It boggles the mind. As you say, nothing short of a total disgrace from management/ownership. Hodge is the epitome of the NBL player you want to make sure is happy, happy, happy.

Hell show some faith Mal dip into your pocket and give him a nice wad of cash to keep the man happy until you can sort out this garbage of how the hell to pay a player.

My guess is Julius is gone.... he will not be playing for nothing and i think will head back and play D-league.

Absolute Disgusting behaviour by the 36ers - once again proving how much of a dodgy brother, backyard shonky people they are! Heads should roll for this.

Ohh and baller, were talking $10 to $15K per month here too, not just some small change....if not more...

$10-15k a month????? and the rest!

Why is Hodge the only one to have this problem? The rest playing for nothing?

I'll start by saying I don't know the full story so any of the following is speculation.

I think there's more to it than meets the eye with this "non payment" debacle. If the problem rests with Hodge providing incomplete bank details then surely it's his agent's job to sort out this basic administrative process so payment can be made. I may be wrong but I'd be surprised if Hodge / his agent would have brought this story to the media if the problem was at their end, which makes we wonder what the hell is going on at Sixers HQ to allow things to have gone this far. Is it the fact that no one's taking the bull by the horns and working out what technicalities are stopping the payment going through? Or is there not enough money to actually make the payment and their just stalling until they have sufficient funds? Both scenarios are frightening, especially the latter.

However&&I don't agree that Hodge withdrawing from a crucial match with massive play off implications against a similarly placed team on the ladder is the right thing to do. When he arrived he promised us a championship, and isn't that the reason he's here? To win a championship, raise his profile, give the MVP voting a good shake up, impress NBA scouts tracking his process and get paid while doing it? I understand that it's crucial to be paid for your work, but when you're a professional athlete (and the highest paid on your team) who's already minted I think your agenda should be different to your average Joe salaryman.

Looks like we got away with a win so no damage has been done on the ladder, but you have to wonder what this has done for team morale, for fair-weather supporters who filled the dome just to see him play and for potential sponsors who now have even more questions marks about being associated with the club and the league. Also curious whether this decision was made by Hodge or his agent, I suspect the latter. Interested to see what comes out of all this.

Who cares how much he gets paid. he got 6,500 people to the dome to see him! he's worth his weight in gold.
hell dont pay burdon, hill etc. hodge is your priority!

36ers admin, s**t house. you've dissapointed 6,500 people. and prob prevented them from going back.

Mal hemmering #@$% yourself, absolute joke of a business man, anyone else anyone else would simply sort this out in house. He is a stubborn pig, sell the team and stay out of our Dome. Hodge brought crowds up 2000 more so pay him what he is due

Look, i am unsure what he gets, but going from some stories, i was being conservative with 10 to 15.

i agree with the comments about drawing the crowd...the sooner they get a model based on a-league the better, one marque player and then the rest the better, crowds will only grow.cant wait to be honest...

I can undertand mistakes being made with paying someone, I've been paid too little, too much and not at all sometimes in various jobs. I've always got it sorted out without any major dramas. The reason why there hasn't been major dramas about it is I haven't gone THREE WEEKS without a result in such situations. Its only taken a couple of days to get it right, in my experience anyway.

His money was due on December 15! That was over three weeks ago. Three weeks! Pathetic. What type of admin cirus are the Sixers running?

What a farking joke the Sixers are ! Did you see the crowd there tonight....gee I wonder what the reason is they were all there, or shall I say, who the reason is ? Mal Hemmerling... Fark You !

Bank detail error ? What, he hasn't been paid prior to these shenanigans ? Pathetic !

Basketball in this country is already a farce and then this endorsement happens !

What a farking joke. If Hodge is never to be seen again, this farcical club can kiss my season ticket money goodbye....13 years worth mind you.

Get your shit together Mal !

I am disappointed that Hodge did not play. Although you are a professional player, you also have some loyalty towards your team and fans. If the pay is few days, or even few weeks late, I would still expect him to play, as to not play only worsens things, whatever is the reason for the current problems. Especially this is the case if the reason is miscommunicated account numbers. In the end its Hodge, not his agent, who decides if he plays or not. The agent can give advice, but Hodge decides. Thus this may be very challenging with regards to team morale, as previously written.

It will be interesting to see if these 6,500 people are still as exited about Hodge and his 'heart' as they were before this.

