ABARedWhiteBlue
12-24-2008, 11:49 AM
nice coverage (certainly more than most ABA teams)...
http://www.modbee.com/sports/story/543418.html
Walkers team together to help Modesto Bearcats seek success
Modesto Bee
By Brian VanderBeek
bvanderbeek@modbee.com
last updated: December 24, 2008 12:59:57 AM
SALIDA -- It says something about both the basketball team and the family business that is the Modesto Bearcats that the player with the strongest set of on-court credentials can be found working the concession stand.
But there she was on a rare Monday night off, Cal's Ashley Walker serving up Red Ropes while flashing her two-time All-American smile as a free bonus.
"We all have to work around here," said the Davis High graduate.
That could be the team motto.
Big brother T.J. Walker is the player/coach/general manager of the Bearcats, a first-year ABA franchise that plays its home games at Salida Middle School. Ashley's dad, T.J. Sr., also is a coach.
The team has played three games so far, losing all three. Monday's game was the closest and also served as the team's first heartbreak as the San Francisco Rumble outscored the Bearcats 18-4 over the final five minutes to pull out a 97-96 win.
The Rumble started the game with six players and fell behind 15-0, but gained momentum as more players arrived one by one and came alive when their center stepped into the gym with 1:27 left in the first half.
At the final buzzer, as T.J.'s off-balance 13-footer rolled off the rim, the crowd of about 220 cheered the effort, climbed out of the stands to chat with their favorite player by friendship or kin, and went home.
Whether they were entertained enough to return, and bring their friends along, is the question that will determine the fate of the franchise.
"The goal is to have a professional team for the entire year and beyond, and to give the guys in this community and chance to play at another level," said Walker Sr. "Most of the guys are from the 209 and we're trying to keep it that way."
That might be the Catch-22 of this franchise. They want to keep the roster local to give the players the opportunity mentioned by Walker, also knowing that local players will give the team a better chance to draw local fans.
On the other hand, Walker Jr. is the only local product on the roster who ever saw playing time at the NCAA Division I level -- and that was more than a decade ago.
At times, in fact more often than not, the play on the court is ragged. There is obvious talent and athleticism, but it's too early in the season to see much evidence of jelling.
"I just like to support the guys," said Modestan Warren Beckwith, a regular through the years at Modesto High games. "I didn't expect a whole lot the first time I came, and I was a little disappointed because I thought the basketball would be of a little higher caliber. It was entertaining, but to me, it's about the same as junior college ball."
There are differences. The ABA has its own set of quirky rules and one of them seems to be the presence of a dance team. The Bearkittens (of course) provide the requisite bump, shimmy and grind and obviously have practiced.
Up in the stands, another regular at local high school games also is giving the Bearcats another chance to earn his return.
"I went to the first game they had here and it was good to see some fast-paced basketball, compared to the high school game," said Stan Arnold of Modesto. "Unless you go to the Modesto Christian Tournament, you don't see that pace of basketball."
That begged the question. If given the chance between a Bearcats game or the elite high school tournament across the highway ...?
"Most likely I'd go to the Modesto Christian Tournament," he said.
That's not news to the Bearcats. They know they have a long journey ahead to sway the local sports fan. Just last year at about this time, the ABA's Central Valley Shockwave, based in Turlock, abruptly deflated their red, white and blue balls and closed shop.
And even this incarnation began life as a team called the Sabers, a name the owner at the time swore wasn't a tribute to self. His name was Sabre.
"What hurt the other team is that the players weren't from here," said Reggie Rucker, the Bearcats' director of marketing. "So they struggled through a couple games and packed up and left. All these guys, being from here, are committed to making it work."
This team definitely will make it through the 2008-09 season, Rucker says. Beyond that, it will need the support of the community.
"We need these 200 or 250 people here tonight to go out and spread the word and then see what happens," Rucker said.
As those folks left the gym, Ashley Walker walked over to the end of the visitors' bench, grabbed the handle of the large trash can, and began rolling it across the floor toward the exit.
The two-time All-American concession worker suddenly was a two-time All-American janitor.
"She happened to get off tonight," said her dad. "It's a family organization, so everybody has to help out."
The Bearcats' next home game is Sunday at 4 p.m. at Salida Middle School.
HOW THE ABA IS NOT THE NBA
OFF THE COURT
The ABA's annual salary cap is $120,000 per team. The ABA opened the 2008-09 season with 35 teams and is looking to expand to as many as 54 teams for the 2009-10 season.
ON THE COURT
The ABA awards two free throws after the eighth foul.
A backcourt turnover activates flashing lights, signaling that the team with the ball will earn an extra point on any field goal made during the ensuing possession.
No player can dribble with his back to the basket for more than three seconds.
Shots made from beyond halfcourt are worth four points.
No player can foul out. But on a players seventh foul and beyond, the other team gets a free throw plus possession of the ball.
