Andrew Bogut leads push for Sydney Kings to play on Christmas Day

The idea of Christmas Day sport in Australia has long been shot down. But one of our most influential sporting voices says the debate has to be taken more seriously.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 12: Kings Part-Owner Andrew Bogut looks on during the round five NBL match between the Sydney Kings and the New Zealand Breakers at Qudos Bank Arena, on February 12, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

One is a giant of the sport and the other is a giant of sports administration.

Despite their differing career paths, former NBA basketballer Andrew Bogut and NRL CEO Peter V’landys, share many similar qualities.

They are both driven to succeed at the highest level of their chosen profession.

They both run head-on into a challenge.

As a 15-year-old, Bogut was cut from the Victorian junior state team. He didn’t sulk in his bedroom. He never gave up, using the setback to craft his game.

A few years later with fire in his veins, Bogut arrived in America as the first Australian to ever go number one in the NBA draft in 2006.

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Kings Part-Owner Andrew Bogut wants to bring sport to a Christmas Day audience. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

He is recognised as a pioneer of Australian basketball after slipping an NBA championship ring on his finger in 2015 with the Golden State Warriors.

V’landys is also at the top of his chosen field.

He has carved out a sporting administration career, first in harness racing before switching to the sport of kings, where he remains running Racing NSW as well as the NRL - and as the chair of the ARL Commission.

In horse racing, with the creation of the $15 million The Everest - the richest horse race in Australia - V’landys has gone with the tackling technique he used as a teenage backrower playing for Wests Illawarra to rattle the precious Victorian Racing industry’s self-anointed mantle as the home of horse racing in Australia.

Bogut also isn’t afraid to roll the dice on a passion project, taking up a 10 per cent ownership of the Sydney Kings in the NBL.

You get the impression that if the two were in a room together, they’d be standing in a corner nattering away hours later.

But just not on Christmas Day. No chance.

Kings chairman and owner Paul Smith fired-up the chat this week by declaring he was on a mission to make the “Violet Crumbles” the first sporting team in Australian sporting history to host a game on Christmas Day.

“It’s one of the last bits of uncharted territory in Australian sport,” Smith said.“ We really want to do it, we’d love to do it.

Unlike in the US, where the NBA has been playing games in front of massive crowds and TV audiences on Christmas Day since it‘s second season in 1947, Australian sporting administrators have treated the 25th December as a no-go zone. Until now.

Which is why your columnist picked up the phone to the two people in Sydney who know their sport better than anyone else and thankfully, like to tell it like it is.

Peter V'landys is firmly against sport on Christmas Day.

V’landys, despite his lack of fear to “change the game” - with events like The Everest and the NRL’s radical rule changes - says Christmas Day should be off limits for sport.

“I wouldn’t touch that day,’’ V’landys said. “Put aside religion, it’s still a day for family.’’

Asked if NSW racing would ever consider running horse races on the day of thanks, presents and glazed-ham, V’landys said: “I don’t think you’d get a nomination by a single trainer.

“Be disruptive, be innovative, but do things where you know people are going to engage and embrace it - and don’t take on fights you’re going to lose.

“You’ve got to be disruptive with something that you’re going to get engagement and buy-in.

“By all means look outside the square. Why would people want to watch racing, rugby league or whatever, on Christmas Day?”

You don’t receive an award as one of the best defensive players in the NBA without a willingness to respond.

“It doesn’t pass the pub-test that we shouldn’t have anything that day because it’s a sacrosanct day,’’ Bogut said. “The world has changed and I think Christmas Day is still a unique day with families, but let’s be honest no one wants to spend 12 hours in a house with their family.

“Some people will still be half-offended by anything on that day, but I’d argue smashing a slab of beer is probably more detrimental on Christmas Day than watching a sporting event.

Christmas Day is one of the biggest on the NBA calendar. Picture: AP Photo/ESPN, Lorenzo Bevilaqua

“People usually go for walks, go to the beach, so why not after a few Christmas beers and a nap and then come to the basketball.

“If not, kick back on the lounge in the afternoon and flick the basketball on TV.

“Having this debate is fine - we need to take those pros and cons of the conversation.

“That’s what rugby league and the AFL do so well, even with their negative media, they take it in their stride, because it’s still a talking point.

“The NBL tries to shy away from negative discussion, but you need that also to create discussion.

“In a market like Sydney we can package the game in a different way. People go to shopping centres for photos with Santa, we’d have Santa at our game and all the colour and excitement of Christmas.

“I was one of the initial campaigners for this.

“I brought this to Paul Kind (CEO) and Paul Smith about a year ago and said why don’t we explore it.

“In the NBA the crowds are amazing.

“Christmas Day is probably the biggest game on the NBA calendar of the season, alongside opening night.

“I’m thinking outside the box that the NBL can create history in Australia. We’ve got to at least try it.’’

Originally published as Andrew Bogut leads push for Sydney Kings to play on Christmas Day