It’s Summer and it’s time for Annual Court Maintenance with Nellakir.

With the School holidays upon us soon and local competitions going into recess for the summer holiday break, Nellakir actually picks up the pace. It’s that time of year where many facilities with Sprung Timber Sports Flooring undertake annual maintenance – re-sanding, linemarking and re-coating.

But before we commence on maintenance – check out these new projects we are contracted for. A regional project has been confirmed for the Twin Rivers Primary School, Echuca’s newest school. As Stage 2 of the project gets underway, Nellakir are pleased to announce the construction of a new multipurpose Court and Gymnasium with premium Timber Sports Flooring by ASF/Horner to be installed.

Twin Rivers Primary School, Echuca

As well the Nellakir team have also been given the go ahead on replacing the flooring on the double court facility at the Warracknabeal Sports and Leisure Centre, in regional Victoria.

Warracknabeal Sports and Leisure Centre

Then the real fun starts with Re-coats, Linemarking and annual cyclical maintenance occurring throughout Victoria.

In Gippsland, Nellakir will be doing re-coats and associated works through December and January at Traralgon, Warragul, Foster, Korumburra, Wonthaggi and Sale.

Traralgon Sports Stadium

In Bairnsdale at the Sports and Leisure Stadium, a major maintenance project on 4 courts which includes re-sanding, re-coating and new linemarking will be undertaken.

Elsewhere in Victoria, court annual maintenance will be occurring at Ballarat, Terang, Kyobram, Hamilton and Mansfield.

It makes sense to call in Victoria’s leading experts in the Maintenance and Construction of Timber Flooring to ensure your facility has an absolutely premium playing surface for next year. For a free, no-obligation consultation and quotation, please call Nellakir on 03 9467 6126 or leave your details here for a prompt response to your enquiry [LINK]

Myrtleford Stadium

Always select Nellakir for construction, replacement, maintenance and scheduled professional cleaning of all Timber Sports Flooring – it’s simply the right decision.

Nellakir – Sports Flooring for Champions.

Nellakir helps young athletes reach their goals by providing the highest quality Sprung Timber Sports Floor playing surfaces.

The NBA hots up – Cavs vs 76’s

This week we saw one of the season’s closest games – the exciting match up between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76’s Aussie Ben Simmons starred in the 76’s 1 point win 98-97. Here’s the video and a full report.

Two for one: Cavs come up just short in 98-97 loss to 76ers

This wasn’t bad at all.

The Cavs lost to the 76ers Tuesday night by a final score of 98-97 in a game where the team led by as many as five in the final three minutes. At the end, Kevin Love had an open three on Cleveland’s last shot, but it was too strong and that was that. Sometimes it really is a make or miss league. Also not helping: the Cavs’ offense not scoring for the final three minutes-plus.

That said, this was not all bad. This was, frankly, a largely encouraging performance from the Cavs against a legit NBA Finals contender. Let’s get into it.

POSITIVE: Tristan Thompson crushed it again

Philadelphia is a tough matchup for Thompson. Joel Embiid has a size advantage and there’s only so much he can really do to slow Embiid down. And with Embiid guarding him, there’s reason to think he’ll struggle a bit on offense, particularly when crashing the offensive glass.

But Thompson was again excellent on Tuesday. Embiid got his 27 points, but Thompson made him earn it for the most part. On offense, Thompson co-led the team with 20 points, grabbed 12 rebounds (four offensive) and shot 7-13 from the field. He also made two three-pointers and again showed why he’s still a good, dependable player for the Cavs. Through 10 games, he’s been this team’s MVP.

NEGATIVE: The last three minutes

The Cavs’ last play of the game was actually a good design. After an inbounds pass, Jordan Clarkson (who was also good and had 20 points) ran a little pick-and-pop with Kevin Love. Love then pump faked, got his three and missed. It was a good set and coach John Beilein has to be at least happy with the process.

Before that, though, things got really rough for the Cavs’ offense. The team didn’t score for the final three minutes at a time when a few key baskets might have put the 76ers away. Miscues included Love missing from four-feet out, a shot clock violation, a Collin Sexton turnover and an unnecessary Thompson three-pointer.

