The Santa Barbara Breakers announce the signing of Zack Fray of Los Angeles. Fray is a 6'6 220 combo big guard/small forward who went to training camp with the Miami Heat in 2003. A sustained injury shortened his attempt at making the Heat roster thus leading him on to opportunities in Ireland, England and China.
Fray played two years at Santa Ana CC from 1999-2001 averaging 20 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists per game. The lefty is a great scorer who plays above the rim and will stroke the trey from NBA range. A father of two daughters, Fray is also the double for Laker great Kobe Bryant in magazine and television commercials. He has extensive duties outside basketball endorsing many products with national corporations.
Head Coach Pickering had this to say about Zack Fray: "Zack Fray is one of the most talented players outside the NBA and NBDL who has simply slipped through the cracks. Playing for the Breakers will put him back on the radar as well as give the fans of Santa Barbara a very flamboyant star to watch for 10 nights this season."
The Breakers begin their home schedule on Saturday, April 25 at 7:05 pm at the SBCC Sports Pavillion. For tickets, call 969-7542. You can also log on to: breakersbasketball.com or westcoastprobasketball
THE PLIGHT OF PRO MINOR LEAGUE BASKETBALL
Breakers Staff Writer - 3/30/2009
Yes, there is a silver lining in every cloudy past, present and possible future that we see. Such also, is the case for professional minor league basketball. Despite the two oldest leagues dropping out over the past 16 months, minor league basketball lives on! The Continental Basketball Association was one year older than the GrandDaddy of Hoops, the NBA. The CBA saw its pulse come to a halt this past January when it shortened it's season at 14 games, played a quick tournament and declared a team the Champions. Far short from the normal 48 regular season game schedule, plus playoffs. But, travel costs was the undoing of this traditional treasure for athletes wanting to climb up to the NBA, yet not wanting to live and play overseas. After 64 years of exsistence, the CBA has been laid to rest.
In December of 2007, the United States Basketball League announced that they too, had to call off the economic "dogs". Established in 1985 and quick to market their timely trade of spring basketball, ( with college seniors ready to showcase their skills), the USBL made the cover of Sports Illustrated when they recruited 7'7 Manute Bol and 5'7 Spud Webb to play for the Rhode Island Seagulls. The League became an instant success with many potential owners vying for a franchise, players frantically desiring to be a member of a roster and agents scrambling to either sign or place his client with a team. Even Nancy Liebermann, a star in herself, in women's basketball league's, played a season in the USBL. But, their requirements for teams to travel up and down the east coast, from Portland, Maine to Miami, Florida strained the pocketbooks of each owner. When they later allowed teams from Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska to join and forced these teams to travel to all points of the east coast, it was just a matter of time. That time came 22 years later and the League has yet to show signs of recovering and making a comeback.
Limited to minor league basketball? No. The Arena Football League became another casualty this past year despite TV contracts, Bon Jovi and John Elway serving as owners of teams and various franchises drawing capacity crowds.
What is destroying the business side of this level? Economics. Travel and a lack of League leadership and discipline to strategically place or align teams in regions that reduce travel costs. It is inevitable for existing leagues to survive who are traveling nationwide to develop players for the Big Show. The only League with solid dollar backing is the NBA's Developmental League. Yet, they too are feeling the pinch. Small crowds are the common factor at the three franchises in California. Anaheim has now been taken over by the League while Bakersfield and the LA Dfenders play before meager fan support.
Does anyone at the minor league level get it? The answer is Yes. If you look at minor league baseball and study the League's who align teams in close proximity, these are the model business pacecars for the now and future. The days of costly airfare, 7-10 roadtrips, hotel expenses and per diem are becoming the sports dinosaur's of our new milinium.
Research minor league baseball, basketball and hockey. Study the alignment of the teams in each League. There, you will find the forecast for it's future. It will either dive, survive or thrive.Is there a silver lining in professional minor league basketball with the latest economic crunch affecting all of us? That is all predicated on the leadership and strategic wisdom of each League's Administrative member's and it's team owners.
From the W.C.B.L. web site.
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