Wading into the future - an NBL Production
TweetGRAEME Wade, the NBL's new Chairman, met the media yesterday, hours before the NBL took control of the coverage for last night's sizzling Perth Wildcats-Adelaide 36ers fixture.
As far as free-to-air television productions go, it was by far the best presentation of NBL basketball I have seen.
It was innovative, positive and upbeat throughout and, fortunately, also well-serviced by a showcase game in front of a record Perth crowd of 13,559.
Before that event even occurred though, Perth CEO and NBL Chairman Nick Marvin stepped down from that role to be replaced by Wade, an independent who will bring very sound financial nous and no bias - other than to see the league and game thrive in Australia - to the role.
Finding a new league CEO to fill the shoes of Fraser Neill is high on his check list, not to mention sustainability of existing clubs, expansion and all the usual rituals.
Excuse me for not being overly dazzled but, like many of you, we have heard much of it before.
That's not to say we're all getting a little jaded. Not at all.
It's just way over time to start seeing the predictions of our "family-friendly" game and "wonderfully attractive indoor spectacle so suited to television" turning into a sporting juggernaut actually happening.
I mean, Mal Speed predicted no less for the 90s and that's 20 years ago.
Wade sounds solid, so hopefully he can get NBL life rolling forward.
If last night's TV display is anything to go by then yes, there are good times ahead.
This is what we've wished ONE-Ten had been doing for the past five years of its coverage.
IT started well with Sixers swingman Mitch Creek talking up the game intro, with past-clash highlights.
We got to hear from Damian Martin, Adam Gibson, Greg Hire was miked for the warm-up, as was Anthony Petrie.
We didn't just hear from host Lachy Reid and colour (hair) man Brett Maher but also Drake U'u, Brendan Teys, Jesse Wagstaff and Peter Crawford.
Not so much that it was overkill, you understand. Just enough to whet the appetite for the showdown to follow.
Perfect.
All of that swishes right into the "Good" basket.
Having the refs and coaches miked up also was a three-pointer for the "Good" basket.
The camera shots from the ceiling were a brilliant new perspective which, over time, will give the callers a chance to actually plot an offence or a defensive strategy. That will be of huge benefit for the basketball junkie and/or the casual interested observer, offering further insight.
It also would open the door for some halftime "chalkboard-style" analysis.
That said, Creek's halftime interview was sharp and the chance to interview a cricketing celebrity from the crowd and cross-promote Big Bash exactly what we've been clamouring to see.
Only ever seen SKY do that before at a Breakers game. (Now all we need is a Big Bash match to feature a chat with an NBL star...)
The absolute "Slam Dunk" into the "Good" basket for me was halftime in the rooms, getting a snippet of the coaches.
Have seen ESPN do that with NBA finals matches and with their WNBA coverage and even with their "Wired" segments.
Brilliant.
Loved hearing Joey Wright and Trevor Gleeson speak their pieces to their charges.
Mel Marsh interviewing Graeme Wade during the second half also kept the coverage interesting and entertaining.
The post-game with Brock Motum was quick and clean, to the point. Short and sharp, you have to like that.
With anything new and exciting, there are elements too which didn't work for me.
The most irritating was the extended crowd shots after plays or when balls were being inbounded.
Hit the fan shots when the guys are heading into breaks - timeouts etcetera. But don't deny us a second of on-court action.
The director has to recognise when a basket is made and a whistle blown for time-out, but Motum and Shawn Redhage are having a "chat" , maybe stay with that a second longer before cutting to crowd shots. Just see what evolves. Then cut. Not straight away.
Or start your camera pan on the crowd and bring it back to the floor as the ball comes in.
Just don't cost us action with fan faces. The first time a Damo steals an inbounds pass and lays it up while we're looking at some cute kid waving a Wildcats flag shouldn't be the time to realise "oops, stuff happens fast on a basketball court, doesn't it?"
I know many fans will disagree with me but my other gripe was interviewing the coaches while the action was on.
I know if I'm a 36ers fan, I don't want Joey telling me, as a viewer, that yes, this is a great game and a great crowd. I want him focusing on winning the freaking game, not on my entertainment in the lounge room.
I don't want Trevor having to cut off in mid-sentence to yell at Tommy because, frankly, that is what he SHOULD be doing anyway, not talking to me via Lachy and Brett.
Let the coaches focus on what they are doing. Grab a quote in a quarter-time break, a la ESPN at the NBA. By all means hit those changerooms and allow us to be a silent fly on the wall. But leave them alone when they are trying to do the job their livelihood depends on.
Excessive crowd shots and unnecessary coach commentary - those were my only gripes.
It was a wonderful package of an exceptional game and a masterful rendition of how good our game can be and how good the coverage can be.
Looking forward to seeing what tomorrow's coverage of the Heritage Week's opening game between Adelaide and Wollongong holds in store on Ten-ONE.
The 36ers uniforms (above) aren't actually anything directly from the 80s, but more an homage to several of their 80s standards.
The Hawks are in their 1986 gear. Should be another good one.
NO-ONE was happier to hear Czar Nicholas had been replaced in a bloodless coup than his daughter Anastasia.
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