LOCAL ABA TEAM: Rattlers are battlers

Franchise aiming to survive where others have failed

The Las Vegas Bandits of the IBL have come and gone, and the same for the Las Vegas Slam of the ABA. Now, the Las Vegas Rattlers will give the ABA another try, hoping to succeed where so many other past professional sports franchises have failed in the entertainment capital of the world.

"I did research on Vegas and saw that seven teams have come through here the last 25 years," said team owner Roy Hammonds, who played in the ABA himself a couple of years ago and also signed a couple of 10-day contracts in the NBA. "Both (the Bandits and Slam) were in buildings too big to be in -- the Cox Pavilion and the Thomas & Mack Center -- so we tried a smaller venue. There are 4,000 seats (at the Event Center Las Vegas, located at 121 E. Sunset Road), so if we get 2,000 people, it looks full.

"There's a different feel to it. It gives us home court advantage and people are having a good time. The number one thing is to keep costs down."

The ABA's heyday was from 1967-76, with players like Julius Erving, Moses Malone and George Gervin starting their careers there before moving on to the NBA.

While the league has struggled to thrive the last four years -- with last season suspended to reorganize -- players such as former NBA rebounding champion Dennis Rodman and former NBA player Stanley Roberts are again trying to use the ABA to make it back to the NBA.

Money certainly isn't an incentive, because the ABA now features a salary cap and lower ticket prices (free for infants, $5 for children under 17, $10 for adults and $25 for floor seats).

"The ABA has lowered costs all the way around," Hammonds said. "It was just a hard sell, so we took a year off to reorganize and we tried to make it a buyable entity. We cut the schedule in half and made it more affordable.

"I'm just trying to create more jobs for players and coaches and give them an opportunity to continue their careers. This league is for players to get exposure to move up to the NBA or get a great paying job overseas."

Hammonds said five players have already made the jump from the ABA to the NBA this season and that more than 20 players made the leap two years ago as well.

Hammonds said he's trying to make the Rattlers more entertaining than the previous two teams in town as well, with Percy Miller, aka noted rapper Master P, on the squad, along with popular singers performing the national anthem and halftime shows and an announcer who provides live, running commentary during the games, along with poking fun at players and fans alike.

"I want it to be a viable form of entertainment and that's why I brought in my good friend Master P," Hammonds said. "You look at sports nowadays and it's a show, so if I can bring someone in who already has a fan base, it makes it easier. It's important for us to have him here. He loves the game and he's a competitor.

"First and foremost, though, we wanted to put a good product on the floor and be successful, and we're doing that. We also wanted to some good things in the community, and we're doing that."

While the Rattlers have already organized toy, food and clothing drives for area charities, fans do have to pay for parking at home games, at $5 per car, and are patted down by security upon entering the cozy venue, formerly the All-American Sports Park.

The home uniforms are red, white and blue, to match the famous ABA ball, and they resemble the ones worn by the now-defunct New York Nets, who were led by Dr. J.

In addition to Miller, a 6-foot-4 swingman who played for the University of Houston and tried out for a couple of NBA teams, the Rattlers are coached by Joe Bryant, former NBA player and the father of L.A. Lakers star Kobe Bryant, and feature the aforementioned Roberts, Boulder City native Dave Kaufman, Rasul Salahuddin and John "Helicopter" Humphrey and Dennis "Spyder" Chissim of And-1 Basketball fame.

The pregame warm-ups can be worth the price of admission, featuring some spectacular dunks, and the game action is fast-paced and high-scoring, with both teams usually scoring much more than 100 points per game.

Like its forefather, the ABA also features unique rules, such as the 3-D rule, which gives an extra point on any score converted after a steal in the backcourt.

Hammonds said close to 3,500 fans showed up for one game, with the average attendance between 1,500 and 2,000 fans per game.

"We're really happy, because we're building up fan support, and we're in it for the long haul," he said. "It's a great brand of basketball. It's a fast-paced game with lots of scoring. It's a cross between the NBA and the college game."

The Rattlers have three home games scheduled for March, against New Jersey on March 7 and Fresno on March 9 and 10. The ABA playoffs are also tentatively slated to take place in Las Vegas. Those interested can call 317-7777.

Hammonds said the league is planning to expand to 10 teams next year and he thinks the ABA has a great shot to survive.

"It's really going in the right direction," he said. "I think it can only grow and get better."


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