Way to throw petrol on a fire you created. Their PR management is just so ridiculously poor.

I'm genuinely asking the Sixers for a refund for my seat. I'm not interested in supporting them anymore.

Who is Marla Pony? Facebook posts are pointing in her direction for this latest back office shit-storm. How is every month work experience month in Findon?

Is this the sort of thing Cole was brought in for - to change the culture or perceived style of management at the 36ers? i.e., a new broom trying to sweep away some of the mess?

If that's the case, I hope his position description includes: Time travel experience required.

That way he can go back and not get busted with a joint, sort the Bradke shit, not hire Mike Dunlap, spell Ingles correctly and know his position and then NOT SHIT ON THE HEART OF OUR CLUB MITCH CREEK.

Sixers are a Circus.

Ken Cole - "...we have contacted Mitch this week".

Mitch Creek - "Myself nor my agents have had no communications regarding a return, either verbally or in writing".

To be non-exclusive statements, the club would have had to contact Mitch telepathically, via pigeon, utilising some sort of Pictionary-esque mime routine or sign language.

So, if we're playing semantics, correct.

The most stupid thing is the article being sold as WOW Creek is in discussions for a return.

At best it was one way communication from the 36ers/Cole to Creek, which he likely didnt respond.

And why even reach out? cant they read the situation? Of course every NBL club would love Mitch Creek on their team

The 36ers shouldnt have commented publicly on this, at best wish him all the best for his future, which i think they have already sort of done.

789, Aussie Hoopla aren't referencing the podcast as a source for the article. They specifically state in the early paragraphs that the situation has developed, and the door has essentially closed on Creek earning a two-way contract.

I can't figure out why the 36ers would either lie about communicating with Creek's management, or omit vital details that Creek had emphatically turned down a proposed return to the 36ers.

This is probably the 36ers again trying to save face (although they're doing a laughable job of it), but why even put the story out there to begin with when it can only end with the headline: 'Creek not returning'? This is crazy-bad PR.

So yes, Cole has been brought in to put a new face and positive spin on things.
But perhaps he has cottoned on to just how quickly things can be turned around and refuted these days. More or less instantly via twitter and such.

And at the risk of making some terrible SA pun, the 6's would have been better of eating some crow. Admitting what they did was stupid and ill conceived, apologising to Creek and the fans, then expressing a desire that he might one day return.

Basically saying "we don't think there's a problem and Mitch should come back to us" is insufferably arrogant.

I perhaps don't rate him as highly as some, but I'd say Creek was the best local SF in the league. Even with full rosters, teams would move heaven and earth to sign him. I'm sure many would be happy to send an import packing in return for his signature.

On top of that Zig, I think the club owner said something about doing it all over again if he had the time over. Crazy. Put a good offer to him in the first place, and he would be in Adelaide. Play nice when he goes to his try-out and he could well be coming back now or mid/next season.

That's a pretty good summary from Zig. Can't argue.

Ah some of those quotes were awfully cringe. Just some serious ass-kissing in my opinion.

I mean I feel like no other club would make the same mistake that the 36ers did with Creek but that even if they did, they would at least press release something a little less cringy and not as if they are trying to suck up.

Ah, I meant to say "NOT cottoned on"

As in, maybe in the past you could get away with making BS statements like "we have contacted Mitch" and you'd have to wait for a reporter to actually front Creek and ask him the question. But now people can jump straight on social media and refute things.

Isaac, yep madness. Talk about not learning from your mistakes.
Nobody was saying you need to kiss players' butts, I agree that no individual is more important than the team, but there is a right way to go about things. And it wasn't like they were trying to hold him to a contract, they were just being spoilsports after he'd already left.

I did wonder if there was more "bad blood" between them, that perhaps preceded the debacle, but then why come and now and say he'd be welcome back? That's the truly insane part.
That bridge was burnt to nothing but ashes, less said about it the better. Why dredge it up again?

I could almost excuse their previous behaviour, on the basis of "maybe they know what they're doing?" But now they look like idiots with no idea how to run an organisation.

And you know the really truly awfully stupid part?
Biggest risk, when you release a player to pursue European or NBA opportunities, is that they don't get one and for whatever reason they end up signing with a rival NBL team. Sixers guaranteed that would happen if he returns.

I find this part interesting too...

It's also known that multiple NBL teams have contacted Mitch about his interest in returning to the NBL, however it’s understood Creek would need approval from Adelaide before he can sign with another NBL team.

Creek was allowed out of his contract to play for an NBA team. If Creek decides to return to the NBL due to not making an NBA roster the 36ers would retain the right for his playing services in NBL competition.

I agree with Captain Jack.

The Sixers are best to keep quiet about this because whatever they do it looks bad.

Grovel and throw themselves at Creek's feet? Look stupid.
Pretend nothing bad happened? Look bad.
Try to appeal to Mitch that the Sixers are a great launchpad for the NBA? How so more than any club?

Boti just now:

Coming off a season in which he steered the 36ers through all five games of the Grand Final series against Melbourne United and was voted by fans as the league's People's Choice MVP, those closest to him know he was devastated to be treated as an afterthought in new contract negotiations at the Sixers.

While that cut him deeply, Adelaide's subsequent decision - completely legal but unprecedented - to seek financial compensation for him from the Nets, hurt him to the core.

Its decision to seek a Supreme Court injunction to prevent him leaving without a compensation agreement, arguably was the last nail in any hopes of retrieving the situation.

Disagree about keeping quiet. Sixers already look very bad and at least owning up to it and admitting fault would relieve some of that. As it stands they somehow managed to make themselves look even worse, which is almost impressive in and of itself...

Disagree about keeping quiet. Sixers already look very bad and at least owning up to it and admitting fault would relieve some of that

Anon

You spelt Joe Ingles wrong.........

-'those closest to him know he was devastated to be treated as an afterthought in new contract negotiations at the Sixers.'

Let it be known that every player on the roster was(even the 9-10th spots) were put before Creek, this is the Club MVP, People’s MVP, the face of the organisation for young and old, the best Australia in the NBL...

This is beyond comprehension for a professional sporting organisation of any kind. That club does not have the finances, we all know this, but in this situation you make it happen.

Disgraceful

If he still needs us to take his demerit points, we're here for him.

People come, people go, the club will always be there. After all, we support the club not the player.

Lets go sixers !!

Yes...the Club is bigger than one player.

Most will forgive and forget once the club has success again.

Sixers just need to ride out this difficult time.

Ride out this difficult time - you make it sound like they are on a run of bad luck or something. It's of their own doing. They can just keep quiet and hope people forget, including players and agents (of whom I don't imagine there are many in a league this size), or they can proactively try and improve their image. I know what I would be doing, but hey, I don't run an NBL team.

Im not sure Ken Cole was expecting an article to be written, probably just had answered a question to Dan Boyce in conversation, then Dan wanting click bait wrote an article with a heading to sell it as they are in talks with Creek.

It may teach people to watch what they say to people like Dan, if they dont want things misrepresented like this.

I dont know if Ken expected Dan to write the article and post it all over social media where Creek would see it. But hey have, and if he thought that was a good idea, then i hope he has learnt.

Yes Ken/36ers reached out to Creek,

But no discussions were had as Mitch never responded.

Unless the 36ers are going to say 'we were wrong', which based on other articles saying they would do it again, they wont be saying that, there is no point the 36ers further discussing this and angering everyone further.

Says the anon...

Whether you think they should come out, admit they were wrong, and publicly apologise,
or keep stum and hope it blows over,
I think we can agree that pretending nothing's wrong and saying you're ready to welcome him back, is simply asinine.

Agreed Zig,

DB (Dan Boyce?) just cos someone posts anon doesnt make their post less relevant or more inaccurate