The SEN Thread 2

[peternorth]

No, Monty, I don't think anything I've read that you've written is racist. I am probably a more pro-american australian than you, though.

Personally, I couldn't care less about Chris Judd or the Blues, but I know that the masses find it newsworthy and that is why it's reported.
Wherever you are in this country or the US, the local teams typically get more air time. While I was growing up, if Joe Montana crapped or one of the 49ers got a DUI, there was a Hutchy-type reporter chasing the story. Of course, I loved the 49ers, so that didn't bother me. When I was in San Diego, during and after graduating from college, that same approach drove me crazy because I didn't like the Chargers, Padres or LA Lakers. When I am Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, the same thing happens.

I have listened to Cowherd the last couple times I was in the US and think he does a good job. I didn't hear his "spanning the globe" segment, but that could be a take off of an old show. During the 1970's, Wide World of Sports was the weekly show on ABC and the slogan was "Spanning the globe, to bring you a constant variety of sports..."

People rip the programming, but SEN does a great job of giving fringe sport shows a platform. For this, I am very grateful. If you travel around, you'd be hard pressed to find another station like SEN.

On the insular thing....I have theories on the differences between sport fans here and in the US. One is that we all have finite amount of 'Sporting Bandwidth' and in the US, there is a game every day of the year. The big 4 sports span the entire calendar, then you have the fringe ones...golf, tennis, auto racing, etc. Most american people don't need to look elsewhere because, with all the espn, fox sports, satellite sports radio, it is in their faces 24x7. This can be discussed over a cold beer sometime.
Anyway, thanks for your well thought contributions to the thread.

steve, which college (in SD) did you go to?

From a mad lakers and Bruins fan

 

[celtic_pride]

Is Chris Judd's practise game debut more important than the ACL?

In this town, heck yeah !!
BTW Melbourne Victory have no chance of winning the comp anyway, so who really cares anyway, the a-league is still a sub-standard league anyway, and I think it gets far too much coverage in australia anyway (not just from sen but also the age and herald sun etc)

 

[peternorth]

In this town, heck yeah !!
BTW Melbourne Victory have no chance of winning the comp anyway, so who really cares anyway, the a-league is still a sub-standard league anyway, and I think it gets far too much coverage in australia anyway (not just from sen but also the age and herald sun etc)

so by your reckoning scant regard should be given to the countrys best soccer comp because its not as good as say the spanish, english or other euro leagues?

the same argument could be levelled at a heap of other sports.

not all of us jump on a team and talk em up when they start winning

 

[X_box_X]

How did you guys go with my quiz I wrote for the blokes on OWAAT? My personal favourite was the question about who won the Men's Australian Open in Tennis in 1986? Got through a fair few callers there.

 

[MacMum]

was a tricky one..

 

[Hawthorn United]

In this town, heck yeah !!
BTW Melbourne Victory have no chance of winning the comp anyway, so who really cares anyway, the a-league is still a sub-standard league anyway, and I think it gets far too much coverage in australia anyway (not just from sen but also the age and herald sun etc)

It is only in its 3rd year and soccer in this country has been the 3rd popular code for a long time. With the better competitions our clubs/National team will participate in, it would increase popularity.

Kids growing up these days, would they rather play soccer with the potential to represent their country at a WorldCup or AsianCup or play AFL where they get to physically smash Amatuer Irish players?

A-League quality isn't that great yet, but if we don't support it, it definitely wont improve. Crowd attendences does influence players coming over.

 

[The Frederick]

In this town, heck yeah !!
BTW Melbourne Victory have no chance of winning the comp anyway, so who really cares anyway, the a-league is still a sub-standard league anyway, and I think it gets far too much coverage in australia anyway (not just from sen but also the age and herald sun etc)

Ahh, so NO coverage is too much. Why don't you just call it wogball already and we can wrap this up?

 

[sjsdu]

steve, which college (in SD) did you go to?

From a mad lakers and Bruins fan

San Diego State. Go Aztecs. We have NEVER beaten Ucla. In fact, I saw Aikman's Bruins beat us 59-6, at the Rose Bowl, in 1988. I actually like the Bruins, but the Lakers have inflicted too much pain over the years. Perhaps, as a Kings fan, I brought it all on myself. I should have my head examined.

 

[celtic_pride]

so by your reckoning scant regard should be given to the countrys best soccer comp because its not as good as say the spanish, english or other euro leagues?

the same argument could be levelled at a heap of other sports.

not all of us jump on a team and talk em up when they start winning

No I'm making the point that in reality, as a product, The A-league is actually quite sub-par (it's not even as good as the English second-tier championship) and many games I've watched on foxtel or at the Dome are rather boring .
Also I have noticed that most of the 'marquee' players in the a-league appear to be washed up hacks from other leagues, on the wrong side of 30 -IE Ned Zelic, John Aloisi, Dwight Yorke (from a couple of years ago etc) and bah,

Frankly I think it's selfish of the FA to be against the (now aborted) plan to bring the Premier League out here for a few games, I think it reeks of insecurity and more proof that the a-league right now, isn't much cop as an elite soccer comp.

In relation the standard of the NBL is far higher, and a far more entertaining product (not saying basketball is a better sport btw) and I think an argument should be made that code/league deserves more coverage, or at least equal to that of the A-League ...

I would also point out, I really don't like the obnoxious antics of the four diegos either, god have they gotten tired/stale ...

 

[peternorth]

San Diego State. Go Aztecs. We have NEVER beaten Ucla. In fact, I saw Aikman's Bruins beat us 59-6, at the Rose Bowl, in 1988. I actually like the Bruins, but the Lakers have inflicted too much pain over the years. Perhaps, as a Kings fan, I brought it all on myself. I should have my head examined.

ive been to SDSU! watched a womens game between the aztecs and unlv. that was in 2001, met some of the players too.

No I'm making the point that in reality, as a product, The A-league is actually quite sub-par (it's not even as good as the English second-tier championship) and many games I've watched on foxtel or at the Dome are rather boring .

really? i though the a league was the second best league in the world, just below the spanish league.

Also I have noticed that most of the 'marquee' players in the a-league appear to be washed up hacks from other leagues, on the wrong side of 30 -IE Ned Zelic, John Aloisi, Dwight Yorke (from a couple of years ago etc) and bah,

again really? well players like kaka and ronaldo said yes.

In relation the standard of the NBL is far higher, and a far more entertaining product (not saying basketball is a better sport btw) and I think an argument should be made that code/league deserves more coverage, or at least equal to that of the A-League ...

the nbl is a sad comp. you should know this as an nba fan. the standard is terrible.

 

[sjsdu]

the nbl is a sad comp. you should know this as an nba fan. the standard is terrible.[/quote]





It isn't the NBA, but I disagree that the quality of play is not good. Since I arrived here, in 2000, the quality has gotten better and better. It will continue to be the case as Australian kids get more scholarships and play better competition during the formative years.

 

[ben.carbonaro]

When you say quality, what exactly do you mean?

Are you talking about the quality of young players or something else?

 

[sjsdu]

When you say quality, what exactly do you mean?

Are you talking about the quality of young players or something else?

Ben...I mean the standard of play. It has been improving since I arrived in Oz.

 

[ben.carbonaro]

Thanks for clearing up my confusion.

Cheers.

 

[peternorth]

the nbl is a sad comp. you should know this as an nba fan. the standard is terrible.

It isn't the NBA, but I disagree that the quality of play is not good. Since I arrived here, in 2000, the quality has gotten better and better. It will continue to be the case as Australian kids get more scholarships and play better competition during the formative years.[/quote]

well i havent watched really since the demise of the vic titans. seen bits and pieces on foxtel, but i cant watch it. seems so rushed...but then again i am used to the isolation plays of the nba. i find college more fun to watch than our league.

but to each their own.

 

[THE EQUALIZER]

Is there any truth to the rumour that Billy from West Heidelberg is going to try and enter the Guinness book of world records for Coca-Cola consumption in the near future on All Night Sport or One Week At A Time.

That five minutes of radio gold on OWAAT last night with Billy, had me in stitches for the rest of the night.

Hopefully, it can be replayed on All Night Sport or on a podcast. The more we learn about Billy, the more we empathise with his situation.

Sounds like his visual problems are no worse than his dental problems judging by what he keeps in his fridge in abundance.

Keep up the good work after midnight.

 

[paul scholes]

Did I hear correctly last night that Billy from Heidelberg drinks 44 cans of coke per week

 

[paul scholes]

No I'm making the point that in reality, as a product, The A-league is actually quite sub-par (it's not even as good as the English second-tier championship) and many games I've watched on foxtel or at the Dome are rather boring .
Also I have noticed that most of the 'marquee' players in the a-league appear to be washed up hacks from other leagues, on the wrong side of 30 -IE Ned Zelic, John Aloisi, Dwight Yorke (from a couple of years ago etc) and bah,

Frankly I think it's selfish of the FA to be against the (now aborted) plan to bring the Premier League out here for a few games, I think it reeks of insecurity and more proof that the a-league right now, isn't much cop as an elite soccer comp.

In relation the standard of the NBL is far higher, and a far more entertaining product (not saying basketball is a better sport btw) and I think an argument should be made that code/league deserves more coverage, or at least equal to that of the A-League ...

I would also point out, I really don't like the obnoxious antics of the four diegos either, god have they gotten tired/stale ...

So where are the crowds at NBL games?I enjoy the nbl BTw.
In fairness the A-league has been in existence for only 3 years and nobody in their right mind would call it an elite comp. The coverage is reflected in the numbers and the NBL has unfortunately dropped off alarmingly since the halcyon days of the 90's.

 

[bedford]

Ahh, so NO coverage is too much. Why don't you just call it wogball already and we can wrap this up?

good ,no melb.victory

 

[peternorth]

good ,no melb.victory

could replace them with arsenal talk?

 

[bedford]

could replace them with arsenal talk?

okay

 

[tandino]

It isn't the NBA, but I disagree that the quality of play is not good. Since I arrived here, in 2000, the quality has gotten better and better.

While the crowds get lower and lower.

The stupid thing about this whole situation Steve is the fact that back in the 90's, when teams like the Tigers and Magic were packing out Melbourne Park, the standard of Australian basketball was pretty average.

Now, we have a great product that is played in front of empty stands. It isn't logical

If the NBL actually had a marketing department, they could turn this league around. If it means a move back to winter (for example, I don't know how much would help), they shouldn't hesitate to do so.

 

[The Frederick]

If the NBL actually had a marketing department, they could turn this league around. If it means a move back to winter (for example, I don't know how much would help), they shouldn't hesitate to do so.

I don't know how much that would help, with the A-League and all...

 

[sjsdu]

While the crowds get lower and lower.

The stupid thing about this whole situation Steve is the fact that back in the 90's, when teams like the Tigers and Magic were packing out Melbourne Park, the standard of Australian basketball was pretty average.

Now, we have a great product that is played in front of empty stands. It isn't logical

If the NBL actually had a marketing department, they could turn this league around. If it means a move back to winter (for example, I don't know how much would help), they shouldn't hesitate to do so.

Dom...I hear you. The league isn't helping itself very much. We spoke to Chuck Harmison, who is the acting CEO, and he said the league doesn't market the players or the game itself. That is inexplicable.
Certainly, an investment in itself could help the league's teams maintain better balance sheets, so you don't have teams on the verge of folding.
Chuck did say that a new board has been formed and they are meeting to look at all aspects of the NBL and Basketball AUstralia. Hopefully, this will help.
Another thing is the price of the ticket. I had no idea but tickets are $30-$40. Chris Anstey suggests bringing ticket prices down to $15-$20. That could work. Another thing is..the only radio station that I have heard giving game tickets away is Gold 104, to Tigers games. The league and the teams ought to do more of that.

Hummer kicks in vehicle for the MVP, which is very nice, but maybe the league should say..."rather than providing an all terrain vehicle that guzzles petrol and is too wide for most city streets, provide some funds to market the game."
A lot of people have said that Jordan and the Bulls generated interest in hoops down here and when he left, so did interest in the game. That cannot actually be the reason. More kids are playing hoop now than almost any other sport and the league needs to tap into those kids. It could be a case of more clinics and hoop camps for the kids.

I think Fox Sports has done a good job this season, of sexing up the game.
Unfortunately, something like 20% of households have cable tv.

If people have suggestions, send them to me, because I have Chuck's email and will send them straight to him.

 

[peternorth]

If people have suggestions, send them to me, because I have Chuck's email and will send them straight to him.

maybe the nbl needs to start over again like soccer did. focus on the major cities first, one from each state capital (brisbane, melbourne, perth, sydney and adelaide) plus say cairns, west sydney and maybe a NZ team. that makes say 8 teams. can 8 teams work?