Here we go again. Injury problems, a defeat to bounce back from and the league on a knife edge. We have been here before this season, haven't we?

Let's look at our defeat in the basketball game at Thames Valley last Sunday. At least they tell me it was a basketball game. Personally I thought it was just chaos.

It was a long way from the basketball that I know and love but it was the way games at that venue can get if you let them.

Losing Ralph Blalock sure took the wind out of our sails. We will check on his state of health today and tomorrow but he must be very doubtful for Newcastle, which will be another tough game, though rather different from the Thames Valley experience.

The Telewest Arena is a great venue and games there tend to be more like basketball rather than just a melee.

Everyone would be very confident of a good away win if we were all healthy but obviously Randy Duck is still struggling and Ralph is in danger of not playing. We will give it our best shot.

Some of you may have been reading about a proposal for a title decider play-off if two teams finish level on points at the top of the BBL.

This is a plan put forward by Sheffield and, although there is nothing official, I must admit I am all for it.

I guess Sheffield have the most to gain from it as things stand and Chester the most to lose because of the aggregate point scores between the top three sides.

A title play-off at home to Sheffield or even at Chester would be something for us to relish but there is a long way to go before we get to that stage.

I know it is pretty hard to think beyond the end of the regular season right now but we will be looking far into the future in the next few weeks as we aim to move the game on in Sussex.

A few of you will already he aware of the forum on the future of Sussex basketball, to be held at the Triangle on April 14.

This is something with which former Bears player Steve Nelson is heavily involved. I had a meeting with Steve last week and I think this is a great idea. It will bring everybody together and help us figure out the best way to develop and promote our sport here.

I have been all for something like this since I came here. A good example is my attitude towards Worthing Thunder. They have a lot of talent on their team and I want them to be successful, have a good product and promote the game in Sussex.

More people play the game here than in any other area of England I have ever been to.

I suppose the ideal would be to have something like the John Amaechi Centre in Manchester.

I would love to have a facility in Brighton where we could have four courts for kids to play on all day and all evening, then bring in the bleachers and have enough seats to stage a Brighton Bears game.

On the same theme, I expect there to be significant improvements in the youth set-up at the Bears next season. Hopefully more to follow on this soon.

I know what you really want to know, though. Who is going to win this league?

I am convinced it will be us. We have got to stay healthy and win when the chips are down but we are the best team and we intend to prove it.

Go Bears