Should be a good couple of nights, a chance to see some of the top ABA talent play together.

I think it's going to be at Pasadena or Wayville.

I talked to a couple of the people involved in the planning and suggested that a 3-point shootout and dunk comp would be very well received but general indication was that those might be something to add in next year. So, AFAIK, no dunk comp or 3-pt shoot-out.

Sorry, forgot to add, it's at PASADENA.

As far as I'm aware, Sixers AND championship winners are not eligible for the all-star teams.

So, that'd rule out Ng, Holmes, Forman, Nash, and anyone playing for whoever wins the grand final.

Why would you hold it as Pasadena, that seats about 200 people, uncomfortably at that.

Put it at the Dome, promote it propoerly, and you could break the 1000 barrier.

Middle of August, night time is freezing, at least there is heating at the Dome.

And the 3rd fact that makes the Dome better is it's a 5 minute walk, rather than a 30 minute drive for me :)

I think they had 750 at the Arizona game and the atmosphere was pretty decent. I don't know if they'd have to hire the Dome and that might effect the costing?

I agree Wayville would be a great place to hold it. Theres more seating than pasadena.

lets just say picking two players from each team would not do the allstar game any justice...

Donatello, pull your head in and have a re think!! 2 from each team makes it interesting for all clubs.....not only as spectators but also as willing participants of promoting the game........all clubs MUST be included or only interested parties of clubs with participants will come and watch......I know I wouldnt go if none of my team were in the actual game....in order for this to be a success narrow minded individuals such as yourself should be stopped at the door......with your attitude and thinking you may as well just go and watch the ABL central grand final......besides I reckon I could find 2 from each club that would be worthy........yes even from the bottom 3 or 4 teams........simply put if you dont like the format - RACK OFF!!

Below is the actual letter -



Ladies and Gentlemen,


as you are all aware the Central Conference Grand Final is to be played
on
August 7, 2004 and the national grand final will be played on the
weekend of
August 28 and 29. Our grand final was moved by an agreement of the club
presidents and the BASA Executive Board so that all players (including
the
36ers and Lightning) could participate for the whole season, including
the
grand final. This leaves a two weekend break and as on the weekend of
August
14 will be the Halls/Woollacott presentation dinner, the weekend of
August
21 and 22 will be used by the winning grand finalists to play against
the
36ers and the Lightning, to keep them sharp for the national grand
finals.
It was realised that this would be a golden opportunity to promote
senior
basketball in this state to the general public and so a program was
devised
that would also include all star games between our northern and southern
teams. At the last Senior Competition Committee meeting the program was
voted on and accepted by all the clubs.

The northern teams will consist of Central Districts, North Adelaide,
West
Adelaide, Woodville and Norwood. The southern teams will consist of
South
Adelaide, Eastern Mavericks, Southern Tigers, Forestville and Sturt.

There will be two coaches selected for each Conference All-Star team.
The
coaches selection will work in this manner. The losing coach of the ABL
Grand Final will automatically become one of the coaches. The other
coach
will be the highest placed in the premiership in the same conference.
The
other conference will also have two coaches chosen in the order they
finish
on the premiership table.

The starting five of each All-Star team will be selected by an internet
poll. The positions will be classified as three outside players and two
inside players. Can all coaches , by June 27, send a list of their top
four
players and stating in which category they are in (inside or outside).
This
list will be placed on the new 36ers web site along with the players
stats
and pictures , so that the general public can vote for their starting
five.

In the case of players chosen from the championship teams and the
36ers/Lightning, their place will be taken by the next highest vote
getter,
an so on. This will be decided after the grand final on August 7.

The next five players are to be chosen by the two coaches, not more than
one
from any team. The last two players are to be under 20 players also
chosen
by the coaches.

The program is planned that the champion men's team will play the 36ers
on
Saturday night, August 21, with the curtain raiser being the all star
women's team. On Sunday afternoon, August 22, the championship women's
team
will play the Lightning, with the all star men's team being the curtain
raiser.

