Basketball: Baldwin slam dunked for 'racial team'

By PETER JESSUP

Are the Tall Blacks too white? Waikato coach Jeff Green thinks so, and yesterday accused national coach Tab Baldwin of prejudice in his choice of players for the national squad.

Baldwin did not want to get into the scrap, but said his selections were based purely on ability and attitude, and were aimed at putting together the best group he could.

Basketball New Zealand did not want to talk about it.

Green charged that only five of the 20 in the Tall Blacks' train-on squad were of Polynesian background as opposed to a league representation of around 40 per cent.

Green also reckoned that Baldwin had deliberately left out Waikato players after he (Green) had contracted Auckland's top player, Tall Blacks' captain Pero Cameron, who shifted in the off-season.

"He [Baldwin] is deliberately punishing Waikato players because we got his best player."

Cameron, from Whangarei, started his pro career at Waikato and then shifted north to win five championships with Auckland.

He has played in Malaysia and England, was the Tall Blacks' captain at the Sydney Olympics, and remains an integral part of the team, probably the first choice as captain.

Olympian Chris Tupu missed out, and Green also believes that his players David Hopoi and Nat Connell should have gained selection.

Green also highlighted the absence of Wellington players in Baldwin's squad.

The Waikato Titans and Wellington Saints lead the national league.

Green said his players had discussed the matter and had decided that they would go from their four-win no-loss record to 8-0 then 12-0 if they had to push for Tall Black places.

Baldwin refused to comment on Green's charges.

He said he had contacted every national league coach to invite feedback. Waikato and Wellington were the only two who had not responded.

He said his door was open to all national coaches, that they had a right to have their say because they had a stake in the national game, and that he hoped they would give him advice on ways to improve the national team.

"I don't expect everyone to have the same value judgments of players and the same opinions I do, but I'm certainly interested in feedback."

Green, who applied for but missed out on the Tall Blacks job, said his charges were not sour grapes.

"It's the players I'm worried about," he said. "I'd still like the job some time, but Tab's got it and I support him while he's got it."

Baldwin's Auckland team - eight players out are of 12 of Maori or Pacific Island background - will tonight play a visiting American college lineup.

The Planet Basketball team is chosen from up-and-comers who are well into or have graduated from US universities and are looking for pro careers.

The game offers Baldwin's team a tough warm-up before their out-of-town double-header against Nelson and Canterbury this weekend.

The North Harbour Kings go to Wellington, and Waikato have the bye.