Rainmen-Mill Rats Game Preview with Saint John GM and President, Ian McCarthy

by Romy Aquino

For the first time in the National Basketball League of Canada season, the Halifax Rainmen (2-2) face off against their old Maritime rivals, the Saint John Mill Rats (2-3).  Led by NBL leading scorer, Anthony Anderson (20.0 ppg), the Mill Rats have strung together a couple of wins after starting off the season with three straight losses. The Rainmen and Mill Rats have a history dating back to the ABA days and will now face off again in the National Basketball League of Canada on Friday night in Halifax.

Ian McCarthy is the GM and President of the Mill Rats and has been a member of the team since its inception in Manchester.  The Saint John Mill Rats had a successful season last year in their inaugural season in Saint John, bringing a professional basketball team to New Brunswick.  I had a chance to talk to Ian about the Mill Rats, the new league and all the internet buzz about Matt Bonner playing for Saint John.

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Romy (Sportstream.ca): First off, you have been with the Mill Rats organization throughout three basketball leagues: the ABA, the PBL and now the National Basketball League of Canada. We're a few weeks into the season, what has been your impression of this new league? 


Ian McCarthy: This league has been great so far. Very competitive and some really exciting games only two weeks in. I believe we already had two overtime games. The response from fans and first time viewers has been a resounding 'thumbs up' on the product.

Romy (Sportstream.ca): What types of improvements have you seen with this league in comparison to the leagues the Mill Rats have been with before? 


Ian McCarthy: As far as ownership and management of the teams and league, it has been no comparison. Its light years ahead. We are all treating this like a major league because that is its potential. We don't even want the word 'minor' to be used when mentioning this level of basketball because of the negative connotations that the U.S. based minor leagues have caused.

We are enjoying the faster pace of the FIBA rules for one. Secondly the officiating, for the most part, has been really sound. In the prior leagues teams were spread out so much that due to cost, you almost always had hometown officials. In this league they are rotated around pretty well. And teams in this league take our league mandates very seriously. Everyone handles their business whether it's being a great host to a visiting team, or keeping a website up to date, we are all doing it.

Romy (Sportstream.ca): This Friday will mark the first matchup between one of the Mill Rats' arch rivals, the Halifax Rainmen. Based on your knowledge of this year's Rainmen roster, what will be some of the biggest challenges the Mill Rats will face on Friday? 


Ian McCarthy: Despite all of the early season changes, the Rainmen have assembled a formidable roster. Coach Salerno from Summerside texted me after their last game that 'Orien Greene is the best player in the League.' And that was after seeing him play just once. I was a fan of Greene's the year he played with the Celtics. Joey Haywood has been impressive earning Player of the Week honours so quickly. So we definitely have our work cut out for us.

Romy (Sportstream.ca): Your Mill Rats had a rocky start going 0-3, but are now on a two-game win streak including a win over the tough London Lightning, who have been some of the highlight players on this year's roster? 


Ian McCarthy: We did have a rocky start but it really feels like there is so much parity in this League that any team can win on any given night. So just like in the games there a series of runs each team will make, so too with the wins and losses. We were still a confident team after starting 0-3. Antoine Tisby's ability to dominate has been the biggest surprise. Our lineups have evolved to give him room to operate. Steve Deluca has materialized from walk on, to bench player, to starter, and is now bordering on playing at an all-star type level. And of course our starting backcourt has been amazing with Will Blalock and Anthony Anderson. For Anthony to have fully recovered from the achilles injury he suffered at the Metro Centre on Mar 31 so quickly is great to see.

Romy (Sportstream.ca): There has been a lot of buzz this week about Matt Bonner exploring other playing opportunities, including the Saint John Mill Rats. Briefly explain Matt Bonner's connection to the Mill Rats. 


Ian McCarthy: Matt grew up near Manchester, NH with David Cooper. He is, in fact, the only player from the Granite State to ever make the NBA. His brother, Luke, played briefly for us in 2010 and Matt's foundation was a team sponsor when we were in Manchester.

Romy (Sportstream.ca): Having Matt Bonner play in the NBL would provide such a positive impact to the reputation and notoriety of the league. In your opinion, is this playing opportunity a realistic option for Matt Bonner? 


Ian McCarthy: I can't speculate accurately about whether he will play in the NBL Canada yet. Its something that's been discussed. Two barriers had been insurance for his contract and his role with the NBA Players Association. With the dissolution of the union those may or may not still be barriers. But the door is certainly open.

Romy (Sportstream.ca): Finally, with the NBA season looking bleak, do you anticipate more highly-skilled players with NBA/NBA D-League-type talent exploring playing opportunities with the NBL? 


Ian McCarthy: Like Andre, we are in talks with a number of current and former NBA players, to gauge their interest in playing. It has been surprising the number of really high-level players have reached out to our league already. Of course, Halifax seems to have the market cornered with former NBA players recently!

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Find out more about the Mill Rats at their official website. 


Thanks goes out to Ian McCarthy for taking part in our Rainmen-Mill Rats game preview, catch the Maritime rivals, Halifax Rainmen and Saint John Mill Rats at the Halifax Metro Centre on Friday night.  Catch the live feed here on Sportstream.ca!

Photo courtesy of the Saint John Mill Rats

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the National Basketball League of Canada including the Halifax Rainmen, the NBA/Toronto Raptors) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blog, Hip Hoop Junkies and writing about the NBL/Rainmen at NorthPoleHoops.com.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Talkin' Hoops with Halifax Rainmen forward, Josh Dollard

One of the top offensive weapons on this Halifax Rainmen squad this season has been forward, Josh Dollard.  The Auburn alumni has been the leading scorer for the Halifax Rainmen at 16.9 ppg but his scoring has been blowing up even more over this past week.  Dollard put up a season-high 38 points against the Saint John Mill Rats last Friday and then followed up that performance with 31 points against the Quebec Kebs.  His impressive week was enough to earn Josh PBL Player of the Week honours.  Even Rainmen CEO and President, Andre Levingston, praised Josh's game in the Rainmen's latest press release. 

