FROM COMMISSIONER SCOTT ELLIS, 2ND AMER. BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Fiendish Ellis wins
The 1997 SABL champion is me. I defeated Steve Walters in Game 5, 130-115. The only game Steve won against me all season was Game 4, when he topped me 109-106.
Congratulations to Steve and everyone else for getting through a wild 1996-97 season.
Our website address
Our website address is webpages.metrolink.net/~myril
Who’s trading?
Scott trades C. Robinson & Reeves to Robinson for Weatherspoon.
Ellis trades Rose to Smith for Danilovic
League realignment
Now that we have a full and stable boat of coaches for next season, it’s time to decide where everyone is playing next season. Per the Constitution, geography is the key, so here’s the new divisional alignment for 1997-98:
West
Seattle Chieftains
Bettendorf Druids
Davenport Dazzlers
C. Feeney
Tulsa Twisters
East
Nick South
Eric Everage
Carbondale Young Punks
Frank Rowley
Akron Blimps
South
St. Lucie Aces
Galactic Thunder
Finney Longhorns
Holcomb Heat
Leon Rogers
North
Tom Gantert
Michigan Panthers
Bill Robinson
Jeff Stahl
Brooklyn Tigers
Dues & roster cuts
Yep, it’s time to be thinking about your $20 annual SABL dues and roster cuts. Aug. 15 is the deadline for both. Note that this is not a trading deadline, it’s a "14-player max deadline." You may continue to trade right up until draft day, as long as you don’t exceed 14 players on your team. You can keep track of who’s available to draft, who owns what draft picks and who’s on what roster by checking out our website. If you’re not on the Internet now, I highly recommend getting on to keep up with the latest SABL news.
You may cut as many guys as you want to. However many players you cut, you can draft. Or, if you wish, you can cut players in anticipation of trading back up to 14 players before the Oct. 11 draft. In any case, by Aug. 15 you must be down to 14 players or less and right after the Oct. 11 draft you must have 14 players on the nose.
The phone draft will start at noon on Saturday, Oct. 11. It will be over by 5 pm. Check the Constitution for how it will be run. If you can’t be available by phone on that day, send me a paper draft list. If I don’t get any instructions from you and you can’t be reached by phone, I’ll draft for you.
Rosters on website
Beginning this month, I’ll be posting everyone’s rosters and draft picks. It’ll become a constantly updated feature.
All-Star Balloting
Send me your choices for our East vs. West All-Star game, which will be played late due to my vacation, which is now over. Vote for players within your own conference. Send me four choices at the guard and forward positions and two choices at center.
For example, vote for Anthony, Pack, Miller & Jordan at guard; Malone, Laettner, Mourning & Barkley at forward and Shaq and D. Robinson at center. I need your votes by July 31.
Another Frank?
Let’s all welcome new coach Frank Pennylegion, who takes over Mike Rodgriguez’ team. Frank’s address is 1819 10th Ave. West #202, Seattle, WA 98119, Phone: 206-285-7336. Email is penny@halcyon.com.
Frank says he’s ready for the trade wars, so why don’t you call him up and challenge him.
Tentative draft order
The latest report:
Name your teams now
Team names so far for next year:
Ellis – St. Lucie Aces
M. Feeney – Bettendorf Druids
C. Dillingham – Holcomb Heat
D. Dillingham – Finney Longhorns
K. Feeney – Davenport Dazzlers
Steve Walters – Galactic Thunder
Phil Creider – Tulsa Twisters
John Smith – Carbondale Young Punks
Steve Feldheim – Brooklyn Tigers
Bill Traxler – Michigan Panthers
Dave Scott – Akron Blimps
Frank Pennylegion – Seattle Chieftains
We’re in Strat Fan!
If you haven’t already, check out the article SABL member Dave Scott wrote in the June 1997 Strat Fan about SOM leagues on the Internet. Our league was featured and Dave did a fine job in explaining how leagues are moving to the World Wide Web. Thanks Dave! Dave does a lot of work every issue putting Strat Fan together and all of SOM should thank him for that, too.
I’ll get you that article someday, Dave, I promise!
Thanks for everything
That’s all for now. I really want to thank all of you for joining and sticking with the SABL. The best is yet to come.