KENNY Of THE HOOPS
Kenny McFadden's premature death is a blow to NZ basketball at the highest levels and a blow to Wellington region basketball player development at all levels.
Kenny was not quite the trailblazer as portrayed as that merit goes to another American super guard Clyde ( The Glide) Huntley who preceded Kenny by a year.
The clashes that Kenny and Clyde had in playing for rival clubs were scintillating and legendary and Kenny not always played the better.
Always sketched in my mind was the famous triple time 3 pointer for Wellington Saints to beat Auckland in the NBL final at the Show Grounds stadium. McFadden rose towards the stadium roof and shot from way out with Frank Mulvihill providing a telling screen, just as the full time buzzer sounded.
The Sunday Times held up its entire production so I could hurriedly phone in over 2000 words with no notes on this "game of the century".
The paper left out my byline in error but I did get the NZ basketball writer of the year prize largely because of the review.
Kenny retired from the NBL a winner and could have easily coached the NZ men's ( or women's) teams at international level but he decided to keep local his lifestyle and loyalties. The likes of Huntley and Kenny should have won the lottery of selection for NBA (American) basketball but instead claimed and retained fame by being superstars in the NZ environment.
Poll: Do you think banning gang patches is reasonable?
With the government cracking down on gangs, it is now illegal for gang members to display their insignia in public places whether through clothing or their property.
This means arrests can be made if these patches are worn in places like restaurants, shops, on public transport or ferries, and on airplanes. Arrests were made recently at a funeral.
Do you think this ban is reasonable?
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77.1% Yes
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22% No
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0.9% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
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