February 1 - February 28

February 28th, 2006

WBA STATS ANALYZER: WEEK 5

MMF

WEEK 5		MMF	TOTAL		MMF
1	Bishop Stein	184.6	1 (+2)	Abdiel Gordon	691.7
2	Walt Jackson	154.45	2 (-1)	Mario Bailey	690
3	Obafemi Mabruke	141.95	3 (+6)	Bishop Stein	685.75
4	Abdiel Gordon	140.5	4 (+1)	Shane Strom	661.6
5	Omar Jefferson	138.85	5 (-1)	Craig Bradshaw	656.75
6	Shane Strom	134.6	6 (+2)	Omar Jefferson	644.75
7	Cordell Parks	133.2	7 (-5)	Heiko Van Brand	636
8	Marquez Houston	131.5	8 (+6)	Walt Jackson	634.5
9	Devonta Corriga	130.25	9 (+2)	Cordell Parks	629.05
10	Dennis Evans	128	10 (-3)	Lou Gonzales	628.6
11	Jay Vasquez	126.25	11 (-1)	Dave Williams	622.95
12	Dave Williams	124.55	12 (=)	Devonta Corriga	618.75
13	Dave Troychak	123.35	13 (=)	Marquez Houston	612.7
14	Yuri Vilasny	121.2	14 (-8)	Jaxon McCall	607.4
15	Craig Bradshaw	120.8	15 (=)	Jay Vasquez	590.6
16	Mario Bailey	118.15	16 (+3)	Obafemi Mabruke	583.25
17	Gerhold Verholm	115.35	17 (-1)	Maury Coleman	573.05
18	Paul Spagnoli	115.2	18 (+2)	Yuri Vilasny	555.35
19	Lou Gonzales	114.5	19 (-2)	Kent Mercer	528.9
20	Maury Coleman	112.1	20 (+1)	Greg Lacy	525.95
21	Dave Short	111.95	21 (+1)	Cory Mosley	513
22	Tom Kinsey	109.8	22 (+2)	Juwan Bixby	511.05
23	Reid Dall	109.25	23 (+4)	Tom Kinsey	510.25
24	Austyn Williams	108.7	24 (-1)	Oshodi Bombata	509.85
25	Mike Bennett	108.2	25 (+9)	Dave Troychak	508.5
26	Gordon Whitehou	108.1	26 (+14)	Dennis Evans	507.4
27	Jerry Bramson	105.95	27 (+1)	Mike Bennett	506.3
28	Oman Fatafehi	105.05	28 (+3)	Paul Spagnoli	505.35
29	Joe Siebert	104.25	29 (-11)	Brad Bangerter	503.65
30	Felipe Juarez	104	30 (-4)	Mark Miller	502.7

VORP

WEEK 5		VORP	TOTAL		VORP
1	Bishop Stein	59.0628	1 (=)	Mario Bailey	214.281
2	Omar Jefferson	50.5845	2 (=)	Lou Gonzales	209.948
3	Walt Jackson	50.0101	3 (+4)	Bishop Stein	204.057
4	Obafemi Mabruke	40.9655	4 (+2)	Omar Jefferson	195.775
5	Cordell Parks	40.8596	5 (-2)	Jaxon McCall	192.582
6	Abdiel Gordon	40.7081	6 (-2)	Dave Williams	187.155
7	Shane Strom	38.4059	7 (+2)	Abdiel Gordon	180.758
8	Jay Vasquez	38.0167	8 (-3)	Maury Coleman	177.777
9	Yuri Vilasny	37.5697	9 (-1)	Marquez Houston	177.518
10	Dave Williams	36.0824	10 (=)	Shane Strom	172.898
11	Dennis Evans	35.5063	11 (+6)	Walt Jackson	170.345
12	Marquez Houston	35.4369	12 (+2)	Cordell Parks	169.936
13	Jerry Bramson	34.9888	13 (-1)	Craig Bradshaw	162.903
14	Joe Siebert	34.3238	14 (-1)	Devonta Corriga	160.879
15	Mario Bailey	34.1922	15 (+3)	Jay Vasquez	157.484
16	Craig Bradshaw	33.5004	16 (-1)	Oshodi Bombata	156.156
17	Felipe Juarez	32.9121	17 (-6)	Ahmed Dougherty	153.424
18	Dave Short	32.0651	18 (+3)	Yuri Vilasny	148.452
19	Devonta Corriga	31.8622	19 (+10)	Mike Bennett	136.177
20	Mike Bennett	31.6133	20 (+5)	Mark Miller	136.066
21	Lou Gonzales	31.2017	21 (+6)	Dexter Kodak	136.060
22	Dave Troychak	31.1252	22 (-2)	Kent Mercer	135.602
23	Brandon Morfeld	31.0239	23 (+3)	Ramiro Watts	134.799
24	Paul Spagnoli	30.5166	24 (=)	Greg Lacy	133.115
25	Dexter Kodak	29.7980	25 (-9)	Heiko Van Brand	132.453
26	Juwan Bixby	29.1536	26 (+2)	Sean Ashman	126.881
27	Mark Miller	29.1346	27 (-8)	Tony Dimateo	126.835
28	Sheldon Gorman	28.9179	28 (+24)	Obafemi Mabruke	125.095
29	Maury Coleman	28.4105	29 (+2)	Oman Fatafehi	124.342
30	Oshodi Bombata	28.3653	30 (+2)	Tom Perkins	123.837

