A Game With A Real Punch Line
by Ed Gross
January 13, 2008 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Saint John Riptide
It was supposed to be a marquee match-up. Saturday afternoon's ABA matchup in Burlington featured two close rivals as the Vermont Frost Heaves met up with the Manchester Millrats. Though in their first season, the Millrats have proven early on to be a good source of competitive basketball against the defending champion Frost Heaves, handing a 6-0 team its first two loses of the season in early December. Manchester found itself an early surprise at twelve wins and one lose. The honeymoon quickly ended as the âRats found themselves stumbling to one win in their next seven games. Leading the Northern division of the Blue Conference was of little consequence to those who realized that two teams in it, out of four, no longer existed. Holding the fourth position in the ABA's power rankings was maybe all that was needed to give hope that this franchise wasn't beginning to fall apart on the court. Perhaps their 20 games played, tied with Vermont for the league lead, was a sign of strength. But on this day, the club showed a boyish sign of weakness.
In a game presented for free on the Internet, a rivalry began to look more like a street fight. Both teams, in an early show of competition played an up-tempo game. Bump and run was commonplace and a show of the intensity for the game. The full house in Burlington was treated to a game which was, for the most part, entertaining. Plenty of young children and teenagers were in the seats, a show of the ABA's "family friendly" philosophy.
The intensity got out of hand for the first time with 9:30 remaining in the second quarter. After a hard drive to the Vermont hoop in which a Manchester player was knocked down, two players off the ball and close to the Manchester bench got into what seemed like a shoving match. Causing a further distraction, and "meeting of both teams", was Manchester's head coach who at one point needed to be restrained. At the time, Manchester led 35-29. In a third quarter that began with obvious bumps, slaps and elbows, it would boil over with 9:08 remaining, with Manchester leading by a 56-54 margin. This time punches were thrown between two players in front of the Manchester bench. Finally, with 49 seconds remaining in the game and after another knockdown during a rebound under the Millrats net, Manchester center Ike Anosike gave a hard elbow to the back of Vermont forward Erik Nelson's neck. After a play in which both players were tangled up and Nelson tapped Anosike after he got up and attempted to move up the floor past him, both benches cleared, and a potentially marquee contest was called by the referees with 49.3 seconds left and Vermont leading 109-99.
Blame can be spread out for this situation. Only two players and no coaches were ejected from the game. ABA rules state that a player with six or more personnel fouls can remain in the game, giving no real incentive to play a less aggressive game, other than a team is further penalized for each personnel foul over six by a player. Referees were never seen warning or separating players in a timely manner. The policemen on the floor after the game was called seemed to be the first sign of authority shown in the ABA in a long while.
ABA director of officials Tom Chinchester has been in Singapore training referees for overseas games. Manchester has gained a reputation of having a short-fuse on the court this season. Both franchises are scheduled to play on Sunday, with Vermont hosting Montreal, and Manchester in Quebec City. It should be interesting to see how, or if, the ABA handles this situation. It is time, way past time, for the ABA leaders to begin showing some leadership. This game-spoiling brawl gives a dismal black eye to a league that is already very badly bruised.
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
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American Basketball Association Stories from January 13, 2008
- Frost Heaves Overthrow Royal 108-74 - Vermont Frost Heaves
- Interleague play continues - Texas Tycoons
- Millrats suspend Anosike - Saint John Riptide
- A Game With A Real Punch Line - OSC Original by Ed Gross
- A Game With A Real Punch Line - OSC Original by Ed Gross
- Kristen Green Scores 25 as the OC Gladiators Defeat the Maywood Buzz 136-104 - Orange County Gladiators
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