Wrote an article for SLAM Online that was approved and published today-featuring the Back British Basketball campaign and film!
This Thursday sees both the GB men and Women’s team with an opportunity to seal their qualification into Eurobasket 2011 at the Echo Arena, Liverpool…what that means is they need our support/noise/craziness more than ever!
We were planning on switching up things slightly for this week’s Dog Pound but due to unforseen circumstances it hasn’t been possible so I will say this-
We are trying our hardest to make this section work and if people used it the way it is meant to be used it could be absolutely awesome (like the first game we did it). The whole point of it is to have one section of 100 people together, joining forces to support GB by making noise and really getting behind them, leading chants and getting the whole arena going. So if you put your name below, bear this in mind;
1) You must show up! Don’t put your name down in the hope you can get down there without actually knowing or not if you can make it-you take up someone elses place who could be there making noise.
2) You must sit in the Dog Pound-you are not free to move around the arena into other empty seats.
3) You must make noise! The reason you are getting these free tickets is in return for creating an atmosphere…if you plan on geting a freebie and sitting there in silence, it will not go down well and we WILL call you up on it.
4) If you are not there by 7pm (half an hour before the men’s tip-we would do this before the women’s game but understand some people might still be at work), we will be giving your seats away to other people in the arena who want to be in the Dog Pound. Not there by 7pm=won’t be allowed in.
I know the vast majority have been true Balldogs, but it’s a pity a small minority have been taking the piss. Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen on Thursday!
With all that said…if YOU want to be in amongst the craziest, rowdiest fans in the arena-drop your FULL name below (fill out a correct email as well please).
GB Women vs Germany 4.30pm, GB Men vs Bosnia & Herzegovina 7.30pm-Echo Arena, Liverpool
LET’S DO THIS!
There were mixed results for the GB men and women’s teams last night.
The Men suffered a setback when they were routed by Macedonia 75-56, in a game which would have seen them qualify for Eurobasket 2011 had they been victorious. Pops Mensah-Bonsu led GB with a 17 point, 13 rebound double double. The GB Men will now look to win their remaining two games to qualify at the top of their group over Macedonia who have two losses and are there closest rivals. Their at home this Thursday-we need to get the place ROCKING! BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!
So the BBB campaign got another bit of press yesterday, making the pages of the Wall Street Journal.
“Why do the British Stink at Basketball?”
Last time I checked we were 5-1, sitting at the top of our qualifying group and well on our way to qualifying for Eurobasket 2011. All I can say? We’ll show em.
GB’s doubleheader this Thursday in Liverpool, the last home games, will effectively be the culmination of the last two months of the BBB campaign. The campaign has definitely been building throughout and that’s why in Liverpool we are determined to go out with a bang.
We have three days to ensure GB leave the UK for their final away games with the British home support at the forefront of their mind.
What does this mean? As always, it needs a collective effort. Have YOU got your tickets for the game yet? (Don’t wait on freebies for the Dog Pound as we are switching that up a little bit). Have you told all your friends and family about the games? Are you resting your voice so it’s ready to go absolutely beserk on Thursday? You got your hands on noisemaking instruments? Union Jack flags? Facepaint? White tshirts?!
If you’re not able to make it to Liverpool for whatever reason, are you a member of the BBB facebook page? Have you suggested it to all your friends? Are you following BBB on Twitter? Have you watched all the BBB videos on Youtube? (We need to get to 100,000 views-spread them!). Are you contacting local media outlets asking them to cover GB basketball? Are you hassling celebrities on Twitter/via email? Calling into radio stations? Using your networks?
3 days left guys..it has been a crazy couple of months, long, fun, educational, sometimes frustrating, and exciting journey but it all comes down to this-we need everyone to back it! Let’s make this Thursday one to remember.
Spread the word.
Eurobasket 2009, Team GB take on World Champions Spain. NOBODY gave us a chance.
As we went down 12-0 to start the game it looked as if the doubters would be proved right, but as the game went on, Spain just couldn’t put us away. Then out of nowhere we went on a crazy 14-2 run, taking the lead on a Mike Lenzly three pointer with 6 and a half minutes remaining. The place was going beserk, and even the neutrals in the crowd started backing GB.
Even though ultimately we came up short, it is a game that has now gone into the archives as the almost greatest moment in basketball history. Check the video-all the best bits, rammed into under 5 minutes. Spread it (and help us get closer achieving our 9th commandment!)
For those who missed the Channel 4 broadcast of GB men vs Ukraine this morning, they uploaded it onto their Youtube channel for viewing.
Massive shout out to all the Balldogs in the Dog Pound for this game-we can be heard!
If you don’t want to sit there for 50 minutes watching the whole thing and are more interested in the Back British Basketball efforts (you can of course hear the chants throughout)..
Sunday morning (tomorrow, 22nd August) make sure you’re tuned in to Channel 4 at 7am (I know a little early) to watch their highlights programme of the GB men vs Ukraine as well as a special Back British Basketball half time interview 
! Spread the word!
In front of a capacity crowd at Surrey Sports Park, Guildford, the GB women beat Ukraine 57-49 yesterday, in a game that looked like it could have been a disaster after me and Sillky got told off by the commissioner for sitting behind the Ukraine bench with a drum and megaphone (we moved and continued to make noise elsewhere)!
The team are now in a three way tie with Slovak Republic and Germany at the halfway point of their qualifying campaign.
Jo Leedham led the way for GB as she finished with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals. Natalie Stafford added ten points, four steals, three assists and as many rebounds, while Azania Stewart had nine points and five boards.
BOOM! Big up the GB Women!
