Drew League officials plan to meet with Lakers G Kobe Bryant's representatives “at an undetermined location in Los Angeles” today at 1:00pm PT “to discuss a possible appearance” at an exhibition game in L.A. on Sept. 10 between the Drew League and Goodman League, according to Mark Medina of the L.A. TIMES. Drew League Commissioner Oris Smiley said that Bryant's appearance “won't necessarily dictate whether the Goodman League and Drew League can organize a rematch.” The two teams are “only four days removed from a competitive and controversial game where the Goodman League won, 135-134, before a standing-room only crowd at Trinity University” in DC. Should Bryant “play in the proposed rematch, however, Smiley believes his name recognition and skill set would draw even more buzz than when Bryant made a surprise visit last week in a Drew League game” in L.A. Smiley also believes that securing Bryant “will alleviate many of the logistical variables that are making Drew League officials open to pushing back the Sept. 10 date and feeling that they need to secure the necessary sponsors and commitment by the end of this week to make the event definitive.” Smiley said that he has been “told by Bryant's representatives ... that they could help with landing a television sponsor.” He also “hopes Bryant's array of endorsement deals, including Nike, Turkish Airlines and Sprite, could offset costs.” Smiley “believes the league has a better shot in landing a television deal for the rematch after seeing how many NBA players competed in the first game.” However, Medina notes in case “that's not possible, the league has to make the necessary changes to TheBasketballChannel.net so that it can withstand any traffic and avoid having to reimburse customers the $4.99 fee.” Smiley said that with “many fans denied entrance because of an overflow crowd at Trinity University” last weekend, the Drew League “wants an arena that can hold up to 5,000 fans so that it doesn't have to worry about turning them away at the door” (LATIMES.com, 8/23).
PACKING THE HOUSE: In DC, Michael Lee noted Goodman League Commissioner Miles Rawls on Sunday said that he “would make sure that fans who purchased legitimate tickets but were denied entrance” to Saturday’s game “will be reimbursed in full.” Lee noted the excitement inside was “somewhat muted because hundreds of fans were sent away after the Trinity University gym reached full capacity (about 1,500).” Rawls explained that the “major problem was the result of individuals producing and selling counterfeit tickets for the biggest summer league game the District has seen in years.” Rawls said that people who bought tickets at Downtown Locker Room “will get a full refund if they paid with a credit card, and a store credit if they paid with cash.” He had “yet to figure out how to pay back fans who purchased tickets online” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 8/21). ESPN.com’s Beckley Mason noted the stands “were packed tight for an hour before” the game started, and event security said that they “turned away ‘thousands’ of ticketed costumers.” Rawls, who had “tried to reserve a larger space, anticipated the demand would outstrip the supply of seats.” Rawls said, "I knew I needed a 5,000-seat arena, but I couldn't get one and Trinity opened their doors to us." Mason wrote those “who made it inside the small, all-female Catholic university's gym could hardly ask for a better night,” as the players “seemed to find a perfect mix of intensity and nonchalance.” The narrow victory “should increase the likelihood of a return game between the two teams” in L.A. (ESPN.com, 8/21). In DC, Deron Snyder noted the game also “highlighted the inherent challenges if such ventures are to replace the NBA during a protracted lockout.” Saturday’s game was held in a 1,600-seat gym and if the games “aren’t carried on TV -- local broadcast, public access, regional cable or something -- they lose cachet, regardless of Internet buys and star performers” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 8/22).
BRAND PLAY: On Long Island, Alan Hahn noted one way to “feed the hunger” for basketball in the U.S. during the lockout is “to get the major sneaker brands involved.” A Nike vs. adidas series “that plays in Las Vegas on national TV would keep the game alive, keep most of the stars home and create a rare, perhaps even once-in-a-lifetime competition between the game’s biggest endorsement rivals.” The idea “takes the players back to their AAU roots, where the rivalry between the brands are at its fiercest.” A former adidas employee said, “This would intrigue the hell out of people.” Hahn noted if adidas “isn’t interested, and they might not [be] because of its relationship with the NBA as the official apparel supplier and partner,” then Nike could “take this ideas as their own and pit their Nike Basketball team vs. their Brand Jordan team” (NEWSDAY, 8/21).
ROOKIE GAMES: Kings G Jimmer Fredette yesterday said that he “will host two exhibition games during September in Utah that will feature NBA rookies.” The games “will be played under the banner of Jimmer’s All-Stars,” and will be held “Sept. 21 at the Maverik Center in West Valley City and Sept. 22 at the Marriott Center in Provo” (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 8/23).
