Original 1994 Draft and Rosters1995 Draft1996 Draft

History of the Second American Basketball Association

By Scott Ellis, SABL Commissioner

The SABL is story of a league emerging from the muck and mire of a sludgy and disorganized start. It's the story of a group of coaches that stuck things out and wouldn't quit until the league succeeded. For that, we ought to give ourselves a big round of applause. We've come a long way, baby!

The Second American Basketball started out as the First American Basketball Association (FABL), a 10-team face-to-face league based in Michigan. It played its first season in 1993-94. I have no records of the FABL and of its only season in 1993-94.

As league members moved to different parts of the country, the league decided to double in size in the summer of 1994, to 20 teams, become a play-by-mail league and redraft from scratch. Every team's players were released and the league started all over as the Second American  Basketball League in an October 1994 draft. Two of the original 10 FABL coaches dropped out and 12 new ones joined, answering an ad in the old Strat Fan publication. Ten teams were dice-played and 10 were computer-coached, with the home arena deciding which type of game was played.

Of the 20 original SABL coaches, only three remain: Scott Ellis (St. Lucie Aces), Steve Walters (Galactic Gladiators/Thunder), and Steve Feldheim (Brooklyn Tigers). All three teams have won SABL championships, which proves that perseverance pays off. All three teams began life in the Classic Conference's South Division. Feldheim's team is from SOUTH Brooklyn.

The founding Commissioner Tom Gantert was and still is a daily newspaper sports editor. With a vital interest in sports and Strat-O-Matic basketball in particular, his excitement infused a spirit of fun and competition which continues in the SABL today. His big failings, however, were a general disorganization, not understanding the computer game (it kept him from winning games and analyzing players completely) and a lack of time, after the first season, to run the SABL properly. Also, Tom didn't even have a computer during the first year of the league - he ran this sucker the old-fashioned way, by hand-typing and snail-mailing. This was at the dawn of the World Wide Web era and perhaps Tom really didn't have any other choice. Considering this, he did a hellva' job.

Without Tom, we'd have no SABL. His energy kept the league alive during a chaotic first two seasons. His hard work in adding stats by hand from confusing box scores, his snail-mailing out newsletter back to us and hours and hours on the telephone cajoling us to be on time and stop sniping at each other was the glue that kept us together early on. So, from all of us who've carried on these seven years, thanks Tom for starting this madness.

YEAR ONE: 1994-95

East Division Coach Steve Shaltz drafted Shaquille O'Neal as the first player ever taken in the SABL's first-ever draft in October 1994. When the SABL started, teams had no official nicknames, although some of us named our teams anyway. Teams were numbered 1-20 (I was Team 12, Walters Team 11 and Feldheim 16) and teams were known by the coaches' names in the computer. That means we had no official team names until I took over the league in Fall 1997 and not all of our teams were named until 1998.

Also, in the first two years of our league, the top two teams in each division made the playoffs, which led to Steve Feldheim not making the playoffs even though he had the fifth-best record in the league. He finished third in the South Divsion (I don't know why he was there!) and out of post-season play. I changed that in our third year to the present playoff system we have now.

Also, beginning in Year 4, we started placing teams in divisions based soley on geography.

Here's how our franchises started out:

ROYAL CONFERENCE - Winner: Dave Plisko

EAST DIVISION

Steve Shaltz (Third Coast Claymores, Division Winner, 56-26), Joe Spryszak (The Borg, 49-33), Phil Grabar (Burgess Breakers/Detroit Diesels, 47-35), Tom Gantert (South Jersey Diamondbacks, 34-48) and Rob Howe (22-60) 

WEST DIVISION

Dave Plisko (Division Winner, 71-11), Brian Seaman (Rocky Mountain Renegades, 39-43), Jeff Stahl (Calgary Condors, 27-55), Ian Roach (25-57) & Matt Poulter (15-67)

CLASSIC CONFERENCE - Winner: Scott Ellis

NORTH DIVISION

Mark Colman (Pacific Predators, Division Winner, 52-30), Steve Brandvold (47-35), Allen Telgenhof (Charlevoix Cutters, 24-58), Bob Lee (Deep Creek Dragons, 31-51), Steve Kuffrey (28-54), 

SOUTH DIVISION

Scott Ellis (St. Lucie Aces, Division Winner, 59-23), Scott Childers (Arizona Outlaws, 59-23), Steve Feldheim (Brooklyn Tigers, 55-27), Steve Walters (Galactic Gladiators, 49-33),  & Mike Weinstein/Nate Burns (31-51)

1995 SABL CHAMPION: Dave Plisko in six games over Scott Ellis

Rookie Of The Year: Chris Webber (Howe)

Coach Of The Year: Dave Plisko

Several SABL marks were set this inaugural year that still stand as all-time league records:

Most Rebounds PG: Dennis Rodman, 13.6 (Childers)

Most Assists PG: Kenny Anderson, 12.8 (Doran)

Most Rebounds in a game: Rodman, 29, vs. Doran

Most Assists in a game: Kenny Anderson, 24, vs. Gantert

FRANCHISE CHANGES: Grabar to Tony Lucchi to Kevin Feeney, Poulter to Dave Biren to Gantert, Weinstein to Nate Burns, Shaltz to Shane Hoverstein to Frank Rowley, Spryszak to Tony Disibbio, Roach to Michael Robinson, Kuffrey to John Smith, Telgenhof to John Barkoviak, Gantert to Matt Doran

A month into league play and our first three coaching casualties: Phil Grabar quit, replaced by Tony Lucchi (Detroit Diesels). Matt Poulter was replaced by Dave Biren and Nate Burns replaced Mike Weinstein, a friend of Steve Feldheim. By midseason, Ian Roach had vanished.

In our first year, we had NO minutes played restrictions on any SABL player. Commissioner Gantert called a vote on this because some coaches asked for a 10% rule (akin to our current and now sacred 25% rule). It failed on a 6-6 tie vote.

But that wasn't the big news of our first season. Two things were the big news of the season: Me and the furious coaching turnover that almost killed the SABL in its first season.

Tom didn't know anything about the computer game that half of the league was playing. I volunteered to send out SABL league computer disks and generally organize the 10 computer players in our league, because Tom didn't know how and it wasn't going to get done unless I did it. I also spent long hours with founding father Tom discussing rules, new ideas and how the SABL should work. Tom was a gentleman and we worked together to implement new ideas.

Steve Walters and I also played the SABL All-Star Game Series (best of three games) that year. The Classic won it two out of three!

SABL ALL-STARS:

ROYAL CONFERNCE: K. Anderson (South Jersey), P. Hardaway (Calgary), Shaquille O'Neal (Richmond), Webber (Howe), Mourning (The Borg), D. Robinson (Plisko), Olajuwon (Davenport), R. Miller (South Jersey), Rice (The Borg), Douglas (Richmond), Weatherspoon (Dazzlers), Drexler (Richmond)

CLASSIC: K. Johnson (Pacific), Richmond (Galactic), Ewing (Weinstein), Barkley (Arizona), Coleman (Brandvold), Pippen (Aces), K. Malone (Brooklyn), J, Jackson (Deep Creek), D. Wilkins (Pacific), R. Strickland (Brandvold), M. Price (Galactic), Willis (Brooklyn)

If you've seen any old Western movies about resentments between sheepmen and cattlemen, transfer that kind of resentment to the SABL in its first year and you'll understand how well the Dice half of our league got along with the computer half - it was like two different worlds and I'd put myself in the center of the storm. One of our coaches, Mark Colman, even started up a computer-only Strat basketball league in competition with the SABL, joking that "playing games by dice leads to Communism and homosexuality." Another SABL coach, Scott Childers, announced he was starting a new basketball league, too, which would take both Dice and Computer coaches. Both leauges went nowhere.

