Windy City Soldiers

[MJHankel]

This team seems to have made a complete night and day change from last season. I mean last season they lost every game. This season they have already won 4 games. They actually have a website http://www.windycitysoldiers.com/ (sort of, it is under construction). They do have a myspace page http://www.myspace.com/windycitysoldiers If you check it out you can see a pic of there new home court (which actually has there logo and colors painted on it). I think there move to Kankakee was the best thing they could do. Being closer to Chicago is not a good idea for minor basketball. They just seem far more legitimate

[winds55]

They certainly played tough in Elkhart. The team was prepared, but I think the fans were expecting a 'walk-all-over-them blowout. I look forward to the rematch in June.

[Elkhart_Fan]

I agree. Windy City was a very different team then last year....I was impressed. We (Elkhart fans) won't take the rematch lightly.

[not so fast]

The windy city team is headed up by a very outstanding young man, Barry Bradford. If in fact he had a big sposor or the right resources, he would win this league championship. But that being said, it is remarkable in what they have done.

Barry once played briefly for the Gary Steelheads, so I know he would love nothing more than to defeat his former boss Jewel Harris.

Go Soldiers!!!!

[bballnut]

I heard the players on the Chicago team do not get paid. Does anybody know if that is the truth? If that is the case they are doing something special. To be competative with no pay roll is outstanding.

[MJHankel]

Their info on the league site doesn't say anything about that, but that is how the Seattle Mountaineers operated.

[South Atlantic]

Players that compete in this type of league don't always need the pay as much as they need the preparation through training. There is a perception that players are worth x amount of $$ but minor league basketball teams can't afford to pay.

Most players will not have an issue with no or very little pay if they have nice housing, meal stipends, good coaching and training situations.

The bottom line is if they can compete and train for three months hard, they would have an opportunity to showcase themselves and get a contract overseas.

[MJHankel]

They just keep on winning. Their court looks kinda nice:
http://daily-journal.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge_remote.asp?remoteimageid=660536
http://daily-journal.com/archives/photog/photos/bignails/03-30-08_04-05-08/04-01-08/soldiers/soldiers2.jpg

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

They just keep on winning. Their court looks kinda nice:
http://daily-journal.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge_remote.asp?remoteimageid=660536
http://daily-journal.com/archives/photog/photos/bignails/03-30-08_04-05-08/04-01-08/soldiers/soldiers2.jpg

THE S BOX

SCORE: Windy City Soldiers 133, Las Vegas Stars 126

SCORERS: Soldiers -- Marcus Jackson (27 points), DeMarcus Bolton (26 points), Barry Bradford (21 points), Erik Rhinehart (19 points); Stars -- Eddie Shelby (36 points), Mohamed Camara (29 points).

STATS: Free throws -- Soldiers 36 of 47, Stars 28 of 39. 3-pointers -- Soldiers 11, Stars 6. Lead changes/ties -- 19/14.

SKINNY: In a back-and-forth battle throughout, the Windy City Soldiers picked it up at both ends, finally taking the lead for good with 2:30 remaining in the fourth quarter.


Look at their three-point line vs. the three point line at the Gary Genesis Center. I'm sure that is one reason why Gary blew Windy City out by more than forty points. Barry Bradford scored 21 points at home against Las Vegas, but looked uncomfortable shooting against Gary. He threw up enough bricks to build an office building. I mean, he took some ugly shots from beyond the arc. I don't know if he got ANY points that night. Nice guy though. :wink:

I like the town of Kankakee. It's close to Chicago, but far from the congestion of urban sprawl. Lots of farmland close-by.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Players that compete in this type of league don't always need the pay as much as they need the preparation through training. There is a perception that players are worth x amount of $$ but minor league basketball teams can't afford to pay.

Most players will not have an issue with no or very little pay if they have nice housing, meal stipends, good coaching and training situations.

The bottom line is if they can compete and train for three months hard, they would have an opportunity to showcase themselves and get a contract overseas.

TJ,
You were way ahead of your time with your leagues. Although multi-team ownership doesn't work (as we now know), but I agree with your concepts. Apparently, the IBL also agrees. High player salaries won't cut it in ANY economy. The owners need a better chance of keeping their heads above water. Keeping salaries in check is one method of doing so.

[MJHankel]

Look at their three-point line vs. the three point line at the Gary Genesis Center. I'm sure that is one reason why Gary blew Windy City out by more than forty points.

I think this is going to come into play a lot this season, any team coming to Gary will have to adjust pretty fast. It gives bigger meaning to home court advantage. It is too bad Elkhart appeared to be ready for that change when they came to Gary. :mad:

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

I think this is going to come into play a lot this season, any team coming to Gary will have to adjust pretty fast. It gives bigger meaning to home court advantage. It is too bad Elkhart appeared to be ready for that change when they came to Gary. :mad:

Elkhart has some big bodies and scored a lot of points down low against Gary. I don't think the distance of the three-point line mattered much that night, although Elkhart's former Steelheads guard (whose name escapes me at the moment) hurt Gary from three-point land in the closing minutes.

It will be interesting to see if Windy City makes the adjustment when they play Gary again at Gary, May 24th. It will be interesting to see if both teams look relatively the same (personnel-wise) on that date.

[Ibl Fan]

Windy City soldiers are definitely a team that alot of you guys don't recognize as a great team. Don't be surprise to see them making some noise in the post season. Seen them play Elgin. Great game!!

[bballnut]

Windy City a great team? They are fun to watch, but in the play-offs? What are they going to do with Elkhart, Battle Creek or Gary? They play hard, and are fun to watch, but I don't consider them a great team. Play off basketball is not the same as the regular season. You need to have players that make big plays at big times in games. Elkhart has proved they have guys that can do that. As far as great teams in the IBL, it would have to be the Express. This league is not that old, but look at there track record. As we get closer to the play offs, watch the teams with money add what they are lacking. These are the teams that will make the run in the playoffs.

[Ibl Fan]

Windy City a great team? They are fun to watch, but in the play-offs? What are they going to do with Elkhart, Battle Creek or Gary? They play hard, and are fun to watch, but I don't consider them a great team. Play off basketball is not the same as the regular season. You need to have players that make big plays at big times in games. Elkhart has proved they have guys that can do that. As far as great teams in the IBL, it would have to be the Express. This league is not that old, but look at there track record. As we get closer to the play offs, watch the teams with money add what they are lacking. These are the teams that will make the run in the playoffs.

Remember your quote during playoff time!! Don't be surprise when one of your teams go home early.

[bballnut]

I will remember. If Windy City would upset one of those teams in the first round of the play-offs, it would make there season. There is only one thing that would make Elkhart, Battle Creek or Gary's season. That is a Championship. Are you saying Windy City could win a game in the play offs or are you saying they could win the Championship?