Ball game builds the fever

OPINION: I'm a touch excited to be honest, writes Logan Savory in this week's Sav's Say.

Not only are we less than 24 hours from the jolly red man committing home invasion on us all again, today I get the chance to dust off the lawn bowls and spend Christmas Eve with some of life's more intriguing people at a social tournament at the Waihopai Bowling Club.

They're the sort of people who are quick to use their one-off diversion in court at an early age but turn out to be well respected people in our society.

However, to pull this column back to a real sporting discussion, at the moment I'm actually a touch excited about Southland having a team in the National Basketball League next year.

I'm far from a basketball expert – or even fan for that matter – but the thought of spending a Friday night watching Southland go head-to-head with, say, Canterbury does have appeal.

Young Southlanders are always crying out for things to do to pass their Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

With the risk of coming across like a late night infomercial, $10 (or $5 for children) makes basketball a prime opportunity for entertainment that hasn't been around for a while.

We do have the Southern Steel netball team, which is well followed in the months of March and April, but I would suggest the Southland Sharks will appeal to a different demographic.

Without wanting to offend too many people, the Steel generally draw in the older knitting brigade.

However, the Sharks will probably pull in the younger folk who are intent on wearing their hats the wrong way around and texting people standing just 5m away.

I have no doubt the Sharks have the potential to boom in Southland but it won't just happen by going through the motions.

The decision-makers need to get it right, and get it right from the outset.

No-one expects the team to blast everyone off the court in year one but the Sharks can't be a flop first up.

People will support this side early in the season next year simply because of the novelty factor.

Whether they keep coming back will hinge on a few factors:1. The team must show some positive signs on the court early.2. The players have to engage with the public between games and create a sense of parochial provincial pride.3. Youngsters need to see there is a pathway from school to the Sharks. Just follow Rugby Southland's recent blueprint and the Sharks board can't go too far wrong.

It won't worry the basketball purists but to keep attracting the non-basketball folk to each home game I also believe it needs to be viewed as an entertainment package rather than just game of basketball.

Merry Christmas to all, from Sav's Say.

» Logan Savory is a former Southland cricket representative who was named New Zealand junior sportswriter of the year at the 2007 TP McLean journalism awards. His main rounds are cricket and rugby.

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