Over his long and illustrious career in the National Basketball League, Oscar Forman has been the ultimate role player.
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Yet there is a new role awaiting the much-loved Illawarra Hawks co-captain in 2017. The role of father.
“Ozzie”, as he is affectionately known, and his Italian partner Gaia Ferrari are expecting their first child after this NBL season.
“Yes we have a baby on they way due late June,” he said.
“It’s very exciting. I’ve had a lot of other team-mates along the years have kids and you can see them go through the journey of it.
“They balance their life out and talk about how it’s great coming home from a road trip and being able to see your kids or to step away from basketball a little bit mentally.
“It’s gonna be a big year, a big off-season and something I’m ready for in my life.”
Before then, the 35-year-old has another milestone moment to tackle.
On Saturday night at the WEC he will celebrate playing his 200th game for the Illawarra Hawks in a top-of-the-table NBL clash against the Adelaide 36ers – a club where he started his career and won an NBL championship in 2002.
Forman, as his role of co-captain would indicate, is a person of great character. Since joining the Illawarra Hawks in April 2010, Forman has earned a reputation as a genuine, straight-up bloke who has fallen in love with this club and community and it has been reciprocated.
When you ask what this 200 Hawks game milestone means to him, Forman’s honest and direct response says it all.
“It means a lot. (Illawarra) was the club I came to after I got cut from New Zealand and I didn’t want a quick fix, I wanted a place to call home,” he said.
“It’s a place I feel I fit in well, somewhere I’ve flourished. The big reason I’ve stayed is this community is right behind you.”
The community will turn out in force again to celebrate their leader’s milestone but also to help the Hawks pile on the pressure as they fight to fend of other teams wanting their finals spot.
“Since New Year’s Eve our crowd has built and definitely been louder – they are realising the importance they play in our games,’’ he said.
“They’re not coming to spectate, they’re coming to be involved and it’s great we have corporates on the sides are not giving golf claps they’re yelling at the refs, yelling at the players, banging on the signs and getting involved which I love.”
We're asking you to show your support for Oscar and the Hawks by sending a message via social media using the hashtag #happyozzieday Cmon #Hawkheads, get on board.
Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie, Oi, Oi, Oi.
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