Basketball On The Internet.

BIG surprise. The NBL fined Sydney Kings guard Ben Madgen $1,000 over the now infamous "Chairgate" incident against Melbourne and even a suspended one-game penalty hangs over his head.

I'm sorry, but I think that is just a load of horse-pucks.

I am curious who else was called to give evidence on the charge of "unsportsmanlike behavior" besides Ben, who pleaded guilty for his moment of temporary insanity.

NBL operations manager Chuck Harmison laid the charge and Tribunal chairperson Elizabeth Woods heard it.

“Though the player did not intend to make contact with the referee when throwing the chair, it was a reckless act without regard for obvious consequences,” Ms Woods said in her extensive findings.

OK. I'm not disputing any of that and I'm already on the record for how I view this whole overblown "incident". 

My point is this. If the referee in question felt in the least bit threatened or intimidated by Madgen's petulance in throwing the chair he had landed near, the scene on the baseline immediately would have resembled rush hour in Rome, with much official whistling, rushing about and frantic arm gesticulating as The Madge was hung, drawn and quartered.

In fact if anything, the referee was remiss in not giving Benny a tech foul for dissent because, had he done that, Chucky's subsequent interference probably would not have occurred.

But, clearly, the ref adjudged the whole thing as "much ado about nothing" and with that, I completely concur.  

THE bad news for the WNBL is it is finally official and Lauren Jackson - still one of the biggest names in international women's basketball - is out for the rest of this season.

Not that she has been "in" it at any point. But surgery this week suggests her hamstring woes should be in the rear-vision mirror soon, just like Canberra's playoff hopes.

CANNOT help feeling the hand of Boomers' London Olympic coach Brett Brown is in this somewhere but San Antonio Spurs' signing of Aron Baynes is a great coup for the burgeoning young star.

Brown is, of course, a long-time assistant at San Antonio and probably had something to do with various Aussies such as Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal and more recently Patty Mills wearing the black-and-silver.

Now all the consistent NBA-contending Spurs need do for the 2013-14 season is draft Matthew Dellavedova out of St Mary's so Delly and Aron can run the pick-and-roll for Baynes to slam dunk ... as they did about a dozen times at London 2012.

NOT expecting much to come of the Adelaide 36ers' board meeting tomorrow.

Certainly would go into shock if it resulted in any sort of immediate decision on the parlous coaching future of Marty Clarke.

Let's face it, the Sixers won't let Marty go on a Friday when they have a Sunday game. That would make about as much sense as dumping import CJ Massingale without ever giving him a chance!

(Oh. Wait. I just remembered!)

Is this even a specially-convened meeting? I doubt it. And you know no-one in the 36ers organisation will step up and be available to the media. The club's press release, quoting chairman and majority owner Daryl Simmons, said: "The 36ers board will be meeting this week to discuss the current team performance, along with other relevant board matters."

For all we know, that could be issues such as the purchase of Adelaide Arena, for example.

"The club will communicate key decisions to its partners, members, fans and the media as soon as practically possible, but will not be rushed in its process," the release further quoted Simmons.

"The board is completely focused on the long-term success and sustainability of this club and will use this principle as the basis for any decision."

If, and I say IF, the board discusses anything about Clarke, it may only be to formally determine his contract will not be renewed when the club has finally served its three-year sentence.

Much of what I have seen is little more than (justified) media speculation and prediction. But not a lot of supporting fact. We will all know within 24 hours though, right?

HAVE to feel a bit for NBL journeyman Jeff Dowdell who has been training with Wollongong.

With its run of injuries (Demos, Cooeenraaad, Davidson, Jackson), the Hawks would love to have added Dowdell to their roster.

But when you are operating on a strict budget, even a versatile 203cm forward to fill one of many gaps can be beyond your means.

So Dowdell remains on the outer. And in the meantime, for a rare time, the NBL rankings are unchanged.

 

NBL Rankings

This Wk ... Prev

8 (8) TAIPANS - Much noise in Cairns this week but Taipans need to do their talking on the court.

