i personally thought he was great. Sure he got excited at times, but in a dreary place to play like the dome (given there is 0 atmosphere), he really tried to get the crowd (smattering of people) involved.

well done, new guy!

i think he is the normal west guy, and he was at westys game working also.
i think he was good but perhaps a little loud at times.

of course an anon poster would say that...

typical.

I heard him at the first Woodville game and I couldn't understand much of what he said. The music he was playing was pretty lame too!

I know there's not too many good guys around at ABA level....but this guy definately isn't one of them.

It's probly Hobo, now that he isn't playing on the regular team anymore.

Oh..J bags, that was harsh!

thanks to the people who are trying to support me. I know I am new to the Adelaide scene, but actually have 2 Waratah (NSW) ABA championships under my belt from my time @ Sydney Comets (2004 - 2005), and have announced @ NBL with the Kings and Pirates. A lot of people who really know their basketball, including one NCAA coach, say that although my style is different, there is nothing wrong with it. Yes, my style is arrogant, cocky and sounds almost totally one-sided, but it is also clean, and therefore there is nothing wrong with it, and that has been backed up by a member of the ABA technical evaluating crew in Sydney last year. It took me a little while to get into the swing as an announcer, and it doesn't help when you don't have the greatest music around... but i do try to do the best with what I have got... and I am trying to find better equipment and music to improve on the quality of my performance, looking for a laptop computer so I can download better music or a better DVD player, and will have better response times than the equipment I currently use.

To those people who have decided to be negative about me, i respect your feedback, but i do ask that you actually try being a new announcer in an area where you have never announced before, before making comment about somebody you don't even know. It is never easy learning the style of a new area... and is something you don't learn in a couple of days or weeks... it actually takes a lot longer than that. It took me about 2 months to get my announcing right in Sydney with Sutherland Sharks, but in the end, it worked out okay, with positive responses from current and ex-NBL players, including Stephen Whitehead and David Barlow, and coaches (Brad Rosen and Brad Dalton), coming over the 3 years that I worked with Sutherland and then Sydney Comets. My 2 years with Sydney Comets developed the "Vortex" (Alexandria Stadium) as a place to be truly fearful of entering, having only lost twice during my time there, and one of those was a double OT classic last season by 1 point. Hopefully, I will be able to replicate those efforts, and reward those few faithful supporters who come to the Warriors and Bearcats matches to a performance worthy of positive comment.

John W Lawrence
Courtside Announcer
Woodville Warriors
West Adelaide Bearcats

Keep doing your thing John.. All the negative people of Adelaide like to jump on the forum and vent. Dont worry too much about them.

As a player, I have to commend John on his announcing. Without doubt the most entertaining announcer in ABL.

It is obvious he is very passionate about what he does and it shows in his performance. It's not very often such an enthusiastic announcer comes along, we should be encouraging this sort of enthusiasm.

Well done John, keep it up!!!

Dear John,
I want to commend you for your effort with the National Anthem in round 2 at Port Adelaide. For the benefit of those who weren't there, the CD refused to play Advance Australia Fair but John stepped in with one of the better performances of our anthem i have seen. As a player i was very inspired.

Keep up the good work mate and maybe you can work that into your regular routine!

I heard him at port sunday
(Assuming he did the sunday games)
He sounded alright to me.
Keep at it John I like your style.

I like him. i dont like his hat though

John,

Don't take any notice of the negative comments on this forum.

There are a lot of petty minded people on this forum who will tear the first available thing or person down. You only have to look at the threads calling for Smyth to go to know this.

From a personal view, whilst I don't listen to you that much, because I'm too busy down the other end trying to get over the top of you, the noise factor alone at the Dome is great.

Keep it up!

get some facts j bags you fool.. it aint hobo's fault he wanted to play for a good team!

instead of woodville people being negative use the energy to send the box scores to Hoops for Sunday's game

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pure GOLD!!!!
Take luck....please go back and read what you wrote....

Would you like to explain to the class who's fault it was?

Did the Butler do it?

It's all love in that there bag baby!

