Is this league for real?

[JJKN Hoops]

Talking with the newspaper in Wilson, NC, where 'the Critters' will be playing this spring, and to my surprise, they have no clue who this team is.

Called the Parks & Recreationd Director for the City of Wilson, who operates the Reid Street Gymnasium, and to my surprise, they have no idea of the team, the league, the owners, etc.

So here is my question...is this league for real? I mean they ran tryouts last month (evidently not enough to fund something), and now they are having a final tryout two days before the season starts????

I am for a good league with good developmental opportunities but either this league needs to end or get everything in order before announcing small towns as their destination.

Any feedback from others with teams in their cities?

[gonzo13]

Does anyone think they would try to "stage" a season?

Stay with me here....

Maybe they put "teams" in tiny towns like Rome,Ga. and Wilson, N.C., in hopes that nobody from these towns would ever find out about it, and nobody from other towns would know any better? Sort of a fantasy league, if you will.

That way they could just tell the world whatever they wanted as far as game results, and no one would be the wiser.

..........I should have gone out tonight.....

[darcherjr]

No one has any info in Wilson because supposedly the Wilson team owner did not follow through with things. They will not have a team in the WBA this spring. The website is supposed to be updated within the next 24 hours.

There will be six teams in the WBA this spring. There was to be 8-10 teams, but some did not comply and were instructed to wait. The WBA is under new ownership and management and they are trying to dispell the negativity and difficulties of last year.

As far as I know, the teams will be...

1. Buford (GA) MaJic
2. Decatur (GA) Court Kings , which was to be in Marietta but there were issues with the venue there.
3. Tri-State Crusader in Wise (VA)
4. Mississippi Hardhats, in Holly Springs, MS
5. Memphis Blues
6. Cartersville Warriors in Cartersville, GA

There will not be any staging of seasons. I don't know why anyone would truly go to those lengths? The season will start May 24th, and will be a drastically reduced regular season. Intentions are to focus on developing as a true exposure program for players, coaches and personnel.

The Cartersville Warriors organization chose to re-join the WBA because of the re-newed focus on attracting solid owners and on providing exposure for players.

[The Magician]

As far as I know, the teams will be...

1. Buford (GA) MaJic
2. Decatur (GA) Court Kings , which was to be in Marietta but there were issues with the venue there.
3. Tri-State Crusader in Wise (VA)
4. Mississippi Hardhats, in Holly Springs, MS
5. Memphis Blues
6. Cartersville Warriors in Cartersville, GA

Hey Dave,

Any possible way to convince the Decatur owner(s) to change the name to something besides Court Kings?

I'd like to believe that the basketball fans of Birmingham would have a sincere hope of seeing the
Magic City Court Kings return to the court in B'ham at a time in the future ...

http://www.birminghamprosports.com/


I take it ... That Akil Young may have been the owner or one of the owners of the Magic City Court Kings?

They are using the same identical logo, though replacing Magic City with Decatur.

http://www.wbaball.net/index.php?page=teams&teamid=40

[runninref]

From my limited experience with this league a few years back, there are some diamond in the rough good players. I sure hope the new ownership can get things cleaned up. They do have an uphill battle. :D

[gonzo13]

No one has any info in Wilson because supposedly the Wilson team owner did not follow through with things. They will not have a team in the WBA this spring. The website is supposed to be updated within the next 24 hours.

There will be six teams in the WBA this spring. There was to be 8-10 teams, but some did not comply and were instructed to wait. The WBA is under new ownership and management and they are trying to dispell the negativity and difficulties of last year.

As far as I know, the teams will be...

1. Buford (GA) MaJic
2. Decatur (GA) Court Kings , which was to be in Marietta but there were issues with the venue there.
3. Tri-State Crusader in Wise (VA)
4. Mississippi Hardhats, in Holly Springs, MS
5. Memphis Blues
6. Cartersville Warriors in Cartersville, GA

There will not be any staging of seasons. I don't know why anyone would truly go to those lengths? The season will start May 24th, and will be a drastically reduced regular season. Intentions are to focus on developing as a true exposure program for players, coaches and personnel.

The Cartersville Warriors organization chose to re-join the WBA because of the re-newed focus on attracting solid owners and on providing exposure for players.


I did not really believe that anyone would stage a season, you are right about that, but the website does need to be updated. It has Rome listed as one of the '08 teams and Cartersville isn't.

