| Rodman can only be a help for Bulldogs |
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February 12th and 13th Rodman will be coaching two games for the Elmira Bulldogs.
It seems like one of the most absurd ideas there is.
One of the biggest bad boys in NBA history, a player who gave plenty of coaches their share of grey hairs, now wants to become, of all things, a head coach.
Sure, Dennis Rodman is only going to be coaching the Elmira Bulldogs for two games. Sure, it’s a publicity stunt to help draw interest in the young professional team. But the thing is, it’s a genius idea.
Love him or hate him, one thing is certain — Dennis Rodman is a well-known basketball player.
Very few players are as recognizable outside of the game, as evidenced by his stint on national television as part of the Celebrity Apprentice this year.
He will bring fans to the arena; whether it’s to watch the game or just to see what Dennis Rodman is going to do on the sideline, people who may not have even known the Bulldogs existed will be in the stands.
And Rodman as a coach may not be the end of what the Bulldogs will do in the future to try and bring in crowds.
"If the community supports this we will look to bring in more big names in the future," Bulldogs coach and general manager James Schutz said. "We may look to do this every year."
Last year the Bulldogs played their games at the Chemung County YMCA and they had plenty of success, reaching the Eastern Basketball Alliance finals.
Still, the team knows it’s time for a change.
"We need to grow," co-owner Charlie Birtch said. "This is nothing against the Chemung County YMCA; they have treated us well, but we need to grow as a team."
The Bulldogs know that the facilities at the YMCA aren’t as modern as they need to be for a professional basketball team, and the goal is to one day play all of their games at First Arena.
It’s an idea that could flourish in this area. The region has minor league baseball and minor league hockey, and both sports have a strong following.
The region has supported it’s high school basketball and college sports teams throughout New York have strong followings, but there is very limited competition when it comes to professional basketball in this area.
A strong product on the court would likely draw a good crowd, and having Rodman, even for two games, can only help in the long run.
Bringing in the NBA all-star gets the Bulldogs foot in the door at the First Arena and it gets the team’s name out to fans and to players. Teams in the EBA are loaded with former college players — some of them former Division I players — and the appearance by Rodman may help the Bulldogs attract bigger name college players.
Schutz said the goal is to one day draw from the Syracuse alumni of basketball players, and that is certainly a good way to go.
The Orange draw huge crowds for every game and the players are very recognizable. Landing talent like that can ensure large crowds, even when Rodman’s coaching days in Elmira are just a distant memory.
As for the antics Rodman may cause on the sideline, his statement says he is looking forward to a coaching career in basketball, and this is his first step.
Whether he actually winds up with a coaching career somewhere, or whether his career is just two games on the sidelines, Rodman is a player that will bring some insight with him.
For whatever he did off the court, Rodman studied the game: he knew shooters’ tendencies and was a master at positioning on the defensive end.
He has the background to one day develop into a good coach. Whether he has the attitude to do so or not remains to be seen, but one thing is sure: when he takes to the sidelines at the First Arena, all eyes will be on Dennis Rodman. |
By Brian Fees
