Posted: 04/18/07

More than a bump in the road
Vermont Frost Heaves win ABA Championship

Mark Gould | tech editor
mgould@smcvt.edu

Frost Heaves players celebrate shortly after winning the ABA championships. (photo courtesy of Roger Crowley/DigiTechVT.com)

On March 29, the Vermont Frost Heaves won the American Basketball Association (ABA) championship, defeating the Texas Tycoons 143-95 inside a sold out Barre Auditorium. The next day, players paraded through downtown Barre, riding on flatbed trucks and convertibles, waving to faithful fans.

Had it been the NBA championships, there might have been taunting and showboating during the game. Had it been the NBA championships, players might not have eagerly signed autographs for young fans during the post-game celebration.

But this was the ABA, a basketball league that distances itself from the NBA by demanding fan interaction, and enforcing a zero tolerance policy on taunting.

More cowbell

The Tycoons struck first, with two early three-pointers, but from then on, it was all Frost Heaves. The Frost Heaves forced early turnovers, capitalizing with several three-pointers from Aaron Cook and Tyrone Levett. At the end of the first quarter, the Frost Heaves held a 24-point lead.

“We knew Texas wanted to run with us and play an open game, but we didn’t want to change our style for them,” Frost Heaves Coach Will Voigt says. “They tried to run with us for a little bit and we scored a lot, and it was hard for them to recover.”

Voigt says despite a large lead, he remained focused on the game.

“Even though we had the big lead, until the last four or five minutes I didn’t think we had it locked up,” he says. “We tried to get the starters in for a chance to acknowledge them.”

Midway through the fourth quarter, a Frost Heaves fast-break lead to a long alley-oop from Antonio Burks to Ty Levett, whose two-handed slam elicited a deafening roar of applause and cowbells from Frost Heaves fans young and old.

Voigt attributes much of the team’s dominance to the depth of the Frost Heaves' bench.

“I don’t think there were a lot of teams that could really compete with us,” he says.

Former St. Michael’s basketball standout B.J. Robertson currently plays for the Frost Heaves, though he did not dress for the championship game. Robertson, who is the youngest player on the squad, says he was frustrated, but eagerly anticipates next season.

“Everybody wants to play in the championship game, but I looked at this season as just getting better for next year,” Robertson says. “It all happens for a reason. I was the youngest guy on the team, so I wasn’t upset.”

Robertson says he played in several home games during the season, and was excited to play in front of family and friends. He says he is eager to return next season, and hopefully win another championship.

“Look for us next year; we’ll try to come back and do the same thing,” Robertson says.

The ABA mind set

Sports Illustrated writer and basketball enthusiast Alexander Wolff owns the Frost Heaves and has orchestrated many public appearances for the players to interact with fans, he says.

Wolff says he hopes to restore the connection between pro athletes and fans. Pictured above, Wolff poses with mascot Bump the Moose during its creation stages. (photo courtesy of Alex Wolff)

“The one niche we can occupy in minor league sports is to return that connection between pro athletes and fans,” Wolff says. “It’s something that was involved from the very beginning.”

The Frost Heaves payroll is capped at $120,000, which is divided among players, coaching staff, and owners. Wolff says this they were able to offer housing and cover most meals for players.

“They’re making a six month commitment to us,” he says. “While our salary is not super generous, you could certainly live on what we’re paying these guys.”

Robertson says he gives basketball lessons to kids in order to make extra cash.

Because of financial strain, more than 15 teams were unable to finish the season, Wolff says.

“The ABA is a league that needs to become more stable,” he says. “We were able to play all of our 36 games this season and were one of only two ABA teams that could do this.”

Rules differ in the ABA in order to generate a more fast-paced game, according to the ABA slogan. Voigt says the result is a more intense game.

“Style of play is different,” Voigt says. “Our guys are hungry and play that way. The intensity levels are much higher than what you’d see in the NBA, and pace of play is faster because of that.”

Robertson says ABA basketball is a fan’s game.

“There’s full court pressure,” Robertson says. “Once you think you’ve got a 25 point lead, it’s not OK. There’s a lot of scoring.”

Community basketball

The Frost Heaves named Eric Kingsley the 13th player during a regular season game. Kingsley says he has attended 24 Frost Heaves games this season. (photo courtesy of Roger Crowley/DigiTechVT.com)

According to the ABA Web site, the ABA has a zero tolerance policy for taunting and baiting. Players are expected to demonstrate professional conduct at all times, and also to sign autographs and interact with fans following each game.

Robertson says he was relieved to find his teammates did not have big egos.

“The guys on the team were great,” he says. “No one on the team had a big head and the coaching staff was great.”

Eric Kingsley, a 39 year-old Brattleboro resident says after attending the first Frost Heaves game, he was hooked. This season, he attended 23 games, and was honored as the 13th player before a February game against the Maryland Nighthawks.

"I was 13th player for a game and I was treated like an honest to God teammate for the entire evening," Kingsley says. "Every player took time to talk to me and tell me how much they appreciate the fans."

Kingsley says he often chatted with players, including power forward Antonio Burks.

"Antonio Burks would always search me out and talk to me," Kingsley says. "He was out of action and sat next to me all night. He treated me like a brother."

The ABA also offers a community service award each year, given to the player who demonstrates a significant positive impact on the community. On April 28, Frost Heaves players will participate in the March of Dimes, to raise money to find the causes of premature birth. Additionally, the Frost Heaves will be hosting several basketball camps over the summer.

Voigt says the strong support from the community contributed to the Frost Heaves success.

“The community has found something to rally around,” Voigt says. “Certainly winning a championship is always something special, but more than anything, it’s the way the community accepted these guys, and vice versa. A lot of true friendships were formed, and that’s pretty rare at a pro setting.”