Also, the 36ers admin for sure have their responsibility too. How this can be possible? Of course the existing financial crisis have influenced, e.g. ABC is the major sponsor, as is a major car retailer (we all have read by now the challenges that car retailers have faced).

Let's hope that things will be solved, Hodge will continue playing and the team and fans will forgive all this, and 36ers will enter play-offs in a good shape. Let's hope.

I hope someone has emailed this thread to the Sixers admin with a big CC to Money Mal......

From what I have heard Hodge has gone for the season :( There better be a good reason why or the Sixers management is an absolute joke!

If Hodge has gone so have the Sixers chances of winning the championships. The season is over. We could barely beat a crappy hawks team with two of their bigs out

Ostrich 39, Hodge is a 'professional' player playing for a 'professional' organisation. Going three weeks without pay isn't the least bit 'professional.' You expect him to keep playing? At what point should be start to be getting real worried that he won't ever see the money and is getting ripped off? How long should he allow himself to be a sucker?

Sorry, but the 'professional' street goes both ways. You got pay the guy.

As far as loyalty goes and the comments that Hodge should be playing - Hasnt it been reported that he gave the club an ultimatum before the game on New Years Eve up here? Then decided at the last minute to show some trust in the promises about the lack of funds being a banking error and play the game.
Now - almost a week later he still hasnt got his coin so what more could he do? Keep playing and believe more promises taht the money is on the way?
Surely if it is just an error someone at the club (the owner)could have gone to the bank, grabbed a significant ammount of cash and given it to him as a sign of good faith. Then when the banking issues are sorted out they can reconcile the extra cash paid to him in the next months payrun and keep all this crap out of the media and keep the marquu player on the court.

Either he stops playing for good or he keeps playing I say, there should be no in between. F*ck still being a member of the team but refusing to play, that's BS if you ask me. Letting his teammates down, the fans down and himself down. I doubt very much if Adelaide management would be intentionally trying to rip him off, that I think is the last thing they would be trying to do. Obviously something has gone wrong but I'm sure it will be sorted out.

If you're a player then the last thing you want is to sit on the sidelines, it bloody hurts to watch a game you could be involved in. If he's done with Adelaide cos he's not getting paid then fair enough, go home if you have to and then chase your money. But if you're going to eventually get paid and are still sticking around, put on a fricken uniform and play. Stop being such a b*tch.

lockstock, you say Hodge is letting his teammates down, the fans down and himself down."

I say management is letting the fans down. They are letting Hodge down and they are letting his teamates down.

KJ

from what i was told he got paided but because it was late it breached his contract. allowing him to look elsewhere and considering he was in melb last few days from what ive heard i would not be suprised to see him in a Tigers Uniform for the rest of the season.

and also considering DT wasnt a done deal it also leads to that conclusion as well.

i agree late payment is poor, but on the same token there are ways and means to make a statement.

personaly it showed he has no loyalty as well fair enough cut your ties go home but to go to a team stacked and allready over the limit smells of greed to me.

either way should never have come to this point.. i also dont believe its Mals fault either more so the incoming people.

Anon 219526 - No, I would not go to work for nothing, but I am assuming Hodge is actuallly going to get paid, it's just being delayed.

There are also a few fundamental differences our respective employments, firstly I don't do my job for the love of it, I do it only for the money, secondly I won't be letting down 6000 paying fans if I don't turn up to work, thirdly I don't have scouts keeping track of my performance in a bigger and better company who may wonder why I've stopped coming to work.

also i guess we will all find out sat.

not many games left to qualify a import for finals.

that goes for us and the tiges

ohhh my no more hodgey????

Hodge was paid cash today...and since has been unable to be contacted. He MAY be a Melbourne Tiger, i have a friend who works at the airlines, who told me they saw him flying to melbourne Saturday...because the 6ers had Sunday off. I would like the 36ers chances if we could pull off a Rod grizzard from this point. If you have any sense, this is a team not be written off with players such as Schensch, Balls and Mahersy playing well.

You may be right Joe Johnson, but I don't know the facts, but either way I still think he should do one or the other, not sit on the fence. Maybe I was a little harsh, on second thoughts!

He has been playing under the 'loyaly' banner since dec 15th as far as i can see!!! How lond does loyalty stretch before you make a stand!

