THE APBA NEWS

For the second straight year, the turn-out at the league's annual convention was fairly small.  First to arrive into town was the Bear, via the air into Dayton, OH.  Bebo picked him up at the airport and they drove straight to the links.  Word has it that Bebo was stroking the woods and the irons and gave the Bear a free lesson!  18 holes later, they headed back to Bebo Estates for some beer and a little rest before the rest of the crew arrived.  PJM arrived next and the excitement was building.  Rick and I got to Bebo's house a little later than we had hoped due to some minor traffic near Chicago and a little construction south of Indianapolis.  We arrived at exactly 7 PM EST and settled in.  Rick and I began game #6 of the ECF before 8 PM.  Crawdaddy arrived a little over an hour later, and we had just reached half-time of game #6 between his Hickory Crawdads and Mark Carpenter's Minneapolis Loons.  With Craw up 3-2 in the series, this was a pivotal game to decide who would advance to the Finals and face Richie Waggoner's Hill City Hitmen.  Since Hickory was leading by 6 at half-time, Craw decided to let Rick continue to coach for him, while he drank a few beers and watched.  However, Minneapolis went on an early run in the third quarter, turning the 6 point deficit into an 8 point lead.  Craw immediately ejected assistant coach, Rick Prather, and took the helm for the rest of the way.  A tight affair ended in a Hickory victory, 123-115, as they advanced to the Finals for the fifth time in the last six years.  Two Finals games were also played that night, game #1 on the board, that saw Hickory demolish Hill City, 144-95, a 49-point victory which is believed to be the largest in APBA history for a Finals game, and game #3 on the PC Action computer game, ending a little closer, 100-79, but also in a Hickory victory.  We tried to organize a poker game on Friday night, but before we knew it, it was passed 3 AM, and we settled down for some much needed rest.  Morning came soon and by 11 AM we were enjoying a fine cooked breakfast by the best host in APBA.  Bebo cooked scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast, and brewed several pots of coffee.  After refueling, we all prepared for the draft.  The draft was delayed a little amidst some controversy and a switch of venu (from Bebo's new, high-speed, broadband-enabled computer upstairs in his bedroom, to his old-school, snail-speed, dial-up dinosaur downstairs to provide more room for the masses.  However, once the proceedings got underway, the draft moved fairly quickly and with very few bumps along the way.  Former APBA Commissioner JCS even made a brief appearance during the draft and left the door open for a return to APBA in the future.  Once the draft completed, Bebo went to the store to get the grub needed for the impending cook-out.  Meanwhile, C-Daddy and I got back to business and broke out the bones again for game #2 of the APBA Finals.  This one was also closer, but also ended in a Hickory victory, 131-104.  After that, we broke for dinner, watched a little TV while the food settled, and then prepared for the highlight of the weekend, hoops action on the hardwood (or clay as it turn out).  Sjogren and PJM were both still in recovery from recent surgeries, so they elected to sit out this year and just coach their respective teams.  So the pairings were made and this year's matchup pitted Bebo and Rick, coached by Phil Muenchen, against Crawdaddy and myself, coached by the Bear.  APBA Championship experienced was large as the teams were equally matched and represented (Craw VIII & X and possibly XIII, LB XII, and Bear IV & V vs. Bebo VII & XI, Rick I & II & III, and PJM IX).  The good part about PJM and Bear not being able to play meant PJM could take pictures while Bear would keep the stats.  And despite the fact that they could not play, PJM and Bear would shoot free throws to determine which team would get the ball first.  After several misses by both coaches, and consideration of moving in, Bear finally hit a free throw and his team was awarded the ball.  The game started out even as one team would build a small lead only to see the other fight back.  Bebo was large early while Craw and I shared the scoring on our end.  Bear coached almost a perfect half as PJM's squad had 7 turn-overs to Bear's team with 0.  However, all did not look bleak for PJM's squad as they only trailed by 1 at half, 25-24, despite the huge edge in turn-overs.  Bear's squad came out strong in the second half.  As he displayed Phil Jackson like coaching qualities.  He remained calm, allowed his players to realize their own mistakes and adjust their game appropriately.  His only suggestion was to stop shooting so many threes.  :He told us we can get into the lane at will and to work for a better percentage shot.  PJM was the opposite of calm.  He was yelling and screaming at his boys to quit turning the ball over, which they did improve on, but also to keep us out of the paint, something they had a harder time accomplishing.  Bebo got tired and Rick's jumper never came around.  Craw and I went on a run to really open things up.  With Craw and I winning 49 to 36, Bebo and I took ourselves out of the game, allowing Bear and PJM to check in and get in a few shots.  Bear and PJM both threw up two bricks before Bebo checked himself back in for PJM.  Bebo scored a quick hoop to cut the lead to 49-38, before C-Daddy made a great pass to an open Bear who knocked down the jumper for the game winner.  The final score was 51-38!  Here are the stats from the game:

                 ----FG--- ---3PT--- ---FT---   REBOUNDS
NAME        MIN  MD AT PCT MD AT PCT MD AT PCT  OF DF  T AS PF ST TO BK PTS
F.PRATHER    29  14 30  47  1  3  33  1  2  50   2 10 12  4  0  4  4  0  30
S.CRAW       30   9 27  33  1  8  13  0  0       4 17 21  5  0  3  1  1  19
D.SJOGREN     1   1  3  33  0  0      0  0       0  1  1  0  0  0  2  0   2
TOTAL        60  24 60  40  2 11  18  1  2  50   6 28 34  9  0  7  7  1  51

                 ----FG--- ---3PT--- ---FT---   REBOUNDS
NAME        MIN  MD AT PCT MD AT PCT MD AT PCT  OF DF  T AS PF ST TO BK PTS
B.DEMAREST   29  14 35  40  2  9  22  0  0       8 19 27  1  1  4  1  0  30
R.PRATHER    30   4 24  17  0  3   0  0  0       2  6  8  5  2  0  7  0   8
P.MUENCHEN    1   0  2   0  0  1   0  0  0       0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0   0
TOTAL        60  18 61  30  2 13  15  0  0      10 25 35  6  3  4  8  0  38

BEAR           25  26  51
PJM            24  14  38

Double team Bebo!

