Basketball On The Internet.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015. File that date away somewhere because it is the day the NBL finalised the greatest television broadcast deal in its 36-year history.

Five years on Fox.

Every game live.

(That was, “every game live”.)

In high definition.

Even the AFL Grand Final can’t boast HD, though it CAN boast free-to-air, something the NBL has had in the past with the ABC, Seven, Ten and Nine ... to little avail or long-term benefit.

The Foxtel Go app will allow for continued online coverage. It will PERFORM too.

No more pixelations mid-game, frozen screens or buffering info with two minutes left in a thriller. Instead? Every game. In HD.

Will it hurt live crowds?

Will it help club sponsorships to have every game on Fox?

What do you think?

Fact is, a couple of months ago we were fondling our rosary beads praying we’d have any sort of league.

It looked as if the Hawks, Crocs and even the 36ers might be no more.

The NBL office in Sydney was in disarray and, let’s be honest, we feared the worst.

Luminaries such as Andrew Gaze were grabbing themselves a headline or two declaring the NBL should shut down and start again another day.

Remember that?

That’s where we sat not so very long ago.

Curious now whether Drewey, who works for Fox on its diverse AFL coverage, will be trying to jump the queue and put his hand up again to commentate in the NBL’s New World Order?

I hope not.

I have nothing against him but this is the NEW NBL and it is time it showed itself to be fresh and not trot out the tired old clichéd crew. You know who I mean.

You want to hear a good match call? Find the link to the recent Illawarra Hawks-California Bears game as called by Sydney Kings’ TV crew, Matt McQuade and offensively-wise-challenged Brad Rosen.

It is quality.

Go to any worthwhile basketball function in Melbourne and take in the microphone work Nathan Strempel is doing courtside.

It is quality.

Find any work done by Andrew Johnstone for the ABC and even on the ill-fated NBL.TV.

It is quality.

I’m sorry but as rapt as I am today – along with, hopefully, the vast majority of NBL fans – the only suggestion I’d make now is “clean house on the commentary teams.”

Resist any urge to bring back Steve Carfino. That urge probably is just a stomach cramp from your lunch vindaloo. Break wind. You'll feel better.

New faces.

New voices.

New NBL.

Have a look at what ESPN does – they might have a clue. It’s a caller and a colour commentator (or two) and that’s almost always a coach.

No offence intended to any players because I’m sure Tony Ronaldson, Drewey, Casey Frank et al have occasionally give us, as viewers, a decent insight.

It’s just rare.

Why is that? Because, again with all due deference and respect, what the hell do most players know about in-depth tactics and strategies?

They roll into practice and follow the schedule as laid out by the coaching staff. They watch film and take their info … from the coaching staff.

Then they suddenly get a TV gig and really don’t know why certain things are going on.

Give me a past coach as the colour man – a la Hubie Brown or Jeff Van Gundy – then maybe a player, but one with personality.

Off the top of my head, I’d love to hear what Chris Anstey has to say and be advised, it would certainly be something of substance.

Al Westover? Come on down. Andrej Lemanis? Yes please. Mick Downer? Why not?

Then let’s hear from Tommy Greer as well, not only a player with personality but one who actually does his research and knows what is going on.

Bruce Bolden? Yep.

Brian Kerle? Indeed.

Let’s invest in new people who can hold the mike with their non-preferred hand and help take this extraordinary new development – which no-one foresaw or even could hope for as recently as three months ago – and run with it.

BACK TO THE FUTURE: With a different Fox, as in Michael J. The NBL is rolling!

September 3, 2015 was a huge day for the NBL when it went “Back to the Future” with Fox.

Let’s not stick with the past then in how the game is presented or with who presents it.
 

 

Online

The NBL on Fox: http://bit.ly/1LMrhx1

New World Cup qualifying through Asia: http://bit.ly/1LTeLyR

The 36ers preseason run at: http://bit.ly/1X4bsbu

Norwood claims SA titles: http://bit.ly/1JrPo16