Skim your social media and you’ll see a switched on Aussie fan base hanging off every jump, bump, block and free throw of the NBA Playoffs. Which begs the question – where does this audience go when the NBL’s in town? How can the local league channel this interest and enthusiasm?

The planks supporting the NBL have been eroding for years. Yesterday’s de-merger from Basketball Australia is a first step in restructuring the league. Much has been said about how the competition can be improved. Andrew Gaze argues it should revert to a winter league. Perhaps the most thorough and thoughtful critique comes from blogger Michael Difabrizio. Some of his ideas could make an immediate difference.

The NBL’s not dead. If it were, we wouldn’t be talking about it. All the doom, despair and nostalgia for the game’s 90s nirvana shows that at some level people still care. A flicker of goodwill still burns for the NBL brand. To my mind there’s three big questions that will decide its future.

Can it build a bridge to the NBA?

If you’re an Australian basketball fan then chances are the NBA is what defines your love of the sport. In most minds the NBA comes first, period.

Right now the Australian basketball community is talking NBA Playoffs. But where’s the NBL? The NBL’s Twitter or Facebook feed isn’t engaged in the Playoff drama. It’s confined itself to the narrow NBL brand rather than seizing the opportunity to celebrate the broader basketball category. Why not lead the local conversation? Why hug the walls when you can join the dance?

When the NBA established an Australian office in the 90s some at the NBL perceived it as an encroaching threat rather than an opportunity to leverage the game’s premier stage. Hopefully this mindset has changed. If the NBL is going to fly it needs to be a hub for all things hoops – the local heart of the game. Better to cast yourself as an unabashed NBA fan than a pale NBA substitute. At least you’ll be on the same page as your target audience.

Imagine if being an NBL club member earned you NBA online store discounts, or if there was a special NBA League Pass deal for NBL TV subscribers. Sure, there might be little commercial incentive for the NBA to provide such concessions. But with its eye on growing the game globally perhaps the NBA could be sweet talked into a closer strategic partnership for the sake of the local league’s survival?

Back in the early 90s the NBA was a bright but distant blimp to Australians. Hoops heads relied on VHS tapes and a weekly half hour highlights show for their NBA fix. Now subscription television and the internet brings wall-to-wall coverage. Much was made of the NBL moving to summer to escape footy’s shadow. Maybe it needs to switch back to winter to avoid clashing with the NBA’s bog boys?

Running in the NBA off-season means local fans wouldn’t have to divide their attention from the world’s favourite basketball league. It lets the NBL position itself as a compliment to the American game; a place where local fans can extend their favourite sport into a yearlong viewing ritual.

Will it Work in Winter?

Andrew Gaze argues that shifting back to winter would entice better imports and allow Australian players to develop their skills in Europe. Anything that raises the NBL’s standard of play has to be seen as a plus.

On the flipside, it’s been pointed out that the NBL’s TV ratings dip as football season nears. But with such a tenuous free-to-air foothold in recent seasons I’m not sure how much we can hang on this data.

Ratings for some of this year’s finals were half the NBL season average. But delayed finals shown at 10:30PM on a Thursday or 12:00AM on a Friday aren’t going to be ratings winners, summer or winter. Not having a Melbourne team in the finals probably doesn’t help either.

The winter football codes have a huge media footprint. But you’ll never escape it. The AFL and NRL are now yearlong industries that seldom leave the back page.

Summer is crammed with the A-League, the Big Bash, one-dayers, the Australian Open, Christmas, Boxing Day blockbuster movies, sales, holidays away and days at the beach. That’s a lot of competition for hearts and hip pockets.

How do you compete against the footy? By not being the footy. Currently three winter codes are clambering to be ‘the footy’, yet none has a truly national footprint. There is an opportunity for a sport to become the #1 footy alternative in each market; a sport not laboured by each state’s parochial code war prejudices.

The NBL could do worse than to take a leaf from their major sponsor iiNet. Does iiNet try to compete with Telstra by being Telstra? No. Instead of being a slick telco giant iiNet carries a warm geeky glow. They aren’t positioned as a phone company, they’re a broadband specialist (albeit the two are converging). And they celebrate being the underdog, as seen in their ‘we’re number 2’ campaign, which mirrored Avis’ classic ‘We’re number 2 so we try harder’ ads –voted by Advertising Age as the 10^th greatest advertising campaign of all time.

The lesson here is that you can hold your own against a giant monolith provided you don’t compete directly against them on their terms. It’ll be tough, but it is possible provided you’re a unique proposition. Basketball is a completely different spectacle to footy. It’s a different style of entertainment that reflects a different culture. Sure, switching seasons carries risk, but we shouldn’t automatically assume it wouldn’t work just because the AFL and NRL are successful at what they do. Branding is about building an identity that fits you, not hiding from your competitors. If a winter season better suits basketball fans and improves the product then it must be considered.

