Did he have calls from people or did he call them? He was the the one who went running to Boti after it happened. Time to move on and support Vicki, and the team. The real reasons will come out eventually and lets not forget we wouldn't have the team if Vince had not bought it.

'asshole' lovely How do you think it got out so quickly? He rung Boti to get his side of the story out first. Obviously a touchy topic at the moment. Funny that the sooner the franchise gets sold the better, who would buy it when Vince was the only one really interested in it in the first place. See this is what happens when private business owns something, and it is taken out of BSA hands. Hard decisions have been made. Numbers will drop? Why? The people who come and watch the Adelaide team are not there to watch Chris or the assistant coaches/ managers or court announcer? The are there to watch the players or the opposition team. I will be very interested to see what numbers do because i think they will stay steady.

lets not forget we wouldn't have the team if Vince had not bought it.

I may be wrong but I thought Vinces offer was the sole offer without involving the sixers?

No, I believe there were three offers for the Lightning (have just confirmed this with someone who would know a bit about it too). I definitely remember hearing about one besides Marino, though I won't mention names.

I'd guess that Marino offered the most, but just wanted to comment on the "the Lightning are only alive because of him" thing - I don't believe that's true.

The people who come and watch the Adelaide team are not there to watch Chris or the assistant coaches/ managers or court announcer?

Ill accept that. We will wait and see. I think like everything it will blow over.

You would think numbers would be up. Regardless of what you think of the situation, you don't want to miss anything.

Would you want to go and support the girls. After all, if we are making this about basketball decisions and not business decision, why should the athletes miss your support.

Yes the coaches etc. have been hard done by, but the facts are the facts and will not change. Time for Chris to stop bleating, accept it and move on. Any coach who thinks he is not going to be sacked at some stage is in the wrong profession. Nature of the beast and is not necessarily a slur on their character, which is the way I feel Chris has taken it.

Personally, I think they will take a hit on attendance figures. Then the issue is whether the talent in the side is good enough to overcome what's on their minds and play well together - big challenge.

(#153391) Is that you Angela?

Hey "time to move on" Yeah the hard decisions do get made; Play my daughter or move on! Very hard decision.

Those sorts of decisions rarely get made in organizations that have half an ounce of brains on their boards.

Lucas complained to Boty about nepotism? Funny!!!...

I support Chris too but we need to accept that it has happened and move on.

Nothing (much) will change. The girls will still turn up and play. Vicki will do a great job. Chris did a great job and deserved better - but its over.

'Time to move on' has some very valid points. I am neither a fan of Chris Lucas nor Angela Marino but I smelt a rat as soon as I saw that Lucas had had his photo taken AT The Advertiser the same day as he was sacked. Did he sprint there after being handed his marching orders? You will notice that every media report is "Lucas says this", "Lucas says that", while I don't believe Vince Marino has commented - the difference: professionalism. I personally think Vicki is a fantastic choice and will do a great job, and it's hideous that people are bagging her for taking on the role. If you wanted to coach at that level, why wouldn't you? Yeah Lucas got them to the finals, but I think with the calibre of players that he had, most coaches would have. He never capitalised and took them to a title when the talent was there. And as for booing Angela when she gets the ball, are you people retarded? Seriously - get a clue! It's sad to see that the only time women's basketball draws in the media spotlight is when something like this happens.

'Time to move on' has some very valid points. I am neither a fan of Chris Lucas or Angela Marino but I smelt a rat as soon as I saw that Lucas had had his photo taken AT The Advertiser the same day as he was sacked. Did he sprint there after being handed his marching orders? You will notice that every media report is "Lucas says this", "Lucas says that", while I don't believe Vince Marino has commented - the difference: professionalism. I personally think Vicki is a fantastic choice and will do a great job, and it's hideous that people are bagging her for taking on the role. If you wanted to coach at that level, why wouldn't you? Yeah Lucas got them to the finals, but I think with the calibre of players that he had, most coaches would have. He never capitalised and took them to a title when clearly the talent was there. And as for booing Angela when she gets the ball, are you people retarded? Seriously - get a clue! If you think this whole situation is about her not getting enough court time/not going to make the starting five, you have your head in the clouds! I don't know the full story, but anyone with half a brain could figure out that there is more to the story than school yard antics. It's sad to see that the only time women's basketball draws in the media spotlight is when something like this happens.

