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Post by Solly on Apr 1, 2020 15:39:42 GMT
Some of you may know that I have for many years written articles for the Wolves' programmes.
Thought it might now be an appropriate time to expose those articles to a wider audience.
The material I can still locate was published post-2005, so I'll start the postings with my Part 1 of 3 entitled BBL Legends, written in 2006.
Feel free to discuss/disagree, I won't take offence
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BBL Legends
Having followed pro basketball since the 80s, I have seen ups and downs in the British game. In the early days of Channel 4, we were actually given a primetime slot, between 8 & 9 on a Monday evening, where live coverage of the second half of that week’s top game would be televised.
Back then, the top teams were the likes of Cinzano Crystal Palace, Ovaltine Hemel Hempstead, Planters Leicester & Barratts Birmingham Bullets – halcyon days indeed.
Here’s my take on some BBL Legends.
If I was being self-indulgent I could detail the legends I have seen over the years at Bullets but, in the interests of being even-handed, l am going to put forward just a couple of players who have played for each current BBL team.
As I go through the rundown, it will have to be recognised that I can only comment on players I have seen myself, and, for some current teams with little BBL history, I might have to tenuously link them to now-defunct setups i.e. London Capitals = London Towers, Birmingham Panthers = Birmingham Bullets, Plymouth Raiders = Solent Stars/Brighton Bears.
Right then, Part 1 of the countdown, in no particular order –
11. Leicester Riders
Gene Waldron – a deadly three-point shooter who roamed the court. Rather in the style of his guard partner, Karl Brown, tended to whinge somewhat. Can recall being taken aback one season to see him turn out for the Kareem-Abdul Jabbar All Stars vs Harlem Globetrotters up in Manchester (a game also featuring a pre-BBL (grumpy big man) Shawn Jamison).
Dip Donaldson – veteran greybeard, now off-court head honcho at Coventry Crusaders, but had a good game in the Trophy W for Covo against us last season, and just itching to have another runout, despite advancing (near 50 methinks) years.
10. Chester Jets
Loren Meyer – played a year or two in the NBA, and carried his class over to the UK. Came over here as a gesture to his buddy James Hamilton, and in a bid to get back to fitness, and back to the big-time. Don’t think he made it, but one of the best ever big men to play in our humble league.
Alan Bannister – made the roster at the Utah Jazz, but some unkindly remark that this was more about his 7ft 6 in height, than his basketballs smarts. Only used to average about 8 ppg, but it was said that Chester supremo Mike Burton had a wager that he would get 20 points in a single game before the end of his time at Jets. Apparently he had to be kept on court near 40 minutes, & be deliberately fed by his teammates, but the bet was won.
9. Birmingham Panthers
Tony Dorsey – made a huge impact back in the day. A class above in his two spells at the Bullets, taking up big-money deals in Europe, and even now still eking out minutes at Guildford Heat.
Nigel Lloyd – Bullets used to have a ‘Ciro Citterio (menswear)’ man-of-the-match award. Can only wonder at the number of fine threads that Lloyd and Dorsey must have accumulated. Came over to Bullets in the mid-90s, the season after winning League MVP. A supremo at the point. Now Panthers coach (giving himself the chance to show off those snazzy suits).
Future instalments to follow………………………………………
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Post by baldereagle on Apr 1, 2020 20:39:50 GMT
Love the Alan Bannister story, which ties in with his 1995-96 ungainly season with Newcastle Comets - 2.9 ppg and 3.4 rbpg despite his 7ft 4 height towering over everyone else. Great memories !
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Post by allstring on Apr 2, 2020 0:28:59 GMT
Great post Solly. Do keep it coming.
Dip Donaldson went on for years didn't he. I believe he may have emigrated to the US at only six weeks old, so able to return as a true Brit. I actually remember him more as a Birmingham player; probably because that was the first team I saw him play for. That was on the team with two other British big men, the bespectacled Neville Hopkins and I believe the precociously athletic 16 year old Kenny Scott.
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Post by Solly on Apr 2, 2020 9:40:54 GMT
Part 2 of 3 now reproduced below -
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BBL Legends Part Deux
For you regular programme buyers, you will recollect the first instalment of my BBL Legends feature. In that first part I looked at Gene Waldron & Dip Donaldson from Leicester Riders, Loren Meyer & Alan Bannister from Chester Jets, and Tony Dorsey & Nigel Lloyd representing Birmingham Panthers.
