By Jeff King
Whisper it carefully, then say it out loud, then write it down, then look at it closely and shake your head!!! The answer is 4,070 miles………………………………….The question is ……….. How many miles between home games?!?!?!
Eagles played at home on Friday 27th November beating The Tigers 88 – 82 and then didn’t return to The Eagles Nest more commonly known as The Metroradio Arena until 56 days later to beat the Worcester Wolves 92 – 71. Mamma Mia that’s some gap!!!
The actual mileage is taken from my front door to the venues we graced and boy did it feel like I travelled each and every one of those miles. Somewhere during that period we played 7 BBL games, lost an Assistant Coach, gained an unexpected new one and I lost the will to blog!!!
Add in the miles I travelled watching my boy play for Eagles Under-16’s as well and well, it has it been a long time since I’ve (dis)graced these pages. I just knew really that I should have done a Road Journal but for some reason I didn’t!!!
Still, I feel the juices flowing back and am ready to bring the BBL back to the fore once again. Future blogs will cover the league and some of the happenings and even a GB story or two but to get the interest going and whet your appetite a little story or two of those road trips.
The memorable unrecorded and unreported moments I guess!!!
v Leicester Riders – Saturday 28th November – Won 102 – 94
A game that looked all over at half-time as Eagles led by 15 points but Riders came back strong in the second half and levelled the game at 84 in the 4th quarter before a 9 – 1 burst gave Eagles a decisive lead and a great win.
Memorable Moment – Robbie P’s disgust at the referees and taking it out on the table and myself whilst waiting for the stats as he launched in to a tirade. Me, I accepted every single swear word and vent. After all he’s a passionate guy and just wants to win!!!
v Worthing Thunder – Saturday 5th December – Lost 90 – 104
Eagles led early by 9 and by 3 at the half before Thunder came back and looked like taking over as they surged ahead. Eagles then cut their lead to 3 at 93 – 90 before collapsing and conceding the last 11 points to sustain a disappointing defeat.
Memorable Moment – The interview with Dave Titmuss after the game as he reminded that whilst it was perhaps to that date Worthing’s biggest win of their BBL career but he’d had one or two others as a coach!!! Oh, and it was great craic to sit in ‘The Back Row’ with Swiss, Adam et all and chew the fat!!! See Swiss I was tight about Trey!!!
v London Capital – Sunday 13th December – Won 89 – 68
No Charles Smith for Eagles but no problems as they led throughout and completed an expected comfortable win.
Memorable Moment – Joint first place was Team Manager Ekka’s face when he walked in to a barely prepared changing room and ran back out looking for a cleaner and being presented with a sachet of Ginger Drink from one of the Capital table ladies, it was delicious and sorted out a Christmas present reminder for the wife!!!
v Essex Pirates – Friday 18th December – Won 97 – 46
Yes, Eagles were expected to win this game but after battling through the snow to get to Southend and then playing in a freezing cold gym this was a powerful and very emphatic performance as they crushed the Pirates. Strange stats as in the official ones, my own and the score sheet all showed something different. And yes, I watched this game standing behind the bench as we faced life without an assistant coach.
Memorable Moments – Seeing Fab blowing on his hands and the frosty breath coming out as he awaited two free-throws and debating whether to put his shooting shirt on, it was that cold!!! Simon Emerson ex-Milton Keynes shovelling ice of the leisure centre path and seeing fans in the stands wrapped in blankets.
v Guildford Heat – Sunday 27th December – Won 82 – 75
Excellent come from behind win. Eagles were down 40 – 24 at one stage but fought back well playing tough D in the end and shaking off the Christmas excesses to take a revenge win over The Heat.
Memorable Moment – Starting the game with two refs and when Fab said to Rob Hickman ‘you weren’t calling that in the first quarter’ Rob’s reply??? ‘That’s ‘cos I wasn’t here then’. Priceless!!! Oh and who was that silver haired gentleman on the Eagles bench.
v Cheshire Jets – Sunday 10th January – Won 75 – 70
Another excellent come from behind win. Eagles conceded 47 points in the first half to trail by seven. They turned up the D in the second half restricting Cheshire to just 23 points to take the win. Dave F’s first win as an assistant coach.
Memorable Moment – One game in to his new career and Forrester has only gone and lost one of Ekka’s clipboard pens already. Ekka was not happy!!!
v Worthing Thunder – Saturday 16th January – Lost 105 – 99
Up by 11 at one point in the second quarter Eagles allowed Thunder back in it in the second half. The scores were tied at 99 with six seconds to go and Eagles had the ball. Fast forward six seconds and Fab’s been ejected and Worthing have scored as many points as there were seconds left. Controversial to say the least!!!
Memorable Moment – The clipboard flying across the court??? No, the look on Swiss’ face when he realised this probably meant Dave Forrester actually coaching a game in the BBL took the honour!!!
And then we were home and it was the new-look Wolves on Friday 22nd January. Did I enjoy my first game back at The Nest after so much time away??? Hardly as time and tiredness must have took it’s toll and I was in bed ill missing only my 2nd home game in 7 years!!!
But, I’m back now!!!
The BBL Traveller
