Wildcats preparing for the worst

[travelling_gerry]

Ed: In 1992 Brett Harris wrote a book on basketball in Australia called "Boom". In it he predicted that in 25 years basketball would be the leading sport in Australia.

• Tim Clarke
• May 11, 2009 - 2:21PM

The Wildcats' popularity peaked in the 90s on the back of players including Ricky Grace, James Crawford and Cal Bruton.

One of Perth's most successful ever sporting teams, the Perth Wildcats, are preparing for the possibility of having to shut down, as the revamped NBL competition today collapsed before it had been relaunched.
The withdrawal of the Melbourne Tigers from the proposed league left Australia's premier basketball competition without a club in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane - leaving Perth as the only state capital still willing to compete.
On the back of the news, the Wildcats' new coach Rob Beveridge has put off his arrival in WA, which had been due tomorrow, while CEO Nick Marvin was forced to break the grim news to staff and players this morning.
Marvin said the club was "keeping their options open" - but admitted those options were very looking very thin.
"The human face of shutting down the Wildcats is far too big a decision to make quickly," Marvin told WAtoday.com.au.
"We will still look to compete, but we want Basketball Australia to put together a competition that is worth competing in. At this stage it looks like we are the only capital city who will be competing.
"I am not sure that is going to cut the mustard.
"But I want to look at some other options before making any fatal announcements. We want to take a few days to think about our options and make our decision."
Only three players will remain on the Wildcats' books after June 30, when the rest of the NBL agreements become null and void and the players become effectively unemployed.
With the withdrawal of the Sydney Kings, Brisbane Bullets and 2008 premiers South Dragons the competition is struggling to attract a television deal or naming rights sponsor.
Basketball Australia is due to announce tomorrow whether the new league will go ahead as scheduled starting in October - saying other clubs had until 5pm EST today to submit their signed license agreements.
"Once the Board has assessed the responses received overnight, we will as previously advised outline the future of the league at our scheduled media conference at midday, including providing full details of the entire expression of interest process,” an NBL statement said.
With their popularity peaking in their early nineties, on the back of players including Ricky Grace, James Crawford, Cal Bruton and Kendall "Tiny" Pinder, the Wildcats have won four NBL championships and have currently appeared in the finals for 23 straight seasons.
The possibility of a rebel league is one option, although Marvin said his club had not been involved in any official discussions about taking part.
"The Wildcats have not been involved in those discussions, but we are looking at every option possible," Marvin said.

http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/wild...0511-b0b1.html

[James]

Ed: In 1992 Brett Harris wrote a book on basketball in Australia called "Boom". In it he predicted that in 25 years basketball would be the leading sport in Australia.

I can just see his gravestone now. Bret Harris: 20 years of getting it all wrong.