Basketball On The Internet.

ALL right, I confess. Much more excited about the Geelong-Sydney AFL match tonight (and last night’s terrific State of Origin series starter) than the upcoming opener of the Sino-Australian Challenge in Perth.

And it seems that view is shared by Basketball Australia.

On a day (in a week) when the sport’s national federation should be bombarding us with breathless social media updates of all things Sino-Australian – by the way, is this thing sponsored by Sudafed? cause is sure sounds as if it should be – instead the interest appears minimal.

That is, unless you are going to BA’s website which, I don’t know about you, is my first port of call every day. Just before I go out to milk the cows.

BA’s lack of interest is distressing considering this now annual four-game series for the Boomers against China should be its showpiece/centrepiece showcase of its national men’s team in Australia.

Last year we were spoilt for choice with not just the inaugural Sinus series to sniff at but also Oceania.

China AND New Zealand, BOTH on our shores.

I still shiver with excitement.

But unless I’ve missed some more grand announcements at basketball.net.au – because you won’t find jack at @AussieBoomers on Twitter, the last BA tweet there on April 24 congratulating Joe Ingles on his Maccabi team getting through to the Euroleague Final Four – then this series against China is our chance to see the Boomers on Aussie soil ahead of the World Cup.

Oh wait. Since I started typing, BA has tweeted a link to today’s announcement ABC-TV will telecast the Boomers’ World Cup games live from Spain later this year.

If you look hard enough, you will even find a fleeting mention of tonight’s Sino-Aussie opener in Perth. (Last three paragraphs).

While that is great news, maybe attracting a fullhouse in Perth and hammering the TV cover tonight (ABC-2 from 10pm in SA, 10.30pm Eastern) might be a smarter option today.

Because I’ll only be tuning in to watch the baby Boomers (Angus Brandt, Cam Gliddon, Hugh Greenwood, Jack McVeigh, Brock Motum and Clint Steindl) and the late Bloomers such as Tom Jervis, Rhys Martin and Lucas Walker.

Of course Mark Worthington in the green-and-gold is always great value and this time around, hopefully Ben Madgen can stay healthy through the entire series.

Luke Nevill makes 12 and while these guys battle it out for consideration in the “real” Boomers, it will be worth tuning in for their efforts.

But that's about it.

I’m hoping the “new generation” China squad turns up a few guys worth watching too to maybe make the rest of the series worth tuning in for because as a “challenge” it sure has failed to elicit any real excitement.

I’m also hoping the SEABL is paying attention to how driven, relentless and in-your-face BA has been promoting this series in mainstream media nationwide, aware that generating ratings for the ABC can only be a positive in the long term.

(Actually, NBL clubs have done more social media to attract attention to the series.)

Then again, with the World Cup games to be shown live on the ABC, what does BA really care about ratings for its partner?

Won’t have to worry about coverage again until the next World Cup and its build-up, and that will now be in 2019 when, with any luck at least, some of our current administrators will have moved along and the next group can sort through the mess left behind.

SIGNS David Stern is no longer NBA Commissioner #1

LeBron James had three fouls in the first quarter-and-a-half in Miami’s Game 5 loss to Indiana today.

GORDIE McLeod will be absent from the Boomers’ bench, having reluctantly had to withdraw as one of head coach Andrej Lemanis’ primary assistants.

“There’s not enough hours in the day or extra coaches at the club,” the Hawks’ NBL Coach of the Year winner told me.

Stay tuned for who might fill Gordie’ shoes but if Andrej is looking at the NBL, surely Joey Wright’s effort in lifting a last-placed basket case into the 2014 Grand Final might be worthy of consideration?

SIGNS David Stern is no longer NBA Commissioner #2

LeBron stages for a foul against Lance Stephenson of a 3-point heave ... but it’s a no-call.

TOMORROW: The Sino-Aus Game 1 wash-up AND, of course, Female Friday Stories ... or FFS to you.