NBA D-League's Bakersfield Jam announce they're "not going to operate anymore"

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 29, 2009 7:52 PM EDT

UPDATE - Official word from the D-League: The current owners of the Jam decided to pursue other interests, but are working closely with the league to find potential new ownership in bakersfield or elsewhere.

Shocking development coming tonight, according to Nick Belardes of FaceBakersfield:

The economic downturn has hit one of Bakersfield's pro sports teams as the NBA D-League's Bakersfield Jam announced on Wednesday that they are ceasing operations.

Team owner Stan Ellis said to Face News, "I wouldn't say we're folding. We're just not going to operate anymore. It's not good business sense."

The team barely got to practice in the state-of-the-art practice facility that was being built on Stan Ellis industrial property located on Norris Road.

With Anaheim already essentially folding (ran by D-League this season before being bought by new Springfield team), Albuquerque laying off all of it's employees, and concerns that D-League champion Colorado 14ers won't be back, this does not seem like a good development for the Development League.

Bakersfield made the playoffs this season, though had the fourth lowest announced attendance, as they averaged 1,889 per game.

The nearly $2 million state-of-the-art practice facility referred to in the article was just completed in March, according to Bakersfield.com. Something from that article stands out to me:

Ellis says the nearly $2 million facility is also proof of the team's commitment to the community. "We want to show season seat holders and sponsors that we will be here long term," Ellis said. "And I think this speaks for itself."

UPDATE from FaceBakersfield again:

Palm said it was discussed to actually put the team up on eBay, but they decided not to. Costello then joked that if nothing was nailed down for Palm to steal as much merchandise as possible, especially the Swish costume.

I love this, as I have about 90 Minot SkyRockets keychains in a box, because that was the only thing not cleaned out of my office when I learned we had folded.

Also, check out TNIAAM for a great screen cap. Great.

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When asked for comment

the dance team member in the middle said “that’s okay, I’m starting high school next year anyway so I’d have less free time.”

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, where we think Trey Gilder could be the steal of the draft.

by Jon L on Apr 29, 2009 7:57 PM EDT reply actions

I was going to do something like that

But more along the lines of “at least we know they didn’t spend all of their money on the dance team or it’s uniforms..”

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 29, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes

I was thinking that they could get away with D league play if they had A league dancers but I guess that horse has been thoroughly beaten…

So Scott, there’s plenty of room this summer to cover the WNBA with me

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by Seth Pollack on Apr 29, 2009 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm pretty sure that entire dance team...

was comprised of mail order brides. Which actually seems to have worked out better than the Iowa Energy dance team.

by Aisander D on Apr 29, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Even the blonde?

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 29, 2009 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions

That is probably the worst picture I have ever seen

And I’m hideous

by JRose on Apr 29, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions

This is known...

Check the comments here.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 29, 2009 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions

She's probably Ukrainian....

or Turkish with a terrible dye job. I’m voting Turkish.

by Aisander D on Apr 29, 2009 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

The D-League is fine

This looks ugly, but won’t turn out terribly.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 29, 2009 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the Asian one is cute.

Someone find out more about her n post it

"The match in Los Angeles is a good opportunity to begin to demonstrate that we want to make war." Rudy Fernández (translated)

by G_dubs on May 6, 2009 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm kind of sad the Jam is closing shop

Swish was one of my favorite "mascots who don’t actually represent the team name in anyway.’

by Aisander D on Apr 29, 2009 8:17 PM EDT reply actions

Haha

Me too. Who takes top spot? I say either Idaho or Sioux Falls…

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 29, 2009 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow, the California teams aren’t doing so well.

I guess in the long run this will make the league stronger even though it looks bad right now.

by TorosGirl on Apr 29, 2009 8:26 PM EDT reply actions

Damn the economy is no joke

The league is going to be back down to 12 teams or something? I sure hope not.

by hkf on Apr 29, 2009 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

We're adding two

and have dropped two thus far. Seems might be around 15…

As TorosGirl said, this will make the league stronger down the road..

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 29, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Potentially 14, by my count

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, where we think Trey Gilder could be the steal of the draft.

by Jon L on Apr 29, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

14 at worst

Surprised this came out before Colorado though. Maybe they’ve got something happening.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 29, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Now what is Mateen Cleaves going to do

It seemed like he belonged on that team!!!

by Aisander D on Apr 29, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully

He opens up the blackjack stash and buys the Jam, becoming a modern day Jackie Moon.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 29, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions

And then he coaches it

becoming the modern day Bill Russell. And then after each game in which, as player/coach/owner, he has taken at least 30 shots and logged 40 minutes, Mateen will sit back with some womens and drink cranberry and vodkas into the wee morning hours. And everyone lived happily ever after.

by Aisander D on Apr 29, 2009 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions

What's stopping this?

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 29, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Good news for the Bakersfield YMCA

…because they are going to pick up a heck of a basketball facility for next to nothing.

Although I was surprised to read this, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. First and foremost, the DLeague needs owners that know how to operate a minor league franchise and have the pockets to hire the people they need and withstand any short term financial hits.

Trying to figure out in hindsight where the $2 million practice facility fit in to the equation, clearly it didn’t.

I thought Bakersfield was a good DLeague fit, namely in that they have a decent, size, isolated population base and their basketball competition (CSBU) is transitioning from D2 athletics to D1.

Hopefully someone local, that has the wherewithal and the local connections, will buy it and life can go on. Otherwise D-Rizzle and team should get off the expansion program and get back on making what teams they have work by getting them in the hands of people that know what they are doing.

Clearing out the bad timber is good for the long run, but the league really needs to be proactive here. Until it gets done and gets some miles behind it, its not good for the league.

Any word on Colo or ABQ?

by Rumble on Apr 30, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions