Basketball On The Internet.

WHO says NBL clubs only get it wrong? Not NBL fan Paul Smith, whose email I am pleased to reprint here to prove the point!

Take it away Paul ...

"To the 36ers organisation!

I am writing this open letter in hope that GM, Dean Parker, and Head Coach Joey Wright, receive this appreciation from me.

Born and bred in Adelaide, having been a 36ers fan since I first picked up a basketball, being a season ticketholder during the championship years and actually being in Melbourne for the clean sweep of the Magic in 98, I was lucky enough to have a change of scenery in 2014 and move north to Cairns in mid February to play footy; but still barracked for the boys - especially when they were in town to play the Taipans.

Since the move, the Taipans became my adopted team, but still ranked sceond behind the 36ers.

As a sports, but in particular basketball fanatic, I wanted to help out the Taipans in any way I could on game night as I had done so for many years in Adelaide previously.

I was scheduled to work at the NYE game that has just been and gone, and with late notice was asked by the Adelaide team manager, Junior Albert, if I wanted to be part of the group for the evening and sit on the bench with the team?

Of course this was an instant YES!

I had to cancel my shift (I don't actually get paid for doing my part) for the Taipans at late notice, for which I was very apologetic.

But this was an opportunity that all sports followers love to imagine - sitting next to your favourite players on your beloved team and watching their interaction from both on/off court and within the time-outs and being the fan that you are, NEXT to them.

Even at 27-years-old, I was super-excited and felt like I was a young buck again.

Something like this very rarely gets presented so I took the opportunity to do so.

Any true fan, no matter the age, would love to do what I did.

For this to happen, Junior had to get the approval from both Dean - who was in town with his partner to watch the game - and Joey.

Obviously without either of their approvals, I wouldn't have had the experience that I had.

It was an extremely last minute thing, and I just want to say a massive Thank You to Dean, Joey, Junior and the fellas for letting me be apart of their bench for a night and get an exclusive halftime and after-game experience of being in the locker rooms listening to what Joey had to say.

I must say at halftime, even I had goosebumps and was ready to get on court and bang some bodies and dive on loose balls for Joey.

As for both Dean and Joey's interaction with myself, which I did not expect to happen and was completely fine with, they were first class.

Both were exceptionally friendly and welcoming, obviously Dean moreso before the game than Joey since he had a job to focus on.

But once the win was sealed, Joey showed his emotion in the rooms and it was great to have a yarn with him as I felt he was very easy going.

Again, for that, I'm very grateful for those two blokes and for the time that they gave me.

I hope they both read this and see that it may have meant very little to them, but it was a huge thing to me and for that I'll forever cherish that opportunity I had to be on the 36ers bench during a game, let alone an exciting overtime win against the Taipans and their 5000-plus strong crowd.

To silence them and walk out with the gutsiest of victories after starting one man down and another important one getting injured late in the game, was such a pleasing experience and satisfying moment!

Until they are in town next and I can watch them live in Cairns, good luck for the remainder of the year and beyond.

I'll always be a 36ers fan, no matter the ups and downs, and no matter where I am in the world.

Go Sixers!

Yours sincerely,

Paul Smith"