Right then, Part 2 of the countdown, in no particular order –
8. London Capitals
Danny Lewis – when London Towers were the big-spenders of the league (although not always gathering all the honours that should have been possible with that amount of spend) ‘Diamond’ Danny will undoubtedly, and deservedly, have taken his cut. Once gave his autograph to my driver and told him to watch its value soar as he made a name for himself (Lewis, not my driver!).
Tony Windless – another veteran of the Towers glory days. A grinning showman with a speciality neck-dance, still wheeled out for cameo appearances at Milton Keynes.
7. Guildford Heat
Casey Arena – mercurial on court, but left the UK under a cloud after off-court difficulties that are best not detailed here. However for those of you who are veteran viewers of the excellent WhatsBev.com, you may remember the story – two words, ‘abandoned golf-cart’.
John McCord – silky skills, has increased his standing with age, still commands big respect as he plays on in France.
6. Everton Tigers
Mark Robinson – pivotal player at the Manchester Giants in their days at the cavernous Nynex Arena. Still Billy-Big-Time when he then moved over to Sheffield Sharks. However by the time he stopped off at Birmingham Bullets (feted as the replacement for Tony Dorsey), he no longer had the game to back up his mouth.
Phil Handy – Manchester had a succession of highly touted, and no doubt highly paid, playmakers in their open checkbook days. I could have named any of them as another Giants quasi-legend, but in the end Phil just got the nod for an astonishing quote from his coach, (nasty) Nick Nurse that, I kid you not, was printed in full, sans asterisks, in the Guardian after a play off defeat – ‘Phil Handy is s**t’.
5. Plymouth Raiders
Alan Cunningham – more retirements than David Coulthard, ‘Swoop’ was just so dominating, but just as Tony Windless had the neck-dance, Cunningham had a really irritating swooping eagle impersonation.
Dennis Rodman – c’mon, only 2 games in the UK (or was it 3?), but as an NBA, & a Big Brother, star, he has to be included in any list of notables!
Final instalment to follow………………………………………
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Post by Solly on Apr 2, 2020 9:47:10 GMT
allstring - yes I recollect Dip Donaldson also playing for Bullets, and, doing it old-school please everyone memory only and no Googling, the other clubs I recall seeing him playing for -
Oldham Celtics - alongside John Tresvant
Coventry Crusaders - alongside his brother Matt Donaldson. There was also I think another brother (don't recall his first name) who might have played NBA at the Mavericks.
Neville Hopkins - the bespectacled big man was just before my time actually watching Bullets in person - I started watching in the William Wilcox season, around 88ish.
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Post by Solly on Apr 2, 2020 9:59:54 GMT
baldereagle - yes, I briefly forgot that Alan Bannister played at Newcastle Comets (same time as that ex-Golden State off-guard who also played the next season for London Towers - what was his name? - no Googling!).
The big guy thing I find fascinating - Bannister was effective if he got the ball exactly where he needed it, as to a lesser extent was Sturgess, but of course defenses soon adjusted.
Have been re-watching GOT recently and espied Ian Whyte playing another giant. He was very effective, with a lot more mobility but was perhaps (only) 7ft or 7ft 1.
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Post by baldereagle on Apr 2, 2020 11:51:09 GMT
Thanks for the latest list - Diamond Danny was a definite hate figure in the early Eagles days - he destroyed our defences more often than I care to remember.
Can't remember the other Comet, although that team was full of characters - the legendary Russ Saunders, the ginger Canadian Scott Paterson, the part time actor Paul Bale (whose acting career consisted of being a waiter serving Goldie Hawn in "Bird on a Wire") and home grown Kenny Nottage, Paul Douglas & Neil Hopper.
When you get to Edinburgh Rocks, don't forget Ted Berry - if they ever measure how many milliseconds a player can stay off the ground defying gravity, I'm sure Ted would be top of the list.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2020 12:05:16 GMT
baldereagle - yes, I briefly forgot that Alan Bannister played at Newcastle Comets (same time as that ex-Golden State off-guard who also played the next season for London Towers - what was his name? - no Googling!). The big guy thing I find fascinating - Bannister was effective if he got the ball exactly where he needed it, as to a lesser extent was Sturgess, but of course defenses soon adjusted. Have been re-watching GOT recently and espied Ian Whyte playing another giant. He was very effective, with a lot more mobility but was perhaps (only) 7ft or 7ft 1. I think Dwayne Morton might have played for Eagles the season after (96-97) as I seem to remember him and Ralph Blalock being the starting backcourt? He then played for us in the 98-99 season when we moved to Crystal Palace. As did Paul Bale, who bizarrely kept Danny Lewis out of the starting five for a good chunk of the start of the season - to the bemusement of the fans, Danny himself and probably Paul as well! Edited to add - I assume Dwayne Morton is the Golden state guard you were thinking of. |
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Post by Solly on Apr 2, 2020 13:31:42 GMT
wembleycourt - yes Dwayne Morton was the player I was referring to. There were stories at the time that Comets were paying him ludicrous money (£40k for just a few months?) as a late-season signing that would somehow propel them to honours (he didn't).
Good call on Paul Bale - I remember his stint at Bullets when he first came to the BBL - was nothing special as I can recall so am surprised to hear that he was keeping Diamond Danny out of the starting five!
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Post by Solly on Apr 2, 2020 13:38:38 GMT
baldereagle - yes certainly recall those other Comets, and was also unsure if Bucknall played there - I think he was at another North-East club for a while - Sunderland Saints/Scorpions?
Re last part of my list, all of my articles are unedited versions of those printed in Wolves programmes from 2005 onwards - I'm leaving them exactly as they were written at the time, so they reflect my thoughts as at that time. Therefore 'Hangtime' Ted may or may not be in Part 3...
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Post by youngrocks on Apr 2, 2020 14:50:51 GMT
The season rocks moved to glasgow ted berry is the reason im still going to games.
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Post by Solly on Apr 3, 2020 9:55:20 GMT
Find Part 3 of 3 now reproduced below -
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BBL Legends Final Instalment
Right then, we are now at the last part of my BBL Legends feature. In the earlier instalments we looked at the likes of the greybeard Dip Donaldson, the ambling giant Alan Bannister, the classy Tony Dorsey, the neck-dancing Tony Windless, the troubled Casey Arena, the bragging Mark Robinson, and the bizarre Dennis Rodman.
So we have four final teams to consider:
4. Scottish Rocks
Ted Berry – ‘Hangtime’ Ted, brought over to the UK by notoriously unstable coach Steve ‘Too many players in the BBL write cheques that their egos can’t cash!’ Tucker, for Derby Storm. Now an honorary Scot (Ted, not Tucker!), occasionally mooted for inclusion in their national team.
Billy Singleton – big Bill, unstoppable when given the ball beneath the hoop, now rewarded for his exertions with a coaching position back at his college, St Johns. From Birmingham, to Leicester, to Thames Valley, to Scotland and down to Chester. Looked like he ate all the pies, but had the game to defy his lardy build.
3. Newcastle Eagles
Ralph Blalock – ‘King Ralph’ – says it all. Commanded the court. Unfortunate that he played at a time when Newcastle just couldn’t get the results to match the (in British terms) megabucks they shelled out. Another vastly-travelled star, last heard of bringing out those creaking bones back in Philadelphia.
Steve Bucknall – had to get Buck mentioned somewhere as a former Los Angeles Laker, and veteran of Europe – never played for Newcastle, but has the link from playing with nearby Sunderland Scorpions. For many years a stalwart of the National team, with his class shining out. Still forced by circumstances to turn out now and again for London Capitals, alongside his coaching role.
2. Sheffield Sharks
John Amaechi – played just one season in the BBL in-between NBA stints at Cleveland Cavaliers & Orlando Magic – John was the Man! Even the self-obsessed Mark Robinson had to admit that he was only’ the man next to the man’, after a breathtaking performance when Sharks beat London Towers in a Trophy Final. Like Bucknall, Amaechi gave sterling loyalty to the National team when others had tired of their mediocrity.
Terrel Myers – a general. So many highlights, but none less than his Championship-winning shot in the last second of the game vs Manchester Giants, live on Sky, and in front of a crowd of 12,000. Those were the days…
1. Milton Keynes Lions
Jason Siemon – a big, but nevertheless mobile, man – married a GMTV presenter (can’t remember her name, it might have been Lorraine Kelly?), and think is still playing on today.
