November 22, 2009

The Line Up: Notorious Characters of Hoop

Some recent news on ESPN got me to thinking of  the various interesting players I came into contact with during my time as a Stampede GM and owner.  So here is All Time “Notorious Lineup” during my 5-year tenure in the CBA and NBADL. Honorees are from various teams we faced at home and on the road:

Head Coach: Michael Ray Richardson

Assistant Coach: Billy Bayno

Oliver Miller

Jayson Williams

Olden Polynice


Teddy Dupay


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2003-04 IDAHO STAMPEDE - Team was 37-16 and played in CBA Championship Game in Bismarck, ND, losing to the Dakota Wizards by 3 points. Front Row L-R: Amber Brown; John Brunelle; Larry Krystkowiak; Ben O’Brien; Steve Brandes.  MidRow: Randy Livingston; DeSean Hadley; Bryan Gates; Heather Wright; Travis Russell; Paul McFarland; David Bailey. Back Row: Josh Davis; Casey Calvary; Noel Felix; Mario Woodson; Roberto Bergersen.

2003-04 IDAHO STAMPEDE - Team was 37-16 and played in CBA Championship Game in Bismarck, ND, losing to the Dakota Wizards by 3 points.

Front Row L-R: Amber Brown; John Brunelle; Larry Krystkowiak; Ben O’Brien; Steve Brandes.  MidRow: Randy Livingston; DeSean Hadley; Bryan Gates; Heather Wright; Travis Russell; Paul McFarland; David Bailey. Back Row: Josh Davis; Casey Calvary; Noel Felix; Mario Woodson; Roberto Bergersen.

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The season we returned to action with the Idaho Stampede was pretty fun, even though we didn’t win a lot of games. The crew pictured here: Front Row L-R:  Asst. Coach Bryan Gates; Head Coach Rory White; GM John Brunelle.  Back Row L-R: Account Exec Clint Hordemann; Asst. Coach Travis Russell: Account Exec Steve Brandes; Account Exec Paige Standlee; PR Director Todd Anderson.

The season we returned to action with the Idaho Stampede was pretty fun, even though we didn’t win a lot of games. The crew pictured here: Front Row L-R:  Asst. Coach Bryan Gates; Head Coach Rory White; GM John Brunelle.  Back Row L-R: Account Exec Clint Hordemann; Asst. Coach Travis Russell: Account Exec Steve Brandes; Account Exec Paige Standlee; PR Director Todd Anderson.

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August 24, 2008

Best By Position

In the four seasons I was GM we had a lot of good players on the team. I came up with an All Star team from among the players we signed during my tenure. This list hasn’t been shared with B.Gates and will no doubt be challenged once he sees it, since he is the player personnel savant.

Point Guard - Randy Livingston is an easy choice. Other good ones were Jermaine Boyette, David Bailey and Michael Johnson.

Shooting Guard - David Jackson, former Duck is an amazing shooter who won the CBA 3-Point Contest when we hosted it in 2006. Roberto Bergesen would be a good choice here as well. DeSean Hadley, a 2 or a 3?

Small Forward - Josh Davis.

Power Forward - Matt Freije, a great all around player who battled inside and could knock down treys.

Post - Sam Clancy, an absolute warrior who was undersized but physically and mentally tough and had superb touch from anywhere within 18 feet. Seven-footer Eric Chenowith had some strong games for us, and Casey Calvary was kind of like Sam.

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August 12, 2008

A Story from a Stampede Fan:

“I was at a Stampede game at the Idaho Center during the 2003 season. I went into the men’s room and there was a guy in there pouring beer into a water bottle. It was weird, just looked like he had bought a large beer but wanted to hide the fact that he was drinking. So he filled his blue water bottle and went back into the arena. Pretty big guy, dark hair, levis. Anyway, later when I was watching the game I noticed the same guy — and he was sitting at the end of the bench of the visiting team! And he actually was getting up off the bench at timeouts and was part of the huddle. Then I figured out that he was actually a player on the team! He was just injured or whatever and wasn’t playing that night.”

That was when we were in the CBA. I am surprised he bothered with the water bottle.

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August 7, 2008
TURIAF’S PROFESSIONAL DEBUT — Looking back on it, I was really pleased to be the host GM on the night Ronny Turiaf made his professional debut. When it was announced that he would be playing in Boise, our sales team filled a section with Boise-based Zag fans, and Turiaf played pretty well in the game. There was a lot of media and after the game he was slow coming out of the lockerroom, so I finally ventured into the Sun Kings room to get him. Turiaf was just sitting quietly, still in game uniform. He looked up at me and nodded and followed me out. I congratulated him on his game and he said a quiet ‘thanks.’ Then he dealt with the media. A couple weeks later he joined the LA Lakers, and there he be. That was one of those good nights in the CBA, when you didn’t really care if you won or lost (okay then, we won). The game had some star power, but also significance. This Turiaf is a great kid (according to MaryEllen Violette) and it was inspiring to see him in action. Still is, for that matter. Steve Bergum, Staff writer Spokesman Review December 27, 2005BOISE – For a young man who, five months ago, was lying unconscious on an operating table with his chest pried open and his exposed, ailing heart beating in the hands of another human being, Ronny Turiaf is doing quite well.Well enough, in fact, to return to professional basketball. The former Gonzaga University standout and second-round draft pick of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers made his debut for the Continental Basketball Association’s Yakama Sun Kings Monday night, scoring nine points and pulling down five rebounds in a 120-111 loss to the Idaho Stampede in Qwest Arena.