But the match that ignited the furor was one of my numerous midseason trades that year. I make a lot of trades and I'm very visible and vocal in doing it, but in the first three years of the league, I made Charlie Dillingham and Mark Feeney look like pikers. If there was a player to be traded for, I was usually involved in trade discussions, whether I ended up making a deal or not.

I traded a 2nd round pick and Moses Malone (yes, he was still playing) to Dave Biren for center Brad Daugherty. Daugherty was only 28 and was real good, but he had hurt his back and there were doubts that he'd ever play again (sound familiar?). I'd only have him for a few remaining series of the regular season and the playoffs, and then he'd most likely be gone, with no card in the next SABL season. Daugherty ended up retiring a few months after I traded for him and never played another NBA game.

Three coaches quit over this trade, saying it was unfair and assured me the championship - Steve Shaltz, Joe Spryszak and Tony Lucchi, who had just joined us. All three were "evil" Dice players and FABL members the year before. The three argued that I'd made the deal after the midseason trade deadline (I didn't, the deadline demarcation was vague enough to drive a Mack truck through, due to poor wording of the trading rules by Tom).

Tom put Shane Hoverstein in charge of Steve Shaltz's team. Roach, Grabar/Lucchi and Spryszak would be autoplayed by Tom for the rest of the season. Near the end of the regular season, Steve Kuffey disappeared, too. You might think all this coach unrest is unusual, but in my 32 years of Strat experience, it's not unusual. When a coach concludes they can't win quickly or that they are not having fun as a result, they sometimes bail or bawl; they aren't willing to build a team for the long haul. That's what makes our current SABL so special now.

In fact, one of the best omens for the league occurred when the first Feeney joined - Kevin, who took over the Grabar/Lucchi team at the start of the 1995-96 season. The Davenport Dazzlers, the team with the best name in the league, was born. Another old Strat pro, Tony Disibbio, took over Joe Spryzak's team for the next season, too. John Smith took over Steve Kuffrey's team and Michael Robinson took over Ian Roach's team, both for the next season as well. Al Telgenhof resigned and John Barkoviak took over.

The freight train of turnover continued, when Hoverstein dropped out, to be replaced by current coach and all-around good-guy Frank Rowley, beginning the Richmond Raiders saga. Commissioner Gantert then took over the Poulter/Biren team and new coach Matt Doran assumed the reigns of Tom's old New Jersey franchise. All this was to take effect in the 1995-96 season.

Did you get all that? Make your head swim? The SABL was in its birth pangs, more like a banana republic than the strong league we've become today. We had 10 coaches quit the first year. By all rights, we should have folded. But with Frank Rowley and Kevin Feeney, an infusion of new coaching talent would see the SABL eke by another season.

YEAR TWO: 1995-96

Dave Plisko repeated as SABL champion and his team is still the only SABL franchise to win two straight championships.

Several rules were voted on in the off-season: 7-6 to have coaches reverse their home and away roles when playing games. This was before "neutral court" programming was introduced by Strat. Home teams are programmed to score an average of 8 more points a game and that's why we play neutral court in the SABL. This rule only lasted one year - Strat added neutral court programming in our 1996-97 year.

We voted 9-3 to allow players to only play whatever positions are listed on their cards. Before this, anyone could play anywhere, although few coaches did it.

We voted 7-6 to expand to 22 teams in the 1996-97 season. An impossible dream then, but maybe not now. The expansion obviously never happened.

We voted 7-6 to protect just five players in the expansion draft.

We voted 7-6 to ignore player limitations listed on SOM's roster sheets.

We voted in a 10% seasonal minutes limitation rule, 8-5.

Commissioner Gantert also instituted our first penalty point system, although it ended up not being used. We had a lot of team shuffling into different divisions, too, and new coaches joined just before the draft, so get out your scorecards:

FRANCHISE CHANGES: The Kuffrey/Smith franchise moved from the North to South Division. Scott Childers moved from the South to the North Division. The Weinstein/Burns franchise is taken over by Chuck Kirkwood of Stuart, FL.  Bob Lee's team is taken over by Matt Lamphear. Dave Scott takes over Mark Colman's team, bringing the Akron Blimps into existence. Steve Branvold moved from the North to the West Division. The Telgenhof/Barkoviak franchise was taken over by Bart Ewing and moved from the North to the South Division. The Poulter/Brien/Gantert franchise moved from the West to the East Division. The Spryszak/Disibbio franchise moved from the East to the North Division.

Dizzy? That left the SABL with this starting coaching lineup for 1995-96:

ROYAL CONFERENCE - Winner: Dave Plisko

EAST DIVISION

Matt Doran (South Jersey Diamondbacks, Division Winner, 56-26), Kevin Feeney (Davenport Dazzlers, 52-30), Tom Gantert (18-64), Frank Rowley (Richmond Raiders, 41-41), Rob Howe (31-51)

WEST DIVISION

Dave Plisko (Division Winner, 60-22), Steve Branvold (41-41), Jeff Stahl (Calgary Condors, 39-43), Brian Seaman (Rocky Mountain Renegades, 29-53), Michael Robinson (26-56)

CLASSIC CONFERENCE - Winner: Steve Feldheim

NORTH DIVISION

Tony Disibbio (Division Winner, 53-29), Scott Childers (Arizona Outlaws, 49-33), Chuck Kirkwood (35-47),  Matt Lamphear/Philip Creider (Deep Creek Dragons/Tulsa Twisters, 28-64), Dave Scott (Akron Blimps, 15-67)

SOUTH DIVISION

Steve Feldheim (Brooklyn Tigers, Division Winner, 68-14), Scott Ellis (St. Lucie Aces, 66-16), Steve Walters (Galactic Gladiators, 35-47), Bart Ewing (Charlevoix Cutters, 35-47), & John Smith (Carbondale Young Punks, 43-39)

1996 SABL CHAMPION: Dave Plisko over Steve Feldheim, four games to three

MORE FRANCHISE CHANGES: Kirkwood to Jim Brady to Mike Rodriquez, Walters to Randy Hulett, Howe to Geno Ford, Robinson to Keith Sill, Ewing to Charlie Dillingham, Lamphear to Phillip Creider, Childers to Walters

The first pick of the draft was Grant Hill by Rob Howe. Next, Glenn Robinson by Michael Robinson. Then, Kidd by Howe and Michael Jordan by Bart Ewing. That's right, MJ went fourth!!!!!

Due to myriad managers and the inept programming in Strat's basketball computer game, league stats for teams are not complete the first four years of our league, although won-lost records are accurate. Stats run smoothly now, but they didn't in our early years. Tom was so busy keeping our coaching slots filled and he had so many dice players, he just didn't have time to compile stats by hand. I don't either and that's one reason we are a computer-only league.

By midseason, we had our first two dropouts - Chuck Kirkwood was gone and Big Jim Brady took over. Steve Walters took a hiatus to be replaced by Randy Hulett. And Phillip Creider (Tulsa Twisters) took over Matt Lamphear's team to give us yet another of our rock-solid coaches. Geno Ford took over Rob Howe's team and Arizona inmate Keith Sill took over Michael Robinson's franchise. Sill never played a game, as Tom's experiment with prison rehabilitation failed.

However, despite these latest changes, it looked like the SABL was more stable this year than last year. Tom addressed that in a midseason newsletter: "Like the ABA, we struggled, but survived."

The Royal Conference won the All-Star Series in two straight games this year, played by Brian Seaman.

