Three days. Three sports. One perfect Sydney weekend. But which code would offer the best bang for your buck?
In the red corner we had cricket, in the form of Australia (or was it Australia B+?) against the West Indies in One Day International number four at the SCG.
In the blue corner we had football, with A-League premiers the Brisbane Roar taking on A-League salary cap miracle workers Sydney FC in the battle of the mid-table strugglers at the SFS.
And in the naughty corner we had basketball, with the NBL’s back-to-back champs the New Zealand Breakers keen to make it 11 straight wins, while the Sydney Kings wanted to avoid six straight losses.
It’s a no-brainer, right? Depending on which superstars found form on the day, cricket and football would have most of the memorable moments, with the basketballers pounding the Sydney Ent Cent court in relative anonymity with the skill set to match.
Sadly for cricket fans, the fight probably should’ve been stopped early.
Even a half-time disco from Sneaky Sound System and the World’s Biggest Dress-Up Party (including the day’s clear winners, Willy Wonka and his Oompa-Loompas) couldn’t disguise the fact that the game was effectively over before most of the 18,161 in attendance had settled into their seats.
Thank you Mitch Johnson, thanks for nothing Calypso Kings.
True, a day at the cricket is still the most fun you can have sitting around doing nothing for eight hours. But as Australia casually worked their way to victory you couldn’t help but wish the Windies had five more Kieron Pollards in their batting line-up to make a game of it.
We made for the exits before Australia had administered the last rites.
Night two took us to Darling Harbour, where we were greeted with news that the cheap seats for the Kings game had sold out. Was the NBL back, or was the figure inflated because half of Bondi was in attendance to support their brethren from across the Tasman?
A touch over 7,000 people were inside, around 30 percent of whom were under 10-years-old and having the best time of their young lives. Even this cynical old hack cracked a smile at the antics of the risqué Lion mascot, and who could forget the Psy impersonator attempting to lead the world’s largest ‘Gangnam Style’ at halftime.
The skills mightn’t have been totally silky on the court but, despite having no inside game, the Kings somehow took it to the clearly better drilled Breakers. When Sydney forced overtime thanks to a Darnell Lazare lay-up off a deliberately missed free-throw from ‘Mighty Mouse’ Corin Henry, the place erupted – Kings fans, Breakers fans, displaced Bullets fans like myself, the lot.
The vibe kicked up another notch again when James Harvey nailed a clutch three-pointer to lock things up again with four seconds of OT left, until Breakers main man Cedric Jackson drove to the basket to lay in the two and seal the win 96-94.
An anti-climax for the local faithful, but oh what a night. High fives all round!
Day three and it’s back to Moore Park to wrap up this long weekend with the A-League. Two sides who only occasionally remember how to win, both below strength, in blustery conditions under dismal skies. This threatened to be one for the true believers.
There were 14,589 there, and the mood was typically boisterous. Whatever your feelings on The Cove and whether their dedication to their team is matched by the attention they pay to them playing, they do put on a good party.
And though they usually sing the praise of Alessandro Del Piero, today they shared the honours with another man – Brisbane’s quite unlikeable striker Beshart Berisha.
The Cove questioned his heritage, his parentage, the extra-curricular activities of his wife, and generally gave him a hard time – and he returned the favour after slotting a penalty goal. Champagne comedy all round.
In the end, the two teams slugged it out with entertaining end-to-end football, struggling to find the knockout blow. Peter Traintis eventually landed it, and Del Piero basically made everyone look like they were lucky to be on the same field as him.
So against all the odds, it was the poor cousin of the Australian sporting summer that delivered the weekend’s most memorable moments.
And though there’s no LeBron James or Kobe Bryant or Patty Mills or Joe Ingles – or even an Andrew Gaze or Shane Heal or James Crawford or Leroy Loggins – it’s well worth dropping some of your hard-earned on a night out with Henry or Jackson or Kevin Lisch or Jonny Flynn.
At its very best, the NBL can still hit the heights of its 80s/90s heyday. The A-League is getting better all the time. And ODI cricket proves that all the bells and whistles in the world can’t overcome a no contest.
