The BBL is delighted to announce that the Manchester Giants and East London Royals have joined their ranks ahead of the 2012/13 season.

While updating stories for this new-look mikeshaft.com, I came across this paper I wrote in December of 2003. I think it makes interesting reading.

The Standard Life GB women have split their weekend international series 1-1 after losing 63-50 to Canada on Sunday in Edinburgh.

The Standard Life GB Women’s side beat world ranked number 11 side, Canada, 70-57 at Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Sports Centre this afternoon in their first appearance on home soil this summer.

Standard Life GB player, Rose Anderson is plotting a happy homecoming this weekend as the GB women arrive in Edinburgh for two internationals against Canada at Meadowbank Arena.

The basketballscotland staff team are all deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of our good friend and colleague, Stevie Duff, 44, who passed away on Tuesday 29th May 2012. Stevie has made an overwhelming contribution to the Scottish basketball community for many years, with many notable achievements, just some of which are listed in the brief synopsis below.

In the wheelchair basketball, Simon Munn top-scored with 16 for Great Britain in a game that could have gone either way. The joint-team leader, who will this summer compete in his sixth Paralympic Games, led ably from the front, but ultimately USA, inspired by top-scorer Jason Nelms with 17 points, were simply too good.

Well after a few weekends of a huge numbers of games, this weekend was going to be a quiet basketball one for me, just 2 games. Game 1 would see the BBL Cup winning Sheffield Sharks entertaining the Essex Pirates in their first game since their exploits at the NIA Birmingham. A full house was at hand at the EISS Sheffield to welcome the team and the Cup.

This week Head Coach Chris FINCH will lead his Great Britain team in two of their biggest games EVER. They are both against Switzerland. I wanted to write an article about Chris whom I have known for years. In fact I can remember him in his playing days.

I have to tell you that when I heard the news that Pete was seriously ill I was absolutely devastated. Pete is someone who you thought would always be there. This was my presentation at the funeral of my friend Pete Jacques on the 28 April 2010.