His passionate call was the knockout blow in the whole Illawarra name saga and Brian Goorjian was ecstatic when told he would be coaching the 'Illawarra Hawks' for the remainder of the season.
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The NBL confirmed on Tuesday that it had rubber-stamped the return of Illawarra, three weeks after Goorjian issued a passionate call to see the foundation club's full name restored. It rattled some cages at NBL HQ, but the six-time championship-winner is simply relieved the bid got over the line.
"I love tradition and I love history and I've been involved in the game here since 1977," Goorjian said.
"I saw those original [NBL] games in 1979 and I was a part of it in the 80s. Moving to a founding club like Illawarra with that tradition and then not having that name just meant a lot for me [to address].
"When you're around that community you realise more and more the importance of it. I was definitely aggressive and emotional about getting that name back.
"I remember in school the first thing coaches emphasise is team and playing for what's on the front of your jersey not what's on the back and just having 'Hawks' doesn't get it done. That's just the mascot, we're playing for the community of Illawarra.
"I could feel when I spoke out there was some momentum building towards it and I definitely was into pushing it along and am very happy to be playing with that in our first home game [on Wednesday]."
With the Hawks enjoying huge on and off-court success, Goorjian hopes the return of the name can let the club fully put the foot to the floor.
"It was holding the whole thing back so I'm just really, really pleased," he said.
"Since 1979 it's the only one [still here]. There's no more Melbourne Tigers, there's no more South East Melbourne Magic, teams I played for and coached.
"The longer it goes the harder it gets [to get it back] so I'm glad it was short-lived that we were just The Hawks. I can't stress enough how much that names means and it feels like an accomplishment.
"It's why I was so emotional after that [Cairns] game, you get those wins and there's something missing and it was the name of the community."
Mitch Jennings
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
