21/03/07 As we approach the end of the current season I found myself casting my mind back to a news item that we reported towards the beginning of the last close-season, and began wondering "Whatever happened to the Mallin Review"? (Article here) Those of you with good memories may just recall that this is "a major review of the way basketball is structured and administered ... to help ensure that the sport can capitalise on its growing popularity and recent success at international level." At the time of its launch, Sport England expected that the Review would "produce its final report and recommendations in the autumn", and at the start of this season, the EB website had it marked down for the end of September. So, what's been happening? According to the Mallin Basketball review website (http://www.mallinbasketballreview.org/page/review+updates) they held meetings (which included reviewing previous reviews!) in May, June, July, August and September before they even got round to consultations with domestic basketball bodies and FIBA Europe, and then with individuals. In October and November there were further meetings, to evaluate the survey and consultation, and assess initial recommendations and proposals. The Report drafting took place in December 2006, at which time the publication was being advertised as due by the end of January! A couple of months later still we're informed that it's "now in its final stages" and that they are "conducting a number of meetings with key stakeholders across basketball, sport as a whole and government to discuss findings and finalise the report." Apparently, the final report is now intended to be launched in Spring 2007. To put all of that into context, anyone who became pregnant at the time that the Review was announced (no ... surely no-one could have got that excited about it?) would have given birth a month ago! So, remind me again what the report is supposed to do. To tell us how to organise and structure our sport to make it more efficient??? Yeah, right!
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