Basketball On The Internet.

DEAR FIBA, You owe Basketball Australia, the Australian Boomers and the Australian public an apology.

Your decision to “investigate” the Boomers’ loss to Angola at the World Cup in Gran Canaria is not only insulting to a country with an extraordinary sporting culture and record for successfully punching way above its weight, but is an embarrassment to you as a global sports’ governing body.

Your implication Australia threw the game is defamatory and not only is impossible to prove or prosecute, but by its very nature strongly implies FIBA as grossly hypocritical.

In sport, upsets and amazing results can occur. That’s the true beauty of our game.

We just saw Turkey hitting two breath-taking three-pointers in the last minute to eliminate Australia, for a painful recent example.

So by Australia losing to Angola – which, by the way, has happened before – you effectively are saying your African Champion has no credibility in your tournament.

Because obviously if Angola has beaten a higher-rated country, that country’s performance has to be investigated?

When Angola took Slovenia to a six-point decision in a previous game, did you see fit to pull your eye-glasses down your noses and ponder if the Slovenians were, as we say here, “fair dinkum”?

And if Slovenia has beaten Australia by 10 and Angola by six, can the African champions’ beating of the Boomers be that much of a shocker?

My understanding of “tanking” or of throwing a game on purpose is to achieve a desired result.

Your implication is Australia threw its game against Angola to avoid the USA.

Well here’s the key and most damning point ahead of your investigation.

Losing to Angola didn’t assure Australia of anything, other than it knew it was already through to the Round-of-16 even before tip-off.

Knowing that, it rested key players and even with that, the Boomers led by 15 at one point during the second half.

To ignore Yanick Moreira’s outstanding 38-point, 15-rebound performance – arguably the best single-game individual effort of the tournament – and his work to bring his team back for an unlikely victory, again wildly disrespects Angola and Angolan basketball.

Here’s the second damning point of your investigation.

Australia’s loss DID NOT GUARANTEE IT OF ANYTHING!! All unbeaten Slovenia had to do was beat Lithuania several hours later to retain the group's status quo.

Slovenia had beaten Australia by 10, Australia had beaten Lithuania by seven so, theoretically (though not practically) Slovenia should have started about a 17-point favourite.

To lead going into the last quarter and then only score two points and thereby lose the unlosable, suggests by your recent sudden criteria, that Slovenia should be investigated too.

Surely you see how ridiculous your claims of impropriety, and those of Slovenian NBA star Goran Dragic are when seen for what they are – little more than self-serving nonsense.

If avoiding the USA beyond the group stage is such an issue, then perhaps FIBA should consider this proposal for how to eradicate any form of match-manipulation: http://www.botinagy.com/blog/its-a-lottery---the-answer-for-fiba/

To suggest cheating when your erstwhile body turns a blind eye to the blatant flopping and over-acting that goes on in your tournaments - and largely further is fostered and even encouraged and rewarded by your officiating practices – makes your anti-Australia accusations appear even more ludicrous.

We understand FIBA is based in Europe and responds to European urgings above all else, except maybe the USA, which you court so actively.

But after the many blatant and obvious result manipulations at Olympics, World Championships and your prized Eurobasket across the ages, to now choose to pick on a country where basketball is once again on the threshold of booming, is counter to your own desires for global growth and acceptance.

Excuse me for being cynical and somewhat disingenuous but the sooner you put this absurd investigation to rest, the better for all concerned.

FIBA’s investigation, NOT Australia’s loss to Angola, is a blot on the global game.

You have insulted us and owe us an apology.

Sincerely,

On Behalf of Basketball Lovers in Australia

HERE's also how we reported it at News Corp, including FIBA's statement and BA's response: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/andrew-gaze-phil-smyth-and-andrew-bogut-say-fiba-probe-into-boomers-a-joke/story-fnii09gt-1227052061551

TOMORROW: We recently relived some Hawks' joy at Adelaide's expense, but the tables were turned in 2002.

AND, the Opals team for the FIBA World Championship.