A few places took note of this earlier this week, but it appears that former UNLV Runnin' Rebel and Minnesota Timberwolf Isaiah Rider is set to join the North Texas Fresh of the ABA.  What's that you say, you've never heard of the North Texas Fresh?  Is that a basketball team?  It is.  As much as we have fun with D-League teams for calling themselves the Jam, the Red Claws, the Armor, etc., there is a basketball team out there called "the Fresh."  It's mascot is a gorilla dressed like a 1930s gangster.  It's motto is "Staying Fresh for the Community and Each Other."  And no, I didn't make either of those things up.

Let's find out a little more about the Fresh, the ABA, and what exactly Isaiah Rider has been up to the last eight years, shall we?

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via www.basketball.org.nz

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Well, since the D-League season is over, I figured we might as well start looking at other minor leagues.  Since I have a personal vendetta against the only other domestic minor league going on right now, the IBL - they cut my boy Brandon Smith after averaging 24.3 points and 9.7 boards in the preseason and won't return my calls. Because of this, we're going to focus this blog exclusively on basketball in New Zealand

Psych!

In all actuality, I just found this while perusing the interwebs and thought I'd share it with you.

According to the New Zealand Herald, the New Zealand Breakers have reportedly added potentially the tallest man in professional New Zealand sport to their roster in NZ Tall Blacks centre Alex Pledger.
The 22-year-old stands at a few millimetres over 2.13m (7 foot, 1in) and will return to New Zealand next month after a three-year scholarship with Bellmont Abbey College in North Carolina. He will sign with the Breakers as a development player, according to the Herald's Mike Brown.

Lots of (un?)intentional comedy in just the opening two paragraphs.

A) He currently plays with the New Zealand Tall Blacks?  As my good buddy Scott Woodmansee might say - Really?

2) I enjoy that the opening paragraph is excited that he's potentially the tallest man in professional New Zealand sport.

III) He graduated from the same college as my favorite North Carolinian commenter, IcemanCometh - Bellmont Abbey.  In three years!

• He's going to be a development player.  I'm really surprised that he's not coming in to be a superstar after that premiere basketball background he has put together thus far.

There are a lot of days when I read stuff about minor league basketball and I just can't believe it's real because of how bizarre and awesome. Today's one of those days.

via media.modbee.com

This is T.J. Walker (real name).  He's a former Modesto High star as well as a championship player in England. He recently took over as owner of the ABA's Modesto Bearcats club. He's currently acting as head coach.

And now? Now he's the point guard, too.

That's right.

Owner.

Coach.

Point guard.

If the man takes over as Mascot, he'll officially become one with the concept of basketball and transcend space and time like Dick Clark.

From the press release:

"'As I was talking to the different businesses in the community generating a buzz about the team, the question kept coming up whether I was going to play or not,' Walker added. 'I was enjoying not having to ice every day and all that stuff that  comes with getting in shape for a season, but after considering what my presence on the court would do as far as helping put people in the seats, and the team on the right track for success now and in the future, it was a no brainer.'

 

So the search for an All-Star caliber point-guard is over.  'I guess when you have one at your disposal that is willing to play for free, you have to jump on hi (sic),' Walker quipped with a grin.  With this latest addition to the roster, Walker is confident the Bearcats are going to be more than capable of handling all challengers in the league.  he is equally confident he will be handle to handle his numerous challenges, saying simply, 'We are doing the right thing here.'"