Little bloke has a tall story to tell
A SPORTS fanatic who grew up playing rugby league, soccer and basketball in Dubbo has been literally rubbing shoulder to hip with some of Australia’s greatest on-court sports stars in recent years.
Matt Logue is about to release his third book, “Hoop Dreams Down Under”, cataloguing the lives and fortunes of our finest women and men in basketball.
As our photos show, the former St John’s College graduate has been up close with the likes of Ben Simmons, Andrew Gaze and Andrew Bogut in his quest to discover the secret to Australia’s historic and increasing role in the world’s toughest league, the US National Basketball Association.
“I’m used to being well short of an eyeball-to-eyeball interview with the players. When you’re the size of a track work jockey you’re never going to see eye to eye with these giants,” Matt laughed..
“I’ve thought about taking selfies but no-one would believe who I said the players were when it was my head and their hips in the photo,” he laughed even harder!
Matt’s career, which included stints at Dubbo Photo News and Dubbo Weekender, blossomed over nearly a decade covering NRL with Rugby League Week, the unofficial “bible” of the code.
He is now at the Daily Telegraph in Sydney where his repertoire has expanded.
“I’ve had many opportunities to cover different sports here. This led to me going to America to get courtside and watch athletes.
“It inspired me to not only report on, but to write a book about the players who have taken Australian basketball to the world.”
In Matt’s earlier books he told the inside story of the Eels’ golden era, followed by a biography on one of the club’s modern personalities, Fuifui Moimoi – but this third tome is close to his heart.
“I played basketball at school and at Dubbo Sportsworld so I was familiar with the names in the NBL and the NBA. This has been a tremendous experience to take my passion to another level though, to document the individual stories of superstars like Sandy Brondello, Andrew Gaze, Luc Longley and co.
“Hoop Dreams tracks the journey of Australians who started out in the States. The NBA was predominantly American, but it is now the most global league on the planet, and the respect for our players is through the roof. It’s that transformation I have tried to capture,” Matt explained.
Matt can’t wait for his book release in July.
“I’m looking forward to seeing people’s reaction.”
One of his favourites is undoubtedly Albury-born Lauren Jackson who emerged as a future star playing in Dubbo in a pre-season match between the Sydney Flames and Canberra Capitals.
“Fittingly, Lauren’s just been inducted into the Australian Hall of Fame. Based on her stats and incredible Matt Logue with Ben Simmons at the 2016 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. performances on the courts, LJ is without question, the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of Australian basketballers.
“Lauren is finally at peace. She played in pain most of her career. As with many female athletes she had to play more games for less pay than her male counterparts. She was at home, in the States and in Europe to top up her pay and at the same time, representing her beloved Opals. Eventually her body gave up. She was relying on painkillers just to get on the boards, so she retired.
“It is a sense of pride for Lauren to see how far the Women’s game has come. The Opals are, in my opinion, the best-performed Australian team at the Olympics. They’ve won medals and overcome great odds against the might of European teams and China, but the Boomers seem to get all the publicity, yet they haven’t won anything at the Olympics,” he pointed out.
Matt’s admiration is obvious. His reflections on the talented girl from the border city come out in his narrative. Another country lad also has a fascinating back story.
“Matthew Dellavedova grew up in rural Victoria. He was told he was too small, that he would never make it because his shot release was too slow, but he persevered and through sheer hard work played in an NBA Championship team alongside Le Bron James at the Cleveland Cavaliers.”
Hoop Dreams relates the sacrifices Aussie players have made on their climb to the top. There are tales of immense distances travelled in the back seat of parents’ cars and on buses as players trekked across the country in pursuit of their goals. It talks of Joe Ingalls and Dante Exum, and Ben Simmons who told Matt, “I am just proud to be Australian.
“Andrew Bogut unwinds about how he was bullied at school; Nathan Leon Jawai, who was the first Aboriginal player in the NBA, was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. Didn’t stop him building a career in the NBA as well as the NBC,” Matt continued.
The stories are endless as the young scribe who used to bring an exercise book and a pen and sit sideline with me at countless sporting fixtures bubbles with enthusiasm.
“Shane Heal and Michelle Timmins – legends! Shane used to throw hoops in the shed at his parents’ stables – practising to the beat of Dire Straits.
“The peroxide blonde hair, the in-your-face attitude and supreme skill helped overcome the early days when his NBA teammates treated him like a Rookie. He was treated like he was the bag carrier. Not for long,” Matt laughed.
“When Michelle was first picked up in the WNBA, her teammates didn’t want her. Again, another young Aussie was not to be swept aside and her tenacity paid off. She now runs a Juniors Program in Victoria.”
Matt saved his favourite for the last.
“Andrew Gaze is perhaps the best of all. He was born into Aussie basketball royalty – dad Lindsay was the Boomers coach – but it didn’t phase him. Gaze worked hard and proved himself, selected by his fellow Olympians to carry the flag into Homebush Bay in 2000.
“Andrew is at the top of the tree, but he is so down to earth, so humble. Gaze is a genuine guy, a real pleasure to be around. When I chatted with him, all the talk was about the Boomers and the great depth we have in Luc Longley, Pat Mills and others, not about him.”
Matt was in awe when he spoke about Gaze’s only regret.
“When he was at his peak, Boston Celtics offered him an enormous sum to play alongside the great Larry Byrd. Gazey knocked it back, telling them he wanted to play with Melbourne and represent his country.”
Gaze told Matt: “It is my only regret in a lifetime in the sport.”
Australian basketball has a wonderful history. Some of it has been recorded in different spheres. Matt Logue captures it in Hoop Dreams Down Under.
“I hope that by laying this down it will inspire young players to be like their heroes and follow their dreams.”