WEEK 5		AV	TOTAL		AV
1	Bishop Stein	2.4562	1 (+1)	Craig Bradshaw	7.0486
2	Walt Jackson	2.1923	2 (+1)	Mario Bailey	6.9403
3	Obafemi Mabruke	2.1423	3 (+1)	Lou Gonzales	6.7768
4	Abdiel Gordon	2.1322	4 (+1)	Abdiel Gordon	6.7699
5	Devonta Corriga	2.1020	5 (-4)	Heiko Van Brand	6.7288
6	Cordell Parks	2.0512	6 (=)	Devonta Corriga	6.5981
7	Marquez Houston	2.0410	7 (+6)	Bishop Stein	6.5567
8	Shane Strom	1.9898	8 (-1)	Marquez Houston	6.5428
9	Omar Jefferson	1.9692	9 (=)	Cordell Parks	6.5221
10	Jay Vasquez	1.9485	10 (=)	Shane Strom	6.4526
11	Paul Spagnoli	1.9485	11 (=)	Jay Vasquez	6.2920
12	Craig Bradshaw	1.9381	12 (+6)	Walt Jackson	6.2077
13	Dennis Evans	1.8860	13 (-5)	Jaxon McCall	6.1583
14	Mario Bailey	1.8860	14 (+5)	Obafemi Mabruke	6.1371
15	Yuri Vilasny	1.8755	15 (-1)	Greg Lacy	6.0592
16	Joe Siebert	1.8650	16 (+4)	Omar Jefferson	5.9952
17	Lou Gonzales	1.8439	17 (-1)	Dave Williams	5.9952
18	Dave Williams	1.8015	18 (-3)	Cory Mosley	5.9667
19	Jerry Bramson	1.8015	19 (+3)	Juwan Bixby	5.7729
20	Mike Bennett	1.7802	20 (-8)	Brad Bangerter	5.7585
21	Oman Fatafehi	1.7802	21 (-4)	Kent Mercer	5.7512
22	Dave Short	1.7695	22 (-1)	Oshodi Bombata	5.7440
23	Tom Kinsey	1.7695	23 (=)	Maury Coleman	5.7223
24	Greg Lacy	1.7695	24 (+4)	Yuri Vilasny	5.7223
25	Dave Troychak	1.7480	25 (-1)	Mark Miller	5.7151
26	Juwan Bixby	1.7480	26 (+12)	Paul Spagnoli	5.6788
27	Cory Mosley	1.7480	27 (=)	Oman Fatafehi	5.6643
28	Mark Miller	1.7157	28 (+1)	Mike Bennett	5.6498
29	Reid Dall	1.7157	29 (-4)	Sean Ashman	5.6061
30	Gerhold Verholm	1.7157	30 (=)	Tom Kinsey	5.5623

February 27th, 2006

A Glimpse of: Michael Huryta

Michael Huryta felt like a washout at age 25. Free agency had come and a

quiet season as a backup in Boston seemed to be the last stop in a career

that ended far too early. "Boston didn't really need me last year, and I

only played a few minutes here and there. A quarter of the season and I was

done. Free agency rolled around and no one seemed to even bat an eye that I

was out there. I might've picked up a minimum contract any other year if I

outplayed a few others in the preseason."

That's what made Seoul's contract offer so interesting.

"I was like...you gotta be kidding me, Seoul's out there in South Korea,

they got Joe Siebert, Bill Blackstone, Quade Nash, they were talking to

London about Odibe King, they got Brian Armstrong in the draft. They don't

need another big man, let alone someone like me who'd be lucky to catch on

somewhere as a castoff. They were trying to lure Bert Haug in, and once

(Boom-Boom) Casey hit the market they were putting out all the cash they had

for him. Me, I just...I couldn't believe it was true."

The contract was for a million a year over two years. A healthy contract

that offered him some surity for this season and next.

"I figured, I'd get in there, they'd cut me after half a season...wouldn't

exactly be unusual given what I've been through so far in my career. Figured

I wasn't going to give up this time, though. Was going to stick around as

long as I could. Make it a hard choice for them."

By playing power forward?

"There was no way in hell I was going to dislodge Joe from that starting

job at center. Bill had a stranglehold on the power forward position if he

wanted it, and that was it. But Bill (Cash, the head coach) wanted to focus

on getting as many points on the board as possible in games, and figured

Odibe King and I could trade off the power forward position to get someone

in there capable of pulling down boards and giving the young guys a chance

to develop."

Even he was surprised by the results. While 10.5 PPG and 7.1 RPG doesn't

scream out Blackstone-esque numbers (Blackstone was moved to Charlotte in

the trade that brought Eugene LaMaitre to Seoul), it's enough to make him

realize that his position, once tenuous, is now all but guaranteed.

