May 30th, 2009 by Dusty Rychart

I came across this article about Michael Jordan and how Lebron and Kobe or anyone else will never compare to his Airness.

Air stnadards seem out of reach – Michael Jordan ESPN

May 30th, 2009 by Dusty Rychart

Waiting and wondering what’s the future of the NBL I decided to get an internship with ABN AMRO Morgans Corporate Finance and finish my MBA. The internship has been good because I can learn more about the market and why and when to invest. I have been investing the market for over 5 years now and never completely understood it and I don’t think I ever will completely. I once thought that there was a formula that could make you 100% successful but that isn’t the case. Overall its just a good learning experience and resume builder. I don’t think that sitting at a computer all day reading annual reports and balance sheets is what I want to do but it gives me that added fuel to keep playing ball. In saying that I really don’t mind doing work that I actually enjoy so looking forward to it all.

Another side note is that my quest for an MBA has finally been reached. Tuesday June 2nd, 2009 I finally graduate with a Masters in Business Administration. It took a long 2 1/2 years but I am glad that I did it and didn’t just think about it. Now what do I do with it is the next step. Did I spend $35,000 for nothing? I’m sure that some where in the game of life I will be able to use the MBA to my advantage but until then I guess it’s a nice looking piece of paper to have.

I’m still waiting to hear what’s next for me with the NBL. I see John Rillie and Eagan got released from the Crocs which was a surprise but I think that the Crocs are chasing hard for some young Aussie talent. With the league trimmed down to 8 teams there are going to be a few great pick ups for teams that they probably wouldn’t have gotten if there was 12 teams in the league. As for me there are 4-5 teams that I am talking to but just weighing my options and finding what would be the best for me and my career. Whatever team I go to I want to be able to play out my career there and not worry about moving around all the time. Moving around is fun when you are young but it takes its toll after a year or two.

I should find out in the next coming week or so. I’m just over the waiting game.

May 24th, 2009 by Dusty Rychart

Cleveland dodged a bullet courtesy of Lebron James.  If Orlando wins this game the Cavs were done.

May 16th, 2009 by Dusty Rychart

I’m just interested to hear other people’s view on the whole Matthew John’s situation that has surfaced over the last week.  I personally feel sorry for John’s and his family but I don’t agree with what he and his teammates did 7 years ago.  I don’t know the whole story but it is what it is.  The incident  was investigated by police and dropped.  Why bring it up 7 years later and ruin some ones life and do it in front of a whole nation.  The police investigated the story and found  conflicting and changing stories from the women involved so the case was dropped.  John’s is guilty of infidelity and that should be between him and his wife not the whole nation.  I don’t agree with team bonding being group sex but the woman came out and her name and face have been blurred and hidden while John’s is splattered all over the media.  I also disagree about him losing his job at Channel 9.  Like I said he is guilty of cheating on his wife why should that mean he lose his job.  The NRL has been trying to get the message across that this kind of stuff isn’t acceptable but it just seems nothing is sinking in but the case of John’s should if it hasn’t already.

Just to make it clear I don’t agree with what he and his teammates did 7 years ago and I feel sorry for all parties involved. I just don’t agree that one man should be taking the blame for it all.  Things like this should be handled privately but it hasn’t and cause him and his family embarrasement in front of a whole nation.  The media just loves to rub salt into an open wound and have no shame.

I would love to hear what you guys think so drop me an email or just comment.

Thanks,

Dusty

May 14th, 2009 by Dusty Rychart

The league will go on for the 09/10 season but their will be minimal TV coverage once again.  That isn’t good for a sport that need to get out to the fans. How the hell is someone supposed to be interested in basketball when you can’t even watch it on TV?  Foxtel wants more control over the NBL but is that the right avenue to go down?  I love watching games on Foxtel when they actually air a game or two during the week. Last season was painful because Foxtel decided not to air any games on TV.  I don’t know what’s keeping the league from dumping Foxtel and heading to free-to-air on OneHD or something similar.  For God’s sake they air netball all the time so why can’t you do the same for basketball?

Does the NBL want some money for air rights?  Just let Foxtel go and go to free-to-air for a cheap price.  This will create better corporate dollar because they will know that they can get their brand image on TV and teams can generate more revenue or at least demand a higher price.  I believe a few years ago a naming righs sponsor refused to pay more because they felt that they were not getting much exposure for the price.  I totally agree with the lack of tv exposure why would you expect someone to pay large amounts of money for nothing in return.

