31 July 2011 212.1 – Sportzfan Stan starts the show ripping the Melbourne FC saying they are a ‘team of the past’ and don’t deserve to be in the AFL. He doesn’t think Dean Bailey should be sacked though and that Melbourne should wait until the end of the season before making a move. Daniel Eade comes on to talk about the NBA lockout – he thinks games will definitely be lost and playing won’t commence until December at the earliest, the chances of Patrick Mills playing in the NBL this season and the coming international matches between the Boomers & Opals and New Zealand at the Cage. He also talks ice hockey with the AIHL finals to be played in Melbourne on 3 -4 September. Sportzfan Stan looks at performance enhancing drugs in sport again and the prevalence of their use. Glenn Hampson makes his debut as a member of the Sportzfan Radio panel and joins the discussion on Alberto Contador. Mark Fiorenti talks soccer and the World Cup 2014 preliminary draw and reviews the Asian section group. He feels the Socceroos should make it through the first round of qualifying.
Tag Archives: basketball
Sportzfan Radio #206.2
12 June 2011 206.2 – The Professor queries when Daniel is going to attend a production meeting at the Great Western Hotel. Mark Fiorenti comes on the show to talk soccer & the Socceroos. He is bullish on Holger Osieck’s coaching and also the young players he tried in last week’s friendly matches. There is also a discussion of the problems confronting FIFA with corruption claims and the rumors that Cesc Fabregas will leave Arsenal for Barcelona. Mark thinks time might be running out for Arsene Wenger. Daniel and the Professor discuss NBL and the plight of the Sydney Kings who are thought to be in debt again. They also look at cricket with Simon Katich’s axing, the review into Cricket Australia and the selectors. Stan sacks the lot. Paul Dalligan talks rugby league and the coming State of Origin match. He thinks NSW will win 16-12. He also reviews the current NRL round. The Panel look at the dangers of spectators running on to the field at AFL games. Sean Callanan talks about his coming trip as Sports Geek to the US. He will meet with the NBA, see some Mets and Yankees baseball and then assist the Minnesota Timberwolves during the NBA draft in engaging the fans on line.
Would 11 Championships save a coach from the axe?
We all joke on Sportzfan Radio about resident panelist Sportzfan Stan being quick to suggest sports
coaches, administrators, teams & players being sacked. Most recently he called for the sacking of Melbourne Football Club coach Dean Bailey (podcast #200.1). This despite the Demons being in the top eight and with the best start to a season for many seasons. By the way the Demons have since beaten Adelaide by more than 90 points!
My feeling is that we are too quick to pull the trigger in today’s sporting world. Even having excellent records in the recent past is not enough to save a coach or player. One only needs to look at the way the Melbourne Tigers behaved after their season didn’t 
turn out the way they thought it should. Two NBL Championships and four trips to the playoffs in as many seasons couldn’t save long time servant and coach of the club, Al Westover. On our show, Daniel Eade urged restraint and argued a case for Westover’s retention. History tells us that Al was sacked mid season. If one compares Westover’s coaching record to that of Lindsay Gaze, Westover had more success in a much shorter time but even that comparison couldn’t save him.
It seems that today’s ‘must have now’ phenomenon pervades all areas of sport. Being in the USA now and with the NBA finals series in full flight, I am amazed at the reaction of the media to the LA Lakers whitewash at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks. Let’s remember that the Lakers were the two time defending champion and have been one of the most successful franchises of all time with 11 championships (5 since 2000 and runners-up twice). Yet today, we are greeted with the media saying the Lakers are a ‘train wreck’…’the locker room needs massive repair’…’fractured franchise’. There have been calls to trade anyone but Kobe…meaning one of last season’s best players, Pau Gasol is on the block because the Lakers failed to win for a third time in a row. Reality check – the NBA is one of the most competitive competitions in all of sport and the Lakers have been to the big dance in each of the last three seasons. Is there really a need for ‘massive’ change?