Hahaha! Just re-read what Take Luck wrote, and my response...Geez I'm funny.

Geez, I must be bored to reply to my own post.....

Hmm.....

Dude, just get rid of that damn 'DOOF DOOF', Rave music, which is much better suited to rise, and all will be just fine.............

Last time I checked Yogee we live in a democratic society which allows us both freedom of speech and freedom of our own opinion.

Nobody will ever agree with anyone, and nor should they.

However, I am entitled to my opinion and from what I see you post I rarely agree with you. But I honour your right of your opinion.

What you seem to miss is that many on here do post from an informed point of view. Simply because it does not match your point of view (like whether Phil Smyth should go) does not mean their opinion is any less valid than yours.

As Isaac has stated in other threads, many players will say something to close friends and family. Yet trot out the old party line to the 'general public' and the press.

When I say, I've heard player x would never play under Smyth again. I have heard directly from that players mouth. When I have heard that some ex players find him untrustworthy I have heard that directly from those ex players.

In regards to John, he has his good points and his bad. Arguing with both opposition coach and the referee during a game is bad in all respects. But something I am sure he is working on improving.

But then again that is only my opinion and you are / as is every poster, anonymous and all/ are entitled to theirs.


Have a nice day:)

Thanks to everyone for the positive support. And to Tony Blair for his neutral, but honest feedback.

When I was in arguement with the referee, it was in regards to part of my announcing, which i was unaware, until Sunday night, was against the rules of announcing in the ABA... something I was never told of in Sydney... and has been fixed out of my announcing program for the next round. And when a coach gets personally vulgar to me, just like any other normal person, I will stand my ground, and get back in his face. There was no need for what he said, and if he said it 100 more times in the future, I would get back in his face and put it straight back at him 100 times with interest added on top. He might be the player's father, and his team could have been winning by 30 or losing by 40, but to me, that means ABSOLUTELY ZIP!!! to me... I have done exactly the same for a visiting player's 6th foul, and have been told by the ABA that it is perfectly legal, as long as the content of what i am saying is clean of language, which it is.

that is where you and I disagree John.

I respect your right to say what you want when a player gets fouled off.

What I do not respect is an announcer who is a representing a club, arguing with a coach, any coach.

Your job is to comment on the game - pure and simple.

When you get abused, if you do, you should 'turn the other cheek' not argue back.

but then again, that is just my opinion.

However, you would not want to contravene the code of conduct of announcers for ABA (for either West Adelaide or Woodville) by being accused of abusing a coach, would you?

Thanks Tony.

I didn't abuse him... I told him to shut up if he couldn't be respectful, that's all. If he doesn't like it... then he shouldn't be the coach.

I will not say in quote what he said, but i will just say that I can and do take in neutral comments and suggestions by other coaches, but I will take a stand against a coach who wants to be personally vulgar towards me.

John you have stated you are a level one ref. how would you react if a coach was personally vulgar to you as a ref.

would you "throw it back in his face with interest" or would you rise above it???

I think your enthusiasm is fantastic but believe you should never loose your cool towards coaches.

Perhaps better to advise the umpires you have a issue with the coaches comments.

thank you for the advice, big but. If I did have the opportunity during the game, I would have raised it with the referees. And if a coach gets vulgar with me during a game i am refereeing, he cops the technical, with a warning that if he wants to continue his abuse of me, he will be removed from the stadium.

Well, "Anonymous", when the entire playing team, coaches, and bench crew consider you and respect you as a member of the TEAM, if your team is lucky enough to win an ABA Championship, you get to share in the spoils... and I have won 2 ABA Championships, not 1... please let me know when you are involved in a ABA Championship winning team, and not just a spectator... then you can talk the talk!

Woodville vs West game??? both teams know I would go for home team... and they both accept that it isn't a bias thing, it is just announcing.

John,

If I was at a championship game in which the home team won and the captain said the crowd was "like a 6th man" during his post-game speech, would I then be able to say I have a championship "under my belt"?

john are you partnering Lynne Holland in the next "Dancing with the stars?"

