Hits and misses: Jumping for joy as they flash through the hoops

There's only one team on our lips in the past sporting week. No, not the New Zealand Warriors, nor the Auckland NPC rugby team. The Tall Blacks have captured the imagination with their stunning success at the world basketball championships. In the words of a loud Australian rugby commentator, "Go you good things ... "

HITS

* Tall Blacks. How their final championship finally pans out is rather irrelevant. Theirs has been an outstanding campaign, superbly organised and terrific to watch. Dumping big guns on their backsides has seldom been such fun.

* Tab Baldwin. Coach of the year at the Halberg awards? We think, ahem, he will be a leading contender. As the commentator said yesterday: "Tab is nothing but clever".

* Andrew Mehrtens, as in hit in the wallet, to the tune of $2000 for his ill-judged, heat-of-the-moment comments on South African referee Andre Watson after losing the Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney.

* Scott Dixon, on song with his second place at the Cart Grand Prix of Denver.

* Powerhouse forward Ali Lauiti'iti, who bounded off with the New Zealand Warriors player of the year award. He had some stiff competition, but when an Australian television commentator refers to a player "doing a Lauiti'iti" you know he's hitting the mark.

MISSES

* Basketball crowds. The one downer about the world championships. Acres of empty seats. A far cry from the early publicity about packed arenas.

* The dumping of the women's World Cup cycle race. Organiser Stephen Cox pointed the finger at Cycling New Zealand over lack of support. Whoever's to blame, it's a shame.

* Travis Wilson, released by the Atlanta Braves this week. However, he should still be upbeat about his Major League baseball prospects. Next to the New York Yankees the Braves would be about the hardest franchise to crack. Now the Toronto Blue Jays or the Milwaukee Brewers ...

* Linda Vagana, who put her Silver Ferns GK bib away this week, after 61 internationals.

* Roy Keane, everyone's favourite soccer bovver boy. Why will he be missed? In the light of the 10th red card of his career for elbowing an opponent last weekend, and resulting three-match suspension, he's decided to have a delayed operation on a hip, which will keep him out of action for two months. Will he be missed? Only by Manchester United diehards.