7 (7) 36ERS - Same old, same old. Lost the map to victory and just being "gallant".

6 (6) CROCS - Won five straight but Breakers will be first real test of revival.

5 (5) TIGERS - Plugging along and have Goulding firing. But Perth in Perth? Nup.

4 (4) KINGS - Survived a challenging home/away round 1-1 and now must finish 36ers.

3 (3) HAWKS - Larry Davidson is due back so narrow losses can become a thing of the past.

2 (2) BREAKERS - Have a good history with Townsville but travelling cosily at present.

1 (1) WILDCATS - They're still having fun and they're still the One. (Sing it if you like. I did).

 

WNBL Rankings

This Wk ... Prev

9 (8) CAPITALS - No, this isn't how anyone saw 2012-13 going.

8 (9) WAVES - Moved up courtesy of Canberra's continued failing. Now just need to beat it.

7 (7) BOOMERS - Lost to Bendigo and now it's just Dandy. When does the draw get easier?

6 (6) THUNDER - Caught depleted Adelaide for the upset but Bendigo is on a roll.

5 (4) FLAMES - Needed a closer result at home against the Rangers. 0-2 road double ahead.

4 (5) FIRE - Took care of business - just - and get a week to enjoy those fruits.

3 (3) LIGHTNING - Bottom finally fell out of the band-aid job but must beat Caps.

2 (2) RANGERS - Wright there, breathing on Bendigo's neck.

1 (1) SPIRIT - Should sweep this home/road swing to retain the summit.

THIS WEEK'S TIPS

TOWNSVILLE is back in the hunt after winning five straight games but, come on now, four of them were against Adelaide which is in an 8-game losing funk. And the other one was against Melbourne, at home and on a last shot. Is that any real reason to think the Crocs can beat New Zealand?

Cairns is capable of an upset in Wollongong. The Cairns Post newspaper has rallied behind the club this week, everyone has been standing up to be accountable and remember there has (in the past) been some history of Taipans wins in Wollongong (and Hawks wins in Cairns). That said, Larry Davidson (ribs) is expected back and that should get the Hawks back into a winning frame of mind.

Very few people have recognised just how big the Adelaide-Sydney game is this week. The winner of this game will win the season-series which may yet prove important if the 36ers make a late charge. Yes, Sydney currently leads the series 2-1 so only has to win to clinch it 3-1. But Sydney's wins were 88-85 (+3) and 86-82 (+4) and Adelaide's was 88-81 (+7). Sydney's +7 points is cancelled by Adelaide's +7 points meaning they tip-off square on points differential. In other words, if Adelaide wins to make the series 2-2, it also will clinch the season-series by whatever margin it wins this game by. That said, it won't win so the point (and this entire paragraph) is moot.

Melbourne has been starting to look like a playoff contender but the ultimate litmus test is facing the Wildcats in Perth and, potentially, somewhere near 11,000 wild-Cats fans. No, none of them can score a basket but they can influence their team. A fighting loss by the Tigers would be a positive sign at this point.

IT was a big return round last week for the WNBL and will continue to be so with more key games this weekend. Adelaide will be hoping Suzy Batkovic pulled up well from yesterday's practice (she went lightly but the neck was sore again today) but she has confirmed she will play against Canberra. At home too, this should be a Lightning win.

Bendigo will keep Sydney in its place at Bendigo, while at the Veneto Club, it will be a free pasta dinner for the first 100 folks who speak in Consuela's accent (from Family Guy) and tell the doorkeeper: "No no, Mr Superman not home." Other than that, Dandenong will whip Bulleen.

West Coast beat Canberra in Perth earlier this season and it's hard to think of any reason the Waves won't make a big splash all over the Caps again.

Logan loves playing the spoiler - just ask Adelaide - but Bendigo will have too much weaponry to falter. And poor old Sydney will suffer a further jolt to any post-season playoff plans when it runs into the Rangers again at Dandenong.

CHUCK Harmison, Chuck Person and Chuck Connors walk into a bar. The barman looks up from where he is cleaning glasses, stares at them and says: "Is this some kind of joke?"