 my father Andrew, 56, ventured from his office, in the study of our suburban Melbourne home, to embark on a trip to South America that would culminate in a four day, 47 km trek along the Inca Trail, to the Inca ruins in Machu Picchu. "We flew into Santiago, which is the capital of Chile. Then we flew from there to Lima, which is the capital of Peru. We flew from there into Cusco, for the start of the trek.” He has only just come back. I sat down to discuss with him something that I am proud he achieved, and fascinated by the fact he attempted in the first place. But travelling with a friend and two others, there was much more to overcome on this trip than just the gruelling walk. Which covered the distance between 'Kilometre 82', their starting point for the trek, and their ultimate destination in Machu Picchu.

“When you get to Cusco, because, I think it’s about ten thousand feet above sea level. You’ve got to acclimatise, and it takes about two to three days.” He went on to explain the headaches and general fatigue that were symptoms of those struggling to adapt. “Some people found it difficult to just walk in. I didn’t have that problem. Then again others did.” When I suggested he was perhaps just fitter than the others, he played it down in his usual modest way, “No." he said flatly, "Even Olympic athletes suffer from it.”

The terrain on the trek was of the type he had never come across, but with a laugh he leans back into the comfort of the couch, savouring the fact that it is now over. Safe in the knowledge that what he is about to describe is now behind him, rather than in front.

He recalls, “the walk started off 3 ½ to 4 hours which wasn’t bad.” He described the path on the first day as well maintained. “The second day was 7 hours. And that was hard. Because you had to get up to 14 1/2 thousand feet. That was very difficult. The track is just rocks laid down.” The absolute toughest part overall? “Just stepping up. Stepping up. You’re doing this constantly stepping from rocks to rocks, up!” And you’re doing two or three days in a row.”

It seems at least one variable worked in their favour, the weather was ok, “around twenty degrees during the day. Quite good actually.” Although he continued “because of the altitude you’d have, the UV was very high.” And at night the sleeping bags kept them warm enough, in fact it was "often too hot."

As part of the trek, local men were employed as 'porters' to help move the group from camp to camp. He was clearly impressed by them. “They weren’t muscular, more wiry. No taller than 5’5 any of them.” These men carried the tents, cooking equipment and gas bottles. Dad said they were only supposed to carry 25kgs, but was sure they were often carrying more. Admiration for these men was clear in his voice; he now had a sense of what they endured each day. Much more than was expected of his group. “They had to wait till we left in the morning. Then they had to get past us, so they could set up at night. Moving, if not jogging, at a very fast walking pace. Most didn't wear hiking boots, they were wearing sandals."

My dad is certainly not a fitness fanatic. I’ve never seen him go for a run, he leaves walking the dogs to us. He worked in an office his whole life; his exercise came in the garden and other roundabout ways. I struggled to think of anything that something like this could be compared to, trying to grasp the enormity of the task he completed. When I asked if this compared to anything he did in his days in the Army, some 30 years earlier, he shook his head at the thought. “Nah, nothing like it. First off it wasn’t that hard. Nothing in the Army was that hard! Never at that altitude.”

“(It'd) have to be one of the physically most demanding things I've ever done, because it’s just so consistent.” I asked if it was rewarding to finish, and once again in his way, he played it down. “You couldn’t stop, you couldn’t turn around, you had to keep going.” He massages his thighs, appearing to remember the burn in his muscles after hours of stepping from stone to stone. Perhaps it still hurts now?

Obviously it took a toll on the body? “Yeah, our legs were sore.” And the others, I enquired? "We were all the same. It just would’ve been very difficult to train for that, because you don’t have the atmosphere.”

I pressed him on his impressions of the trek and what he got out of the effort to place himself at the top of the Andes mountain range in Peru. Were the ruins at the end of the four days worth the physical punishment? Some of his photos are spectacular, but as he explained, "There were ruins on the way. All along we saw ruins. We were almost ‘ruined out.''

But clearly he did understand what made Machu Picchu so amazing. “It’s very impressive how they dragged those rocks right up the valley, from the quarries right down the bottom.” Machu Picchu was constructed around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire, and was abandoned less than 100 years later, as the empire collapsed under Spanish invasion. "All of this was achieved in a relatively short time. So yeah that was impressive.”

Finally I asked if he thought he would undertake anything like this again? “I don’t think I’ll ever do that again.” But he did concede that he was open to the idea of something more local as "There is no where like that in Australia, so anything here has got to be easier!”

Have you got your tickets?

By Ryan Mobilia

Ron Burgandy taught us that, "The only way to bag a classy lady is to give her two tickets to the gun show!" And I can't wait to get mine. The 2007/08 NBL season is set to be the biggest gun show around, with teams stock piling weapons in the off season for an assault on the NBL title like never before!

