By Michael Swanger

Sports fans and those who fondly recall the American Basketball Association of yore, here’s a bit of news that might get you salivating: the ABA’s Dribblers, formerly of Springfield, Mo., have been bounced to Des Moines.

“Though we regret the way we parted with our fans in Springfield, we’re excited about the prospect of moving to a bigger city with skywalks and a new freeway,” said team owner Richard Craven.

In exclusive interviews with Craven, league officials, players and fans, Cityview has learned that the Dribblers will officially announce their move to Des Moines at a press conference to be held Tuesday at noon at Veterans Memorial Auditorium — the Dribblers’ new home [if it’s not converted into a Cabela’s retail outlet — see Winners/Losers]. The public is invited to attend the event and is encouraged to “fly” the team’s new colors of blue, orange and white and wear their short-shorts and knee-high socks.

“Des Moines, get ready to party like it’s 1975!” Craven said.

News of the team’s arrival in the Capital City is being welcomed by city and tourism officials who estimate that the Dribblers’ home games will be a financial boom to downtown. Even the owners of other local sports teams like the Iowa Cubs, Iowa Energy, Des Moines Buccaneers, Iowa Stars, Iowa Barnstormers and Iowa Crush openly welcome their arrival.

“We don’t have the figures yet, but my guess is we can expect Dribblers games to generate tens of thousands of dollars for local hotels, restaurants and bars during the course of the season. I mean, just look at the box office receipts to Will Ferrell’s new movie, ‘Semi-Pro,’” said Greg Edwards at a luncheon, president and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Visitors and Convention Bureau. “My staff is hard at work, writing press releases about their economic impact, which will generate stories for television and daily newspaper reporters.”

“This truly is a great day for folks my age who grew up idolizing Dr. J and the Bay City Rollers,” said Des Moines councilman Chris Coleman in a statement. “I’ve got to see if I still have any of those knee-high, striped socks in my gym bag from junior high tucked away in the attic.”

Not everyone, however, is salivating over the prospect of Des Moines hosting an ABA team, let alone one that was forced to leave Springfield following “an incident” last fall in which players traded fist-a-cuffs with fans following a charity game.

“We don’t need that kind of thuggish behavior in Des Moines,” said Annie Racer, founder of Mothers Against Youth Basketball Enmity (MAYBE). “Our kids see enough violence in the NBA and YMCA. Is this the kind of message city leaders want to send to our youth?”

Michael Rotch, a sports reporter with The Springfield Times Republican and Gazette, spent the last season covering the Dribblers. He said public opinion of the Dribblers turned sour after players allegedly instigated a fight last December with season ticket holders. The fans won the chance to play against the Dribblers after participating in a raffle in which tickets were sold for $500. Rotch said a last-second slam dunk that gave the season ticket holders an exhibition win over the Dribblers 101-100, infuriated the team’s two star players, former Iowa State University and University of Iowa standouts Kenny Pratt and Pierre Pierce.

“They claim that they ‘accidentally grazed’ the guy in the jaw with their elbows, but it looked more flagrant than that,” Rotch said. “All I know is that I’m happy I don’t have to go into their locker room anymore following a loss. The only thing that stunk worse than their sweaty uniforms was their attitude.”

Craven admitted that last year’s team was troubled, but he promises that the Dribblers will turn over a new leaf when they come to Des Moines. Last year, the Dribblers finished last in the Central Division of the ABA’s Yellow Conference with a record of 19-44. But Craven has since booted Pratt and Pierce from the squad and recruited former Iowa and ISU stars Ricky Davis and Jamaal Tinsley to upgrade the team’s image. Craven bought out their NBA contracts for an undisclosed sum of money, adding that their fan-friendly, selfless style of play “was worth it.” The team has also signed Russian star player, Vladislav Koksenbolz, a 7’ 8” center.

“It’s true, we dropped the ball in the past, but I’m looking forward to the 2008 version of the team,” Craven said. “We’re going to bring back some of the things that made the ABA the great league it once was.”

The professional ABA basketball league gained popularity during the 1970s thanks to players like George Gervin and Julius Erving, aka Dr. J. It also introduced the multi-colored “beach ball,” pioneered the three-point shot and became known more for its showmanship and promotions than its athletic ability.

“It used to be that fans didn’t care who won the game,” said longtime ABA fan and Los Angeles resident Rita Booke, who chronicled the league’s history in her 1982 book, “Screwballs.” “They went to ABA games to have a good time and see the freak show.”

