Boise, Idaho to Host 2010 D-League Showcase

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 9, 2009 5:28 AM EDT in D-League News Comment 27 comments

JamesOn Curry, pre-sweet afro, post peeing outside in Boise two seasons ago.

I'm not the biggest fan of this, as it would have been lovely to have it in Bismarck (in case I get a regular job and never get to leave this lovely metropolis), but I guess I can deal. I mean, I nearly drove 10 hours to Iowa today for a regular season D-League game (My lack of sleep just wouldn't allow me to make the trip - it told me about 20 minutes ago - even though Iowa was going to make me feel important and get me a credential! I owe you, Mr. Makris!)

Anyway, on to the good stuff - They've hosted the Showcase before which is a positive. They apparently have a hotel connected to the arena, which is another positive. I believe Matthew Brennan broke my favorite ever D-League story there - Marat Kogut is a magician when not reffing D-League games.

Now, on to the negatives - It's cold. It's not a cheap flight. People get in trouble there. Yes, in Boise, Idaho. If you'll think back two short seasons ago, Boise started the demise of current Iowa Energy guard JamesOn Curry's career. He was going through the motions of being an NBA-assigned player, and boom went the dynamite. He left a bar, peed on a building, ran from an officer, locked himself in his hotel room, was arrested for fleeing, and shortly thereafter, released from the Chicago Bulls.

The NBA would never have the All-Star game in Vegas again; why is the D-League going back to Boise?

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Showcase Boise - why it is coming back

- If run right it must be a money-maker. It would not be back here if it wasn’t
- I think I remember reading this “Showcase” program was the brainchild of the ex-CBA teams, so at the end of the day it is theirs to deal with.
- The hotel and arena are indeed connected and toasty warm in the winter
- The airport is close to the arena
- Surprisingly a lot of flights into Boise and with advanced purchases, not that expensive
- At least compared to the other Boise teams and other minor league teams I have seen, the Stampede have a really, really good production staff that can handle the logistics of something like this over and above their regular duties
- Experience

And for the most important reason…
- A PF Changs is one block away from the arena and Boise also has a Cheesecake Factory! Changs + Cheesecake Factory = NBA ready

I will be speaking with our local Budweiser rep to print up some JamesOn “Go Cups” for the first 500 fans at the arena.

People are forever confusing ~~Idaho and Iowa~~, Boise and Vegas so I can understand the concern. Trust me, we will make sure our alley ways are well marked.

Rumble

by Rumble on Apr 9, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Showcase

It’s not the CBA’s – thought that yesterday, but it was in Utah this year, and it started as the MLK Showcase two years pre-CBA infusion.

Otherwise, I’m not really down on this – just wish the D was able to cater to me a bit more. With all this positive coverage, couldn’t they come here? Me and Matt Brennan learning the background of Ben Taylor? Heaven.

Big ups on the restaurant choices, though. That’s why Boise got it. Bismarck boasts the Golden Corral and Space Aliens.

I do like the entire staff of Boise I converse with though, so bully Idaho! (Theodore Roosevelt reference, North Dakota’s own)

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 9, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is this what you had in mind Rumble?

First 500 get one free. Last 50 get arrested.

by Aisander D on Apr 9, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hate to pick nits..

But wouldn’t this be more relevant with the ’fro now?

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 9, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No You're Right

I couldn’t find a high quality JamesOn Fro shot.

by Aisander D on Apr 9, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry

Blame it on Iowa’s futurecast. I hope it’s great tonight.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 9, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah let me know if you get any good screenshots

by Aisander D on Apr 9, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll do my best

But am a bit worried he just picked it out for 80’s night, when he mixed up his decades. We’ll see though.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 9, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is it...

…a vessel taking liquids out of and then potentially putting “re-formatted” liquids back in.

Might need to throw in a lid.

Rumble

by Rumble on Apr 9, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll work on it for you Rumble

by Aisander D on Apr 9, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would like to see Iowa or Fort Wayne get a shot.

Or even RGV. They all have great fan support and getting to see multiple teams play would be nice. No disrespect to the Idaho faithful, but spread it around.

by hkf on Apr 9, 2009 4:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd be interested to see what the requirements are..

But preferably, I’d like to see Dakota get a shot. They’ve been around for 15 years next season, which is an eternity for minor league bball..

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 9, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But let's be honest

the coolest place to have it would be Austin. I’m sure they’ve got a Cheesecake Factory

by Aisander D on Apr 9, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

People get in trouble in Austin

Let’s just keep it simple, keep it safe, keep it lovely.

If scouts come to Bismarck and see what these guys are sacrificing to get in the D-League, I think there’ll be more call-ups, if only out of pity.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 9, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But think of the great bar scene....

too bad for Mateen and JamesOn. No more valour jumpsuits and pbulic urination. What’s our world coming to?

by Aisander D on Apr 9, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought about this

but several businesses shut down during the Texas Relays, so I’m not sure how well they’d handle a basketball tournament.

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, where we knew who Mike Taylor was before you did.

by Jon L on Apr 9, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The number one requirement is...

…the franchise has got to want it because it is a hell of a lot of work for ownership and the staff.

Boise also has good logistics. You might think Utah had the same going for them last year…but the Salt Lakeairport is a ways away from where they play in Orem and the hotel(s) were several miles away, off campus. Couple that with typical winter weather and you are going to have logistical problems. Boise is compact enough where that gets mitigated somewhat.

My understanding is that the teams have to apply to host it and not many teams do. Austin would be perfect (not just cause of the Cheesecake Factory angle), nice weather and a happin’ city – Reno would be excellent as well (I think their arena is considered to be in the downtown casino area).

Bottom line: I have a hard time thinking that an NBA owned team would volunteer for the work and that a newer franchise would think twice about stretching themselves for something that is a ton of work and that isn’t going to make them a ton of money. So the volunteer list must be few – and as long as it is not a money loser our ownership group (bless their hoop lovin’ hearts) will have the Stampede on it.

Rumble

by Rumble on Apr 9, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

All good points

And all I’d heard before, just didn’t want to bring so much logic.

The thing I liked about Bismarck, and they did apply, is we have two courts in our arena, so there could have been 2 games going on at once, or practice etc.

Airports obviously close, plenty of hotels and not many tourists so there’d be room.

It is quite a bit of work, which makes sense to me that 3 of the 4 showcases will be held in the CBA-cities.
Work ethic. Love it.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 9, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs