Birmingham Bandits (basketball team)
Birmingham Bandits | |
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Sport | Basketball |
---|---|
League | Continental Basketball Association |
Active | 1991–1992 |
Home field | Bill Harris Arena |
Record | 27–34 |
Coach | Mo McHone |
General manager | N/A |
Colors | {{{colors}}} |
Website | N/A |
The Birmingham Bandits were a professional basketball team that played for only the 1991–92 season as a member of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). Led by head coach Mo McHone, the Bandits played their home games at the Bill Harris Arena during their lone season. On the court, the Bandits had modest success and advanced to the playoffs in their lone season, losing to Quad City. The franchise never truly developed a following during the course of the season and had an average attendance of just over 1,000 for home games at Fair Park. In May 1992 the Bandits were sold to investors in Minnesota, relocated, and became the Rochester Renegade.
History
In May 1991, it was announced the Pensacola Tornados would relocate to Birmingham for the 1991–93 season. Prior to the start of the season it was announced the Bandits NBA affiliations would be with the Atlanta Hawks and San Antonio Spurs. The Bandits opened the season with a 118–114 loss at Quad City on November 8. In their first home game on November 12, the Bandits lost to the Tri-City Chinook, but then defeated the Albany Patroons on November 15 for their first all-time victory. After their loss to Bakersfield on November 30, Birmingham's leading scorer and Jackson-Olin High School alumnus Michael Ansley was signed by the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers.
On December 10, the Bandits general manager Jim Goodman resigned in part due to the poor attendance to home games. On December 18, Tom Maloney was named general manager. Although the Bandits won their December game against La Crosse 113–112, the Catbirds appealed a foul and the CBA required the final 1:31 be replayed at their February 21 rematch. At this time La Crosse won 132–122.
Jim Farmer was selected as the only representative from the Bandits to the CBA All-Star game on January 22 at Yakima, Washington. The Bandits finished the season in second place in the Eastern Division and qualified for the CBA playoffs. After defeating Albany in a one-game playoff, Birmingham lost to Quad City in a best of five series 3–1.
The franchise relocated to Rochester, Minnesota in May 1992 and became the Rochester Renegade. The primary reason for their relocation was the Bandits having the lowest average attendance in the CBA at 1,091 fans per game.
All-time roster
- Marvin Alexander
- Leonard Allen
- Michael Ansley
- Chris Collier
- Michael Cutright
- William DeVaughn
- Jim Farmer
- Mike Goodson
- Skeeter Henry
- Richard Hollis
- Anthony Houston
- Larry Houzer
- Elfrem Jackson
- Eric Johnson
- Eugene McDowell
- Dave Popson
- Rob Robbins
- Emmett Smith
- Irving Thomas
- Mark Wade
- Earl Warren
- Robert Youngblood
Games
Date | Winning team | Score | Losing team | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 8 | Quad City Thunder | 118–114 | Bandits | Wharton Field House Moline, IL |
4,875 |
November 9 | La Crosse Catbirds | 117–100 | Bandits | La Crosse Center La Crosse, WI |
4,343 |
November 12 | Tri-City Chinook | 102–100 | Bandits | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
2,387 |
November 15 | Bandits | 120–118 | Albany Patroons | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
1,973 |
November 16 | Bandits | 124–119 | Rockford Lightning | Rockford MetroCentre Rockford, IL |
– |
November 19 | Bandits | 138–120 | Omaha Racers | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
1,681 |
November 22 | Bandits | 103–96 | Wichita Falls Texans | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
2,061 |
November 23 | Bandits | 111–98 | Grand Rapids Hoops | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
– |
November 27 | Bandits | 116–114 | Yakima SunKings | Yakima SunDome Yakima, WA |
– |
November 28 | Tri-City Chinook | 113–104 | Bandits | Tri-Cities Coliseum Kennewick, WA |
1,611 |
November 30 | Bakersfield Jammers | 130–124 | Bandits | Bakersfield, CA | – |
December 5 | Quad City Thunder | 121–107 | Bandits | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
617 |
December 6 | Albany Patroons | 94–90 | Bandits | Knickerbocker Arena Albany, NY |
5,582 |
December 8 | Oklahoma City Cavalry | 106–102 | Bandits | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
