Basketball On The Internet.

THE fact Kristina Keneally, as BA CEO - even in absentia - has not bought into the Canberra Times-driven debate over sexism in Australian basketball is only slightly more intriguing than Carrie Graf's consistent silence.

Whether the Opals coach of the past two international campaigns cannot enter the conversation or avoids it is interesting in itself considering Kristi Harrower also has leant her weighty reputation into the accusation.

Let's revisit quickly. Caps cap Jessica Bibby spoke out in the Canberra Times about how BA essentially discriminated against the WNBL, shut down Canberra's live-streaming of home games and essentially did little or nothing to promote the women's league. (She said more about NBL players in airports having access to Virgin lounges and WNBL players not, but she probably wishes she could take that back as those are separate sponsorship agreements and thus gave ammo to those who wished to fire back at her.)

Acting BA chief exec, Graeme Allen responded with conciliatory remarks, then a FIBA column "Really? Sexism? Again?" set off more indignation until Harrower spoke out, recalling the infamous plane ticket to London upgrades the Boomers enjoyed while the Opals did not.

She also spoke of the WNBL's lack of a naming rights sponsor which is a key issue where BA has let the league down dismally.

As to the plane ticket question, at the time the media was told both the Opals and Boomers had budgets (and that the women's was slightly bigger) but that team managements made the decisions on how monies were to be spent. That is why I find Graf's silence on that issue particularly telling, as you may as well.

But that doesn't diminish from the fact Canberra's live-streaming of home games was popular and should never have been tainted by some of the less reliable NBL attempts in the pre nbl.tv days. And it should not have been stopped. Initiative is to be encouraged, not frowned upon, surely?

No naming rights sponsor is a BA failing of mammoth proportions. As was posted here previously, a couple of years ago now, BA commissioned an eclectic and quite diverse panel to make WNBL recommendations and we did, the plan being to rival netball's ANZ Championship.

In terms of initiating the list of proposals designed to bring the WNBL into the mainstream, zero has happened. Nothing. Zip. Nada. 

Don't suggest that isn't prioritising something other than the women because this much time later, it assuredly is. The WNBL is one of the best leagues in the world but who knows that outside our own miniscule basketball community?

That is just ridiculous.

BEFORE leaving that topic though, Canberra Times journo John Tuxworth needs to make it clear in his writings what he means when listing Harrower as a "WNBL general manager".

Kristi is pretty darn special, that's for sure. But even she would not have the time to run the league, as his writing infers.

"Bendigo Spirit point guard Harrower has been an Opals regular for 21 years, and completed a four-year stint as WNBL general manager last season," he wrote.

Um, hardly. As far as anyone can tell, Kristi was Bendigo's GM, which meant she also attended national meetings of the respective GMs, which definitely gave her additional insights into how much navel-gazing and tail-chasing tends to go on. (You recall the saying: Committees take minutes, and lose hours?)

But by inferring Kristi was WNBL general manager for four years until last season, is misleading and diminishes the impact of a solid cause.

IT WAS a helluva week in sports last week, what with Lance' self-serving Oprah interview probably the biggest talking point.

Frankly, I thought the whole furore was summed up best by Magic Johnson in a tweet after the terrific Miami-LA Lakers game, won 99-90 by the Heat. 

"Thank you to @KingJames @DwyaneWade & @kobebryant for giving us fans a relief from cheating and lying athletes last night," he tweeted, and who could disagree?

IF there was a better shot last week than Matthew Dellavedova's three-point double-clutch which gave St Mary's a stunning 70-69 college win over Brigham Young University, would love to see it.

Delly's was a gem (if you have not seen it, and pretty sure you would have by now, but on the off-chance, definitely youtube it). With two seconds left, BYU's Tyler Haws broke a 67-67 deadlock with a tough shot in the paint which should have been the winner.

But Dellavedova caught and took the inbounds pass to just beyond halfcourt, avoided several defenders and let fly a double-clutch effort which he knew was good - his little skip before it swished said it all - to create a memorable victory.

No, it didn't have the execution and precision of Patty's game-winner for the Boomers in London against Russia but it was no less spectacular.

You have to think he is heading for the NBA.

LAST season at Cairns, Ian Crosswhite dished about eight assists - might have been 11, or even 25 - in an NBL game to casually remind all he really can be quite an amazing player. When he wants to be.

He wanted to be again last round, notching 27 points on 11-of-12 shooting, 1-of-1 threes, 4-of-4 frees, with 13 rebounds for Sydney, despite its 74-77 loss to Melbourne.

Not often a guy from a losing team wins the Player of the Week award but the 210cm Kings' Cross did just that.

Over at the WNBL, where the PotW is determined by fan vote - hence its somewhat erratic nature at times - Kayla Standish was the stand-out.

Townsville's import, who you have to instantly love if you ever met her sister, former Lightning import Tami Willey, averaged 16 points at 63%, and 7.5 rebounds in the Fire's two matches, a loss to Bendigo and a key win over Bulleen.

Against the Boomers, Kayla's 18 points came at 75 per cent and were devastating.