ALL-STARS:

ROYAL: David Robinson (Plisko), Webber (Howe), R. Strickland (Branvold), P. Hardaway (Calgary), G. Robinson (Michael Robinson), (Shaquille O'Neal (Richmond), G. Hill (Howe), Payton (Plisko), Schrempf (Rocky Mountain Renegades), K. Anderson (South Jersey), Olajuwon (Davenport), Ceballos (South Jersey)

CLASSIC: Ewing (Kirkwood), Barros (Carbondale), Pippen (Aces), Stockton (Brooklyn), K. Malone (Brooklyn), T. Hardaway (Tulsa), R. Miller (Kirkwood), Barkley (Arizona), D. Coleman (Disibbio), Mourning (Aces), Rice (Disibbio), C. Robinson (Akron)

Near the end of the regular season, Bart Ewing dropped out, to be replaced at the start of our next season by a coach that would rival my trading record: Charlie Dillingham of the Holcomb Heat. Another replacement to take over next season: Mike Rodriguez for Jim Brady, a friend of Tony Disibbio who had health problems. Also, Steve Walters returned to the SABL for the 1996-97 season, taking over the Scott Childers' Arizona Outlaws franchise in the summer. All these franchises had their games autoplayed for the remainder of the season.

There were 12 coaching dropouts this season. How did the SABL survive?

YEAR THREE: 1996-97

Tom Gantert's computer was hit by lightning in 1996. He could not replace it for 1.5 years. That meant bad news for the SABL.  Tom also didn't have time to run the SABL anymore. Once the regular SABL season was over in the summer of 1996, we went months without a newsletter. Tom managed to get the draft done in November (Joe Smith went first, to Phillip Creider) and issued one more preseason preview, and that was it. His wife was battling cervical cancer (she recovered). He'd moved and switched jobs several times. He was wanting to spend more time with his kids and family.

Beaten down by 22 coaching changes and personal attacks from unappreciative coaches who sometimes didn't even pay their dues, his heart wasn't in it anymore. The league stood on the brink of extinction. I asked Tom to let me take over the league, and he said "Yes," and Tom became just a coach in 1996-97.

I named the league newsletter (it hadn't been named yet!) The SABL BS and Issue 1 was mailed out in December 1996, the month I took over the league. My goal, however, was to change our league from a play-by-mail league to an all-computer, all-Internet league. We wouldn't reach that goal until next year, but the transition was starting, with our newsletter going online this year.

The other two goals were to make every coach pay their dues or they don't play - no excuses; and to get the league running on time - again, with no excuses. Lateness kills play-by-mail and Internet leagues. Always has, always will. Some of my decisions in these areas were brutal, but necessary to save the SABL. And the SABL was saved, thanks to the great core of coaches that joined us this season and are still with us today.

FRANCHISE CHANGES: Branvold to Ted Berquist, Ford to Dan Ayala, Doran to Jeff McMillen, Disibbio to Gary Grubbs. No franchises switched divisions this season, the first time in SABL history that happened. Here's how we stood at the start of 1996-97:

ROYAL CONFERENCE - Winner - Dave Plisko/Nick South (Three conference wins in-a-row)

WEST DIVISION

Dave Plisko (Division Winner, 54-28), Jeff Stahl (Calgary Condors, 40-42), Ted Berquist/Doug Dillingham (Finney Longhorns, 35-47), Keith Sill (Austin Grasers, 26-56), Brian Seaman (Rocky Mountain Renegades/Michigan Panthers, 15-67)

EAST DIVISION

Jeff McMillen (Motor City Maulers, Division Winner, 54-28), Dan Ayala (Michigan Gearjammers, 49-33), Frank Rowley (Richmond Raiders, 36-46), Kevin Feeney (Davenport Dazzlers, 35-47), Tom Gantert/Mark Feeney (Bettendorf Druids, 33-49)

CLASSIC CONFERENCE - Winner - Scott Ellis

SOUTH DIVISION

Scott Ellis (St. Lucie Aces, Division Winner, 74-8), Steve Feldheim (Brooklyn Tigers, 52-30), Charlie Dillingham (Holcomb Heat, 44-38), Randy Hulett/Chris Feeney (Tri-City Blackhawks, 29-53), John Smith (Carbondale Young Punks, 22-60)

NORTH DIVISION

Steve Walters (Galactic Thunder, Division Winner, 67-15), Phillip Creider (Tulsa Twisters, 47-35), Mike Rodgriquez (Seattle Chieftains, 42-40), Gary Grubbs/Leon Rogers (Meade Jayhawks, 34-48), Dave Scott (Akron Blimps, 32-50)

WORLD CHAMPION: Scott Ellis, in five games over Steve Walters

For the first and only time in SABL history, teams were seeded against each other based solely on won-lost records, with conference placement not being a factor. This is why the Plisko/South team did not end up the in SABL Finals - the team was eliminated in the playoffs before it got there, but was awarded the Royal Conference Championship because it had the best record of any team in that conference.

MORE FRANCHISE CHANGES: Gantert to Mark Feeney, McMillen to Bill Robinson, Hulett to Chris Feeney, Grubbs to Leon Rogers, Plisko to Nick South, Seaman to Bill Traxler, Sill to Will Aubrey to Eric Everage, Rodriguez to Frank Pennylegion, Ayala to Gantert

Another Amazing Feeney joined the SABL, taking over Tom Gantert's team in January 1997 - Kevin's brother, Mark Feeney. Tom's continuing lack of time to devote to his hobby forced his resignation. Tom would sputter into the SABL one more time before giving it up all together. And yet another Feeney, Kevin's other brother, Chris Feeney, took over Randy Hulett's team in January, too!

Leon Rogers brought the Meade Jayhawks into existence in January as well, taking over the Gary Grubbs team.

Not to be left out of the SABL family action, Charlie brought his son, Doug Dillingham into the league in February, replacing the resigned Ted Berquist.

Finally, I had to put my foot down on two longtime SABL coaches who still hadn't paid their dues by Feb. 15 - Dave Plisko and Brian Seaman, who were thrown out of the league. Throwing out Plisko was especially hard - he had won our only two championships! But if he didn't care, I didn't.

Plisko was replaced with Nick South and Bill Traxler got Seaman's team. Keith Sill couldn't play games in prison, so he quit, replaced by Will Aubrey.

A new, simplified penalty point system went into effect in March, based soley on coach lateness. It was enforced and caused the departure of Coach Dan Ayala in April. Former SABL Commissioner Tom Gantert assumed the helm of Ayala's team. I also changed our 10% minutes-added rule to 25% this season.

The Classic All-Stars defeated the Royals 4 games to 3 in the newly expanded 7-game All-Star series.

SABL ALL-STARS:

ROYAL: G. Hill (Gearjammers), Shaquille O'Neal (Richmond), Payton (Plisko), P. Hardaway (Calgary), D. Robinson (Plisko), Vaught (Dazzlers), Baker (Calgary), R. Strickland (Finney), K. Anderson (Motor City), Smits (Davenport), Gugliotta (Calrgary), Webber (Gearjammers), D. Harper (Austin)

CLASSIC: Howard (Carbondale), Mourning (Aces), M. Jordan (Aces), Pippen (Aces), Olajuwon (Galactic), Brandon (Galactic), K. Malone (Brooklyn), Stockton (Brooklyn), Kemp (Holcomb), J. Smith (Tulsa), T. Hardaway Tulsa), Mason (Brooklyn), Richmond (Tri-City)

The Seattle Chieftains were born at the end of the season in July when Frank Pennylegion took over Mike Rodriguez's team. That meant 14 coaches leaving the SABL this year, an all-time SABL record. Would the turnover ever end? Was there any hope of us surviving?

YEAR FOUR: 1997-98

This was the year the SABL turned the corner into stability. Teams were known by their official nicknames instead of their coaches in the computer. Static Fatigue was now a game option and we would switch to it, solving a big problem with the game's fatigue system. Strict new monthly stat reporting systems were instituted. Teams that got behind had their games autoplayed by me, even if they still were in the league. Lateness kills leagues.

