B&B: Run towards pressure and expectations
THE most challenging gig in elite coaching? Inheriting a defending champion. And that is exactly what Chris Lucas is faced with as the new head coach of WNBL champion Melbourne Boomers, largely why Brad Rosen and I were keen to interview him for this week's Brad&Boti podcast.
Sydney rocked the World Cup
THE Sydney Olympics in 2000 was hailed as the greatest Games ever staged and now FIBA - in the same week the WNBL prepares to launch is 2022-23 season - has declared its World Cup at the same venue as a record-smasher, with first crowd, now broadcast, digital and social media reaching unprecedented heights.
B&B: Balloons and coat-hangers for starters
TIME for a "Where Are They Now?" episode of the Brad&Boti podcast so Brad Rosen and I threw on our deer-stalker caps, grabbed our magnifying glasses and went in search of a former NBL import who rose to the position of running the league before joining BA. No, it's NOT Bill Palmer.
Boomers prepare for Borat and Co.
AUSTRALIA has named another solid mostly-NBL based Boomers team for next month's FIBA World Cup qualifier against burgeoning powerhouse Kazakhstan in Kazakhstan, a trip which should very much help our boys' cultural learnings.
B&B: Bec gives us the lowdown on WC, and more
BRAD Rosen and I enjoyed one of our favourite interviews this week at the Brad&Boti podcast when we had our (Rose) Golden Girl - the one and only - Bec Allen as our special guest, talking AIS, WNBL, WNBA, Europe, Olympics, World Cup, injuries ... you name it. She's candid and an absolute delight.
B&B: We crack the ton with a rowdy pod
YES! We did it! Multi-media personality, TV caller and former Sydney Kings captain Brad Rosen and I today posted our 100th Brad&Boti podcast and thank you to those of you who do regularly tune in for it. We scored Olympian, NBA and NBL forward Ryan "Rowdy" Broekhoff for this one and it is a candid and fun landmark podcast.
Opals at #3, Rose Gold and Jade
IN the aftermath of the Women's World Cup in Sydney, FIBA's latest global ranking has Australia accurately installed as #3 behind the USA and China, most of us happy the culture restoration is on course but few asking how it fell away so badly? If you don't learn the lessons of history, you're doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
WWC Wrap: What's Great | What Grates
HAILED as the "greatest FIBA Women's World Cup ever" as a record 145,519 fans filed through the turnstiles over 10 days, despite an AFL and an NRL grand final virtually either side of it - well of course it was! Just as the Olympics 22 years ago were the greatest, why would another event in the same place be any different?
WWC: Lauren cements her legacy and legend
LAUREN Jackson already is the G.O.A.T. of Australian basketball. Today, in her Opals international swansong, the 41-year-old mother-of-two uncorked a champagne "Player of the Game" performance, scoring 30 points as Australia claimed the FIBA World Cup Bronze Medal with an emphatic 95-65 rout of Canada.
WWC: Disappointment as Opals fall short
DISAPPOINTMENT. It was the prevailing emotion tonight as Australia fell just 59-61 short of China, instead dropping into the battle for Bronze tomorrow against Canada at the FIBA Women's World Cup at Qudos Bank Arena. Disappointment and despair though are two different emotions and the Opals have half a day to bounce back.