KFDM COOP

Breaking News: Wildcatters Say Team Must Vacate Arena Within 30 Days of Playoff's End The Texas Wildcatters say Jefferson County administrators have told them to vacate their offices and players' facilities at Ford Arena within 30 days of the completion of the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs, and the team says the County terminated all negotiations as of March 12. The team's Director of Communications, Quincy Bird, issued a news release Thursday evening stating the County has indicated it'll refuse to honor the terms of the Wildcatters' license agreement pertaining to play for five full hockey seasons. The news release states that on February 28, the County withdrew its offer for the $4,000 per game rent. KFDM News has left messages with a number of county officials for comment. NEWS RELEASE FROM TEXAS WILDCATTERS: WILDCATTERS INSTRUCTED TO VACATE FORD ARENA "The Texas Wildcatters were told Wednesday afternoon by Jefferson County to vacate their offices and players' facilities in Ford Arena within 30 days from the completion of the 2008 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs. The County has indicated it would refuse to honor the terms of the Wildcatters' license agreement permitting play for five full hockey seasons. It is unfortunately now clear, that despite the Wildcatters' good faith efforts since October 29, 2007 to have an honest dialogue with county officials concerning hockey in Southeast Texas, that all negotiations have been terminated by the County as of March 12, 2008. During the course of negotiations to retain hockey in Southeast Texas, the Wildcatters at all times believed the County would live up to the license agreement signed by the County and currently in effect and that clearly provides for five full hockey seasons. While the Wildcatters originally initiated discussions with the County this past fall, the Wildcatters, on February 4, 2008, made a comprehensive proposal to the County which also included the addition of a second major professional sports team (MISL) which would have added another 15 dates to the arena's calendar. In addition to the current Wildcatters total of 36 dates, this would have brought the total number of sports dates to 52 plus playoffs, accounting for nearly 80% of the current building usage. In that proposal the Wildcatters also offered to make a very significant investment of $1 million to $5 million in the building. That offer was ignored. The County's only response to this comprehensive proposal was to propose a rent of $10,000 per game - triple what is clearly identified in the license agreement - followed by a later offer of $4,000 per game. These delays and the ensuing breach of the license agreement caused the Wildcatters to miss several extended ECHL deadlines and cost the Wildcatters the opportunity to retain an ECHL team for the 2008-2009 season. The County encouraged the Wildcatters to pursue other playing options and the organization immediately began negotiations with the Central Hockey League. The Wildcatters arranged for the purchase of a CHL franchise to bring to Jefferson County. The CHL has seven Texas-based teams and offers the opportunities for tremendous geographic rivalries due to the relative proximities of many of the teams in relation to Southeast Texas. On February 28, 2008, the County withdrew its offer for the $4,000 per game rent, and it has become clear that the County was not negotiating in good faith to keep professional hockey in Southeast Texas. In response to several misleading and inaccurate reports concerning details of the Texas Wildcatters' lease status at Ford Park, the team is releasing all information, letters and documents in its possession pertaining to discussions with County officials in order to clarify the record. As part of this, it is the Wildcatters understanding that the County has indicated, in connection with discussions with various third parties, that the County is awaiting a response from the Wildcatters to the County's offer for hockey at Ford Arena in 2008-2009. There is in fact no offer from the County for the team to respond to. The County officials have informed the Wildcatters their lease is null and void after completion of the 2008 Playoffs. The Wildcatters have been told they may not play at Ford Park next season, costing the arena its primary tenant as well as a proposed new sports tenant and significant capital contribution. The Wildcatters will continue to pursue all options to keep professional hockey in Southeast Texas for the 2008-2009 season. Materials pertaining to the County discussions with the Wildcatters are currently available for the media at the Wildcatters' offices and will be posted for the public on the team website: wildcattershockey.com by 10 p.m. Thursday, March 13. The Texas Wildcatters are a proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild of the NHL and the AHL's Houston Aeros."

Buna 12 Hardin 1 Final. WP Josh Clark

Nebraska wins 61-56.

Why did they change the time? Vidor gets out of Scholl early, Spring Break thing.