Think Rosell Ellis, Neil Mottram, Chris Tarrant (wait, wrong sport.) Even Scott Fisher... The guns are out!

I can't remember being this excited for an upcoming season! More stars have "changed teams" than a even a British Tabloid could keep track of! The Cairns Taipans have turned their squad into a team of Champions, but as we know that doesn't always translate to a champion team! They look to continue the trend of the past two championships of stockpiling assets for one serious push to the title. Like the Tigers in 05, Brisbane in 06. Including key players on their roster that were part of both of those famous runs...

People leave for different reasons, but stars in this league that can really be effective are as valuable as Jordan Rookie cards; if you are lucky enough to get one, DO NOT TRADE! This is about which team has improved the most in the offseason by being proactive and searching out the pieces to take the team to the next level! This a countdown of not necessarily the most dominant teams in the league but the ones who, before the first points have been scored for the 07/08 season, have given their chances at glory a real boost!

"This ain't a scene it's a god damn Arms Race!" Fall Out Boy anthem could well be the theme of the NBL this season.

So here it is from 13 to 1; the least active to the most;

13. Singapore Slingers - Lost - Brad Davidson, Ben Melmeth, Larry Davidson, Jeremy Kench

12. Brisbane Bullets - Lost - Mark Bradtke (retired), Stephen Black, Cameron Tragardh - Not much action but why mess with sucess?

11. West Sydney Razorbacks - Added - Anthony Petrie (Canberra ABA), Tony Rampton (Wollongong), Damian Martin (Loyola Marymount) Lost - Scott McGregor, James Harvey - Overall, just happy to still be in the league at this point!

10. Perth Wildcats - Added - Alex Loughton (Gandia Basquet - Spain) Lost - Tony Ronaldson

9. New Zealand Breakers - Added - Tony Ronaldson (Perth), Ryan Kersten (University of New Mexico & AIS) Lost - Carlos Powell*, Brian Wethers*, Ben Pepper, Adam Darragh, Aaron Olson (retiring)

8. Gold Coast Blaze - On paper, almost everyone except the Gold Coast Blaze has upgraded! (think of the splash the Dragons made last season, and although it didn't exactly turn out the way things first were planned), there couldn't be a much more medicre ordinary lead up to what was supposed to be an exciting new venture for the ever growing area of the Gold Coast... Who is getting excited by the Ben Knight Allstars Line Up (See article regarding the expansion team Gold Coast Blaze) they have assembled.

7. Townsville Crocs - Added - Brad Sheridan (Sydney), Ben Pepper (New Zealand), Galen Young* (San Miguel Beerman - Philippines) Lost - Brad Newley, Larry Abney*, EJ Rowland*

6. Wollongong Hawks - Added - Larry Davidson (Singapore), Kavossy Franklin* (South), Jeremy Kench (Singapore), Cameron Tragardh (Brisbane), Lindsay Tait (Auckland Stars - NZNBL) Lost - Glen Saville, Adam Ballinger*, Cortez Groves*, Tony Rampton, Casey Frank, Daniel Joyce

5. Melbourne Tigers - Added - David Barlow (Sydney) Lost - Axel Dench, Rashad Tucker

4. Sydney Kings - Added - Glen Saville (Wollongong) Lost - David Barlow, Brad Sheridan - Interesting to see the impact of Saville for Kings and Barlow for Tigers! So many subplots, I'm dizzy!

3. South Dragons - Added - Luke Martin (Cairns), Cortez Groves (Wollongong), Brad Hill (Adelaide), Nick Horvath (Adelaide), Simon Conn (Sandringham Sabres - ABA, Shannon Seebohm (AIS) Lost -Kavossy Franklin, Rosell Ellis, Frank Drmic, Matt Shanahan, Adam Quick - The Dragons got even more damaging after an almost complete overhall of a Playoff team last year!

2. Adelaide 36ers - Added - Brad Davidson (Singapore), Adam Ballinger (Wollongong), Brad Newley (Townsville), Axel Dench (Melbourne), Mike Chappell* (Sendai 89ers - Japan) Lost - Brad Hill, Willie Farley*, Nick Horvath*, Mark Nash - Adelaide picked up some great names, with Newley or not, Chappell and Ballinger should be amazing!

1. Cairns Taipans - Added - Nathan Jawai (AIS), Larry Abney* (Townsville), Stephen Black (Brisbane) Rashad Tucker (Melbourne) Lost - Kane Oakley, Anthony Stewart (retiring), Luke Martin, Rob Rose, Daniel George, Kevin Owens - Probably the least heralded recruit on this starstudded team, Jawai could prove to have an even bigger impact than past rookies Newley and Ingles!

The night I met a Global Icon.

Cavs into NBA finals.

