Basketball: Basketball is not so hot right now. The GAA season is reaching a crescendo and along with a World Cup year in rugby cranking into gear, there are precious few column inches to spare to update the public on Ireland's sole NBA star Pat Burke.
However, Gaelic football has aided basketball's ailing fortunes by dragging two Superleague stars into the limelight. On Sunday week Ronan McGarrity of Mayo may be asked to stymie the phenomenon that is Kerry's early Christmas present Kieran Donaghy. The Tralee Tiger contesting high ball with Ballina's former collegiate hoopster is an enthralling possibility.
Basketball's problem is lost momentum. Twelve months ago the American-born contributors dragged the national team within touching distance of promotion to Europe's top tier only for Denmark to claw back a 14-point deficit in the away leg.
The Phoenix Suns pre-season coincided with the most important game in Irish basketball history. After some inspiring performances, Burke's mighty frame was absent from the controversial defeat in Aarhus. "It was very disappointing. I was in Phoenix just killing myself waiting for something to pop up on the internet and when it finally did I could not believe it. I sat there staring at the screen saying this has got to be wrong. I thought we'd win for sure. We went to Denmark with some momentum and I thought we would advance," said Burke.
The Danish experience means Ireland must start the two-year, two-legged process from scratch. Burke returned to camp last month ahead of last Sunday's disappointing one-basket defeat to Switzerland in Geneva. That result makes tomorrow's game against Romania (RTÉ are transmitting live from the National Arena in Tallaght) and the following Saturday's visit of Cyprus must-win affairs. New head coach Greg Gurr has melted some home-grown talent into the mix this summer.
"Two victories over the next two games are essential. It's the first leg of the campaign and we need to do really well. The window of opportunity is closing, as these guys do get older. Dan Callaghan, Marty Conlon and, although I hate to admit it, myself," said Burke.
At 32, one wonders why he risks serious injury in the international game, especially considering a pinched nerve in his shoulder restricted him to just eight minutes in the 2005 NBA season. "I come back (each year) because I love playing for Ireland. It's your heritage. It's your family. The team we have could stir up Irish basketball," he said.
