Indy Leagues to Hold Meetings

Published on November 14, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies News Release


History in the Making! Major League Baseball has its big Winter Meetings each year in December (this year in New Orleans), and it is no secret that those of us from the independent baseball leagues are hardly welcomed with open arms at those meetings. So under the category of "If You Can't Join ‘Em, Do Your Own Thing" the inaugural Independent Baseball Leagues Convention and Trade Show will be held at the Tropicana Casino and Resort on January 19-21, 2004. The event will give the independent leagues a chance to trade ideas and discuss issues that affect independent leagues throughout the country. Representatives from five independent leagues are expected to attend: Northeast; Northern; Atlantic; Frontier and Central. Just as with the Major League's Winter Meetings, the event will also feature a trade show and job fair for convention attendees.

"We're pleased to be able to stage this event at the Tropicana and we feel we will be able to build on it", Atlantic League executive director Joe Klein said. "We know Atlantic City will be an attractive convention site for prospective attendees."

The Atlantic League has held its own winter meetings in Atlantic City the last two years and the resulting success led to the expansion of the inclusive independent league winter meeting format. We'll also have an Atlantic League Board of Directors meeting during this time. Wanna know more about the Convention and Trade Show? Contact the Atlantic League office and ask for Joe Klein or Terance Archer at 856-541-9400, or visit the league's website at www.atlanticleague.com. Hey, with rooms at the Tropicana going for $55 per night (Call the Tropicana at 800-247-8767 and ask for the group rate for the Independent Baseball Leagues Convention and Trade Show), you can't beat it, even if it is in the middle of January!

With our baseball schedule set for next season, we are beginning to book the traveling mascots and shows that make each game at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard so special. Two "sneak previews" to put in your calendar: July 10 for the appearance of "Reggy" and August 7 for "Rockin' Ray and the Skyy Dogs". These are two very popular attractions. Many, many more to follow.

Good-bye and good luck to our Public Relations/Promotions Manager Greg Burke who is leaving us to become a Sales and Marketing Coordinator for Football America and its parent company Sports International. Football America sells high-end football equipment to leagues and schools all over the country, and Sports International runs Summer Camps with National Football League professional athletes.

Remember the speculation in this newsletter that some Atlantic League team might actually end up with Roger Clemens on its roster next season as Roger prepared himself to pitch for the United States in the Olympic Games next summer in Athens. Well, it ain't going to happen since the USA team was upset by Mexico 2-1 last week in a qualifying tournament. This was a huge upset since Mexico only backed into the single elimination portion of this tournament by virtue of the Bahamas dropping out of the tournament. The U.S. team was undefeated in the round-robin portion of the tournament, and Mexico was winless. Thus, the gold medal defending champion USA baseball team won't even be in the Olympics next summer. Amazing.

The Rocky Mountain News had a great article last week, penned by reporter Jack Etkin, on the career of Bluefish set-up man Bobby Chouinard. Bobby, who lives in Castle Rock, CO with his wife, Erica, and five-year old son, Austin, last pitched in the Major Leagues with the Colorado Rockies in 2001. He had a terrific year with the Bluefish this past season, posting a 4-5 record and a 2.17 ERA that included 19 1/3 scoreless innings over 21 games. Chouinard will now pitch for Carolina in the Puerto Rican League in hopes of attracting the attention of Major League scouts, and ending up back in the "Big Show". We certainly wish Bobby well, and if he doesn't make it back next season, there's surely a spot waiting for him on the Bluefish roster.

If you ever listen to Mike and the Mad Dog on WFAN radio, you have caller Doris from Rego Park. Sadly, Doris died this week after a long illness. Doris Bauer was 58

