An Open Letter From The South Dragons

South Dragons owner Raphael Geminder has come out with an open letter explaining their situation. I appreciate the honesty he speaks with. I'm sure there are a lot of people thinking the same thing.

The letter is courtesy of the Dragons website.

To our sponsors, players, staff, members and supporters,

The 2009 championship team, the Crazy Johns South Dragons have always been about aspiration. Our vision is about an exciting professional league, connecting with a thriving grass roots basketball community and in turn delivering a new level of excitement, to a sport that has lost its way.

We have achieved great things in a short period of time, the highlight being an opportunity to reform our league. The Dragons have remained committed and at the forefront of that process, in an attempt to achieving a meaningful reform.

Reform is never an easy process, its charter was to deliver financial stability, broadcasting of all games, government funding, a new governance and leadership group, a viable budget to connect with community and market the game, adequate player salaries to attract the best talent and finally playing a different period in the year. Sadly this basketball reform has run out of time and failed to deliver on any of its promises.

The Dragons have delivered on our promise, we have paid all our players and staff, we have paid all our debts and we will continue with a sprit of generosity towards the basketball community. We have built the strongest team on and off the court, but unfortunately we cannot tolerate a reform that takes the sport backwards. The reform group have done a good job, with the enormous challenges they have had, but the process has failed to deliver a meaningful change, and regrettably the league needs more time.

We urge Basketball Australia and the teams contemplating participation in a league compromised by its lack of vision or genuine reform agenda to step back and draw breath and let us all work together for 12 months to create something truly inspirational and worthy of our sport.

Minor reform won't revive this sport, we need major structural change and unless the leadership team is prepared to make the tough decisions, the Dragons will have to make the ultimate sacrifice and part company with a board that doesn't share our vision of greatness!

Thank you once again for your continued support. The Dragons have made an enormous contribution to basketball and hopefully with a meaningful reform, they will continue to inspire.

Regards
Raphael Geminder
Co-Owner