Frankie321
Roar Rookie
Agree. Though I love basketball, I stopped attending Brisbane's NBL team (before it ceased) because of the too frequent and too loud music, and too frequently talking and too obnoxious public announcer (the guy who shouts through the public address system "make some noise!"). I had even tried driving down to the Gold Coast to watch the Blaze play, but, same problem, way too much and way too loud music. Like you folks, I go to the game for the sport. The sport is the star, not the public address announcer or the music. Both should cease while the ball is in play. What do I do now? Watch NBA on cable TV. There is another source for basketball in Oz, the WNBL. I go to watch the Brisbane team which is actually named the Logan Thunder (and most Brisbanites probably wouldn't know the Logan Thunder exist). True, they don't make as many shots or as many awesome shots as do the NBA players, but it's still basketball and it's an even and often close game. Sadly, attendance is very small. On the other hands, that makes for an intimate venue at the small, regional Logan Metro sports arena. Other sports, take note! No music or public address announcer while the ball is in play!!!
Kasey
Guest
My Reds following mate and I have been to 3x 36ers games this season when they haven't clashed with an AU home game or away game on the telebox. I'm lucky in that I've been to an NBA game comparing the two is unfair, as is the EPL v HAL comparison, but I have to agree with AR... the announcer playing music in the arena mid-game is not something that I’m likely to come to terms with. I’m a sports fan, I know when it’s “time to make some noise!” My enjoyment levels at the games I’ve attended have been pretty low due to the home team’s inability to put together a full 4qtr game. In too many games, they get out to a decent sized HT lead (proving they ‘can’ do it) only to turn turtle in the third and final quarter to cough up winnable game after winnable game. Is it any wonder the crowd is getting on the players backs? I think we''ll go back to weatching the ABL.Being on at the same time as my #1 love means I can never really get into the narrative of a season. Oh well. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/former-36ers-captains-broadside-at-adelaide-fans/story-fndekpx4-1226575669060
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Well, I think its back to most intimidating place in the league. Certainly, Wollongong's new NCAA basketball playing import went to twitter after his game to label Perth the craziest place he had ever played! $90 for the diamond (non-corporate) tickets makes those just about the priciest tickets in Perth that aren't for an international.
Johnno
Guest
Nate thanks for that. Good memories of the wildcat's halcyon days of the 90's. In the 90's the WIldcat's in Perth were the hottest ticket in town with the west coast eagles. For awareness, everyone in Perth could name the Wildcat's starting five. They were household names. Good days, and the Perth Wildcats, had the best fans, and the most intimidating court the old Perth entertainment centre, it was a furnace for visiting teams mate. Good memories Nate.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Although the prices for the Wildcats are just short of insane and yet have managed tremendous turnouts in every game this year. Some memory of the NBL's glory days are still alive in Perth, even though the Wildcats are the LEAST flashy team in that league.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Heat do pretty well, having come up as runner's up this year and winning the last two years. Their final weekend of four games saw them get a tremendous 8,000 or so through the gates (weekend cumulative).
Kris Swales
Expert
Yeah Ben, over the past few years I've been to ball games with an ex-GF, my little bro, and a mate's GF, none of whom had probably so much as bounced a basketball let alone watched a game in full - and they all loved it. The action is generally non-stop, and even if they're not totally into the game there's always something going on in the stadium. So I reckon the match-day experience is just about right, and what sets the NBL apart really. The bells-and-whistles approach works better there than at the cricket for example, or the NRL for that matter.
Kris Swales
Expert
I was speaking about The Cove specifically rather than FC fans as a whole, though they're probably no more fairweather than others really.
Kris Swales
Expert
Yeah, that's gotta hurt.
Wotdoo
Guest
I don't think that lost has personally put any money into the a-league. Through Westfield yes. So it's more of a figurehead role with the bussiness clout that he bought to football in Australia
Timmy
Guest
Biggest problem I've had with the nbl is the ridiculous prices compared to watching any other sport. The price for a child and concession ticket for sports in melbourne are as follows AFL- under 15 $2.50, concession $10- roughly 3 hours entertainment A-League- under 15 $5, concession $15- roughly 2 hours entertainment Cricket (test)- under 15 $5, concession $26- roughly 7 hours entertainment NBL- under 15 $15, concession $20- roughly 1.5 hours entertainment Purely on a value for money standpoint I won't be going back again if there is an event that coincides with it.
Australian Rules
Guest
"There were 14,589 there, and the mood was typically boisterous. Whatever your feelings on The Cove and whether their dedication to their team is matched by the attention they pay to them playing, they do put on a good party. " "Dedication" is hardly a word I'd use to describe SFC fans. When ADP signed, legions of fans were apparently reinvigorated...35k at the first home game against the Jets suggested a new awakening for the "glamour club" in the city that proclaims itself the "home of Australian football". A measely 14k to watch them play the reigning champions? Sydney - all show, no go.