The whole time the game was on the line, the Cavs played frenzied. Considering the youth on the team, that makes sense. Time will tell how many more lessons they need in navigating some choppy waters.

POSITIVE: Darius Garland makes some plays even when he struggles

This was not a banner game for Garland. Stylistically, the 76ers’ size was hard for him to deal with and he finished with 6 points on 3-10 shooting in 28 minutes. He did also have 2 assists — against zero turnovers — and three steals.

Everything about Garland was super impressive when he was up against Matisse Thybulle, perhaps the best defensive rookie in the NBA. And when he knows Embiid is coming to contest his shot, he goes soft with the finish off the glass. That’s a player who has a clear feel for the game, even on a night where he struggles. That’s a good sign for Garland and the Cavs.

Source: fearthesword.com

When preparing for a major game or tournament, call Nellakir to ensure you present a premium surface. Nellakir are the leading experts in the construction, maintenance and scheduled cleaning of all Timber Sports Flooring. Utilising the FIBA approved ASF/Horner Sports Flooring Systems exclusive to Nellakir in Victoria and Tasmania, Nellakir provide championship surfaces in Sprung Timber Flooring at all levels of competition.

Call now on 03 9467 6126 or leave your details here for a prompt response to your enquiry.

Nellakir – The Timber Sports Flooring for Champions.

Nellakir helps young athletes reach their goals by providing the highest quality Sprung Timber Sports Floor playing surfaces.

The Constellation Cup – Australia defeats New Zealand for the seventh year.

The Kiwis just missed. Australia won the Constellation Cup series in Perth. With both teams taking 2 wins it came down to percentage.

Netball has long been the most popular sport for women and girls in Australia. There was a time when in the winter the boys would play football and the girls would play netball.  That’s just how it was.  However, these days, there are many more sports to choose from and girls are venturing into previously male dominated sports.  But, netball still has a very high participation level, with over 37% of girls aged 6-13 playing netball.

Accordingly, this high level of participation and a strong grassroots organisation has put the Australian women’s team (The Diamonds) at the top of the world rankings for many years.  Taking out numerous Commonwealth Games and World Cup Gold Medals.

The most popular national sport in Australia is Cricket, in which Australians are very successful at. There are two major football codes Rugby League played predominantly in New South Wales and Queensland, and Aussie Rules popular in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. Rugby Union and Association Football (known mostly as Soccer) is also played. The most popular female sport is Netball.

And we pay due homage to the all conquering Diamonds who simply blitzed the Silver Ferns in the final game of the series in Perth.

Kiwi coach slams refereeing as Diamonds win Constellation Cup

New Zealand coach Noeline Taurua has launched an extraordinary spray at Singaporean referee Joan Yuliani after the Australian Diamonds retained the Constellation Cup with a 53-46 netball win in Perth.

The Diamonds blitzed the Silver Ferns with a 16-7 opening-quarter onslaught at RAC Arena on Sunday, and led by as many as 16 goals during the second term as their suffocating pressure proved too much to handle.

Noeline Taurua was not happy with the officiating in the fourth Test

But with star shooter Maria Folau nailing almost everything that came her way, the Silver Ferns reduced the margin to seven goals in the third quarter, and then just four goals with seven minutes remaining.

The Diamonds kept their cool at the death to secure the win and level the series at 2-2, claiming the Constellation Cup on superior goal percentage.

But it was the quality of refereeing that was a big talking point after the match, with Taurua furious at Yuliani’s performance.

New Zealand are renowned for their on-court discipline, often committing 25 per cent less fouls than Australia whenever the arch-rivals meet.

But Sunday’s match told a different statistical tale, with NZ called for 66 penalties to Australia’s 63.

The Diamonds celebrate their Constellation Cup victory

Taurua believed many of those calls were wrong, and even went to the trouble of analysing the foul count from the past five matches between the two sides to prove her point.

She said the fact that Yuliani was handed the refereeing gig in the fourth Test despite not officiating in any of the previous three matches of the series was a huge mistake.

“We have somebody that comes in from Singapore – where are they ranked? – and blows it [the interpretations of the rules] out of the window,” Taurua said.