Can it expand?

Running an NBL club has become a precarious enterprise. With the demise of the Townsville Crocs some might think it time for the NBL to circle its wagons and consolidate its territory. Get the existing clubs right before you make any expansion plans.

Trouble is, by the time you get every team 100% right you may not have much of a competition left. There’s a difference between sustainability and stagnation.

If the A-League had held off on expansion until every club was secure there would be no Western Sydney Wanderers. It seems unimaginable given how the Wanderers have helped raise the aspirations of the entire A-League.

Rushing into any unfeasible expansion would be a disaster. Every time an NBL team has folded over the past decade the credibility of the comp and faith of fans has been frayed. The integrity of the league can’t bear any more busts.

But given the parlous plight of the competition, any realistic expansion proposal has to be seriously considered. The NBL isn’t in a position to stonewall the interest of new investors.

Getting the right teams in the right markets is a priority. It would be great to see Brisbane back in the game. But Melbourne sorely needs another side. At the NBL’s peak Melbourne was the heartland, with a fierce three-way cross-town rivalry. What became of all the Giants, Magic, Titans and Dragons fans? Some may have swung to the archenemy Tigers. Many seem to have drifted away.

Whatever reforms the NBL pursues must be painstaking. The emaciated competition can’t withstand too many more shocks. But the upside is there. Perth and New Zealand show what’s possible when NBL clubs connect with their marketplace. The sport still resonates deeply with youth culture, and it has a multicultural story that rivals any code. Let’s hope the NBL can tap into these strengths.

Here is the reaction from the Geelong Cats and Dick Johnson Racing:

Geelong Cats

Today is obviously a difficult day for Ford Australia, its employees, suppliers and the car industry.

We understand that many of Ford’s employees and related contractors and suppliers both in Geelong and Victoria, will be significantly impacted by today’s announcement.

Ford has a long and proud history of manufacturing in Geelong and Broadmeadows. It is well known that these are difficult times in
manufacturing in Australia.  Ford has exhausted every avenue to enable them to continue to manufacture in Australia.

We are pleased that Ford has an on-going commitment to its key design business in Victoria, and they will also continue to have a strong brand and sales presence in Australia.

The Geelong Football Club has a long and proud association with Ford Australia, which has existed since 1925. In the past Ford has supported our club through difficult times. We will continue to support Ford’s efforts to grow its sales and brand presence, and we look forward to our ongoing association.

- Kevin Diggerson, GM Media and Public Relations, Geelong Cats

 Dick Johnson Racing

“When any business changes direction it has an effect on the people. With Ford’s announcement, there are many families of long term Ford employees that will no doubt be thinking of their future.

My association goes back a long, long way and the Ford and DJR brands have achieved some great success in motor sport. We have enjoyed a very special relationship which has produced a loyal fan base for both our brands. Clearly with the Falcon finishing up in 2016 as a locally produced car it will have an effect on our racing program. Will we still be racing Fords then? I don’t know, but Ford will continue to sell cars here and I can assure you we intend to be racing V8 Supercars out of the DJR workshops long into the future.

Nothing stays still in this business. We have already seen Nissan and the customer Mercedes brands emerge this year so it is logical to think that there will be others that see V8 Supercars as a good marketing tool. It may be a Ford product for us; it may not be.”

- Dick Johnson, Team Principal, Dick Johnson Racing

The team’s three Mercedes-Benz cars will feature the company’s logos at Australian-based events.

“We’re very excited about partnering with Erebus Motorsport, which races the Mercedes-Benz AMG, a new make of race car for the V8 Supercar series,” said Gavin Holland, director of Royal Medical Supplies.

“This motor racing championship appeals to a high proportion of Australians and New Zealanders and our target customers will be able to enjoy some of the on-track and off-track benefits resulting from this arrangement. The cars competing in the championship held in Austin, Texas, displayed the DrugCheck logo as well, providing additional media and on-track exposure for the brand.

The Heads of Agreement commits Basketball Australia and the National Basketball Competition to a de-merger completion date of 1 July 2013.

The National Basketball Competition will assume effective commercial and operational control of the NBL, while also entering into an Affiliation Agreement with Basketball Australia to ensure compliance under FIBA rules and associated agreements.

Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Kristina Keneally said BA would continue to work with the NBC where appropriate to ensure the League remained strong into the 2013/14 season and beyond.

“As we’ve said throughout this process, a national men’s competition is crucial to the future of basketball in Australia,” Ms Keneally said.

“Basketball Australia has worked cooperatively with NBL Clubs to explore the practical implications of a de-merger, and we’re pleased to have agreed on an appropriate path forward.