Live National TV, sold out venue, just been on The OT... smart man

Here's a simple answer - GO TO THE BANK AND WITHDRAW THE $80K (+) AND GIVE THE BROTHER CASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is very hard to provide some meaningful comments unless we know the complete facts of the matter and I think it is fair to say that nobody on this blog knows them at this stage. It is a very emotional issue of course and when I saw that he was not playing tonight, I felt like walking straight out of the place.
Whatever the situation may be, it may have been useful had someone made an announcement at the Dome to the thousands who had paid good money to see Hodge (and others of course, but Hodge is the major draw card)to at least give those suckers some idea of what is happening - it would have been somewhat courteous to do so rather than treating those people with contempt.
Felt like a Pyric victory tonight to me and I wonder now what lies ahead. We will not make the playoffs without the guy or at least someone as good and there is no hope of a replacemnt at this stage of the season.

unless its a recycled import

i'll call bullshit on him being a tiger...he will either be a 6er or in NYC...

Gone to the Melbourne Tigers was the word, at half-time, people were telling me.

Ahh Billo - you never know who might be waiting in the wings to headhunt you

after your efforts at Wimbledon there must be lots of photographers looking for someone with your talents ;)

fuck the 36ers if hodge leaves

fuck them!

I just emailed the club my disgust..... Feel free -

[email protected]

before you F anyone remeber theres allways 2 sides to a story, whether or not you want to acknowledge that

if this is true, how funny does this make the salary cap look?
even gaze mentioned the joke it is tonight!!

Anon 219550,

fair point, perhaps I am naive in my assumption he will get paid, I'm not privy to the ins and outs of what promises and ultimatums have been made to who, all I know is the situation is very messy and the damage done by pulling out of a home game packed with fans there primarily to see him play is massive.

No doubt very disapointing about Julius not playing tonight and there is some great passion coming out on this thread

What i would be doing is waiting for the facts to come out.

I suggest Boti will have it all pretty well covered tomorrow in the paper.

There is no way he is a tiger we have DT we don't need him Dt no's the tigers system Hodge would not no it

I just cant believe that whoever controls the cash cant get this sorted, he is the best player in the league and the sole reason many people have started coming the games. Its just unimaginable you would not pay him what he is entitled, we are not paying him more, just what everyone signed up to and agreed on.

Its crap like this that just drives fans up the wall and loose faith in the admin. They do great and get him here now throw it all down the toilet, along with fans and the media. Unforgivable.

As for hodge i would like to think the players would have his back and he would play on but you have to draw the line somewhere and several weeks is long enough.

Mal, just blew any respect anyone had for him away.

I heard it on the grapevine that Hodge was at the Mark Davis b/ball camp on Tuesday helping out

Anon 219568, do you have a link to the article? I haven't come accross that in the paper.

interesting article indeed

out of melbourne ??

hodge wanted to play but was told not to play by his manager due to no pay.

COME ON MAL!!

This issue has been around since the 15th - why hasn't the sixers mangement stood up, been active and called the banks to see what has happened, provide Hodge with the the transaction records proving that the money has been transferred to the account he designated.

If there is a problem with the banks, provide and emergency advance cash payment to keep Hodge happy - it is really not that hard - you have to feel sorry for Hodge, different country and no pay, it can't be a nice experience.

And you have to think - we have paid Hodge last season and there was no problems paying him.......

Surely it is not that hard, especially in this day of Internet Banking.

C'mon Sixers management - do so some active management for a change - but is it all too late and the damage done?



PS - Hope you enjoyed your paid Xmas break Sixers Mangement

You're all being very hard on Mal. From day 1 I've not believed the story about him owning the team ( just a paperwork name because conflict of interest would not allow E.G. to own more than one team).
Hence, the aforementioned person, being in financial difficulties, maybe couldn't or didn't want to come up with the ca$h. As Thommo pointed out his contract is in breach, so Julius would be checking his options. Cash flow isn't an issue for Tigerland, so history might just have been created.



What Mal should be responsible for is making a statement to the players, and to all the loyal fans to clear the air.

hmmm, more to this than meets the eye, i think Mal is playing as good if not better game than Julius?

Boti needs to dig deep.....but i'll wait for DJRod and JR for the truth!

Thats crap Kobe.

Sorry - missed the article - but my point stays - why did the emergency payment only occur today? Why not last week?