League disks were now being posted on our official website, which had been in operation for several months. Newsletters were no longer being mailed out - everyone was online except for two coaches. John Smith added the biggest small Punk of all to his team with the first pick in the draft, Allen Iverson. Abdul-Rahim went second, to Calgary, Stephon Marbury went third to Tri-City, Ray Allen went fourth to Akron and amazingly, Kobe Bryant went 7th to Finney. This year's draft was probably the strongest in our league's history.

The days of double-digit coaching turnover were over and real fun was blooming like never before - except for one incident involving Coach Eric Everage, which probably was the biggest news of the season.

FRANCHISE MOVES: Plisko/Blocher from West to East Division, Austin from West to East, Carbondale from South to East, Akron from North to East, Galactic Thunder from North to South, Finney from West to South, Meade from North to South, Michigan Gearjammers from East to North, Motor City from East to North, Calgary from West to North, Michigan Panthers from West to North. 11 franchise moves.

But before we get into the sordid details, here's how we stood at the start of the season:

ROYAL CONFERENCE - Winner - Blocher Bombers (This franchise won the Royal Conference four years in a row, an all-time SABL record. Franchise also won fourth division in a row, an SABL record.)

WEST DIVISION

Tri City Blackhawks (Division Winner, 50-32), Tulsa Twisters (48-34), Davenport Dazzlers (40-42), Seattle Chieftains/Miles Bulldogs (31-51), Bettendorf Druids (30-52)

EAST DIVISION

Blocher Bombers (Division Winner,  46-36), Austin Grasers/Great Lakes Magicians (46-36), Richmond Raiders (44-38), Carbondale Young Punks/Memphis Blues (26-56), Akron Blimps (22-60)

CLASSIC CONFERENCE - Winner - Brooklyn Tigers

SOUTH DIVISION

St. Lucie Aces (Division Winner, 70-12), Galactic Thunder (61-21), Holcomb Heat (58-24), Finney Longhorns (31-51), Meade Jayhawks (24-58)

NORTH DIVISION

Brooklyn Tigers (Division Winner, 65-17), Michigan Gearjammers/Carolina Roughnecks (50-32), Motor City Maulers (35-47), Calgary Condors (33-49), Michigan Panthers/Garden City Gladiators (10-72)

SABL WORLD CHAMPION - Steve Feldheim's Brooklyn Tigers in seven games over Nick South's Blocher Bombers

FRANCHISE CHANGES: Motor City Maulers (Bill Robinson) to Mike Saylor to Tommy Field, Michigan Panthers (Bill Traxler) to Josh Marquardt, Seattle Chieftains (Frank Pennylegion) to Tom Jargo, Austin Grasers (Eric Everage) to Ron Karbowski, Michigan Gearjammers (Tom Gantert) to Cody Beard, Carbondale Young Punks (John Smith) to Mike Feeney.

Bill Robinson paid his dues, then disappeared. Bill Traxler got a new job and didn't have time to play. Frank Pennylegion bought an old house and wanted to use his spare time to fix it up. Josh (Garden City Gladiators) and Tom (Miles Bulldogs) got into the league as a result and they sure are good coaches.

But the biggest brouhaha of the season occurred in March 1998, when I threw Eric Everage out of the league for conduct unbecoming a coach. At the same time, I resigned as coach of the Aces, keeping the SABL Commissionership, feeling like I had no time to be both a good commissioner and a competitive coach, partly because of what Eric was doing and saying.

Eric had been agitating for several months, advocating rule changes and trade committees. Some of his ideas were good, but the only way there will ever be a trade committee in the SABL is over my dead body. He wanted to break my team up, saying it was too good for the league. 

Anyway, it all came to a head when I vetoed a three-team deal Eric was involved in. It was the only time I ever vetoed a deal and I hope to goodness I don't have to do it again, but I felt at the time that it was in the best interests of the SABL. After that veto, Eric went ballistic, sending out threatening emails to me and other SABL members, so I booted him out of here.

By next month, after several coaches asked me to keep my team, I changed my mind and reclaimed it. I built the Aces and I just couldn't let them go yet.

A few more coaches left the SABL, but nothing like the droves of the past. John Smith left his Young Punks in March 1998, due to a death in the family. Mike Saylor quit the Maulers in May.

The Royals beat the Classics 4 games to 1 in the annual All-Star Series.

SABL ALL-STARS:

Royal Conference (East/West): G - T. Hardaway (Tulsa), R. Miller (Seattle), Iverson (Carbondale)  SF - L. Johnson (Blocher), L. Ellis (Richmond), Drexler (Tri-City)  PF - Kemp (Blocher), Webber (Great Lakes), McDyess (Miles), J. Smith  (Tulsa) C - Smits (Davenport), Sabonis (Richmond)

Classic Conference (North/South): G - Payton (Aces), Stockton (Brooklyn), Richmond (Galactic)  SF - Jordan (Finney), Pippen (Aces), Rice (Motor City)  PF - K. Malone (Brooklyn), G. Hill (Michigan), Gugliotta (Michigan) C - Shaq (Aces), Ewing (Galactic), Hakeem (Galactic)

In July, Universal Basketball Association veteran Tommy Field took over the Maulers and renamed them the Chapel Hill Jams. Ron Karbowski, a vet of the Continental Basketball Association, took over the Austin Grasers and renamed them the Great Lakes Magicians. And my nephew, Cody Beard, took over Tom Gantert's last SABL team, the Michigan Gearjammers, and renamed them the Carolina Roughnecks. Tom's computer was still on the fritz and he didn't have time or money to deal with it. Although Tom's called me sometimes since July 1988, he has not rejoined the SABL. He is always welcome to do so.

In August, yet another Amazing Feeney brother, Mike, took over the Young Punks and renamed the team the Memphis Blues. Still, only six coaches quit this season.

YEAR FIVE: 1998-99

The SABL entered its modern era this season. The season finished on time, everybody had fun and our coaching turnover was the lowest in history. Divisions stabilized after a flurry of franchise moves:

FRANCHISE MOVES: Finney from South to West, Calgary/Deerfield from North to West, Garden City from North to West, Meade from South to West, Holcomb from South to West - an entirely newly moved-in SABL division for the only time in league history. Brooklyn from North to East, Carolina from North to South, Tulsa from West to South, Chapel Hill from North to South, Miles from West to North, Tri-City from West to North, Davenport from West to North, Druids from West to North - 13 franchise moves, an all-time SABL record.

The Blocher Bomber franchise did not win a conference title or division title for the first time in their history and didn't even make the playoffs. Garden City drafted Tim Duncan number one. St. Lucie won its second SABL championship.

ROYAL CONFERENCE - Winner - Brooklyn Tigers

WEST DIVISION

Finney Longhorns (Division Winner, 48-34), Calgary Condors/Deerfield Kings (45-37), Garden City Gladiators (38-44), Meade Jayhawks (34-48), Holcomb Heat (17-65)

EAST DIVISION

Brooklyn Tigers (Division Winner, 71-11), Richmond Raiders (45-37), Akron Blimps (40-42), Blocher Bombers (37-45), Great Lakes Magicians (Iowa Tornadoes) (16-66)

CLASSIC CONFERENCE - Winner - St. Lucie Aces

SOUTH DIVISION

St. Lucie Aces (Division Winner, 77-5, all-time SABL won-lost record), Galactic Thunder (63-19), Carolina Roughnecks/McLean Nationals (44-38), Tulsa Twisters (33-49), Chapel Hill (19-63)

NORTH DIVISION

Miles Bulldogs (Division Winner, 55-27), Tri-City Blackhawks (41-41), Davenport Dazzlers (40-42), Bettendorf Druids (32-50), Memphis Blues/Philly Super Freaks (25-57)

SABL World Champion - Scott Ellis' St. Lucie Aces in four straight over Steve Feldheim's Brooklyn Tigers

MVP: Karl Malone (Brooklyn)

FRANCHISE CHANGES: Calgary Condors (Jeff Stahl) to Doug Crandall, Great Lakes (Ron Karbowski) to Dennis Derby, Memphis Blues (Mike Feeney) to Gary Goldstein, Blocher Bombers (Nick South) to Paul Bennett, Carolina Roughnecks (Cody Beard) to Rob Storey

In September 1998, Jeff Stahl, an original SABL member and our last "evil" Dice player, quit the league. His witty "news reports" on the Condors were one of the bright spots in the league and I really miss him. This proud franchise was taken over by Kansas Doug Crandall, who renamed it the Deerfield Kings. I wish Jeff would have hung on another season, but I think he felt alone as a Dice player among us computer geeks.