Harvey Knuckles – afraid this one was a little before my time, but I do vaguely recollect people saying he was a dominant force in his day (early 80s), for the Ovaltine-sponsored Hemel Hempstead. A little self-indulgent for me to include him, and thereby exclude other MK notables, but maybe there just haven’t been that many…
It’s been emotional.
Solly out.
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shandy
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Post by shandy on Apr 3, 2020 15:59:24 GMT
Jason Siemon married Lara logan an American working for GmTv. Appears they got divorced in 2008
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Post by Solly on Apr 3, 2020 17:40:02 GMT
Ta for that shandy.
Just did an image search for Lara Logan - quite a contrast to the mumsy Lorraine Kelly, probably even moreso a contrast prior to 2008!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2020 18:50:01 GMT
She used to come to games at TVT. sky lapped it up. Jason came to Vegas with Leopards, really nice guy, I hated him before that! But there was always a bit of an edge between Leopards and Tigers as we'd bought the Kings franchise (building our first team based around their playets) who'd ended up in Guildford.
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Post by SamH on Apr 3, 2020 21:36:10 GMT
Alan Bannister, proof that height is over rated in basketball. Along with almost every other non-Chinese player over 7'2 ever.
I was about the only person who supported the Rodman thing, possibly cos I was one of the few that got to go drinking with him after the game, but he wasn't a proper player in the league. "Plymouth" should have had Colin Irish and Herman Harried referenced alongside AC.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2020 21:43:20 GMT
What was he like in the pub, Sam?
My drinking claim to fame is AC Green. Not shabby, but not DR
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Post by SamH on Apr 3, 2020 21:50:21 GMT
He was very chilled out, seemed happy enough talking to people. Wore sunglasses which was a bit dumb I thought. Cant complain, I'm well aware he can be a total arse sometimes but he was cool to us Bears lot. I think he appreciated talking ball and being recognised as a basketball player, having come from being on big brother and probably getting a lot of attention for his celebrity status at that moment. I don't think any of us there gave a crap about big brother!
We also did a promotional appearance at a shopping centre in Brighton where he signed autographs, that was fun too.
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Post by davef on Apr 4, 2020 9:23:49 GMT
Morton played for Eagles not Comets and didn’t play with Bannister. He signed after Phelps was injured for the season.
Rumour of £10k per month. Sporting club days. It is officially acknowledged that eagles lost £500 k of sporting club money in two seasons.
And won nothing. Coach was Tom Hancock.
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Post by Solly on Apr 4, 2020 12:25:22 GMT
davef - thanks for the clarification re Comets/Eagles.
I remember Tom Hancock possibly coaching Oldham Celtics pre-Newcastle and possibly coaching Milton Keynes post-Newcastle. Guy with masses of curly locks. Am resisting the temptation to Google, am relying on memory.
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Post by Solly on Apr 4, 2020 12:29:50 GMT
SamH - thanks for the Rodman insight - am chuckling about the sunglasses thing.
In some sort of way I think he could have helped in the Trump/Kim meetings through his appearances in North Korea and on Trumpy's Celebrity Apprentice...
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Post by Solly on Apr 4, 2020 12:39:18 GMT
Oh yes, also meant to say that I'll post up another piece later today. But my wife is chirping that I'm now spending too much time on the computer so I may have to be circumspect in my actions.
I'm going to placate her in a minute by preparing a tomato/cheese omelette, accompanied by one piece of white toast each (I prefer wholemeal but it doesn't seem to toast so well) and mugs of piping hot tea. And seasoned with Daddies Sauce (the omelette, not the tea!).
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2020 12:46:29 GMT
davef - thanks for the clarification re Comets/Eagles. I remember Tom Hancock possibly coaching Oldham Celtics pre-Newcastle and possibly coaching Milton Keynes post-Newcastle. Guy with masses of curly locks. Am resisting the temptation to Google, am relying on memory. Yeah Hancock coaches Lions. I found him bit odd |
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Post by SamH on Apr 4, 2020 13:06:48 GMT
Funnily enough Solly I just watched a documentary on Amazon Prime about the whole Rodman/north Korea thing. It was a real eye opener. I actually think Charles Smith (former NBA player, not BBL!) came across very well in how he dealt with the media, where Rodman basically cracked under the pressure and turned to drink which spoiled it all somewhat. But he is credited for helping secure the release of Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller from NK prison camps. It's not known how much influence he had or what he did but Bae credits him for securing his release.