Lionel Garrett told me via email that the Gladiators are a no go this season. I wish they would just be a no go period as opposed to having some other jackass come in and further burn Rome as a minor league sports market.

Is Cartersville going to play in the same place that they played in back in '06? Holy smokes that place was a dump. And does anybody know why the WBA keeps re-cycling the same tired nicknames?

[darcherjr]

I wish they would just be a no go period as opposed to having some other jackass come in and further burn Rome as a minor league sports market.

Is Cartersville going to play in the same place that they played in back in '06? Holy smokes that place was a dump. And does anybody know why the WBA keeps re-cycling the same tired nicknames?

Yea... I totally agree that Rome needs to have a break from minor league basketball. Under the Theo Ratliff regime, along with the hard work of Lionel Garrett, and some others, Rome was in the process of slowly becoming a great place for minor league basketball. But, since then that City has suffered through some owners who never should've been allowed to show face in the first place. Rome may need a couple of years to rebuild some trust, unless a wealthly, recognized and local person steps forward with an effort. Rome is still a great place!

Cartersville will play in the same place. Sorry you consider it a dump. Though it may not be what many approve of, JH Morgan Gymnasium has a very deep tradition and history of great basketball. You would be surprised to know of some of the prominent basketball people that have both played and visited what we also call... "The Bottom Gym," such as Patrick Ewing, Doc Rivers, Rick Petino, Mike Davis, John Starks, Hugh Durham, Charles Oakley, just to mention a few. Half of Memphis young contingent of phenoms have played at JH Morgan Gym. Additionally, you can not fathom the number of lives that sacred ground has helped, spiritually, educationally, morally and athletically.

For an idea of the history of this important place from a non-basketball perspective go to... http://www.summer-hill.org/museum.html. Also, http://www.stickypod.com/summer_hill_documentary.html. Currently, along with the decades old SEBL Summer Pro Am League's North Division, my organization operates a post grad program at the site and you can visit http://www.leaguelineup.com/summerhill. The education complex also currently houses the North Metro Techncical College Adult Literacy Program... http://www.northmetrotech.edu/index.html?lmenu=PoS&content=PoS/AdultEd.

If I sound partial, then I claim that. That place is like my second home! I know you see a lousy excuse for a professional basketball facility, but I urge you to look deeper. When you come back there for a basketball game, you will feel different just sitting in there.

Thanks,

[gonzo13]

On the success of the Rome franchise, I give most of the credit to Harold Ellis. I personally thought the guy was a jerk, but he put D-League tallent on the floor and won basketball games, so I kept buying tickets.

I didn't mean to step on your toes about the gym. There is a rathole of a gym here in Rome that I view in a similar way.

That being said, regardless of the tradition, the place isn't suitable for professional basketball. It really gave the impression of being at a rec league game.

With Cartersville,Cass, and Woodland high schools in the area, why not play at one of them? Maybe even change the teams name to Bartow Co. and play in the Adairsville H.S. new gym.

[darcherjr]

On the success of the Rome franchise, I give most of the credit to Harold Ellis. I personally thought the guy was a jerk, but he put D-League tallent on the floor and won basketball games, so I kept buying tickets.

With Cartersville,Cass, and Woodland high schools in the area, why not play at one of them? Maybe even change the teams name to Bartow Co. and play in the Adairsville H.S. new gym.

I was heavily involved with the Rome franchise from its inception. Harold Ellis was there, but trust me when I tell you he was not the foundation of that franchise. Garrett is the one who recruited the majority of the players during the Gladiators two Championships. Ellis was quite often the last person to arrive and the first to depart. Many others did the work. Trust me.

Regarding the rec-league look you experienced at JH Morgan... I can understand that. If the facility would've been full that feeling may have dicipated a bit. Unfortunately in 2006, there were not many marketing dollars. We played several games at Cass HS, but they didn't do much to help other than just open the doors for us, so we finished out the season at JH Morgan.

This season, will be much the same for Cartersville. There will not be a large budget for marketing. We will get out into the community much more though. We will perform grassroots promotions. The HS are difficult to deal with, or have unrealistically high rent for their gyms. Cartersville is outragious. The County school system has a hold on rentals because of some political issues. JH Morgan is our option. It's affordable and do-able, for now. If the WBA stabilizes (and we hope it does), there may be some other options in the future. We have some developing relationships that may have a positive impact on the situation.

However, we will have a quality team in Cartersville, as we did in 2006. I am confident we will contend for a WBA Title. We have a score to settle, after losing the '06 Championship game in double-OT.