I try not to swear on Twitter, because, you know, kids, stuff like that, but *look away now kids* HOLY FUCKITY FUCK FUCK
@gbbasketball
are in the FUCKING SF of
@EuroBasketWomen
!!! These women (and Chema) are FUCKING AMAZING!!! *Ok you can look back now* ๐๐๐๐๐ช๐ฌ๐ง
Final Standings. The first ever completely symmetrical final table in
@BBLofficial
history ๐คฏ๐คฏ๐คฏ Surely never to be repeated!?!? Shout out
@Vincemacaulay
for the spot!!
.
@gbbasketball
finishing 4th at
@EuroBasketWomen
is the single most impressive team performance by British women in any sport this summer. Nothing that has or will happen could top it. It's not actually even that close when you compare the challenges faced
So I'm sat here watching what must be about 60-70 kids of all ages, all backgrounds, out here trying to get better at luge. It's going on all eve. Must have been inspired by....๐๐๐ sorry, wait, did I say luge? No actually they're playing basketball, easy mistake to make
๐๐>>
So a few years ago Liz Nichol, CEO of
@uk_sport
told
@Hoopsfix
that
@gbbasketball
needed to do incredibly well at EuroBasket...well, well looks like they have. So maybe the vaunted UKS predictions aren't actually all knowing for team sport?๐ค๐คTime for an overall rethink perhaps?
GOOD NEWS: Understand that tomorrow's
@gbbasketball
QF is going to be broadcast free to air in UK on
@FreeSports_TV
! ๐ช๐ฌ๐ง๐ Spread the word!
โ Most wins as a coach - 574
โ Most trophies as a coach - 24
โ Most games lge played - 674
โ Most trophies as a player - 25
โ All-time leader in assists, steals, blocks
โ One of the nicest guys you could met
Good luck
@fabflournoy
you'll be missed
#๐
#ThanksFab
Super proud of the old man, he's given 40-odd years to the game and thoroughly deserves the recognition! ๐ Going to have to start all my emails with 'Dear Dad BEM' now ๐
Gave one of the best teams in the world a run for their money, fell just short. Can't do anything but salute these
@gbbasketball
women. Go again tomorrow, still got a shot at that ๐ฅ
A British team in a European basketball final? That is Murray winning Wimbledon levels of stuff that previously seemed unimaginable. Congrats
@londonlionsw
๐
Haha
@SamNeter
my notifications are telling me I actually had a good idea!! You can't ignore what the people want.
For a wider audience, who thinks the 100th
@Hoopsfix
podcast should be someone else interviewing Sam, to hear his story?? Like or RT to force him into it ๐๐
Unprecedented time, unprecedented things, I wouldn't normally ask, but can I get a favour? I do the most amazing volunteer job with the most amazing people, who are facing a challenge we've never seen before. Can you give me a โค to share with
@OverdaleInfant
school staff?
Not bothered about the score, not bothered about who played well or not. Been over 6 months since I watched a game played in this country, longest gap in my lifetime (and I'm old). Happy to have paid ยฃ5 to support it. Thanks Paul, Sam & all at
@NewcastleEagle
&
@SheffieldSharks
Again it shows how clueless UKS are when it comes to team sport. Written off 6 yrs ago for Tokyo, the team took it to the final game. Wonder what might have been with a little support along the way. Still we'll all feel better in summer with that medal in sports we don't play eh?
But I thought you said they had "no chance" of qualifying for Tokyo 2020 when you cut the funding? Like that was *exactly* why you cut the funding wasn't it? Because you *knew* they had no chance. Wow, so maybe the much vaunted system isn't always right eh?
#whoknew
๐ค
๐ Confirmation that GB women's basketball team are one of 5โฃ sports to benefit from a funding boost to support their Tokyo 2020 qualification campaigns.
Find out more about the extra investment here โคต๏ธ
All employees of BLL were informed on a call via CEO Aaron Radin this afternoon that they no longer have a job with immediate effect, on the day payroll was due.
