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.

* * *

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!

* * *

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

RAPS TALK - The Weekly Audio Podcast (guests Leigh Ellis and Ryan McNeill)

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/NBA and Canadian Basketball from a fan's perspective. It's straight hoops talk out of Halifax.


Episode 15 of RAPS TALK - This week, the Raps Talk crew are joined by their first Australian guest, Leigh Ellis, Online Producer/Editor/Writer/Shooter for theScore.com and regular co-host on the Hardcore Hoops Show on Sirius Radio 98.

Leigh was also a special correspondent on The Basketball Jones recently and his latest TBJ video made its internet debut a couple of weeks ago.  Leigh talks to the Raps Talk crew about NBA basketball back in the day, his NBA MVP thoughts and what actor he thinks would play himself in a movie.

Ryan McNeill of HoopsAddict.com also joins this week's podcast.  Ryan is the man behind HoopsAddict.com, a site that covers the basketball game at all levels.  Romy, Sean and U-E talk to Ryan about Canada Basketball, the NCAA Tournament, the Toronto Raptors and ask Ryan his opinion on the San Antonio Spurs.  

Times:
Leigh Ellis [8:45]
Ryan McNeill [33:15]

The new Raps Talk intro courtesy of DJ Plaeboi (@plaeboi on Twitter), check out his website: plaeboi.com  Make sure you subscribe to the Raps Talk podcast on iTunes.

Click below to listen:

Hip Hoop Junkies and Hoop Heads North present RAPS TALK Ep. 15
Click here for the MP3 (right click "Save As...")

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 (guest Tas Melas of the Basketball Jones)

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/NBA and Canadian Basketball from a fan's perspective. It's straight hoops talk out of Halifax.


Episode 14 of RAPS TALK (03.14.11) -  It's the Tas Melas episode, folks.

Tas Melas of The Basketball Jones (Thursday nights on the Score and the daily show on the web) joins this week's podcast.  He talks NBA, Toronto Raptors, Greek basketball players, NBA's Most Improved Player, his favourite Vancouver Grizzly of all-time and the most intimidating players he has had to approach for an interview.  A huge thanks goes out to Tas Melas for taking the time to come on the podcast.

And who's Tas Melas' favourite Boyz II Men member?  Sit back and take a listen.

The new Raps Talk intro courtesy of DJ Plaeboi (@plaeboi on Twitter), check out his website: plaeboi.com  Make sure you subscribe to the Raps Talk podcast on iTunes.

Click below to listen:

Hip Hoop Junkies and Hoop Heads North present RAPS TALK Ep. 14 (03.14.2011)
Click here for the MP3 (right click "Save As...")

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 (guests David Amber and Ray Bala)

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/NBA and Canadian Basketball from a fan's perspective. It's straight hoops talk out of Halifax.


Episode 13 of RAPS TALK (03.13.11) - This is episode #13, it's the Steve Nash episode.

In this week's installment of the RAPS TALK podcast, the RAPS TALK crew welcomes David Amber to the podcast. He is the host of the Toronto Raptors post-game show "Raptors Post Up" on NBA TV Canada as well as an anchor on the NHL Network. Amber talks to Romy, Sean and U-E about the Canadians in the NCAA tourney, the future of the Toronto Raptors and his thoughts on NBA MVP.


Ray Bala (@canballreport on Twitter), a Canadian basketball enthusiast of RaptorsHQ.com, joins the podcast as well.  Ray breaks down the Canadian content of this year's NCAA tournament, Halifax Windjammers throwback night and this past weekend's CIS Tournament here in Halifax.


Times:

David Amber [4:22]
Ray Bala [22:55]

Click below to listen:

Hip Hoop Junkies and Hoop Heads North present RAPS TALK Ep. 13 (03.13.2011)
Click here for the MP3 (right click "Save As...")

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 (guests James Borbath and Jay Satur)

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/NBA and Canadian Basketball from a fan's perspective. It's straight hoops talk out of Halifax.


Episode 12 of RAPS TALK (03.08.11) - It's a Raptors-packed show
in episode 12 of the RAPS TALK podcast.

First off, we had James Borbath (@dinonationblog) of the Dino Nation Blog on the show.  James made his rap debut in this week's podcast, which is definitely a must-listen on its own.   The RAPS TALK crew talked DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson and more Toronto Raptors with James including why he he hasn't been to a Raptors Dance Pak practice.

For our second guest, we were pleased to have Jay Satur (@jaysatur), Online Producer for Raptors.com on the podcast.  Jay is a jack-of-all trades with the Raptors where he works on a lot of the web production with the Raptors.com website.  Romy, Sean and U-E spoke with Jay about the impact of social media on the Toronto Raptors, the whole #RTZ Twitter phenomenon, as well as his stint as the chicken in DeMar's Dunk Contest viral video.

Make sure you subscribe to the Raps Talk podcast on iTunes.

Click below to listen:

Hip Hoop Junkies & Hoop Heads North present RAPS TALK Ep. 12 (03.08.2011)
Click here for the MP3 (right click "Save As...")

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 (guests Aaron Bronsteter and Brendon Lynch)

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/NBA and Canadian Basketball from a fan's perspective. It's straight hoops talk out of Halifax.


On the latest episode of RAPS TALK:
Episode 11 of RAPS TALK (03.07.11) - It's the Isiah Thomas episode y'all. Episode #11.

This week's episode we have two very special guests joining the Raps Talk podcast, we have Brendon Lynch (aka Mr. Court Cuts, the man behind the Score Television Network's Court Cuts highlight reels) and Aaron Bronsteter (aka Orville, producer of the Tim and Sid Uncut Podcast).

Both guys are hosts of the always entertaining Hardcore Hoops Show on Sirius 98 and The Score.com Radio. Romy, Sean and U-E talk hoops with Brendon and Aaron covering topics that include: the CBA, the San Antonio Spurs, the Miami Heat and most importantly, the Toronto Raptors. Check it out.

Make sure you subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and visit Hip Hoop Junkies for more Raps Talk podcasts.

Take a listen here: Raps Talk Episode 11 (or save the file, right click "Save As...")

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 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.

__________

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!
__________

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