Sixers Management - FAIL!

if the article is true beep...beep....beep as i back up what i said. I would have a guess as someone said earlier they have taken it as a breach of contract and have gone. To not take calls from his team mates is pretty bad and i would say he is gone. Should not have come to this in the first place though, we had a good thing here and now...we have a pr disaster.

agree on the statement but, if there are contractual issues its probably not for the public arena, i know i wouldnt want my issues brought out infront of 6000 strangers,

but thats a question for stephon he would know the legal side of that..

The first part of that article really worries me... This spate has now become very public, with the owner calling Hodge unprofessional in a public forum. If people were being professional in the first place this event would of never happened.

I can see Hodge saying f*** you, returning the advanced monies and getting on the next plane heading to the D League..

Just starting to wonder if some of the earlier posters are reviewing their opinions.

think they are squid,

hey we could allways sign Nash for two years ;)

anon because i dont believe the article

It most prob only got done in the last few days though! and they are trying to save their sorry arses by feeding Boti a story that he is paid up and its not their fault.

PS The reason there were so many at the game is because all the kids that go to All star camp get free tickets and cheap tickets for their families.

For our benefit and hopefully all parties involved, we have a game this Saturday against the Taipans of which after whoever has made their point tonight by our star import not playing, Hodge NEEDS to play this Saturday and put it all under the bridge. Time is of the essence in this scenario and I think if Hodge is still a Sixer at this point in time, Saturday can't come quick enough! (This is assuming all parties have made/received payments according to contracts etc.)

anon so what if they were cheap tickets, or tickets included in the camp, the dome was the dome of old, i for one have no issue with the kids getting free tickets as part of the camp package which im sure the sixers would have got some revenue out of.

better then only haveing 5000 people

awww come on squid i was hoping for a bite ;)

The more I think about about it, the more I think Hodge is gone purely because the NBA franchises can now sign players to 10 day contracts.

10 day contract can be worth over $35,000. There has been a breach of contract in payment defaults, and he's taken this opportunity to get out.

I wouldn't be surprised if Hodge's agent has found him a 10 day contract, or at least a few teams interested .

i don't think he is playing one way or another. As TR said making a public comment that he is unprofessional has really all but confirmed he is not coming back. its just sad it got to this point, off all the people to not pay he is the worst of all.

anon we will see, but im sure im not dreaming

Someone mentioned to me that they heard ABC radio, on their way to the dome,and thought it was Paul Bauer.
Hodge was paid, today. But, was not contactable , at all today.
(Tigers, I would have thought unlikely, but just was being mentioned, there.)

Sounds like we've seen the last of him IMO. Ninnis is clearly fuming and when the coach is quoted in the paper questioning your conduct and making reference to letting down team mates things don't look good. Obviously some pretty pissed of team mates, there's a lot of healing that needs to be done if he's to remain.

If he goes to the Tiges how will this compare to the Bradtke fiasco?

That is a very cruel comment Thomo! Some terrible memories have come back to me!

Boti should have spoken to Hodge first before quoting "Mal's" completeley one sided version of events. This article will do absolutely nothing to bring any sort of reconciliation..... by printing this I wouldnt be surprised if he is never seen of again.... and I dont blame him.....

About 200 tickets for kids an about 400 for their parents. So even without them, the crowd would still have been over 5500.

Mals growing alot of haters is all i no

Don't believe the PR spin by the sixers - if he has left us, it is because he has lost confidence in the front office by the sounds of things.

I have rerated Sixers Management to EPIC FAIL now.

Amazing how people can assume so many things when they know nothing at this time!

Taken from wikipedia..

On December 30, 2008, Hodge won his second NBL Player of the Week award of the season for round 15, after having scored 31 points (whilst shooting 13 of 19 from the field at a 68% clip) and pulling 8 rebounds to lead the '36ers in a crucial road victory over the Melbourne Tigers.[13] On January 7, 2008, Hodge sat out of the '36ers home game against the Wollongong Hawks due to a pay dispute.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24885805-5006371,00.html

A pay dispute with the club which became public has not only been settled, but the charismatic American fan favourite also has now received advanced payments.

its easy to assume. Try it its fun and builds a thread up. I await the next rating of management with bated breath.

On a lighter note, Boti's article on Adelaidenow says it was put up January 08, 2009 12:30am.....Is he in NZ writing this???

Do you know what the Powerball numbers for tomorrow night are Boti.....?

I think it is unfair to completely blame management. There was obviously a pay dispute but this was definitely settled today and Hodge himself said he was going to play, he then became uncontactable and just didn't show up.

