Basketball On The Internet.

LOVE the NBA. Love the Euroleague. Love our NBL and our WNBL. But I was reminded this week we all owe a little debt of gratitude to the Harlem Globetrotters too.

For so very many hundreds and thousands - actually, many millions by now - of people who know little or nothing about basketball, the Globetrotters were their first exposure to our sport.

As their first point of contact, it was invaluable because seeing the Globetrotters, especially for the first time, is always entertaining and always memorable.

I confess, I always use my own newspaper office as a barometer for how our sport is travelling at any given time.

For example, when more than the diehard fans ask me about how the 36ers are going because they watched a game on TV, that's usually a good sign.

When colleagues are trying to hit me up for tickets, I know we (and by "we" I mean basketball) are doing OK.

That said, it's been depressingly quiet for the past decade since the halcyon period around the turn of the century.

But regardless how the sport is perceived at any given time, the cheap bastards I work with always will try to weasel Harlem Globetrotters tickets.

At any time. Always. People from across the other side of the Editorial floor who I don't even passingly talk to for years - you know, the arty pharty types who look at sports writers with barely-concealed disdain - suddenly are my second best friend.

"How are those 69ers of ours travelling? What? By the way, you wouldn't have any Harlem Globetrotters tickeys?"

This is usually the time I trot out the well-worn: "Try the far-queue".

But I digress. 

The internationally-acclaimed, world famous Harlem Globetrotters have been touring Australia this past month to sellout crowds - as you might expect after a nine-year absence - concluding with shows in Canberra, Adelaide, Hobart and at The Cage in Melbourne on Sunday.

Can you believe this entertainment phenomenon has been around since 1926 - and I already felt old because I remember watching the black-and-white film about them and that was from the 50s!

People the world over adore the Globetrotters and the brand of family entertainment they bring.

This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Chris "Handles" Franklin of the touring outfit for a little feature and it brought back a flood of happy memories.

But it also reminded me what these pioneers for African-American players endured through their early years in Chicago and on the road "globetrotting" across the USA as they fashioned this hardiest of entertainment juggernauts.

Globetrotters? Well, maybe not initially but certainly now.

Trailblazers? Absolutely. The game owes a debt of gratitude it can never fully repay.

(This was the interview's upshot: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/the-magic-never-ends-for-basketball-gurus-the-harlem-globetrotters/story-fnii09gt-1226749787792 )

 

JUST caught up with last week's Euroleague game on TV and Nathan Jawai was having a blinder for Galatasaray in the 67-78 loss to champion Olympiakos.

Can't say I picked the incident which led to his neck trauma and hospitalisation and it is great news he is on the fast-track to recovery.

He had 22 in that game and was killing it with several of those dunks those of us who saw him in his NBL Rookie of the Year season with Cairns Taipans still vividly recall.

 

LISTENING to so many television commentators raving about the "fatigue factor" for teams travelling or playing more than one game in a round at least has cleared something up for me.

It's clear the Clippers lost their NBA season-opener 102-116 to the Lakers yesterday because of the travel factor.

LA traffic can be brutal.

 

KNEW it wouldn't take long for new Ten-ONE color commentator Brad Rosen to settle into his new role. He is going to be good.

Sadly, Perth's color man Tony Ronaldson has already hit his mid-season slump.

(Give us a smile Tone.... AARGH! No. No. What is that twisted contorted thing? Stop now! Have mercy. There are kids watching...)

 

CONGRATULATIONS to Lightning's Laura Hodges, the WNBL's Player of the Week after averaging 21.0ppg at 67 per cent in two road games last round.

NBL Rankings

This Wk - Prev

8 (6) BREAKERS - Would expect the three-loss streak to end this round and the climb to begin.

7 (5) CROCODILES - Must win at home to bring the fans out and keep them. It won't be easy.

6 (7) HAWKS - Won at home, now face the grand finalists. Might be ready to soar.

5 (4) KINGS - Didn't seem to learn enough from previous Perth loss but can split on road.

4 (2) TAIPANS - That home loss will sting and the Tigers can seize this window.

3 (8) TIGERS - Can keep momentum rolling in what could be the game of the round.

2 (3) 36ERS - A split doesn't usually warrant a rankings rise but have only had one poor game.

1 (1) WILDCATS - Just keep getting it done and now Beal is rolling too. Trouble with a capital T.

 

WNBL Rankings

This Wk - Prev

9 (9) WAVES - A rough roadie and now Melbourne at home and Adelaide away. Doesn't get easier.

8 (6) FLAMES - Blew a golden opportunity and must bounce back in Queensland to be relevant.

7 (7) THUNDER - Lost the Queensland derby but can steady the ship against Sydney.

6 (8) CAPITALS - Met the challenge but Dandenong is deep and Caps must find more.

5 (5) FIRE - Did what they had to do and did it undermanned. Fire v Flames is always hot.

4 (4) LIGHTNING - Road split was commendable and should square ledger with Waves.

3 (1) BOOMERS - Came back to Earth with a thud, lose Jarry but should ride Waves.

2 (3) SPIRIT - Owned Dandy last season but still not at those levels. This is a big test.

1 (2) RANGERS - Took out first challenger, now have the champs and the Caps in quick succession.

THIS WEEK'S TIPS

REINSTATING dual-championship-winning import Gary Wilkinson to the lineup will have the Breakers pumped at home and feeling good about their 15-game win streak over Adelaide. I think the last time the 36ers won in NZ was before Kristina Keneally was NSW Premier! Sixers, in a shock.

TOWNSVILLE back home and playing, hopefully, in front of a decent crowd - oh for the days of the 100-plus consecutive sellouts - should have the edge over Sydney. But with the Kings also having to take in the city of churches this round, they can't let this slip. And won't.

TWO clubs rich with history, both with 1,000 NBL games to their names, one the pacesetter, the other a bona fide original. Wollongong has not won in Perth in 15 straight attempts yet for all that, Gordie McLeod's sides have never seemed overly awestruck by the Wildcats. Here's a real upset.

CAIRNS has put together a super team and that was one hell of a game against Adelaide last round. But Cam Gliddon (back) will miss again and after taking out the 36ers, Melbourne will be feeling its season is on the right track now. It looks a lot like another thrilling home loss for the Taipans.

FINALLY at home, the 36ers will welcome Sydney to Adelaide Arena in another NBL-WNBL double-header which is sure to have a bumper crowd, even if it is Sunday. And on TV. The joy of being there is you don't have to listen to the TV. Expect a tough afternoon for AJ Ogilvy and the Kings.

COULD Wollongong possibly beat last season's grand finalists in the same weekend? That's the big ask for the Hawkers and the ridiculous punt I'm willing to take as they host NZ. Of course, with the comp as even as it is, a 2-0, 1-1 or 0-2 round would see few bat an eyelid. So why not go for broke?

KRISTI Harrower plays her 300th WNBL game when she leads the champion Bendigo onto the Stud Road show court against unbeaten leader Dandenong tonight. This is exactly the type of game the Spirit won last season so this result will be most revealing. Expect the Spirits to ice a ripper.

IF Logan is to have any kind of impact, this is precisely the type of match it needs to win. The Fumes will be down after blowing a "sure thing" against Adelaide in Sydney but their size and scoring options suggest a very tough contest for the Thunder. Expect some burnt fingers.

TEMPORARILY losing Rachel Jarry to injury is a setback but Melbourne was unbeaten without her and should be able to shake off Worst Coast. Expect a much better effort from the Waves after last round's abysmal road humiliation. But I've got just two words for ya: Tess. Madgen.

CANBERRA snared its share of rebounds against Adelaide and found a way to break through. But Dandenong has such depth and scoring options that it still will start favorite. Oh wait. Let's not forget the fatigue factor. We remembered it? Good. Won't exist. Expect Abby to shine but in vain.

THERE is always a little sting in the tail of Townsville-Sydney clashes and this will be no exception. The Fire iced Logan last week without Rachael McCully and Olivia Thompson who will be back from illness. This one will be torrid but falls into the "must win" category for Townsville. 

WEST Coast stunned the living heck - living heck? Yes, that was for any American readers who cringe to read "hell" - out of Lightning in Adelaide to open the season in an incredibly competent and well-executed victory. Expect Adelaide, with a big double-header crowd, to be less forgiving. 

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