Bebo surveys his options!

Frank with the post-up, turn-around jumper over Rick!

The Bear plots his strategy!

Bebo for 3!

PJM in action!

The Bear counters!

The circle of Champions!

Here is an annoucement from Dave Koch on the impending release of his upcoming basketball game:

The 2003 Basketball game will be released in late August. Many refinements have been made to the programmable computer coach (detailed time and score situations), game interface (things like quick sub), reports, play-by-play, internet features and more! A complete list will be posted on our website at a later date. We're also releasing all 350+ division college teams on one CD and several past seasons which nearly complete the pro collection. BUT, the biggest basketball news is the release of all 9 ABA season disks! All available in late August.

Also, I had a question for him regarding the rebounding and how it works, and here was his reply, for those interested:

The ratings are used to determine which team gets the rebound. The actual real life stats are then used to determine which player. That way we account for available rebounds differing by team.

Below is a review of this year's draft.  Please keep in mind that this is just one guy's opinion, and more of an evaluation of the talent each team got in the draft, not necessarily of how good or bad any particular pick was.

BOSTON: He was disappointed that Tskitishvili didn't fall to #16.  Juan Dixon not a bad choice, though, and three second round selections will help shore up his depth.  Grade B
DETROIT: Very lucky to get a player like Dunleavy with #10!  Adding to other decent prospects in Ely and Rush late in round #1 makes this a good draft for Detroit.  This team has a ton of talent, the only question now is when they will make a few moves and be really competitive?  Grade A-
HICKORY: Made a late trade to add a late second round pick and land Vincent Yarbrough, who may stick.  Lampley worth a look in round #3 as well.  Grade C-
LAKE K: Welsch didn't play much last year, but looked good in summer leagues and with the departure of Arenas in Golden State, may get a chance to play this year.  Grade C+
REDFORD: Grabbed two of the promising big boys in the draft in Drew Gooden and Carlos Boozer.  He really wanted a point guard, but you have to take the best guy available when you pick that high.  Grade A
RIDGEVILLE: Hilario looks like he will be a nice piece for a number of years.  Jacobsen not a bad gamble for a second round pick, either.  Grade A-
DULUTH: Got two of the better small guys in the draft in Butler and Wagner.  Who will man the front court for Duluth this year?  Grade A
HONEY CREEK: Tskitishvili is a gamble but has a lot of upside.  Another team that is stock piling talent and should be moving up in the standings this year.  Grade B
MINNEAPOLIS: Frank Williams didn't play much last year, but looks to be pretty talented.  But the Loons have other plans as a post-draft trade to bring in Yao was their main goal for the draft.  Grade C+
SUPREME COURT: Tayshaun Prince shows good signs late in the year and looks to be a very intriguing player.  Okur has some skills, but will he get much PT next year in Detroit?  Grade B+
WHITE PLAINS: Butler and Stevenson are two solid, scrapy players that should add some toughness to White Plains in the coming seasons.  The Drifters are currently making a youth movement with the team centered around AI and Arenas.  Grade C-
WISCONSIN: Got a decent young prospect in Pargo and a grizzled veteran in Baker in the second round.  Both should provide immediate help.  Grade C
CINCINNATI: The Boats traded away all their early draft picks to make a title run.  When your first selection isn't til the third round, you don't get much out of the draft.  Grade D+
FEESBURG: Gadzuric should provide them with a decent backup banger.  Grade C
KENTUCKY: Another team that never has any early picks.  Grade D+
MILTON: Got the guy that I wanted all along.  Though I didn't expect Dunleavy to be there as well, but I stuck to my guns and got my boy Jaric.  Grade B
NEW YORK: Ginobili looks to be really talented and this is another team that looks to be improved this coming season.  Malik Allen looks to be a decent journeyman as well.  Grade B+
WEST CHESTER: Had the tough decision between Yao and Stud, and went with Yao.  But then traded him away as soon as the draft was over.  Also added Jeffries and Haislip, who both didn't play much last year, but could turn out to be decent players.  Grade A+
CALIFORNIA: Really wanted Woods, but Reggie Evans not a bad pick at #20.  He will provide immediate help up front.  Grade C+
CAROLINA: Giricek fell a little, so he has to be happy to add someone talented at #14.  McCoy and Bremer both decent picks for second rounders, as well.  Grade B+
DAYTON: Tried to make a late deal to add a first round pick, but was not successful in doing so.  White and Salmons both good second round picks.  Grade C
HILL CITY: Wilcox was a very solid pick at #13.  Some coaches thought he might slide a little, but Richie proved them wrong.  Grade B
LYNCHBURG: Surprised quite a few coaches by taking a gamble on Jay Williams at #12.  Definitely the most talented point in the draft, but will he recovery from the devasting injury he suffered recently?  Grade B+
MISSOURI: Studemire is a great consolation prize at #2.  Finding Qyntel Woods, who could jump right in as the starter in Portland this year with the depature of Scottie Pippen, was also a great find at #19.  Dickau could play this year in Atlanta, too.  Grade A+

Crawdaddy watches on as Rick and Frank play game #6 of the ECF!

The Commissioner runs the 2003 APBA Draft!

The entire 2003 Convention entorage, with a guest appearance by JCS!

Last year's Champ hands over the trophy to this year's Champ!

Craw celebrates his 2003 Championship!