Early April? Someone mentioned it last night, but I don't remember the date.

Early April? What's with the timing when the most likely contenders have already left the country?

i think some of you are being unrealistic never mind a tad negative-the MVP dinner/event could not be scheduled until the end of the season and it was not anticipated that the season would end so soon!!! So yes it is unfortunate that key players will have left the country however what is the alternative..tell them no you have to stay for the MVP dinner or try and help them out under the circumstances to get back with family earlier or in Brett's case take up an OS opportunity???
What decision would you have made.

We bombed out of the first elimination last year as well, but all the players were still about.

I'd like to make an early prediction for an award....

Best Team Man: Jason Williams for not playing most of the year.

OK, I've bumped this up the list. On the 36ERS web site you'll find a bare bones invite with some info. Maher, Farley and Rychart will have already left, and the NZ NBL season starts before this date so Holmes may be absent as well. Still, despite the unfortunate scenario, the event has to go on:

---

Club Auction & MVP Awards Luncheon

To be held on court
Distinctive Homes Dome
Sunday, April 3, 2005

Viewing of auction items from 11.30am

Auction commences at 12.30pm sharp

$85 per head
Three course meal, beer, wine & soft drinks

To book tickets or make donations please contact the office on 8444 6444.

---

It is a well known fact that imports in particular leave as soon as the season has ended and know one is definite of the timing. An MVP award ceremony should have tentative dates set on it and ready to go within days of the end of season. It is held on site at the Dome, how can there be problems like booking a venue.

It doesn't need a big name MC like Graeme Goodings, so forward planning is not needed there either. Presentations can be made by management and there would be no excuse for anything of more importance to coincide with that day.

The utmost importance when planning an award like this has to be the availability of players to attend. Expecially those who are more like to win it. Who are they going to present this award to if the winner is not there? Mum, dad, wife, brother, sister, next door neighbour?

If all this is impossible, defer it until September when all the players are back. Surely that's better than not having the guest of honour present.

Why cant the MVP dinner be before the first playoff game?

It's the MVP of the season and one would think not the playoffs so if they scheduled it for sometime between the last regular season game and the first playoff game.

Maybe this years schedule wouldnt have worked, but surely they should have contingency plans if the schedule doesnt fit.

Like EC said it is there should be no venue problem.

Does it really matter if its midweek?

I think that what they should do is privately present the MVP with their award and get an acceptance speech on tape to show on a large screen at the MVP lunch. Also, given that the MVP and at least two other "star" players are unlikely to be there, they should get some sort of speech from the "other two" as well. So, even if you pay to go along and you're sitting with the development squad instead of the starters, you get a video presentation as well talking about the season, etc. That's better than having no word from those players at all.

No no no Isaac. That would not be the same. You need to be there to accept the award. There has to be a better time to present it when the players are all there.

Well, Maher flies out tomorrow, so that opportunity has passed. I was making a suggestion for the situation now that those players won't be attending.

If Dusty wins (and he should), Adam Sandler or the dude from "Lost" could put together a quick video and none of us would know the difference!