http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=71259
Bogut could soon have everyone offside
Wednesday Nov 9 15:00 AEST
OPINION | By Julian De Stoop
National Nine News sports reporter
Andrew Bogut, the 213cm giant from Endeavour Hills in Melbourne, has made a good start to his career in NBA basketball.
The 20-year-old, who shot to fame after being selected with the number one pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in June's NBA draft, has played a key role in two of the Bucks' three victories so far this season.
In his first game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Bogut scored 13 points and hauled down nine rebounds, while in his second game against the New Jersey Nets he scored 10 points and collected an impressive 17 rebounds.
Every indication is that Bogut will be a star in one of the world's most high profile sporting leagues, the NBA, something no other Australian has been able to do.
Another giant, Luc Longley, has been our most successful player in the NBA. He played in three championship teams with the Michael-Jordan-led Chicago Bulls, but was never a star.
Chris Anstey, Mark Bradke, Shane Heal and Andrew Gaze all had short stints in the NBA but never made a significant impact.
If Bogut lives up to all the hype, he will enjoy a profile as high as other leading exports Greg Norman and Harry Kewell. Bogut has the chance to be the first Australian to dominate in one of the US's three big sports, basketball, baseball and gridiron. It's frightening how big and how popular and how marketable he could be.
But if his first few months in the spotlight are anything to go by, he would be well advised to let his basketball do the talking. Bogut hasn't exactly endeared himself to the Australian public with his comments in recent times.
For example, in the lead-up to the NBA draft, he was asked to compare himself to his fellow countryman Luc Longley.
"I've had a better collegiate career than anyone else from Australia that came over here," Bogut said. "I'm not as slow as Luc Longley, I'm more athletic, I can shoot better, I'm more competitive. So I think it's not even fair to bring that name up."
Understandably, Longley wasn't impressed. "I'm disappointed for him that he has made such a clumsy start," he said. "He's inexperienced and got caught out. I'd like to see him do well and if he's as good as he says he is and I'm expecting genius he should make it. But the signs are not good so far."
While Bogut clearly got the Australian public and Longley offside with his comments, he also doesn't seem popular with some of his teammates in the Australian basketball team.
"I would like to think there are three or four Aussies better than him [Bogut] right now," Chris Anstey said. "If he reaches the potential that Luc did, with three rings, then he will have done well."
Fast forward a few months and it seems Bogut has put his foot in his mouth again just at a time when he was receiving praise for the start he has made to his NBA career.
He said in the New York Times this week: "There's a lot of pressure from Australia The first two games it was good to get some numbers to shut up the media. There are people who don't want me to succeed. People in Australia who don't like that I'm proud of my Croatian heritage, maybe people in Croatia who don't like that I'm from Australia."
Keep this up and Bogut will soon have everyone offside.
Australians love to see their sportsmen succeed overseas, but that's exactly what they want them to be sportsmen. They want athletes who are humble, respectful of their fellow countrymen and proud of their country.
Sadly it appears Bogut is none of these things.
We all know NBA players and American sportsmen in general are brash and sometimes outspoken, but there is a fine line. If Bogut continues to criticise those who have gone before him and his country, we will all be wishing he doesn't succeed, which would be sad. His achievements should make us proud, not wince.
If he isn't careful he could follow in the footsteps of Aaron Baddeley. The young Victorian golfer had the world at his feet when he won two Australian Opens before the age of his 20. But his brashness and perceived arrogant attitude, rightly or wrongly, quickly turned the Australian public off him.
Basketball officials in this country will certainly be hoping Bogut learns to bite his tongue. The game in this country is at an all-time low, with no free-to-air TV coverage and falling attendances. The game desperately needs a star and, on ability alone, Bogut fits the bill, but unfortunately his attitude doesn't at this stage.
In his favour is that he's only 20 years old and has plenty of time to learn. Hopefully he will, because he has so much to lose.
Personally I think Anstey's comments about there being better Australian Basketballers is just a case of sour grapes from a once NBA reject. Weather Bogut goes well or not is really up to him. I think he can go far and bring Milwaukee (providing they keep him and the team) a championship in years to come.
