Why the JackJumpers are so important to Tasmania
Tasmania’s return to the NBL after 25 years goes far beyond the court, with the JackJumpers’ arrival representing much more to the community they will represent.
After a quarter-century hiatus, the Tasmania JackJumpers will return to the NBL for the 2021/2022 season.
The team has already won the hearts of Tasmanians, with over 2300 Foundation Members as of November 25, 2020.
But the announcement goes beyond basketball, with the JackJumpers’ anticipated debut not only refuting old stereotypes that see the state as too often overlooked by the sporting world, but also presenting a uniquely Tasmanian squad for residents to rally behind.
After being repeatedly told why a professional Tasmanian sports club should not exist, the unveiling of a basketball franchise was a welcome development.
Tasmanians do not need an NBL club or even a well-known AFL team to understand how amazing our state is, but it is still something to be enthusiastic about and proud of, reinforcing our belief in our state’s power and greatness.
We are not immune to the structural challenges that come with having a smaller state, but we believe we are better positioned to provide actual insights into the sustainability of a Tasmanian sports franchise than the same generalizations that are constantly used against the idea.
The NBL has demonstrated a commitment to investing in Tasmania, which contrasts with the reality that most other major athletic codes have forced Tasmanians to accept.
When the NBL brought its pre-season competition, the NBL Blitz, to Tasmania in 2019, it sowed the seeds for a team.
The event was held in numerous venues across the state, including Devonport, Ulverstone, Launceston, and two locations in Hobart.
This demonstrated a commitment to involving the entire state and utilized local sporting facilities, attracting large crowds.
It’s still surreal to think that LaMelo Ball (pick three in the 2020 NBA Draft) and R. J. Hampton (selection 24 in the 2020 NBA Draft) played at places many of us called home during our athletic careers.
Once again, Tasmanians are not automatically obligated to any group or body that pays them attention, but the NBL’s efforts stood out in the face of widespread disinterest among most other sporting organizations.
The success of the NBL Blitz was used to officially announce a Tasmanian NBL franchise later that year.
It was satisfying for both the NBL and the Tasmanian public since both invested in the other and benefited greatly.
This year, further information about the squad was revealed, including the fact that it would be dressed in traditional green and gold and called “Tasmanian JackJumpers” to reflect Tasmanian identity.
While many people from other states were unfamiliar with the term “jack jumper,” most Tasmanians were fully aware of it.
If anything, we have a forced reverence for the moniker as a result of endless days of horror and damage caused by the insect’s agonizing bite.
While the name polarized opinion at the time of its debut, one feature that received widespread praise was the brand narrative built by the team.
The concept of uniting 500,000 Tasmanians like a marching army of ants is brilliant, especially given that one of the most common arguments made against a Tasmanian athletic team is the purported division between the state’s north and south regions.
Even the mascot, a little but powerful animal, fits nicely with Tasmania in comparison to the rest of Australia.
The JackJumpers are a squad that Tasmanians can actually invest in since they will represent our state.
Kids will have local players to look up to and goals to aspire for, whereas the elder generation will have the team they have been waiting for.
Unlike other “Tasmanian” teams, whose relationship with the state is based on convenience or economic transactions, the JackJumpers will be a permanent fixture in the community.
Everyone who grew up or lives in Tasmania is proudly Tasmanian, as will the JackJumpers.
