With the NBA finals upon us, it is time to revisit the idea of a legitimate world club basketball championship.
Why haven't the powers that be made this idea a priority? The popularity of this event seems so evident given this age of globalisation and the growth of basketball's global fan base.
Both baseball and ice hockey have enjoyed considerable success with their world competitions featuring top professionals representing their countries of birth.
Baseball fans watched games taking place around the world, culminating in a final series in the United States. Ice hockey's world cup followed on the heels of the successful Canada Cup series and is slated to take place again in 2011.
While basketball has similar events, such as the world championships for national teams, the sport also had a club world cup at one point. From 1966 to 1987, top clubs competed for the Intercontinental Cup and then from 1987 to 1999, top clubs, including the NBA's best, competed for the McDonald's Championship in Paris. These events no longer exist.
The winners of the NBA final have long been called the world champions. This misnomer was excusable because the league does have most of the top players in the world and as such it is within reason to make such claims of grandeur.
With the faltering US economy and the devalued US dollar, the time is now to consider the possibility of reviving the event. For the first time in generations, the US-based basketball clubs are facing competition for their talent.
Whereas in the past the NBA could offer top dollar to the world's best players, we may very well be entering an era where clubs in Europe, the Middle East and Asia are far more likely to have the funds to tempt them away. Last summer we had a glimpse of this possible scenario when the Greek club Olympiakos lured the then Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Childress.
The Hawks were not prepared to offer the money the Greeks put forward.
As players travel farther afield to sign with the highest bidder, the NBA as a central hub of talent will cease to be the case. If the riches offered in leagues from Spain to Turkey to China do indeed sway top athletes, the NBA championships will eventually become just another regional league title.
Simply put, the NBA are only a global league because they offer the most money. If this changes, basketball fans around the globe will become more and more inclined to want to see the best compete for a true world title.
The fact that in 2009 there is no cup-winners' series between the NBA and European league champions is a missed business opportunity. For the past few years, the NBA clubs have struggled to beat the European clubs in their friendly matches. While this is not to suggest the NBA and European basketball are now on par, the disparity is becoming less significant.
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) have now planned a club world cup in 2010 in China, albeit without the participation of a European, NBA or Chinese league champion. It hardly seems worthwhile to run such an event without the involvement of the three most important basketball regions.
What is needed to pull off an event of this nature is: a big-time sponsor, a broadcasting network, the cooperation of both FIBA and the NBA, and an agreed location. This has all been done before. Given the economic climate, it is unlikely such an event could take place in the western world. Abu Dhabi is already set to host the Fifa Club World Cup.
Why not add a basketball world cup to the list of world-class events in the UAE?
gdole@thenational.ae
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Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Scoreline
Syria 1-1 Australia
Syria Al Somah 85'
Australia Kruse 40'
Super Bowl LIII schedule
What Super Bowl LIII
Who is playing New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams
Where Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When Sunday (start time is 3.30am on Monday UAE time)
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
