Basketball On The Internet.

SERIOUSLY now. Basketball Australia did not have a clue Townsville Crocodiles were in financial trouble?

Really?

Then the level of administrative ignorance must be measured at an all-time high, surely.

Anyone who follows the NBL and/or WNBL with more than a passing interest can tell you there have been financial problems in Townsville for a few years now.

How long ago was it the Fire had to be rescued?

That was under the present BA regime's watch, wasn't it?

So the Fire were spluttering but the Crocodiles were rocking?

Who are we trying to kid here?

Let's take a quick straw poll. Hands up (figuratively only ... you won't be able to keep scrolling if you raise your hands - and that tip was just for those who insist they are following the non-existent ANBL), so hands up if you are aware, or have read, or heard, or even suspected there might be a few financial worries in Adelaide, for example?

The 36ers and Lightning have recently merged their operations and been surfing the good news their venue has fallen into the basketball-friendly hands of Scouts SA and SA Church Basketball.

But standing tall on a surfboard right now means you may only be seconds from being dumped, quickly finding yourself drowning in choppy financial waters.

Come on now. Adelaide circa 2013 is hardly Adelaide circa 1993 - and it has won three championships since then.

I can tell you now, categorically, the club is in good shape, so Sixers fans don't fall into a panic. But "good shape'' still isn't "great shape''.

And if you hadn't heard the 36ers have been through rough times, you must work at BA.

Similarly, Wollongong too has had to do it very tough at times. That's just the truth and, like I said, most people who follow this competition with more than a passive interest would know that.

But it, apparently, would be a shock to the powers-that-be down Sydney way.

At the risk of stating the obvious to the oblivious (thanks for that line Wendy), many of the NBL clubs are not exactly flourishing. There. Now it's out there.

It is time BA stopped pretending it doesn't know that when everyone out here in Reality-Land knows it.

For BA yesterday to prevent Townsville Crocs chairman George Colbran from attending a meeting of club bosses regarding the NBL's future surely can only be seen as churlish, childish or at best, short-sighted and confrontational.

Wasn't reconciliation the correct path?

If the stated claim is to proceed with eight teams, then invite Mr Colbran in and brainstorm how to salvage his situation at Townsville. Not tell him to "get lost - you've shown you don't want to be part of the future'' or whatever similar infantile approach was taken.

Here's a man who has spent a lot of his own money - and we're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars - to help make the NBL work, and this is the best BA can do?

My God. The sooner the NBL clubs ALL return their licences and start again - under their own stewardship - the better.

Here's a final question for you.

Which is and has been for years now, the best run basketball league in Australia?

Answer?

The SEABL.

Does BA run the SEABL?

No, it doesn't.

It plans to though, as the NBL second tier!

This, at a time when the first tier is in jeopardy under such magnificent leadership.

To the SEABL, or Aussieleague, I can only yell out: "Noooooooooo''!

And to the NBL and WNBL, reiterate once again, beyond scheduling and updating the stats (eventually) what the hell does BA do for you?

Get out now, start again.

If BA, which to my mind has a moral obligation to support those clubs which put their own destinies on the line to save the NBL in 2009 - Adelaide, Cairns, Gold Coast, New Zealand, Perth, Townsville, Wollongong - instead pushed Gold Coast to quit and is now shutting proven league supporters such as George Colbran out of meetings, then you know all you need to know.