714 |
December 10 | La Crosse Catbirds | 132–122 | Bandits | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
723 |
December 11 | Fort Wayne Fury | 103–96 | Bandits | Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Fort Wayne, IN |
– |
December 13 | Bandits | 134–128 (OT) | Tulsa Zone | Tulsa, OK | 2,568 |
December 15 | Omaha Racers | 109–101 | Bandits | Ak-Sar-Ben Arena Omaha, NE |
2,669 |
December 17 | Quad City Thunder | 103–96 | Bandits | Wharton Field House Moline, IL |
2,438 |
December 19 | Bandits | 114–102 | Albany Patroons | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
803 |
December 20 | Bandits | 110–99 | Columbus Horizon | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
– |
December 22 | Fort Wayne Fury | 99–95 | Bandits | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
349 |
December 25 | Bandits | 107–103 | Grand Rapids Hoops | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
463 |
December 29 | Bandits | 102–94 | Columbus Horizon | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
543 |
January 2 | La Crosse Catbirds | 103–93 | Bandits | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
688 |
January 3 | Rapid City Thrillers | 110–90 | Bandits | Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Rapid City, SD |
5,521 |
January 8 | Columbus Horizon | 102–97 | Bandits | Ohio Expo Center Coliseum Columbus, OH |
– |
January 10 | Bandits | 113–105 | Quad City Thunder | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
1,292 |
January 11 | Quad City Thunder | 130–122 (3OT) | Bandits | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
952 |
January 17 | Albany Patroons | 109–101 | Bandits | Knickerbocker Arena Albany, NY |
4,444 |
January 20 | Bandits | 112–98 | Rockford Lightning | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
654 |
January 24 | Grand Rapids Hoops | 107–84 | Bandits | Grand Rapids Stadium Grand Rapids, MI |
3,432 |
January 25 | Columbus Horizon | 102–96 | Bandits | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
– |
January 28 | Oklahoma City Cavalry | 105–101 | Bandits | Fairgrounds Arena Oklahoma City, OK |
– |
January 30 | Sioux Falls Skyforce | 133–120 | Bandits | Sioux Falls Arena Sioux Falls, SD |
2,619 |
January 31 | Rockford Lightning | 118–86 | Bandits | Rockford MetroCentre Rockford, IL |
5,016 |
February 2 | Grand Rapids Hoops | 109–101 | Bandits | Grand Rapids Stadium Grand Rapids, MI |
3,047 |
February 4 | Bandits | 98–90 | Yakima SunKings | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
441 |
February 7 | Bandits | 119–108 | Fort Wayne Fury | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
822 |
February 8 | Wichita Falls Texans | 99–98 | Bandits | D. L. Ligon Coliseum Wichita Falls, TX |
2,787 |
February 10 | Bandits | 114–112 | La Crosse Catbirds | La Crosse Center La Crosse, WI |
3,759 |
February 14 | Bandits | 137–133 | Albany Patroons | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
538 |
February 16 | Fort Wayne Fury | 106–101 | Bandits | Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Fort Wayne, IN |
7,657 |
February 18 | Bandits | 134–98 | Sioux Falls Skyforce | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
– |
February 21 | La Crosse Catbirds | 108–104 | Bandits | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
1,449 |
February 23 | Columbus Horizon | 105–104 | Bandits | Ohio Expo Center Coliseum Columbus, OH |
– |
February 25 | Rockford Lightning | 84–81 | Bandits | Rockford MetroCentre Rockford, IL |
– |
February 28 | Bandits | 116–100 | Columbus Horizon | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
2,037 |
March 1 | Bandits | 127–123 | La Crosse Catbirds | La Crosse Center La Crosse, WI |
4,755 |
March 3 | Bandits | 110–88 | Rockford Lighting | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
516 |
March 6 | Bandits | 120–119 | Grand Rapids Hoops | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
1,214 |
March 8 | Bandits | 128–106 | Tulsa Zone | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
347 |
March 10 | Rapid City Thrillers | 107–100 | Bandits | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
1,411 |
March 11 | Grand Rapids Hoops | 102–97 | Bandits | Grand Rapids Stadium Grand Rapids, MI |
3,590 |
March 13 | Bandits | 119–118 | Albany Patroons | Glens Falls Civic Center Glens Falls, NY |
– |
March 14 | Fort Wayne Fury | 114–112 | Bandits | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
– |
March 17 Playoffs (One game shootout) |
