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Glove38
08-05-2009, 09:27 PM
Dragons out of first season (http://sportal.com.au/Basketball-news-display/dragons-wont-nominate-70069)
08/05/2009

The South Dragons won't be a part of Australia's new men's basketball competition in its inaugural season after club management decided not to proceed with a submission.

While the Dragons don't wish to participate in the new competition that is expected to commence later this year, they do want to be a part of the league some time in the future.

Dragons' management – headed by co-owner and chairman Mark Cowan – believe more time is required for the new competition to become a commercially viable entity.

"The Dragons aspire to play at the highest level to the highest standards in a fully professional league," Cowan said.

"This is a sad day for our club, but in many ways it's the only way forward for a sport which needs some time to reinvent itself."

Basketball Australia was disappointed by the Dragons' decision but accepted it and will continue with the process of confirming teams for the new competition.

"Irrespective of the Dragons' decision, the process we are following remains unchanged. We will assess the submissions of the final license documentation for the 2009/10 season due from the clubs by close of business on Monday and will then be in a position to outline the league's direction later next week," Basketball Australia chief executive officer Larry Sengstock said.

"We are however buoyed by the fact we have already received verbal support for the 2009/10 season from the vast majority of other existing clubs, but will necessarily need to assess the actual submissions on Monday before announcing our plans in any sort of detail. We will continue our practice of consulting with the Clubs through this process."

"The Board remain committed as ever to our goal of ensuring that we put in place a financially viable league model that is truly national, with full representation from all Australian state capitals, as well as strong links to the greater basketball community. That vision remains unchanged and is what we continue to work towards."

Clubs need to have their submissions into Basketball Australia by Monday if they wish to proceed in the new competition, with details of the league expected to be unveiled later this month.

The reigning champs not going to be in the new competition, weird.

The Hill Show
08-05-2009, 09:42 PM
It is weird, and you'd think it'd set basketball back in Melbourne. How are people supposed to become emotionally attached/ involved in a team if they keep coming and going? So I wonder what this means for Ingles etc. He'll probably try to get in the NBA next month

Glove38
08-05-2009, 09:54 PM
Ingles was always going to do that, i recall reading something where he said he as going to have a crack at the NBA.

I agree about not being able to become attached.

I was a SE Melbourne Magic supporter, and when they went i never followed anyone. I just kept a close look at results, but never really got behind a team. Then during the 07/08 season i started getting into the South Dragons, there was something about supporting them at the bottom of the table.

Now they aren't even in the comp, i will go back to not getting behind anyone.

The Hill Show
08-05-2009, 10:11 PM
I'm not a huge fan of any particular team. If anything I go for the Tigers. But this year I got free tickets for the Dragons- 36ers game and had no trouble going for the Dragons so I'm not too involved. It really depends on who has the most exciting imports.