Bucks' center Andrew Bogut's business is basketball. While the rigorous 82-game National Basketball Association season does not leave a lot of time for hobbies, it helps that one of Bogut's off-court interests is the business of basketball.

That was especially evident earlier this month.

Bogut, a former No. 1 pick who is one quarter of the way through his fourth season in Milwaukee, made headlines "back home" when he made a sizable donation to the Sydney Spirit, a professional team in Australia's National Basketball League.

The Spirit, formerly known as the West Sydney Razorbacks, were on the brink of folding when the league stepped forward with a financial rescue package that ensured the club would finish the season.

Bogut's donation, which was unsolicited and more of a personal gesture than an investment, helped ease some of the burden while drawing attention to the team's plight and sparking renewed interest in sponsorships for the club.

After the Bucks' home victory over Charlotte Friday night at the Bradley Center, OnMilwaukee.com chatted with Bogut about the business of basketball -- both both in the U.S. and Australia -- and his interest in getting involved in a management / ownership role when his playing days are over.

OnMilwaukee.com: You haven't had very good luck with injuries this year (left knee bone bruise, right ankle sprain, migraine headache). How are you feeling now?

Andrew Bogut: It's been frustrating but it happens to everyone. It's part of the game.

I got rid of the flu, the migraines; I'm over that. The only thing now is I've got a couple niggling injuries I'm trying to battle through. But, other than that, I'm feeling great.

The next three or four days I can't wait to get some sun (in Phoenix and L.A.) and it might solve all my worries.

OMC: Whether I'm attending a game at the Bradley Center or watching games on TV, I can't help noticing that there are a lot of empty seats. Even though many teams are cutting ticket prices, the attendance is slipping. My question is, do you guys notice that as players and does it affect you in any way?

AB: Definitely. There is no doubt about it. I think it's the economy, obviously. The way things are right now, it's hard for people to make money and they're not spending as much.

I'm not knocking the NBA, but the tickets I get for my family are $120 each. As a young fellow, I could never have afforded to go to even one game a year. If you think about people spending in excess of $600 for parking and food to take a couple kids to a ball game, it gets tough.

Obviously, people are knuckling down on their spending. Some people can't afford to go to a game two or three times a week anymore. Maybe they can go once every two weeks.

We'll take the supporters we've got coming. We're happy to have them. I think it'll turn around once the economy does.

OMC: The problem does not seem to be limited to smaller markets like Milwaukee. Have you noticed it league-wide?

AB: Yes. Obviously, the Lakers and the Knicks are the ones not affected by it. With all the tourism they get (in Los Angeles and New York), people come from all over the world to go to games there.

But, it's been tough in a lot of cities. Memphis is way worse off than us. Atlanta is having a tough time. The crowd in Cleveland was decent and Boston was good, but they're winning. Atlanta was worse than us, and at the time we played there, they had a six-game winning streak.

OMC: People used to think that if you won games, fans would show up. That doesn't seem to be the case any more.

AB: It does get expensive. When I was younger, if I would have asked my dad to spend a lot of money to go to a game he would have slapped me upside the head. The Australian National League, when I was young, was expensive enough. It felt like it was such a privilege to go to even one game. So, I know how people feel. That's the business we're in.

OMC: Speaking of business, lets' talk about your involvement with the Spirit. They were having some tough times when you made that donation. What prompted you to help?

AB: The coach (Rob Beveridge) was one of my coaches when I was in juniors and we won a gold medal (at the Under-19 World Championships in 2003). I did it as a favor to him and a couple of guys on the team that I kind of grew up with in my basketball career.

It's not a lot of money to me. It helps them much more. I don't know how much of the story you've heard, but they are pretty much earning what they get from concessions and ticket sales right now. There are some guys who are supposed to make $100,000 who are making $15,000. It's pretty tough for them.

 Page 1 of 2 (view all on one page)

Next >>

3 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by Downtowner on Dec. 10, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (report)

Bogut is the real deal, although Shaq owns him this year. He's smart, has good court sense and still young enough to be learning and developing. Maybe he can buy the team from the Senator in 5-6 years?

Posted by Z_boy on Dec. 9, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. (report)

Wow, what a refreshing interview. Bogut sounds down to earth. None of that self-promotion that most NBA players constantly ram down our throats.

Posted by LegallyBlonde on Dec. 9, 2008 at 5:16 p.m. (report)

I like how honest he is. He doesn't answer with the "company line" that 90% of athletes do. Been to 3 games so far this year and have enjoyed each of them. Would be nice if we had more people coming, but it is what it is. Keep grabbin those boards, Bogut. See you on Brady, ha!