ss - fair point of view - always 2 sides - i think the wilkins thing or decision process had something to do with it all much more.

outed by one reinstated by another.

there in itself is a difference of opinion

I don't see the point of saying "it will blow over" as a reason not to express an opinion on what has occured. Nor because "we weren't there". That's the case with nearly everything that happens, right?

Fact is this is the biggest basketball story of the year, unless newley quits Greece and comes home.

What's wrong with Chris ringing Boti anyway (if he even did??) It's Boti's job to report on these things. he has no vested interest in reporting anything but what happened - read his articles - he has taken on comments from the whole coaching staff, and I dare say has talked to some of the players but has the decency not to compromise them by quoting them directly.

I find it hard to even understand those who are Marino sympathisers in this thing (note my Goorjian-speak) I think the fact that he owns the team is irrelevant. Would Don Nelson take advice from Mark Cuban? Or Phil Jackson from Gerry Buss? No.

Why wait? If the players are really that concerned they would walk now. Time cures all. If they have a good season from here the events from the beginning will be but a distant memory. I think Vince may know this and his silence speaks volumes.

Chris sucks! Wouldn't want him coaching my team! Boo Lucas, Boo.

Possibly.....but doesn't change the fact that in a few weeks time and if the girls notch up a few wins, no one will care about events of the past. Not saying what was done was right, just pointing out human nature in events like this.

Izzy - I don't agree. Paricularly in Adelaide, fans are educated beyond win/loss and do care.

Players need to pay the bills too. If they walk, there will be no pay out. This will always be remembered as the season where the owner tried to be a coach, and that Marino girl spat the dummy.

Mass exodus !!!! you better beleive it. I am friends with a number of the players, and the reason that most of them came here was to play for Chris and the program he has built.The way that Vince addressed the players after Chris`s sacking also will not help.

If players needed to pay the bills, they wouldn't be playing WNBL. I doubt money is the thing keeping them there.

Yep and I'll say it again. If the players had any balls (no pun intended) and really felt strongly about it, then they would tell Vince..... no Lucas, no play. However they haven't, which maybe says they are happy with the change. I don't know either way but their silence could be interpreted as agreement with the decision.

Marcus Wong was one of the unsuccessful bidders, I have heard he is looking to make an offer to buy the team of Vince and reinstating Chris.

I'm sure they would get a rush of sponsors if Vince leaves, he has left a bed taste in a lot of people's mouths.

SS, regardless of what theyb are being paid, it would have to be a factor. To say otherwise is to be unrealistic. Also, to suggest that because they haven't quit they agree or even sympathise with the decision assumes alot. Perhaps it is commitment to each other keeping them there?

If Marcus buys the team it will be called Sturt Lightning!

If Marino's interest in the team is to promote his daughter, nothing will blow over. Doesn't matter who the coach is, the conflict will always be there. Who is to say that Marino having acted this way now, won't always act like this in the future. By the way, even if Chris immediately ran to the Advertiser to give his version of events, where is Marino's version of events? Why has he not come forward to talk about the situation. He owns a team that has supporters, he owes it to them. Is this a case of any evidence you give can be held against you in a court of law? Perhaps that is what Marino fears. Better to play safe and say nothing.

I think ' settle ' (on another thread).
gives their version of it.....
doesn't look like its all about Angelas minutes..

Is it just me or did I read to much into the fact that just about no one passed her the ball in last nights game. And when she did score or do something well, I didn't notice anyone running over to pat her on the back to say well done. It must be hard to play in a team where it looks like no one wants you there.

Who's to say they wouldn't have won the last 2 games if Lucas was still coaching. If you think the new coach is responsible for the last 2 wins, then Lucas was sacked on 1 loss.