Due to the strike-shortened season in the NBA the previous real-life season, the SABL instituted a 100% limitation rule, doubling the amount of SABL minutes on a player's card, for this season only.

In December 1998, Nick South left his beloved Blocher Bombers and Ron Karbowski, because he played on a Mac, quit the Magicians. The Bombers were autoplayed for the rest of the season.

Tri-City Coach Chris Feeney suffered a mild heart attack in January while on vacation in Jamaica. He recovered fully. Also in January 1999, Dennis Derby took over Great Lakes from Ron Karbowksi. Cody Beard dropped out, supposedly temporarily, but it turned out to be for good. His Carolina games were autoplayed for the rest of the year.

In February, for the second year in a row, Meade Coach Leon Rogers had to inform coaches to autoplay his team's games, due to time constraints.

In April, Gary Goldstein took over the Memphis Blues from Mike Feeney, renaming the team the Philly Super Freaks. Gary would assume the reigns after the regular season was over. Also that month, the SABL became international as Paul Bennett assumed the Blocher franchise, renaming it the East Asia Dragons, for his Thailand home. This illustrated the new Internet reality of our league. Without the Internet, it would've been difficult if not impossible for Paul to compete in the play-by-mail league we used to be.

In August, the Classic All-Stars avenged their loss last year to beat the Royals 4 games to 2. And Brooklyn Coach Steve Feldheim, who won his first SABL Championship the previous year and won the Royal Conference Championship this year, took home Coach Of The Year honors. Brooklyn's Karl Malone also won MVP!

SABL ALL-STARS:

Royal Conference - Michael Jordan (FIN), Allen Iverson (MEM), John Stockton (BRK), Mark Jackson (RIC), Abdur-Rahim, (DER) Michael Finley (RIC), Glenn Robinson (GRT), Tim Duncan (GAR), Shawn Kemp (BLO), Karl Malone (BRK), Sabonis (RIC), Vin Baker (DER), Kevin Willis (BRK)

Classic Conference - Tim Hardaway (TUL), Gary Payton (STL), Rod Strickland (STL), Jason Kidd (CAR), Mitch Richmond (GAL), Grant Hill (STL), Glenn Rice (CHA), Clyde Drexler (TRI), Charles Barkley (DAV), Brian Williams (TRI), Hakeem Olajuwon (GAL), Shaquille O'Neal (STL), Mourning (CAR)

Also in August, Rob Storey took over the Carolina Roughnecks and renamed the team the McLean Nationals. Rob has been playing Strat since the early 1960s.

Only five coaches quit this season.

YEAR SIX: 1999-2000

This year was even better than last. The season finished EARLY, the first time that's happened in my 32 years of Strat experience! Congratulations to all our great coaches for making that happen and sticking out all the lean years to see it happen.

Very little divisional movement as things almost became sedate compared to our first two seasons. Philly moved from North to East and Great Lakes moved from East to North.

Great Lakes drafted Vince Carter first. Paul Pierce was taken by Holcomb next, followed by Mike Bibby third by McLean.

This was our second year of the new "compact schedule," which gets every regular season game done in three-and-half months. The schedule seems to have worked wonders with lateness - coaches are more timely now than ever before.

ROYAL CONFERENCE - Winner - East Asia (This franchise has won an unprecedented 5 out of 6 Royal Conference Championships and unprecedented 5 of 6 divisional titles!)

WEST DIVISION

Deerfield Kings (Division Winner, 44-38), Finney Longhorns (40-42), Garden City Gladiators (39-43), Holcomb Heat (36-46), Meade Jayhawks/Lansing Razors/River City Renegades (20-62)

EAST DIVISION

East Asia Dragons (Division Winner, 67-15), Philly Super Freaks/Michigan Liberators/Sublimity Senators (51-31), Richmond Raiders (40-42), Akron Blimps (31-51), Brooklyn Tigers (19-63)

CLASSIC CONFERENCE - Winner - Galactic Thunder

SOUTH DIVISION

Galactic Thunder (Division Winner, 74-8), St. Lucie Aces (72-10), McLean Nationals (38-44), Tulsa Twisters (36-46), Chapel Hill Jams (22-60)

NORTH DIVISION

Tri-City Blackhawks (Division Winner, 50-32), Bettendorf Druids (45-37), Davenport Dazzlers (42-40), Great Lakes Magicians (Iowa Tornadoes) (29-53), Miles Bulldogs (25-67)

SABL WORLD CHAMPIONS - Steve Walters' Galactic Thunder in four straight over Paul Bennett's East Asia Dragons

MVP: Stephon Marbury, Tri-City Blackhawks

FRANCHISE CHANGES: Meade Jayhawks (Leon Rogers) to Marc LaClear to Mike Resnick, Philly Super Freaks (Gary Goldstein) to Matt LaClear to Marc Schlotthauer.

FRANCHISE MOVES: Philly moved from North to East and Great Lakes moved from East to North.

Gary Goldstein never played a game in the SABL. Turns out he never played Strat basketball before and had no inclination to learn. His team was autoplayed all season.

Charter Coach Steve Feldheim heart almost gave out in February as he waited in the hospital for a heart transplant. His team was autoplayed for the rest of the season, he received his transplant, and now he's his old energetic self again. Also in February 2000, for the third year in a row, Leon Rogers told everyone to autoplay his team's games. In May, Leon resigned from the SABL 'cause he just didn't have the time for it. Taking over Meade for next year was Marc LaClear, who renamed the team the Lansing Razors.

Marc's brother, Matt LaClear, also joined the league in May 2000, taking over the Philly Super Freaks from the invisible Gary Goldstein and renaming the team the Michigan Liberators. But by the next month, Matt, who couldn't stand the trading heat and got out of the SABL kitchen, was gone, replaced by Marc Schlotthauer, who renamed the team the Sublimity Senators.

Matt's brother Marc was not heard from again, either, so he was replaced in July 2000 by yet another of the Feeney brood, Kevin's nephew, Mike Resnick, who renamed the team the River City Renegades.

Steve Walters was named Coach Of The Year.

The Classics took out the Royals 4 games to zip this year, the first time the Classics ever swept the series and the most impressive sweep ever, considering that when the Royals swept the Classics in 1996, it was just a 2-0 sweep in a three-game series.

SABL ALL-STARS:

ROYAL CONFERNCE

Guards - Brevin Knight (Finney) & Kobe Bryant (Finney)

Forwards - Abdul-Rahim (Deerfield) and Tim Duncan (Garden City)

Center - Patrick Ewing (East Asia)

Backups - Kevin Garnett (Akron), Steve Finley (Richmond), Allen Iverson (East Asia), Antoine Walker (East Asia), Jason Kidd (Philly),  Keith Van Horn (Philly) & Mark Jackson (Richmond)

CLASSIC CONFERENCE - Eight of the 12 are Aces or Galactic

Guards - Gary Payton (Aces) & Stephon Marbury (Tri-City)

Forwards - Grant Hill (Aces) & Shawn Kemp (Galactic)

Center - Shaquille O' Neal (Aces)

Backups - Scottie Pippen (Galactic), Alonzo Mourning (McLean), David Robinson (Aces), Rasheed Wallace (Chapel Hill), Karl Malone (Aces), Terrell Brandon (Galactic) & Charles Barkley (Galactic)

Only two players have ever been on all 6 SABL All-Star Teams - Scottie Pippen and Karl Malone.

