Good article in The Chronicle Herald today about Sanders and Jeanty adjusting to playing for the Rainmen:
It's good to see top players not being afraid to move out to Halifax to play for the team.Happy in Halifax
Sanders, Jeanty excited about opportunity to play for Halifax Rainmen
By CHAD LUCAS Sports Reporter
Fri. Dec 5 - 7:56 AM
Like every ABA player visiting Halifax last season, Cordell Jeanty spent long minutes trying to stay loose as the Metro Centre lights dimmed and the Rainmen ran onto the court, accompanied by a video montage, dancers and rap music played by a live DJ.
The theatrical pre-game show was unique in a league where most teams played in college or high-school gyms and some barely bothered to keep accurate statistics. It certainly made an impression on Jeanty.
"Its very professional," he said. "It was a little bit long, but I enjoyed every minute of it."
The Toronto native will be on the other side of that experience after signing with the Rainmen in the off-season. Jeanty, a two-time ABA all-star with the Quebec Kebs and Montreal Royal, said hes been intrigued by Halifax ever since meeting owner Andre Levingston at the ABA all-star game here in January 2007.
"(Andre and I) have been talking since (the all-star game) and hes always been interested in having me," Jeanty said Thursday as the Rainmen practiced at Halifax West high school. "Now that I had the opportunity, I just jumped on it."
The same goes for Rob Sanders, who played in Halifax as a member of the Manchester Millrats last season and was similarly impressed by the franchise and its fans.
"It got me hyped for the game. In the ABA, youre not used to seeing all those fans," said Sanders, an ABA all-star in 2007 with the Cape Cod Frenzy. "(The team) was really organized, and I just wanted to come up here and experience it for myself."
After watching both players run roughshod over the Rainmen last season, coach Rick Lewis is glad to have Jeanty and Sanders on his team.
The six-foot-eight Sanders and six-foot-five Jeanty are tough, aggressive players who should give Halifax an edge it didnt have last year, Lewis said.
"Both of them shot a lot of free throws against us last year," Lewis said. "Theyre smart about being able to take contact and still get their shot off after that contact. Thats a thing we were missing last year. Theyre battlers. It puts them in a position to mix it up, get rebounds and get to the free-throw line."
Sanders and Jeanty are used to being among the go-to players on their teams. But they said theyre looking forward to playing in a talented lineup that includes returning stars Eric Crookshank and Brian Silverhorn and former NCAA talents Kevin Hammack and SirValiant Brown.
"Its a comfortable situation," Jeanty said. "Its not like other teams Ive played on where I have to be one of the primary scorers. I can help out more and look at my role in other ways."
Sanders and Jeanty said the team is coming together quickly they all feel each others pain after coach Lewiss epically tough workouts.
"Honestly? Its hard," Sanders said. "Its the hardest thing Ive ever done. Im sore, tired, fatigued. Coach is making us better, though."
Jeanty agreed. "Its hard work, but its going to make me a better player. Im going to be in the best shape Ive been in in a long time, if not ever."
Both players said theyre anxious to get through training camp and start playing real games, where the Halifax fans will be cheering for them this time.
"Its the fan support that drew me most," Jeanty said. "Teams I played with in the past, we had fan support but nothing like this. A lot of people here like basketball and Im excited to be a part of that."
