USBL Down to 7...Jackson Gone

[Minor League Man]

http://www.usbl.com/currentNews.php?news_id=217

I think it is safe to say...Spring basketball is in turmoil. (Details in a future thread)

[South Atlantic]

The IBL may actually win out as the most stable of spring leagues. The WBA continues to not impress, with decisions that are, well just bad.

The USBL is our newest life support league and some of those teams were considering the WBA back in the fall. I am guessing they are 50-50 on how they feel right now since the WBA is wheel-less wagon as is the USBL.

Maybe infusing some of the talent from the WBA and the USBL into the IBL model will help strengthen the one league that doesnt seem to drop teams. The IBL is a league much like certain overseas leagues that thrive off of speed and athleticism.

[MJHankel]

Original Printed in the (SalJournal (http://www.saljournal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=12066&format=html))

Gary Steelheads opted not to play their game in Jackson, Miss., because no certified athletic trainer was on site.

The Jackson franchise then ceased to exist Tuesday, when owners voted it out of the USBL for failing to comply with league rules.

It almost sounds like he is putting some of the blame for the demise of the Cats on the Steelheads.


Original Printed in the (SalJournal (http://www.saljournal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=12066&format=html))

"Cliff chose not to play because there was one was there to tape his guys," Long said.

Ok, now I know he is pushing some blame towards the Steelheads.

On the other hand:

Original Printed in the (Post-Tribune (http://www.post-trib.com/sports/364992,steelheads.article))

"We went all the way over there, and then we were just sitting around until about 6:30 p.m., when their players finally started rolling in."

That's about the time when the refs told both coaches they weren't going to do the game until they were paid.

"Nobody brought the money for the refs," Levingston said. "Then I noticed there was no EMT and no trainer, and I'm not going to put my players at risk. This is just atrocious."

Jackson owner Carlos Moore didn't return a call seeking comment, which is par for the course according to Hazen and Jake Gordon, the USBL's public relations director.

"There've been some communications issues to say the least," Gordon said.

Moore didn't even call his own coach, Bryant, to let him know the games were off.

"I haven't heard from Carlos all day," Bryant told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. "I don't know all the politics surrounding this whole thing. It's my job to get the team ready to play and I did that."

Bryant had tears in his eyes while talking to the reporter from the Clarion-Ledger.

"It's sad to see this happen," he said. "I thought we had a good team that was getting better every day. All these players want is a chance to play and develop their skills."

And all the Steelheads wanted were answers -- from Moore or anybody else.


Ok, if anybody is to blame it is Moore.

Also, as Levingston put it, he was concerned about the safty of his players not that they could be taped by the trainers.

I don't know I just don't see why Kansas is bashing Gary for this. Kansas is trying Gary is trying and seriously the situation there was not that great recently either. I don't get it at all.

[HAC]

I read the whole story. I'm not sure where Kansas is bashing Gary.

I believe some of the information also came from the league office.

Who cares either way?

Jackson is gone, its owner was non-existent from Day 1 and nobody in the USBL paid attention.

I went to the Jackson web site and read the backgrounds on their people. I didn't read one thing that made me think this guy had any business owning a basketball team.