"He’s been working very hard and is extremely focused on becoming a better player. I believe he will one day have the opportunity to play in the NBA – he’s that good.” said Levingston.

Dollard and the Rainmen are back in Halifax this weekend after a month-long road trip and will face off against the Quebec Kebs on Saturday.  I got the chance to catch up with Josh Dollard and talked a little about his playing style, his thoughts on this season's Rainmen team, the use of social media for basketball players and his TV-watching habits.

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Romy (Haligonia.ca): So Josh, how happy were you when your Auburn Tigers won the BCS title earlier this year? Did Tajuan Porter eat his bowl of snow? (Note: Josh and Oregon alum, Tajuan Porter had  a friendly bet on the BCS Championship) 


Josh Dollard:  No he didn't... (laughs) but I was very excited that we won. I went to that school and I have a lot of friends on that football team. I was very happy for them.

Romy (Haligonia.ca):  This is your first year playing with the Halifax Rainmen, how have you adjusted to living in Canada? Was it a big change for you (being from South Carolina)? 


Josh Dollard: It wasn't too too much of a big change because I'm used to traveling so much as a basketball player - I am still adjusting to the cold weather though, but that's about it.

Romy (Haligonia.ca):  For those Rainmen fans who aren't familiar with your playing style, what kind of game do you bring to the Rainmen? Let's hear the scouting report on what type of player you are.


Josh Dollard:  I'm a very verasitile player, I like to mix it up. I can play inside, outside, I can run the floor, and I can score from the free throw line, rebound and block shots. With those versatilities in my game, I'd say I can bring a lot of different things to the Rainmen team.


Romy (Haligonia.ca): What NBA player do you try to model your game after? 


Josh Dollard: I wouldn't say I model my game after one player in particular, but I do try to take something from each of the greats. I model various parts of my game after a lot of the top players, such as Lebron, Carmelo, Kobe and Dwyane Wade. I think to be a great player you should try and take something from everyone - that's how I make my game versatile.


Romy (Haligonia.ca):  Being a player that's trying to break into the NBA, how much does the internet (Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, etc.) help a player's marketing in this day and age? 


Josh Dollard: At my stage (in the minors) I don't think it helps me too much. I think that's reserved for the guys in the NBA, to really have a strong marketing or social media plan. For me, my focus is just on grinding and getting better, and hopefully getting people at the NBA level to look at me so I can have the chance to prove myself... I'd say internet marketing definitely helps the superstars more than it would help someone at my stage.


Romy (Haligonia.ca):  I did a little research, you're from a small town named Hemingway, South Carolina. Tell us little bit about the famous Barbecue Shag Festival that's held in Hemingway every year. 


Josh Dollard: It's all about the barbecue! They have a lot of different things at the festival. Different groups of people will bring different things to the barbecue, such as recipes. They have rides for the kids and all types of different entertainment. It's just like a big fair.

Romy (Haligonia.ca): When you played ball at Auburn, how often did Auburn alumni, Charles Barkley, come by the school when you were there?


Josh Dollard:  He was there two or three times when I was there. I've only ever talked to him myself maybe once... he came to a game when we played Kentucky but that was it, really.


Romy (Haligonia.ca):  Lastly, when it comes to TV, what is your taste in television? Are you a sitcom kind of guy....reality TV...Jersey Shore...Real Housewives...what kind of TV shows are you into? 


Josh Dollard:  The only thing I watch is ESPN, NBA TV and BET!
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Shoutouts goes out to Josh Dollard for taking part in our Q and A, be sure to check him out at the Metro Centre on Saturday when the Halifax Rainmen take on the Quebec Kebs, tip off at 1pm!  Also, be sure to check Josh on Twitter (@Josh_Dollard3).  


Check out previous Rainmen-related Q and A's from this season:
Desmond "Moneyball" Ferguson

Photos courtesy of the Halifax Rainmen

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blog, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and writing about the PBL/Rainmen at NorthPoleHoops.com.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

RAPS TALK - The Weekly Audio Podcast

Based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia, RAPS TALK presented by Hip Hoop Junkies and Hoop Heads North  is a weekly audio podcast with Romy Aquino, Sean Francois and U-E Sampang that breaks down the Toronto Raptors and the rest of the NBA along with Canadian Basketball from a fan's perspective. 


On the latest episode of RAPS TALK:


Episode 10 of RAPS TALK (03.01.11) - In this episode, the Raps Talk crew welcome another guest to the podcast, Raptors blogger/vlogger, Payal Doshi of insidethepurpleroom.com.  The guys of Hip Hoop Junkies and Hoop Heads North talk to Payal about her trip to LA and her NBA All-Star weekend experience, her thoughts on the Raptors and what went down with this year's NBA trade deadline.

Also, joining the podcast, was Ray Bala (@canballreport on Twitter) Canadian basketball enthusiast of RaptorsHQ.com. Ray talked about a few Canadian ballers to watch out for this week, the best high school players in the country and who he thought would be the face of Canada Basketball. Romy, Sean and U-E talked to Ray about former Halifax Rainmen player, Jevohn Shepherd; Pictou, Nova Scotia native, Bucknell's Bryson Johnson and the other top Canadian basketball players from across the country.


Click the link below to listen:
Hip Hoop Junkies and Hoop Heads North present RAPS TALK Ep. 10 (03.01.2011)

Make sure you subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blog, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and writing about the PBL/Rainmen at NorthPoleHoops.com.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

The Halifax Rainmen Community's Serious and Not So Serious Superbowl Picks

written by Romy Aquino

Well, it's that time of the season with Superbowl XLV around the corner.  Big Ben and his Pittsburgh Steelers roll into Dallas, Texas to face off against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers this Sunday evening.  The Packers are the favourites to take the trophy, but I asked some of the Rainmen players, front office staff and Sportstream.ca's Rainmen crew, who they thought would take Sunday's game.  I gotta tell ya, I got a mixed bag of serious and not-so-serious picks, but definitely entertaining predictions to say the least.

Boo Jackson, Halifax Rainmen Centre: "Black and Yellow Baby....That's all it's gonna be, a blowout.  I'm going 31 to about 16.  A real a**-whoopin'.  Excuse my language."