And just four coaches quit this season, an all-time SABL low.

YEAR SEVEN: 2000-01

Right before the draft, Two-year SABL coaching veteran Doug Crandall of the Deerfield Kings quit, looking for the simplicity of a smaller, face-to-face league in his hometown area. Replacing him was Tyler Martin, who renamed the team the San Jose Swish. We will really miss Doug and he's always welcome to return.

Tyler himself never played an SABL game, giving way to new coach Chris Gertridge, a close friend of East Asia's Paul Bennett. Chris took over the Swish in mid-season. This means only two SABL coaches quit this season, an all-time low record.

Also, the biggest SABL divisional realignment ever happened right before the draft, too, when the West and North Divisions swapped conferences. The West moved to the Classic Conference and the North moved to the Royal Conference. This was done to accommodate two close friends, Miles Bulldog Coach Tom Jargo (West Division) and Druid Coach Mark Feeney (North) who wanted to play six games against each other instead of just two. A league vote of 12-1 in favor ratified the move.

Brooklyn drafted Elton Brand first in the draft and Iowa took Steve Francis. Lamar Odom went third, to the Miles Bulldogs.

ROYAL CONFERENCE - Winner - East Asia (This franchise has won an unprecedented 6 out of 7 Royal Conference Championships and unprecedented 6 of 7 divisional titles!)

EAST DIVISION

East Asia Dragons (Division Winner, 70-12), Miles Bulldogs (54-28), Richmond Raiders (44-38), Akron Blimps (36-46), Brooklyn Tigers (18-64)

NORTH DIVISION

Tri-City Blackhawks (Division Winner, 45-37), Bettendorf Druids (43-39), Davenport Dazzlers (37-45), River City (35-47), Iowa Tornadoes (22-60)

CLASSIC CONFERENCE - Winner - St. Lucie Aces

SOUTH DIVISION

St. Lucie Aces (Division Winner, 72-10), Galactic Thunder (68-14) McLean Nationals (36-46), Tulsa Twisters (26-56), Chapel Hill Jams (26-56)

WEST DIVISION

Sublimity Senators (Division Winner, 47-35), San Jose Swish (44-38), Finney Longhorns (43-39), Holcomb Heat (33-49), Garden City Gladiators (20-62)

SABL WORLD CHAMPIONS - Scott Ellis' St. Lucie Aces in six games over Paul Bennett's East Asia Dragons

MVP: Stephon Marbury, Tri-City Blackhawks

COACH OF THE YEAR: Paul Bennett of the East Asia Dragons

FRANCHISE CHANGES: Deerfield Kings/San Jose Swish (Doug Crandall) to Tyler Martin to Chris Gertridge

Classic Conference

Guards - Marbury (Tri-City), Allen (Akron), E. Jones (East Asia), A. Johnson (Davenport)

Forwards - K. Garnett (Akron), A. Walker (Miles), V. Carter (Iowa), Finley (Richmond), Odom (Brooklyn), C. Robinson (Davenport)

Centers - D. Robinson (East Asia), Mutumbo (Miles)

Royal Conference

Guards - Payton & Cassell (Aces), Stackhouse (McLean), Stockton (Galactic)

Forwards - Duncan (Garden City), G. Hill (Aces), Abdur-Rahim (San Jose), Malone (Galactic), Webber (Aces), K. Byrant (Finney)

Centers - S. O'Neal (Aces), Mourning (Sublimity)

Only one player has been on all 7 SABL All-Star teams - Karl Malone.

The Classics won the All-Star Series this year, but records of that series are lost!

YEAR EIGHT: 2001-02

Sublimity Senators Coach Marc Schlotthauer left us in the off-season, to be replaced by David Squires, who renamed his team the Bakersfield Blades. Chris Gertridge renamed the San Jose Swish as the Good News Roosters. And in March, long time Garden City Coach Josh Marquardt left us.

And for the first time, unprecedented league stability meant that NO SABL TEAMS SWAPPED DIVISION OR CONFERENCES THIS SEASON!

Kenyon Martin was taken first in the draft by the Brooklyn Tigers.

I guess you could say this was our most boring or most stable year ever, depending on your point of view. Of course, it wasn't boring at all to our World Champion East Asia Dragons, who finally got the title after losing in the Finals the previous two years. Iowa also went from last to first place this year in the North Division, winning its first divisional title.

No franchises swapped divisions and only two coaches left, tying a record set last season.

We also talked about seriously about dumping Strat's ancient DOS computer basketball game for a more modern Windows-based game called Action PC Basketball. The only thing that really stopped us is that Strat is still the most realistic basketball sim in the world.

Records are made to be broken and the St. Lucie Aces set a new team assist record with 51 in an incredible triple-OT game this year, face-to-face at home vs. Galactic's Steve Walters. This just eclipsed the old record of 50 team assists set by the Thunder vs. the Brooklyn Tigers in 1997-98.

Another record broken in that epic was by the Aces' Shaquille O'Neal, who played a record 53 minutes of that 58 minute game. That beat the previous mark of 51 set by Patrick Ewing of East Asia in 1999-2000.

In a December game vs. McLean, Shaq also set another mark - 12 blocks in a game, beating out the 11 blocked by Garden City's Tim Duncan vs. Brooklyn in 1998-99.

But topping that was the fabulous 63 points scored by the Longhorns' Allen Iverson at Finney in a Feb. 24 game vs. St. Lucie, breaking a record set in the very first year of the SABL, in 1994-95: 59 points in a game, by Patrick Ewing on the old Mike Weinstein/Nate Burns franchise, vs. the Brooklyn Tigers.

Patrick Ewing's long-standing record of 34.5 ppg, set in the league's first season (1994-95) by the Burns/Weinstein franchise, was bested by Allen Iverson of the Finney Longhorns this year. Iverson answered with 34.6 ppg for Doug Dillingham's West Division winners.

This also is the first year in SABL history that two players averaged 30 ppg or more. Tri-City's Stephon Marbury had 30.0 ppg.

Incidentally, Mike Weinstein is a good friend of Brooklyn's Steve Feldheim. The Weinstein/Burns franchise is now owned by that fun-loving Miles coach, Tom Jargo.

The Dave Plisko/Blocher Bombers/East Asia franchise just keeps on racking up divisional titles. This year, it took it's record seventh divisional win. Our league has been around for eight years.

The Heat's Tim Duncan had 3.8 blocks per game, besting the 3.3 blocks per game averaged by Diekembe Mutombo in 1997-98. Duncan also obliterated the 178 defensive stops record set last year by St. Lucie's Grant Hill. Titanic Tim had 207 stops this year.

McLean's Jerry Stackhouse played 3,357 minutes this season, beating the record of 3,347 minutes set by Allen Iverson of the Philly Super Freaks in 1999-2000.

The Amazing Feeneys once again played this year's All-Star series, but it was a brief affair. Although some of the games were close, the Classics won the series in four straight games, 120-106, 113-112, 109-108 and 115-104. And Galactic's Karl Malone made the All-Star team for his eighth-straight time, making him the only SABL player to make the All-Star team every year of our league's existence.

ROYAL CONFERENCE - Winner - East Asia (This franchise has won an unprecedented 7 out of 8 Royal Conference Championships and unprecedented 7 of 8 divisional titles!)

