Isaac
Years ago
Joyce fires up after game over Heal article
After the Gold Coast Blaze lost in Perth to the Wildcats the other night, Brendan Joyce fired up at the press conference, demanding that Perth journalist Ross Lewis leave the room.
The request came after a Lewis article suggesting that the recruitment of Shane Heal would work against the development of the Blaze's younger players.
Cats owner exec Nick Marvin noted that he decided who would stay in or leave the room and that Lewis would remain.
(Joyce) confronted Lewis after the press conference to air some more grievances, telling the reporter: "I won't let you interview us if you write that shit."
The Age has more coverage while here's video footage.
Obviously Joyce is feeling pressure after a tough start to the season, is prone to firing up already, and is likely overprotective of the shorter end of his roster after a few years of criticism directed at his son, but is Lewis' suggestion that outrageous?
Unless the article is being misrepresented (I can't find it online - post a link if you find it), I'd say that it's even being a little too fair to Joyce. After all, the general criticism is not that the recruitment of Heal will stifle the development of Joyce junior (along with Tyson Demos and, err, what other prospects do they have?), but that picking up a 38 year old, shot-happy point guard likely to miss a few games through injury would conveniently force more opportunities for Son-of-Joyce.
Perhaps Joyce Snr would've been better off simply ignoring the article or addressing any related questions at the press conference by noting that he stands by his choice in Heal (hardly poor timing given Heal's 28 points in that game) and leave it at that?
On a related topic, after the Spirit showed more potential and sank the 36ers, I am tipping the Gold Coast to be favourites for the spoon this season. I think I'm far from the first to predict that either.