Marshall Brown, Halifax Rainmen Forward: "The Cowboys"

Kavon Jones, Halifax Rainmen Forward:  "Packers."

Mike Evans Jr., Halifax Rainmen Assistant Coach: "Steelers, all day."

Jad Crnogorac, Rainmen VP Player and Community Relations: "I think the Miami Dolphins are going to win."

Shaun "Mavs" Gillis, Sportstream.ca's voice of the Halifax Rainmen: "I like the Steelers to beat Green Bay by 4 and I give a lot of the credit to that Pittsburgh has been there and done that and just have that experince edge."

Nicole Moore, Rainmen Team Lead of Sales: "Green Bay?  I don't know..."

Romy Aquino, Rainmen Blogger for Sportstream.ca and Northpolehoops.com: "Indirectly the Steelers are the better team....beating the Jets, who were responsible for the beatdown of both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.  Pittsburgh with the win 27-21."

Ryan Chute, Halifax Rainmen Director of Sales: "The Dayton Triangles ....look it up, google it....the Dayton Triangles...they were the very first team in the league.....ever....in the National Football League.  Dayton Traingles.  They get my vote" 

Jillian Blackman, Halifax Rainmen Director of Marketing and PR:  "I pick Green Bay because I think Ben Roethlisberger is creepy."

Ryan Dickison, Sportstream.ca Rainmen Colour Analyst: "Steelers 23-20, Pitt's been there, done that. Pack looked real stale in the second half against da Bears. Big Ben needs everyone to forget about him goin' around rapin' people so he needs this more than anybody (just like Kobe).."

John Bowe, Halifax Rainmen Communications and Marketing Assistant: "I think the Steelers and not the Packers because they suck!"

Dereck Hubley, Halifax Rainmen Team Lead of Sales: "Definitely Pittsburgh.  It's going to be 24-20, Pittsburgh over Green Bay."

Vince Williams, Sportstream.ca Rainmen Colour Analyst:  "The Falcons 45-24, I wish! The Pack will get it done 24-21, the Rodgers and D-drive show.  The Pack defense will get to Big Ben! But don't forget the Falcons, go MATTY ICE - 2011.  YES!"


Dewey, Halifax Rainmen In-Game Intern: "Green Bay!"


Bill McLean, Sportstream.ca Rainmen Colour Analyst: "Packers 28 Steelers 24. Big Ben makes his first Super Bowl mistake that leads to a Packers touchdown in the final minutes. Aaron Rodgers is named MVP, finally completely distancing himself from the shadow of Brett Favre."

Frankie Hollywood, 101.3 The Bounce and Rainmen In-Game Entertainment: "Green Bay, all the way!"

Let's tally up the scores:


Pittsburgh: 7
Green Bay: 7
Other Ridiculous Answers: 3

There you have it...we're split down the middle between the Packers and Steelers with the Dayton Triangles, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins with the slim chance to pull out a miracle.  We'll see after Sunday night, which one of these hoop heads know their football.  A huge thanks to Jillian Blackman for compiling the Rainmen player/front office responses.

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blog, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and writing about the PBL/Rainmen at NorthPoleHoops.com.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Rainmen-Mill Rats Game Preview with Saint John President and GM, Ian McCarthy

by Romy Aquino

Saturday night will mark the beginning of a professional basketball rivalry here in the Maritimes.  The Mill Rats PBL franchise moved from Manchester, New Hampshire to Saint John, New Brunswick during this past offseason and by location alone, the team is an ideal rival for the Halifax Rainmen.

The start of this rivalry will begin on Saturday evening when the Halifax Rainmen (4-2) take on the Saint John Mill Rats (2-3) at the Halifax Metro Centre (7:00 PM AST) and will be the first regular season matchup between the two Maritime teams.  A few notable players on the Mill Rats roster include former Halifax Rainmen guard, Eric Gilchrese, and Canadian talents: UNB alumni, Mike Anderson and Toronto native, Jeff Ferguson.

Ian McCarthy is the President and General Manager of the Saint John Mill Rats and has been with the team since its inception in 2007.  I had the chance to preview Saturday night's Rainmen-Mill Rats matchup with Ian, discussed the new additions to the Mill Rats roster and got his thoughts on the now defunct PBL franchise, the Vermont Frost Heaves.

* * *

Romy (Haligonia.ca): First off, how has the move of the Mill Rats from Manchester to Saint John been so far? 


Ian McCarthy: The move has been an incredible experience. Harbour Station is an amazing venue, so the presentation to the fans, and the experience for the players is first class.

Romy (Haligonia.ca):  What has the response been like in the Saint John community?

Ian McCarthy:  The fan response and the community response has been great. We have over 2,000 season tickets and have averaged 4,000 fans per game thus far, compared with 500 or less last season in Manchester.


Romy (Haligonia.ca): The weekend will be the beginning of a new rivalry between the Halifax Rainmen and the Saint John Mill Rats, what is the scoop with this new “Rogers Fan Cup” and also the friendly wager between the mayors of the two cities?


Ian McCarthy: The Fan Cup Challenge is basically a competition that Andre (Levingston) and I discussed doing and it has grown into a friendly wager between the Mayors. It's a way to allow the fans of each team to compete directly with each other, in addition to the teams playing each other.

We're looking forward to the Mayor Kelly wearing a Mill Rats jersey to a Council Meeting this spring!


Romy (Haligonia.ca): In your opinion, what will be the biggest challenge for the Mill Rats when they face off against Halifax on Saturday?


Ian McCarthy: The biggest challenge we will have Saturday is playing together with our roster changes. (Tyrelle) Blair is a new addition and (Marc) Egerson is probably not going to play due to a lower leg strain. If we can play our brand of basketball and get contributions from our new guys, we should be fine.


Romy (Haligonia.ca): Let’s hear the scouting report on some on the newest guys on the Mill Rats roster: Rob Diggs, Ross Demasi and Tyrelle Blair. What do they bring to the Mill Rats?


