Homeless World Cup Comes to Town

I visited the Homeless World Cup yesterday. It is currently being held it Federation Square in the heart of Melbourne. I have to be honest, I don’t know a lot about it, but it sure does seem like an interesting concept.



From the official website.

There are one billion homeless people living in our world today.

The Homeless World Cup exists to end this, so we all have a home, a basic human need.
The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of people who are homeless and excluded to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever.

It has triggered and supports grass roots football projects in over 60 nations working with over 25,000 homeless and excluded people throughout the year.
The first tournament took place in Graz 2003 uniting 17 national teams. At the 5th Homeless World Cup in Copenhagen this summer, 48 nations, 500 players were united for a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country. Melbourne is the host city for the next tournament from 1-7 December 2008.

The impact is consistently significant year on year with 73% of players changing their lives for the better by coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for pro or semi-pro football teams.


Anyhoo, it got me thinking about the fact I’ve never associated sport and the homeless together. Perhaps because I really don’t think about the homeless much at all. I acknowledge that is not great, but comparatively speaking, my little corner of the world is not as affected as much as most other places on the globe. I have seen them sporadically at home and abroad, but mostly I come across them in books, film and television. South Park was merciless in a recent episode.


There has only been one instance in my life where I have connected the homeless and sport, and that is through basketball. I love the game, as you know. The connection originates from one of my favourite movies growing up, Above The Rim. Say what you like about it, but it taught me a few things.



The moment in the film which will stay with me forever is when young up and coming street star Kyle, finally gets his chance against Ol’Shep. He tries to dribble the ball between his opponents legs, and it’s stolen straight up.

“I ain’t Flip” is all the wise old Shep says.



Flip Johnson (Played by the late Bernie Mac) is a homeless guy in the film who was a young star also, but turned to alcohol and ended up on the streets. Kyle and his friends would mock him and beat him up on and off the court. He was a sad, joke.

“I ain’t Flip.”

Do not underestimate me.

Who do you think I am?

I deserve respect.

I will not be fooled.

Which ever way you say it.

“I ain’t Flip.”

This statement is a motto (or saying) of mine, an obscure reference that I’d say in my head from time to time playing or in other situations. More so in times past, but honestly, it was also on the short list to be the title of my entire blog.

So yesterday as I sat amongst the homeless in the stands, watching other homeless men play soccer, I started thinking about Flip. The tournament has many detractors, but I see the it’s benefits, and possibilities it is providing. These guys ain’t Flip either.

Showing Spirit

"All I can say is build a bridge and get over it. If you want a basketball team in Sydney there is no excuse not to be at the remaining games left to be played in Sydney."
-Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee Bucks.



In case you hadn't noticed, the unthinkable almost happened. Something that would have been so costly for the sport of Basketball, currently at the tipping point of survival in this country, it may have been the end. Ok, that's a tad dramatic, but the reality is that the NBL almost lost a team due to financial reasons HALF WAY THROUGH THE SEASON! The Sydney Spirit were extinct, until a Jurassic Park type miracle brought them back. There are many problems with basketball in Sydney, here is how the latest is being addressed.

Here is the official NBL Statement on the situation:

The Sydney Spirit National Basketball League team has been saved, with players and coaching staff from the club voting overnight to accept an adjusted rescue package offered by the League.

The League met with the team on Tuesday morning to confirm their individual financial situations and subsequently adjusted the proposed salary component of the rescue package accordingly. Interim Chief Executive Officer of Basketball Scott Derwin said the decision by the players to accept the rescue package meant that the Spirit would now complete the 2008/09 season.

“Sydney sports fans are now assured the Spirit will play out the current NBL season, with the players and coaching staff courageously agreeing as a group to play on despite it being necessary for them to take significant pay cuts,” said Derwin. “They really are playing for the love of the game and have accepted the absolute bare minimum salary to cover their families’ living expenses. We are glad that we have managed to find a way for the Spirit to continue in the League, given their outlook just over a week ago was very bleak.”

“The issues facing the Spirit have been truly unique and therefore called for a unique solution,” Derwin added. “The League funding the on-going operations of a team in financial trouble is highly unusual, but we believe it was absolutely necessary in this case and we are pleased that the Spirit will now see out the season.”

Derwin said that gate receipts from all remaining Spirit home games will continue to go towards paying the players and coaching staff for their outstanding contractual salaries owed over and above those covered in the rescue package.

“We have made the commitment that, once basic operational costs are covered, all additional profits will be funnelled back to try to make up for what the players and coaching staff are owed under their contracts with the club. That means that by Sydney fans buying a ticket to a Spirit game, they are directly helping the players, coaches and their families through what has been a tremendously stressful period.”


Australia's number one player NBA Star Andrew Bogut, has thrown his support and CASH behind the struggling franchise, with the coach and many of the players being close friends of his from Junior Australia Teams. On ya Bogues.

Here is his comment on the situation, posted on his official web/blog site. Which is actually a fantastic read and is kept up to date by the big fella very well.

"Great news from Australia and the NBL. The Sydney Spirit lives on. This is great for the game in Australia, for now, as losing a team mid season would be simply and plainly unacceptable. I commend the players for being professional throughout this ordeal, with some even taking pay cuts. Click here for more information. The only other thing I would say is go and support the Spirit. There crowd numbers are around 1000 people. Now surely there are more basketball fans in Sydney then that. I do understand the bitterness some fans would have with the Kings going under, and the Razorbacks changing names to appeal to all fans in Sydney. All I can say is build a bridge and get over it. If you want a basketball team in Sydney, especially considering there is a reform coming next year there is no excuse not to be at the remaining games left to be played in Sydney. From what I hear the tickets are very affordable, so please Sydney fans put the past behind you and get out and support your only NBL team. If Sydney shows the NBL it can support a team now through all this turmoil, you can bet the NBL would think hard about having a team there next year. I am now officially backing the Spirit this year and I hope they win the NBL Championship. I am a Sydney Spirit fan, put it in the books."

Cleveland Rocks... OHIO!

One Man Weave is now officially global.


Carolyn from Cleveland.com's And One Blog recently dissected the article where I threw in a theory about High School Musical being able to help the state of basketball in this country. It was written somewhat tongue in cheek, which I think was eventually understood, but here is her take on it!

I believe she stumbled across the article through JR on Fire or ASternWarning, or maybe she just noticed the Drew Carey Show picture (a few posts back) and the fact that "Lewis" from the series is now playing for the South Dragons.

Either way, it gave me wonderful feeling when she professed, "I love this guy."

Thanks mate. I love you too.