In our current economic climate, many industries are suffering. Sport is one of those industries. For many years we, as sport junkies, have expected, maybe even demanded, more entertainment from our favourite industries whether it be rugby, football or, in this case, basketball.
We want more coverage, more game days, easier access and so on.
In an already stretched industry, basketball in this country has taken the economic downturn hard. Sponsors have pulled out or gone to the wall, leaving no margin for teams to work with.
Game night fans have stayed away, for whatever reasons, making the situation even more difficult.
It’s been said the league itself is guilty of having no foresight, allowing the game to languish and eventually die a slow, painful and very public death.
All things aside, those who really suffer are the players, coaches and supporting staff.
Once more this week we’ve witnessed another club on the verge of collapse.
To the league’s credit, they’ve again come to the rescue to give those involved the opportunity to continue to work in the industry they, and we, love.
Maybe it’s not an ideal situation, but it is what it is.
The players and staff have taken huge pay cuts in order to keep their industry alive and functional.
In any other industry, if this type of resolution was proposed, Unions would cry foul, strikes would result and the company at the center of the controversy would go to the wall, leaving the employees out of work, left in a queue at a Centerlink counter awaiting a government handout.
To the credit of the players and staff of the Sydney Spirit and Cairns Taipans, they’ve accepted the offers put forward and continued on, albeit in much more dire financial predicaments.
Maybe they’re hoping for a reprieve in the new NBL next season. Maybe they’re simply not yet ready to give up on the industry they love.
Either way they deserve our respect, not demand it but simply deserve it.
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