KENNY Of THE HOOPS
Kenny McFadden's premature death is a blow to NZ basketball at the highest levels and a blow to Wellington region basketball player development at all levels.
Kenny was not quite the trailblazer as portrayed as that merit goes to another American super guard Clyde ( The Glide) Huntley who preceded Kenny by a year.
The clashes that Kenny and Clyde had in playing for rival clubs were scintillating and legendary and Kenny not always played the better.
Always sketched in my mind was the famous triple time 3 pointer for Wellington Saints to beat Auckland in the NBL final at the Show Grounds stadium. McFadden rose towards the stadium roof and shot from way out with Frank Mulvihill providing a telling screen, just as the full time buzzer sounded.
The Sunday Times held up its entire production so I could hurriedly phone in over 2000 words with no notes on this "game of the century".
The paper left out my byline in error but I did get the NZ basketball writer of the year prize largely because of the review.
Kenny retired from the NBL a winner and could have easily coached the NZ men's ( or women's) teams at international level but he decided to keep local his lifestyle and loyalties. The likes of Huntley and Kenny should have won the lottery of selection for NBA (American) basketball but instead claimed and retained fame by being superstars in the NZ environment.
Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’
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Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”
We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?
Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.
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41.3% Yes
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32.8% Maybe?
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25.9% No
Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
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