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Post by Solly on Apr 17, 2020 14:03:11 GMT
Oh yes, I also meant to highlight the parking charge - to charge £20 in 2007 was outrageous.
A similarly-upsetting car park I encountered on my travels was opposite Ponds Forge Arena, in an area now occupied by the Ibis hotel in Sheffield. A very fancy arrangement but one that locked you into payment as soon as you entered via roll-up shutters - I think it was at least a tenner there, back in the early noughties.
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Post by Solly on Apr 17, 2020 14:26:56 GMT
hersey427 - just read your latest. Has made I laugh in several places.
Yes Shafty is, and always has been, most irksome. Surely he reads this board.
To me Shafty is the Richard Madeley of basketball - must have a lot of interesting stories to tell, but unfortunately the way in which he carries himself often causes many to dislike him.
And neither of them seem to understand why they could possibly be disliked - they give the impression that everyone else in the world must be idiots. Put them in a locked room together!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2020 8:57:47 GMT
I was at the game v Leopards when all hell broke out. Deveaux head butted Andy Gardiner who was getting ready to take a free throw. Goose hesitated then rather than go down and let justice take its course he punched Deveaux and both benches cleared. Tim Lascelles was swinging a 2x2 piece of wood, amongst the chaos. Memorable times! . If only we had games to brawl at  |
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Post by Solly on Apr 18, 2020 15:24:26 GMT
Today's offering means a lot to me as it was my very first Wolves programme article, back in September 2006.
Spouting nonsense for nearly 14 years in Wolves programmes, and spouting nonsense on WhatsBev for over 20 years!
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Michael Jordan’s link to Worcester Wolves – strange but true….
I’ll get on to that link to just about the greatest basketball player the world has ever known in a moment. But, for now, I’d like to say how pleased I am to have been given the opportunity to spout nonsense to all you Wolves fans.
For quite a few years now, I have been venting my spleen on the superb fan forum WhatsBev.com about all sorts of Birmingham Bullets-related matters. With Bullets having been dumped in the basketball bin, I need to continue to get my fix, such that I now find myself travelling 30 miles or so down the M5 to sit amongst you guys.
What I am looking to do for this season is put together regular reports for the matchnite programme, dishing it on how the Wolves have performed on the road.
Anyway, for this first prog I obviously have no latest away game to report on (I could write something about the last ever Bullets game, but who in Worcester wants to hear about how me and only 50 or so other people ended up in Walsall watching those ace-entertainers, Milton Keynes Lions walk all over a dispirited Bullets).
As an alternative, I thought I would relate the little I already know about basketball in Worcester.
I can vaguely recollect that about 10 years or so ago there was a team in the lower divisions, the Worcester City Chiefs, who, I think, got their name from a car dealership sponsor in the city. For whatever reason, (maybe the sponsorship ended), the Chiefs relocated after just a couple of years to become the Solihull Chiefs.
As a basketball nutter, whenever Bullets or my other teams, Coventry Crusaders or Derby, were not playing, I found myself at the North Solihull Sports Centre* watching the Chiefs.
And here’s where we get the Michael Jordan link – Solihull were a reasonable enough side, but then they really went bigtime in signing an ex-NBA star, Tom ‘Tomcat’ Sewell.
Tom was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1st round (22nd pick) of the 1984 NBA draft. The 1984 NBA Draft is widely regarded as the best NBA Draft in history, including Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, John Stockton and #23, Mr Jordan.
The story goes that someone at Solihull (maybe the coach) had a relative who knew Tom, and that he (Tom, not the relative) was looking for one last basketball payday.
Well, if he thought he would get that one last payday in Britain, then, if my recollections are correct, he struggled to get anything of the sort at Solihull, the sorry saga ending up at an industrial tribunal, with Tom claiming for unpaid wages and Solihull Chiefs defunct.
What the hell must ‘Tomcat’ have thought about playing at Solihull in front of probably less people than would have filled both team benches at any NBA arena!
After this, my Worcester Wolves knowledge is very sparse – I came to a game about 2 years back vs Coventry where the oldest player-coach ever, Dip Donaldson, ambled on to court and probably cost Covo the match. Aside from Dip, my most vivid recollection was the Wolves masks the players (from Wolves, not Covo) wore.