Ian McCarthy: Diggs had a great first game (23 points, 9 rebounds). He's athletic, runs the court, and has good post moves. Blair is a shot blocker and inside presence. We acquired the rights to Demasi but we have not signed him yet and he will not be in uniform on Saturday.


Romy (Haligonia.ca): In other PBL news, the Mill Rats former arch rivals (when they were back in Manchester), the Vermont Frost Heaves, folded this week. What was your initial reaction when you heard the news? 


Ian McCarthy: We were all aware as a league that Vermont was in a fragile condition financially and we decided to give them a chance to play this year due to their history and their value as a rival and as a travel partner. So it wasn't a huge surprise. I think in hindsight we could have provided them with more guidance as to how to manage the budget they did have and the pitfalls of minor league sports. They were fans after all and really wanted to win badly as well.

Romy (Haligonia.ca):  How does this affect your team going forward?


Ian McCarthy:  It really hasn't affected us other than rescheduling one home and one road game, and we get to play Quebec and Halifax in the additional games.


Romy (Haligonia.ca): Will there be a friendly wager between you and Andre Levingston in this new Maritime rivalry?


Ian McCarthy: Good question! Its not something we've discussed because we've both been tending to our team's business everyday, but perhaps we can think of something!

* * *

Thanks goes out to Ian McCarthy for taking part in the Rainmen-Mill Rats game preview, catch the Maritime rivals, Halifax Rainmen and Saint John Mill Rats at the Halifax Metro Centre on Saturday night.  Catch it live online here on Haligonia.ca!

Photo courtesy of the Saint John Mill Rats

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blog, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and writing about the PBL/Rainmen at NorthPoleHoops.com.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Breaking Down The Boxscore - BLUEGRASS STALLIONS 99, RAINMEN 89

BLUEGRASS STALLIONS 99, RAINMEN 89
Rainmen Record:  4W-2L
After blowing out the Kentucky Bluegrass Stallions 115-83 last Friday, the Rainmen were looking to repeat that performance when they made the road trip to Kentucky.  But on Sunday afternoon, that wasn't the case.  Going in shorthanded without head coach Les Berry, Eric Crookshank and an injured Desmond Ferguson, the Stallions proved that they were a better team than they were a week ago in Halifax.  Led by their leading scorer, Kenny Jones, the Stallions' forward scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.  The Stallions were active on the glass, outrebounding Halifax 58-51 which included 25 offensive boards.

For Halifax, Mike Mercer was moved out of the starting lineup in favour of Tommy Mitchell in Sunday's game.  Mercer, who was the Rainmen leading scorer going into Sunday's game struggled for Halifax, scoring just 4 points (2-10).  Halifax had problems handling the ball, turning the basketball over 26 times.

Kentucky had a 76-74 lead with seven minutes to play in the fourth but it was the second half play of Jason McLeish that was an integral part of the Stallions strong finish.  McLeish, scored all of his 18 points in the second half for the Stallions.  The game was still in reach for Halifax until 1:26 to play, when Jason McLeish stole a Rainmen pass that led to an Aubrey White basket and a foul, to put the Stallions up ten to seal the game.

Some Key Stats:

• Glaring Stat of the Night:  Rainmen could have really used Eric Crookshank on Sunday, Kentucky had 25 offensive boards and outrebounded Halifax 58-51
• Stallions Player of the Game (based on the boxscore):  Kenny Jones 20 points (8-14), 14 rebounds (8 offensive)
• Shoutouts to the Rainmen: Kavon Jones 20 points (9-11), 13 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals
• The New Guy:  Former NBA player, Kirk Snyder, made his Rainmen debut and scored 0 points (0-3) and grabbed 2 rebounds in 10 minutes of play
• The Standings: The Rainmen move to a 4-2 record while the Stallions move to 4-3 

Post Game Links:

Halifax Chronicle-Herald

""We made a push and took the lead in the third quarter but we had some bad foul calls against us and the guys let their heads down," said assistant Jeff Paris, who coached the team during its road trip."

Metro Halifax
"Ex-NBA guard/small forward Kirk Snyder played 10 minutes but didn’t score in his Rainmen debut after signing on Saturday. Snyder was convicted of aggravated burglary, felonious assault and assault in April 2009 and was sentenced to three years in prison in May 2010. He is now looking to return to the NBA."

BluegrassStallions.com
"Kenny Jones scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Bluegrass Stallions to a 99-89 victory against the Halifax Rainmen in a Premier Basketball League game at Georgetown College."

Next up, the Rainmen face off against their Maritime rivals, Saint John Mill Rats, on January 29th here in Halifax...

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blog, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and writing about the PBL/Rainmen at NorthPoleHoops.com.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Halifax Rainmen add NBA experience with guard-forward, Kirk Snyder

The Halifax Rainmen have made a huge addition to the roster, having signed former NBA player, Kirk Snyder.  Snyder, who attended the University of Nevada, has four seasons of NBA experience playing with the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Hornets, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves.  The guard-forward declared for the NBA draft after his junior year at the University of Nevada and was a first-round pick in the 2004 NBA draft, drafted 16th overall by the Utah Jazz (after Al Jefferson and before Josh Smith).  This was also the year the Dwight Howard was drafted first overall.  He also appeared in the 2007 NBA playoffs with the Houston Rockets when the Rockets lost in a seven game series against the Utah Jazz.  The 6-6 guard has played in 211 NBA games and will be bringing a lot of talent and experience to the Rainmen roster.  He also has other pro experience, playing in the Chinese Basketball Association for the Zhejiang Horses in 2008.

Snyder has been more recently in the news due to unfortunate circumstances, having been charged with aggravated burglary in 2009.  According to KSL.com, after being convicted of "aggravated burglary, felonious assault and assault", he was sentenced to three years in prison.  He was diagnosed with a mental disorder as reported in Dayton Daily News but will look to begin his comeback with the Rainmen.

According to the latest Halifax Rainmen press release, Rainmen President and CEO, Andre Levingston, is looking to give Snyder a second chance: “I’m excited to give Kirk a second chance at having a professional basketball career and providing for his beautiful family,” said Levingston. “We’re happy that he has received the help he needed and look forward to having him join us in Halifax.” Snyder will be joining the team this Sunday as they face the Kentucky Bluegrass Stallions in Kentucky.