Bandits | 131–122 | Albany Patroons | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
405 |
March 20 Playoffs (Best of five) |
Quad City Thunder | 109–99 | Bandits | Wharton Field House Moline, IL |
2,735 |
March 21 Playoffs (Best of five) |
Quad City Thunder | 125–102 | Bandits | Wharton Field House Moline, IL |
– |
March 23 Playoffs (Best of five) |
Bandits | 102–97 | Quad City Thunder | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
825 |
March 25 Playoffs (Best of five) |
Quad City Thunder | 116–109 | Bandits | Bill Harris Arena Birmingham, AL |
2,274 |
References
- Cooper, Craig (November 9, 1991) "Thunder wins for Panaggio" Quad-City Times - via Newspapers.com
- Kabelowsky, Art (November 10, 1991) "Rivers, Catbirds roll over Bandits" The La Crosse Tribune - via Newspapers.com
- Fussman, Chet (November 13, 1991) "Bandits get Chinookered" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Fussman, Chet (November 16, 1991) "Bandits grab first CBA victory with dramatic fourth-quarter rally" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Fussman, Chet (November 20, 1991) "Change for the better: improved Bandits win again" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Associated Press (November 23, 1991) "Bandits battle back, stop Texans 103–96" Times Record News - via Newspapers.com
- Morrow, Jeff (November 29, 1991) "Chinook sweeps Bandits" Tri-City Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Fussman, Chet (December 6, 1991) "Thunder strikes as Bandits fade" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Wire Reports (December 7, 1991) "Patroons knock off Bandits" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Wire Reports (December 9, 1991) "Cavs win, don't get big points" The Daily Oklahoman - via Newspapers.com
- Fussman, Chet (December 11, 1991) "At a loss for fans, Bandits lose GM" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Wire Reports (December 14, 1991) "Bandits put end to Zone in overtime" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Wire Reports (December 16, 1991) "Bandits can't stop Racers' streak" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Fussman, Chet (December 18, 1991) "Bandits will turn to baseball for new GM" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Fussman, Chet (December 20, 1991) "Bandits finally cash in at free-throw line" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Fussman, Chet (December 23, 1991) "Without much sound, Fury edges Bandits" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Fussman, Chet (December 26, 1991) "Hollis, McDowell gift wrap victory" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Fussman, Chet (December 30, 1991) "Surge in fourth quarter lifts Bandits over Horizon" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Thompson, Delbert (January 4, 1992) "5,521 cheer Thrillers' 8th straight home win" Rapid City Journal - via Newspapers.com
- Staff Reporters (January 12, 1992) "Q-C's Panaggio is all-star coach" Quad-City Times - via Newspapers.com
- Cochran, Lee (January 31, 1992) "Phills' 40 sinks Bandits 133–120" Argus-Leader - via Newspapers.com
- Staff Reporters (February 3, 1992) "Bandits lose on road again" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Fussman, Chet (February 5, 1992) "Thomas settles in during Bandits' victory" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Fussman, Chet (February 8, 1992) "Just call Bandits quartermasters" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Kabelowsky, Art (February 11, 1992) "Bandits rob Catbirds" The La Crosse Tribune - via Newspapers.com
- Staff Reporters (February 17, 1992) "Bandits falter down the stretch" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Pruitt, David (February 22, 1992) "Bandits drop two to Catbirds" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Estes, Cary (February 29, 1992) "Bandits get fans, victory" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Estes, Cary (March 7, 1992) "Bandits steal one from Grand Rapids" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Staff Reporters (March 11, 1992) "Thrillers rally at Birmingham behind Smart" Rapid City Journal - via Newspapers.com
- Grant, Rubin E. (March 18, 1992) "Bandits put hurting on Patroons" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Grant, Rubin E. (March 26, 1992) "Hot Quad City ousts Bandits" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com
- Ellis, Vince (May 22, 1992) "Bandits' move looks 'positive'" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Newspapers.com