How could the NBL approve Hodge signing with the Tigers when he is contracted to Adelaide, unless Adelaide surrendered him which I think is highly unlikely. If there is the argument of breach of contract, from the stories going around, the only breach was being paid 4 days late. The further delays to his pay has been an error on Hodge's part not providing the correct details and a lack of staff at the 36ers Admin which is not unreasonable given the time of year. If the bank details were correct to start off with, then the only problem was a delay of 4 days. Just how much of a team player is Hodge anyway when its been confirmed that he had been paid before tonight's game and still doesn't show for it.

One other point and please anyone correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't it on Hodge's recommendation that Tyndale be hired by the 36ers as he is a friend of his and confirmed that he was a good player. Tyndale ended up costing the club money to release him. I wonder why now the piggy bank is a little empty when it comes to Hodge's pay if indeed the problem is a financial one.

he ws told not to play by his manager not just not showing up...

Are you sure about that Kobe? Your source is?

So he got his back pay and an advance, today.
Too late ?
Wonder where he's gone.

Easy...... NBA 10 day contracts..

Yes Isaac, what is your info?

Bizzy have faith, inside source

Hodge has been kidnapped by the Melbourne tigers?

On another note - I hope that Hodge is OK and is not uncontactable because he was in an accident or something else ...... Touch wood all is ok.

Humpa, if any team were going to kidnap him it would be the Hawks tonight.

3 days ago in the NY Post......

Harris' condition, which led to Dooling's fourth start as a Net last night, is not believed serious. He's day-to-day for Sacramento tomorrow at home. The Nets are 0-4 when Harris doesn't play.

"He was 50-50 to play tonight. It depends on how he reacts the next couple days if he's going to be out any longer," Thorn said.

Usual names, like Jannero Pargo, Eddie Gill Eddie Gill and Julius Hodge, will surface, but the Nets have just under $1.9 million of their mid-level left.

Would seem likely, TR

Kobe you must have a good source seeing as though no one on the team or management could contact him and he did not contact anyone at the club. People even tried where he is staying without success.

Interesting Kobe.

News Flash

After considering what payment Hodge received today, Hodge did suit up tonight, but as Murray Magpie, as Hodge thought this position best reflected money received. In response to why he did not answer his mobile, Hodge states - hey man, you try and answer the phone using wings.

JOKES!!!!!!! :-)

This is a long post, but I hope it worth the read :)

I agree with TR. I'm pretty confident he would be heading back to the States to try secure a ten day contract, probably with New Jersey. Here's why:

If the money had been paid and even amounts in advance, there is no real reason Julius would choose not to play tonight. It is a nationally televised game with a packed crowd, exactly the type he loves. He's playing against a team which plays a high octane offense and would be a perfect opportunity to drop some big numbers.

Devin Harris, the starting point guard for New Jersey strained his hamstring on January 5 against Sacramento and injury reports on ESPN say that it is only worsening. He will be out at least two weeks.

Kiki Vandeweghe (New Jersey GM), said that they may have to be on the lookout for a third PG now that Harris is out.

"Vandeweghe confirmed Friday that there is a sudden, extraordinary shortage of backup point guards available -- which is not good for his team, because the Nets are in the market.
"A lot of people are looking for a third point guard -- look around the league, and it's always an important spot, and a tough one to fill," he said. "But point guards are at a premium every single year."
The Nets have thought about adding a third point all season, but the need becomes especially urgent when Keyon Dooling misses a game -- which was the case against Chicago Monday and at Detroit Wednesday."
http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/2009/01/nba_takes_no_action_on_new_jer.html

Hodge makes his first blog entry in about three weeks on hoopshype.com, saying his jumpshot is now working and credits Kiki Vandeweghe for improving it lol. He goes on to talk about his 9/9 shooting performance in the first half against the Tigers and how his shot was working. I was at that game, and he didn't take a jumsphot until the last quarter. Really sounds like he wants someone out there to know he has improved his jumsphot& He actually says that he feel comfortable and confident pulling up from anywhere and knocks down jumpers all day long!

Read it at
http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/hodge/2009/01/06/young-julius-is-back/#comments

I know it's not 100%, but put all the pieces together. Doesn't play tonight, ten day contracts are now available in the NBA, the team he trialed with as a PG is now down their starter and their backup PG (Dooling) is also under an injury cloud. Then Vandeweghe publicly states they are in the hunt for a PG. Julius specifically mentions Vandeweghe in his blog, making it clear he is in good form (writes about his POTW performance and also his sudden ability to shoot) and he is sighted at the airport. This pay dispute is just an excuse to get out of the 36ers contract and on to bigger and better things. The comments from Ninnis and Hemmerling all but confirm he is gone.

