Basketball On The Internet.

SAY what you will, the record of big imports - and by "big", let's say 7-footers - in the NBL is nothing to write home about.

Especially if you're writing to his agent!

The first seven-footer I can recall coming into the league from the USA was one Glen Sudhop, who the superpowered St Kilda had seen overseas ripping up a few competitions.

Sudhop was going to be the sensation of 1982 as the Saints went about reclaiming the 1981 title they were forced to miss having a crack at after wearing the 1979 and 1980- NBL crowns.

(People were petty then but missing defending the championship after finishing the regular season on top is a story worth recalling another day.)

Suffice to say, St Kilda was going to be tough-as-teak, coach Brian Kerle bringing in South Australian tyro Phil Smyth, grabbing Bill Runchey from Chelsea, regaining Tony Barnett from a post-graduate course in the US and signing Sudhop, a 26-year-old North Carolina State centre variously listed at anywhere between 218, 219 and 223cm.

(Those were the early days of metric conversion. Not sure the Saints fully had a handle on it.)

He was big. But he only lasted five games.

And truthfully, the record of foreign-born seven-footers in our league is a road littered with big-time disappointments.

Let me run just a few random names past you. Derrick Polk. Ronnie Cavenall (One of the weirdest stories of all time. Sacked by Sydney, ends up with New York Knicks in the NBA! Figure that one out.) Todd Mundt. Todd Fuller. Kevin Owens.

If none of them are making you go: "Oh yeah, wow. Remember him?" then you're getting the idea.

(Dean Uthoff, Willie Simmons, Rick Rickert - 211cm, just under the 7-footer stipulation. Sorry.)

So that's what makes today's import announcement by the Melbourne Tigers so very interesting.

The Tigers have signed Scott Morrison, a 213cm Canadian centre.

What makes this intriguing is the fact the Tigers have the league's first (and only) seven-foot tall coach. If anyone knows the frustrations and joys of such height, it would be Chris Anstey, surely?

Remember, apart from the many accolades he won in Australia, Anstey had a more-than-solid NBA career too. (If you need a timely reminder, check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecmn_EI5Juc#at=1022 and see him going against the greatest player of all time, MJ.)

So that's the question. Can a seven-foot coach draw the best from a seven-foot import and succeed where others have failed?

Why not? It stands to reason. And with one of the great point guards of all-time in our league, D-Mac, Anstey's assistant coach, could the next new Tigers face be a playmaker?

It's worth wondering. For now, here's how Morrison's arrival was reported today: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/melbourne-tigers-confident-scott-morrison-can-make-a-big-impact/story-fnii0am9-1226683177318

AUSTRALIAN Opals London Olympic centre Liz Cambage posted a big double-double to lead the Tulsa Shock to a 90-63 win over Atlanta today, extending their WNBA win streak to three.

The Shock are still fifth in the Western Conference, but have moved out of the bomb shelter, now occupied by San Antonio.

Cambage had 23 points and 15 rebounds, teammate Glory Johnson with 24-and-10 as Atlanta lost its fourth straight after a six-game win streak.

My favorite WNBA player, Tamika Catchings scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds as surging Indiana Fever - much improved now Erin Phillips is back (even though she was rested today) - swept the home-and-away series from the Washington Mystics with a 65-52 win.

The Minnesota Lynx beat Phoenix Mercury 82-77, Rachel Jarry not hitting the floor for the Lynx and Penny Taylor rested by the rising Mercury.

Maya Moore hit a 3-pointer, stole an inbounds pass and made a layup in the final minute to lift Minnesota to its sixth straight victory.

Diana Taurasi had 26 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Mercury, who led much of the game, and had a 64-59 advantage going into the final period and a 74-73 lead with 1:35 left.

That's how our overseas Opals went today. Our local yokel Opals will take on Dandeong Rangers tomorrow. Details at: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/the-australian-opals-will-take-on-the-dandenong-rangers-in-a-friendly-match/story-fnii09gt-1226683215315

TO paraphrase "Field of Dreams", if you build a decent team, they will come. And so it appears for the NBL's Adelaide 36ers today: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/good-results-reel-adelaide-36ers-fans-right-back-in/story-fnii09ki-1226683227500

RUMOR MILL

My (e)mail is Basketball Australia is "making a huge effort to lift the WNBL profile" in 2013-14 and yes, Perform will be covering all the women's league's games too.

So it won't just be NBL.TV next season, but WNBL.TV too. (Sorry Caps.)

THIS just in. After sitting through a screening of "John Carter", Baron Davis now believes he is a reincarnated Martian. "It would explain everything," apparently.