USBL FORFEITS

[Mike]

Anyone know why the USBL had two forfeits in the league last night ?

[HAC]

Ridiculous.

-----------------------------------------
SkyHawks forfeit game to C.R.

By Jeff Dahn
The Gazette
Saturday, May 08, 2004, 11:04:56 PM


CEDAR RAPIDS -- Crazy, even silly things happen in minor league sports, but what took place last night during a USBL game at the U.S. Cellular Center was so out there it should have been beamed straight from the International Space Station.
With his team trailing the Cedar Rapids River Raiders, 38-21, with 6 minutes, 32 seconds left in the second quarter and Raider Brian Bracey headed to the free throw line to convert a three-point play, St. Louis SkyHawk Coach Floyd Irons walked to the centerline near the scorers' table and summoned Raider Coach Dave Joeger.

As a dumbfounded Joeger listened, Irons informed him he was pulling his team off the court and heading home to St. Louis.

Game officials Tom Turckas and Dave Cusick tried to convince Irons to keep his team on the floor. Joeger made several attempts to persuade Irons to let his team finish the game, but those pleas also went unheeded.

No one associated with the SkyHawks would comment, but Irons' has not been shy about expressing his negative feelings toward the league's officiating.

``He took his team off the floor and the game's over,'' Joeger said about 20 minutes after the SkyHawks walked off. ``Apparently, they feel like the officiating is unfair here, but when you're getting beat by 17 points in the second quarter, it has nothing to do with the officiating.

``I've never seen anything like it and it's very unprofessional.''

Raider General Manager Sean McLaughlin -- like just about everyone else in the arena -- didn't know what to think.

``It's just unfortunate St. Louis feels like when it comes here it's going to be treated unfairly,'' he said.

At the time of the walkout, the SkyHawks had been whistled for five fouls and the Raiders one. St. Louis was 0 of 1 from the line, Cedar Rapids 2 of 2. Both Raiders free throws finished three-point plays.

The Raiders had used a 22-4 run over the final 7 minutes of the first quarter and the first 1:19 of the second to break the game open.

But the reason for Irons' angst probably originated from his team's two previous visits to the USCC.

In those games, both won by the Raiders, Cedar Rapids was 62 of 91 from the line, and St. Louis was 16 of 29.

``It's tough on the road,'' Joeger said. ``In our road game against Dodge City (April 21), they shot 25 free throws in the second quarter. I'm just disappointed for our great fans.''

Irons is a Missouri high school coach who has led teams to nine state championships, but any reason he had for ordering his team off the floor is unacceptable to the league, according to Dennis Truax, the USBL's Director of Public Relations.

``Actions will be severe and swift,'' Truax said. ``He's a high school coach making a high school play and it's out of the question what he did tonight. It was Floyd Irons making a grandstand play because he didn't get his way.

``Nothing like this has ever happened in the 19-year history of the league, and it's certainly no mark against the River Raiders. They've done everything the right way.''

Truax said no action will be taken against SkyHawk players.

``I know a lot of those players and I know they wanted to go out and finish the game,'' he said. ``They're not going to do anything to embarrass themselves or the USBL.''

McLaughlin said the 2,670 fans with a ticket for last night's game can take the stub to the USCC ticket office and redeem it for a ticket to another game.

``We have another game (today) against the Brevard Blue Ducks and they're an organization with a lot more history than St. Louis and we're sure it will be a great game,'' he said.''

The Raiders and Blue Ducks tip off at 3 p.m.

While Raider officials spent about a half-hour trying to coax the SkyHawks to finish the game, the Raiderette cheer squad performed and various kids' games -- usually reserved for time outs -- were played.

Finally, tables were set up on the floor and River Raider players and former ``Survivor'' contestant Heidi Strobel signed autographs.

None of the players knew what to think, either.

``I've never seen anything like this on any level,'' Raider Albert Mouring said. ``Coach just told us to stay on the floor and maybe we could finish the game.''

The final score will officially be listed as 2-0. The Raiders improved to 7-2 with their sixth straight home win.


All local content copyright © 2004 by The Gazette Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

[HAC]

MAY 9, 2004
Wildcats’ problems mount
Players refused to play Saturday; Rift between owner, coach at root of problem

By BRETT ORZECHOWSK
orzechowski@poststar.com

GLENS FALLS -- Between mounting financial difficulties and a rift between Adirondack Wildcats owner/general manager Charles Adams and head coach Ron Ekker, the United States Basketball League franchise started experiencing operational difficulties with the cancellation of Saturday night's game against Brooklyn when the team failed to show.