So now we get to 30 September 2006 – a new era for basketball in Worcester, a new era for me?
* The last but one home venue, if we include Walsall, of the much travelled Birmingham Bullets: 1980ish - Coventry Sports Centre; late 80s & early 90s - Aston Villa Leisure Centre; mid 90s - National Indoor Arena & National Exhibition Centre; late 90s to 2006 - back to AVLC, over to Highgate Sports Centre, and ending at North Solihull.
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Post by Solly on Apr 19, 2020 12:47:59 GMT
hersy427 - some terrific detail there of the incident from your mate Jeff  |
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Post by Solly on Apr 19, 2020 12:53:55 GMT
Today's offering is also from Wolves' first BBL season, my second programme article.
In those days I used to tag on a Venue Verdict to my road reports and also highlight any ex-Bullets on show (there were quite a few of them still bouncing around the league).
Notice my kindly optimistic words about the season ahead. That season, and quite a few that followed, turned out to be pretty bleak in terms of our W-L record. 
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It was quite a thriller last Saturday night. For our first game in the BBL, we put up a good show. It could well be that it was only Plymouth’s edge in terms of BBL experience that swung matters their way at the end.
This put me in good heart for the trip over to Milton Keynes the next day, but it was not to be. Sometimes the final score does not give a fair reflection of how competitive a game has been, but, in this instance, 74-96 rings fairly true.
It took us until 6.09 of the first quarter before we got our first point from the foul line (Sergio), and it was 4.53 before our first 2-pointer (Sean). By this time we were 3-16 down, and chasing the game. By half time the deficit was down to 10, but this was as close as it got.
On to the individual breakdown –
Andy Harper – 20pts, 4 x 3ptrs, 2-2 from the line. Pretty much gave it his all. Today’s MVP.
Valdas Urbonavicius – 9pts, 3x 3ptrs. Seemed frustrated.
Matt Collins – 6pts, 1 x 3ptr, 3-4 from the line. As lively and committed as ever, but, like Valdas, had difficulty breaking down the Lions defense.
Tom Perkes – 7pts, 1-2 from the line. A cracking dunk in the second quarter, but fouled out early in the fourth quarter. Subdued performance.
Sergio Rodriguez – 10 pts, 2-6 from the line. Competed well with Lions big men.
Michael Gayle – 3pts, 1x 3ptr. For the third consecutive game I was about to say that he did not trouble this statsman, but he then hit a trey with 8 mins to go in the fourth. Lively, but looks like he needs more confidence in his own ability.
Darren Francis – Nil pts. Limited minutes.
Sean Nelson – 16pts, 1 x 3ptr, 1-1 from the line. 9 pts in the first quarter alone, despite playing only half of the quarter. Could not sustain the scoring, but his best performance so far this season.
Cameron Wright – 3pts, 1x 3ptr. Given his first minutes of the season, scored with virtually his first touch. Needs more time to show his game.
Ben Potts – Nil pts. Limited minutes.
CoachCoopWatch – Mixed up the rotations. Used our timeouts to try to stem the Lions runs.
Ex-Bullets – Shawn Jamison – typically bullish performance, 14pts. Kevin Griffin – constant threat, 17pts. Santa Ataha – got reasonable minutes, 6 pts.
Venue Verdict – a bankbusting tenner entrance fee (although included a free programme). One of the most bizarre ‘cheerleading’ routines I have ever seen, with several girls dressed as men, in blazers & boaters. Very bleak area outside the leisure centre, with a pond containing what looked like underfed ducks & an upturned shopping basketball kitey. 6/10.
Overall then, yes we lost, but let’s remember it’s early doors for Wolves in the BBL.
We played a Milton Keynes side containing established BBL vets in Jamison, Windless, Youngblood & New. As we gel more, and players grow more used to each other’s games, our performances will step up.
One thing I do not see us lacking is desire and hustle - this will provide a solid foundation.
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Post by Solly on Apr 19, 2020 13:16:22 GMT
A few words about the autotype/autocorrect feature on here.
From now on if you see "you handsom maney" anywhere in my posts it means I've actually typed in "basketball kitey".
I could try to type in "basketball kitey" until the cows come home but it will always autocorrect to "you handsom maney".
