Bellingham has always been thought of as a basketball town because the success of its high schools and the Western Vikings, but now the city has a professional team to mark its identity.
The Bellingham Slam, an American Basketball Association team, will begin its inaugural season Today when the team travels to Los Angeles to take on the Los Angeles Aftershock.
The ABA, which started in 2001 and currently consists of 47 teams, disbanded in 1975 when it merged with the National Basketball Association and took on the latter's name.
Joe Newman, co-founder and chairman of the ABA, said a definite connection exists between the original ABA and the current.
"My partner (Richard Tinkham) was the founder of the ABA, and we made the decision of resurrecting the old league," he said.
Newman said the NBA has lost touch with the common fans who can no longer afford to attend games. The ABA provides more affordable and fan-friendly experiences.
Other Washington ABA teams include the Bellevue Blackhawks and the Tacoma Navigators.
The city of Bellingham and Whatcom County's passion for basketball was a key selling point for the team, Slam general manager Bob Hofstetter said.
"We have a professional team in a small town, and I think that fans will enjoy a different type of basketball," said Slam head coach Rob Ridnour, father of Seattle SuperSonics point guard Luke Ridnour.
The team, which is comprised mostly of Washington state players, had tryouts during the summer to determine its roster. Three of the 10 players on the team, center Brian Dennis, forward Craig Roosendaal and guard Jacob Stevenson, played basketball at Western before moving on to the Slam.
One player Ridnour said could become a star is forward Mike Bush.
Bush played basketball and football at Washington State University and is the most athletic player on the team, Ridnour said.
At 6 feet, 6 inches tall and 245 pounds, Dennis, who played for the Vikings from 1999-2002, adds a big body to the lineup and is active around the post, Ridnour said.
Another notable Slam player is guard Caleb Gervin. He is the nephew of former ABA great George Gervin, who averaged 26.2 points per game and had a career total of 26,595 between the ABA and the NBA. Caleb Gervin played basketball at the University of Louisville before transferring to Azusa Pacific University in California, where he was named to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American team in 2003.
Roosendaal, who played at Western from 2003 to 2005, led the Vikings in three-point percentage at 47.3 percent during the 2004-2005 season.
The ABA has rules that differ from the NBA that will make for a faster-paced game.
"The league tries to promote scoring through its rules," Ridnour said.
One of the regulations that will increase scoring is the 3-D rule. If the offensive team turns the ball over in its backcourt, the defensive team receives a bonus point if it scores on the next possession. Ridnour said this forces teams to play pressure defense to create turnovers that can lead to four-point plays.
Other rules that speed up play include a back-down rule, which prohibits players from continuing their dribble for more than three seconds while in the post.
"The rules will make us press more and get up and down the court," Stevenson said. "There will be more pressure from the defense, but I think we will be able to handle it."
Stevenson, who played for the Vikings from 1999-2002, is returning to professional basketball after playing for a team in Portugal during 2002 and 2003.
Although the ABA will be more competitive than his collegiate experience, he said playing in front of local friends and fans should make the transition easier.
The Slam plays its home games at Whatcom Pavilion at Whatcom Community College. Tickets are available on the team's Web site at www.bellinghamslam.com or by calling (360) 734-SLAM.