Memo to the sports media of the world….have some patience. I find support for this proposition in the
example provided by my fellow Sportzfan Radio panelist, Mark Fiorenti when he spoke recently of Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United fame. Early on in his tenure and with not much success, the media and fans were calling for his sacking (a la Sportzfan Stan). The club, to their credit, and eternal satisfaction, stayed the executioner’s hand and one only needs to look at the stellar record since, that has put United at the forefront of soccer in not only Europe, but the world. They are in line this season for the Premier League/Champions League double.
One lucky person is the former coach of the Lakers, Phil Jackson. His retirement after the Lakers last loss at least means we won’t have calls for him to be sacked by all and sundry including Sportzfan Stan. Goodness knows his 11 NBA championships may not have saved him in this ‘need it now’ world.
Restraint is what I will be preaching on Sportzfan Radio from now on!
Sportzfan Radio #195.1
27 March 2011 195.1 – The Panel comprising the Professor, the Gelding, Daniel Eade, Mark Fiorenti and Sportzfan Stan talk March Madness. Sportzfan Stan poses the question whether future AFL finals should comprise 8, 9 or 10 teams. Dan Butterly is back on the show talking US sport specifically College hoops and assesses the chances of the last eight in the NCAA tournament. Dan also talks Knicks basketball and how they and 
the Denver Nuggets have fared since the Carmelo Anthony trade. Major League Baseball is just around the corner and Dan talks about how good Alex Rodriguez has been 1998. The Gelding talks Caulfield and Morphetville racing and has extended his streak of picking placed horses to 10. Paul Gamble calls in to discuss the fortunes of Danish Rock.
Sportzfan Radio #188.2
6 February 2011 188.2 – The Professor looks at the coaching records of Al Westover and Lindsay Gaze and says if the current Melbourne Tigers management had been in when Gaze was coaching, he may not have lasted as long. Daniel also discusses the sacking of Eric Devendorf. The Professor feels that the Tigers went for the cheaper alternative with their imports and found that cheaper doesn’t get the job done. Luke Nevill has also gone to Russia and the Panel decide whether he quit or was ‘released’. Daniel believes everything the Tigers have done has been bad. The Panel then talk about Darryl McDonald taking over the team for the last ten rounds and whether that will hurt him or not. Dr Leslie’s CSA is back after a two week spell. Daniel asks why people listen to Sportzfan Radio – he says they do so to listen to sports except Lisa Hayes who 
uses it so she can get some work done! Daniel has also picked the Tennessee Titans not to win the Super Bowl next season. The Panel look at St Kilda’s players and the problems from the New Zealand trip being created for the club. The Gelding says that most AFL footballers are excellent role models but when something goes wrong, the papers jump all over it. Paul Dalligan comes on to discuss NRL and ABL with the Panel. The Melbourne Storm sending a message ‘Playing for Everything’ with Crown Casino taking a punt and sponsoring the club. Paul makes the observation there’s not much point having a Ferrari in the garage if you don’t have a driver’s licence. He also talks ABL with the preliminary final evenly poised between the Bite and Blue Sox, the winner to play the Heat in Perth. It will be on Fox Sports live. The Panel then discuss cricket and the cloud that hangs over the game with three Pakistani players being
suspended for 5 years for spot bet fixing. They have also been charged by English police. Daniel says the team should be suspended as well. Daniel also talks about his story on basketball being used by the Herald Sun. Sean Callanan joins the boys to talk social media, Super Bowl & Packers. He says one of the big attractions are the TV ads during the game and that you’ll be able to check in to Four Square at the Super Bowl even though you may not be at the game. Sean offered the ‘shimmy’ to Green Bay but they didn’t take up the offer. He finally talks about the Mississippi State coach who has banned Twitter.
Sportzfan Radio @ Charity Baskets #187.2
30 January 2011 187.2 – The Professor and Sean Callanan commentate on the Charity Baskets match played for Queensland Flood Relief at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre. The match was the brainchild of Sportzfan Radio panelist Daniel Eade and featured former NBL stars Andrew Gaze, Chris Anstey, Lanard Copeland, Mark Bradtke, Darryl McDonald, Frank Drmic, Axel Dench, Brett Raindow, David 
Smith and many more. The question is whether the return to 4 x 12 minute quarters would find out the stars of the past. Chris Anstey is named Player of the Match. The Professor, Paul Dalligan and the Gelding discuss NRL & the NFL Super Bowl. There are interviews with Axel Dench and Daniel Eade whilst Sean Callanan talks social media after the game concludes. Sportzfan Stan also gives us a cameo at the end of the program.
