A new deal sees Jeep getting behind the Tab Baldwin-coached team to help them try to repeat their international success at the next World Championships in three years time. Last year the Kiwi rank outsiders caused a major upset, beating or holding their own against several fancied opponents to finish fourth in the world.
The all-American four-wheel-drive icon is sponsoring in-bound games played by the New Zealand basket ballers in 2003, which started with the just completed Czech tour.
And according to Chrysler Jeep New Zealand General Manager Brett Aspden, the relationship couldn’t have got off to a better start, with the injury-stricken Tall Blacks showing their class in winning the tough series against the Czechs.
But how come the fourth-ranked basketball team in the world did not get live coverage of their games by TVNZ, asks Mr Aspden? The delayed TV2 telecasts prevented many fans, especially children from seeing their heroes on the small screen and that makes it difficult for basketball to build its following in New Zealand.
He hopes TVNZ will take account of the younger viewers when planning its game time slots in the future.
Mr Aspden says his company is keen to see basketball get all the assistance it deserves. The package negotiated with Basketball New Zealand includes a mixture of Jeep vehicles and cash. It puts American-born Tab Baldwin back behind the wheel of a familiar home country brand, providing him with a luxury Jeep Grand Cherokee to keep up his tough coaching schedule around the country.
Mr Aspden describes the alignment of Jeep with basketball in general and the Tall Blacks in particular, is a perfect match.
“The performance of Tab’s team in the world champs last year created a lot of goodwill in New Zealand – they really showed tremendous guts and attitude,” says Mr Aspden.
“I think we all identified with that and want to see it continue. The relationship between Jeep and Basketball New Zealand is about helping the Tall Blacks to maintain that momentum.
“There are many synergies between basketball and Jeep, not just because both are famously American, but through the same attitude and zest for life. And if we can help basketball continue its climb in popularity in New Zealand and keep the Tall Blacks in top gear we will be very happy – and from what we saw against the Czechs, they are still on a roll.”