“I thought the Diamonds were confused [as well] to some respect.

“One minute it’s a two-second held ball, next minute it’s a four-minute held ball, next minute there’s nothing, there’s no call at all.

“That really disturbs me, because we are not a 60-penalty team. We want to put something out there that’s really competitive.

“But yet the decisions that are made behind the scenes in regards to that quality is unacceptable. For that I’m really disappointed.”

Taurua made a special point to praise the Diamonds, declaring them the better team on the day.

But she said the issue of referee quality needed to be addressed, and she’s vowed to put in a formal complaint.

Star Diamonds goal shooter Caitlin Bassett nailed 25 of her 28 goal attempts to ensure she celebrated her 100-game milestone with a win in front of 13,233 fans – a new netball record crowd for Perth.

The win was also the perfect send-off for retiring shooter Caitlin Thwaites, who replaced Bassett in the third quarter to finish with six goals.

The retiring Caitlin Thwaites waves farewell to the crowd

“Definitely the pressure’s off,” Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said after the match.”I just had the feeling they weren’t going to let it slip. We practised all week. They just dug in and they dug really deep, and they did a fantastic job.”

The victory was sweet revenge for Australia, who lost the World Cup final to New Zealand by a goal in July, and also twice lost to the Silver Ferns during the current series by a goal.

Source: smh.com.au

When preparing your playing surface for high level competition or just the weekend’s local games, trust Nellakir to ensure delivery of an absolute premium playing surface for all Timber Sports Flooring. Nellakir are the leading experts in the construction, maintenance and professional scheduled cleaning of all Sprung Timber Sports Flooring in Victoria and Tasmania.

Call now on 03 9467 6126 and arrange a free consultation with one of our technicians or simply leave your details here for a prompt response to your enquiry.

Nellakir – The Sports Flooring for Current and Future Champions.

Nellakir helps young athletes reach their goals by providing the highest quality Sprung Timber Sports Floor playing surfaces.

Australia vs New Zealand – Netball – The Classic Contest

The Constellation Cup. Game 2 and Australia make up for the loss in Game 1. With the rivalry between the nations at an all time high (remember the Commonwealth Games?) – this is proving to be an interesting series.

Netball is both the most popular and the fastest growing team sport in Australia for women. Nellakir is proud to support the sport and provide first class Timber Sports Flooring for competition courts right throughout Victoria and Tasmania.

Here is the report on the game played in Auckland earlier this week…

Diamonds shine bright to level Constellation Cup series

Australia have atoned for their first-up loss to New Zealand in the Constellation Cup with a 48-42 victory in Auckland.

Lisa Alexander’s team lifted for the master coach in her 100th Test, levelling the four match series at 1-1 on Wednesday night.

Gretel Tippett starred in Australia’s win over New Zealand with 23 points

Gretel Tippett (23/24) was supreme under the ring, ably assisted by captain Caitlin Bassett (17/20) and Tegan Philip (8/9).

But this was a win masterminded by the back.

Goal keeper Courtney Bruce subdued the Maria Folau-led Silver Ferns attack with an intensity that lifted the whole Diamonds side.

She made five intercepts and was called for obstruction just four times in a defensive masterclass.

‘‘She just controlled the circle. She patrolled the circle tonight. It was absolutely fantastic to watch,’’ Alexander said.

Only once in the match did the contest look to be slipping from Australia’s grasp – the third-quarter spell when Folau (31/41) sank six shots without reply to whittle the Diamonds’ lead from 10 to four.

The four-Test series now heads to Sydney and Perth, where wins will allow Australia to retain the trans-Tasman trophy for the seventh-straight time.

‘‘We’ve put ourselves in a great position now for the rest of the series,’’ Alexander said. ‘‘We’ll go home and land and feel like winners.’’

While the Diamonds boasted historical dominance over the Kiwis, New Zealand had won the previous two hitouts – including the World Cup final – by a single goal.

So when Bassett missed her first effort of the night to the delight of the sold-out crowd, the Kiwis were confident.

It was the only time they led all night. Australia shot at 100 per cent for the rest of the quarter and kept up their sharpness.

