JAMES Harvey will never forget something his parents taught him: always stick up for your mates through good and bad.

That's why he is giving this interview. He doesn't need to.

The man who has been the face of the Gold Coast Blaze for five seasons will receive almost $26,000 of the $35,518 the club still owe him.

He doesn't do too badly out of it.

Some of his mates don't do so well.

It's why after a season during which the Blaze fell one game short of the grand final, Harvey believes it is his responsibility to lift the lid on that season -- a season of deception.

He knows he will cop some flak. That's why he has provided the Bulletin with every piece of financial documentation he has been sent by the Blaze.

In an explosive interview, Harvey revealed:


Several players have not been paid superannuation since April 2011;

The Blaze did not post a $1 million bank guarantee when they were granted a licence;

The Blaze knew they may have been going into administration before the season's end but did not tell the players;

Players received payments late because money was being transferred from overseas;

He was forced to have season-ending surgery.

"I want to talk about it. I will only talk about the facts because that's what I know to be true, I can't touch on the rumours. But someone needs to go hard, too many people have been hurt, " he said.

...should not be in Australian Football.

Thanks for moving mystery mod.

2nd Melbourne, possibly named Melbourne Camouflage

lolol

Former NSW premier Kristina Keneally has confirmed she will quit politics at the end of the month to take up the job as head of Australian basketball.

In a statement issued early on Saturday morning Ms Keneally said it was time for a 'new phase in my life' after almost a decade in parliament, but added she did not take the decision to exit state politics lightly.

She will stand down as the member for Heffron in eastern Sydney on June 29 to take up the position of chief executive of Basketball Australia next month, she said.

'I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I was given to serve the community as premier and a minister,' Ms Keneally said in her statement.

'I am proud of the passion, determination and commitment that I was able to bring to my roles as local member, minister and premier.

'Even on the toughest days as premier, I always had the strength to get back up again and keep working for the people of NSW.'

The US-born MP led Labor to its worst ever defeat at the 2011 state elections, leaving the party with just 20 seats in the 93-seat Legislative Assembly.

Ms Keneally stepped down from Labor's frontbench following that defeat but vowed to serve out a full parliamentary term.

The 43-year-old served as planning minister and minister for ageing and disability in the Iemma and Rees governments, before being thrust into the top job just 15 months before last year's election.

Ms Keneally was a champion basketball player at high school, and was appointed to the board of Basketball Australia in December.

Speaking to branch members on Friday night, she did not rule out a return to politics like one of her recent Labor predecessors.

'You only need to look at the example of Bob Carr to see that people can and do return to politics in the future if they feel they can make a contribution,' News Ltd reported.

'I would never rule that out, but for the next decade of my life I imagine I'll be working in sports administration.'

In her statement she thanked her parliamentary colleagues and others in the Labor Party, aswell as her husband Ben and two sons Brendan and Daniel.

Ms Keneally said her resignation gave the embattled NSW Labor Party a chance to renew its parliamentary team.

'As premier, I put in place a determined push to renew the Labor Party's parliamentary ranks - that call for renewal applies to me just as much as it applies to anyone else,' she said.

'By stepping away now, I offer the ALP the chance to send the parliament a new and energetic member who can contribute to the next Labor government in NSW.'

News Ltd reported Labor's leader in the upper house, Luke Foley, could be parachuted in as a candidate for Heffron, but said former state Labor government adviser Michael Comninos is more likely to win a rank-and-file preselection.

Labor holds Heffron with a 7.8 per cent margin, and with the party polling at just 24 per cent of the primary vote in the latest Newspoll, and without the popular Ms Keneally standing, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell will believe the coalition has a real chance of snatching the once safe ALP seat.

Basketball Australia board member Justin Milne - who headed the organisation's search for a CEO - said Ms Keneally presented a 'complete package'.

'(She) demonstrated leadership skills, strong understanding of community, government and the private sector, and excellent communication abilities,' he said in a statement.

'Her national profile, combined with her energy and her passion for the sport, will give basketball a significant boost in Australia.'

Mr Milne said Ms Keneally would take up the post of CEO from August 3.

Australia beat number 4 in the world Greece 87-60 infront of 10,000 people at Hicense Arena

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8488872

FIBA rankings are worse than FIFA rankings. There's no way I rate Greece in the top 10. Teams like Brazil and France are outside the top 10 and are real medal threats IMO

Australia beat number 4 in the world Greece 87-60 infront of 10,000 people at Hicense Arena

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8488872

I recorded and watched a bit of it the other day, we looked good. Gee Patty Mills is all class!

Does anyone know if Bogut is playing in the Olympics?

Not a big basketball follower but I still remember that play-off last season between Cairns and NZ. Absolutely epic.

Whats the cairns sporting landscape like? NRL, AFL or NBL dominated?

AFL :lol:

QLD is a big rugby state but I'm assuming Cairns gets behinds the Taipans as well.

Actually ive always heard that Cairns is into AFL:S

Boomers r on tonight against Russia in china, will also play Tunisia and china here's schedule

http://www.nbl.com.au/news/article/2012/july/blanchfield-named-to-stankovic-cup-team/

Edited by glory recruit: 6/7/2012 04:47:21 PM

Watched the game this morning, we looked very good beating the Russians. Were these fringe players from both sides trying to make the Olympic team? Very impressed with that Jason Caddy (sp?) guard, best from either side I thought.