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River Raiders to Participate in 14th Annual Swamp Fox Festival

September 4, 2003 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Cedar Rapids River Raiders News Release


Cedar Rapids, IA (September 2, 2003) As summer winds down, the Cedar Rapids River Raiders continue to be actively involved with community events in and around Cedar Rapids.

This weekend the River Raiders will be at the Swamp Fox Festival, and actively involved with the 3-on-3 Youth Basketball Challenge to be held on Saturday, September 6. The Challenge will be a double elimination tournament except for the championship game. River Raiders Assistant Coach Kenyon Murray, University of Iowa ('96) graduate and basketball standout will be refereeing some of the 3-on-3 games scheduled for that morning. Also front office staff members of the River Raider will be passing out season ticket information and signing up for a team newsletter.

The Swamp Fox Festival in Marion, Iowa began fourteen years ago as a celebration of Marion's 150th Sesquicentennial Anniversary. In recognition of Marion's heritage, it was decided to honor the town's namesake, thus naming the festival after General Francis Marion's nickname, "Swamp Fox." Every year the festival celebrates the community's past through the many events focused on our community's history and heritage. As a child Francis Marion enjoyed playing in the swamps. He learned about the local Indians, how they fought and survived in the swamp. He knew the swamps like the back of his hand and it was said that he never got lost. As the Revolutionary war started, Marion was made a Captain in the Continental Army. Because of his success, he climbed the promotional ladder to Major, Colonel, and, eventually, to General. Marion displayed a natural talent for strategy and tactics and was known for his personal bravery. He is considered by most to be the father of the U.S. Army Special Forces because of his unique innovations. His brilliant displays of strategy bewildered the British who would chase after Marion into the swamps, only to loose him. The British complained that it was an unfair method of fighting a war. British Colonel Tarleton, who often chased Marion into the swamps, gave Marion the nickname of the "Swamp Fox." This name stuck and colonists thought it was humorous that their hero was compared to a fox. After the war, Marion got married and served multiple terms serving terms in the South Carolina Senate until South Carolina became a member of the union.

The River Raiders will start its inaugural 30 game regular season in April of 2004 at the US Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids. The River Raiders are an expansion franchise of the 19 year old United States Basketball League. For more information on Season tickets or merchandise please call 319-373-2683 or visit our website at www.crriverraiders.com. For more information about the USBL please visit www.usbl.com.



United States Basketball League Stories from September 4, 2003


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