Take it to the hole!

My friend Cikku was falling through a sea of prickly pears. That he was falling was worrying enough, but Cikku didn't really want to be on the receiving end of hundreds of skin pricking cactus spines.

Becoming a pincushion just wasn't one of his ambitions!

Despite his obvious reluctance, gravity continued to exert a force on him and he continued to fall. As the piercing fruit engulfed him, Cikku wondered what he had done to deserve this, and how he had suddenly found himself in this predicament.

All of a sudden Cikku felt a blunt object hit him just above the hipbone, forcing him to wake up to the drone of the voice that had originally put him to sleep. Then he remembered he was at the Sports Hall at the University of Malta, celebrating his sister's graduation...

You got the point?

While the Malta Basketball Association struggles to come to terms with the destruction of the flooring at Ta' Qali, the best available parquet floor in the islands was covered in a blue carpet, and became the site for the graduation ceremonies that dominated this week at the University.

The powers that be did attempt to prevent damage to the floor and students were informed that those wearing stiletto heels would not be allowed into the hall.

Some chance! Either those receiving diplomas, degrees and doctorates have not acquired the ability to read in English, they failed to read the instructions given or totally ignored this warning, knowing that the threat to exclude them from the ceremony would not be carried out.

Whatever the reason, there were several females present who tottered forth awaiting the culmination of their studies while balancing on heels that wouldn't cover a two-cent piece!

The University Sports Hall took so many years to build but it looks like that bad management will bring it down much, much quicker!

Uploading

Despite the water-caused hiccoughs at the beginning of the season the senior leagues are now well under way.

Unfortunately, however, some things still have to come back to normal. I have received several emails commenting on the fact that match scores have not yet been posted on the official website of the MBA.

Last season www.mba.org.mt was regularly updated with the scores and tables of the various categories. Hopefully, this service will be restarted since it attracted several people to the site.

What time is it?

Er... well... I am not quite sure!

Despite constant efforts to keep the scoreboard at Kordin functioning, it still is having the occasional blackout.

During some games the time has had to be kept on mobile phones or stopwatches.

Perhaps the MBA can come up with an alternative clock that can be seen by both coaches.

A back-up analog clock used to be available at Ta' Qali some years back, perhaps a similar back-up could be found for Kordin.

All-Stars!

This week my mailbox contained several enquiries about the Maltahoops All-Star Afternoon, which was held last December.

This fund-raising activity, in aid of the YMCA, was a big success and provided the first-ever Slam Dunk Competition to be held in Malta.

Due to the late start to the season it has been decided to hold the second Maltahoops All-Star Afternoon (or it might even be weekend) at a later date, most probably on Easter Sunday.

Further details about this activity will be posted at www.maltahoops.cjb.net in the near future.

Stephen Buttigieg may be contacted at coachsteveishere@hotmail.com