ATTN: Ken, Steelheads Fan

[UrColonel]

Did you notice that your CBA team announced Aug. 6th that they were holding free agent camps? Did you notice that they were charging $100 and $150 the day of? From now on you should get yourself better informed before you go poping of at the mouth about the ABA. :lol:

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Yes, I noticed. Thank you.

I'm no lawyer, but I think there are already laws on the books about taking someone's money and not delivering. It's called theft. There are also laws on the books about agreeing to pay someone for a service provided (such as agreeing to pay your players to play), then not paying them. It's called theft of services. It's all a matter of intention and enforcement though.

The more and more I think about free agent basketball camps, the more and more I think about how unnecessary they are. Especially on the CBA level. I haven't seen ONE player (since I've been paying attention to the whole deal), and that includes the player furthest on the bench, that legitimately came up through the free agent camp system.

It's not any better when players actually DO come up through a free agent camp for an A or low A basketball league, but the league is so under financed that it can't afford to pay its players.

...and

I have a few questions for the Steelheads too. Like, does it mean the yet to be announced 2004 Gary Free Agent camp will actually be free? Or does it mean, "Ken, shut your yap! We might as well get some too while the gettin' is good"?

[not so fast]

Well I was wondering, if I am reading the website correctly, the steelheads already have jemeil rich, ray young, david graves, shelly clark, mcelroy, gee, williams, on the roster, then they have apparently went after Snap Hunter and made him an offer (which is funny, because the Gary announcers on CLTV ripped on snap every time they played Rockford), which by my count is eight players.

I guess when the NBA make their cuts the steelheads will sign another player or two, so I guess I was wondering, who will really have a chance at this free agent camp which is on oct 30? I mean if there was truly a good player out there that was actually close enough to play at this level, wouldn't he have already went to other free agent camps? I mean why would a good player just sit around while all the other teams are having camps and take a last second chance with Gary?

My guess is this camp is the phoniest of them all!

Maybe they will take the proceeds and hire Reynaldo back!

[anon]

where are you getting the information about Gary signing all of these guys? The roster they have on their website is from 2003-04. Also, are you leaking more information on this site about who has been offered contracts than those closely related would want leaked to the general public?

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

I agree.

If there was a player out there good enough to play on the CBA (or NBDL)level, then he would have likely ALREADY been scouted and wouldn't need to cough-up big bucks for ANYBODY'S free agent camp. These pay-to-play free agent camps on the CBA level are a money grab--plain and simple.

I much rather see the Steelheads announce how their fans can buy 16 oz. Bud and Bud Lights for only two bucks during weekend games (instead of keeping this beer thing a secret). :P

[not so fast]

for the record, since ticknor took over he has always signed guys early or at least made them offers verbally which is his business. As far as leaking, the newspapers had articles about Snap going to Gary and their interest in him. In addition, this is a democracy, and I think I can excercise my free speech, can't I?

If any of these players are not coming back, they certainly will tell the public, but I have good reason to believe they all will be there. And My main point is that the camp will be a waste of time. As far as other camps, I think the new franchise in Muskegan might sign some players from a free agent camp.

Not all camps are bogus, but this one in Gary will certainly be!!!

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Attention Ken, Steelheads fan:

(Note to self)...Hey Self! The Steelheads 2004 Draft party is Tuesday, September 21st at Smokey Bones Sports Bar and Grill. At least, now I know when and where the Draft party will be held. I met a few people on the street yesterday who attended last year and they knew absolutely nothing about this year's draft party.

I guess this is what happens when you downgrade the position of public relations director to seasonal employment only. :?