Last Saturday 15th June 2024 saw a most inspiring basketball event to celebrate Darius Defoe's 20 year career with the Newcastle Eagles. It was absolutely joyous to see Darius' family in the house including his mum. Equally impressive was some of the legendary BBL players who were in the house!
This is one of my favourite features on mikeshaft.com. At the start of each year we high-light a number of people to pay tribute to. These are usually individuals or teams from back in the day and others who are active in the sport today. This is the Master list of people who make Basketball ‘The Joy That It Is’.
Well it is less than 24 hours to the start of the games and Head of News Alan Perry is going throught his plans to confirm the assignments for the first couple of days. He hands me a ticket and I look at it to see that it is for the opening ceremony at the main games stadium. Words could not explain how I felt. Suffice to say it was wonderful.
The 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester were officially the best Games EVER! Four years on, and the baton passes to Melbourne, Australia. BBC MANCHESTER's Mike SHAFT was the official host in Manchester and now he's off to OZ... And he's keeping a diary:
DNC Netball is the latest sporting organisation to be announced by the Park Community Arena Ltd to re-locate to Park Community Arena, developed by Canon Medical Systems.
Last Monday saw the first game of the new Vitality Superleague Season, and Manchester Thunder got off to a flying start in front of a full house at the glorious Belle Vue Sports Village. The Thunder ran out winners over UWS Sirens 60-43.
The 2021 City of Champions Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony on Thursday, 23 September, at the Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester was simply off the scale. The event was a huge success with 150 delegates attending. Speakers included Diane Modahl, Co-Founder and CEO of the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation (DMSF); Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham; and BBC presenter Mike Shaft.
The Basketball All Party Parliament Group, under the chairmanship of Sharon Hodgson, MP, met at the House of Commons on Tuesday, 15th January, 2013, to discuss the crisis in basketball engendered by recent funding decisions by UK Sport and Sport England.
The 2021 City of Champions Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony on Thursday, 23 September, at the Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester was simply off the scale. The event was a huge success with 150 delegates attending. Speakers included Diane Modahl, Co-Founder and CEO of the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation (DMSF); Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham; and BBC presenter Mike Shaft.
One of Great Britain's most successful athletes is Sarah Storey. She started out as a Paralympic swimmer changing to cycling after discovering that she was very good at it. In the run-up to the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, I am delighted to say that I got the opportunity to put some questions to her.
Last Wednesday, The Hatters and the Sharks came together for a glorious Awards Dinner at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield. It was a truly wonderful evening and I think it's safe to say a good time was had by all. Thank you to both organisations for their wonderful presentation to me. It is much appreciated! Also included here are some photos from the Sharks and Hatters most recent Double Header, and the final Sharks' game of the season!
Last Wednesday, The Hatters and the Sharks came together for a glorious Awards Dinner at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield. It was a truly wonderful evening and I think it's safe to say a good time was had by all. Thank you to both organisations for their wonderful presentation to me. It is much appreciated! Also included here are some photos from the Sharks and Hatters most recent Double Header, and the final Sharks' game of the season!
Well it has been a long time coming! I have been with the Sharks in excess of 25 years and it has been a ride. I really don't remember exactly what year it was that the organisation started talking about building their own venue. But it is here now and what a joy it was to commentate on their first BBL game on the 8th of October 2023. The performance of the team was extraordinary, destroying the Eagles by 30 points. The greatest joy for me was the full house at the Canon Medical Arena, and the incredible atmosphere! That was the day that was!!!
Sunday 10th of September 2023, saw a very special get together at the Football Museum in Manchester for the Launch of Great Britain's Davis Cup campaign. The Tournament will see GB taking on France, Switzerland and Australia! I had the great pleasure of hosting the event and, to put it mildly, It was an absolute joy!