Bogut could soon have everyone offside
Wednesday Nov 9 15:00 AEST
OPINION | By Julian De Stoop
National Nine News sports reporter
Andrew Bogut, the 213cm giant from Endeavour Hills in Melbourne, has made a good start to his career in NBA basketball.
The 20-year-old, who shot to fame after being selected with the number one pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in June's NBA draft, has played a key role in two of the Bucks' three victories so far this season.
In his first game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Bogut scored 13 points and hauled down nine rebounds, while in his second game against the New Jersey Nets he scored 10 points and collected an impressive 17 rebounds.
Every indication is that Bogut will be a star in one of the world's most high profile sporting leagues, the NBA, something no other Australian has been able to do.
Another giant, Luc Longley, has been our most successful player in the NBA. He played in three championship teams with the Michael-Jordan-led Chicago Bulls, but was never a star.
Chris Anstey, Mark Bradke, Shane Heal and Andrew Gaze all had short stints in the NBA but never made a significant impact.
If Bogut lives up to all the hype, he will enjoy a profile as high as other leading exports Greg Norman and Harry Kewell. Bogut has the chance to be the first Australian to dominate in one of the US's three big sports, basketball, baseball and gridiron. It's frightening how big and how popular and how marketable he could be.
But if his first few months in the spotlight are anything to go by, he would be well advised to let his basketball do the talking. Bogut hasn't exactly endeared himself to the Australian public with his comments in recent times.
For example, in the lead-up to the NBA draft, he was asked to compare himself to his fellow countryman Luc Longley.
"I've had a better collegiate career than anyone else from Australia that came over here," Bogut said. "I'm not as slow as Luc Longley, I'm more athletic, I can shoot better, I'm more competitive. So I think it's not even fair to bring that name up."
Understandably, Longley wasn't impressed. "I'm disappointed for him that he has made such a clumsy start," he said. "He's inexperienced and got caught out. I'd like to see him do well and if he's as good as he says he is and I'm expecting genius he should make it. But the signs are not good so far."
While Bogut clearly got the Australian public and Longley offside with his comments, he also doesn't seem popular with some of his teammates in the Australian basketball team.
"I would like to think there are three or four Aussies better than him [Bogut] right now," Chris Anstey said. "If he reaches the potential that Luc did, with three rings, then he will have done well."
Fast forward a few months and it seems Bogut has put his foot in his mouth again just at a time when he was receiving praise for the start he has made to his NBA career.
He said in the New York Times this week: "There's a lot of pressure from Australia The first two games it was good to get some numbers to shut up the media. There are people who don't want me to succeed. People in Australia who don't like that I'm proud of my Croatian heritage, maybe people in Croatia who don't like that I'm from Australia."
Keep this up and Bogut will soon have everyone offside.
Australians love to see their sportsmen succeed overseas, but that's exactly what they want them to be sportsmen. They want athletes who are humble, respectful of their fellow countrymen and proud of their country.
Sadly it appears Bogut is none of these things.
We all know NBA players and American sportsmen in general are brash and sometimes outspoken, but there is a fine line. If Bogut continues to criticise those who have gone before him and his country, we will all be wishing he doesn't succeed, which would be sad. His achievements should make us proud, not wince.
If he isn't careful he could follow in the footsteps of Aaron Baddeley. The young Victorian golfer had the world at his feet when he won two Australian Opens before the age of his 20. But his brashness and perceived arrogant attitude, rightly or wrongly, quickly turned the Australian public off him.
Basketball officials in this country will certainly be hoping Bogut learns to bite his tongue. The game in this country is at an all-time low, with no free-to-air TV coverage and falling attendances. The game desperately needs a star and, on ability alone, Bogut fits the bill, but unfortunately his attitude doesn't at this stage.
In his favour is that he's only 20 years old and has plenty of time to learn. Hopefully he will, because he has so much to lose.
Personally I think Anstey's comments about there being better Australian Basketballers is just a case of sour grapes from a once NBA reject. Weather Bogut goes well or not is really up to him. I think he can go far and bring Milwaukee (providing they keep him and the team) a championship in years to come.
