MI21
03-24-2005, 11:46 AM
For Australia :) I hear he dedicated his award to Whottt
Gaze Medal to Heal
Shane Heal, Australian Boomers captain for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, will be given a final honourable salute by his former teammates tonight, being named the Gaze Medal winner for 2004 at the National Basketball League (NBL) Awards Dinner in Sydney.
Heal, who retired following the Athens Olympic Games after an outstanding year of international basketball for his country, was recalled to the Boomers team by coach Brian Goorjian following his first retirement from the international game in 2000. His efforts throughout 2004 gained him the prestigious Gaze Medal for Male International Player of the Year.
The Medal is voted on by all members of the senior national team after each game, with the player who receives the most votes each year being awarded the Gaze Medal.
The veteran star helped the Boomers qualify for the Olympics in 2003 before heading to Greece to play in their domestic competition.
Heal rejoined the Boomers for their opening international tour of 2004, helping the Boomers to a 3-2 record in Italy. Heal top scored in the opening match against Italy with 14 points in a narrow 78-72 defeat at the hands of the home side.
In their second game of the tour, Heal again topped scored with 13 points in the Boomers win over Croatia, 90-56, and backed it up with another 13 points against France in their 90-59 win the next day.
Showing his consistency, Heal had another 13-point game against Italy the day after when they were again narrowly defeated by the home side, 71-67.
When the Boomers travelled to New Zealand in July to take on the Tall Blacks in a three-game series friendly, Heal was the standout player for the Boomers. Heal averaged over 18 points per game as the Boomers took the series 2-1.
In the opening round of the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament in Belgrade, Heal had all of his 18 points from behind the arc with six three-pointers finding their mark. The Boomers finished fifth in the tournament, defeating Angola in the final playoff game.
A three-game tour of Italy just before heading into the Olympic Village saw the Aussies come away with a perfect 3-0 record including a 15-point win over Italy, who had, only days before defeated the American ‘Dream Team’.
Heal averaged 17 points per game throughout the Olympic tournament, including a standout 17 points and seven assists against the US and 30 points against Oceania rival New Zealand in his final game in the green and gold. He hit an amazing nine-of-10 from behind the arc in the first three quarters of the match against the Tall Blacks.
Heal was carried from the court by his teammates in that final game in an emotional tribute to their retiring captain.
This award is the 34-year-old’s second Gaze Medal. Nine players have won the award in its 17-year history.
The Gaze Medal is named after one of Australia’s greatest sporting families. The father and son combination of Lindsay and Andrew Gaze attended nine Olympics and eight world Championships between them.
http://www.basketball.net.au/fs_newsitem.asp?id=9766&orgID=1&Oname=BA&O1c=8&O10c=8
Gaze Medal to Heal
Shane Heal, Australian Boomers captain for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, will be given a final honourable salute by his former teammates tonight, being named the Gaze Medal winner for 2004 at the National Basketball League (NBL) Awards Dinner in Sydney.
Heal, who retired following the Athens Olympic Games after an outstanding year of international basketball for his country, was recalled to the Boomers team by coach Brian Goorjian following his first retirement from the international game in 2000. His efforts throughout 2004 gained him the prestigious Gaze Medal for Male International Player of the Year.
The Medal is voted on by all members of the senior national team after each game, with the player who receives the most votes each year being awarded the Gaze Medal.
The veteran star helped the Boomers qualify for the Olympics in 2003 before heading to Greece to play in their domestic competition.
Heal rejoined the Boomers for their opening international tour of 2004, helping the Boomers to a 3-2 record in Italy. Heal top scored in the opening match against Italy with 14 points in a narrow 78-72 defeat at the hands of the home side.
In their second game of the tour, Heal again topped scored with 13 points in the Boomers win over Croatia, 90-56, and backed it up with another 13 points against France in their 90-59 win the next day.
Showing his consistency, Heal had another 13-point game against Italy the day after when they were again narrowly defeated by the home side, 71-67.
When the Boomers travelled to New Zealand in July to take on the Tall Blacks in a three-game series friendly, Heal was the standout player for the Boomers. Heal averaged over 18 points per game as the Boomers took the series 2-1.
In the opening round of the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament in Belgrade, Heal had all of his 18 points from behind the arc with six three-pointers finding their mark. The Boomers finished fifth in the tournament, defeating Angola in the final playoff game.
A three-game tour of Italy just before heading into the Olympic Village saw the Aussies come away with a perfect 3-0 record including a 15-point win over Italy, who had, only days before defeated the American ‘Dream Team’.
Heal averaged 17 points per game throughout the Olympic tournament, including a standout 17 points and seven assists against the US and 30 points against Oceania rival New Zealand in his final game in the green and gold. He hit an amazing nine-of-10 from behind the arc in the first three quarters of the match against the Tall Blacks.
Heal was carried from the court by his teammates in that final game in an emotional tribute to their retiring captain.
This award is the 34-year-old’s second Gaze Medal. Nine players have won the award in its 17-year history.
The Gaze Medal is named after one of Australia’s greatest sporting families. The father and son combination of Lindsay and Andrew Gaze attended nine Olympics and eight world Championships between them.
http://www.basketball.net.au/fs_newsitem.asp?id=9766&orgID=1&Oname=BA&O1c=8&O10c=8