Basketball On The Internet.

WHEN all the talk began about who should succeed Brett Brown as coach of the Boomers, must confess had my nose out-of-joint Gordie McLeod’s name was not in the conversation.

McLeod, 56, is one of the master coaching craftsmen of our NBL, a three-time grand finalist – twice with West Sydney and once with Wollongong – and his effort in taking Singapore Slingers to the playoffs in the fledgling far-off franchise’s first foray was a flat-out fantastic feat.

That’s not to mention getting the under-resourced, under-budget Hawks to the 2010 Grand Final in his Coach of the Year season, and somehow still getting Wollongong to last season’s playoffs despite losing starters Rhys Martin, Lance Hurdle and Glen Saville just after the season’s halfway point.

Not sure I can name another coach who could have done that, and certainly not on the Wollongong budget.

He also has been in the Boomers program previously as an assistant in 2001 and again at the 2008 Olympic Games.

While the two obvious candidates were NBL championship-winners Andrej Lemanis and Rob Beveridge – no dispute with that - to not have the wily veteran’s name included was a little galling.

I rang McLeod to hear his take and was stopped in my tracks when he told me he had not applied for the sport’s most coveted job.

I was then rendered mute – not easy to do, though the point is moot – when he further said Basketball Australia had inquired as to his interest level.

Truth be told, Gordie had more work to do at home in Wollongong with his beloved Hawks, the lure of the Boomers not as pressing for the 56-year-old coaching guru.

Today, when he joined Lemanis at Boomers camp in Canberra to help in the team’s preparation for the Oceania Series, the national head coach’s bona fides for the role could not have been more validated.

Three NBL championships with the Breakers in a program he helped build is one thing, but to have the wherewithal to invite in a coaching legend such as McLeod and to not feel threatened but instead further strengthened on his bench leaves little doubt Lemanis was an excellent choice by BA.

Toupees off to the man.

Here’s how we reported it today: http://bit.ly/13FkP6Z

And if you’re looking for a further shot of patriotism, check out this video by Davin Sgargetta recalling the Boomers’ history. If you’ve never seen it before, settle in for a quality ride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ojt4pIAZAQI

IT is no secret I have admired and respected Boomers centre/forward David Andersen from the moment he backed himself and headed off to Europe as a teenager.

It was a thrill to finally tell his story today at: http://bit.ly/11Lj1rN

Hopefully, it is an inspiration to any/every Aussie kid who reads it.

It certainly was and is to me.