Lots Of News & More Links Than A Snoop Dog Chain

Episode 1 (podcast) of "The OT" with JR and DJ Rod can be found here.

- This afternoon the defending champion Melbourne Tigers got their 2008/09 season off to a solid start . They came away from Sydney with a 112-102 victory over the Spirit.

The Tigers got out of the blocks quickly and ended the first quarter up nine. The rest of the way it was pretty much a stalemate although the Tigers got out by 17-18 points at different times during the game.

Ebi Ere has not taken long to introduce himself to his teammates. He led the game with 31 points including 5-9 from "down town".

Meanwhile it seems that the NBL has come to its senses and okay'd Luke Martin to suit up for the Spirit. The little "buzz saw" hit the court for seven minutes.

- Boxscore from the Cairns Taipans/South Dragons game.

- I've had some good feedback from the podcast, thank you, but it seems the accent of the voice-over girl we used has sparked some interest. This mystery woman and her accent is a little muddled, but she is American born and has been residing "Down Under" for the past nine years so cut her a little slack. I'm sending her to speech classes as we speak.

- NBL diehard fan Matt MacQuade gives an in depth team-by-team preview for you.

Fellow blogger A Stern Warning has his own preview. Part 1 and Part 2 so far.

While on bloggers who show love to the NBL, American blogger WorldHoopsBlog wants the fashion police to tap South Dragon's Adam Gibson on the shoulder and have a little chat.

Young Melbourne blogger BestOffGround gives another NBL preview.

- The Age: "That's arguably the best starting five in the history of the NBL. They've got three MVPs on the floor", said Sydney Spirit coach Rod Beveridge.

Almost "Bevo", the Tigers have two league MVP winners. Chris Anstey a two time winner and Sam MacKinnon has one to his name. Maybe the Spirit coach felt Ebi Ere should have won it last season? Article here.

- Spirit import Derrick low tells the SMH, "We were the worst team, we were the doormats (talking about Washington State University). When I went in as a freshman it was like the Spirit - no one knew us, everyone thought it would be easy to play us, and it was like that for a couple of years. But then we started winning and by my third year we turned the program around and made the 'Sweet Sixteen' [finals series]. I went into the program when there was nothing there and leaving it in the position it's now in is a great feeling."

- From The Age. Cairns Taipans get win after a slow start.

- Darwin All Stars and the Singapore Slingers to play a two game series in December. Even talk of Darwin hosting a NBL preseason tournament.

- Slingers and Jason Castro find themselves in a sticky situation. The Filipino point guard fled Singapore when they pulled out of the NBL. Now Castro's people are trying to trade two other players to fill the void left by Castro. Bob Turner must be wondering what he has got himself into.

- CJ Bruton talking up his Kiwi teammates. Have they not told him New Zealand is not in Europe, yet?

- "We've worked hard in the pre-season. Rectifying our defence was something we knew we had to do. We're not a glory side, coming and slamming in 40 a game but I'm confident we now have 10 players who can defend the hoop." Wollongong coach Eric Cooks talking to New Zealand's Sunday News.

- A great article on Andrew Bogut. He talks about how you used to rock a Darryl McDonald jersey. I preferred the Wayne Carroll Giants replica.

- TrueHoop weighs in on how things are going to go down this year in the NBA. They are suggesting the Denver Nuggets are headed for turmoil.

- Cleveland Cavs lock in guard Delonte West for a few more years.

- Trailblazer Raef LaFrentz to have shoulder surgery.

- It only took Oklahoma City five days to sell out their season tickets. Here is their phone number ( 405-208-4800) in case any team the other side of the Pacific would like to know how they did it. 13,000 tickets sold in 5 days.

- Shaq O'Neal will retire after 2009/10 season.

- Rookie Mike Beasley looking for a new agent already. My money is on Aaron Goodwin to land the job.

- This is funny. A goodbye letter by Ball Don't Lie's J.E. Skeets. Blowtorch has responded, well.

- TheSportCount has the lowdown on Ben Gordon. Nice one Boys.

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