Together with Jo Weston, Bruce showed superb intensity inside the circle.

Australia’s three-goal quarter-time lead was whittled to one when a contentious stepping call on Tippett went against the goal attack.

But the Diamonds responded, with Bruce leading the way. Her three first-half intercepts each led to Australian goals, helping the visitors to a five-goal lead at the break.

Maria Folau did her best to spark something for the Silver Ferns

Tippett was rested as one of three half-time changes, allowing Philip to return to international netball for the first time in three years.

Alexander’s switch-ups didn’t slow Australia, who soon boasted a 10-goal lead that should have killed the contest.

Instead, Folau roared the Silver Ferns to life with a superb run.

The veteran attacker had a chance to narrow the lead to three on the eve of the last change, only to miss a long-range effort to end a damaging streak.

Bassett sat out the fourth quarter, with Philip deputising superbly as the Diamonds shut out hopes of a Kiwi comeback.

Source: smh.com.au

For a perfect playing surface every time, contact Nellakir on 03 9467 6126 and book our premium scheduled professional court cleaning program for your facility. Ultimately, with proper regular cleaning, annual maintenance costs can be reduced and unnecessary costly damage avoided. Nellakir are the leading experts in the construction and maintenance of all Timber Sports Flooring in both Victoria and Tasmania.

Visit our website and leave your contact details for further information on all aspects of Sprung Timber Sports Flooring Construction. Nellakir use ASF/Horner Sports Flooring Systems exclusively as approved by FIBA, the international basketball body.

Nellakir – The Sports Flooring for Champions.

Nellakir helps young athletes reach their goals by providing the highest quality Sprung Timber Sports Floor playing surfaces.

Boomers On Target for Olympic Games 2020

After failing again, falling at the last hurdle, the Boomers missed out on a medal by the narrowest of margins – again, in China.

But it’s certainly not all doom and gloom in the Australian team camp with much to look forward to.

Add Ben Simmons to the mix and the gaps begin to be filled. Dante Exum, Jonah Bolden and Thon Maker will present an overall formidable team of internationals currently playing at the highest level.

Read about it here

The Boomers’ emerging generation offers hope to finally break our medal drought at the Tokyo Olympics

The Boomers failed to win a basketball World Cup medal — again.

The World Cup in China represented the Boomers’ best chance to scale the heights of men’s basketball: devoid of superstars, the United States had fallen; the powerful Serbians, too, perished after a shock loss.

But there are no guarantees in elite sport as the Boomers found out against a veteran Spanish team well-rehearsed in winning medals at major events.

Had Patty Mills not missed a late free throw in the semi-final match against Spain, we could today be hailing the Boomers as World Champions.

Instead, the Australians were dragged through an epic double-overtime loss that left them physically and emotionally drained.

So small are the margins in international basketball that the Boomers ultimately leave China empty-handed.

It was no surprise to see them settle for fourth after a predictable loss to France in the playoff for Bronze — Australia’s tank simply ran dry.

As brilliant as the Boomers campaign was through their first six matches, flaws were exposed when it mattered.

The Boomers had to rely too heavily on too few in their quest to win their first medal at a major competition.

No one could question the commitment of Patty Mills and Joe Ingles.

Mills finished as the tournament’s third leading scorer while Ingles routinely made important plays.

Yet as their minutes grew, their effectiveness diminished. Depth became an issue.

The Australians used a nine-man rotation across the tournament.

Three members of Australia’s 12-man squad — Nathan Sobey, Cameron Gliddon and David Barlow — combined for less than seven minutes of total court time.

But on the evidence of this campaign, Australia is in tremendous shape for a breakthrough performance at the 2020 Olympics.

Joe Ingles of was one of Australia’s most consistent performers at the 2019 basketball World Cup, in China.

The likes of Mills, Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova and Andrew Bogut are still hungry for international success, and while they may carry the scars of heartbreaking finishes at World Cups and Olympic Games, NBA-based reinforcements are on the way.

The game changer in Tokyo will be Ben Simmons.

The 23-year-old Philadelphia 76ers point guard is already considered the best male basketballer Australia has ever produced and is expected to make himself available for next year’s Olympic Games.