Game Two -- No. 3 Sam Houston State 64, No. 6 McNeese Stdate 62 (OT) KATY, Texas – It took overtime and missed free throws with 0.5 seconds remaining, but No. 3 seed Sam Houston State moved on to the semifinals with a 64-62 win over No. 6 McNeese State in game two tonight. With the win, Sam Houston State improves to 23-7 overall, as Ryan Bright posted his SLC best 15th double-double of the season with 17 points and 15 rebounds. McNeese State’s season comes to a close at 13-16, despite the third double-double of the season from John Pichon, with 13 points and 14 rebounds and seventh double-double from Jarvis Bradley with 12 points and 10 rebounds. John Ford added a game-high 21 points. The story of the game was defense, as neither team shot the ball well. Sam Houston State finished 29.4 from the field for the game (20-68), while McNeese State finished at 34.9 (22-63) percent. McNeese State led by as many as 13 in the first half, before Sam Houston State sent the game to halftime at 25-25. In the second half, the Cowboys pushed a lead out to seven, 48-41 with 5:53 to play, with three minutes to play, Kleon Penn fouled out with the team up four, 50-46. From that point on, the Bearkats went on a 4-0 run to close the half and kept the Cowboys from getting a shot off with the ball and 16 seconds to play in the half with the score tied at 50. In overtime, the Bearkats went on a 7-0 run to start the session and led by eight 59-51 with 2:16 to play. But the Cowboys chipped away and got within one, 62-61 with 11 seconds remaining on two free throws from Jarvis Bradley. But Jeremy Thomas made two free throws with six seconds to play, giving the team a 64-61 lead. On the inbounds, Cowboy John Ford drove down the right baseline and was fouled in the act of shooting with 0.5 seconds left. Ford made the first, missed the second and missed the third intentionally to try to get a tip in to send the game into double overtime to end the game. The Bearkats now play No. 7 UT Arlington in game five of the tournament at 6 p.m., on Friday. Game One -- No. 7 UT Arlington 81, No. 2 Lamar 75 KATY, Texas – No. 7 seed UT Arlington won its first tournament game since the 2003-04 season today, eliminating No. 2 Lamar 81-75, the SLC co-regular season champions and East Division winner in game one of the SLC Men's Tournament today. With the win, UTA improves to 19-11 overall, as it got a career-high 24 points from Rod Epps and 20 points from Jermaine Griffin. Lamar’s season comes to a close at 19-11, despite a 19-point effort from Kenny Dawkins, the SLC Newcomer of the Year. UT Arlington jumped to an early lead and led by 11 on two occasions before Lamar tied the game at halftime 42-42. In the second half, UT Arlington pushed its lead out to 13, leading 73-60 with 7:49 to play in the game, but Lamar again made a run, getting within two at 77-75 with 1:20 to play, as the Mavericks were able to ice the game with 4-4 free throw shooting from that point. The Mavericks now advance to play the winner of No. 3 Sam Houston State and No. 6 McNeese State at 6 p.m., on Friday night.

8) Welcome back J!

Garrett, WO-S

Clark...1 Hitter Buna 9 Hardin 0 after 4.

8) 8) Go Ladies

That loss today was tough, see the LU board.

Here's a few comments from Coach Roc and Senior Lamar Sanders: "Our guys did a great job of staying in the game...We didn't shoot the ball well enough from the floor or the free throw line to win the game," Coach Roc. "We knew it before we got here that is was going to be a physical game. They just outplayed us and outworked us tonight," said Lamar Sanders. "We had a great regular season, a share of the conference championship. It's very disappointing to lose like this in the postseason," said Coach Roc. Sanders then wrapped up the press conference thanking all coaches, players, media, and the community of Beaumont for their support of Lamar Men's Basketball. Lamar will not have to wait until early next week to see if they clinched a NIT berth after the NCAA Tournament teams have been selected. Make sure you read the complete game blog linked in the "Related Media" section in the right column. Stay with KFDM and kfdm.com and setxsports.com for highlights.

Go Ump!

They have the Lakers coming up as well.

8)

West Brook is doing Spring from May 5 -May 24th. You get 18 practices and on the last day intrasquad game.

I would love one!! Someone download one and we'll put it up. Should be some websites out there that have them.

HIS TO REEE

Geeezzzz

81-75 UTA Wins!

You have to be kidding me?

Down to the wire

76-71 with 3:39 left