Sportzfan Radio @ Charity Baskets #187.1
30 January 2011 187.1 – The Professor and Sean Callanan commentate on the Charity Baskets match played for Queensland Flood Relief at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic 
Centre. The match was the brainchild of Sportzfan Radio panelist Daniel Eade and featured former NBL stars Andrew Gaze, Chris Anstey, Lanard Copeland, Mark Bradtke, Darryl McDonald, Frank Drmic, Axel Dench, Brett Raindow, David Smith and many more. The question is whether the return to 4 x 12 minute quarters would find out the stars of the past.
Charity Baskets for Queensland Floods #CB4QF
Reprint from SportsGeek.com.au
Kudos to my @SportzfanRadio panelist Daniel Eade (@DanielEade) for quickly putting together an All-Star lineup of former NBL greats for Charity Baskets to raise funds for the Queensland Floods proudly supported by Variety.
The names read as a fantasy NBL Dream Team – Andrew Gaze, Leroy Loggins, Lanard Copeland, Chris Anstey, Darryl McDonald, Rob Rose, Marcus Timmons, Franks Drmic, Andrew Parkinson, Darren Lucas, Brett Rainbow, Adonis Jordan, Darryl Pearce & Andrew Moore… named so far!
Please support the game via the Facebook Fan Page & tag your tweets on Twitter #CB4QF.
Please write a blog, share a tweet and tell all your friends about Charity Baskets.
Sportzfan Radio #185.2
16 January 2011 185.2 – Daniel believes that skill goes out the window in 20/20 cricket and therefore this is not a good thing for cricketers who are wanting to be successful in test matches. He says 20/20 should be scrapped. The Professor says there are too many players over thirty in Australia’s cricket sides and the Gambler suggests that perhaps there should be a compulsory retirement age. Daniel thinks it could be a case of mates scratching mate’s backs and even he gets into the groove suggesting sackings. Mark Fiorenti talks soccer in particular the Asian Cup and reviews the Socceroos matches against India and South Korea. He thinks Holger Osieck is demanding a more attacking game from the Socceroos. He thinks the squad is getting older and a few players are at the end of the road. Mark also talks about the A League, in particular the form of Melbourne Heart and Melbourne Victory and the poor crowds attending A League matches. There is also a discussion with the Panel on the happenings in Premier League with Man Utd, Man City & Arsenal going well at the top. Paul Dalligan chats about the ABL and the recent poor form of the Melbourne Aces having lost 6 in a row. He also talks with the Professor about Sportzfan Radio’s broadcast of the Aces match against Perth Heat. Paul even manages to sneak a discussion of rugby league in even though it is not in season. Daniel exclusively announces a charity baskets game to aid the Flood relief appeal. Sean Callanan comes on to talk social media and a Liverpool soccer player being charged by the Football Association over what he had written in his twitter account. The Gambler talks about Essendon FC’s high numbers on their Facebook account. The Panel conclude with their thoughts on which Australian tennis players will do well in the Australian Open.
Coming up on Sportzfan Radio #163
On Sunday’s show the Professor is back behind the Panel and will have NRL commentator Nick Tedeschi and basketball expert Daniel Eade as guests. Aside from the normal disection of the week in sports they will be talking with US reporter Dan Butterly about Major League Baseball and the National League finally winning an All Star game, NBA free agency and an interesting video from the Mountain West women’s soccer championships of 2009.
We’ll cross to a restaurant in Chinatown to talk racing with The Gelding, who’ll discuss the winners and losers at Caulfield. Also on the show “F” Word’s Mark Fiorenti will wrap up the recently completed World Cup and talk about whether soccer needs the introduction of a match review panel. Paul Dalligan will discuss the revelations about the Melbourne Storm higher salary cap breaches and give his assessment of the likely finalists as the NRL season nears its conclusion.
Tweet us a topic to discuss on twitter @sportzfanradio