Ben Simmons will carry the hopes of a team — and a nation — at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Simmons is the future of Australian men’s basketball and his inclusion would likely lead to a seismic shift in the way the Boomers play.

If the coaching staff and team veterans embrace what he brings in playmaking, the Boomers will be feared by everyone.

Simmons has often spoken about his desire to represent his nation on the world stage. Leading Australia to a first men’s Olympic medal would be a perfect way to start.

But Simmons will not be the only fresh face expected to be available for the campaign.

If he’s fit, Dante Exum will bring plenty of speed and athleticism to the Boomers’ Olympic squad.

Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum missed the World Cup while recovering from a serious knee injury (not the first of his brief professional career) but wants in on what the Boomers are building.

Simmons’ Philadelphia teammate Jonah Bolden and Detroit big man Thon Maker are both expected to be available. Australia could effectively field a 12-man team made up entirely of overseas-based players.

At 7ft 1in (216cm), Thon Maker would definitely bolster the Boomers’ big man stocks at Tokyo.

Of course, much can happen between now and Tokyo 2020.

Just ask USA basketball about the vagaries of player availability; of the 35 players initially selected in the USA’s player pool for the World Cup, only four ended up on the final roster — largely due to player drop-outs.

Unfortunately for the Boomers and every other Olympic basketball nation, the embarrassment of a 7th-placed finish for Team USA will spur America’s legion of NBA superstars to restore dignity at international level.

Team USA will be out to atone for their miserable World Cup showing at the Tokyo Olympics.

The household names will be back and the desire to dominate will return.

So while Australia’s medal chances have never been brighter, Olympic gold may remain elusive.

Source: abc.net.au

Nellakir applaud the efforts of the Boomers and wish them well in their pre-Olympic preparation.

For expert construction, installation, maintenance and scheduled cleaning of all high performance Timber Sports Flooring call Nellakir now for a free no-obligation quote. Call 03 9467 6126 or leave your details here for a prompt reply.

Nellakir – Sports Flooring for Champions

Nellakir helps young athletes reach their goals by providing the highest quality Sprung Timber Sports Floor playing surfaces.

Boomers VS Team USA Games 1 and 2 at Marvel Stadium

The first exhibition game between the Boomers and Team USA is scheduled for Thursday night, the 22nd of August at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. Most likely by the time you’ve read this the game will have been played and won. For many the absence of the biggest names from the NBA has been a sore point, with angry fans requesting refunds and many seats still available. From the outside, it could be said that maybe Basketball as a sport is the loser in what appears to be a bit of a fan debacle.

But not so? Read this excellent appraisal from the Roar

Anger over the Australia-USA exhibition match debacle ramped up this week as the ACCC became involved in helping frustrated fans get ticket refunds for the historic two-game series.

With multiple Team USA stars pulling out of games, fans have claimed they were misled by false advertising campaigns that included a number of NBA superstars. Even when the actual USA squad was announced it featured stars like James Harden, Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard. And the Aussie team was set to include NBA stars Ben Simmons, Jonah Bolden and Dante Exum. However, just one day out from the first game at Marvel Stadium, all of these players have made themselves unavailable for a variety of reasons.

Who would have thought 12 months ago, when the plan to bring the NBA’s biggest stars to Melbourne was front-page news, that we’d find ourselves in this position? The games still have many seats available and there are sure to be more empty seats if people get their desired refunds.

It’s a sad state of affairs for what was supposed to be a game changer for Australian basketball.

The big question is: is all this hoopla (pun intended) justified? Or is the anger of these so-called fans simply misguided?

Rather than focus on what’s missing, let’s take a look at what’s still in play. On Thursday night, arguably the best Australian basketball team ever assembled will play in front of the biggest crowd ever seen for a game on these shores. Yes, Simmons is missing. So is Exum, Bolden and Thon Maker. Don’t forget Ryan Broekhoff too. But it is a credit to Aussie hoops that even with those outs the Boomers will still field a team that includes six players with NBA experience, including two with championship rings.

