Hey Mike . . .

[bbneutralfan]

How about sponsoring an NBA exhibition game to raise money for our men's basketball program. Would be great to ask Mike D'antoni to bring his Houston team and play former Herd Coach Billy Donovan's Oklahona City team. The NBA plays exhibition games all over so why not try to get one here. Just asking.

 

[bbneutralfan]

Sorry did not mean to post this twice. Perhaps a mod can delete one.

 

[ARandomHerdFan]

Sorry did not mean to post this twice. Perhaps a mod can delete one.

Got it.

 

[Herd In the Plains]

I think that is a very good suggestion. It would sure get us some positive pr in the bball world.

 

[imherdfan]

Saw Spud Webb and the Hawks play at Henderson Center in late 80's so it's been done before.

 

[therd1]

Saw Wes Unseld and the Baltimore Bullets play the Atlanta Hawks (Maravich didn't show up) at the field house in the early 70s

 

[oldeherd]

How about sponsoring an NBA exhibition game to raise money for our men's basketball program. Would be great to ask Mike D'antoni to bring his Houston team and play former Herd Coach Billy Donovan's Oklahona City team. The NBA plays exhibition games all over so why not try to get one here. Just asking.

I read or heard somewhere that the NBA doesn't do their exhibition games like that anymore, or at least not in small venues like the Henderson Center.

I'm old enough to remember when major league baseball clubs broke up spring training in the Florida Grapefruit League and headed back "north" for the start of the regular season. They would stop and play exhibition games on the way back in towns/cities in states up and down the eastern seaboard. Remember seeing Boston Red Sox vs. Boston Braves in Bluefield: two of the players were Ted Williams and a young Henry Aaron, as I recall. On same field where Bluefield Blue Jays still play today.

 

[Herd In the Plains]

I am old enough to remember when the NBA players came to Charleston and had about 4 teams sponsored by the car dealerships and played a tournament. Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Chamberlain, etc.

 

[31Herd55]

I read or heard somewhere that the NBA doesn't do their exhibition games like that anymore, or at least not in small venues like the Henderson Center.

I'm old enough to remember when major league baseball clubs broke up spring training in the Florida Grapefruit League and headed back "north" for the start of the regular season. They would stop and play exhibition games on the way back in towns/cities in states up and down the eastern seaboard. Remember seeing Boston Red Sox vs. Boston Braves in Bluefield: two of the players were Ted Williams and a young Henry Aaron, as I recall. On same field where Bluefield Blue Jays still play today.

Right beside Mitchell Stadium...Home of the Mighty Beavers

 

[bbneutralfan]

Oldeherd nothing ventured nothing gained. A favorite son coaching Houston and a former well liked coach heading Oklahoma City. Small venue or not I guarantee it would sell the place out. IMO worth checking out.

 

[Tim Hensley]

Olde Herd,

In 1949-1950 my dad was an ironworker on the new N&W bridge at Cooper (Maybuery) that was constructed as part of a lower-grade line relocation, along with Elkhorn Tunnel. He saw that Braves game at Bluefield's Bowen Field and was talking at length with Warren Spann. Spann gave him some money and asked if he would go get him a hot dog and a coke, on account of the fans would swarm him if he went to the concession himself!

Back to basketball, I remember seeing the Detroit Pistons play an exhibition game at Memorial Field House when I was a kid, maybe about 1958. They had the 7'2" Walter Dukes. Seems like Elgin Baylor or Wayne Embry was also in that game.

Neutral's suggestion of the Rockets/Thunder game sounds like a plan to me,

 

[Snortin Buffalo]

I'm old enough to remember too much. Oh, by the way, there was an NBA game at the field house in 1965 or 66. Don't remember who played.

 

[oldeherd]

Right beside Mitchell Stadium...Home of the Mighty Beavers

Yeah, and despite its "age", still one of the best high school venues in the entire state. I believe a lot of the work, stone, etc., at the stadium was done during the depression recovery; one of Roosevelt's programs, maybe, like WPA.

And bbneutralfan, I'm not knocking original post, but as you can see from other replies that other such games mentioned were in 50s and 60s or so; 30 years or more. If NBA teams still did this regularly, I'm sure someone would have booked a game or two more recently in venues like Charleston CC or WVU Coliseum. Worth a try, but don't believe it will get anywhere.

 

[FlyHawk98]

Even if it is not something that remains common, the OP is suggesting we use our connections to see about special treatment. All they can do is say no.

I honestly think MD would push for it as a way to help his brother DD. Plus it would be close to all of his friends and family back home.

 

[I Herd dat]

What about a former star players game vs current local celebs? Like Hal Greer and White Chocolate JWill vs Keith Morehouse and Chuck Landon type of deal?

 

[31Herd55]

Randy Moss would play in that game

 

[I Herd dat]

Yeah why not, he was a Bball player too.