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blog, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and writing about the PBL/Rainmen at NorthPoleHoops.com.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Breaking Down The Boxscore - RAINMEN 112, AIR STRIKERS 106

RAINMEN 112, AIR STRIKERS 106
Rainmen Record:  4W-1L

The Halifax Rainmen were in Dayton, Ohio on Wednesday night, facing off against the expansion Dayton Air Strikers.  The last place Air Strikers were on a four-game losing streak heading into this matchup and were looking to secure their first home win of the season.  The Rainmen on other hand, were fresh off of a blowout win against the Kentucky Bluegrass Stallions (winning three of their first four games) and were looking to continue their strong play on the road.  The Rainmen went into Dayton shorthanded, and were without the PBL's leading rebounder, Eric Crookshank, and head coach, Les Berry.  Assistant coach, Jeff Paris, took the coaching reigns on Wednesday night.

The Air Strikers got an early jump on the Rainmen in the first quarter of the game, putting together a 31-24 first quarter lead.  But the Rainmen wasted no time closing the gap.  Halifax narrowed down Dayton's lead to just one point at the half.  Taliek Brown and the recently-acquired centre, James "Boo" Jackson, both had 9 points at the mid point.

Dayton kept pace with the Rainmen in the second half, keeping the game close in the third and fourth quarters.  With just over a minute remaining in the final quarter, Dayton had got the game to within three points.  But with a few key free throws made by both Josh Dollard and James "Boo" Jackson in the closing seconds, the Rainmen were able to hold off the Air Strikers with a 112-106 Rainmen win.

Mike Mercer had a strong night, scoring 18 points in just 23 minutes for the Rainmen.    Mercer scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half.   Rainmen point guard, Taliek Brown, was perfect from the field, making 7 for 7 from the floor.  He finished with 17 points and 5 rebounds.  Tajuan Porter had a season-high 12 points, making four threes from behind the arc.

Some Key Stats:

• Glaring Stat of the Night:  Halifax had 20 turnovers in this game compared to Dayton's four turnovers.  How did Halifax win the game with all those turnovers?  Well, they also made 10 threes (out of 23 attempted.....23 attempted threes!)
• Rainmen Player of the Game (based on the boxscore):  It had to be James "Boo" Jackson with his 16 points (7-12)  and 17 boards
• Shoutouts to the Air Strikers: Quade Milum - 23 points (10-14), 5 rebounds
• The Rebound Battle:  Halifax won the battle on the boards 59-36
• Three Point Struggles:  Dayton's Nathaniel Miles was horrible from behind the three point line, making only 1 of 10 
• Rainmen DNP-CD: Kavon Jones was a DNP-CD for Wednesday night's matchup, he should be ready to play for Sunday's game
• The Standings: The Rainmen move to 4-1 and sit at the top of the PBL East Division

Next up, the Rainmen are still on the road and have a rematch against the Kentucky Bluegrass Stallions on Sunday!

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blog, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and writing about the PBL/Rainmen at NorthPoleHoops.com.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Talkin' Hoops with Halifax Rainmen guard, Desmond "Moneyball" Ferguson

When Desmond Ferguson dropped seven threes on the Vermont Frost Heaves in the Rainmen home opener, Rainmen fans understood why they call Desmond Ferguson - "Moneyball".   The dude has a knack for nailing down a three-ball from anywhere on the court....and when he gets hot, watch out.

The three-point specialist out of Lansing, Michigan is back with the Halifax Rainmen for another season to help Halifax's quest for a PBL Championship.  Ferguson is currently the leading scorer for the Halifax Rainmen at 19 points/game and is only one of two returning players to this season's Rainmen roster.  Aside from being a professional ball player, he also has a business on the side named "Moneyball Sportwear" that is the uniform provider to not only the Halifax Rainmen but also the Saint John Mill Rats.  I had the chance to talk with Desmond about this new PBL season, his best memories of John Strickland and his opinion on his favourite Steven Seagal movie of all-time.

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Romy (Haligonia.ca): You're back with the Rainmen for another season. How are you liking this year's team so far?


Desmond Ferguson: I really like our team this year. I think we have a good mix of veterans and young players, as well as some athletic guys that will help us towards our quest for a championship.

Romy (Haligonia.ca): A lot of the guys from last year's Rainmen roster have moved onto other playing opportunities with you and Crook as the only returnees. For the Rainmen fans who aren't familiar with some of the new guys on the team, who are the ones we should be most looking forward to watching this season?


Desmond Ferguson: All of them! Ha! Taliek Brown is a true pass first point guard and a proven winner, Tajuan Porter is fast and quick and he is also a good shooter, he changes the pace of the game. Tommy Mitchell is a guy that I previously played with in Manchester and he is a proven scorer with experience in this league. Mike Mercer is one of our rookies that brings great intensity on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, an athletic scorer that can defend. Marshall Brown is a strong, athletic wing player that will definitely help improve our team and help us be more versatile. Josh Dollard gives us a scoring presence at the power foward position that creates matchup problems for other teams. Kavon Jones is another one of our rookies that has a great upside and also creates mismatches when he is in at the 4 or 5 position....

Romy (Haligonia.ca): Rainmen fans were shocked to hear about the passing of streetball legend and Rainmen veteran, John Strickland over this past summer. Where were you when you heard the news?


Desmond Ferguson: I was sitting on my bed getting dressed so I could get ready to go work out when Andre called me with the devastating news about Strick. It's definitely still a hard pill to swallow.

Ferguson and Strick (just a few weeks before he passed away) at Jay-Z's 40/40
club, Ferguson said "they treated Strick like he was Jay-Z himself"

Romy (Haligonia.ca): What will you miss most about Strick?


Desmond Ferguson: What I will miss most about Strick was his passion for life and the game of basketball. You only have one opportunity in life to meet a person as unique and special as Strick. The way that he played the game and his undoubtedly love for basketball is what I will always remember him for.