As I read about Lebron james making the NBA finals, I am reminded of a time a couple of months out from the beginning of this NBA season when, on a night warm as sweet miso soup, I was "lucky" enough to meet the once self professed "Global Icon". This meeting wasn't planned, and the path that led us together that night was more confusing than the Japanese Subway system, but it happened. It was during the FIBA World championships in Tokyo Japan, the night the Boomers had exited the competition at the hands of the mighty USA. The Boomers were out to relax, party and unwind. And I was lucky enough to tag along...

English word on the street was that this club was 'hot like wasabi' so I followed the herd. I was part of the gang, for the night at least. I was the runt of the litter, but I held strong. Vanilla. When we arrived it was nice, but not exactly pumping, certainly nothing like my heart rate. I was red bulled and somewhat starstruck. And soon the "somewhat" became "mos def". It seems the US team, fresh off there defeat of the Boomers that afternoon had stumbled across the same Club. Coincedence?... HUGE!

For the next few hours I sped around the club meeting, drinking, dancing, drinking. I had so many memories until a friend came up to me, and with her voice have raised through excitement and half to drown out the music, "Do you want to meet LeBron?" I had no idea he was even there, why wasn't he hanging with everyone else. "Hell yeah I do!"

It left me with a sour taste in my mouth, once I sobered up. I didn't want to idolise this man, I didn't even wish him well. Frankly, he was a jerk. "Nah, I ain't doin no photos." That's all he said as I looked up and down the enormous head of his for some type of expression. None, not one of "get out of here, you're spoiling my great time!", or "Can't you leave me alone, you are like the 50th person to come talk to me tonight!" Neither was true. No fun for him.

I am certain I wouldn't have been so hard on him if there were no other "Superstars" on hand for me to compare him too. But I every other player seemed accomadating in the least and friendly as hell on other occasions! In fact there were times when Shane Battier and Carmelo Anthony were an extension of our group and later Dwight Howard joined a mixed group of internationals in an electronic darts game. But no fun for him.

But I began to feel sorry for him too. Most of his other teammates were there that night, and they were all mixing with us (the Aussies aka only other English speakers/taller than 5'5" people) and seemingly enjoying the night. Except for one sullen looking character in the back of the club, hidden in the shadows from the hundreds of, I don't know, Japanese clubbers? Who, trust me, were not even interested in him in the slightest. These were guys and girls who were there to dance, show off outrageous fashion sense and hairstyles, and not get trampled by the 20 or so giant people. Their "Ents" they would walk around them like they were trees in a park!

So, back to the fact that Lebron is now in his first ever NBA Finals, I hope he enjoys it. I hope that he does infact enjoy the dream life of millions around the world, that he is living. He is the star of stars in this Finals series, regardless of what Tim Duncan has done before. He showed huge glimpes in the Detroit series of what he could do when he coupled his talent and will to win, and appeared to break free of the burden, which I saw so personally on the night we met.

Still... Go Cavs.

Will he? Won't he?

By Ryan Mobilia


Brad Newley is almost at the end of three years of speculation? Will he or won't he? Make it to the NBA that is... It is the final year that the NBL Allstar and Australian National team member is eligible for the NBA Draft. He is currently in Orlando in at a Pre Draft camp hoping to catch the eye of more than a couple of scouts. If not, I'm sure he could play in Europe if he so desired, but judging by him signing for his home town Adelaide 36ers for next season, it would be a cruel blow to SA Basketball and the NBL in general if he didn't make "the show" and still was lost to us here...

Here is a breakdown of Day 3 at the camp, and some insider thoughts on his position amongst this class of NBA hopefuls!

http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2091

Brad Newley, 6-6, 1985 International, Shooting Guard, Townsville (Australia)9 points, 2 rebounds, 3-5 FG, 0-1 3P, 3-4 FT

After a very quiet first half, Newley woke up to a certain extent with a 6-point outburst in the span of one minute that showed off a lot of the potential that makes him an intriguing guy as far as the 2nd round is concerned. The most emphatic of his plays was a fantastic foray into the paint after creating his own shot from the perimeter and extremely athletic finish with a two-handed dunk. Newley also did a lot of little things for his team, facilitating ball-movement and getting to the free throw line made some nice passes. He didn’t seem to force anything today at all—only taking 5 shots—except for one NBA 3-pointer that he completely airballed. Newley’s lateral quickness looked a little bit questionable at times, but you can’t say that he’s done anything to hurt himself with what he showed at this camp so far.

Then there was this report from the last DAY 4 of the camp:

Brad Newley had a solid performance with 9 points on 3-5 shooting, he had the dunk of the game with an impressive drive dribbling past his man through the lane and throwing down a thunder dunk. 2-3 from NBA 3 point range.

Promising, but time will tell.