BASKETBALL: DUNK TIME: HOW THE TEAMS LINE UP FOR THE NEW SEASON
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Your support makes all the difference.THE championship is in two conferences, North and South, with the top four from each contesting play-offs to decide the champion and dispensing with a League format. Under new sponsors replacing Budweiser, the competition will rejoice in the name of the Dairylea Dunkers Championship. The three major moves saw Steve Bucknall return from the Continent to the Towers, Travis Conlan leave Sheffield for Manchester and John McCord join Edinburgh from Thames Valley. Other major ins and outs:
BIRMINGHAM BULLETS
Out: Reggie Kirk. In: Yorick Williams (Derby), Lee Walker (TV Tigers), Americans Shawn Jamison and Corey Jackson (Newcastle). Coach, Mike Finger.
BRIGHTON BEARS
Uprooted from Worthing to the new Brighton Centre. In: Richard Scantlebury and Mike Brown (Milton Keynes) and seven feet tall former Boston Celtic Bill Claxton. Coach, Charles Luke-Bannerman.
CHESTER JETS
Pre season injuries cost them John Leahy and Kenny Pratt. In: English veteran Steve Nelson, Americans Greg Francis, Correy Child and New Zealander Pero Cameron. Coach, Robbie Peers.
DERBY STORM
New arena, The Thunder Dome. Out: Everybody except Tim Lascelles. In: Americans Cyptheus Bunton, Darrian Evans and Frank Harris. New coach, Martin Ford.
EDINBURGH ROCKS
In: John McCord (TV Tigers), Joel Burns (Derby). Coach, Jim Brandon.
LEICESTER CITY RIDERS
Out: All the non English. In: Canadians Robin Wilson and Kevin Gilroy, Americans John Potter, Tony Moore, Troy Coleman, all star Englishman Kevin St Kitts. New coach, Tim Darling.
LONDON LEOPARDS
Captain Robert Youngblood again leads a new bunch. In: Americans Kenny Capers, Brandon Brantley, Larry Johnson (Not the NY Knicks version) Coach, Billy Mims.
LONDON TOWERS
Play-off champions. In: Former LA laker Steve Bucknall, Neville Austin, American Donnie Johnson. New coach, Ron Abegglen.
MANCHESTER GIANTS
League Trophy Holders. Out: John White, Makeeba Perry (to Japan). In: Travis Conlan (Sheffield), Ray Carter (Iceland), Americans Phil Handy and Roy Hairston. Coach, Nick Nurse.
MILTON KEYNES LIONS
In: Americans Eric Burks (Leopards), Tony Windless, Kelvin Robinson, Modie (Correct) Cox. New coach, Tom Hancock.
NEWCASTLE EAGLES
In: New owners and new Americans Shahid Perkins, Andrew Mavis (Chester), Charles Smith and Canadian Chris Webber. Coach, Craig Lynch.
SHEFFIELD SHARKS
Cup holders and the last League champions. Out: Travis Conlan. In: Nate Reinking (Derby) and American Andre McCloud. Coach, Chris Finch
THAMES VALLEY TIGERS
Out: John McCord, Lee Walker. In: Martin Gottfried (Towers), Stuart Robbins (Wales), Americans Greg Meldrum (Chester), Bill Singleton (Leicester) and Tony Christie. Coach, Paul James.
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