12 July A New Era

Another of Thunder's new features starting this season is the Thunder PodCast, to partner with ThunderTV. Thunder fans, along with basketball fans can hear the news, game summaries and general goings on around the South Coast's premier sports club and indeed the BBL, run by Chris Lowry, who runs our fantastic website.

This will partner ThunderTV, who provide interviews and after game thoughts from around the venues. Wherever Thunder are, work permitting, Thunder TV will be there.

Around the league as the countdown gets closer, press releases come thick and fast. Plymouth are shaping up fast and with fimilar faces, as are Newcastle.

One team that look like it will do some damage, is the Everton Tigers aka Guildford Heat 2nd team. With Tony Dorsey and James Jones signed, to go with Richard Midgley, Delme Herriman and Chris Haslam. The Tigers are looking to make their second season in Britain's top league, one to remember.

Quick note, am glad that both Eagles and Heat have chosen not to compete in Europe this season. I was even informed that Plymouth have rejected European competition.

Let's build on what we've got going for ourselves, and I'm sure teams will be ready in a few years if we continue with what we're doing.

That'll do me, I'm still trying to convince my bosses to have weekend's off. Thunder awaits!

Player signings, fixtures which are now confirmed. the countdown is well and truly on!

The first two games of Thunder's BBL honeymoon season couldn't be bigger - and both at the Thunderdome. On the 27th, we renew our battle with the Plymouth Raiders. I'm hoping for a huge crowd, and a great start to our BBL lives.

Plymouth at the moment are bringing the players from last season, which brought them their best league position since arriving from the EBL. They are bringing in new faces as well.

 Irish-American, Patrick Fitzpatrick, will be a dangerous bench player, and keeps coach Gary Stronach's options open, as he is a prefered small forward, but can play the power forward position. So he can help out Cat Beasley at any time. He also is an 80% free throw shooter which may solve Raider's problems at the stripe.

Plymouth's version of James Brame, Gavin Love will continue to lead the men in green with an effective no nonsense approach. A solid shooter in the clutch and a safe ball handler. On the whole, looking good to retaining a playoff spot this coming season.

Newcastle Eagles, a team that really needs no introduction, but to fill my blanks I'll do a brief one anyway. Current BBL Champions and like Plymouth building a squad mainly from last season - surprise, surprise.

Player-Coach, Fabulous Flournoy is amongst the best all round players in the BBL's history. Mainly a defensive specialist, Fab can also contribute with the scoring, rebounding and general guard duties. The thing Fab is famed for is his ability to get in opposition players heads and lock them out of the game, no matter what their size is.

I would love Fab and Jon Woods or Janis go at it. The word intense doesn't even do it justice. Another player that is well known to so many BBL heads is Lynard Stewart. A veteran and a huge reason why Newcastle became champions last year. he brings a solid inside/outside game and can be a dominating figure in the paint.

They will not lie down for anyone, as was proved when they won the title in Guildford in overtime, coming back from as many as twenty points down.

Two explosive encounters for Thunder, no doubt about it!

If you've been reading Whatsbev, you will know that Thunder have been making a lot of noise on the player front. As well as signing our local boys, Danny Hildreth, Ciaran Burns, Dan Midgley, Pat Bates and club captain, James Brame.

We've signed two of our success stories from our double league wins in the EBL, Jon Woods and Janis Ivanovskis.

For once, I'm not going to break them down and just let their games do the talking. I'm looking forward to seeing how they fare with the BBL big boys. Calvin Davis, Cat Beasley, Lynard Stewart, Sterling Davis to name a few.

Just on a side note, thanks to all the guys on the board who have welcomed us into the league. We look forward to welcoming you to Worthing and for some, a trip down memory lane. (didn't include the word "old" there either)