Romy (Haligonia.ca): Let's hear your best Strick story during your time with the Rainmen.


Desmond Ferguson: I have so many stories about Strick, but the one that best sums him up on the basketball court is the one I wrote in my blog the day I heard about his passing.....

http://moneyball.Myshopify.Com/blogs/news/2079802-moneyball-blog-rip-john-strickland

Romy (Haligonia.ca): How's the Moneyball Sportswear business? What's the latest with the company?


Desmond Ferguson: Moneyball Sportswear is doing good. It's keeping me busy. We are currently preparing for a busy 2011. We are looking to expand into a couple other sports outside of just basketball such as football and soccer. We have a lot of different events that we will be a part of this spring and summer, so we are getting ready for that. So, in a nutshell, we are just trying to stay busy and grow as a company.

Website - www.moneyballsportswear.com
Facebook - moneyball sportswear
Twitter - @iammoneyball

Romy (Haligonia.ca): Aside from running the Moneyball Sportswear company, what does the offseason for Desmond Ferguson consist of?


Desmond Ferguson: I travel a lot during the offseason, both for business and pleasure. In the month of June, I do a free basketball clinic for all the kids in my city (Lansing,MI) and I also run a pro-am basketball league with college and pro players from June to August, the Moneyball Pro-am. So, I manage to stay busy one way or another. It keeps me out of trouble. Ha!

Romy (Haligonia.ca): I read that Steven Seagal is from Lansing, Michigan. What's your favourite Steven Seagal movie of all-time?...I know you have one!


Desmond Ferguson: I would have to go with Under Siege.
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A huge thanks goes out to Desmond Ferguson for taking part in our Q and A, be sure to check him out at the Metro Centre on Tuesday night when the undefeated Halifax Rainmen take on the undefeated LFS Cavs!  Also, be sure to check out his Moneyball Sportswear website.  

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blogs, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and Hoop Heads North.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Breaking Down The Boxscore - RAINMEN 106, KEBS 98

RAINMEN 106, KEBS 98
Rainmen Record:  2W-0L

Last night the Rainmen went on their first road trip of the regular season to face off against the Quebec Kebs.  The Kebs, who were fresh off an opening night win against the Saint John Mill Rats, were ready for the Halifax Rainmen to come to town.  But the Rainmen put out a well-balanced attack, having seven players in double figures to defeat the Quebec Kebs 106-98 in Quebec City last night. When you're a minor league basketball fan and your team goes on the road, you can't always watch your Halifax Rainmen online or on live television.  Sometimes, you just have to rely on boxscores to see how the team did.  Thankfully for the internet, we can at least break down the boxscore: 

Some Key Stats:

• Glaring Stat of the Night:  The Rainmen shot the ball well, going 38-70 (54%)
• Free Throw Watch:  Now, the Rainmen were known last season for being one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the PBL, losing a few games due to poor free throw shooting.  Last night, the Rainmen were 24-38 (63%) from the charity stripe, which isn't bad, but definitely will be an area for improvement.  Marshall Brown made his regular season debut and got to the line 12 times, which is a good sign from the former Frost Heave.
• Third Quarter Goodness: They say good teams win basketball games in the third quarter, and the Rainmen did just that, outscoring the Kebs 34-22.
• Leading Scorer for the Rainmen: Kavon Jones with 19 points.
• Double-Double Master:  Eric Crookshank continued his dominance on the boards with his 13 points and 16 rebounds.
• Quebec's Leading Scorer: Quinell Brown followed up his 28-point performance against the Mill Rats with 16 points against Halifax last night.
• Former Rainmen Watch: Cordell Jeanty - 10 pts, 8 rebounds, Aaron Spears - 12 points, 6 boards.
• Under 100 points: Halifax kept their opponent under 100 points for the second straight game
• Big Man Alert:  The recently signed big man, Torraye Braggs, will make his Rainmen debut this Sunday against the LFS Cavs.

Post Game Links:
Kebs De Quebec Official Home Page
" “We did not take advantage of the rebounds we took around the opponent’s hoop, and we gave up too many around our own. We also had a low field goal percentage, not to mention our poor three-point percentage. Our 43% from the field and 36% from the three point line speak for themselves”, commented coach Robert Spon. “The Rainmen dominated us due to their 54% field-goal shooting, ultimately I take the blame for this loss”, mentioned Coach Spon."

Halifax Chronicle-Herald
"Kavon Jones topped the Rainmen with 19 points, going 7-for-9 from the field, all in the first half. The rookie power forward, who started at centre with Halifax still awaiting the arrival of the recently signed Torraye Braggs, was used sparingly in the second half after picking up his fifth foul early in the third quarter."

Metro Halifax
"The Rainmen improved to 2-0 early in the Premier Basketball League season with a 106-98 triumph over the Kebs, riding a balanced attack that featured seven players hitting double figures."


Next up, the Rainmen are at the Metro Centre on Sunday to face off against the Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry, watch it live here on Haligonia.ca!

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blogs, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and Hoop Heads North.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Halifax Rainmen-Quebec Kebs Game Preview with Quebec Head Coach, Rob Spon

Fresh off a solid home opener win against the Vermont Frost Heaves, the Halifax Rainmen (1-0) make their road debut in Quebec City as they face off against one of their Canadian counterparts, the Quebec Kebs (1-0).  The two teams have already met in the preseason where the Rainmen won both contests.  The Kebs will host the Rainmen tonight in Quebec city.

To help preview tonight's game, I had the opportunity to speak with Quebec head coach, Rob Spon.  This is Spon's first year with the team but he brings a lot of coaching experience, including stints with the Manchester Millrats and Maryland Green Hawks. I was able to ask Rob his thoughts on the upcoming matchup with the Rainmen, his thoughts on Quebec City and a little about his time as a scout for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Romy (Haligonia.ca): First off, what have your thoughts been of Quebec City so far?


Coach Rob Spon: Quebec City is beautiful; you have old Quebec with the shops and then you have modern Quebec with everything to do. The French speaking I have to do a better job of.


Romy (Haligonia.ca): What sparked your move to take the Kebs coaching job?


