Basketball On The Internet.

BRIAN Conklin sure doesn't do himself any favours with the manner in which he responds after hurting opposition NBL players.

Once again he recklessly threw out an arm in a game and hurt an opponent and now it becomes a question of intentionally or unintentionally?

Like many, I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt with his reckless play that cost Perth star Damian Martin a broken jaw and several broken teeth last round. (Not to mention several surgeries and a long time in recovery.)

I believed the NBL failed its duty-of-care to Martin when it charged Conklin with "striking", a charge it never could prove when the act of him wheeling away from Greg Hire and connecting his left arm with the oncoming Perth captain was in no way a "strike".

When it happened, Conklin didn't even seem contrite, which I felt at the time was disappointing.

I guessed if you're trying to portray yourself as a "tough guy" then you can't break from character, even to see what damage you've inflicted on a fellow human being.

(Martin said Conklin later did contact him and he accepted the incident was an accident.)

OK. Once, it's an accident.

Twice?

Last night Conklin's smack on Mitch Creek which sent him crashing to the floor, his head hitting with a loud, resounding thud, was completely avoidable. If you're taking a shot, grabbing a rebound or going up again, throwing your left arm out behind you? What's that about?

And once again, with a player prostrate on the floor and Conklin going to the free throw line - just as he had in Townsville after the Hire foul and Martin incident - his disregard for Creek's safety did nothing for his reputation.

The 6,000-odd fans at Titanium Security Arena, mindful of what occurred with Martin, then saw the incident replayed on the big screens and had no hesitation reaching their conclusion.

Pretty sure from their reaction then and thereafter, they didn't see it as an accident.

At halftime, another popular Arena villain, Shane Heal, in his capacity as a Fox commentator, asked Conklin about the incident.

Here was his chance, just minutes after it occurred, to send his best wishes to Creek and confirm his concern the 36ers swingman wasn't hurt too badly. I mean, we appreciate it is a combative sports arena but compassion for a fellow human being is a good option.

Instead we got: "Oh yeah, just posting up, I go to shoot, Petrie fouls me. And yeah, it's a typical thing, that's what it is. It's basketball. It's not a fucking soft sport."

Quality response big fella.

When Heal didn't let it go at that, Conklin rightly hearing it from the fans, he further ingratiated himself to anyone living outside Townsville with: "They're trying to be like Perth's crowd.

"It's nothing different. You know Jawai had the same thing on Abercrombie. It's no different. It's a hard game."

It's no different?

Jawai was attempting to block a shot by Tom Abercrombie as he drove to the hoop, miscalculated and hit him a solid one across the head.

No whistle had gone, allowing a player to think the play was dead, as in BOTH Conklin incidents.

DOWN AND HURT: Mitch Creek was dazed after being whacked in the face and hitting the floor.

Abercrombie was hurt IN the play, not AFTER a play when someone appeared to feel aggrieved and lashed out. Not for the first time, it now appears.

Once again, had the NBL correctly charged Conklin last time with "reckless endangerment" it would have had a case for a fine and/or suspension.

This time I don't believe it can let him walk away again, even if Creek has said he did inquire as to his wellbeing some time later.

NBL hard man and 1984 Olympian Mark Dalton, who logged 421 games in our league, isn't in much doubt.

He was angered by Conklin's first hit on Martin, saying: "As players we know where people's heads are regardless if they are behind you or not. I'm hearing people saying there was no malice."

Clearly, in Dalton's experience, that could not have been correct.

"There have been a few players in the past, like a certain Melbourne import who used to do the same thing and get away with it," Dalton said.

"He cut me three times, once in the mouth and two to the face, all requiring multiple stitches.

"I've seen it before and I'm seeing it again.

"We all know as players where people's heads and bodies are, regardless if they are behind you.

"Apparently players today don't have that skill and the majority of fans dont think they do either."

WHERE AM I? Dazed, Mitch is helped from the court by concerned teammate Ebi Ere.

Another former national player who logged 314 NBL games and largely remains regarded as one of our greatest shot blockers, never was convinced Conklin was innocent the first time.

His impression is Conklin in fact was aware there was a Wildcats player in the vicinity, but was having a "hissy fit" because he was experiencing contact leading up to the foul on Hire.

"He flailed his arms around and that was the result," the veteran wrote on social media.

"Did he intend to strike the head and injure him like that? I choose not to believe any player would be that callous. (I've known a couple though).

"He should be suspended for the contact and the resulting injury and I'd fine some others for the ridiculous comments post game."

Couldn't agree more.

Here's where the NBL let itself down after initially doing a good job of responding quickly in that instance.

First, it charged Conklin with "striking" which was the wrong tack to take.

Had it charged him with what it was, "reckless endangerment", it is unlikely he could have been found anything but guilty, which would have resulted in a fine and/or suspended sentence maybe.

Now he should be charged for his recklessness and negligence. And penalised.

And yes, I agree and still believe Trevor Gleeson should not have walked away from his absurd violence-inciting comments post-game without penalty.

Mentioning Jawai as a possible enforcer against Conklin probably is why Conklin referenced Big Nate's hit on Abercrombie.

But no Brian, they weren't at all the same.

The next question - should the NBL let this one slide through to the keeper because Creek's injuries were not as severe as Martin's - is what if a player, or players, decide not to take the court because the league hasn't exercised its duty-of-care in some tangible form?

Ask Damian Martin and Mitch Creek today if they felt the court was a safe work environment?

I'm not talking about the risk every player takes when he/she suits up - injuring knees, ankles etcetera because it's such "a hard game". But the unnecessary risk of being at the whim of someone's irresponsible actions.

Last night: 36ERS 89 (Randle 22, Johnson 17, Ere 11, Hodgson 10; Johnson 16 rebs; Ere 4 assts) d CROCODILES 65 (Conklin 21, Jett 12, Henry 8; Conklin 12 rebs; Norton 7 assts) at the Fortress, Titanium Security Arena.

PS

ALSO beginning to understand now why the US media took the tack it did last season during the NBA playoffs with Matthew Dellavedova. Didn't agree with them then and don't now. But I can see why they attacked Delly, believing him to be a serial offender.