Bob
Years ago
Just a thought on what may happen to the Lightning:
1) Chris Lucas - becomes ABL coach at Sturt (Done)
2) Angela Marino - Leaves Sturt (Done)
3) Lightning taken over by BSA - as no one buys the franchise.
4) BSA gives Lightning to Chris Lucas - BSA doesn't know how to run a team.
5) If you don't play for Sturt you don't get in the Lightning squad.
What do you think?
Jack Toft
Years ago
Bob, you must be very old as this level of cynicism is rare in young people.
annon
Years ago
If BSA was to "buy" Lighting, that would be a backward step for Junior Development funding in SA
Lighting is in big trouble without BSA getting involved
Double-Blue
Years ago
The only good thing about Sturt only players is that there would be no Marino, but they have some very decent non-Sturt players currently. So that notion could be selective, or maybe a no AM policy... I mean no training in the morning, yes that's what I mean.
Rose
Years ago
My theory:
1. Philips
2. Veal
3. D.Smith
4. Summerton
5. Crystal Langhorne
Coach: Jan Stirling
Owner: Someone with deep pockets
ANON12
Years ago
I find it interesting that everyone wants to bag Angela and see her go - AND YET - Angela is one of the few players with consistent results, along with our import.
IMO BSA cannot afford to 'buy' back the Lightning. When Vince bought the team it saved the Lighting from folding. If Vince decides not to fund the team then it is quite possible that the team will fold this time. Love him or hate him he saved the team - even if his motives were personal.
rock
Years ago
I think ANON12 is pretty much on target.
How and why would BasketballSA want to own and run the Lightning?
The cost of running it would be borne by BSA, and guess how BSA could raise money to do that... fees for social players and juniors would go up (a lot IMO).
I can't see Vince M funding this club forever, or even a few years from now.. then what?
Arvidas Sabonis
Years ago
You are sooo right. Results could not be more consistent.
"A team will go as far as its point guard will take them"
Look how far they've gone.
Isaac
Years ago
I can't see Vince M funding this club forever, or even a few years from now.. then what?If not Vince and not someone else, BSA might be forced to pick them up so as to provide a professional pathway for local female players.
Camel 31
Years ago
What of Port magpies and power, north and united,
as an example of sixers n lightning.
mr magoriums hooporium
Years ago
rose is that deanna smith (perth / adel) or deanne smith (sydeney) ?
Rose
Years ago
Neither.
It's D.Smith aka Doc
Adelaide/Europe/Perth/Sydney
A gun in the WNBL
Mr Marino has not provided a pathway for anyone but his daughter and while that's his right to bankroll her career its done nothing for basketball in this state save set it back ten years.
Private ownership of sport has intrinsic problems especially in minor sports like basketball where short term thinking from BSA has produced this farce. If they don't pick the lightning up, getting girls to play basketball will become harder and harder.
ITK
Years ago
Right or wrong private ownership in SA has kept the 6ers and Lightning alive.
There is no way BSA can fund these teams, not at least until a true association model is developed and grown.
Marino and SOS are losing a lot of money, but continue to support the sport with no help from anyone.
Put up or shut up
Ok so let Marino own the team and the other Marino play but please lets us at least have a decent coach who can teach the team some defence.
ITK: The lightning are far from alive and the 36ers stumble from one catastrophe to another under private ownership. The big money needed to fund a successful basketball teams doesn't exist in most areas of Australia and it is no coincidence that BASA had them during the successful era albeit at junior expense.
Adelaide can't support an association model because it doesn't have the population or interest in the sport.
If you think the sixers or lightning have been adverts for successful recruitment to basketball since groves et al and marino took over, your from another planet.
Having limp teams without the resources to fund title chances or in the lightnings case, unwilling to keep and put the best players on court because it apparently conflicts with the direction of the owner highlights how far we are dragging behind. How many of the other states fund their women's teams in the WNBL? Who funds canberra's team, etc? If you think the lightning or 36ers will flourish under the present arrangements you are the world's greatest optimist because your glass is not half bloody full, its friggin' empty.
Double-Blue
Years ago
Marino had a game this season where she didn't even score. She is also a point guard meaning she is the first one to touch the ball her decsion making is terrible and biased... I will give you that she has scored in most games, but anyone who is guaranteed to touch the ball in an offensive is bond to score at least a few baskets. She is also on the court longer than any other player giving her a large advantage.
Double-Blue
Years ago
In fact if you want consistency have a look at the stats from the first few games without Marino and see the numbers put up from Newley and Cunningham and then watch as they get starved of opportunity from a point guard with terrible decision making.
Ushiro
Years ago
It wasnt short term thinking that created this farce, it was the Government report into the mismanagement by BSA that resulted in the Government bail out. Part of this bailout was the selling of the Licences of the 36ers and the Lightning, as well as the Dome. Marino paid around 100 - 150K for the Lightening licence, which otherwise may have been returned to the WNBL, with NO South Australian Team in the WNBL.
If he hadn't bought the licence, there would have been no Lightning. He was lauded at the time for doing so, especially after the team that Lucas built, won the Championship. The decline and fall of the team over the past few seasons however, has been the result of mismanagement and nepotism.
Hopefully, Marino will sell the licence to new owners and the team may return to respectability. If he just walks away, there may be no Lightning team to complain about anyway.
lotum
Years ago
should have chased Francis and Madgen retained Woosnam and build there team around youth like Seekamp more time, give Michelle Timms a coaching gig and Corporate South Australia get behind this team atm it is a farce.
Jack Toft
Years ago
The market value of the Lightning is pretty low at the moment IMO, I would suggest that shares in HIH maybe more attractive.
SA would be better served having no Lightning team.He didn't save the lightning he prolonged it's death. BSA are still leading from the rear and when they say they are right behind S A basketball, the only truth is 'right behind'.
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