Nationals win it o.t.

[psbf]

The National Division defeated the American, 134-131 in overtime after they were tied at 114 after regulation. They were expecting around 3,000.

[panchess]

..good game, and hopefully it will give the Daredevils a shot in the arm attendance-wise.

[psbf]

It was very good. Unfortunately, Kevin Pittsnogle could not participate because of injury suffered in the Xplosion's last game and I wish Rob Griffin could have contributed more. But the National's did a great job.
I'm guessing that the 3,268 consisted of many out of towners. I would like to see how Butte's turnouts react to the big show. I'm hoping to see more at Xplosion games also.

[kg21obf]

I hate to be a hater, but you complain about your relivance on these boards. How many people do you think from out of town traveled to Butte Montana to see a CBA allstar game. Where do you think they came from Deer lodge or Miles city. I love the CBa as you do, but it is what it is a 3rd rate BB league hangin on by a thread

[heavesrock]

They all came from Ekalaka, Baker, and Wibaux(throw in Alzada also).


Now, how many of you have heard of those towns?

[psbf]

They could be somewhere in Montana for all I know.

[panchess]

..though I am sure most of the crowd was local.

Now that it has been proven you can draw 3,000 in Butte, the trick is to do it again and again.

The people that went, wherever they were from, got to see a great show.

[Chuck the Writer]

I hate to be a hater, but you complain about your relivance on these boards. How many people do you think from out of town traveled to Butte Montana to see a CBA allstar game. Where do you think they came from Deer lodge or Miles city. I love the CBa as you do, but it is what it is a 3rd rate BB league hangin on by a thread

Well, if you see the video cast during the slam dunk contest, you can see me down in the corner with my digital camera - and I came all the way from Albany, as did several other Patroons fans. I also saw fans from the Sun Kings there and at least a few Alley Cats fans who made the trip. Yes, predominantly the crowd was made up of Big Sky residents, but there were CBA fans from other cities in that crowd as well.

And as for your statement that the league is a "3rd rate BB league hangin on by a thread," let me lay some education on you. The CBA has been around for 60 years, and it will be around for 60 more years. The enthusiasm in the Butte Civic Center for that All-Star Classic was electrifying. The management in Butte (and that includes Apex Sportstainment, for all you "they can't run multiple teams" haters out there) did an absolutely fantastic job putting that show on. There were sponsorships with local and major companies, there were two sets of dance teams, several mascots (including the Daredevils' new one that looks like Evel Knievel in his riding leathers), a 50/50 raffle that raised over $1800 for a local charity, and several NBA and European scouts who saw the best players in the league display their skills for the world to see.

Compare that to that red-white-and-blue rec-ball league. Or the D-League, where the only guys going in are the ones that were sent down from the NBA - well, maybe with the exception of Renaldo Major, who played his tail off in the CBA for years to earn his spot.

[psbf]

I remember seeing that Evil Knievel look alike, the Mascots, the cheer leaders and all before the activities began. I thought that was a very nice touch and I later heard the crowd(I later saw some of it with the limited view on the webcast cam and play-by-play). My hat is off to everyone in Butte for the great show! As far as I know, nobody from Pittsburgh went, but we had the view anyway. I think I saw you, Chuck, without realizing it.

[panchess]

..I don't see running it down, but I don't think it will ever get to 30 teams or be the threat to the CBA most people think. It seems like when all is said and done, a lot of the D-League teams that survive (and despite the NBA brand and so on, the D-League has totally turned over its cities in five seasons) are going to be "house" teams like LA.

The issue is more talent, and getting the CBA to be more competitive for talent currently going to Europe is probably going to be the next step. More like a "veteran's league," where the D-League attracts more first-year pros.

The ABA? Probably perservely, I hope Joe wins the management struggle, so that the good teams flood out to the CBA. Adding Rochester, Maryland and perhaps Vermont to Albany and Pittsburgh would make a nice Northeastern cluster.

[bdaly]

The issue is more talent, and getting the CBA to be more competitive for talent currently going to Europe is probably going to be the next step. More like a "veteran's league," where the D-League attracts more first-year pros.

This is what I foresee for the CBA. With the D-League's expansion, it's going to be the place prospects want to be--like it or not. They're looking to follow an AHL-like model that the NHL has in hockey. And, I don't see why it can't work. I know some speak of how it's tough to break through the NBA's bureaucracy, but as expansion continues, it's going to become less of an issue.

But, they aren't looking for guys who are older, and not everyone wants to go to Europe. Yhey have to be careful though. The IHL was a good option until they started competing for players with European league and in some cases the NHL, and that drove them out of business (large payrolls). So, they have to stay true to a certain business model.

[psbf]

It would be nice to see the Xplosion battle new teams like Rochester, Buffalo and Vermont, in addition to our current teams. I'm sure that would bring more fans out. But currently, fans have to settle for what we have now.

[bectond]

The CBA will be just fine. The D-league will always have a high turn-over rate, they will only give players two or three years to develop and if the player does not make the show then it's either europe or the CBA. Former ABA players will also pass thur the CBA on their way to the D-League. Plus, many ex-nba players with questionable reps will always use the CBA to get back in the good graces of NBA GM's. The Rodney Bufords of the world need a place to play too.

[kg21obf]

Why are there no Rodney Buford types in the CBA. Rodney Buford played on such talented Cba teams, he wasny alway even a starter. Yet there are few, if any currently in the Cba as good as him.