THE Bosman ruling's effect on Irish basketball has been the most profound factor in player movement this season in the Budweiser League and in the case of recently departed American Tom Sheehy of St Vincent's, it has reached new levels of significance.
Sheehy used his four weeks in Ireland to secure an Irish passport which made him an EU national and that gave him the freedom to move around the European circuit as a native player.
As a former foreign national journeyman in both the Italian and Spanish leagues, his value as a native `European' is even greater as he does not take up an overseas player category. Consequently, when he returns to Europe in a fortnight or so, he will be a much more desirable `commodity' and so be able to command a contract worth in the region of $100,000 in the Italian league. Effectively, he will have the same status as an Italian player.
The IBA are naturally unhappy at such development in the wake of the Bosman ruling. The association's chief executive, Scott McCarthy, himself an Irish American, says that player agents in the USA are highly aware of the value of an Irish passport. Already this season, he has had to process papers releasing 20 new Irish passport holders to play in European leagues.
"These guys don't even have to stop off in Ireland. They just get their passport and their clearance from us and go off to play in Greek, Italian or Spanish leagues as native players," he says. "We are just serving as a flag of convenience for any American basketball player who has an Irish grandparent and wants to come and play in Europe."
By European basketball standards, Ireland is relatively impoverished, so there is little incentive - for such players to come and play here. "Why would they when they can earn six figure sums in Europe," McCarthy adds.
He cites a prime example. "In one instance, we cleared a very good young American player who just missed out on the NBA draft. I'd estimate that with his Irish passport and FIBA clearance he could earn a 500,000 contract in Italy."
With such an amount of riches to be earned with the help of an Irish passport, the current level `Irish players' playing in Europe is bound to grow and grow. "I can see a situation whereby there will be hundreds of Irish Americans playing in Europe in two or three years and I said this at a recent FIBA conference," he explains.
One of the most disappointing aspects of these new player trading conditions is that there is no benefit accruing to the IBA. "We get nothing out of it financially, although our signed papers are worth a lot of money to these players. The worst part is that these Irish passport holders are not even eligible to play for Ireland," he concludes.
A FIBA rule states that any passport holder hoping to play for a new country must be resident there for three years. In addition, each country can only have one such player and Ireland have Dan Callaghan registered in that category.
In the case of Sheehy, the only reason he came to Ireland was to expedite the procedure of obtaining his passport so that he could move to Europe with his new valuable status. His departure means that St Vincent's will have their eighth new American of the season on view for the big Superleague game of the weekend against unbeaten leaders Neptune in Glasnevin on Sunday.
The new man is 6ft 8in inside player Kevin Vulin, formerly of British club Thames Tigers and he will team up with his compatriot Carter Long.
One other major change in the top flight is the decision of Tralee and their coach, Pat Lucey to part company. Bill McGaley, who led the Kerry club to a cup final and a league final twice in the last four years, takes over for the remainder of the season.
In Division One, Ballina have lost the services of Isaac Morgan and they will have Jason Rub rite back in their squad, but not in time for this weekend's game at home to St Galls.
Dungannon have signed up American Derrick Freeman to replace Jason Senik who looks like moving on to join Marathon Limerick for their game against MSB on Sunday.
