Last summer both the Great Britain Mens and Womens teams qualified for the top tier of European Basketball by advancing to Eurobasket A after a series of hard fought games. Both teams went unbeaten through the summer. Plans are well on the way for this summer's series of games which will see Chris Finch's Great Britain Men taking on the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Israel, while GB Women, under Head Coach Mark Clark, will face Ukraine, Lithuania, Germany and Israel.

Back in the day, I published a magazine called SHOOTING HOOPS and featured news and information from around the BBL. In issue number I, I included one of my favourite young British players Yorick Williams. In this special feature with some new photos - I want to give you a chance to hear again what he had to say.

Over the past years I have had the great pleasure of interviewing a number of celebrities. These have included politicians, sports people, musicians and comedians. In this section of mikeshaft.com, I will try to remember some of these people and give you a short resume of my interview with them. Please note these are done in no particular order.

One of our favourite people on BBC Radio Manchester's Sunday Breakfast is Becky Silver. Becky comes in on a regular basis to present our 'Thought for the Week'. Her stories are always joyous. Some time ago she told the story of a very good friend of mine, Paul Sleem. I asked her if I could use it on mikeshaft.com. Thankfully she said yes!

I first heard Father Michael through listening to the BBC Radio Manchester Sunday morning programme, when he reviewed articles in the Christian papers, with Presenter Mike Shaft, which he did for over 30 years.

A few weeks ago while at BBC GMR, the producer of the ‘Michelle Around Midnight’ programme Hayley CAVILL, gave me a new cd to listen to.

I first got to know John Lancaster back in the day roundabout 1989. We had won the licence to broadcast Sunset Radio across Manchester and we were looking for premises in which to set up the radio station.

Last Monday the great and the good of the Basketball world joined members of the family and friends from school for the funeral of Sheila Hopkins, one of basketballs greatest fans and hardest working volunteers.

Well last Sunday morning the alarm went off at 4:30 as per usual and I got up had a shower, jumped in the car and headed for BBC Radio Manchester to present the Sunday Breakfast programme. As usual the car radio was on Radio 5Live and it was then that I learned of the death of Whitney Houston. To put it mildly I was shocked.

Sheffield Sharks legend Todd Cauthorn has announced his retirement from the game. Cauthorn, aged 39, has decided to call time on a glorious career after spending the summer considering whether to play one final season for the club which he first joined in 1994.