However "cart" instead of "basketball kitey" seems acceptable.
In a moment I'm going to click on "Reply" for this post, so be prepared for if "basketball kitey" is again replaced by "you handsom maney".
Alternatively, I suppose I could stop mentioning the pond outside Bletchley Leisure Centre...
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Post by Solly on Apr 19, 2020 13:17:28 GMT
Hahahaha, just as I thought...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2020 8:58:04 GMT
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Post by Solly on Apr 20, 2020 15:56:23 GMT
We'll be spending some more time in Wolves' debut BBL season for the next few posts.
Today's reproduction is from only Wolves' third match, hosting Chester, a game that we won, setting me off on mad optimism for the season to follow.
But it was to be one of just four wins that year!
A couple of things to highlight -
1.Big Billy Singleton was player-coach - I can't remember if that went well for Jets?
2.Can any Worcester fans tell me if the Bull Ring Chippy still exists? This was pre-University Arena days when we had to drive over the bridge to the small sports hall, passing said eaterie and a few yards further down a level crossing that often used to close as we approached.
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What a marvellous game last Saturday!
Taking advantage of Jets having played the night before (defeating Scottish Rocks), we ran the legs off them.
Chester are one of those teams with several crafty, but ageing, BBL vets.
Even back in the day, when player-coach Billy Singleton played for Bullets, he was not the most mobile of players - 15 years later and he has largely lost even that limited mobility.
Big Billy having to start the game told us that the Jets bench was light. We capitalised with our, by now traditional, hustle and fight.
On to the individual breakdown of our 82-79 success –
Andy Harper – 28pts, 6 x 3ptrs. Awesome downtown threat. Becoming our go-to-guy.
Matt Collins – 7pts. Industrious. Never say die attitude, and oh a magnificent buzzer-beating basket from virtually our own paint. Subject of debate with my driver over whether he should have got MVP.
Tom Perkes – 13pts. Whilst obviously contributing, inconsistent in this game.
Valdas Urbonavicius – 6pts. Ditto.
Sergio Rodriguez – 2pts. His points do not reflect his energy, but needs to temper his tendency to pick up fouls.
Sean Nelson – 14pts, 4-8 from the line. Solid defense from this big man (Sean, not me).
Michael Gayle – Nil pts – Lively when called upon, but did not trouble this statsman.
Darren Francis – Nil pts. Limited minutes.
Ben Potts – 8pts, 2 x 3ptrs. Where has he been hiding? Spirit & defense.
James Noel – 3pts. Finding his feet.
CoachCoopWatch – Led his troops to victory.
CheerleaderWatch – to the left, to the right, let’s go Worcester, fight, fight, fight!
Ex-Bullets – Big Billy, 8pts. Unstoppable when fed the ball low in the post, but can be easily outrun.
Right then, I know its still early doors for Wolves in the BBL, but to think that we are now above last year’s top two, Newcastle and Scottish Rocks, gives a warm feeling.
Oh yeah, one last point, post-game I directed my driver to the Bull Ring Chippy where we both feasted on jumbo sausages, chips & pickled onions – mmm lovely…
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2020 9:38:45 GMT
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Post by Solly on Apr 21, 2020 14:20:48 GMT
Today's repro details Wolves' reality-check following the Chester W.
Points to highlight -
1. Just as in recent times, Vince was back in 2006 (and probably much earlier) still the most-outrageously biased match commentator this side of Mike Shaft.
2. All the ex-Bullets on the Leicester roster back then.
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Last weekend was always going to be a tough call.
Milton Keynes are stacked with AllStars (albeit ageing AllStars), and Leicester also contain some very handy veterans. By the end of the season, I would not be surprised to see them both in the Final Four Playoffs.
Anyway, first up, on to the 70-83 defeat at Milton Keynes. It was a scrappy game, but we actually came away with a closer defeat than earlier in the season when we had both Andy Harper & Sean Nelson in our side.
Valdas Urbonavicious – 12pts. Energetic, took responsibility.
Matt Collins – 11pts, 2 x 3ptrs. Could be his highest scoring game of the season.
Tom Perks – 20pts. Determined. Tonite’s MVP.
