If that's true that's a disgrace, all we really need is someone following around the Breakers' scouts and getting to Rickert's replacement before they do.

how come I"m not in the least surprised.....

As luck would have it I happen to have a copy of the email that's been sent out.

"To: All NBL Coaches
From: Phil Smythe

Subject: Import

Hi guys,

Steve and I were on the golf course the other day and after a tidy bogey on the tough par 5 thirteenth Steve mentioned something about Mike Chappel not performing well this season. To be honest I'd not actually noticed, but when I got round to checking the stats a few days later I was shocked.

Anyway, I can't really be bothered replacing him, I'd have to interview prospective players, make some phone calls, you know, that sort of crap, but I get the feeling I'm expected to make it look like I'm making an effort.

Soooooo...... do any of you guys know anyone I could sign? Their skills are largely irrelevant, as long as they fit in with team chemistry and I won't have to manage them off court or anything like that. Ideally they will have played in the NBL before so I don't have to track down video tape of them in action.

Let me know if you've got anyone suitable, and if not, don't worry, I'll just stick with Mike.

I look forward to seeing you in the finals. I'm joking of course.

Phil"

I thought it was a good balanced report a difficult situation. The fact of the matter remains - Mal and Phil are showing that they are not prepared to respond to the needs of the club. The members/fans have been pretty clear about what needs to happen. The media has been very clear. Everybody knows what needs to be done and yet the very people expected to respond are sitting on their hands.

One thing is for certain, any season ticket holders that remain next year, won't have any trouble getting an upgraded seat. Sixers' crowds will resemble a Lightning game at best.

"Billo" that was gold. I can almost hear Phil actually speaking those words!!

Billo.....what a complete pile of dogsh1t.

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The Thirteenth is a par 4

And i'm sure it's also the easiest hole on the course.

Boti Nagy suggests that money is one reason that they have not cut Chappell, paying out his contract and buying in another.

Last game the crowd was down around 1000 people

Can Mal afford not to have those 1000 plus more come through the gate?

A decent import , hell even one that just puts up reasonable numbers but puts his heart into it will boost the crowd numbers

"That is unforgivable, unprofessional, a slight on the fans  the very paying customers the program can ill-afford to lose and who have stayed supportive through some increasingly lean times  and cannot be helping the team any, either."

Sums it up pretty well - pretty much the same thing that some of us have been saying on here for weeks now. It's a complete and utter insult to paying fans.

Well, I can say right now that next season, they aren't getting my membership $$$. It pains me too, as I really want to renew my season membership, but spending $300 after the debacle this season isn't gonna happen. I don't think I'm the only one either.

The sad thing is too, that if we actually had 15 points per game from Chappell, we'd probably have won more games. We need to remember that while his "average" is 11, most games have been around 8, he's just had the 2 standout games of 21 and 30, which bumps the average up a bit.

As Boti points out, I don't think we'll see any response (if any) until after Christmas either, not only because of the difficulty getting another import, but firing someone at Christmas time is a bit harsh. At least if they'd done it by now, Chappell would have some options to consider.

Yes that is correct, the article doesn't mention Smyth at all, yet he is as complicit in this as Hemmerling. Why he hasn't replaced Chappell would have every other coach in the league chuckling.

Good onya Boti!!

Chappell could even do the right thing and ask to be released couldn't he??

Is it Smyth's call? I mean ultimately?

Not ultimately. 3-4 factors at play I'd say - coach and assistant, then the owner who pays for it and then the guy organising it all.

And Boti will never criticise Smyth under any circumstances.

Why would Chappell ask to be released? So he gives up his contract, his entitlements and then is on the merry-go-round trying to find a new club to pick him up? And let's face it, with his recent record, clubs aren't going to be falling over themselves to sign him up.