EAST DIVISION

East Asia Dragons (Division Winner, 73-9), Richmond Raiders (53-29), Miles Bulldogs (47-35), Akron Blimps (45-37), Brooklyn Tigers (22-60)

NORTH DIVISION

Iowa Tornadoes (Division Winner, 43-39), Tri-City Blackhawks (41-41), River City Renegades (22-60), Davenport Dazzlers (21-63), Bettendorf Druids (21-63)

CLASSIC CONFERENCE - Winner - St. Lucie Aces

SOUTH DIVISION

St. Lucie Aces (Division Winner, 73-9), Galactic Thunder (52-30) McLean Nationals (45-37), Chapel Hill Jams (40-42) Tulsa Twisters (31-51)

WEST DIVISION

Finney Longhorns (Division Winner, 50-32), Holcomb Heat (44-38), Good News Roosters (41-41), Bakersfield Blades (35-47), Garden City Gladiators (21-61)

SABL WORLD CHAMPIONS - Paul Bennett's East Asia Dragons in seven games over the St. Lucie Aces

MVP: Allen Iverson, Finney Longhorns

COACH OF THE YEAR: Paul Bennett of the East Asia Dragons

2002 SABL All-Stars

ROYAL CONFERENCE

PG - Marbury (Tri City), B. Davis (Richmond)

SG - E. Jones (East Asia), Allen (Akron)

SF - McGrady (Iowa), Carter (Iowa), Mashburn (Richmond)

PF - Garnett (Akron), Nowitzki (Richmond)

C - Mutombo (Miles), Sabonis (Bettendorf), D. Robinson (East Asia)

CLASSIC CONFERENCE

PG - Cassell (St. Lucie), Kidd (Bakersfield)

SG - Iverson (Finney), Stackhouse (McLean)

SF - Jamison (Chapel Hill), K. Bryant (St. Lucie), Pierce (Good News)

PF - Malone (Galactic), Marion (Tulsa), Abdur-Rahim (Good News)

C - O'Neal (St. Lucie), Duncan (Holcomb)

Only one player has been on all 8 SABL All-Star teams - Karl Malone.

FRANCHISE CHANGES: Sublimity Senators (Marc Schlotthauer) to Bakersfield Blades (David Squires)

YEAR NINE: 2002-03

The SABL made history this season, accepting our first female coach, Kathleen Feeney, who took over the Garden City franchise and renamed it the Quad City Rimrockers. Amazingly, Kathleen joined her Dad, Dazzler Coach Kevin Feeney, in the North Division, moving from the West. Iowa moved back North to accommodate Quad City and to make room for Iowa, East Asia moved to the South. To make room for East Asia, Tulsa moved back to the West, making four franchise switches this year, the most in several years for us.

Our dues went down from $20 a year to $15 a year, due to the lower costs of operating an all-Internet league.

We decided not to draft uncarded players by a 11-8 vote. We would vote on it again next year.

And for the first time in league history, our draft finished early! That's because we did the draft by email and telephone during the two-week post cut period before our scheduled Nov. 3 draft day. We finished a couple of days before draft day, so no draft day happened! It was a Draft Fortnight instead! What an experience.

We also lost Chris Gertridge, of the Good News Roosters. He was immediately replaced, however, by a friend of Chapel Hill Coach Tommy Field - Jeff Perigoni, of New Orleans.

Another Coach quit in midseason, too - last year's defending World Champion, Paul Bennett, of the East Asia Dragons. His team was taken over after the season by Ed Lynes and he renamed it the Saginaw Shockwave.

However, it was a thrilling season as Galactic and St. Lucie battled right down to the last game for the South Division title and Tri-City and Quad City battled to the bitter end for the North Division title. Galactic and Tri-City came out on top. It was Tri-City's 3rd divisional crown. Frank Rowley won his third conference title and Steve Walters took his second SABL championship.

Tri City's Stephon Marbury, our three-time MVP winner, set a record for Minutes Played this year - 3,419 total minutes, beating a record set just last year by McLean's Jerry Stackhouse (3,357). With our minutes restriction rule being lowered to 20% this fall and perhaps even lower than that in the future, this is a record that might never be broken.

Steve Walters' Galactic Thunder set a new SABL record for most team free throws in a game: 62, vs. McLean on Dec. 3. That beats the old record of 61, set by Scott Ellis' St. Lucie squad vs. Randy Hulett way back in 1996-97.

Galactic also set an new SABL record for most wins to start a season (22). That beat the previous 19-0 mark set by St. Lucie in 2000-01.

Pau Gasol was taken first in the draft by Brooklyn's Steve Feldheim.

Chapel Hill extended its record for most last-place finishes (4).

FRANCHISE MOVES: East Asia - East to South, Tulsa - South to West, Quad City - West to North, Iowa - East to North

ROYAL CONFERENCE - Winner - Richmond Raiders (Frank Rowley) - third time

EAST DIVISION

Richmond Raiders (Division Winner, 62-20), Akron Blimps (44-38), Brooklyn Tigers (32-50), Iowa Tornadoes (32-50), Miles Bulldogs (24-58)

NORTH DIVISION

Tri-City Blackhawks (Division Winner, 46-36), Quad City Rimrockers (46-36), Bettendorf Druids (37-45), River City Renegades (26-56), Davenport Dazzlers (25-57)

CLASSIC CONFERENCE - Winner - Galactic Thunder (Steve Walters) - second time

SOUTH DIVISION

Galactic Thunder (Division Winner, 68-14), St. Lucie Aces (67-15) East Asia Dragons (64-18), McLean Nationals (52-30) Chapel Hill (22-60)

WEST DIVISION

Bakersfield Blades (Division Winner, 55-27), Holcomb Heat (45-37), Tulsa Twisters (26-56), Finney Longhorns (24-58), Good News Roosters (23-59)

SABL WORLD CHAMPIONS - Steve Walters' Galactic Thunder in six games over Frank Rowley's Richmond Raiders

MVP: Stephon Marbury, Tri-City Blackhawks (only three-time MVP winner in SABL history)

COACH OF THE YEAR: Steve Walters of the Galactic Thunder (second time)

2003 SABL All-Stars

ROYAL CONFERENCE

GUARDS - Marbury (Tri-City) & Tracy McGrady (Iowa).  Backups - Sam Cassell (Bettendorf), Baron Davis (Richmond) & Richard Hamilton (River City Renegades)

FORWARDS - Dirk Nowitzki (Richmond) & Pau Gasol (Brooklyn).  Backups - Rashard Lewis (Quad City), Michael Finley (Richmond), Vince Carter (Iowa)

CENTERS - Kevin Garnett (Akron).  Backup - Dikembe Mutombo (Miles Bulldogs)

CLASSIC CONFERENCE

GUARDS - Gary Payton (Galactic) & Kobe Bryant (St. Lucie).  Backups - Paul Pierce (East Asia), Allen Iverson (New Orleans) & Jerry Stackhouse (McLean)

FORWARDS - Tim Duncan (St. Lucie) & Paul Pierce (East Asia). Backups - Shawn Marion (Tulsa), Karl Malone (Galactic) & Elton Brand (Bakersfield)

CENTERS - Shaquille O'Neal (St. Lucie).  Backups - David Robinson (East Asia)

The Classics won the All-Star Series 4 games to 1, their 5th win in a row. The Classics lead the series 6-3.

FRANCHISE CHANGES: Good News Roosters (Chris Gertridge) to New Orleans Roosters (Lee Perigoni)

YEAR TEN: 2003-04

The year started off with several votes. The drafting of uncarded players again failed, this time by an 11-4 margin, as did playing anyone at any position (9-4).

In a couple votes that resembled an Italian parliamentary election, the league again failed to decide on how much to lower our minutes restriction rule. But it wa clear that a majority wanted it lower than the existing 25%, so it was lowered to 20% for this year.

Six new coaches joined us this season, the most new leaders since 1997-98, when 7 new coaches joined us.

A new coach joined us in the off-season as that paragon of SABL humor, Miles Bulldogs Coach Tom Jargo, left us to be replaced by another Saginaw superstar, Gary Wandezel. Gary renamed his team the Mackinaw Island Menace. Gary only briefly ran his team before it went to Phil Russo, who renamed it the Louisiana Buzz.

Another new coach joined us right before the season started, Cave Creek Longshot helmsman Mark Long, who took over the old East Asia franchise that was briefly skippered as the Saginaw Shockwave by Ed Lynes.

Strat finally ported its game from DOS to Windows before the season started, but it did so in such a buggy way that it probably cost us an Amazing Feeney - Mark, coach of the Bettendorf Druids. Galactic Coach Steve Walters protested a Bettendorf game, a game that a computer bug caused. In retaliation, Mark threatened to protest other games, but ended up just quitting in disgust - part disgust at me and part disgust at the game. Replacing Mark was Knox Bardeen.

Bakersfield Blade Coach David Squires left right before the season started, replaced by Tom Bell.

Finally, we lost another coach due to chronic lateness - longtime Iowa Tornado skipper Dennis Derby. He was replaced by Richard Grossman, a friend of Cave Creek Coach Mark Long.

Jeff Perigoni changed his team name from Good News to New Orleans Roosters.

Yao Ming was taken first the draft, by St. Lucie, followed by Amare Staudemire, taken by New Orleans.

We struggled mightily to understand the buggy new Strat-O-Matic Windows Basketball game and we succeeded - the season finished on time on June 5, an amazing feat considering how screwed-up the game was upon its Winter 2003 release. This proved once again that the best Strat basketball coaches in the country are in the SABL. Congratulations coaches, you did another incredible job.

St. Lucie cruised to a record 4th SABL Championship.

And once again, just when you think no more records could be broken, a bunch of them were this year:

Stephon Marbury scored a playoff record 63 points in Game 1 of the SABL Finals against St. Lucie.

Most Points Half - 92 - St. Lucie Aces vs. Galactic, 2003-04

Bettendorf Druids tied the record for fewest free throws made - 0 - in a game at Iowa.

Most Assists Game - 54 - St. Lucie at Galactic

Galactic Thunder tied a record for most turnovers in a game - 44 - in a game at St. Lucie

Most Assists In A Game - 25, John Stockton, St. Lucie Aces at Galactic

And this one will almost certainly never be broken - Most Minutes Played - 3,511 - Allen Iverson, Finney Longhorns, 2003-04. Of course, I said that when this was broken last year, too. It's been broken for three years in a row now.

Most Turnovers In A Game - 13 - Rasheed Wallace, Chapel Hill at Louisiana, 2003-04

East                        WON LOST   PCT   GB  MAGIC#    ACTWON ACTLOST ACTPCT
2003-04 MCLEAN MCL             54  28  .659 ----  *WON*        41      41   .500
2003-04 RICHMOND RIC           45  37  .549  9.0               41      41   .500
2003-04 AKRON AKR              44  38  .537 10.0               41      41   .500
2003-04 IOWA IOW               44  38  .537 10.0               41      41   .500
2003-04 BROOKLYN BRK           36  46  .439 18.0               41      41   .500

North                       WON LOST   PCT   GB  MAGIC#    ACTWON ACTLOST ACTPCT
2003-04 TRI-CITY TRI           43  39  .524 ----  *WON*        41      41   .500
2003-04 QUAD CITY QAD          39  43  .476  4.0               41      41   .500
2003-04 RIVER CITY RIV         37  45  .451  6.0               41      41   .500
2003-04 BETTENDORF BET         21  61  .256 22.0               41      41   .500
2003-04 DAVENPORT DAV          17  65  .207 26.0               41      41   .500

South                       WON LOST   PCT   GB  MAGIC#    ACTWON ACTLOST ACTPCT
2003-04 ST. LUCIE STL          76   6  .927 ----  *WON*        41      41   .500
2003-04 GALACTIC GAL           55  27  .671 21.0               41      41   .500
2003-04 CHAPEL HILL CHA        39  43  .476 37.0               41      41   .500
2003-04 NEW ORLEANS ORL        24  58  .293 52.0               41      41   .500
2003-04 LOUISIANA LOU          22  60  .268 54.0               41      41   .500

West                        WON LOST   PCT   GB  MAGIC#    ACTWON ACTLOST ACTPCT
2003-04 HOLCOMB HOL            60  22  .732 ----  *WON*        41      41   .500
2003-04 CAVE CREEK CAV         53  29  .646  7.0               41      41   .500
2003-04 FINNEY FIN             43  39  .524 17.0               41      41   .500
2003-04 BAKERSFIELD BAK        34  48  .415 26.0               41      41   .500
2003-04 TULSA TUL              34  48  .415 26.0               41      41   .500

FRANCHISE CHANGES: Saginaw Shockwave (Ed Lynes) to Cave Creek Longshots (Mark Long), Miles Bulldogs (Tom Jargo) to Mackinaw Island Menace (Gary Wandezel) to Louisiana Buzz (Phil Russo), Iowa Tornadoes (Dennis Derby) to Richard Grossman, Bettendorf Druids (Mark Feeney) to Knox Bardeen, Bakersfield Blades (David Squires) to Tom Bell

FRANCHISE MOVES: Cave Creek - East to South, Louisiana - East to South, McLean - South to East

ROYAL CONFERENCE - Winner - Tri-City Blackhawks (Chris Feeney) - First time

CLASSIC CONFERENCE - Winner - St. Lucie Aces (Scott Ellis) - Record 5th time

SABL WORLD CHAMPIONS - St. Lucie Aces sweep Tri-City Blackhawks in four games.

2004 SABL Coach of the Year is Charlie Dillingham

His team was gonna make the playoffs, but no one could have guessed that it would win an amazing 60 games and take the West Division by storm. Longtime Holcomb Heat leader Charlie Dillingham is SABL Coach of The Year.

A master trader and strategist, Charlie is always wheeling, dealing and winning. He really enjoys the SABL and Charlie, we enjoy you.

Congratulations!

2004 SABL MVP is St. Lucie's Tim Duncan

In the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, FG% and blocks, tough Tim wins the honor this year, breaking the monopoly Tri-City's Stephon Marbury (3 MVPs in the last 4 years, a record) has had on the award.

2004 SABL All-Stars are chosen

And yes, old Mailman Malone made it one last time. Stockton, too.

Per SABL tradition and protocol, Davenport Dazzler Coach Kevin Feeney will again play the 7-game All-Star series. Starters are listed first.

Classic Conference

PG - Gary Payton, Galactic; John Stockton, St.Lucie

SG - Kobe Bryant, St. Lucie; Allen Iverson, Finney

SF - Paul Pierce, Cave Creek; Michael Jordan, Holcomb

PF - Tim Duncan, St. Lucie; Karl Malone, Galactic

C - Ben Wallace, Holcomb; Shaquille O'Neal, Bakersfield

Royal Conference

PG - Stephon Marbury, Tri-City; Gilbert Arenas, McLean

SG - Tracy McGrady, Iowa; Ray Allen, Akron

SF - Ricky Davis, Tri-City; Reggie Lewis, Quad City

PF - Dirk Nowitski, Richmond; Pau Gasol, Brooklyn

C - Kevin Garnett, Akron; Zydrunas Iliglsaks, Akron

Only one player has been on all 10 SABL All-Star teams - Karl Malone.

EPILOG - I ain't perfect. I've made mistakes in the league, both as a coach and commissioner. But my heart, like all of yours, has and always will be in the right place. I think we've all done much more good than bad. If I screw up, you guys can always kick me in the butt or kick me out.

We have a wonderful league. You made it that way. Let's keep it that way.

Thanks for all you've done and are doing. Good luck and let's keep having fun!