We were contacted by Mr.Dacosta the former Manama Caoch in the 2004-2005 season, and he gave us this interview

Salawi: Where and which team you are currently coaching?
Coach Decosta: I was coaching the Tijuana Dragons ABA USA Professional League

Salawi: In general, What is your impression about Basketball in Bahrain?
Coach Decosta: There does not seem to be a program that develops talented players early. Bahrain has good players but they have not been developed. This makes the clubs dependent on foreign talent to supplement their teams. The clubs are more interested winning games then teaching the youth players. I predict that in two or three more years the teams will need more foreign players to keep winning and the Bahraini players will not get to play.

Salawi: What are the good & bad memories about coaching in Bahrain?
Coach Decosta: In basketball I had the opportunity to teach the players of Al Manama Club the new techniques and fundamentals of USA basketball which I know they liked so much. I appreciate the organization of the Bahrain basketball and they run the clubs professionally. In particular the Al Manama club was well organized and took very good care of me and the players. The country was spectacular and the people of Bahrain were outstanding to me and my family and made us feel very comfortable.

Salawi: If you had the opportunity to coach again in Bahrain, name the players that you like to see in your team?
Coach Decosta: I pick players that are very eager to listen, practice and develop their fundamentals. There are a lot of players like that in Bahrain so; I know I would not have any trouble finding a good team!

Salawi: What were the reasons that led you in leaving Manama Club?
Coach Decosta: I had no problems with any of the staff or Al Manama Club. They were great. There were some issues with a couple players but if I had to do things over I would have handled things differently. I was wrong to leave without to have a meeting with the club and this I regret and I did not act professionally in this case.

Salawi: It seems, from your website, that you are invited & attend many BB clinics
Coach Decosta: Yes, I am invited to attend clinics and classes with some of the best coaches in USA. I am fortunate that I have become friends with many coaches and they are eager to help me improve my coaching techniques.

Salawi: Would you like to coach again in Bahrain?
Coach Decosta: Absolutely; Bahrain has a wonderful group of players and they were great students of basketball. Educating both coaches and players on how to improve their basketball is what I love doing!

Salawi: What are the actions that the Bahrain Basketball Association should take to develop Basketball in Bahrain ?
Coach Decosta: Restrict the number of foreigners allowed on each team. They need coaches that are experienced in teaching and developing players. They need to have more tournaments for the youth players to gain game experience.
They need to scout tall players from schools and see if they are interested in basketball and provide them with the tools and techniques to learn.
They need an academy where players can be sent to improve their skills and sponsored by the Basketball Association.

Salawi: Any last thoughts
Coach Decosta: I want to thank all the people of Bahrain and especially the basketball fans for treating me so nicely.

BahrainBakset: We in Bahrain Basket would like to thank Mr. Dacosta for contacting us and giving us this wonderful interview

Related Links:
Coach Dacosta Website www.jcbasketballhoops.com/

بانتهاء الالعاب المصاحبة في ابوظبي انتهت مشاركات المنتخب لموسم 2006، النتائج غير مرضية و تشكيلة المنتخب كانت دائمة التغيير ، و لم يتم الاستقرار على لاعبين معينين لضمان تطورة و تجانسة، كل بطولة جديدة كانت تقدم لنا وجوه جديدة ، و الإعتذارات فحدث بلا حرج

Picture yourself as the head coach of a Basketball team, suffering through a game of outrage:

* Your players are not listening to you
* The refs have it in for you
* The crowd is heckling you
* The opposing coach is gloating about your sorry condition
* All the hours and hours you spent in preparations and game planning are out the window as Your team seems headed for a disappointing result

In a word, you are frustrated. Sure you make a lot of money and have a seemingly glamorous lifestyle. You're under a lot of pressure though and having to wear this David Stern approved suit under the sweltering heat of the lights isn't helping any -- you're about to crack.…'EFF IT

REF, MY GUY GOT FOULED!
…YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME, THERE'S NO WAY THAT WAS 3-SECONDS!
…OH COME ON! YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS???

Then suddenly ~TWEET~ goes the whistle, the official makes the T-sign and points to you and you're in the box score on a personal level -- technical foul: Coach X.

A free throw is coming for the other team, and how is that going to play with your players when you've just been lecturing them on the importance of every point, every possession, and how "we" can give nothing away?Ah, but it's widely believed that a coach getting a technical may not be all bad. Indeed you'll hear commentators on occasion remark "That's a good T to take" and a similar view is perhaps reflected in certain veteran coaches who seem more than willing to be 'repeat offenders' if the game calls for it.First off, you have the supposed benefits of sticking up for your players and the team. Sure we may not win this game, but we're sending a message that no one is going to give us a raw deal and not get called on it. Next time out the league will give us respect.

More directly significant though is the notion that a coach getting a "T" can fire up his players for the remainder of the game, and perhaps steer the officiating back to a more shall we say favorable state

Source: NBC Sports

Basketball might be a dangerous game....Sometimes

The impact of Christian Laettner's 17-foot jump shot at the final horn was that percussive. The emotions were that raw. The stakes were that high. And the Kentucky team was that revered.

Sitting in the huddle with 2.1 seconds left in overtime, trailing Kentucky 103-102 in the 1992 East Regional final, Christian Laettner must have been thinking,

"Wow, I just went 9-for-9 from the floor and 10-for-10 from the line and my career is going to end with a loss."Even if Grant Hill's inbounds pass had been stolen, Laettner's performance would still have been one for the ages (right behind Bill Walton's 21-for-22 against Memphis State). But the fact that he caught the long bomb, turned and up-faked, then spun into space to release the perfect shot to cap a perfect night made it the most unforgettable moment in college basketball history.

Related Links:
Game Stats
Game of the Century