"I can do better. I know I can, just like everyone else expects on this

team. Working with Arron (Black, the Dragons' offensive coordinator) made me

less tentative with my shots and more aggressive on the floor. So far, we're

11-17, but one of the sports columnists at the start of the season said we

wouldn't make it to ten wins all year. I've got six double-doubles and I'm

taking part in the first steps of a new team's history."

Has he considered what will happen next year, or if he'll even make it

through this season?

"My favorite rumor right now is that I'm headed to Andorra for

Sacramento's first round pick next year. Between Law and O'Rourke, they've

already got their power forward situation taken care of. And Ossie Gordon's

locked in. There's always going to be rumors out there that you're going to

get moved to another team, or get cut, or whatever. It's nothing new. The

only thing you can really do is keep going and remember that you always get

that chance to prove yourself. You just gotta reach out and take it."

February 27th, 2006

Around the WBA

Miami's Johnny Hawks broke his leg while practicing and will miss the rest of the season.

Reports are saying that Dave Short will miss a game with a stomach virus.

London's Jerry Bolling Tore his ACL and is expected to miss the rest of the season and possibly someof next year.

Tragedy struck in Salt Lake City when veteran center Chuck Murphy was in a car wreck. He spent the night in intensive care but was pronounced dead after several hours.

Paris' Fan Liling has been suspended for three games for slapping Abediel Gordon in the back of the head.

February 24th, 2006

Capetown Deserves Respect

Johnny "Hoops" Hamilton

Canada Press

Quick who has the best record in the WBA? Brooklyn? Good guess but wrong. Oregon? Nope. Cancun? Try again. Paris? Not this year. Capetown does and is seldom given much thought by the majority of the media. Being based in Africa seems to help them hide from the WBA media spotlight a lot of the time.

Abdiel Gordon like his team while respected does not get hyped like Walt Jackson, Bishop Stien, Dave Williams and many others. But Abdiel Gordon may be the guy who deserves the MVP award. He recently quietly resigned with Capetown apparently content to hide in the shadows. The guy is good averaging 20 and 10. He's a better than average defender good for a steal and block a game. If there is one flaw the guy can't make his free throws but other than that he is solid. Obafemi Maburke is very similar in numbers just below 20 and 10. We know about the big 3 in Brooklyn, but Capetown has a sensational six. Six players averaging more than 10 points a game.

They may not be flashy but they get the job done. Team first attitude makes them a tough challenge for any team in the WBA. They outscore opposition by 14 points a game on average, proof of a great defense and a solid offence.In fact no one is better on defense as they allow about 87 points a game while pouring in over 100 an offence. They are quietly dominant just consistently winning. It's rare that anyone gets the better of them. Walt Jackson was able to beat them but it took a remarkable shooting performance.

Toronto got the rare win. Wins over Capetown are very rare. They just refuse to lose on most nights. The other teams to find a win may surprise you as well Alaska and Albacete have wins over them as well. Proof that on a given day even the best can have an off night and proof Alaska will never lose every game. The one loss that stands out is to Cancun the team they are battling with for a Division title and the best record in the Western Conference. They have a 14-2 record vs the West and are 25-4 overall. If a team based out of New York had this type of dominant record we would hear comparisons to the greatest teams of all time. But the team from Africa is just though of as one of the good teams in the league. However never talked about in the same breath as teams like Oregon, Brooklyn or Cancun. It is time that changed this team is deserving of the title of favorite to win the WBA TITLE. Oregon has won 2 straight titles but eventually someone will stop them why not Capetown!!!

Teams like Long Island trade players like people change underwear but chemistry is often overlooked in this league and Capetown has that element that will never be achieved in Long Island. Well it would be if Michael Espistio lost all forms of communication. But this is a team that only makes moves that will help the system work. Big names and catching headlines is the least of the worries of Capetown. They are not out to win press conferences and media praise just out to win a WBA TITLE. A tight rotation only going about 8 players deep. Will they burn out? Don't count on it. They seem to have it rolling on all systems go.

So the next time you read an article about Brooklyn, Long Island or any of the other usual suspects. Think about it. Is this guy able to see the forest through the trees. Capetown may not get high marks on the excitement meter but last time I checked teams don't get wins for popularity. A nice set shot from 12 feet counts for 2 points just as easily as a Jackson Monster Jam or a massive Lou Gonzales put back. The time has come to start to notice the team that represents an entire continent of people. They have earned that right. But weather people do or not it may not matter because they may just win it all and wait for the respect later. I can say they have mined. Let me be the first member of the Zulu nation. I have a feeling I won't be the last.

February 24th, 2006

Finally Revenge For The Dinos

By The Swirsk

Toronto had all off season to think about what might have been. Four loses to Boston kept them from the post season. This did not sit well with fans management or anyone connected to the organization. A lose on the road at Boston earlier this year had people^le wondering if there was some kind of curse on the Dinos. Walt Jackson was embarrassed in the first match up. After saying he would single handedly destroy Boston he was shut down and had one of his worse outings of the season. This time no comments or bravado just results as the Dinos hit their home floor looking for their 10th win at home this season. Toronto had six players in double digits led