Basketball On The Internet.

WHAT is up with Adelaide Arena?

Outside lights not turned on, inside lights out, scoreboards inoperable, changerooms locked, toilets in a disgusting state ... say a prayer for SA Church Basketball because co-owner Scouts SA also certainly haven't "been prepared."

The premier home of basketball in South Australia, built on the backs of the Adelaide 36ers' success in the 80s and opened to much fanfare in 1992, the venue is degenerating at a rapid rate.

It was falling into disrepair well before the Scouts and Churchies bought it but right now there is a duty-of-care situation which surely must be explored soon by some ropable parent.

I'm regularly down there on a Tuesday night for Basketball SA's Youth League and it galls me that two weeks ago the main cube scoreboard for the side courts (1 and 3) were not working, forcing the teams on those courts to have to keep stepping onto the floor to check the scores and time on the mini sideline bench.

A week later and not a thing has been done to improve the situation for what is/was supposed to be BSA's elite competition below its State League.

Does anyone - to quote Malcolm Blight - give a rat's toss bag down there or at venue administration?

The lights at the south-east corner of Court 1 have been out for so long, everyone is adjusting to playing out of the dark corner.

But is that supposed to be acceptable?

Last night I counted six main lights in the arena that were out - not off, but out - as they have been for months now.

Minimal lightning is on in the carpark.

What has to happen before someone not concerned with the electricity bill but the duty of care and responsibility to young people aged from 18-22 actually wakes up?

A darkened carpark assault? Or worse?

BSA is and has been for a long time notorious for treating its competitions and its alleged "elite" comps like rubbish but no-one there better be trying to sell the Youth League as the program for our talented youngsters.

Very few clubs take it seriously, some treat it like social and a few have a genuine crack.

But what can you expect from a management and a stadium administration that clearly doesn't give a bowel movement - another thing you should definitely avoid or risk personal peril - in a once glorious facility now better regarded as a toilet.