Kinsella's team implodes

[mu_hilltopper]

http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=313958

Rochester Fire investor leaves players in limbo
11/1/2007 1:04:41 AM
By Pat Ruff

Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN 

A handful of Rochester Fire basketball players were shooting baskets early Wednesday afternoon at Rochester Community and Technical College.

It wasn't a mandatory shootaround for members of this first-year American Basketball Association franchise. After the news that Fire coach Herb Hofer delivered to the players Tuesday, it was believed that they'd be too psychologically rattled to expect much of anything from them.

So Wednesday was devoted to letting some tough news sink in. Hofer told them midway through Tuesday's practice that their 2007-08 season may not happen. Lead Fire investor Steve Rodriguez has so far not shown an ability to pay the franchise's bills. If that doesn't change in the next few days, the plug will likely be pulled on the season.

"Going into (Tuesday), I thought things were really stable for the franchise," said 7-footer Mike Kinsella, a former Rochester John Marshall star who is playing with the Fire after spending three seasons at Marquette University. "Then when (Hofer) told us what was going on, it really hit us. I'll be really disappointed if things don't work out. I've really loved being back in Rochester, and the team has really started to come together in the three weeks that we've been practicing."

The Fire are scheduled to open their season at Mayo Civic Center on Nov. 9 against the St. Louis Stunners, and to practice there for the first time Monday. However, if the franchise hasn't shown the building's operators in the next few days that it has proper proof of insurance, there will be no Monday practice, and more than likely, no season. Donna Drews, executive director of Mayo Civic Center, said e-mails and calls to Rodriguez have not been returned.

According to Fire sources, that insurance is just one of a list of things that have so far gone unpaid by Rodriguez.

Time is running out. In the meantime, Hofer, assistant Fire coach Dave Grimsrud, and a roster of 11 players are left to prepare for a season that may never happen.

It left Wednesday's gathering of Fire players and coaches somber and resigned. They want the season to happen, all while knowing that there is a very real chance that it will not.

"I love basketball and I really want to play," said guard Bryan Schnettler, a star shooting guard a year ago at St. Thomas University in St. Paul, who accepted an offer to play for the Fire after also getting some European offers. "I'd say there is about a 50-50 chance that the season is going to happen."

Kinsella says bitterness has not yet set in among the Fire players. That would only happen if it became official that the season was not going to happen, forcing Kinsella and other Fire players to quickly try to find another place to play professionally. Kinsella said he has already contacted his agent about that possibility, as have other Fire players.

Until then, though, they are all trying to make it business as usual, preparing for the season.

"We're trying to be optimistic," said Kinsella, who is living with a friend's parents in Oronoco, and intended to stay there all season. "The mood was down (Tuesday). But after talking with the coaches, we're just coming in and treating it as business as usual. We're just going to come in again tomorrow and keep practicing."

Fire point guard Paris Kyles, who played last year at Minnesota State, Mankato, is disappointed but not shocked about the possibility of the Fire folding. He refuses to get too emotional about it.

"It's a business, and it's all out of my hands," Kyles said.

[Classof2016]

"Kinsella, a star forward..."

I think my rec center team can give them a game if that's true...