The games will be played at Pasadena. The tickets will cost $10 per
person,
with children 15 and under paying a gold coin donation. This donation
and
part of the door takings will go to the Hudson Maher Foundation. The
rest of
the door takings (after costs) will be shared between the all the clubs.
Part of the canteen and bar takings (after all costs) will go to the two
championship teams to help towards their costs of attending Geelong.

So, please, to make this a resounding success, ALL COACHES send in your
lists well before June 27. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to
set
this up and make a success of it.

This is a golden opportunity to really promote our local league to the
general public. Let's not waste this chance.


Thank you all, and let's all work together for the common good, the
promotion of our league.

The only thing wrong with the concept is that the ABL Central Conference has a wild card entry for the Men I.e., the runner up team in the men's comp will also go to the nationals however I do not see any games being organised for them. Also Wayville is not available re the Adlaeide Royal Show however the organises had already chosen pasedena ahesad of Wayville re the atmosphere, obvioulsly none of them had attended a National Championship game or Lightning game at Wayville.

If it is a fair point why not try and do something about the situation. Play the 36ers against the championship team and the all star team against the runner up problem solved with what is likely to be available for the 36ers side one all star team may be enough because if say Woodville finish 1 or 2 then Ng will be unavailable for the sixers same goes for Holmes/Esatern Rees/Forestville Oscar/Sturt so who will be avialable to play for the sixers Rycart probalbly wont be here maher hopefully will be in Athens if not probably not fit to play just leaves the coaching staff and the manager

No, Holmes/Rees/Forman/Ng will be playing for the Sixers AFAIK. If Woodville win it all, then they'll be playing without Darren as I understand it.

If I was the Coach of the team that finished second then I would not want any of my players playing in an exibition game one week from the national finals and if i finished top then i would want my team to be playing together one week from the national finals not having my gun player playing against me surely that makes sense seeing the original idea was to provide match practice for teams heading to geelong

I agree 100% with what Robert Z is saying.

On another note, I don't see why the Sixers have to hold up the "sorry you can't play card" to ABLers who are playing in the finals. Surely playing in high intencity games where they have to be counted is helping develop the player.
Are we wrapping our Sixer players in cotton wool?

Naturally, they will train with the Sixers but just play in the ABL finals.
Does this happen(no) in the SEABL where players are in finals but are contracted to play NBL.

For me, the Sixers decision to take out the ABLers in the finals is crap & shows a lack of respect to the Central Conference, it fans & basketball in general.

I think the Sixers players still play in the ABL finals. And they play against the conference champion in this All-Star weekend.

They just will be picked for the Sixers squad for the All-Star weekend and not their usual team or the North/South All-Star groups.

If you take Holmes, Nash, Forman, Ng, Rees, etc out of the All-Star selection process, you've immediately opened 5 positions to players working their way up.

You are missing the point Isaac. What is the point of playing a game that is meant to be a practice game for one of the teams heading to the nationals if they are not able to have their gun player Ng/Woodville etc surely it makes sense for the player (sixer) to play with his ABL side in preparation for the nationals in geelong

Maybe players do play with the champion side, but not in the All Star squad. I don't know.

And I think that this could be more about basketball in general (i.e., an event) rather than a scrimmage for a team with a weekend off.

This is about the President's bowing to Phil Smyth and bringing the season forward, going against the Senior Committee, and leaving three weeks between the ABL final and the nationals giving players nothing to do but celebrate which is not an ideal prepartion. In return Phil agreed that the sixers would be available to scrimmage against the champion team and this weekend is a result of that promise which still leaves me with two questions what about the runner up team in the men's competition going to the nationals as a wild card and who will actually be available to play for the sixers.

I don't think that it is up to the the league to decide who the runner-up should play. I think that the runner-up should do som eorginisation of there own. BASA has provided a draw for the year that has almost come to an end, and finals are just around the corner. The 6ers in conjunction with BASA have said it would be great for the game to play a "show" game to keep the championship team in top nic for the national final. I don't see that it should be up to the league to accomodate for the looser. Maybe the looser should orginise a scratch match Vs there own chosen All-star team and promote internally in the week between the final. Use this site as advertising. If it is promoted correctly i'll come.

I couldn't find my soap box, So i'll just stand on my bag!