Its up to the Sixers management - pure and simple.

we could have got Redhage a few years back when New Zealand cut him but then again Phil would have been, oops, Phil would not get the blame, (the sixers would have been blamed because Redhage is no good. How do we know Nagy told us so. Nagy wrote referring to Redhage " a man's got to know his limitations"). Of course since then Redhage has been all star five and favourite for MVP this year so if someone as "wise" as nagy can't pick a player then obviously it is difficult to do so and replacing Chappell may make you all feel good but it doesn't guarantee an improvement. One factor left out is that maybe it's the system that is a major cause. People are looking for blood tests to find why his production is low. Maybe it's the teams non structure. Put him in a better organised team and maybe he gets back to the player he was and still can be!

Excellent article by Boti!! Also funny as Letter by Billo!

If the cost is only $20k then surely if they get a new import and advertise/promote this new and exciting import, they could get 1000 extra people to the stadium which would get him his $20k back! There must be more to the story then just that or the management/owner/coach are purely incompetent (What a surprise)

Murf, could be the system, sure, but easier to replace an import than a coach and system during the season, that's for sure. Most of the other players seem to do OK as well. Moving on Chappell is definitely the best bang-for-buck option they have at this point, IMO.

Sure, a replacement might not be an improvement (examples: Brown in Perth, Reyes in Wollongong), but you have to give it a shot.

Murf you make a good point...but for all of our sakes, please learn what a paragraph is!

I do agree that the team structure leaves a lot to be desired. It pains me every time I see someone mis matched on Brad Davidson, or when Adelaide basically has 4 guards on the court plus 1 tall etc.

Murf, how does Chappells inability to hit the OPEN three, finish on the drive, make foul shots, play defense and grab rebounds, or the fact that he has lost his quickness have to do with playing in the wrong system?

Maybe it's not the 'system', more the 'culture'?

If Phil sacks him does that reflect badly in Phils mind of his inability to pick imports????

Little men have big........egos

It's all about money. Hasn't Mal had to get a part time job to help pay for his addiction?

Seriously I never thought that 36ers supporters would sink to the level of the Wildcats and that there were so many bandwagoneers.

Hopefully Boti is just warming up and hopefully will intensify his criticisms while the 36ers office and bench continue to sit on their hands.

They set a deadline of Monday for performance delivery, that deadline was broken and the only story that Boti has or news for the fans is that there is no story and there is no news.

Breakers have picked up two new ex NBA imports since the 'deadline of nothing' was set. Boti go for it, get on the attack for us and let that be the new story because our squad has a bit whole at small forward and teams will continue to drive a truck through that hole.

Skyhooked - Chapelle's game is reflecting badly on Phil's ability to pick an import. The best thing for it is to pick a new guy and everyone will be focused on that.

you people are all stupid,

How can we possibly expect to cut and replace our import, do you have any idea how long it wil take for the team to gel after that???

;)

only 4 - 6 weeks!!!!!!!!

Not going on official information or anything, but as I've said before, early next week is their best bet and an announcement then wouldn't surprise me. Week to prepare for a soft target, and then no easy patches until after Dec 25 if they miss that.

Boti great article where were you weeks ago and all those were telling us Chappel would come good ,it was a bumpy road on that bandwagon with wheels coming off all the time. Real worry if failure to replace is dollars
How can N Z etc get imports so easy financially and quickly and their crowds are much less than ours even now. Cant believe it if Boti right they havent even spoke to anyone yet. Wow.
Hope cut him soon as sticking to my word not to get frustrated and watch Chappel again, espec. to do some anti Goorg. barracking
Who is slower on defence Timmons or Chappel.
So sat. night off to St Nicks old folks home carols

Who thinks kevin Freeman would be a good option? He was close to them couple years back? exciting player that can draw crowds?

Billo, thats better than gold !


That has to be the post of the year!

Just wondering if Smyth and Brenhey gave names of import players they wanted to replace Chappelle and Mal says no not doing that where does that leave the coaches.Not a real lot they can do there.Like your golf article very clever.

Phil and his stooges wouldn't have any names for possibly imports.... that would involve scouting, making phone calls and getting in touch with agents and contacts..... too much hard work