You have Andrew Bogut, the No. 1 draft pick of 2005 and a championship player. You have Matthew Dellavedova, another champion who is notorious for his aggressive and physical style of play. You’ve got Joe Ingles of the Utah Jazz, a player who has excelled in Australia and in Europe and who is now a phenomenon in America known for his sharpshooting.

You’ve got Patty Mills, a veteran point guard of the San Antonio Spurs who continues to contribute to both club and country in so many ways. Throw in Aron Baynes and Mitch Creek and you’ve got six NBA stars – and the word star is completely justified for all these guys. And that’s not to mention the NBL stars like Chris Goulding and European star Jock Landale. This is no amateur team.

On the other side you’ve got what many might call a second-string USA team. But that team includes Donovan Mitchell, Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum as well as Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Khris Middleton. Yes, the US won’t field its best team, but the team they will field is still filled with NBA talent. It’s a younger team, but many of these guys are the future of the NBA.

As for the game itself, the same crew that convert football stadiums for NCAA final four games will take the reigns at Marvel. Massive multimedia screens and an NBA-worthy court setup will make this an experience like nothing seen in Australia. And everything else aside, these are the final hit=outs for two teams considered medal hopes for the upcoming World Cup. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of this?

The problem we have here is that Aussie fans are still too focused on the NBA. The National Basketball Association is arguably the biggest, most profitable and most popular sporting product in the world – in fact it is probably one of the biggest entertainment products full stop. There is no other basketball competition in the world that comes close to the NBA. The flow-on effect for Australia is that most Australian fans are more interested in the NBA than our local competition.

The truth of the matter is that many Aussie hoop ‘fans’ wouldn’t be able to tell you who plays for the Opals, who our best local players are or even who won the NBL championship last year (shock, horror!). The sad reality is that when these exhibition games were announced, many fans chose to view it as an NBA extravaganza rather than a historic, home-soil match for our Boomers ahead of an extremely important World Cup campaign. And now that Little Johnny won’t get to see LeBron James or Steph Curry play, what’s the point of going?

It’s even sadder given Australian basketball is thriving at the moment. You might even say it’s the best it’s ever been. NBA representation aside, the local game is going gangbusters. The NBL has reached new heights with international acclaim, fantastic media coverage, a new free-to-air deal with SBS, an extremely competitive competition players across the world are looking at and huge signings, including two of the biggest NBA prospects in America

We’ve just crowned champions in the inaugural NBL1, a new feeder series that gives the best men and women ballers in the country the opportunity to showcase their skills. On the international stage we’ve seen recent medals for the Opals, under-19 girls, under-17 girls, men’s and women’s 3×3 teams and the Rollers wheelchair team. Participation and interest in basketball is at an all-time high across the country.

It’s sad to think that even with all this positivity fans are still not interested enough in Aussie hoops to want to sit courtside and cheer on our lads on one of the biggest stages possible. It is an insult to Australian basketball that people are turning their back on these games. Yes, ticket prices are expensive and, yes, we were misguided by advertising, but we’re still getting a pretty bloody good deal. We should be throwing our full support behind it regardless of how many NBA players show up.

We should be showing the world how much we care about the sport. Instead, I fear that there will be a lot of empty seats at Marvel Stadium on Thursday and Saturday, and while it will still be a spectacle and a fitting send-off for both teams as they head to China, it could have been so much more. A sad state of affairs indeed.

Source: theroar.com.au

Nellakir are Victoria and Tasmania’s leading experts in the construction, maintenance and cleaning of premium Sprung Timber Sports Flooring. All courts are built and maintained to current FIBA standards and use ASF/Horner Flooring Systems exclusively.

For a premium playing surface, call Nellakir now on 03 9467 6126 or leave your details here for a prompt reply. Enquire about a complete refurbishment of your playing surface or simply schedule the ultimate in professional Court Cleaning.

Nellakir – The Sports Flooring of Champions.

Nellakir helps young athletes reach their goals by providing the highest quality Sprung Timber Sports Floor playing surfaces.

Nellakir Powers On – Ben Simmons doesn’t miss a beat.