“Basketball Australia remains supportive of the NBL; we want the League to be successful and sustainable in its own right. We look forward to seeing the NBC recapitalise the League to give it the best chance at financial viability.”

Earlier this year, Basketball Australia flagged ‘Returning the League’ – transferring the management and governance of the NBL to Clubs – as one of four possible outcomes of the NBL White Paper.

As part of the NBL White Paper consultation process, NBL Clubs identified ‘Returning the League’ as their desired option, and Basketball Australia this month agreed to work with Clubs to determine the best path forward in pursuing a possible de-merger.

The National Basketball League will continue to be sanctioned by Basketball Australia, as is a requirement under FIBA rules.

Ian Robson, chief executive of Essendon Bombers AFL club, has resigned, becoming the first casualty of the ongoing turmoil within the club over the investigation into the Bombers’ supplements program.

Robson confirmed his departure, effective immediately, at a press conference at Windy Hill on Thursday.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) announced an inquiry in February into the club’s use of supplements in 2012. The inquiry is ongoing.

A report into Essendon’s governance standards by former Telstra boss Ziggy Switkowski, released earlier this month, found failures in the club’s structures and accountability surrounding the supplements program.

One of the report’s recommendations was that the chief executive must be accountable, and could not be bypassed by coaches.

Robson told reporters that he had offered his resignation on at least two prior occasions to chairman David Evans and the board, but that his offers had been rejected.

“My task was to work with David Evans, the board and staff to see the club through this crisis to a point of stability,” he said.

“Now is the right time for my resignation.

“At its most fundamental, Ziggy (Switkowski) accepted that I didn’t know … but he also made clear that I should have known.”

He said the Bombers had let the club, its players and supporters down, and that the extent to which it had let them down would only be revealed when ASADA completed its investigations.

Robson said he still was keen to continue a career in sports management despite his resignation.

“I still think I’ve got a lot to offer, I know I’ve learnt from this experience,” he said.

“I will be walking to the game on Saturday with my kids, and cheering on the team from the stands.

“Would I like to stay? Of course.

“But I recognise this as the right and appropriate course of action for a CEO to take.”

Bombers chairman Evans acknowledged Robson had been willing to take responsibility for the club’s failings prior to Thursday’s announcement.

Evans thanked Robson for his work to see Essendon through “the first part of a difficult period” for the club.

“There’s no doubt the club has made mistakes,” he said,

“Ian has put his hand up today to take responsibility for what happened on his watch.”

Both matches featuring the English Premier League clubs, to be played at ANZ Stadium and at the MCG respectively, are sold out. 

FFA CEO David Gallop said the broadcast agreement with Seven was another sign of football’s move into the mainstream.

“These are huge events on the sporting calendar and we’re delighted Seven will be our partner in bringing top-class football action to all Australians on free to air television,” said Gallop.

“Manchester United and Liverpool have millions of followers in Australia, but just as many fans will get behind the All Stars and Victory as they showcase the A-League on the world stage.”

Seven has stated that both matches will also be live streamed online and across mobile devices.

Tim Worner, the CEO of the Seven Network, said: “Manchester United and Liverpool are two of the biggest brands in world sport and we are really pleased to be delivering their matches live to Australians everywhere and on every device. These are going to be huge events. They sold out straight away and we expect a big audience to be engaged before, during and after the games.

“Big, live sport – now available across not just our broadcast television platform but online and other tablet apps as well – underpins a lot of Seven’s strategy and these games certainly fit that bill.   And, on a personal note, I am very happy to be working with Dave Gallop whose work I have previously admired from too far away.”

Initiated by Hyundai Motor Company Australia in 2007, ‘Goals for Grassroots’ was formed to support the growth of football in Australia by nurturing the game at its grassroots level. The program offers support to local clubs in communities across the country by providing funding in the areas they need it the most including equipment procurement, grounds maintenance and uniform purchase.

The Hyundai A-League 2013/14 Season will see Hyundai extend its community support through the Grassroots program which will receive further stimulus with an off-season platform. The ‘Share the Moment’ promotion gives fans the opportunity to win $10,000 ($5k for winner / $5k for Grassroots club), and a further opportunity to win a new car.

“In 2004 Hyundai Motor Company showed vision and confidence in the potential of football in Australia,” said Football Federation Australia Chief Executive Officer David Gallop.

“Without the commitment of Hyundai we would not have been able to increase the national fan base and see the sport continue to thrive and grow.”

Now entering its seventh season, ‘Goals for Grassroots’ has seen Hyundai Motor Company Australia donate in excess of $390,000 to date to worthy grassroots clubs around Australia. The Hyundai A-League 2012/13 season saw Hyundai increase the eligible grant to up to $10,000 per match, giving clubs even more incentive to participate and be able to share and promote the game of football within their local community.

