Basketball
It's tip-off time again as Scottish League basketball gets into full swing this weekend and welcomes several newcomers - Aberdeen Buccaneers in the men's league, Denny Door Centre Devils in the women's division, where a former stronghold Grangemouth also make an overdue return, and Ayrshire side Coylton in the cadette women's.
It is five years since an Aberdeen team last contested the men's league and it is to be hoped they can make a realistic challenge this time and become a permanent fixture.
Coach Tom Clark is certainly setting his sights quite high. ''We want to win at least half our matches,'' he said as he made his plans for a daunting debut, away to champions Glasgow at Easterhouse tomorrow.
Often tipped for success, the sleeping giant that is Glasgow basketball at last woke up last season, Glasgow Sports Division winning both the Scottish Men's League and the Scottish Women's Cup.
With a new sponsor in place, the club opens its league defence tomorrow in a new guise, Glasgow d2. But no-one should be fooled by the apparently low-key name, for the support is as firm as before and the intention is certainly not the second division. d2 is the name of former Sports Division owner Tom Hunter's new clothing company which Hunter has generously agreed to use to continue his backing of the club.
Coach Jim ''Micky'' McKechnie welcomes back one of his most promising juniors of a few seasons back, Meno Singh, into an already experienced and battle-hardened line-up which includes Scotland's Player of the Year last season, Alan Kiddie, Tony McDaid, who is probably Scotland's most effective guard not currently involved in the national team, and ''Mr Reliable'' Ronnie Foster.
Also back after an enforced lay-off which threatened to finish his career is Craig Brownlie, who was, in many eyes, the victim of an unduly harsh disciplinary suspension. Brownlie missed almost the entire second half of the season for an out-of-character incident and it is a tribute to the resolve of the Glasgow side that they went on to clinch the league title without him.
The Buccaneers have been a major force in national under-16 and under-18 competition in recent years, but it remains to be seen whether they can cope with the jump up, well though they have done in the local senior league.
They have recruited three from the rival Aberdeen Dukes side, John Gray, the experienced 6ft 7in forward, the 6ft 5in Andy Gray (no relation), and 6ft 5in Gary Anderson, while Irishman James Cleary, a 6ft 7in centre, will also boost their bid.
Scottish Cup winners St Mirren McDonalds, who tipped off against Dunfermline Reign last night, were one of the few teams with the height to match Glasgow last season, thanks to their twin towers, Scott Devine and Stuart MacKay. But MacKay has joined Edinburgh Rocks while Devine, a policeman, is not always available.
The ''Rocks'' factor hit Edinburgh Kings badly last season, but may work in their favour this time, as their former player, Derek Frame, is stepping down from the professional ranks after a season mostly warming the Rocks' bench. Kings are at home to Paisley at Portobello today.
Falkirk's Clark Eriksson Fury have lost Gordon Smith to the Rocks but still have a young, tough, big outfit, including Marek Pawlak and the Duncan brothers Mark and Peter, capable on their day of matching the best.
Troon have recruited British Youth Olympics cap Tom Pearson, now a student in Glasgow, who joins elder brother Andrew.
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