Just a thought....Steve Bucknall obviously went the other way around and Nurse and Finch went the long way around, but I think
@JoePinchin
is the first to go straight from
@BBLofficial
to
@NBA
๐๐
Random Stat of the Night:
@RidersBball
last called a time out....in March ๐คฏ๐คฏ๐คฏ
3:54 2Q v Surrey 26th March. So
@robpaternostro
has not used a time out in the last 223 mins and 54 seconds of play, which I'd wager is a record by probably miles
A remarkable career, one of the most successful of all-time in
@BBLofficial
- 20 trophies, a stunning 15-2 record in finals including 7-0 in PO Finals, by far the best undefeated record. Most staggering, an average of 2.22 trophies per season, best of anyone who played 5+ seasons
When I congratulated Nick Nurse on reaching the
#NBAFinals
the other week, he replied "Feels like a Bullets run to Wembley to me". After he achieved the same result on a slightly grander stage, nice that this piece picks up on that 1996 run
Wish
@Vincemacaulay
nothing but the best for whatever comes next. Incredible advocate for British basketball. His commitment to keeping Lions/Royals going through all the turbulence was amazing. A true basketball lifer ๐
Always a privilege to be able to call
@BBLofficial
/
@WBBLofficial
games, but
this season more so than ever. So lucky to have been in arenas & tried
to bring the excitement to the fans. Today is games 55 & 56 in BBL/WBBL for me this year, grateful to everyone who made them happen
Gutted for
@chemabuceta
and
@gbbasketball
players, what they've done over last couple of years has been sensational. They deserved the reward at the end, to come so close is heartbreaking. Proud of their achievements
Easy to have hot takes, but remember people have lost their jobs in all this. It's not easy to find a replacement income, so just have a little thought about that before you tweet yeah?
Btw, I'm sure you'll hear a lot about a women's team from these shores who lost and didn't get any medal, but the *real* stories of the day are the two still going at it.
@BritWheelBBall
๐ฅ or ๐ฅ,
@gbbasketball
aiming for ๐ฅ tomorrow. Make sure you're on both tomorrow!! ๐ช๐ฌ๐ง๐
Not just a historic win, but and emphatic victory. This team is so much fun to support, the way they play, their heart and talent, just fabulous. Keep going GB, let your results force them to notice!!
What a fabulous way to finish a season, that was a fantastic game, a pleasure to call and be part of this atmosphere. Congrats to
@RidersBball
on completing a treble
I made my TV comms debut on this day 30 years ago ๐คฏ and Worthing Bears, featuring
@SteveCEOWesport
, won the league title. Tonight I'll call a game where
@LondonLions
could win the league with
@LukeNelson95_6
in the lineup. Amazing serendipity
Slightly sporadic watching in a beer garden w/not great signal, but this
@gbbasketball
women's team is everything you could want. Some GB/Eng women's teams in other sports gonna get more publicity this summer, but man this team gives you everything, they deserve more
๐ฅน๐ In case you missed it, last night we celebrated a
#BritishBasketballLeague
๐ as
@dan_routledge
commentated his 600th game in the Menโs League! Huge congratulations to Dan! ๐
What is your favourite Dan Routledge line over the years!?
