Luke Hughes - 2012-13 Perth Heat

As a Perth Heat fan in Canberra, I was a bit disappointed with how some of the Perth Heat fans and even players and staff carried on during and post the 2012-13 ABL Championship Series. Unfortunately, Luke Hughes was one of those who seemed to come across as having a case of "sour grapes" in Twitter posts and comments about the Canberra team and their import quota. Disappointing behaviour for a player I've liked.  As a Perth fan in hostile territory, bad sportsmanship from those associated with the Heat doesn't exactly endear me to the locals either.

Still, hopefully he's mature enough to reflect on his behaviour. I did find a certain irony in his criticisms of Canberra having lots of American players. The irony being:
1. His Twitter post "Whose playing for the Cavs next year? #whoknows" The irony is: Where will Hughes be playing during the 2013 MLB season?  #whoknows After 2012 Spring Training, a regular MLB spot beckoned, but since then he's been on a downward slide.
2. Criticisms of Canberra as "Team USA". In light of the point above, it's more than likely Hughes is praying that he'll be spending the northern summer playing in a league against teams full of Americans ... :)

As fans, let's hope he has a good WBC and gets picked up by one of the MLB organisations again, and leaves the internal Aussie slagging behind.  It would be even more ironic for the 2013-14 ABL season if the stories about Canberra trying to entice Hughes to play for the Cavalry next season come to fruition. Apparently his girlfriend Anna Flanagan, is a Canberran who plays for the Hockeyroos.

2012-13 Perth Heat Luke Hughes card front - © 2013 Adam East