Sergio Rodriguez – 8pts. Battled, but again had picked up his 4th foul by early in the third quarter.
Ben Potts – 7pts. Started and benefited from extended minutes.
Darren Francis – 5pts. All points from the foul line. Would benefit from extended minutes
Michael Gayle – 4pts. Speedy.
James Noel – 2pts. More fouls than points.
Ex-Bullets –
Kevin Griffin – 11pts. Efficient.
Shawn Jamison – 16 pts. A dominant performance from the big man.
Venue Verdict – the darkness outside hid the somewhat shabby approach to the centre. Commentator (Vince) humorous, but outrageously biased.
Right then, on to the 44-93 shellacking at Leicester.
In my later days of following Bullets, I saw some crushing defeats, but have to say that I have never seen a team score as low as 44 points.
Valdas Urbonavicious – 3pts. Missing in action.
Tom Perks – 5pts. Ditto.
Matt Collins – 5pts. Determined, but frustrated.
Sergio Rodriguez – 8pts. Gritty play, but FOULS R US…
Ben Potts – 9pts, 2 x 3ptrs. Showed up several of his more senior colleagues.
Darren Francis - 11pts. Given minutes and responded well. Tonite’s MVP.
Michael Gayle – 1pt. Speedy, but not yet ready for the minutes he was given.
James Noel – 1pt. As for Friday, more fouls than points.
Ex-Bullets –
Yorick Williams – 14pts. Stylish.
Rob Paternostro- 4pts. Still got game.
Adam Williams – 13pts. Rising star.
Barry Lamble – 4pts. Outshone.
Steve Bucknall – 2pts. Ex-Los Angeles Laker with veteran smarts.
Venue Verdict - Grim
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Post by Solly on Apr 21, 2020 15:09:59 GMT
hersey427 - another great read.
I often used to go to Towers/Leopards matches in the 90s, irrespective of who they were playing.
One Thursday evening I recall a game at Docklands Arena against Leicester.
Even before social-distancing I have sometimes found the proximity of fellow walkers to be a tad annoying.
Arriving by the Docklands Light Railway only a short time before tip-off I was perturbed to find myself delayed behind a gaggle of giggling and cackling hen-night type Riders female supporters as they blocked the only stairway down from the platform.
But justice was served as the most irritating of the cacklers stumbled. As a gentleman I guess I should have rushed forward to offer assistance but in this instance, alongside others who were similarly irritated, I merely chuckled to myself.
The lady may have scraped her knee/laddered her legwear but I actually think she hardly felt her fall due to excessive alcohol intake.
And Riders lost. Ha...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2020 16:08:09 GMT
Was that the game when Bob D , then Riders coach, get tossed midway through the first?
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Post by Guest User on Apr 22, 2020 21:35:56 GMT
Solly, the chippy is still there.
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Post by Solly on Apr 23, 2020 16:12:46 GMT
Sorry for my tardiness in posting. The last couple of days I have mostly been engaged in the most onerous task of cleaning guttering, facias and windows (in a George Formby h27015 style - the windows, not the guttering or facias).
Anyway, the realisation of what was to be a very tough season ahead for Wolves was continuing to emerge.
Points to highlight -
1. We had by now already cut one Yank, Sean Nelson, replacing him with Solomon Sheard signed from lower-division Kings Lynn.
2. Rocks were at this time playing out of the Braehead Shopping Centre - I think there may have been a direct bus there from the Airport? I can also recall that there were only one or two buses still running in the early evening on a Sunday after the match, such that you had to hope for an absence of OT.
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Our first month in the top flight of British Basketball has been a tough one. Early on we had that excellent W over Chester, this following a narrow defeat the week before vs Plymouth, and a competitive performance in our Cup game at Milton Keynes.
However, those three games aside, I have to be honest in admitting that we have struggled, and in our last doubleheader on the road, at Sheffield Sharks and at Scottish Rocks, we again unfortunately faced more of the same hard times.
For both games, none of Andy Harper, Matt Collins or James Noel were able to suit up. However, we saw the debut of forward Solomon Sheard, and major minutes for point guard Michael Gayle.
The pattern of play was similar in both games, keeping the score reasonably close early doors, but our going on to capitulate thereafter.
