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.
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!
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