A coach, a game, a roster ... maybe
We're not sure yet what's drawing us to any of the information being released about the creation of the Hollywood Fame, the newest team of the new and somewhat improved American Basketball Assocation. Everything that's ever happened to ABA teams in these parts have been a here today, gone later today experience.
Maybe the fact this organization has some B-list juice behind it -- Nick Lachey, Stacy Keibler, et. al. -- and seeing as how they'll all try to angle for the "Jack Nicholson" courtside seat once games begin next month.
Actually, the team begins (according to the schedule now posted on its website) with eight road games before playing for the first time at home -- the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium -- on Dec. 15 against something called the Big Valley Shockwave (based in that sports hotbed of Turlock).
The Santa Monica Civic -- known more for hosting flea markets, bead shows, pet conventions and the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra, as well as Bruce Springsteen concerts in 1973, '74 and '76 when he was eventually on his "Born To Run" tour -- is actually a palace compared to some of the "home courts" listed by a few of these ABA teams. The Fresno Heatwave plays at the Kastner Intermediate School. Many other teams play at a local high school gym. The franchise in Tijuana, Mexico, plays in something called the Municipal Auditorium. Perhaps, after the local cockfight matches are done.
Tuesday, the Fame announced its new coach -- Don Casey (pictured above), he of an 85-153 record overall with the Clippers (part of '88-89 and all of '89-90 season) and New Jersey (part of '98-99 and all of '99-00). The hiring was pretty easy for Fame general manager Mike Casey -- Don is his dad.
As for players, the site says the final roster will be determined on Halloween -- pretty scary -- and the list of names they've got to consider include former UCLA guard Billy Knight (pictured right, who also had a stint with the Harlem Globetrotters), former Pepperdine center Nick Sheppard, and a bunch of other names even the most astute hoops experts wouldn't recognize.
“I am looking forward to the journey at this stage of my coaching career,� Casey said in a press release. “This will be an interesting adventure and I hope to be a part of bringing the ABA back to a level where the players benefit by being in this league. This is an excellent forum for players that still have some juice left. Hopefully we can expose them and allow them to move on to the next level while at the same time playing good basketball.�
That's all anyone can hope at this point.