Gainesville withdraws interest in retaining Benitez as Head Coach
January 11, 2006 - World Basketball Association (WBA)
Gainesville Knights News Release
The Gainesville Knights of the World Basketball Association Withdraw Their Interest in Coach Ricardo Benitez
Gainesville, Georgia U.S.A (January 11, 2006)- The Gainesville Knights announce the cancellation of contract negotiations with coaching prospect Ricardo Benitez of Tampa, Florida.
"We have withdrawn all consideration of coach Benitez's tenure with the Gainesville Knights," said Team Owner and President Curtis Richardson, "We state for the record that we have not selected any player or players to date to fill our team roster for the 2006 season."
It was discovered that Coach Benitez made several unauthorized and unfounded claims to the media about the make up of team personnel. Not only were the claims untrue, but Coach Benitez circumvented team rules in making those claims. As a result, Knights' management informed Mr. Benitez that he would no longer be considered a candidate for Head Coach of the Knights.
"It is an unfortunate situation, but we have these policies in place for reasons of consistency, and all of our personnel are required to play by the same rules. Coach should have known better," cited Duane Jenkins, "As Vice President of Marketing, I want our fans to know our team will select the best players, and we will comply with WBA rules. We will field players from an open tryout, not a preselected few, as our fans deserve the best players we can acquire."
Knights Chief Curtis Richardson further explained. "I would like to say to players who wish to tryout for a position on the Knights 2006 basketball team, we will invite any and all basketball players to come to Gainesville, GA and try out for our team. Everyone is welcome and we will have a fair and impartial tryout." Mr. Richardson continued, "I created these polices and rules for our entire team, and I am also subject to the same policies and rules as anyone else in our organization."
About the Gainesville Knights--- The Gainesville Knights Basketball Team is owned and operated by Curtis Richardson. The team's home is Gainesville, Georgia. The Knights compete in the Eastern Division of the World Basketball Association
About the World Basketball Association--- The World Basketball Association is a premiere spring/summer developmental basketball league consisting of 14 teams. The league's season begins in April and concludes in July. Elite players are catapulted into further opportunities that exist in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as other International Professional leagues around the world.
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World Basketball Association Stories from January 11, 2006
- Gainesville withdraws interest in retaining Benitez as Head Coach - Gainesville Knights
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