In India there’s a saying; “When the dogs are barking, the elephant keeps walking”. So it is with Ben Simmons – conservative commentators have been lashing out at him during his current visit based on some very irrational thinking. When he was denied entry to Crown, the press runs the story ‘he’s making it up’. When thousands turn up to greet him after his camp in Sydney – ‘he ignored them’.

Sorry but not good enough. People of fame have walked into Crown intoxicated, barely dressed and abusive – quite simply this was a stuff-up. Simmons was sober, casually dressed and controlled.

Ben just takes it in his stride.

Read about it here:

Once again, we rejoice in cutting down a tall poppy

Australia should be building up Ben Simmons, not tearing him down. After all, not only is he our richest athlete, he may also be our most important.

Some sections of the Australian media seem hell-bent on hurling condemnation at him for supposedly making a meal of his trip back to Australia, with shock-jock Alan Jones making the baffling claim that Simmons should “go back to America and stay there”.

It seems Jones and other commentators have not enjoyed Simmons’ trip at all. They’re unimpressed that, when refused entry to Crown casino, he claimed it was a result of racial profiling.

Others thought him precious for “storming” out of an interview with Channel Seven’s Campbell Brown after a joke about the Crown racism incident fell flat. Football commentator Kane Cornes even said he was “sick of Ben Simmons”.

But it’s the rage about him charging $200 a head for a basketball camp and then apparently “sneaking out” early that really smacks of Australia’s obsession with tearing down our international success stories.

The haters lined up to shoot him down for charging $200 after he recently signed a $243 million five-year contract with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers.

Because of all of this, Jones has claimed Simmons “has lost a lot of people very quickly”.

What a load of rubbish. Just because Simmons is wealthy, it doesn’t mean he owes us something and it certainly doesn’t mean he now has to work for free. There are plenty of wealthy sportspeople and media types charging a small fortune to appear at sportsmen’s nights and other community functions, and nobody seems to bat an eyelid at that. Should they also work for free?

Simmons is an international superstar and doesn’t have to come back to Australia. In fact, he could be anywhere in the world doing anything he wants.

The fact he’s chosen to come home should be celebrated, and harnessed to encourage kids to get out and play.

In an age when kids are regularly glued to their screens and too often isolated and shut away from the world, international superstars such as Simmons have the ability to do far more good than harm.

What many of these haters don’t realise is that times are changing. No longer are younger fans obsessed only with Australia’s traditional sports. Increasingly, they’re gravitating to overseas sports with a truly global appeal. They’re fascinated by megastars who earn truckloads of money and who have millions of social media followers around the world.

In fact, many follow stars and brands more than teams.

Simmons is a bona fide basketball star. Furthermore, he’s a star of a sport that’s played by more kids in Australia than cricket, Australian football and rugby league. And he’s playing in a competition, the NBA, that has more subscribers to its streaming service per capita in Australia than any other nation in the world.

And yet, instead of encouraging him to help get kids off the couch and onto the basketball court, where they can be active, socialise and form meaningful friendships and communities, we’ve tried to chase him out of the country.

Sadly, the behaviour and sentiment showed towards Simmons is not unique. Australian golfing legend Greg Norman once remarked that if someone in America bought a sports car, other Americans would say “nice car”; if someone in Australia bought a sports car, other Australians would scratch it.

Source: smh.com.au

Meanwhile Nellakir has been awarded two new VBSA contracts at Casey Field School and another at Clyde North Primary School. These will be purpose built Sprung Timber Sports Flooring School Basketball Courts. It has also been awarded the Victorian Netball contract at Royal Park to build 6 new premium competition courts. Add to this two replacement courts – one at Richmond High School, the other at Wesley College Elsternwick. And lastly, the new Cleaning Service from Nellakir has kicked off with contracts in Cragieburn and Whittlesea.

It’s simple, when you require expert service, experience and simply the best in materials and equipment, call Nellakir on 03 9467 6126 or leave your details here for a prompt reply.

Nellakir – Victoria and Tasmania’s leading experts in the Construction, Maintenance and Cleaning of Premium Timber Sports Flooring.

Nellakir – Sports Flooring for Champions.

Nellakir helps young athletes reach their goals by providing the highest quality Sprung Timber Sports Floor playing surfaces.