TURIAF’S PROFESSIONAL DEBUT — Looking back on it, I was really pleased to be the host GM on the night Ronny Turiaf made his professional debut. When it was announced that he would be playing in Boise, our sales team filled a section with Boise-based Zag fans, and Turiaf played pretty well in the game. There was a lot of media and after the game he was slow coming out of the lockerroom, so I finally ventured into the Sun Kings room to get him. Turiaf was just sitting quietly, still in game uniform. He looked up at me and nodded and followed me out. I congratulated him on his game and he said a quiet ‘thanks.’ Then he dealt with the media. A couple weeks later he joined the LA Lakers, and there he be.

That was one of those good nights in the CBA, when you didn’t really care if you won or lost (okay then, we won). The game had some star power, but also significance. This Turiaf is a great kid (according to MaryEllen Violette) and it was inspiring to see him in action. Still is, for that matter.

Steve Bergum, Staff writer

Spokesman Review

December 27, 2005

BOISE – For a young man who, five months ago, was lying unconscious on an operating table with his chest pried open and his exposed, ailing heart beating in the hands of another human being, Ronny Turiaf is doing quite well.

Well enough, in fact, to return to professional basketball. The former Gonzaga University standout and second-round draft pick of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers made his debut for the Continental Basketball Association’s Yakama Sun Kings Monday night, scoring nine points and pulling down five rebounds in a 120-111 loss to the Idaho Stampede in Qwest Arena.

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August 6, 2008
In 2002, in an owners meeting in the basement of Jim Tomlinson’s building downtown, I suggested to the investor group that we establish a foundation. My vision for the Idaho Stampede Community Foundation was quickly embraced. I contacted Tom Foerstel (http://www.foerstel.com/) for a logo and we were on our way. Here’s an excerpt from a recent article in Eagle Magazine: Off the court, the Idaho Stampede continues to manage and grow its charitable arm, the Idaho Stampede Community Foundation—the first foundation in Idaho established by a professional sports franchise. About a dozen programs were created to help “even the score” for those who may be at a disadvantage, with a particular emphasis on youth.Current projects include “The Reading Stampede,” an education outreach program designed to boost skills in students in kindergarten through third grade, and “Team up for Tickets,” a program that makes it easy (and tax deductible) for season ticket holders to donate unused game tickets to children who would otherwise be unable to attend. One of the foundation’s more innovative programs is “Operation Open Doors,” a fund for renovating the homes of injured soldiers returning home from deployment with significant physical injuries. Of all my accomplishments as President of the Idaho Stampede, I think this one is tops. Or maybe it was the time I beat Clint Hordemann in H-O-R-S-E.

In 2002, in an owners meeting in the basement of Jim Tomlinson’s building downtown, I suggested to the investor group that we establish a foundation. My vision for the Idaho Stampede Community Foundation was quickly embraced. I contacted Tom Foerstel (http://www.foerstel.com/) for a logo and we were on our way.

Here’s an excerpt from a recent article in Eagle Magazine: Off the court, the Idaho Stampede continues to manage and grow its charitable arm, the Idaho Stampede Community Foundation—the first foundation in Idaho established by a professional sports franchise. About a dozen programs were created to help “even the score” for those who may be at a disadvantage, with a particular emphasis on youth.

Current projects include “The Reading Stampede,” an education outreach program designed to boost skills in students in kindergarten through third grade, and “Team up for Tickets,” a program that makes it easy (and tax deductible) for season ticket holders to donate unused game tickets to children who would otherwise be unable to attend. One of the foundation’s more innovative programs is “Operation Open Doors,” a fund for renovating the homes of injured soldiers returning home from deployment with significant physical injuries.

Of all my accomplishments as President of the Idaho Stampede, I think this one is tops. Or maybe it was the time I beat Clint Hordemann in H-O-R-S-E.

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People still thank me for bringing the LAKER GIRLS to Qwest Arena in December 2005.

People still thank me for bringing the LAKER GIRLS to Qwest Arena in December 2005.

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In 2005 we conducted a special recognition night and ticket promotion with the military, and it involved a kickoff news conference. Major General Larry Lafrenz (Idaho National Guard) is on my right, and then-Governor (current Secretary of the Interior) Dirk Kempthorne is on my left. The Stampede gets support at the highest levels!

In 2005 we conducted a special recognition night and ticket promotion with the military, and it involved a kickoff news conference. Major General Larry Lafrenz (Idaho National Guard) is on my right, and then-Governor (current Secretary of the Interior) Dirk Kempthorne is on my left. The Stampede gets support at the highest levels!

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Bryan Gates, first person I hired when I took over as GM in November of 2001. He has worked hard to become the two-time Coach of Year in the NBADL. The B-Gates story is a good one, and you can read about him later this year in Idaho Magazine. I am writing the article.

Bryan Gates, first person I hired when I took over as GM in November of 2001. He has worked hard to become the two-time Coach of Year in the NBADL. The B-Gates story is a good one, and you can read about him later this year in Idaho Magazine. I am writing the article.

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