Heal calls final time out on basketball

Australian basketball great Shane Heal will end a glittering 21-year career with two
consecutive wooden spoons, but the four-time Olympian has no regrets.
The 38-year-old is playing his last ever basketball game on Saturday after a lengthy
career spanning two decades and stints with at least nine different clubs, both at
home and abroad.
Among his many other accomplishments, the three-point specialist has also managed to
fit in two previous retirements, although the John Farnham of basketball is adamant
this one will stick.
"I do feel a bit like Johnny Farnham on his last tour with all the retirements and
comebacks, but I'm looking forward to being able to hang up the boots for good," he
told AAP.
"I feel like I have certainly pushed myself to the limit, but the point is mentally,
I'm definitely ready for retirement.
"I'm looking forward to coaching my daughters."
The father of three will see out his career with a wooden spoon with the Gold Coast
Blaze after a final season marred by injury.
But it's a rare low point for Heal in a career full of highs, including stints in
the NBA with Minnesota and San Antonio and leading the Sydney Kings to their first
championship.
"It hasn't been enjoyable, but you just deal with the ups and downs of sport," he
said of his final season.
"I hadn't ever had a wooden spoon until last year (with the South Dragons), but
that's life."
The Melbourne native represented Australia 198 times, adding two World Championships
to his Olympic campaigns, which he counts as the indisputable highlights of his
career.
"I told my dad when I was 12 I was going to play for Australia and to end up
captaining (at the Athens Olympics) in 2004 was just a dream," he said.
"I was lucky enough to play with two clubs in the NBA and other European leagues,
but all of that is irrelevant when you're playing for your country.
"Without a doubt, it's very special."
He leaves the game to focus on his retail property business, at a time he concedes
is not great for the NBL, which will be re-launched next season after some difficult
years.
The Sydney Kings, Brisbane and Singapore departed over the past 12 months, while the
Sydney Spirit and Cairns Taipans required financial assistance to remain in the
current 2008-09 season.
"Basketball relies simply on the owner's support, putting bums on seats and
sponsorship and it's a very difficult model to be able to succeed in," Heal said.
"I don't know enough about the current climate to make a judgment, but I'm not so
pessimistic because we've got a great product."
Heal and the Blaze take on the Hawks at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition
Centre on Saturday.