Teams have only seven seconds to advance the ball over halfcourt.
http://www.modbee.com/sports/story/543418.html
Walkers team together to help Modesto Bearcats seek success
Modesto Bee
By Brian VanderBeek
bvanderbeek@modbee.com
last updated: December 24, 2008 12:59:57 AM
SALIDA -- It says something about both the basketball team and the family business that is the Modesto Bearcats that the player with the strongest set of on-court credentials can be found working the concession stand.
But there she was on a rare Monday night off, Cal's Ashley Walker serving up Red Ropes while flashing her two-time All-American smile as a free bonus.
"We all have to work around here," said the Davis High graduate.
That could be the team motto.
Big brother T.J. Walker is the player/coach/general manager of the Bearcats, a first-year ABA franchise that plays its home games at Salida Middle School. Ashley's dad, T.J. Sr., also is a coach.
The team has played three games so far, losing all three. Monday's game was the closest and also served as the team's first heartbreak as the San Francisco Rumble outscored the Bearcats 18-4 over the final five minutes to pull out a 97-96 win.
The Rumble started the game with six players and fell behind 15-0, but gained momentum as more players arrived one by one and came alive when their center stepped into the gym with 1:27 left in the first half.
At the final buzzer, as T.J.'s off-balance 13-footer rolled off the rim, the crowd of about 220 cheered the effort, climbed out of the stands to chat with their favorite player by friendship or kin, and went home.
Whether they were entertained enough to return, and bring their friends along, is the question that will determine the fate of the franchise.
"The goal is to have a professional team for the entire year and beyond, and to give the guys in this community and chance to play at another level," said Walker Sr. "Most of the guys are from the 209 and we're trying to keep it that way."
That might be the Catch-22 of this franchise. They want to keep the roster local to give the players the opportunity mentioned by Walker, also knowing that local players will give the team a better chance to draw local fans.
On the other hand, Walker Jr. is the only local product on the roster who ever saw playing time at the NCAA Division I level -- and that was more than a decade ago.
At times, in fact more often than not, the play on the court is ragged. There is obvious talent and athleticism, but it's too early in the season to see much evidence of jelling.
"I just like to support the guys," said Modestan Warren Beckwith, a regular through the years at Modesto High games. "I didn't expect a whole lot the first time I came, and I was a little disappointed because I thought the basketball would be of a little higher caliber. It was entertaining, but to me, it's about the same as junior college ball."
There are differences. The ABA has its own set of quirky rules and one of them seems to be the presence of a dance team. The Bearkittens (of course) provide the requisite bump, shimmy and grind and obviously have practiced.
Up in the stands, another regular at local high school games also is giving the Bearcats another chance to earn his return.
"I went to the first game they had here and it was good to see some fast-paced basketball, compared to the high school game," said Stan Arnold of Modesto. "Unless you go to the Modesto Christian Tournament, you don't see that pace of basketball."
That begged the question. If given the chance between a Bearcats game or the elite high school tournament across the highway ...?
"Most likely I'd go to the Modesto Christian Tournament," he said.
That's not news to the Bearcats. They know they have a long journey ahead to sway the local sports fan. Just last year at about this time, the ABA's Central Valley Shockwave, based in Turlock, abruptly deflated their red, white and blue balls and closed shop.
And even this incarnation began life as a team called the Sabers, a name the owner at the time swore wasn't a tribute to self. His name was Sabre.
"What hurt the other team is that the players weren't from here," said Reggie Rucker, the Bearcats' director of marketing. "So they struggled through a couple games and packed up and left. All these guys, being from here, are committed to making it work."
This team definitely will make it through the 2008-09 season, Rucker says. Beyond that, it will need the support of the community.
"We need these 200 or 250 people here tonight to go out and spread the word and then see what happens," Rucker said.
As those folks left the gym, Ashley Walker walked over to the end of the visitors' bench, grabbed the handle of the large trash can, and began rolling it across the floor toward the exit.
The two-time All-American concession worker suddenly was a two-time All-American janitor.
"She happened to get off tonight," said her dad. "It's a family organization, so everybody has to help out."
The Bearcats' next home game is Sunday at 4 p.m. at Salida Middle School.
HOW THE ABA IS NOT THE NBA
OFF THE COURT
The ABA's annual salary cap is $120,000 per team. The ABA opened the 2008-09 season with 35 teams and is looking to expand to as many as 54 teams for the 2009-10 season.
ON THE COURT
The ABA awards two free throws after the eighth foul.
A backcourt turnover activates flashing lights, signaling that the team with the ball will earn an extra point on any field goal made during the ensuing possession.
No player can dribble with his back to the basket for more than three seconds.
Shots made from beyond halfcourt are worth four points.
No player can foul out. But on a players seventh foul and beyond, the other team gets a free throw plus possession of the ball.
Teams have only seven seconds to advance the ball over halfcourt.