Respect the Game
TweetBEST NBL off-season in history? Check.
Best television broadcast deal, ever?
Hmm, every game live on Fox Sports in high definition (initially on the FOXSPORTS News channel 500 and its HD equivalent), PLUS a new free-to-air deal on the Nine Network with the Sunday 3pm slot now ours. That means live games and the best replay of the round where there are no Sundays scheduled.
Plus you can watch NBL online. So, hmm, yes. Big, big tick.
Best return of past and new corporate supporters?
Let's see now, randomly ... Virgin, Telstra, Wilson, Chemist Warehouse, Alcatel Onetouch, Europcar, Champion... Check!
After wading through the dark days of February-May, regular positive announcements and developments, reigniting passion for the NBL?
Check.
Big name marquee stars coming into the NBL or returning?
Check!
Then what is left to worry about?
Just one thing.
The integrity of the product and resistance to turn NBL "game night packages" and television coverage into a circus or rock concert.
Do we acknowledge the necessity for the home-game entertainment package to contain a "WOW" factor?
Hell yeah.
But do we want to be blasted out of our seats for the duration?
Um...NO.
Here's a good rule of thumb. Does the NBA do it? Would the AFL allow it? Would the NRL condone it?
If we want our product to fulfill its potential then we can't treat it like a sideshow on game night.
It IS the show.
So do we want players on the bench during TV games being fitted with headsets and spoken to by the commentary team?
No way Jose.
They are there to focus on the game and to do their job - play hard and entertain us. NOT talk a lot of generic gibberish in the guise of "insight" and "accessibility".
Do we want coaches miked up or addressed for our viewing "benefit" beyond an opening comment or cutaways to pre-records?
Hell no. Let them get on with it.
Here's a good rule of thumb. Does the NBA do it? Would the AFL allow it? Would the NRL condone it?
Those are the products ALREADY where the NBL wants to be - indeed, the products the NBL wants to surpass.
Let's hope and pray the NBL recognises and insists on showcasing its greatest asset - the game.
Let's hope and pray it doesn't succumb to some wise-a$$ IT and/or TV boy-wizards telling them how it should be done when/if they've never seen how it is done by those who already are successful.
MARQUEE DRAWCARDS: Josh Childress is #1 but the NBL talent is now in abundance.
Let's hope and pray the NBL hasn't paid lip-service to how great its product is - because the likes of Josh Childress, Hakim Warrick, Nathan Jawai, Ebi Ere etcetera will undoubtedly showcase how great this product is.
Let's hope and pray the people calling the shots now, LOVE the game of basketball.
That's the best way to get the game where we all agree with Executive Director and mastermind Larry Kestelman that it can, should and will be.
The one thing we have to remember to do is RESPECT THE GAME.
If we disrespect it with intrusion masquerading as faux "insight" or nonstop music masquerading as "entertainment" then how can we expect the masses we want to jump on board to respect it?
Kestelman, his faithful GM Jeremy Loeliger and their team of workers have delivered a wildly successful off-season.
Let's hope those entrusted with taking the NBL to its next level aren't more hooked up on their brilliant innovations than genuinely believing in and promoting THE GAME.
This isn't the 1980s when we're making an uncontrolled, unsupervised mad grab for some share of the sports entertainment dollar. Or the 90s when we peaked before plummetting on our own excess.
This isn't Season 38 but Year One.
So much work has been done that it is beyond belief, to be honest.
Now let's not let the whiz-bang brigade derail the game when it finally is on track and racing full bore into a bright future.
The time to believe in the product, NOT the production, is now.
Online
Breakers down three for opener: http://bit.ly/1OUjEbA
Sixers take a punt: http://bit.ly/1L3lLnC
Chris Anstey's Masters join opening night: http://bit.ly/1FQJY3L
NBL on Nine: http://bit.ly/1hndpP0
Missing stars for Rd.1: http://bit.ly/1QVMx4K