Basketball On The Internet.

IF you can identify a sportperson by one name or a nickname, chances are they are notorious.

Hopefully, it is for good reasons. Everyone in basketball should know who Leapin’ Leroy is. Or the Black Pearl. Or Drewey. Or Luc.

For that matter, Copes, the Alabama Slammer, Slammin’ Sammy and Amazing Grace also alert you immediately as to who is being spoken about.

(What a shame no-one came up with Lord Greystroke for Brett Maher or Andrew Gaze. But I digress.)

With today’s announcement Leroy Loggins and Cal Bruton would not only be ambassadors for the new NBL but that the preseason Blitz tournament would be played for the Loggins-Bruton Cup, a lot of people in Australian basketball should be smiling.

Here’s how it was reported today: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/nbl-legends-leroy-loggins-and-cal-bruton-to-be-honoured-with-blitz-8220cup8221-as-league-relaunches-in-sydney/story-fnii09gt-1226701269996 But now I have a question.

Does anyone remember the Ray Borner Medal?

Wouldn’t it be great if the new NBL did and reinstated it at long last?

CAIRNS has swept St Mary’s College with Handi-Cam Tragardh scoring in the 20s in the two-game sweep.

The match at The Southport School was exceptionally well supported, reinforcing again how badly south Queensland needs an NBL presence.

GOT into an interesting discussion on Radio TAB this morning about whether a new NBL club in Brisbane should return to the Bullets name?

As was the issue with the NBA’s Washington Bullets and the abominable rate of gun-related crimes and murders which led to the franchise changing its moniker to Wizards, the question put to me was has the day of the “Bullets” nickname long gone?

It’s a head scratcher, for sure, especially when you consider this week’s awful shooting tragedy in the US.

But there you have it. It’s the US, where they have an ingrained gun culture and where references to “bullets” does have serious negative connotations.

In Australia when Brisbane Bullets were launched with the NIBL in 1979, I am willing to wager heavily the nickname was more about catchy alliteration than anything else.

(Much like the Washington Wizards went for alliteration when they abandoned the Bullets name.)

Over a 30-year period and three NBL championships, brand recognition for Brisbane Bullets in Australia, let alone Queensland, still would be very strong.

We don’t have a gun culture or mentality so, personally, I see no real problem with retaining a name which already is fixed in the psyche of basketball fans nationwide.

By the same token, if there was strong objection to it, I could understand that too, as, I am sure, most people with any degree of sensibility would.

My first choice would be to retain it but if there was a legitimate outcry, then, considering the club is bouncing back, what could be more Australian than the Brisbane Boomerangs?

WINNING their inaugural WNBL Championship is not enough for Bendigo Spirit who are currently on a membership drive with a target of 2,000.

All membership packs include reserved seating to Bendigo Spirit home games and discounts on team singlets.

Junior memberships are $100 for Spirit fans under-16 and come with a Bendigo Spirit Cheer Pack valued at $80.

The Cheer Pack includes a team backpack, wig, horn, bumper sticker, drink bottle, flag, tattoo, basketball, hand clapper and face paint.

Adult memberships at $150 include a team polo shirt, cap, bumper sticker, drink bottle, 12-can esky and stubby holder.

Family memberships for two adults and two children are $350 and large family memberships for two adults and up to five children are $400.

THE NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers have signed first-round draft picks Anthony Bennett and Sergey Karasev and second-round pick Carrick Felix to contracts, the team announced today.

While the exact figures weren't immediately available, Bennett was expected to sign for the maximum 120 percent of the rookie scale, which would be about $5.3 million this season.

Felix signed his deal a few weeks ago and the Cavaliers will control both players for five seasons.

The Cavs now have 15 players under contract for this season, with Matthew Dellavedova to come.
 

THE Colonel, Jesse Sanders, landed in Sydney today with his wife Courtney.

Kings coach Shane Heal agrees “The Colonel” is a fitting nickname for the man who will marshal Sydney’s troops on-court but tweeted today: “I like it and very well suited. By the looks of his 6 pack at his physical today I'm not sure tucks into too much KFC tho!

"I reckon he will be passing out more assists than pieces of deep fried chicken!"

Dang. There goes the soup diet for me.