The Israel Basketball Association is still reeling from last week's dismissal of its chairman, Shai Shani, who left in a blaze of accusations and counteraccusations regarding the way the IBA operates.
In May 2008, at age 47, Shani became the youngest IBA chairman for three decades. He brought new ideas to change the way the IBA operates, but at his farewell press conference last week, he looked decidedly glum.
"I've been through a really difficult last half year," he said. "The present management [structure] has exhausted itself. The IBA has been paralyzed for two months now, but things should be done in a democratic fashion. Instead, there was a putsch, and that hurt me."
Shani's dismissal process culminated with the Super League's commissioner, Avner Koppel, being appointed in his place on a temporary basis.
"I was approached with a request to resign and go quietly, and that's what insulted me most," Shani said. "I wasn't looking for respect - I came to the job wanting to invest my energies in a loving, enjoyable way."
Shani talked about the ongoing conflict between him and the Hapoel sports union, which was responsible for his appointment. "I was and will always remain a Hapoel man, but unfortunately I put too much trust in others. I was naive. When I saw things that were not in order, I could not ignore them, and in that way I sealed my own fate. They thought I'd be a puppet who would serve as a rubber stamp, but that's not me."
Who's to blame
Shani was careful not to name names.
"When I learned that efforts were being made to wipe out the debts of one of the directors and demanded that this be changed, I made a serious enemy. When I learned that one of the management works in a place that provides services to the IBA, I said that such a person cannot be a member of the management, so he voted against me. That's why I'm ending my tenure."
Shani also had words for the rival Maccabi union, which helped topple him from his position.
"[Hapoel members] Eitan Rob and Motti Amsalem told me at the time that, at last, after 40 years, they can manage the IBA without [Maccabi Tel Aviv chairman] Shimon Mizrahi, to make decisions without Maccabi and [the nominally religious sporting union] Elitzur. Ultimately it emerged that no decision can be made without Mizrahi. The IBA cannot be run in such a way - but that's not my problem any more."
Thirteen IBA directors voted in favor of firing Shani (Hapoel members and some from Maccabi and Elitzur ), 10 abstained and only three voted in favor of retaining him.
After the vote Koppel declared: "This is the most honorific role in my career. I've been in Mizrahi's shadow for 30 years. He's the strong man in the IBA, and I am his assistant. I will serve the people who elected me."
Koppel, who wants to remain the league's commissioner until a replacement is elected in June, still needs the approval of the IBA's legal adviser that he can hold both positions simultaneously. If he is allowed to fill both roles, he intends to unite the two bodies.
Ometz, the good-governance NGO, intends to appeal the appointment in Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court in light of the Tax Authority's ongoing investigation against Koppel.