Rodman says he wants to go back now but Trump won't let him. Who knows what the truth really is!
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Post by Solly on Apr 4, 2020 15:48:06 GMT
Right, that omelette went down very well and has now entitled me to enough brownie points to post up again.
I've got loadsa articles I can post up having written one for every Wolves programme from 2006 until now (although I had a hard drive crash in 2008/9ish so can only retrieve stuff after then), but need to advise you of context.
Up until a year or two back when we could all first get livebasketball.tv I pretty much attended every Wolves game home and away and this meant most of my articles were road reports for all the Wolves fans who bought home match programmes. Whenever there was a consecutive spell of home games I would instead post up miscellaneous ramblings like the 3-parter BBL Legends article above.
This means that rather than 'blow my load early' of non-Wolves stuff, I will every now and again post up some of the Wolves-specific articles.
In that vein, here below is the first of more Wolves-centric articles. Even if you are not a Wolves fan, I'm sure you can pull out parts that are still of interest to you.
This one is an Interim Summary of Wolves 2009/10 season, written in early 2010. At the end of the year Wolves agonisingly missed the playoffs by a whisker despite having stormed the final stretch, losing out on the H-to-H with MK Lions and Worthing Thunder in 7th & 8th with us all finishing with 18-18 W-L records.
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The way our recent fixtures have fallen, I have no road game to report on this week so, instead, I thought I would give my views on where we are now, and if we can get to where we want to be, that is the playoffs and beyond.
Depending on the outcome of our trip to Sheffield last night, we are looking at a current win-loss record of either 11-16, or 10-17. Either way, it is going to be a stretch for us to reach the post-season.
Granted that with 9 games to go we ought to be able to better last year’s record of 11 victories, but that will be little to be proud of. Instead we need to be aiming to better our 2008 record of 14 wins.
Not wishing to be too negative, but our 2008 efforts only resulted in an arduous coach trip up to high-flying Newcastle, where we predictably suffered the sort of defeat you would expect when you go up against the top-of-the-table team on their own court.
This year however, if we can sneak into eighth place it may well be that we end up facing Sheffield. Not only will that be less of a trek for players and fans, I think we match up well against the Sharks, having surprised them (and the rest of the league) in taking them into overtime back on 3 January.
That January encounter was one where everyone had only just met, had only just begun to get familiar with each others game, and had only just started to follow the system of Coach James.
Before PJ, we had a couple of seasons or so of run and gun, with little emphasis on defence. Given that we now have the extra capability of playing slowdown ball, if we indeed make the playoff party, I could even see us going way beyond simply standing around in the front room and waiting to be politely introduced to fellow guests, to the point that we trash the joint!
There we go then – the objective is at least another 5 or 6 Ws in order to get our invite, and after that we smash the doors down, slap a few faces, kick some butt, and rampage on down to the NIA!
To make all that happen, we are going to need production, so here’s how I see our guys contributing –
Rod Middleton – Our playmaker. Will carry a heavy responsibility, but has already shown he can step up and marshall the troops. Edge – Crafty.
Danny Gilbert – Like Rod, will likely be expected to play pretty much 40 minutes a night. Again like Rod, he has demonstrated the savvy we will need to make a breakthrough. Edge - Defence.
Kastytis Normantas – Hot or Not? We obviously need plenty of the warm stuff. ‘’Spring has sprung, and the weather is warmer, we’re now in March, and Special K can be the transformer!’’ Edge – Hustle
Modestas Sidlauskas – Another who can have up and down games. Aim up please. Edge – Three-point shooting.
Harry Disy – Our Rock. Dependable hard man. Edge – Intimidation.
Devin Smith – Looks slight, but can occasionally belie his appearance and make unlikely moves. Edge – Desire.
Giedrius Knysas – Unlike Devin, big G looks the part. We now have to have consistent input to match those handsome looks. Edge - Bulk.
Siman Stewart – Has got more minutes in a few recent games. Has had to fight to get those minutes, so knows what he has to contribute. Edge – Point to Prove.
Pavolis Tamulynas & Roy Owen – Limited minutes, but can play their parts.
Coach James – has achieved the considerable feat of quickly building a competitive team, now faces the even bigger task of forcing another step up. Edge – Experience.
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