(Mod: Worth a ball if only because it puts together some interesting conspiracy pieces.)

Jules of Harlem posted a blog today - read here...

http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/hodge/2009/01/06/young-julius-is-back/#comments

He comments on the ability to make the 15 hour flight back to the states immediately!

He got his money and then didn't turn up. Shit happens and it was sorted with people bending over backwards to rectify the situation. He's done and quite frankly was a bullshit artist. Hardest worker my arse. You simply can't do that to your teamates and expect everybody to turn a blind eye. Goodbye and good luck with the rest of your career Mr. Hodge.

I am guessing with no pay in the bank and no family around, it must have been a miserable, lonely Xmas for Hodge.

Add to your post trillion, Melo is now out for 3 weeks with a wrist injury. Leaves Denver very thin at the SF position. Remember that Denver drafted Hodge.

when the hell did Hodge get into cricket.

yeah i think we can conclude that he's on his way back to the US on a 10-day contract.

Bobby Jones is still a good import.

And remeber, Hodge has never made a secret of the fact that he is doing all that he can to do to get back to the NBA - hell, what would most posters on this site sacrifice to play in the NBA?

Hung around after the game to catch the info from Ben, Skip, Bizzy, etc. There are details, but the base info is roughly as has been posted. Paid, and in advance, didn't show. There was the earlier waylaid payment but I don't believe that it warrants quite this response from Hodge.

Clients are often late to pay me, but I trust that they'll get around to it, and keep working. I would be more inclined to trust a client in that situation were it to happen over the xmas/NYE break or if there'd been a change in bank details (e.g., now paying to an agent rather than a player) and especially if international accounts were ever involved (not sure if that's the case here).

It could be telling that we're hearing nothing about pay problems with the rest of the team. Yes, they've bungled some stuff in past years, and maybe payments aren't always on time, but if there was a significant problem, it doesn't appear to have stopped the rest of the team playing.

Loved the big crowd tonight (600ish freebies still leaves a very, very solid crowd - massive line-ups just before tip-off!) and enjoyed seeing the 36ers get the win with some awesome work from Schenscher and Ballinger and some vintage Maher.

Give Grizzard a call, or otherwise Darren Ng is in town. May need to consider the number of games to qualify for the finals - I think it's 7 or 8. We have 8 left, I think.

He didn't seem to be missing his family too badly the other week when I saw him at Marion with a rather attractive young lady.

But hey, maybe they were just friends, lol.

RMM,

I think his blog does put the pieces all together. My can't he be a man and say that is what he was doing? That way us fans would be able to accept his decision a bit more.

My intial thoughts we that the Sixers management had shafted him, but hopefully we will find out more in the morning.

And the Advertiser always tells both sides of the story without any bias .......................

I've sent the club an email demanding an explanation.

I've requested they place a statement on the 36ers web site

I trust Boti will keep us informed.

well all the pieces seem to point the NBA way, but does he simply not just have to exercise his nba out clause? or maybe he has/will via agent and we are all just a little behind on the info.

He would need his mobile off if he was flying back to the USA maybe that is why no one could contact him? One thing is for sure if he gets cut again i don't like the odds of him ever coming back after all the comments made by admin, and staff etc.

mmmm smoke and mirrors maybe,did he get told by the coach he wasnt playing because of missing another training on the advice of his manager,the plot thickens.after all his money only went through this morning,thought it was solved earlier than that.

I may get an answer soon....I updated my Facebook status to ask anyone if they have seen Julius Hodge.

Hopefully one of my five friends will know the answer! hehehe

Just a reminder - Harris got injured on Jan 5th

Hodge was apparently supposed to be paid on December 15th

You can't tell me Hodge and or his agent cooked this 'pay dispute scheme' to return to the NBA back in December?

Maybe if we didn't piss Hodge off in december, maybe he wouldn't be so quick to leave us?

I can't see that whole, true story ever coming out.

If no one knows where Hodge is, has anyone considered that whoever shot him last time might have come to OZ to finish the job ?

Crowd was 6300, been a while since then, probably 2000 there to see "NO HODGE" unbelievable event is all i can say, the team played great without him against a weaker opponent. An explanation from the team tomorrow is expected.