Before Friday night's game with Dodge City, Adams told the players their paychecks would be a few days late. Both Adams and Wildcats forward Gyasi Cline-Heard said it was the first payment problem, but Ekker said he has been paid once since arriving in Glens Falls and Adams owes him about $5,000.

The team has not ceased operations, Adams said. But, it might be the end in Glens Falls for Ekker. Ekker said, he was told by Adams that if the players didn't show for Saturday's game, the former NBA assistant would be fired.

As of Saturday night, Ekker said he is no longer employed by Adams, although Adams said he has not notified Ekker of his dismissal and is still deciding whether assistant coach Jacob Jonas has a job.

Although the Wildcats have started the season well, Adams said poor attendance has led to some financial concerns. The team is currently 7-3 and a half-game out of first place in the Eastern Division.

Adams said, financially, the team will survive the duration of the season. Adams purchased the franchise from Dr. Ravi Chandran in January.

"We were financially prepared to carry this team the entire season," Adams said. "The coach and I had some different visions for this team. I told the players that even though their paychecks were late, I was willing to pay out of pocket. There wasn't too much response to that, so that's how we left it Friday."

Adams said he and Wildcats Director of Player Personnel Mike Sweet have begun the process of finding a new head coach. Adirondack's next game is scheduled for Wednesday at home.

Cline-Heard said the players plan to meet again this morning and then later with Wildcats' management to discuss their future.

According to Ekker, he and Adams met Thursday morning to discuss the team's financial situation. Adams then met with the team Friday morning. On Friday, Cline-Heard said the players' vote was unanimous to play that evening, but to wait for Saturday.

When the paychecks didn't arrive, the decision was clear around 12:30 p.m. Saturday that the team would not show.

At that time, Ekker said he was told by Adams that if the players don't show, the coach should plan to return home to Ohio.

Even with growing problems between Adams and Ekker over the past few weeks, the coach said he met with the players and left on good terms.

"Whatever decision they make, I have respect for all those guys," Ekker said. "I told them I have my own problems. The players met and they resisted. They're smart players; they know when they're being conned. They were doing what they felt was best."

This is the second USBL team to experience some form of financial difficulties this season. The Florence Flyers went three days without ownership before a group bought the team. Adams said the season will continue with a new coach and if the players meet the new coach's approval, they will play with the same roster. No roster moves have been made as of late Saturday night.

Cline-Heard said that some of the current players have experienced situations like this before in other minor-league basketball organizations. The team left the meeting with Adams with mixed emotions but put the decision to play to a vote. Ekker said he still doesn't know how the Wildcats won Friday night.

Cline-Heard said it was a professional decision, not an immediate monetary reason, to play this weekend.

"We did it out of respect to ourselves and the fans we do have," Cline-Heard said. "We wanted to show that we're not cowards. We're still professionals, and a decision like this reaffirms that."

While Ekker spoke with USBL Director of Operations Ed Krinsky and later with the team at the Ramada in Queensbury, Adams and Sweet tried sifting out the situation. The Wildcats failed to show at game time and the Brooklyn players began packing up at 7:30 p.m., half an hour after the scheduled start.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats stayed at the Ramada and played X-Box. Their decision was made the day before, and they held. Ekker returned to the Queensbury Hotel, planning how to approach today. And Adams was left with unpaid players, a vacant coaching position and a financial dilemma, one he didn't foresee when he bought the team in January.

The Civic Center was clear by 8 p.m., leaving the arena even more scarce than it has been in the Wildcats' first six home games, a sign that the team's longevity is in doubt.

Glens Falls Civic Center Executive Director Suzanna Bernd said she was surprised by the cancellation of the game. She said she was there for a Mother's Day celebration with her mother, husband and baby.

"I'm a little disappointed there's not a game," she said.

Bernd said fans were given three options for the cancellation They could either get a full refund, turn the ticket in for a voucher, or wait to see if the game was rescheduled and use the ticket for that game.

She said the fans were told there was a delay of game, then later told it was cancelled.

"We have full confidence in the ownership and management of the team," Bernd said

[Mike]

It's time for Flyod Irons to go back to high school where he belongs. He is clearly in over his head. It is easy to walk off the floor in a high school game and get on the bus and go home where nothing is done about it. This was bush league and un-professional on his part.

[Mike]

It's time for Flyod Irons to go back to high school where he belongs. He is clearly in over his head. It is easy to walk off the floor in a high school game and get on the bus and go home where nothing is done about it. This was bush league and un-professional on his part.

[HAC]

Maybe Ekker could go to St. Louis to coach the Skyhawks.

[SK Fan]

It's time for Flyod Irons to go back to high school where he belongs. He is clearly in over his head. It is easy to walk off the floor in a high school game and get on the bus and go home where nothing is done about it. This was bush league and un-professional on his part.

A suspension for Ironhead is coming and the Skyhawks will have to pay too! Ironhead had this planned. This happened 20 feet in front of me and this was not a spur of the moment decision. I watched Ironhead walk to halfcourt in front of the scorer's table, call his stat guy to come, and call Coach Joerger to halfcourt. Joerger was stunned and followed Ironhead back to the St Louis bench trying to keep him from walking off. This was planned.

Unfortunately, the River Raiders management has to give tickets to another game to everyone who was in attendance. 2,700 people with an average price of $7 will cost the team $18,000. That's pretty hard for an expansion franchise in their 9th game to swallow!

[Sam Hill]

ABA Founder Joe Newman said "Floyd Irons is just the kind of great coach we're looking for in our league. We look forward to having him coach one of our 38 teams next year. "

[not so fast]

This irons has showed that he clearly is in over his head. What about the fans who have paid to see a game? Would he want someone to do that to his fans?

He should be removed from coaching for the remainder of the season, and his organization should refund the money to Cedar rapids for all tickets refunded.

As for Adirondack, the coach should just be fired and a new one hired immedietaly! That is such a joke this back an forth with the owner, just fire the coach and move on!!

The USBL which is a good league, may have to invest more time in communicating with the owners and coaches about what is expected. The Egos of these owners and some coaches are clearly a problem.

Do they have league wide face to face meetings with all the owners and coaches? If not, they need to start, no matter what the cost. This bad PR for the league is costing a lot more than a few airline tickets and a few hotel rooms!

[Jeremy]

I was thinking the same thing really. St Louis should have to repay the River Raiders for the lost funds from this game.

Seriously a team that is brand new just trying to get minor-pro basketball back to the city of Cedar Rapids after prior failed attempts (1 was team folding from CBA and other was the league folded during the season) this really does not look good for the league and may turn away fans as they might be afraid something like that will happen again.

This joke of a coach should not coach in the USBL or anywhere else ever again this is rediculous.

Glad I didn't go to this game.

[Sam Hill]

I wouldn't count on him coaching in this league anytime soon.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=1799125

Reading up on him, apparently he's quite the character on the Missouri high school scene. Wins everything, but is a real agitator, rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

I wonder why that is.

[sportsnut]

I agree. It doesn't make any difference if your team is trailing by 1, 10, or 100 points, or if the officials are a bunch of idiots. What Floyd Irons did not only was inappropriate, but also unprofessional. The indefinite suspension against Irons comes as no surprise. I wouldn't be surprised if the Skyhawks eventually let him go. Irons would have least owed it to the fans of both teams if his team finished the game out, instead of making most of them mad by forfeiting the game. Obviously, this incident seems to be another in a long line of black eyes for minor league basketball.

Any questions?

[SK Fan]

I wouldn't count on him coaching in this league anytime soon.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=1799125

Reading up on him, apparently he's quite the character on the Missouri high school scene. Wins everything, but is a real agitator, rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

I wonder why that is.

Unless or until the ownership of the USBL changes, Irons will not coach in the USBL.

[HAC]

I wouldn't count on him coaching in this league anytime soon.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=1799125

Reading up on him, apparently he's quite the character on the Missouri high school scene. Wins everything, but is a real agitator, rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

I wonder why that is.

Unless or until the ownership of the USBL changes, Irons will not coach in the USBL.

Or until he has sat out one game.

[SK Fan]

I wouldn't count on him coaching in this league anytime soon.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=1799125

Reading up on him, apparently he's quite the character on the Missouri high school scene. Wins everything, but is a real agitator, rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

I wonder why that is.

Unless or until the ownership of the USBL changes, Irons will not coach in the USBL.

Or until he has sat out one game.

Welcome to the Utterly Stupid Basketball League! Ironheads' grade school ploy cost the River Raider owners between $15-$20,000! Do you think the league will force St. Louis to pay this? I don't know many Utterly Stupid Basketball League teams that can take that kind of hit in their first year and survive.

[tubaman]

Irons apperantly coached sunday in Salina. So much for an Indefinate suspension.

[SK Fan]

Under the Homers and Gomers Editorial Section of the Cedar Rapids Gazette today.......... in the Gomer section.



Cedar Rapids has so far proven that it's worthy of a professional basketball team. The US Cellular Center has drawn good crowds for River Raider games and the team has created a buzz around town. But is the basketball league worthy of Cedar Rapids? Struggling franchises, far-flung teams, and even a visiting coach who pulled his team off the court here cast some doubt as to what this league will look like in the near future.


Not good for an expansion team trying to do things right!