| NEWS: Losing Cairns would be a travesty: Joyce | Other News and Info... | ||||
Feb 9th, 2009 Rather than being annoyed about the crowd of more than 4000 being whipped into a frenzy before tip-off of Saturday night's match with news that officials would push ahead with a bid for community ownership after meeting initial membership targets, Joyce launched an emotional plea with fans to do whatever they could to keep the Taipans. Joyce said while he understood stability was important, criteria for entry into the "new NBL" had to encompass more than just a club's financial situation. "This is an unbelieveable franchise. This is one of the best franchises in the league," Joyce said after his Blaze beat the Snakes 93-88."You look at the sponsors, you look at the crowd - they give it to us, they give it to me, they give it to Dan (son Daniel Joyce) and they give it to Shane (Heal) - but it's all part of the game. "We have to sit back (and look at the criteria for the new league), it's about more than money."They've got a full house here, they've got an unbelieveable environment."The atmosphere and people coming through the doors, this is what people want."There's no point having teams with empty stadiums, this is what you want. This is going to be a travesty if we lose this franchise to the league." Joyce, a former Wollongong coach sacked by the Hawks two years ago, said it had been "emotional" last week to learn the Hawks would not be part of the new competition."I was 12 years there, two grand finals, their only championship, I'm emotional about them being out," he said. "I was on the phone with people during the week, I was requesting if I could help get the franchise back."Same thing (as Cairns), it's going to be an absolute tragedy for that community to lose that team." Veteran Gold Coast guard Shane Heal said it was disappointing to see the league in turmoil and "the whole model and the whole mindset has to change in the NBL". "There's a lot of teams that have tried to live well and truly beyond their means and some of the teams that have spent a lot of money over the last few years, well and truly two and three times more than the salary cap, aren't here any more." |
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Feb 14: For General Enquiries: email Denis Donaghy at dd@destinationcairns.com.au or admin@cairnsbasketball.com. Or call Denis on 0417 721 772 or the Cairns Basketball office on (+61) 7 4041 2145. All messages will be answered.