Australian Rules
Guest
The music during the game is an absolute shocker.
cliffclavin
Guest
I prefer to watch euroleague and Eurocup over the NBA, as that is where most of our best players play - although it was good to see Baynes get signed by spurs. The atmosphere at a Euroleague game for some of the big teams is similar to a football match and makes the NBA a little boring. Yet despite my interest in the overseas aussies i prefer the NBL to both europe and NBA - because it is our league. And with the shift of ball players to Europe hopefully some of these better players will return towards the end of their careers - I would love to see p eople like Matty Nielson suit up for the Kings or Tigers and share their knowledge with the younger guys. Whilst the NBL is not the flashy type league it once was - the standard is more technical and tactical than it was - but we have some great imports this year - Seth Scott or Flynn in Melbourne for example. My only beef is that the match day is geared towards children and families. Everyone sits down and there is little opportunity for any active support which can take some of the passion out of what is supposed to be sport. Anyway - if the shift to more competition in Asia takes place i think it will be great for basketball here - especially with all the money in Chinese basketball at the moment.
Mango Jack
Guest
You can't stop top local talent going OS for more $ and better competition, and in many ways you don't want to. Using soccer as an example, basketball needs to build up a local league serious enough to attract some big name OS players, even those on the downhill side of their careers. Then you get attention, bigger tv deals, and the locals who have made it in the big OS leagues will want to return once they've achieved all they set out to do. Their experience is fantastic for young local players - look at Emerton, Culina, Kewell etc in soccer. It can be done, but it takes vision, money and some time.
Johnno
Guest
TC the grand final only got 2000 fans to the ball park in Canberra. They didn't transfer the game to Canberra stadium maybe, they would of got a bigger crowd. There was good atmosphere there. But 2000 for a grand final, shows along way to go for Australian Baseball to return to the Halcyon days of the 90's, which had some talented aussies in the MLB, and rode of the coattails of americanision of sports in OZ and the Micheal Jordan NBA basketball dream team USA marketing of the 90's. The sydney Blues TC, were big business in sydney in the 90's, everyone knew them and the sydney kings TC. Bo Jackson cam out for a cameo TC in Melbourne in the 90's.
TC
Guest
Let's not forget the other Summer pursuit, the Australian Baseball League which concluded with its grand final series on the weekend, Canberra winning its first ever Claxton Shield (a trophy which traces its history back to 1934). It's a pity that the Roar could not find the time to put up an article on the conclusion of the ABL season.
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi Kris - my stepdad is a card-carrying membership holder for the Adelaide Crows, SACA, West Adelaide (SANFL) and Adelaide 36ers. He also takes in the odd A-League and Big Bash match. I've been a few times to the 36ers at the Powerhouse (Adelaide Arena I think they now call it....!) and I find it's a terrific live sport in itself. I couldn't really care less about the pounding music, over-the-top calls from the emcee to constantly yell "DEE-FENCE!" or the cheerleaders, but the on-court action is genuinely more engaging in the arena when compared to watching on telly for mine. Agree that its kind of in the sporting landscape place previously inhabited by the A-League. Plenty of potential - just needs some injection of serious cash. And totally agree that the national team on telly is of huge importance, both as something to promote the sport itself to a wider audience, and for others it'll mean a chance to familiarise themselves with the players more. I don't catch the telecasts on ONE.HD often (due to work commitments sometimes) but I am pleased that it sits there as a later-evening option. Putting the Aussie side on free-to-air would help, too. Liked the new FIBA World Cup cycle idea thing, plus 32 teams and a tiered Asia-Pacific qualification system.
Tigranes
Guest
I think soccer has well and truly kicked basketball into the stands here The HAL has global superstars like Heskey, Joel Griffiths, Del Piero, Shinji Ono playing. I think the NBA is doing a good job and will get good crowds for what is really a niche league in Australia. Cricket isnt exactly doing much well these days, it relies on gimicks like fancy dress and DJs to get crowds. The summer is soccers to lose really.
Johnno
Guest
International Basketball is going to come back in a big way over the next 10 years. Alot more boomers matches too. FIBA is changing it's Basketball World Cup tournament, and Olympic qualifying processes. http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/lateNews/p/newsid/54422/arti.html So the Boomers will be playing more meaningful matches, and more vs Asian countries. NBL Plans I would do. -Allow each NBL team, 2 be able to sign 2 foreign marquee imports outside the salary cap. Let's bring back the Dwayne Mclain's and Ricky Grace's, and Scott Fisher types back to the NBL.