Little in the way of consistent rebounding, far too many turnovers, and no single Wolves player able to take charge.
The individual breakdown vs Sharks in the 70-99 reversal –
Valdas Urbonavicious - 11pts. Middling performance.
Tom Perks - 13pts. Ditto.
Sergio Rodriguez - 9pts. Stayed out of foul trouble tonight.
Ben Potts - 20pts. 3 x 3ptrs. Outside threat, and also had the confidence to drive to the basket. Today’s MVP.
Michael Gayle - 7pts. Started in place of Collins. Benefited from extended minutes.
Solomon Sheard - 4pts. Introduced himself with a big two-handed slam.
Rob Clarke – 4pts. Some deft touches for such a big man.
Darren Francis – 0pts. Limited minutes.
Steve Archer - Ditto
DunkWatch – 1 – a monster from Solomon.
Ex-Bullets –
Jeff Bonds – 24pts. Classy.
Joel Burns – 8pts. Did as he was asked.
Stedroy Baker – 1pt. Was not asked to do much.
Venue Verdict – Compact, modern. Over the top commentary from Mike Shaft.
And on to the Sunday 69-109 defeat, up in Glasgow –
Valdas Urbonavicious - 9pts. Quiet.
Tom Perks - 6pts. Very quiet.
Sergio Rodriguez - 8pts.
Ben Potts - 11pts. 3 x 3ptrs. Again lively, but less minutes today.
Michael Gayle - 17pts. Played the full 40 minutes. Today’s MVP.
Solomon Sheard - 7pts. Looking to bed down into the team.
Rob Clarke – 10pts. Big points in limited minutes.
Darren Francis – 5pts. Subdued.
DunkWatch – None today for Wolves
Ex-Bullets – None (for the first time this season on the road)
Venue Verdict – A big positive. Best venue in the BBL. Adjoining cavernous shopping mall. Excellent sightlines all round and the Scottish Rockettes.
Another tough weekend for Wolves, however let’s see how we go once we get closer to a full squad, and once players become more familiar with their roles.
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Post by bullets92 on Apr 23, 2020 16:18:56 GMT
Sorry for my tardiness in posting. The last couple of days I have mostly been engaged in the most onerous task of cleaning guttering, facias and windows (in a George Formby h27015 style - the windows, not the guttering or facias). Anyway, the realisation of what was to be a very tough season ahead for Wolves was continuing to emerge. Points to highlight - 1. We had by now already cut one Yank, Sean Nelson, replacing him with Solomon Sheard signed from lower-division Kings Lynn. 2. Rocks were at this time playing out of the Braehead Shopping Centre - I think there may have been a direct bus there from the Airport? I can also recall that there were only one or two buses still running in the early evening on a Sunday after the match, such that you had to hope for an absence of OT. ------------------------------ Our first month in the top flight of British Basketball has been a tough one. Early on we had that excellent W over Chester, this following a narrow defeat the week before vs Plymouth, and a competitive performance in our Cup game at Milton Keynes. However, those three games aside, I have to be honest in admitting that we have struggled, and in our last doubleheader on the road, at Sheffield Sharks and at Scottish Rocks, we again unfortunately faced more of the same hard times. For both games, none of Andy Harper, Matt Collins or James Noel were able to suit up. However, we saw the debut of forward Solomon Sheard, and major minutes for point guard Michael Gayle. The pattern of play was similar in both games, keeping the score reasonably close early doors, but our going on to capitulate thereafter. Little in the way of consistent rebounding, far too many turnovers, and no single Wolves player able to take charge. The individual breakdown vs Sharks in the 70-99 reversal – Valdas Urbonavicious - 11pts. Middling performance. Tom Perks - 13pts. Ditto. Sergio Rodriguez - 9pts. Stayed out of foul trouble tonight. Ben Potts - 20pts. 3 x 3ptrs. Outside threat, and also had the confidence to drive to the basket. Today’s MVP. Michael Gayle - 7pts. Started in place of Collins. Benefited from extended minutes. Solomon Sheard - 4pts. Introduced himself with a big two-handed slam. Rob Clarke – 4pts. Some deft touches for such a big man. Darren Francis – 0pts. Limited minutes. Steve Archer - Ditto DunkWatch – 1 – a monster from Solomon. Ex-Bullets – Jeff Bonds – 24pts. Classy. Joel Burns – 8pts. Did as he was asked. Stedroy Baker – 1pt. Was not asked to do much. Venue Verdict – Compact, modern. Over the top commentary from Mike Shaft. And on to the Sunday 69-109 defeat, up in Glasgow – Valdas Urbonavicious - 9pts. Quiet. Tom Perks - 6pts. Very quiet. Sergio Rodriguez - 8pts. Ben Potts - 11pts. 3 x 3ptrs. Again lively, but less minutes today. Michael Gayle - 17pts. Played the full 40 minutes. Today’s MVP. Solomon Sheard - 7pts. Looking to bed down into the team. Rob Clarke – 10pts. Big points in limited minutes. Darren Francis – 5pts. Subdued. DunkWatch – None today for Wolves Ex-Bullets – None (for the first time this season on the road) Venue Verdict – A big positive. Best venue in the BBL. Adjoining cavernous shopping mall. Excellent sightlines all round and the Scottish Rockettes. Another tough weekend for Wolves, however let’s see how we go once we get closer to a full squad, and once players become more familiar with their roles. Loved Jeff Bonds. Was that the year he shared MVP? Massive under appreciated player, even in Brum |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2020 12:35:41 GMT
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Post by Solly on Apr 24, 2020 15:21:23 GMT
We're still in the 06/07 season, but below I will now repro another non-Wolves-specific piece, my rundown of the BBL venues at that time. Of particular note - 1. It's a three-parter. 2. How many of the nine venues I went on to detail do you think are still in use for BBL basketball today? 3. Have just listened to the Billy Mimms  podcast on MVP. A really good listen. especially related to his tale of his debut coaching Leicester against the team that had just sacked him, Leopards, who replaced him with former Riders coach Bob Donewald  . I was at that game to see the wild celebrations when Leicester finally ended their long winless run. Without looking it up I can't quite definitely recall Mimms predecessor at Riders. It might have been Tim Darling who possibly then sued for unfair dismissal? ----------------------- In descending order, BBL Venue Verdicts – 8. Bletchley Leisure Centre, Milton Keynes – Compact venue, bench seating. Nearby free car parks, but has the most bleak approach, with a tired duckpond that you will need to step gingerly around, with very little lighting outside. To be fair to Lions, they are shortly due to move into a new arena in the new stadium being built for MK Dons. 6/10. Retro note – used to be sponsored by Ovaltine, when playing out of Hemel Hempstead, up until the early 90s. 7. John Sandford Centre, Leicester – Something of a warehouse feel to this venue, but at least has individual seating on one side. General admission a rather bizarre £9.95. Can generally park in surrounding streets, but locals say you can also use nearby CarpetRite. 6/10. Retro note – back in the day, played at the now bulldozed Granby Halls, in front of regular crowds of several thousand. 6. Northgate Arena, Chester – Have never liked the trip to this one. No handy motorway from the south, meaning have to travel the often unlit A roads – alright until you get stuck behind a truck. Carparking a why-do-they-bother 50p. Bench seating one side, padded bench seating the other. Have the most cheesiest disco booth in one corner, manned by a Bobby Ball lookalike who, between tunes, insists on leading the home crowd in a chant of ‘Ches-ta, Ches-ta, Ches-ta’. 6.5/10. Retro note – when known as the Cheshire Jets, played out of a school hall, at Ellesmere Port High School. OK, I know that there are 9 other teams in the BBL, and my countdown has started at 8. However, I have not yet visited fellow BBL newcomers, London United. As an alternative to assessing London United, I’ll give you some detail about one of my favourite venues, Crystal Palace, home of London Towers, as, you never know, they could come back into the British game at some point. There were a lot of odd, yet somehow comfortingly familiar, things about this place. The court is located in a ‘bowl’ with tiered seating either side, meaning you could get real close to the action. It used to be £9 to sit on one side, but (I kid you not) £20 to sit on the side behind the team benches. The food was, in my view, marvellous, with lovely greasy burgers or hot dogs, many vending machines and, for one or two seasons, Krispy Kreme Donuts. The trip from Birmingham, albeit long, could be punctuated by stopping at M40 services at Cherwell Valley, or at a chippy in Wimbledon (generally, I would consume battered sausage, chips and a pickled onion or two). Retro note – on one occasion I travelled down to Crystal Palace to see Kingston take on (& defeat!) European powerhouses, Aris Salonika. The place was absolutely rammed. Throughout the game, the Greek fans (must have been close to a thousand of them) never stopped chanting, stomping, and even coin-throwing. This was the only time I have seen hooliganism at a basketball game – by the end there was a ring of police around the court - only the presence of dogs kept the Greeks from rioting. *Top 5 road experiences to be shown in a future programme. |
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Post by Solly on Apr 24, 2020 15:27:05 GMT
hersey427 - interesting stuff re Phil Handy.
Apparently he was at University of Hawaii - there could be another BBL link if he was there at the same time as notorious nutjob coach Steve Tucker.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2020 16:32:27 GMT
Their paths do not appear to have crossed.
I was at all the Riders v Leopards - Billy Mims v Bob D games - Billy played the "poor hard done by me" card very well, Bob just growled at everyone who'd ever pissed him off. which was most people.
Re the £20 seats at Palace. They introduced social distancing before it became trendy.
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Post by Solly on Apr 26, 2020 11:29:51 GMT
Sorry no article posted yesterday. This was because my wife  and I have mostly been indulging in vigorous exercise (within govt guidelines). She's now got a thing about steps. Not the pop group, though we both particularly enjoyed their re-make of the Bee Gees hit Tragedy, but telling me that the lady at "fit club" (though I annoy her by referring to it as "fat club") recommends ten thousand steps a day. The thing is that, due to her rather "compact" frame (the wife, not the lady at fat club), her ten thousand steps only equals perhaps five thousand for me and we are consequently having to walk a considerable distance for me to achieve said target. Yesterday we walked a very long way along the nearby cut. Today we walked a very long way across nearby footpaths. I am quite fatigued and have told her that I am now expecting a substantial Sunday dinner as a reward for my exertions. Anyway, here is part 2 of my Venue Verdicts article, as written in 2006. -------------------------------------- Sorry, couldn’t make it down to Plymouth last week (my driver was on his hols – most inconsiderate!), so here’s the second part of my rundown of ‘Venue Verdicts’. At number 8 we had Milton Keynes, followed by Leicester at 7, with Chester at 6. On to fifth place and tonight’s visitors, Sheffield Sharks – 5. English Institute of Sports Modern, compact venue. Tiered bench seating either side of the court. Free parking directly outside the venue. Whilst the nice and clean set up does the job, rather like the Sharks themselves, it lacks character. Possess the famously over-the-top match commentator Mike ‘Oh Baby’ Shaft. 7/10. Retro note – have to be applauded for, every so often, managing to hype up games to attract several thousand fans to the nearby very impressive Sheffield Arena. 4. Guildford Spectrum Individual tiered seating (pulled out on both sides for the big games) inside one hall of this cavernous complex. There’s one criticism – it takes you even longer to navigate the maze of walkways to reach the sports hall than it does to get from the nearby (free) car park. Alongside Chester, the Heat have the cheesiest game music going, such as the theme tunes from Hawaii Five O, or even Terry & June! Have a ridiculous looking, but very lively, mascot (think the guy from the Mr Muscle ads, supplemented by a dragonhead mask & red tights), Scorcher. In only their second season, already pull in sizeable crowds. 7.5/10. Retro note – every few years a basketball team gets going in Guildford, only to relocate or fold. We go from Guildford Pirates, who relocated to become Bracknell Pirates, and later Thames Valley Tigers. Meanwhile we had Guildford Storm, who were then pushed aside by the mighty Kingston in 1995, becoming the Guildford Kings. There followed a golden couple of years with some cracking European Cup games at the Spectrum, but the Kings got into (alleged) financial difficulties, and eventually mutated into the London Towers, playing out of Wembley. For around ten years Guildford had to go without a top league team, until Thames Valley Tigers owner John Nike pulled the plug at Bracknell, leading to a fan consortium to bring the Tigers setup back to Guildford. 3. Metro Radio Arena Newcastle You have to give big respect to an organisation that tops the league in attendances, such that they can seriously consider entering European competition next year. Having said that, whilst you can get a top atmosphere there some nights, on others you may have coachloads of schoolkids there who seem more interested in racing around screaming than the game itself. Coupled to this, the venue is looking a little dated and a little grubby. The size of the arena is great in that there are often attractions before you reach the court, such as shoot for the hoop stalls, merchandise stands and plentiful food (try the Hog Roast!). Some teams have no cheerleaders, Newcastle have two sets – the E-Gals, and the somewhat more flashy, Showgirls. 8/10. Retro note – One of the few large-spending (by British Basketball standards) clubs who have managed to survive till now. Only in the last few years have their large crowds and large spending been accompanied by large on-court success. OK guys, I guess I have used up a lot of my space in the programme to relate that tangled history in Guildford, so you are just going to have to wait until a future article to see who takes my top spot in BBL Road Experiences… |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2020 12:36:45 GMT
Guildford Kings mutated into Leopards. Towers already existed, they even played at London Arena briefly when they joined the bbl as London Docklands
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Post by Solly on Apr 26, 2020 13:08:29 GMT
hersey427 - I bow to your superior knowledge on that point. I can recall Tower Hamlets when they played in the NBL in the late 80s.
Have just read your latest programme repro. A laudable quantity of work. Much of it made I laugh. The tiered individual seating on the far side of Crystal Palace is ludicrous in its crampedness. I often had to flop my legs over the seat in front - this caused no inconvenience to fellow spectators as there were so few of them.
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Post by Solly on Apr 27, 2020 15:12:24 GMT
Today I am mostly presenting you with the final part of 2006/07 Venue Verdicts -------------------------------------------------------------- Before we get on to the top two, here’s a brief summary of the rundown so far – 8. Milton Keynes – tired venue, in a decidedly bleak area. 7. Leicester – grim and antiquated (small) aircraft hangar. 6. Chester – mobile disco, difficult journey to get there. 5. Sheffield – modern arena but, (rather like their team), characterless.  4. Guildford – nice presentation, ridiculous maze of walkways to reach the court. 3. Newcastle – good atmosphere, but arena now showing its age. Outrageously loud music, and too many screaming schoolchildren. Right then, we now get on to the choice of either Plymouth Pavilions or Braehead Arena for top spot. A tough call indeed – not many negatives for either venue, but plenty of positives for both. a. ArenaGlasgow – very modern and spacious, good sightlines all round. Plymouth – little dated, with school stage on one side. Large, but can somehow still feel a little closed in. Edge – Glasgowb. Atmosphere Glasgow – mostly quiet, with arena often less than half full. Plymouth - pulsating with noise, either from the (often cheesy) music, or the frequently near-capacity crowd. Edge – Plymouthc. Surrounds Glasgow- very close underground car park, attached to large shopping mall. Plymouth – car park soon fills up, forcing a search for parking in the somewhat shady surrounding streets (my driver was once approached by a lady of the night!). Edge - Glasgow d. Off-Court Entertainment Glasgow – possess the marvellously polished top dance troupe in the BBL, the Scottish Rockettes. Wonderfully stirring Braveheart intro for the Rocks. Plymouth – hardworking, but slightly less professional dancers. Good light show and fireworks intro (similar to our own). But here’s the clincher for this point of the analysis - Plymouth have the fabulously entertaining, slam dunkin, in-your-face Foxy – an NBA level mascot. Edge – Plymouth e. Journey Glasgow – 300+ miles means around 5 hours by car, but shop around the internet and you can often find a return flight from Birmingham for £40-50. Plymouth – another tortuously long car journey, but no alternative of air travel. Edge - Glasgow So - 2006/2007 Venue of the Year – Braehead Arena, Glasgow – home of the Scottish Rocks s0819 N.B. At the time of writing my first articles I had yet to visit the Hackney Space Centre to see London United. Would now probably put it in at no. 5. Compact, clean, shiny even. Little atmosphere though, and situated in a dubious part of town (we were searched for weapons!). |
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podcast on MVP. A really good listen. especially related to his tale of his debut coaching Leicester against the team that had just sacked him, Leopards, who replaced him with former Riders coach Bob Donewald 
and I have mostly been indulging in vigorous exercise (within govt guidelines).