It is early days in the Australian summer sports mansion, but men’s basketball is shaping as a dark horse to ultimately win our affections.
While basketball has been turning our heads, the sport’s chief love rivals – cricket and football (née soccer) – are on the nose.
In a series first, long-time partner cricket has been allowed on the show and it’s getting ugly.
Of course, the relationship had already grown stale pre-shooting.
Now uber-competitive cricket has alienated all the other housemates.
Constant backchat during rose ceremonies and allegations of one-on-one date envelope swapping have not gone unnoticed by us either.
To be fair, it isn’t like cricket hasn’t tried to make things work.
You listened to us when we called you out as a ‘stage five clinger’ for the whole five-day Test match thing.
But while Twenty20 has helped freshen things up, we’re not sure it’s enough.
The Renegades head out to field during the Big Bash League. (AAP Image/David Crosling)
And then there is the round ball game.
Crazy, beautiful football.
We know your time in the house has not always been easy.
The other housemates have mentioned to us that you are extremely defensive and that when they have tried to help, you have told them they don’t know anything about you.
You just seem so confused and even angry at times.
The funny thing is, you have so much going for you.
We are always trying to remind you that you are the ‘world game’ and that you can achieve anything you want.
And when things are going well, it’s amazing.
I remember 2006 like it was yesterday.
Fresh off the inaugural A-League season, we were captivated by the Socceroos’ magical World Cup run.
Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Mark Viduka headlined a bunch of Australians plying their trade in Europe’s top leagues.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
It really did seem like you had finally figured it out, you were happy and so were we.
But you couldn’t keep it together.
There were, of course, your damaging foreign dalliances, Pim Verbeek and Holger Osieck to name a couple.
Then things got so bad that Ange Postecoglou had to leave and FIFA was forced to step in to stop the bloody administrative civil war.
Now you’re telling us it’s all sorted – that Usain Bolt isn’t a cringe-worthy gimmick and a Tim Cahill Socceroos testimonial really is a good idea – and the bad days are behind us.
But we’re not sure we can trust you again.
After all, you’ve said the same thing so many times before.
And the thing is, well… there’s actually someone else.
It’s basketball and we think it could be the one.
The producers are doing their best to keep it a secret, but the truth is we had an affair in the 1990s.
It fizzled out after a few years, but basketball is back on the scene and it’s hard not to be impressed.
On last night’s group date, basketball was the standout in the ‘good news stories’ challenge.
Much of this owes to the wonderful job Andrew Bogut has done artfully spruiking the NBL since his return home.
The recent announcement of a second NBL team in Melbourne and NBL versus NBA exhibition games has only added to the buzz.
Unprecedented levels of homegrown representation in the US – including superstar Ben Simmons – is also enabling the NBL to ride on the wildly popular NBA’s coattails.
(STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)
If this loaded Boomers squad can somehow break their Olympic medal duck in Tokyo in 2020, that might be the sign.
And then maybe even a proposal…
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Has this competition started, getting no media coverage where I am .
Wise Old Elf
Guest
Different demographic between cricket and basketball. I grew up playing both, they are in different seasons and even if you play over summer it is generally midweek when you get on court for a game, whilst cricket is always Saturdays. The rugby codes, soccer and Australia's native code are more at threat by a resurgent basketball. But I doubt it will ever happen, as we have seen with soccer here Australians just don't accept a third rate league(sorry A-League soccer).
Hamish
Roar Rookie
Good lols. While Australian national team might have a tough trot, don't think that BBL won't roll up massive crowds and TV coverage again. As for soccer - read today WSW & Sydney are without their home grounds (Parramatta & SFS both getting knocked down). Two big Sydney clubs with no regular home ground is gonna hurt.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
When the NBL was more popular it had Channel 10 promoting around the clock and tying in basketball players to all its other shows. Everything in Australia is about celebrity these days, a desperate grab for fame and attention. So its no longer about sport, its about the amount of media space you can get. Cricket is the ultimate winner, yes their reputation was sullied, but the only result was the Australian media quadrupled their coverage in the off season. When Channel Ten had the Big Bash they advertised it six months before it started round the clock. Dont see them ever doing a tenth of that for the NBL ever again.
bobbo7
Guest
I would hardly call cricket "teetering". The BBL is very popular and while the Australian team is a bit weak at the moment they will bounce back.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Basketball thrived in Australia during the Jordan/Johnson era even though we had next to know TV action to watch from the US. From our national league down to high school lunch time pick up games, the sport was popular. If it was ever going to make a come back, this is it. Cricket is teetering. The start of Summer in Australia has always been the first day of the first Test - usually some time in November. Now the first Test isn't until December 6. 4 Tests against India and two ho-hum Test v Sri Lanka when everyone is craving their AFL/NRL to return. The Schedule is all over the place. Will the new commentary work? Are the Australian team any good? Can kids even name any of the players in the top 6? Who is in the Top 6? The A-League has been floundering along for a year or two, tonnes of in fighting and while the game would usually benefit from a post World Cup glow, that seems so long ago and since Australia went out without a peep, that opportunity is lost... Basketball has a chance to build some identity and relevance with high profile players here and o/s. They also have the chance with the music culture around basketball and the connection that culture has with people who in this country are traditionally not big fans of cricket or soccer or tennis for that matter - is another opportunity. I hope they have the right people in place to make some noise. Good luck Basketball
Bobbo7
Guest
I enjoy the NBL. I guess it suffers from the NBA like the A League does the EPL. There is a bigger, better competition elsewhere. But good to see it growing. Give me cricket any day (sorry) but look forward to the NBL season.