KNOWING the penchant for NBL ops manager Chuck Harmison to toss fines around - "You, Max, I said no sugar in my coffee - that's $500 and a one lunch-break suspension, though I'm suspending the suspension because I want you to go get me a club sandwich" - Tigers coach Chris Anstey would have to be relieved.

Chris already has been relieved of $1,000 for ripping the refs in Perth a new eye socket a little while back and yes, he paid it before coaching against Sydney.

But check this out. Mavericks NBA forward Shawn Marion was fined $25,000 after Dallas lost 114-117 to Oklahoma City in overtime and Kevin Durant shot 21 free throws.

You know what he said?

"It's hard to beat anybody when you're playing five on eight." 

Got a feeling Chuck will need some time alone after reading that.


NBL Rankings

This Wk ... Prev

8 (8) TAIPANS - Can wreck Melbourne's upwardly mobile plans, but little else.

7 (5) 36ERS - What a difference a week makes. Melbourne clash will be big.

6 (7) CROCS - Beat weakened Hawks, as did Cairns. See what happened to them in Perth?

5 (3) HAWKS - If Grant is able to replace Hurdle, Hawks can stall slide now.

4 (4) KINGS - Lost but held season-series over Melbourne. Still, now its NZ away.

3 (6) TIGERS - Big jump but with games against 7th and 8th ranked teams, must make move.

2 (2) BREAKERS - Just doing what is necessary to keep clear of the pack.

1 (1) WILDCATS - Get Carter and have 11,000+ regulars onside at home. Tough for Crocs.


WNBL Rankings

This Wk ... Prev

9 (9) WAVES - Didn't win at home, can't pick them on the road.

8 (8) CAPITALS - Shook up Rangers, now host Bulleen in battle of the under-achievers.

7 (6) BOOMERS - Can still finish season on a high note but no-where near expectations.

6 (7) THUNDER - Beat Waves in Perth and should surf them to a wipe-out at home.

5 (5) FLAMES - Not much hope at Bendigo but can KO Bulleen at home.

4 (4) FIRE - Won on road and will splash Waves all around Townsville.

3 (3) LIGHTNING - Time to see if it is a "big two" or a "big three" at Dandenong.

2 (2) RANGERS - Can ensure it is a two-way race by smacking back Adelaide.

1 (1) SPIRIT - Taking down Sydney puts Bendigo in reach of the regular season crown.


THIS WEEK'S TIPS

NEW Zealand did all it needed to last round to successfully turn back a distinguished Wollongong and shove aside a disingenuous Adelaide while Sydney was losing at home to Melbourne. Those facts alone and the form they reflect make it tough to see a Kings upset in Auckland tonight.

The door to the four is ajar for Melbourne if the Tigers can beat 8th-rated Cairns on the road, and back up by beating 7th-placed Adelaide in Melbourne. And let's face it. If you cannot scalp the league's two shaggiest teams, then conversations about finals should stay permanently on hold.

Townsville is feeling good about itself but there is no bigger challenge than Perth in Perth at the best of times. With the Wildcats so far not posting a single home crowd at Perth Arena under 11,000 this season, the atmosphere is even more intimidating. The Crocodiles will do well to make this a contest, Rhys Carter making his Perth debut to boot.

Being a fan of the Wollongong Hawks as an organisation, it would be encouraging if Lance Hurdle's replacement, Malcolm Grant, instantly could make sufficient difference to turn last round's one-point road loss against champion New Zealand into a home win. Such a result would mean the Hawks are back in a hunt they cruelly have been nobbled on through injury. But it's hard to tip against the Breakers.

Melbourne will watch the Hawks-Breakers game with great interest as a Wollongong loss would make that top four more vulnerable than ever. Having beaten Adelaide by 30 in Jonny Flynn's first NBL game, the Tigers would like their chances but the 36ers maintained that was a one-off aberration sparked by the NBA stud's debut. Time will tell how true that was.

IT doesn't get much bigger than Adelaide at Dandenong tomorrow for the WNBL, the Rangers having put Lightning out of last year's playoffs and with their sights set on back-to-back championships. For Adelaide, this is about cred because if it cannot compete for the full 40, it confirms what we all suspect - that it's a two-horse race.

Townsville looks ready to contest its second straight playoffs under Chris Lucas so a home loss to West Coast? If you have the Michael Jackson "Thriller" album, go back to the title track and listen to the late, great Vincent Price's crazed laughter. That would be most folks' reaction to tipping a Waves' win.

Canberra showed some heart against Dandenong and if it could reproduce that, it would get Bulleen. But 40 minutes can be an eternity and the Boomers should prevail. That said, who would have predicted two of the primary national coaches at the London Olympic Games would be in this predicament?

Bendigo should have too much depth for another competition disappointer in Sydney, though the Flames could easily bounce back at home to upset Bulleen's weekend.

Logan beat West Coast away so you have to like the Thunder at home against the same opponent, surely?

LANCE Armstrong, Diego Maradona and Ben Johnson walk into a bar. The barman looks up from where he is cleaning glasses, stares at them and says: "Are you guys high or something?"