Before Christmas Hodge said his family was coming to Adelaide but a few days after Christmas. The attractive young lady may have been his wife. If he has been paid in advance and now has done a runner, I would hope he would have the decency to repay any overpayment made to him, especially because the late payment has been such a huge deal.

Was his wife white?

Thank you very much. My first ball! It is amazing what a couple of Pale Ale's can do to the mind.

Just to keep you updated, a fellow team mate of mine said he is suiting up for my team at Golden Grove tomorrow night. Apparently we pay on time!

if he has skipped i'm sure via his agent he would pay that cash back, he does not want to go to court etc. Sports Tonight had nothing even on the game. I think its clear he has gone home, could not be contact as he was on the plane and hoped all this would get worked out better than it has. Shame we just did not pay him on time like all the other players.

joshuapending, It doesn't look like he wants to go to a "court" of any kind.


In that blog he is doing nothing but blatantly advertising himself to NBA teams.

He has always been completely honest about his NBA aspirations so you can't blame him for leaving but this is a sad, sad way to do it.

i just wish he had said something, hopefully there is something tomorrow.

It appears that Hodge is very much a "money" orientated person. The first problem with Hodge was signing him to a deal. The problem was how much money we would pay him. Last season, I heard from an extremely reliable source that Hodge was getting words from an opposition team during an away match for the Sixers. Hodge turned around and said something along the lines of "Ever made a million dollars for doin what you do mother f*cker?" Again, the money orientation comes to the surface. Now, we hear of a pay dispute between Hodge and the Sixers.

This last pay dispute I'm sure would have pissed him off majorly, tipping him over the edge. After reading that he has apparently been tried to be contacted at his place in Adelaide without success, it wouldn't surprise me if he was on a plane to the states.

Furthermore, what happened if the supposed payment went through? Perhaps Hodge did infact agree to the advanced payment scheme but today was informed of an NBA gig during the day by his agent. Of course, Hodge is going to jump at it. It is then up to his agent to inform the club that he is leaving, and not Julius himself. Is that is the case, it may be a communication error between Hodge's agent and the Sixers, as I believe that Hodge's agent is in the states, and that the time difference would make it difficult for Hodge's agent to contact the club.

joshua if he is on his way back to the states to pursue and NBA opportunity, being paid on time would have made no difference. I would have thought everyone could see through this guy and know he is only about money when he asked for $800K to play in the NBL. If he had done his homework correctly, he would know that the whole salary cap is around that much and can't possibly have it all himself unless he played a one player sport.

Regardless, if they paid Hodge finally and then paid him in advanced the fact is Mal missed the initial payments by 4 days and then that wasn't even paid. For those that have a decent job would you like to work at Mcdonalds for $5 an hour and then have them pay you late? Then you find out you have a chance to go back to your dream. Do you take the dodgy paying job which isn't on time or do you go for your dream?

Did Hodge have an NBA out clause? or was his contract made void due to late paying owners?

I can understand people being disappointed in Hodge but I can't understand people supporting Mal whole heartily considering he was late with the initial payments to our star player. There is no excuse for that.

I'm sure we will find out more soon

Hodge doesnt care about the 36ers one little bit. his only playing to look good and make it back to the NBA.

look at what he said in his latest blog

Hodge "When I first came here, we were in the last place and now we are one or two wins away from being in third place. So I think I've been very valuable to the team."

36ers in last place WTF u liar

KJ, he's not working at McDonalds, he's been earning well enough. And I don't think there's been any doubt that he wouldn't get paid, just that there were complications that meant payments were late.

You guys are so angry & without any facts.





I'm going to bed now. : )

Dont worry people i think i found a web cam feed of the JFK airport. Ill stay up all night if i have to and see if he there.

Isaac the analogy was to show that he has sacrificed lots of money to be here and then not even getting paid on time.

KJ, 4 days late is not a huge problem if there wasn't further delays due to incorrect banking information. Surely its the payee's responsibility to get those details right. In any case, what further emphasises that the 4 days late was not a huge issue is that he played 3 more games quite successfully after the 19th December. The problem has only come to a head tonight when he didn't suit up for the Wollongong game even though he had already been paid at that point. I am not an insider with the facts on what has happened, but from all the available information going around, I lay more blame on Hodge rather than the 36ers. For heaven's sake, since he arrived he has been playing around with the fans with his antics to lift the excitement level up. You would think that that sort of behaviour would come from someone who is passionate about what he is doing and passionate about his team and fans. Yet he can just simply choose not to show up for a game which was so critical to his team in terms of what happens beyond the regular season. What comes to my mind is Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde.

