Often elite athletes and their coaches are media trained to within an inch of their lives to give generalised, homogenized responses to questions as to not upset anyone.

Yet these days, fans, sponsors and consumers of sports media are craving more. They seek honest and direct responses to genuine questions and feel they deserve it.

There are few who do it well, but Illawarra Hawks coach Rob Beveridge is one of those people who is happy and indeed comfortable to simply tell it like it is.

Over the first two weeks of the season in this masthead, the Hawks’ head coach has given an amazing insight into his team with his weekly column Bevo’s Playbook which runs in print each Thursday through the National Basketball League season. 

This week Beveridge talked of the NBL’s “flu season”, where perceptions quickly spread.

“One of the things you learn in professional sport is that perception, particularly the negative variety, doesn’t often reflect reality,” he said.

“You also learn that perceptions are contagious – they spread quickly like the flu and people don’t quite know where they got it from. “

Thanks to coach Beveridge for your direct insights on behalf of readers and fans alike. Never change. This weekend the Hawks play host to Brisbane at the WEC on Saturday night before travelling to Melbourne to take on reigning champions United on Monday,

Fans will never forget the opening game of the season two weeks ago at the WEC, a four-overtime thriller which will go down in the history books as one of the greatest basketball games ever seen in this country.

The Hawks will be out to get their home record back on track before going to Melbourne for the showdown with the team which just pipped them in that historic clash.

Before the first home game this masthead promised the 2018-19 Hawks were a team which would fight for every inch. You’ve already seen that evidence. Get along and see it for yourself.

READ MORE: Bevo’s Playbook, The Mirror Doesn’t Lie

READ MORE: Bevo’s Playbook, New Team Mentality For Hawks