Getting Down With The Herd

Professional basketball has returned to Oshkosh, Wisconsin -- and the Wisconsin Herd seems to be in excellent shape.

Professional basketball in little ol' Oshkosh!!?? Oh my, yes, there is a history here. Back in the late 1930s and 1940s, the Oshkosh All-Stars were members of the National Basketball League. During their NBL stint, they reached the playoffs 11 of 12 years and won league titles in 1941 and 1942. The NBL, in 1949, merged remaining teams with the more successful Basketball Association of America to become the National Basketball Association.

Pro basketball returned to Oshkosh from 1982-1987, as businessman Killian "Killer" Spanbauer brought in the Continental Basketball Association. Unfortunately, the CBA club never really caught on, in part due to the fact that the team played primarily in high school venues.

But the NBA is back in Oshkosh. What was the NBA Development League (D-League) is now the NBA G League, part of an multiyear expanded partnership with Gatorade. The 26 G League teams are basically the NBA's equivalent of baseball's minor leagues. It's preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league's research and development territory.

The big difference between the two minor leagues? While those players in a baseball organization can only be moved up to their parent organization, G League players can be signed by ANY of the NBA's 30 teams. There are also "Two-Way" contract players, those who are signed by a team like Milwaukee and can spend a limited number of days with the big club.

Not only do the Bucks own their team, but they have built an top-notch facility (the Menominee Nation Arena) that seats 3,600 on the main floor and offers party decks available for groups of 40 to 100. Perfect for basketball, it's also attracting additional acts, from Larry The Cable Guy (opening act was FogHat!), to Gladys Knight (sorry, no Pips) as well as Jeff Foxworthy.

The arena alone gives the team a more professional feel. Large video boards at either end of the court for replays, constant interaction and contests for fans. All in a very family- and cost-friendly environment. Fans get an excellent view of the action and are treated to a pretty good product. It's certainly a plus for Oshkosh and the Fox Valley. The shot in the economic arm in the blocks around the arena has encouraged micro-breweries and restaurants.

On the night we attended, the Herd (with first-round pick D.J. Wilson) faced the Grand Rapids Drive featuring, among others, former Wisconsin Badger standout Bronson Koenig. Several other players on the court -- for example, Marshall Plumlee (whose Mom, Leslie Schultz, was a standout basketball player at nearby Neenah High School), Michael Dunigan, James Blackmon, Jr., Kay Felder, K.J. McDaniels -- all seemed to be just THIS close to getting onto an NBA roster.

The place was sold out, and despite the fact that the Drive was blowing out the home team midway through the fourth quarter, few people headed to the exits. A good sign for a fledgling pro club on a Friday night in Oshkosh.