Did you know? i, ii, iii...
TweetDID you know a few thousand people attended a rock concert at Perth Arena on Friday and a basketball game broke out ... almost?
Tuning in to watch Game 1 of the Sino-Australia Challenge - like many I was keen to see how the Green-and-Gold Coast would go against China - the incessant blaring of rock music just turned me off.
One of the joys of attending international matches in recent years has been the fact they DO NOT go crazy with dancing girls, unnecessary music and nonstop giveaways, allowing basketball purists to just enjoy the contest, and wave to their friends dotted around the empty stadium.
Seriously now, the score is 0-0 and already Queen is blaring "We Will Rock You?" It gets paused for a couple of free throws, then is back on again... for virtually the full song?
Let's break into Lenny Kravitz's "Are You Gonna Go My Way" - love the guitar riff but really? Just minutes into the game?
By the time Michael Jackson's "Beat It" was screaming through the venue - and blowing me out of my sofa chair at home - I'd already had enough.
Thank goodness for the Mute button.
But Basketball Australia, WA Basketball, Perth Arena management, the NBL, Aussie Hoops - whoever the hell was responsible - get a grip.
Game 2 today is sold out for the 2,000-or-so diehards so let them enjoy the game and create their own atmosphere. No wonder the mainstream sports world can't come at basketball.
Watching Gold Coast beat North Melbourne in the AFL yesterday, pretty sure I didnt hear a single song and yet that did not detract from my enjoyment one iota.
DID you know Benny Madgen seriously injured his ankle at Boomers practice last night and will not only miss the rest of the international series but will have to wait to discover the full extent of the damage?
Madgen, 28, dislocated his ankle and had to be rushed to hospital by ambulance, such was the extent of the injury.
He was heavily sedated for his ankle to be relocated and was in hospital overnight.
The Madge had five points and two rebounds in Australia's 55-61 Game 1 loss, the extent of his injury and rehabilitation schedule to be worked out when he is back with Sydney Kings.
It is a massive blow for the NBL's 2012-13 leading scorer who has worked tirelessly for his shot in Boomers' colors.
DID you know most of the best junior basketball players in Australia are pacing their club teams at the Classics tournament in Melbourne right now?
Get along to Dandenong Stadium if you want to see the next crop of Aussie ballers doing their thing because the tourney enters its crucial stages today, with finals and positional playoffs tomorrow.
There's some decent teams running around at the Nunawading Junior Tournament as well.
DID you know Anthony Petrie was the only Boomer in double figures in Game 1 against China?
Petrie, who turned 30 earlier in the week, debuted with 10 points in the low-scoring, abominably officiated travel and flop fest.
Game 2 of the Sino-Australia Challenge will be televised live today on Fox Sports. But then, you knew that.