...what comes to MY mind is Cuba Gooding jr. in 'Jerry Maguire'.

KJ, how has he sacrificed lots of money? He didn't get an NBA job, didn't want to go to Europe, so came here for a very healthy wage. There were some delays, but they strangely appear to have only impacted one player out of the team and right now it appears that he's got money for games to come he probably won't play. Perhaps there were delays that could've been easily avoided and perhaps the admin deserve some heat for that (not sure personally), but I think Hodge has overreacted here. Didn't even contact the coach or team mates to say "Having some pay trouble with the club. Just wanted to let you all know that I will be sitting this one out. Good luck for the game."

My word (that I got tonight), is that none of you are close, but stay up & keep bringing it.


Looking forward to hearing from you during working hours on hoopSA 8th Jan.

OK Anonymous, this is as good a time as any for you to prove a point of your worth & my insignificance.

PUT YOUR WORD ON WHICH SIDE OF THE ARGUMENTS IN THIS THREAD IS RIGHT. No turning back.

Hell, I'll even make it easy for you. Just pick a number from 1 -3.

1 .. Is the 36er management to blame?
2 .. Is Jules' manager to blame?
3 .. Is Jules to blame?

bam.. 2

DDFan, you missed 4 .. all of the above.

It's obviously a pretty complicated situation that's not as black and white as you make it sound. Obviously the agent hasn't really been working for a solution that benefits both parties but Jules is a grown man and has the free will to choose whether he does what his agent recommends.

billo, I'm with you on 4, all of the above.
I would like to also point out that I've not been black or white in this thread.
Fact still remains, the reason for Jules not playing hasn't come to light from this thread.

Does anyone remember when we had the pay disputes with Willie Farley?
And wasn't part of that dispute about whether his contract sum was exclusive or inclusive of his agent's fee?
And wasn't Willie as good as Julius about promoting himself as the team Messiah and getting himself on the news etc? Where's Willie now? Maybe Julius will be following in his footsteps and fading away into oblivion.
I just cant beleive the stories.
Surely the 6ers should have paid on time, but 4 days around Christmas..... surely thats no big deal.
Where are the receipts? That sorts out who's telling the truth, then you know who can be trusted.
If there's no trust, or faith, there's no goodwill, and we all know, a happy employee is the best asset a business can have.
After all this crap, I dont see how either party can trust the other, or work together.
Pity, the crowds showed promise for the finals.

PS. Scotty, you should never ever enter an argument between your employer, and your star player. Leave admin to the club admin, andjust focus on motivating your team to stay on track.

I blame the whole thing on the fact that voldermort isn't the coach anymore...

http://linky.com.au/tdzou
for audio about hodge by Maher and Scout.

I'd vote a bit of all three as well. None entirely blameless, but I think walking away having been now paid could be the most questionable action.

TR, can't see him having a shot at the Nuggets. George Karl is not a fan of Hodge:

This (Hodge complaining about minutes in his first D-League game) provoked a retort by Nuggets coach George Karl that ran today in that same publication. "The Nuggets' Julius Hodge, not happy with his assignment to the Colorado 14ers of the NBADL, made Karl unhappy by complaining about it after his debut. 'He's already got a bad attitude,' Karl said. 'Complaining and being labeled to have a bad attitude, I don't think he understands it. General managers read that and just go, 'Wow.'"

Gee there are a few people who have posted on here towards the start of the thread that would need to eat their words now after the link provided by Jc above.

Seems to me like Hodge and his manager are trying to get out of the Sixer's contract to get back to the D-League. Wouldn't be at all suprised if they'd handed over incorrect transfer details for Hodge's New York based account, as Mal has said.

The Sixers even made him a local account, transferred his payments owed to it and included an advance on last night's game...and he still doesn't show.

Suit Griz immediately and let's get on with this.

^^^ actually, replace D-League wtih New Jersey / Melbourne Tigers. More likely NBA though.

The thing that I'm most disappointed with in this whole saga is until now, as far as I can tell, no-one on the forum has ventured the theory that Mr Hodge has indeed drank the poison.

Shame on us all.

dont blame hodge or management - spadge and booga have united - hodge is their franchise player -