Again I am just thinking out loud and I don’t know the whole story behind the Foxtel vs. NBL battle that has been going on but one would think that there are other avenues that the league can pursue to get things back on track.  Start thinking of why the league was so successful back in the 80′s and 90′s?  There has to be a way to get back to the glory days. Unfortunately I don’t think that will happen over night or even in my remaining time in Australia but it will be for the good for the future of the game.

Every  kid  needs someone to look up to and how can they do that if they don’t know any NBL players.  Seems like all the kids we do clinics with know the NBA, NRL and AfL players because they are on TV and NBL isn’t.  You can’t expect kids to dream about playing in a league they can’t watch on TV.

May 13th, 2009 by Dusty Rychart

Over the past few weeks I, like the rest of the players, coaches and fans of the NBL have been waiting for Basketball Australia to make an announcement of what teams are in and who are out.  I can only speak for myself but I hate not knowing what my future holds.  It comes with the business but most times you have a choice of where you want to end up but this time around we are all hanging on a limb.  The Tigers and Dragons out of the league for the 09/10 season leaves a big gap in the NBL as two of the best teams in the league last season are no longer in.  I don’t hear anymore than the average joe reading forums and newspapers about what is actually going on but with those two teams out it hurts like pouring salt in an open wound.  Less teams means less jobs for players.

Sam Mackinnon recently told the courier mail that imports shouldn’t be allowed to play in the interim league because it would take away from Australian’s getting jobs and that you should take care of your home grown players before imports.  I agree that BA’s first priority should be the Australian players. It will  just be a glorified SEABL but most imports bring a different flavor to the game than Australian players and the fans appreciate that.

The problem that I have with this whole process is the lack of communication between BA, Players and Coaches.  We as players all have the option to join the NBL Players Association for a small fee of $200.  This gives us the ability to have some pull with the league as players so we can be protected from owners and the clubs.  The problem is that we pay this money and no one communicates with us on the status of the league.  What kind of leverage as players do we have vs. the owners?  It’s not like we are the NBA and the league owners make millions of dollars and depend on the players to help them make that money.  We are in the NBL and most of the teams loss a lot of money and owners own teams for the benefit of the community or for their own love of the game so we are at their mercy.

Listening to John Rillie speak about life after basketball got me thinking. This is a game we play but it is also our lives.  It is our job to run up and down the court and play the game that we love.  Not knowing what’s next is scary.  If we take this year off or have an interim league it will force a lot of players to get a job or retire.  I am in that boat.  I’m not worried about what is after basketball as I have prepared myself well but I would like to go out on my own terms and you can’t do that when there isn’t a league.

I think it’s terrible that the NBL is such a downward spiral.  Australian Basketball has so much upside at the moment with Bogut, Jawai and possibly Mills in the NBA and that just shows that Basketball in Australia is higher than ever. Sure the NBL loses some of their best players to the NBA and Europe but there are still great players playing in the NBL. I think Larry Sengstock  said it right as he knows that a new league isn’t going to form over night but it needs to be lead from the top down for future success.  He is a basketball mind with a corporate background which should be a positive for BA and the NBL.

Whatever happens will happen as everyone has their own opinion. Just another of life’s lesson.  Everything will be fine…i hope

May 3rd, 2009 by Dusty Rychart

Anyone have a good source to watch the NBA playoffs from your computer? I used to use Sopcast but for some reason I can’t get onto their website. Just email me at dusty@d-rych.com or comment.

Thanks

May 2nd, 2009 by Dusty Rychart

I’ve been watching the NBA playoffs and many say that this is the best first round series in the history of the NBA. Celtics vs. Bulls have given us so much drama and excitement that has many considering it the best playoff battle in years possibly among the all-time greats. Personally I think the games are fun to watch but it is the first round. Celtics have everything to lose with KG being out and defending the title is going to be tougher than they thought. The Bulls are young and ready make a statement that they are a young team proving that they belong with the big boys. Celtic are going to take game 7 but it will be another close one. Without KG the Celtics will not win the Championship but they have too much talent and big time players to just lay down and let teams take the championship away.

Is Rajan Rando on crack? He got warned again by the league for his dirty play. I thought that he was a quite and liked guy on the team but with an article that came out that his teammates hated him and playing with him and now the latest antics have me thinking twice about this guy. I personally hate dirty players and there is no room for them in the game and the NBA should make a stand but they won’t because the NBA wants ratings higher than ever and will let it go this time so the anticipation will be higher than ever.

Cleveland Vs. L.A. Final Kobe Vs. Lebron will bring back the days of  Bird vs magic and Jordan vs. everyone in the 90′s.