Melbourne United reignite Tigers spirit
MELBOURNE United will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Melbourne Tigers’ 2007-08 championship with rebooted uniforms for NBL Heritage Month.
The Geelong Advertiser understands United could moonlight as the Tigers for up to five NBL games, including the interstate showdown against Tigers immortal Andrew Gaze’s Sydney Kings.
With three of the next five games away, United is at the mercy of the home teams, who decide on what uniform must be worn.
United will wear the retro uniforms on February 3, at home, against Brisbane Bullets.
But the club decided against the throwback for its Australian Open showcase on January 24.
United veteran — and NBL championship-winning Tiger — David Barlow, 34, is thrilled to be back in Tigers colours.
“I’m a big fan of ’90s basket- ball, especially, so whenever they come up with any jersey I love it,” Barlow told the Geelong Advertiser.
“This one is a bit more recent and for me it’s special because I was part of the team that was wearing this jersey the last time this club won a championship.”
Barlow averaged 15 points and six rebounds in the bestof-five 2007-08 championship series against Sydney Kings.
The 205cm forward had been spoiled for success, winning three championships, in- cluding two with the Kings, in five years
“I definitely I took it for granted, to be honest, looking back,” Barlow said.
“I’m proud of what I achieved then but it just seemed so easy back then and now I’m in it again and it’s like ‘damn, it’s not easy to do that’, it’s very, very difficult.”
The dual Olympian returned to the NBL in 2014 after five years playing in Europe.
The Tigers were rebranded Melbourne United in 2014, a bold and controversial venture aimed at bringing together fans from all Victorian-based franchises.
United coach Dean Vickerman, a player and coach with the Tigers, welcomed the retro look.
“The history of this league is important, even though it’s changed so much,” Vickerman said.
“It’s good for new fans to go back and understand where the game has come from and how United came together especially, it’s good to understand that history.”