#UNBEATABLE
I think this could be the first time a British team has ever won in Spain. I don't have any wins in my spreadsheets and just spent half an hour trawling through old websites and can't find any wins. Sidenote: I miss Statkinson on nights like this
Congrats
@LondonLions
on a fabulous first
#EuroCupWomen
campaign. No shame in going out to a club of the magnitude of Bourges. A great run with some truly memorable performances, hopefully can take the learning and go again next year ๐๐
So basically we played 3 of the top 25, with five of six games on the road and came within a basket (or one bad 1Q whichever way you look at it) of topping the group. Incredible really. Best qualifying campaign ever
Number of days between games with at least 4 periods of OT in
@BBLofficial
history:
Start of league to 1st: 2,716 days
1st to 2nd: 1,000 days
2nd to 3rd: 2,990 days
3rd to 4th: 4,821 days
4th to 5th: 2 days
Not gonna lie I was sneaky rooting for
@KieronAchara
to have the fairytale ending. Not to be but a great career nonetheless, right up there with the best Scottish ballers of all-time. A GB and Scottish legend, a pleasure to have watched him domestically and internationally ๐ฌ๐ง๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐
Been around the world and done everything from NBA to World Cup as a result, but BBL still the game I love. Worked with so many people, almost every channel but forever grateful for Sue giving me a chance. And Kev is still my man, will always miss him
๐คฆโโ๏ธ๐คฆโโ๏ธ a dismal effort, I'm just not cut out for this ๐งฆ๐ malarkey
@surreyscorchers
!!! Should be an easy dub for
@VanimalChannel
jr
Yesterday
@RidersBball
moved level with
@SheffieldSharks
as the 2nd most successful team in
@BBLofficial
history:
LGE: ๐๐๐๐
PO: ๐๐๐๐
TRO: ๐๐๐
CUP: ๐๐๐
When
@robpaternostro
started as coach, they were tied for 11th:
PO: ๐
CUP: ๐
SUPER SATURDAY: ๐ฌ๐ง๐
Both women's Euro Champs SF on
@BBCSport
tomorrow.
First up
@BritWheelBBall
v GER (11:50)
Followed by
@gbbasketball
v FRA (16:45)
Understand both medal games on Sunday will also be on BBC
Congrats
@LondonLions
, blazing a trail for women's hoops in UK by reaching Eurocup RS. Excellent job by the team over two legs, roster looks like it can make some noise. Also super happy for
@clarkabbey
, top coach, top guy, fab for him to be back on top European stage as well
Getting on for 2500 players have played in
@BBLofficial
comps, never been happier to see someone make a debut than
@ELLISHAGGITH
who had 5pts in 3:34 today. Delighted for him and his family
#youcanyouwill
PSA: Some general guidance for dealing with
#coronavirus
crisis, it works whether you're a boss, a company, a person going shopping or pretty much whatever:
Don't be a wanker, because when this is all over, we will still know that you are a wanker and will treat you accordingly
An absolute colossus of British basketball, a tragic loss for the game. Played in first ever National Cup Championship in 1965, won 37 titles as a coach. Nobody was more vocal or passionate about the womenโs game in this country. A true legend. Sending love to all at
@Hatters_BC
You know what I'd ban right now? 24 hour news cycle. Idiot talking heads and anecdotal stories given false equivalence with experts and evidence. This is why people panicking buying toilet paper and the like
I met this girl 22 years, 3 months, 24 days ago, I was 22 years, 3 months, 24 days old. Half my life well spent!! Oh and it's our 15th wedding anniversary too. Love you
@marie_routledge
๐๐
Nurse, Finch, Flournoy.
Games coached: 1537
Wins: 1119
Trophies: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐(38)
@Raptors
have assembled a
@BBLofficial
coaching super squad!! (and the President is a former BBL player)
#WeTheNorth
2020 is done and so is my challenge to run every single day this year! 366 days of running, in heat, in frost, wind and rain, injured and fit, even slightly drunk once ๐ NGL it was hard at times, mentally and physically, but glad I did it!