What were they thinking? Minor league teams have some wacky names (e.g., Montgomery Biscuits) which kinda goes with the territory, but New Hampshire Primaries? You must be kidding! Well, maybe they were. After Drew Weber's new Manchester team (ne the New Haven Ravens) announced that their team would be named The Primaries, the outcry was so great, the team decided to go back to the drawing boards and have a "Name the Team" contest that will run from today to Monday night. Go to www.newhampshirebaseball.com and cast your vote. The new name will be announced on December 1, and one fan's name will be drawn at random from the entrants, and that fan will win an all-expense paid trip for two to the 2004 Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training in Dunedin, FL. The voting will be in two stages, with the fans getting a second chance to vote from November 19 to November 22 for the top five favorites, a process similar to what Keystone Baseball did when the Lancaster Barnstormers was recently chosen as the name of the new Atlantic League entry. But those Manchester guys are still partial to The New Hampshire Primaries, as they have announced that that name will be one of the finalists. Give me a break! By the way, the local paper, the Manchester Union Leader, has, perhaps tongue-in-cheek, suggested The Spotted Newts (the official state amphibian).

It's not a baseball book, but it's a fast read, and a pleasant change from all of John Grisham's legal-beagle novels. It's called Bleachers, and it's all about former high school football players returning to the football field in a football-crazed town in Ohio where they played under a harsh, legendary coach who is dying. The book is a page-turner, a sorta football version of the 1983 movie, The Big Chill. If you're on a long airplane trip, the book is perfect for getting you through the turbulence to your destination.

Happenings in the ‘hood: Jasper McLevy's Redux! Hard-core Bluefish fans all remember Tom Kelly's Jasper McLevy's sports bar up on Fairfield Avenue (now Joseph's Steakhouse). The place was a veritable watering hole for Bluefish fans, players, and front office staff. Now there's a new such place that opened just last week, "Kelly's Backyard Café", and this time, it's right next to our ballpark, just under the railroad tracks behind Lot "A", at 418 Main Street. Tom Kelly is advertising the place as "Finally a place for... Hoops, Hops, Hockey, and Hullabaloo!" He's also directing people to join www.BrewsWho.com. But, if you go to that website, you just get a message that the domain name has recently been registered and will be up and operating soon. We certainly wish Tom well, and are encouraged that the "gentrification" of our neighborhood is finally happening.

There have been many big shows at the Arena at Harbor Yard next door in the past three years, but tonight's "event" featuring the teaming of Aerosmith and Kiss is about as big as it gets. Already this morning, our Lot "P" is full of 18-wheelers constituting the "entourage" for this rock concert! Tickets are still available though rumor has it that the $89.50 tix are all gone, leaving only the pricier $139.50 tix for tonight's 7:00 PM performance. It will almost certainly be a roof-raiser!

David Brady, the Assistant General Manager, Sales and Marketing, of the Camden Riversharks corrected this editor in the identification of famous mascots in the last edition of this newsletter. Seems I confused the San Diego Chicken with the Phillie Fanatic. You'll just have to read Josh Lewin's "Getting in The Game: Inside Baseball's Winter Meetings" to get it straight. We certainly appreciate David pointing out our error.

Welcome to the Fairfield Stags Men's basketball team its new assistant coach, John Carey, who joins head coach Tim O'Toole's team after nearly 30 years of coaching at All Hallows High School in the Bronx, NY. Carey is a former teammate of Fairfield's Director of Athletics Gene Doris. O'Toole was quoted in the Fairfield Mirror as saying that John Carey "brings a tremendous amount of basketball knowledge to our program. We have a great group of kids to work with, so his insights will make us much better of a team." The Men's team opened its season last night in fine fashion as Deng Gai registered a double-double with 32 points and 17 rebounds, in a 90-77 win over the Slam All-Stars in an exhibition game. Gai made 12 of 24 shots from the floor, and secured 12 defensive rebounds in 37 minutes of work. The Men's team opens its season next Friday, November 21 at Harvard University. The first Men's home game is Tuesday, December 2 at 7:30 PM against Fordham University next door at The Arena at Harbor Yard.

Meanwhile the Fairfield Women's basketball team has a free event, "Stag Sunday" this Sunday at noon at Alumni Hall on the Fairfield University campus. It's a chance to watch the Women's team (picked first in the MAAC this season) scrimmage, sign autographs, and answer questions from fans. The Women open their season on November 23 at Villanova University and play their first home game on November 29, against the University of Massachusetts, at the Arena, as part of the Coca-Cola Classic. Brown and Delaware round out the field.

Mickey Herbert

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ECHL Stories from November 14, 2003


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