Basketball On The Internet.

*FLASHBACKS, my weekly "lucky dip" where I just reach into my drawers of old Australian basketball stuff and transcribe whatever I find for you.

GOT a confession. My October-November 1985 edition of The Australian Basketballer is still open on my desk. So I turned to the general news items page:

 

WELL DONE GIRLS

THE first Women's World Junior Championships were held recently in Colorado Springs in the USA. The Aussie girls went over to compete against teams from the USA, Cuba, Soviet Union, Korea, Canada, China, Yugoslavia, Spain and Senegal.

They started the tournament well by beating Cuba 64-62 but lost their second game to the USA 79-62 and their third to Korea 95-87. After losing another to the Soviet Union 84-71, the junior women finished fourth in group B.

They went on to play Spain in the semi finals and won 74-66. As a result Australia played the USA for fifth but eventually lost to finish sixth of the 10 teams.

ABF Director Bob Staunton said: "We are very proud of our junior women. It was a very creditable performance. It was the first international competition our junior girls have had."

The USSR eventually won the Gold Medal beating Korea in the final 80-75.

 

TIGERS USE POWER

POWER athletic footwear recently signed the Melbourne Tigers to use Power basketball footwear. Coach Lindsay Gaze will be offering his vast experience and knowledge of the game in helping Power continue the development of its basketball range.

 

CANBERRA SOCCER SCREAMS FOULS

A RECENT report in the Canberra Times attempted to explain why crowds were down at Canberra City Olympians' soccer matches.

Headlined "Soccer officials must learn some lessons from basketball" it went on to explain that basketball was luring away soccer spectators.

The report read "Mr Thompson (Canberra soccer coach) believes that basketball has lured away some people in Canberra who might otherwise be going to watch Canberra City, since once a family has paid to go and see the Cannons (indoors and in comfort) on Friday, they are unlikely to have the money or the inclination to go and see Canberra City (outdoors and in bitter discomfort) on Saturday or Sunday."

It concludes by asking: "Can it be that basketball will become Canberra's sporting faith in the way in which Aussie Rules prevails in funny Melbourne?"

We thought it already had!!

 

COLE FINED $1000

ADELAIDE coach Ken Cole was recently fined $1000 for speaking out against the referees of the Perth-Adelaide game in Perth.

It's not so much that criticising referees is bad but doing it publicly is a different matter as far as the NBL is concerned.

 

DARWIN - NO-ONE SCREAMS FOULS

IN Darwin, no-one is screaming foul, especially the referees. There aren't any.

Or more precisely, there aren't enough.

The Darwin Basketball Association has an umpiring crisis with a shortage of referees for League fixtures.

After some leading referees were strongly criticised by senior players and coaches, they have boycotted games.

The problem came to a head recently when a player clashed with a referee. The DBA is attempting to take steps to rectify the situation.

 

A BIG BOY

THERE'S one big kid ready to take on the big boys in the NBL next year. Mark Bradtke, a 16-year-old 210cm centre, has been signed by the 36ers.

Ken Cole spotted Bradtke playing in the local division one competition and immediately saw the potential of the young giant.

Bradtke was 15 and 203cm tall when he thought he'd give basketball a go.

Cole believes he still has some growing to do and may soon be looking at Andy Campbell (218cm) - the NBL's tallest player - straight in the eye.

 

RUMOURS

IT'S that time of year again where rumours start to fly faster than normal. A few doing the traps at the moment have Damian Keogh returning to Melbourne next year, two Melbourne teams combining for next year's NBL, Coburg going private and assistant Nunawading coach Colin Cadee coaching Bankstown after brother Robbie steps aside to concentrate on the Australian women's team.

Others include the Sydney Supersonics shifting to the Gold Coast, the Perth Wildcats recruiting a 7ft4in Chinese centre on their recent Asian tour and a couple of big-time sponsors moving in on two Melbourne teams.

There are others, but those will have to suffice for the time being.

 

I'M NO KNUCKLEHEAD

A RECENT story in "Your Sport", Australia's only general sports magazine, carried a story on Al Green.

In a rather candid story, Green stated: "I know a lot of players hate me, people say I can't play well in a final... Yes, I am an individual. I guess on the court I believe Al Green is No.1. But I ask you, in basketball, what players are not?"

Green became a naturalised Australian last year and says he has had a hard time trying to wear off a reputation for being a villain. "I'm no knucklehead. I am the type of person who can control a temper."

 

SIMON, SON OF BRIAN

THERE is another guy by the name of Kerle making a name for himself in the Sunshine State. Simon Kerle, 15, has been selected in the Under-16 Queensland State team for the second year in succession.

Simon, who is already 177cm tall, hopes to one day represent Australia. His father Brian said: "Simon had a basketball in his hands before he could walk whereas I didn't start playing until I was 20."

 

WILDCAT BACK TO U.S.

ROLAND Brooks, the 200cm Perth forward, has returned to the U.S. to try out for the NBA.

The high-leaping master of the alley-oop had some advice for young aspiring basketballers before he left. He suggested kids should play more pickup or scratch matches and try things they might not ordinarily do in games.

He pointed out that as soon as kids start to play in Australia they have a coach and everything is laid out in front of them. Brooks suggested that if kids played more pickup ball, they could combine what they learned there with what they learn from their coach and may not become stereotyped players.

 

WILDCATS IN BANGKOK

THE Perth Mitsubishi Wildcats won the Crown Prince Basketball Tournament in Bangkok. Dan Clausen notched up 32 points to help take the Wildcats to an 88-72 win over Malaysia in the final.

 

OLLIE GOES HOME

THE Hobart Tassie Devils' Ollie Johnson is another American returning home in an attempt to find fame an fortune in the NBA.

The 203cm soft-spoken Johnson is trying out for the Golden State Warriors.

He averaged 32ppg for the Devils and knows he has only a slim chance at an NBA contract.