My very first meeting with Dawn Payne took place over 20 years ago yet I can remember it like it was yesterday. We were in the planning stages of Sunset Radio having been awarded the licence some months earlier and we were in the process of recruiting the staff.

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!

Well after 25 years doing In-house Play by Play for the BBraun Sheffield Sharks I have decided to depart. This has been a long time coming. It was 3 years ago that I took the decision to leave both the Sharks and the Phoenix.

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’.

Some of the many tributes I have received over the years. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me! If your comment has not made it into print here as yet, don't worry. We will be adding to this page as time goes on!

Today, the NHS is celebrating its 75th Birthday! This is the story of Daphne Drummond [Sister Drummond] who spent EVERY day of her working life in the NHS. Aunty Da passed away in 2022 and this was my tribute to her!

5 years ago, the world was shocked by the exploding of a bomb at the Ariana Grande Concert at the Manchester Arena. At a memorial in the city centre some later, mikeshaft.com Poet in Residence Lydia, decided, at the end of the minute's silence, to lead the crowd with a few lines from a Manchester anthem.

The British basketball community has come together to pay tribute to the legendary pioneer Betty Codona OBE, who has sadly passed away. 

London Lions have won the 2022 WBBL Trophy for a second consecutive year after they beat Sevenoaks Suns 72-36 in the Betty Codona WBBL Trophy Final.

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’