Former Rebels consider taking IBL shot

Steve Carp

Friday, June 18, 1999 | 10:39 a.m.

No local investors have taken the plunge. The team is still without a name. No players have been signed, though a few are interested.

But Las Vegas' International Basketball League franchise is open for business. And the IBL said what's missing will fall into place in plenty of time for the Nov. 26 tipoff to the league's inaugural season at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The use of the T&M was one of the few items the team did address Thursday at a press conference at UNLV's Richard Tam Alumni Center. It will play a 32-game home schedule in a scaled-down Thomas & Mack which will curtain off the balcony and use just the lower bowl and luxury suites to accommodate minor league pro basketball.

Ticket prices have yet to be announced. But the team will pay the T&M a flat rental fee of $11,500 per game and will not share in any of the revenue streams such as parking, concessions, signage or luxury suites.

It also officially announced former UNLV coach Rolland Todd as its general manager and coach.

As for the name, instead of the league picking one, it will hold a fan contest to determine what to call the Las Vegas franchise.

The news was announced in front of a few media, a lot of Thomas & Mack staff and three former UNLV players who would be interested in the IBL as an alternative to playing overseas.

"I'm interested," said Warren Rosegreen, nattily attired in a navy blue suit. "But you want to know it's solid before you get involved.

"I talked to Rolland Todd and George Blaney (the IBL's vice president of basketball operations) and I get the sense it's moving in the right direction."

Gerald Paddio, who starred at UNLV in the 1980s, also was there on a fact-finding mission.

"I came here to see what they had to say," said Paddio, who has played at virtually every level of pro ball since leaving UNLV in 1988. "I like the way it sounds. But honestly, I don't know if there's enough interest from the city."

Reggie Manuel, who was at UNLV from 1991-95, was a bit more optimistic.

"I think the community would support it," he said. "I hear different things about the money (player salaries), but it would be great to stay at home."

Todd believes the IBL concept can work. He is taking time off from his 13-year business venture of teaching coaching techniques and philosophies to return to the bench.

"It's a chance for me to put my money where my mouth is," Todd, 65, said. "One thing is my business has been a model for training coaches the last 13 years. I've always been an innovator."

Todd last worked the sidelines in 1986 at Taft College. He said little has changed.

"It's still basketball," he said. "I've dealt in creating relationships and dealing with players for many years. It's nothing new to me."

Something else that's familiar to ventures of this sort -- skepticism -- wasn't lost on Todd, either.

"Hopefully, we can get the community behind this and involved," he said. "We're going to reach out, do clinics, spread the word.

"This is a developmental league. It's a good, solid league that cares about its players. I'm here to put together the best team and best organization in the league."

But it is a league without local investors. It's a league without a national television deal. It's a league that plans to hold a 24-round draft next month to fill out its eight rosters (Tampa was put on hold for a year).

IBL president Thaxter Trafton said those issues are being dealt with.

"We're talking to different groups, but the team today is owned by the league," he said of the IBL's attempt to entice local investment in the team. "It's probably 2-3 months away from probably happening."

As for TV, Trafton said several teams are working on local deals. He said an IBL national game of the week is being discussed with several networks and the league hoped to have something to announce in the next several weeks.

Regarding the team name, fans who want to participate in the contest can phone in suggestions by calling 260-9881 or e-mailing them to LVName@aol.com. The winning entry will receive a pair of season tickets, a trip for two to a road game, an autographed team jersey and a party for 20 at a home game. The deadline is June 25 with the team name announced June 30.