Coach Rob Spon: Taking the Kebs job was easy after talking to Vincent two years ago. I liked their crowds and atmosphere, the people seemed to get into basketball but not as much as Halifax. You have the best fans. (They are) very knowledgeable and know when to cheer and how to heckle the opposing team and coach...I love playing there.

After Ian told Vincent I was availiable this June, Vincent and his dad, Conrad, came after me strong and put a nice short and sweet deal on the table. Ian was after me too, but the Kebs put the offer out there first and after getting to know Conrad, I knew I was in good hands.  They gave me free reign over the team.


Romy (Haligonia.ca): Your Kebs had a big win against the Saint John Mill Rats in your season opener, what has impressed you so far with your team?


Coach Rob Spon: The team chemistry and our defense and how they bought into my system.  You know, my teams gotta play D.


Romy (Haligonia.ca): The Kebs' home opener is against the Halifax Rainmen on Thursday night. From what you saw during the preseason, how do you prepare your team for this matchup?


Coach Rob Spon: Well, like I told Andre at the beginning, I picked the Rainmen to win our conference. He does a great job of bringing in top talent and Coach Berry does a great job coaching them. They obviously are bigger than us, so we have to do a great job of boxing out because they go to the offensive boards strong. We need to get to Desmond, so he doesn't get open looks or it's money.


Romy (Haligonia.ca): You have a couple of former Rainmen on your roster in Cordell Jeanty and Aaron Spears, what do these two players bring to the Kebs?


Coach Rob Spon: That's funny because everybody thinks Ian (McCarthy) brought our guys in with the  Millrats but they were mostly former players of mine like Spears, as he played for me at Gary. Des is my guy. So Des had Andre draft Spears knowing he is a great low post presence. He is very good scorer in the post and has a nice15 ft jump shot. Cordell I have always liked because he always battles hard.


Romy (Haligonia.ca): Lastly, I read that you were a scout for the Cleveland Cavaliers...will the city of Cleveland ever recover from Lebron's "Decision"?


Coach Rob Spon: I am no longer (a scout) since my contact, assistant GM, Lance Blanks, took the Suns' GM job. Jamario Moon is one of my former players.  The city, unfortunately, will never recover.
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Thanks again to Rob for taking part in our game preview.  The Rainmen and Kebs play tonight in Quebec City, be sure to check out more about the Quebec Kebs at their official website, www.kebsdequebec.com

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blogs, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and Hoop Heads North.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Can You Hoop? Show off your skills at the Halifax Rainmen open tryouts

Do you have the skills to make the Halifax Rainmen roster?  The Halifax Rainmen are holding open tryouts on Saturday, November 20th at Citadel High in Halifax from 11am to 1pm.  This gives ballers from across the country an opportunity to showcase their skills.  Some of the past Rainmen players who have attended previous open tryouts include Canadian talents like Team Canada representative, Jevohn Shepherd, Dal Alum, Devon Norris, and St. FX alum, Garry Gallimore who all cracked last season's roster. 

For more information regarding the open tryouts, check out the Halifax Rainmen official website.

And in case you missed the PBL Draft, the Halifax Rainmen wanted to draft big, and they did just that. The Rainmen drafted two St. John's products including big man, Aaron Spears with the sixth pick. Halifax also drafted the 6-7 forward Kyle Cuff with the 14th pick.

(Photo via the Halifax Rainmen Facebook Page)

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blogs, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and Hoop Heads North.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

PBL Draft Time: Rainmen and Mill Rats to Draft on Thursday Night

Well, on Tuesday night, the highly-anticipated NBA regular season began which means the PBL season is just around the corner for local hoops fans. The first event to kick off the PBL preseason is the 2010 PBL Draft on Thursday night (October 28th) at Sox Park (US Cellular Field) in Chicago. The two PBL teams out of Atlantic Canada will be participating with both the Halifax Rainmen and the Saint John Mill Rats looking to bring in some young basketball talent to their respective rosters.

The Rainmen who struggled with the centre spot last season are looking to draft a big man in this year's draft. According to Rainmen owner, Andre Levingston: "We're looking to draft big, we're looking for players with some size and length to allow us to compete with the "bigs" of Oklahoma and Rochester." The Rainmen had a revolving door of big men last season with the likes of DeAndre Thomas, Gordon Malone, Marc Mazur, Shagari Alleyne, and Larry Turner filling in at centre.

Saint John on the other hand, are targeting athleticism under a new head coach, former San Antonio Spur, Jaren Jackson. From the Mill Rats latest press release, Coach Jackson explains "We are excited about the available prospects in this years draft. We are going to be looking for the best available players, and hopefully they will bring some athleticism and intangibles to the table."

Coach Les Berry and Rainmen owner, Andre Levingston, will be representing the Halifax Rainmen at the PBL draft while Coach Jaren Jackson and Mill Rats GM, Ian McCarthy will be in attendance for Saint John. You can watch the draft live online at www.atsportstv.com at 10pm Atlantic (8pm Central Time.) Halifax will be drafting the 6th and 14th pick while the Mill Rats will be drafting the 4th and 16th pick.

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blogs, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and Hoop Heads North.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

48 Minutes of Heart: Remembering John Strickland

written by Romy Aquino
 
When John Strickland first came to Halifax; as a basketball fan, you only saw a basketball journeyman in his mid-thirties who was a bit of a goofball on the court.  He'd have some funny antics on the court, putting up goggles when he made a nice assist and sometimes you'd see him look at his left hand, then his right hand and then back to his left hand if he made a nice layup.  No one in Halifax really knew who he was when he first joined the Rainmen, a lot of us Rainmen fans just saw a minor league basketball player who was past his prime.  We later discovered he was more than just that.