Though city officials must grant the Dribblers a series of special permits, Craven said his marketing and publicity staff is hard at work concocting the kind of fan-friendly, interactive publicity stunts that made the ABA popular more than 30 years ago. A few ideas are already set in stone, he said, including “Smelt Night,” “Team Toilet Seat Schedule Giveaway” and free Dribbler bibs to the first 2,000 toddlers. Craven said the team will also continue some of its longstanding half-time entertainment, including “Box Out for Bonds,” where fans hold their position on the court while the team’s mascot tries to knock them over (the last one standing wins a $500 bond) and the “Longest Slobber Cam,” which earns one lucky fan with the longest drool a free set of Dribblers headbands and wristbands.

Craven has yet to announce the team’s new coach. He was seen by Cityview reporters last week wineing and dining Drake Bulldogs coach Keno Davis, just hours before the Drake team left for Florida to play in the NCAA tournament. But sources within the Dribblers organization that requested to remain anonymous said Craven is “leaning towards bringing Larry Eustachy back to Iowa.”

Regardless of who coaches the Dribblers, the new manager will have a wealth of talent to direct. Veteran players like center Bill “The Janitor” Ding, point guard Willie “Tiny Hands” Davis and shooting guard Alfonso “Set Shot” Quick join newcomers Sonny “Sweet Feet” Day, Tim “Skip to my Lou” Burr, “Sir” Hardin Thicke and Koksenbolz. They are among 15 of the team’s 22 players. To fill the roster by July, as determined by league rules, the Dribblers will host a series of tryouts, giving local fans a shot at making the team. The first tryout will be held Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Scheels All Sports at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines, followed by a second round at Evelyn Davis Park in Des Moines that same day at 6 p.m. Participants are required to bring their own athletic attire, a copy of their last physical and a list of off-court skills.

“Imagine the thought of being a part of the next chapter of this historic tale,” said Dribblers announcer and former ABA star “Easy Pete” Peter Yanken. “We hope it makes fans drool.” CV

When the ABA descends on Des Moines this fall, it won’t just bring along the best players America has to offer. It will also include a man many believe could be the greatest international basketball star of his generation.

Vladislav Koksenbolz was born in 1981 in the Soviet Russian city of Izhevsk in the Ural Mountains, but grew up in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He had never seen or heard of basketball until he entered high school. But at the age of 16, Koksenbolz hit his growth spurt, shooting up more than two feet from just less than 5 feet to 7’ 8”.

“I never hear of this game of basketball until I grow like strong tree when chest hair come,” he said in an exclusive interview with Cityview. “Then American man tell me I make good at game, and he help me become very good.”

Norm Thurston, a former American ambassador to Russia in the mid-90s, discovered Koksenbolz working at a farmer’s market in downtown St. Petersburg.

“He’s a monster,” he said. “Just look at him. He’s freakin’ huge! If that ain’t a basketball player, I don’t know what is.”

In 1997, Koksenbolz joined CSKA Moscow, a Russian professional basketball club often referred to as “Red Army” for its past affiliation with the Soviet Army. In his first season, he helped his new team win the Russian championship while averaging 7.2 points and 17.5 rebounds per game. He was also selected to participate in the Russian All-Star game, competing against, and dominating, the best his homeland had to offer.

Thurston said he and Koksenbolz decided last year that it was time to take his talents to the only place where he would truly be appreciated: America.

At 7’8”, Koksenbolz is by far the largest player in the ABA. He said he is looking forward to getting to know Des Moines and the Dribblers fan base. — Jason Hancock

Dribblers 2008 Home Game Promotions

Oct. 31 (Home opener) — Team Toilet Seat Schedule Giveaway
Nov. 4 — Smelt Night
Nov. 20 — Sucker Punch Night
Nov. 26-27 — Free Pumpkin Pie Filling
Dec. 1 — Lady Mud Wrestling
Dec. 7 — Four-Foot Night (free admission to midgets and children)
Dec. 9 — Free Pork n’ Beans
Dec. 16 — North Slope Jacket Night
Dec. 19 — Free Lyme Disease Test Kits
Dec. 24 — Free post-game concert by Asia
Jan. 2 — Spay and Neuter Night
Jan. 7 — Free Vladislav Koksenbolz Bobbleheads to first 5,000 fans
Jan. 12 — Play For The Dribblers Contest
Jan. 17 — Steve King’s Latin Dance Contest
Jan. 25 — Free Mopar Oil Pans to first 5,000 fans
Feb. 3 — Hairiest Back Contest
Feb. 14 — Win A Stripper
Feb. 20 — Lutefisk Festival (sponsored by Grain Belt Beer)
Feb. 28 — Ink Jet Printer Cartridge Recycle Night (15 cartridges for $1 off admission)
March 2 — Iowa Crush vs Mid Iowa Rollers Halftime Spank Down
April 1 — Mandatory Fan Hot Dog Eating Contest for Final Home Game

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