Speaking of comedy gold.... "Dancing with the wannabe stars!"

Great work undercover!!!!

Was at the game sunday and was impressed by the enthusiasm of the court anouncer even if it did seem a little over the top, and he was certainly very excited at brad fouling out even though there was only a few seconds left in the game.
If he is going to continue to announce in the same way it would be a good idea if he was a little further away from the oppositions bench particularly when he considers himself part of the home team.
Also great to know I can now consider myself to have won a championship in 2004.
Keep up the good work but lets all remember its the players and the game people go to see

i won the 97 and 98 premiership with the Crows. They were both tough games but after a few too many ales up to half time, i regrouped and got back to basics to put on a good show. its a team sport and im just glad i could be there to help my team out.

ok you have put yourself out there now John, surely there are rules to anouncing - The 36ers guy get's excited but he is not permitted to barack for his team...... he must be reasonably neutral.

For example he is not permitted to say "Let's bring the 36ers home!!!!" but he can say "come on Dome, bring your team home!!!"

to be fair to John. If (and I'm guessing) a team or the coach say you are part of our team, he has in effect won a ABA championship.

Most players/coaches/managers wouldn't consider anyone outside their named coach/players/managers as part of the team.

However, stats/scoretable/announcers are supplied by the home teams at ABA level with an independent scoretable chairperson. All are considered neutral, and the scoretable and stats people are in fact part of the 'referee's team' they are officials. That is why you do not see any stats/scorer cheer wildly or in fact clap either team throughout the game.

The announcer should also be neutral, commenting only on the game etc. At international / national tournament level ie u18s, they don't have a 'home' team. There is just a commentary, of who scored the points, who got the foul, who called the time out.

In John's defence if you go to a national league game even if the announcer only calls scores/fouls/timeouts etc they still pump the crowd up for the home team.

Go back a few years ago when the away team only received a single clap. At the sixers however or lightning you have 90% or more of the crowd barracking for the home team.

At ABA level the crowd is usually more evenly split. What some may find over the top, some with find great. It s hard to please everyone.

You've opened up a can of worms John. Probably best to go back to basics and concentrate on just calling the game rather than making outlandish statements that have only caused you to be ridiculed on this website. Unwarranted attention is all yours!

big but said

"For example he is not permitted to say "Let's bring the 36ers home!!!!" but he can say "come on Dome, bring your team home!!!" "

How come he can get a Defence chant happening then when the opposition have the ball?

Let me guess, JOhn will now respond saying "thanks for those who respect and love me"

what a suck!!!

John, I am sorry but you are part of the neutral team - part of the refs , scorers and are not actualy part of the crew who play the game......

Dear John,
If you consider that you have won 2 ABA titles, then you are an absolute clown!! End of story, if you want respect on this forum, you have started on the wrong foot. That is absolutely ridiculous.

maybe they do things differently in Sydney?

I only just read this whole thread.

Some words like delusion come to mind. Support has a lot to do with a teams attitude on the court, but seriously.....jonnie, you are on crack!

Care for another bag?

John - i once sold Brett Maher a bottle of water from the servo i work at in the last year the sixers won a championship, does that mean i've won an NBL championship?

give yourself a ball!

Great thread Omi, well done on starting this great debate. To John, keep going mate. With all those titles & positive feedback from such important people in Oz basketball great things are clearly in your basketball announcing future.

Remember don't hate the player, hate the game!!

I've watched most grand finals in sport on fox. Does this mean I have one a championship in the following

F1 GrandPrix
Australian Open
NBL
AFL
NRL
All the Golf tournaments
Poker
8 Ball
Lawn Balls
Surfing

Geez, this should go into my resume to make it worth while.

um the jokes over now, Bill Gates. it's not really funny anymore.

Bill Gates,

Lawn balls? Sounds uncomfortable. Isn't there some sort of treatment you could get for that?

What I love about this thread is, how many people are now going to go out to watch this guy and see if he makes a public fool out of himself? Biggest ABA crowd of the year to date I bet.