“Today we celebrate the extension of a great partnership with the announcement of the appointment of Hyundai Motor Company Australia as FFA Official Grassroots Partner,” said John Elsworth, Chief Operating Officer Hyundai Motor Company Australia. “The ongoing support of the grassroots fans, players and the greater football community has seen this program develop into an integral part of the League, one which we are very proud to be a part of.”

Image: http://www.hyundai.com.au

Cricket Australia (CA) has announced a restructuring of the contracting system for women’s international and state cricket that will make national team members some of the best paid female athletes in the country.

The top player retainer increases from $15,000 to $52,000 and the minimum retainer increases from $5000 to $25,000.

With tour payments also increasing from $100 to $250 a day – and 85 tour days within the next year – the country’s top female cricketers can earn $70,000 to $80,000 in the next 12 months.

CA chief executive James Sutherland announced the changes as captain Jodie Fields’ 15-player national squad was named to defend the women’s Ashes crown in England in August.

He said the changes were recognition of the time and effort the national team had devoted to becoming the No 1 team in the world in all formats.

Their success had led to unprecedented media coverage and helped drive an increase in female cricket participation by 18 per cent in the past 12 months.

“We are still working towards the day when Australia’s female cricketers will be able to earn a full-time, professional living from cricket,” said Sutherland.

“But the performances of our female stars justify this step and the day will come when future, full-time professional female cricketers will look back and thank those who went before them.”

Despite Mr Conroy openly and repeatedly stating that sports fans are having live odds “pushed down their throats”, Fairfax Media reported that the minister was personally responsible for outlying a framework that will enable bookmakers, such as Tom Waterhouse, to promote their brand and ideology in Australian sporting coverage.

Mr Conroy’s proposal would see commentators barred from the promotion of odds but would allow the sports betting businesses themselves to spruik odds before games, during half and quarter time breaks and after the game

According to Julie Flynn, head of FreeTV, it was Mr Conroy who personally suggested amendments to the Television Code of Practice, allowing for greater freedom for sports betting agencies to appear during sporting events.

Conroy’s proposed amendments to the code stem from a 2011 meeting of the Council of Australian Governments in which state ministers agreed to a crackdown on live odds, particularly by sports commentators. However, despite claiming at the time that it was universally agreed that change need to occur to resolve this “insidious” culture, Mr Conroy has propositioned amendments that do not address the outcry about bookies on live sport.

Conroy said: “I think there is a universal view that having live odds and gambling ads being pushed down people’s throats has gone too far and that’s what this code review is about – trying to shift that balance back a bit. People are going to disagree about where that balance should be. That’s why we have this process.”

Prime Minister Julia Gillard weighed in on the issue, noting her belief that betting odds in sport “just drives me crazy”. However the PM still supported Mr Conroy and the code process.

On Monday South Australia said it would ban the promotion of live odds outright but NSW and Victoria have taken the stance that it is an issue for the federal government to address.

Image: smh.com.au

Announced today in Melbourne by AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou and Coles Managing Director Ian McLeod, Coles and the AFL will work closely together to deliver football, health, education, leadership and employment opportunities for Indigenous male and females.

The Coles AFL Indigenous Programs partnership will for the first time see the introduction of a female Under 18 Indigenous camp in which the top players will be selected to compete at the historical Under 18 National Kickstart Championships to be held in Melbourne.

Coles AFL Indigenous programs ambassadors have been appointed to mentor Indigenous program participants and to develop key strategies which will strengthen Indigenous engagement and talent pathways.

AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou said the AFL is proud to expand its partnership with Coles and to welcome the Indigenous AFL players as ambassadors.

“This is a significant result for both the AFL and Coles and provides many young Indigenous people with the opportunity to play football at the top level while also developing leadership and life skills.

“The partnership also extends to the elite level with the Indigenous All-Stars match which celebrates and strengthens cultural identity and also with the engagement of player ambassadors who will play a key part in developing and integrating our strategies.

“We are also very excited about the introduction of the National Female Kickstart Championships and believe this will create new opportunities for Indigenous females to play competitive football while gaining educational outcomes.”

Coles Managing Director Ian McLeod added, “The addition of the Coles AFL Indigenous Programs to our AFL partnership further reinforces our commitment to grassroots sport and Indigenous development in Australia, with a range of great initiatives including a national Coaching Academy and Indigenous Kickstart Camps.”

“In the last two years, Coles has increased the number of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander team members from 78 to over 900, raised over $180,000 for the Coles Indigenous Food Fund and distributed over 200,000 meals to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the Coles Community Food Program with SecondBite.

“It is our goal to ensure that our teams and community engagement programs represent the communities we serve.”

Image: afl.com.au