HOOPLA in Mobile as Basketball Moms and Celebrities Gather

March 3, 2003 - NBA G League (G League) News Release

The Mothers of Professional Basketball Players (MPBP) are celebrating their annual conference this Thursday and Friday in Mobile, and as an added bonus, will put their basketball talents on display prior to the Mobile Revelers and Fayetteville Patriots game Friday at the Mobile Civic Center. Tipoff for the HOOPLA Game is 6 p.m. CT, with the NBDL game to follow at 7:30.

Mothers of NBA stars such as Theo Ratliff, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd and Terrell Brandon will play in the game with the proceeds going to such Mobile charities as the Senior Services Trust Fund, the Mobile County Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA.

"The initial thought process of having our conference and playing the game in Mobile started when I attended an NBDL game," said Camillia Ratliff, mother of Atlanta Hawks center/forward Theo Ratliff and vice-president of the MPBP. "Basketball is a great way to reach people and a great way to give young people some balance in their lives.

"We are happy to be able to help out the Senior Services, the Boys and Girls Clubs and the YMCA and have some fun in the process," Ratliff said. "The MPBP really believes in fostering community."

Ratliff said that close to 100 mothers of professional basketball players will be in Mobile for the conference and that about half of that number will participate in some fashion with the basketball game. She said the rest would be lending moral support.

TNT personality and former NBA player Kenny Smith, along with WNBA superstar Lisa Leslie, will serve as referees for the game. Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Lanier will serve as public address announcer. WNBA Director of Player Personnel Renee Brown and WNBA Players Association Director of Operations Pam Wheeler will coach the two teams.

Basketball isn't the only item on the agenda for the two-day MPBP Conference, however. The basketball moms, who represent not only the NBA but minor and international leagues as well, will join forces with the Revelers and other NBA, WNBA and NBDL dignitaries to conduct youth forums and Read to Achieve events on both Thursday and Friday.

At 9 a.m. Thursday, representatives from the MPBP, Revelers players, as well as noted author and Read to Achieve National All-Star Reading Team member Charisse Richardson will host Reading Timeouts in 15 different classrooms before speaking to at-risk students from the Phoenix Program at 10:30 a.m. Activities close on Thursday with a Media Day and Shoot-Around for the Basketball Moms at 2 p.m. at the Civic Center.

As a lead-in to the HOOPLA game, Revelers coach Sam Vincent, Smith, Leslie, Lanier, Richardson and MPBP moms will host a Read to Achieve Timeout at the Mobile Civic Center for the Mobile Community Head Start Program at 4 p.m. Friday.

"We are proud and excited that MPBP chose to have their mid-year meeting in Mobile, as well as have the Revelers host their HOOPLA charity event," Revelers Team President Rudy Bourg said. "The Revelers take pride in being good community partners and are looking forward to a great event."

The purchase of a regular Mobile Revelers game ticket is good for admission to both games. Tickets may be purchased by calling 1-800-4NBATIX or by going online at www.mobilerevelers.com.

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