Blue Ducks release players
May 27, 2003 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Brevard Blue Ducks News Release
Melbourne, FL â It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
That fabled sentence aptly describes what the Brevard Blue Ducks went through Monday evening.
On a night when the Blue Ducks played like the team they were trying to build and defeated the Kansas Cagerz 96-89, they lost some of what they tried to put together.
"It was a tough night," said team President Mike Richman. "The toughest I've had since I became an owner."
Disgruntled players upset with the coaching staff and a coaching staff upset with under-performing players, led to an exodus of veterans from the club.
"When you have issues and you're winning, you can deal with them," chimed Richman. But when you're losing, those issues become magnified and won't go away."
It became players versus coaches and something had to give.
In this case, it was the players.
"I am heartbroken," said Richman. "I wish everyone could have gotten along. I am really going to miss the hell out of our guys."
Out, are three veterans from last season, forward Darryl Hardy, center Simeon Haley and guard Earl "Pep" Tyson. Also released: guard Victor Page and forward Jamaal Hendrick.
Wasting no time shoring up their team and preparing for the stretch run in the second half of the season, the Ducks have brought in guard Tezale Archie (6'0" â Pepperdine), who was a key component of the Blue Ducks success last season, Tony Harris (5'11" G â University of Tennessee) and 6'10" 235-pound center, Marvin Rogers (Wright State) who played for the Kansas Cagerz last season.
They join Brian Taylor, who Brevard brought back last week. Taylor was with the Ducks last year, and Mabindo Dongo, a 6'10" 265-pound rookie center who has been impressive in his first few games as a Blue Duck.
The Ducks are also talking with forward Mark Davis (6'7 â Texas Tech), a two-year NBA veteran who played with the Indiana Pacers.
It is hoped the overhaul will sufficiently revamp the team and enable the Blue Ducks to compete down the stretch and gain a good seeding in the post-season tournament in June.
"We are far from giving up on this season," commented Richman. "Our goal is still the same as when we began the year â to win a championship. We still feel that goal is attainable for us."
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
Brevard hopes it's now time for the best again.
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