Fitting tribute to a great man, a few tears, but many more laughs and love for one of the nicest and funniest people you could ever meet. Rest in peace Kevin, pleasure and honour knowing you
#MyMan
Right I'm going bed, gotta work tmrw. We in unprecedented times facing unprecedented challenges, but during them I'm going to take scientists/medics opinions over Twitter. Until they tell me to stop going to work, sport, anywhere, imma keep going, imma try to keep shit going โโค
The real problem with Fireman Sam is a village that size shouldn't need that level of service. It would be far more efficient for the people Pontypandy to turn the fire station into a 1 room young offenders centre to lock up Norman and therefore stop all the ๐ฅ in the first place
Racism is obviously the most disgusting part of this, but tbh I'm a little more shocked that his teammates tried so hard to keep him on the pitch. How about you back him up and walk off with him?? That whole suck it and prove them wrong is BS to me, you don't have to take that ๐ฉ
Here's an idea ๐ก A British basketball themed movie on the big screen at venues like Eagles Cinema Arena or Movieside Arena, with *movie-goers* following SD rules of other indoor activities, where the film just *happens* to be of live action played on the court in real-time? ๐
Couldn't be happier for
@Vincemacaulay
a proper
@BBLofficial
life, been through the highs and lows and thoroughly deserves it!! Enjoy you night Vince!!๐๐พ๐
Having re-signed for 2018/19 at
@NewcastleEagle
,
@D_Defoe
will become the first player in
@BBLofficial
history to play 15 seasons in the league all for only one club ๐ฆ ๐ฆ
Congratulations to
@SolentKestrels
a truly remarkable achievement. Ignoring the Anglo-Scottish Cup/British Masters, I think it's only the 2nd time a team from outside the top flight has reached any top flight final. The other being LLSK reaching the Championship Cup final in 1973
Congratulations to
@robpaternostro
and Sarah on the birth of Alessandro. Some week for Rob, on Saturday he'll become only third coach in
@BBLofficial
history to reach 500 games (W363 L133 D3)
Passion is vital part of the game, on the court and off the court, but needs to stay within boundaries. Obviously POs heighten the intensity, but no place for what happened tonight. Hopefully the 'fan' is dealt with appropriately, can't be having that sort of behaviour
A few years ago a BBL player, 5 games into his pro career (averaging 17 & 12) slipped on a dodgy court and never played professionally again. Just worth remembering that if you are going to question the refs decisions
Put som motha bleeeeep Respect on his name ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
@D_Defoe
I messed up tonight, two calls wrong. Fine to be wrong on the grey, but not the black and white, so I take responsibility for that. Happens every now and then, but hands up and be right next time
Wow
@NewcastleEagle
just kept coming back in these POs, sensational win in the Final!
@Cortez15_
absolutely tremendous, three assists short of a triple-double, EFF of 41 easy pick for MVP
Personal view, but some of the most moving collective sharings of emotions, both joyful and sad, I've been party to have been at sporting events. The wholesale cancellation of sporting events denies people an avenue to collectively share at a time they may appreciate it
It's quite incredible what is going on in DC. In a country where police will shoot black people out of perceived fear, they basically allow a white group to storm the capitol building. They were beating up Australian journalists outside a few months ago, but this lot stroll in?
Billionaires: You don't have personal fortunes you have profits from the endeavours of your employees. Now is the time to reinvest it in your employees. Don't ask us for money (via our Govts), we want our money to save our community businesses. History will judge your actions now
On his final
@BBLofficial
appearance, hat tip to
@AlexOwumi
. 3635 BBL points (15.6pg), 1292 rebs (5.5), 719 assists (3.1). Also responsible for the best Glasgow road trip I ever had (Audible edition of Qaddafi's Point Guard) where the game completely got in the way of the drive!!
BTW people, if you haven't noticed, Eurosport 6 HD (channel 986 on Sky) is the basketball channel. Every game live interspersed with highlights of the earlier games. Currently catch-up of
#ger
#ita
with
#fra
#usa
live at 1pm
.
@RidersBball
Captain
@AndyThomson1984
in rare air as one of the all-time great
@BBLofficial
winnner
๐ธ20th BBL winners' medal, only 6th man to reach 20
๐ธ7 PO wins (2nd only to Alan Cunningham's 8)
๐ธ7-0 in PO finals - best record in BBL history
I don't believe in looking at the table at this time of the season, it's way too early. But, heck, it's been so long since I posted one so I'll make an exception. Drink it in
@McrGiants
fans...
Also Nick is the only coach in BBL history to win *everything*
โ League
โ Playoffs
โ Northern Conference
โ Southern Conference
โ Cup
โ Trophy
โ Coach of the Year
โ BBL champion
๐ NBA champion?
Two-time BBL Coach of the Year Nick Nurse leads the
@Raptors
in their first-ever NBA Finals - starting with Game 1 on Friday at 2am (UK time)
#BritishBasketball
#NBAFinals
So I just realised I did my first
@BBLofficial
game for Sky Sports on 5 September 1998...so basically my spreadsheets that tell me player/coach/club milestones missed my own 20 year anniversary ๐๐๐๐