Gallup owner meets actress who inspired team name
August 9, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Gallup Outlaws News Release
Gallup, NM. One of the most difficult tasks in launching a professional sports team is to come up with a name that depicts prowess or local identification. Irene Bedard, considered to be the most successful Native American female actress, and her husband Deni, a renowed musician, couldn't believe when the Gallup Talon team owner said they were the inspiration for the team name.
"I saw them in concert here last year and in one of their songs Irene discussed the strength of the talon in Native American lore," said Joseph Kolb, owner of the Gallup Talons. "If it wasn't for that song we would have been called the Prairie Dogs or something like that - and not too many people would have been too thrilled."
Kolb siad he was especially inspired by lyrics from their song, "Raven in the Midnight Sun." "It's your time, play, be happy." "Being in Native America has contributed to me seeing this in a different light. The simplistic lyrics of this song were powerful and applicable to our team," said Kolb.
When Bedard and Deni held a repeat performance in Gallup August 7th, following Gallup the Inter-Tribal Ceremonial, they were both flattered to hear they were involved with the Gallup team in this fashion.
"I'm just so honored," said Bedard with the smile that contributed to her being named by People Magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1995. "I want to compose something special for the team," said Deni. Both agreed they will return during the season to perform at one of the Talons' home games.
After their Gallup concert, Bedard and Deni posed with Kolb on the theatre stage proudly wearing their new Gallup Talon T-shirts. Bedard's performances involved being the voice of Pocahontas in the classic Disney animated film, the critically acclaimed film Smoke Signals and most recently she co-starred in the Steven Spielberg mini-series, Into the West. For more information, email Joe Kolb at herald01@cia-g.com or visit www.abalive.com.
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.
American Basketball Association Stories from August 9, 2005
- Niagara Daredevils Basketball Club to hold California tryâout camp August 20-21 - Niagara Daredevils
- ABA names 2004-05 award winners - ABA
- Montreal Matrix gets set for season - Montreal Royal
- Slam announce dance team and mascot tryout - Bellingham Slam
- Gallup owner meets actress who inspired team name - Gallup Outlaws
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