I didn't know John Strickland personally, I just knew him for the 48 minutes he was either on the court or on the bench for the Halifax Rainmen.  I'm a basketball fan, and the sport is my entertainment.  John Strickland entertained.  The more I got to watch him play with the Rainmen, the more I realized how much this dude put in work.  Sure he had his faults on the court: he was a bit slow, could barely make his free throws, talked a lot to the refs, talked a lot to the opposing coach and talked a lot to whomever he was guarding, but the guy grew on you.  He was a showman and the basketball court was his stage.  The guy rebounded, defended and was a leader on the floor for the Rainmen.  You would always see Strick supporting his teammates after every play, taking guys aside to give advice. You could tell that every player who stepped on the court with him, respected him.  The more you watched him play, the more you realized how much this guy loved playing the sport of basketball.

When I first looked at last season's Halifax Rainmen roster, I saw about 8-10 guys on the list whose hometown was somewhere in New York.  I was surprised.  How did all these New Yorkers end up playing for the Halifax Rainmen?  I did a few Q and A's with some of the Rainmen players, and came to find out that one of the main reasons a lot of these guys got these playing opportunities was through John Strickland.  This guy was someone that a lot of the young basketball players in New York looked up to and got advice from.  This was just another side of John Strickland that I had never known as a Rainmen fan.  On top of that, I also found out that this minor league veteran who I was watching on the basketball court was a streetball legend back in New York and was known as "The Franchise".  So for the two seasons that I saw him play in Halifax where he put a lot of smiles on people's faces, both young and old,  he was also doing the same thing in New York and around the world for many years before that.

(Strick with Heckler's Row)

It didn't take long for Strick to make an impression in Halifax.  He quickly went from this ol' vet on the Rainmen to someone who really made his presence felt here in the city.  So much so, that the crowd would chant "MVP, MVP, MVP" every time he set foot on the court.  The dude averaged 5.0 points per game for the Rainmen last season, I repeat..5.0 POINTS PER GAME.  It was crazy. The guy put his heart and soul on the floor and the Halifax fans appreciated that.  He entertained us and we enjoyed every minute.  Once the game was over, he didn't stop, he would go to the stands and talk to fans after the game,  he joked with the kids and continued to put smiles on people's faces. 

Now that he's passed, I realize that this guy who I watched at the Halifax Metro Centre has had a huge impact not only in Halifax but all over the basketball world.  Twitter is a crazy thing. I've seen tweets from former teammates Corey Underwood and Glen Dandridge, Halifax Rainmen Desmond Ferguson, the Boston Celtics' Nate Robinson, Fat Joe, SLAM Magazine, DJ Clue, and even Lebron James paying their respects to John Strickland.  He was a bigger dude than some Halifax hoops fans even knew about and he will be missed in this city.

If you've ever watched John Strickland on the basketball court, just think of how many times the guy put a smile on your face.

Rest in Peace, Strick.

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blogs, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and Hoop Heads North.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Talkin' Hoops with Halifax Rainmen Assistant Coach, Shannon Hansen

With the Halifax Rainmen coming off one of its most successful season to date, Halifax Rainmen assistant coach, Shannon Hansen, was there from the beginning.  Shannon started with the Rainmen in their inaugural season and now is one of Les Berry's assistant coaches.  Even though the PBL is in its offseason, it has been  a busy period.  First of all, the Manchester Millrats have relocated to Saint John, New Brunswick and will be one of the Rainmen's rivals next season.  Also, Andre Levingston was named the new president of the PBL while maintaining his role of owner and CEO of the Halifax Rainmen.  I asked Shannon his thoughts on Andre's recent promotion, his coaching background and what his thoughts were with the NBA free agent frenzy.
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Romy (Haligonia.ca): First of all, what are your thoughts on Andre Levingston's promotion to the role of President of the PBL? What changes do you anticipate next season with the Andre running the league?

Shannon Hansen: First off, Andre's promotion is a great thing for the PBL. His fire for the sport is unrivaled and he will definitely propel the league. With him at the helm, I definitely expect more stable teams in the PBL over the next few years as well as a longer season sooner than later.

Romy (Haligonia.ca): So let's hear a bit about your background....break down your coaching career and how you got involved with the Rainmen.

Shannon Hansen: I have been in basketball my whole life but I have been serious about coaching for the last several years and one of the things that drives me is seeing players learn to thrive as they improve their game which has driven me to training as well. I really love to teach the game. I was one of the first year staff and have been here since.

Romy (Haligonia.ca): We're in the PBL offseason, what's the next order of business for the Rainmen during the summer?

Shannon Hansen: Next for the Rainmen, is to find talented and skilled guys who can fit into the system to add to the team. Whoever we bring in must compliment the system and be ready to produce if we are going to reach the elite level in the PBL. We just have to resign the key guys, decide which role players to bring back and add one or two key guys. Then it's time to compete for the championship

Romy (Haligonia.ca): What was your favourite moment of the past Halifax Rainmen season?

Shannon Hansen: One of my fav moments of this past year was the Jevohn Shepherd dunk. Crazy!

Romy (Haligonia.ca): You were recently at the Provincial Black Basketball tourney, what have been your impressions of Halifax as a basketball city?

Shannon Hansen: Halifax is a great basketball city. The love and enthusiasm are off the charts here, so is the talent, it's just a matter of developing it. The tourney is a great example of that.

Romy (Haligonia.ca): Ok, let's talk NBA. On July 1st, who's going where? Does Lebron/Wade/Bosh stay put? Or are they on the move?

Shannon Hansen: The new big three could all end up in Chicago or Miami but don’t count out New Jersey. They may jump in and steal a guy. As a young squad, they are one key guy away from being a real threat in the East. Unless Cleveland makes some major trades, LBJ and Bosh are gone.
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 A big thanks goes out to Shannon for taking the time to answer our questions, be sure to catch more about Shannon and the Halifax Rainmen at the Halifax Rainmen official website, Rainmenbasketball.ca

Check out previous Rainmen-related Q and A's:

• Eric Gilchrese
• Larry Turner
• Marc "Maze" Mazur
• Jevohn Shepherd
• Garry Gallimore
• The voice of the Halifax Rainmen, Shaun "Mavs" Gillis
• Desmond "Moneyball" Ferguson
• Devon "Chuck" Norris
• Adris "2 Hard 2 Guard" DeLeon
• Halifax Rainmen DJ, RS Smooth

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blogs, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and Hoop Heads North.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino