Pre-season ponderings
I suppose basketball’s in my blood. My Dad’s from Hatley, Mississippi, home of the Tigers, a High School team that punched well above their weight for many years, particularly back in the seventies when I grew up. The memories of long distance car journeys all over the state, curled up on the back seat, blanket, candy and comics to hand, resonate with me to this day. He’s a season ticket holder at Ole Miss now, the school of new Glasgow (or is it Scottish now?) Rocks signing DeAundre Cranston.
A year in Boston in the mid-nineties cemented my existing passion for the Celtics. The first year in the new Garden but one of many disappointing seasons on court during that period, falling between the illustrious sweet sixteen titles and the current era of the ‘big three’ of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. although few would argue that Rajon Rondo has now joined that elite and turned three into four.
Well, despite my love of the game, I’ve pretty much given British Basketball a wide berth. I suppose mainly thinking the standard would be low compared to the NBA and that British Basketball somehow just didn’t have the glamour of the sport stateside. I was a sports snob. I admit it.
Things have changed now. After watching the Newcastle Eagles last season I’m hooked, counting down the days to the start of this season, scanning the internet for news of signings and snippets of information in the football dominated local media.
Eagles owner, Paul Blake, and his team have put together what seems a very competitive roster for this season, notably ex-Seton Hall starter Paul Gause. A multi-talented point guard, excelling in both basketball and football, and a Seton Hall record holder for steals both, single game and season. I’m sure he’ll prove to be an absolute steal for the Eagles too. Skilled, power forward Andrew Thomson has joined from the troubled Mersey Tigers, who despite winning three trophies last season, now teeter on the precipice. On the eve of the new season the Tigers have signed just two players and their future remains in serious doubt.
These two fantastic Eagles signings have been joined by the returning favourites Joe Chapman, Andrew Bridge, Darius Defoe, the evergreen Charles Smith and of course, inspirational coach Fab Flournoy. Add BBL rookie Joel Madourie and a sprinkling of youth into the mix and the squad already looks formidable. No wonder that Joe Chapman is talking of the team aiming for all four trophies this year.There remains one roster spot still to fill. The wise money’s on another big man to share the load with Thomson and Defoe although a return for the talented Drew Lasker, who impressed in a brief spell last season, can’t be ruled out just yet.
As Eagles fans we should consider ourselves fortunate to have any team at all, never mind one of this caliber, considering the withdrawal of the Essex Pirates and financial troubles of the Mersey Tigers. Here’s to a successful season with hopefully a trophy (or two, or three….) for the Eagles, and a great year for British Basketball from EuroBasket right through to the Olympics.
It’s tip off time.
