Well it is Game 1 of the New Year and of the new decade.  I do hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that you are really looking forward to the coming year.

There is no doubt in my mind his could be a very exciting year for Sport in the UK and for Basketball in particular as we build up to the 2012 Olympics.

Unfortunately as you may have heard, Great Britain Men did not get that Wild Card entry into the World Championships in Turkey so Chris Finch and the GB folks will have to come up with a programme to keep the momentum going through the next year.

It is really interesting to hear all the Sports talking about how they will be the Hot Ticket when 2012 comes around, but you and I know that when Kobe, Dwyane, LeBron and the other NBA boys come to town there will be only one hot ticket. 

Each and every Sport will be fighting for attention over the coming two years and we must ensure that Basketball is not left behind.

Of course two weeks from today the Sharks will take on the Cheshire Jets in the BBL Cup Final.  This could be a fantastic encounter as both teams have been playing well this season.  Some of the Jets veterans are really doing a great job for their Head Coach Paul Smith and the Sharks will have to be on their game to lift this first piece of Silverware.

It is good to see the Jets really back in business and getting back to their very best.

So the BBL Championship season continues and I am writing this before Christmas.  The Sharks have just suffered their first loss for some time at the hands of the Tigers but I have said it elsewhere anyone who thought this Championship race was over really does not know British Basketball.

There is still an awful lot of basketball to be played.  Personnel changes will be made and on that note I welcome back Trey Moore to the BBL.  This time he has landed at the Everton Tigers and they are now real contenders

All I will say is this, hopefully the best team will win the BBL Championship and the Best player will win the MVP.  It doesn’t always happen but somehow this season I think it will

Later

Mike S