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Basketball team located in La Crosse, Wisconsin From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The La Crosse Bobcats were a Continental Basketball Association (CBA) basketball team located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, from 1996 to the league's bankruptcy in February 2001.[1] The Bobcats were the second CBA team located in La Crosse; previously, the La Crosse Catbirds played from 1985 to 1994. The team hosted its matches at the La Crosse Center.
La Crosse Bobcats | |
---|---|
Leagues | CBA |
Founded | 1996 |
Dissolved | 2001 |
Arena | La Crosse Center |
Location | La Crosse, Wisconsin |
Team colors | red, purple, white |
Don Zierden served as the Bobcats head coach during their inaugural 1996–97 season.[2] The team held their first open tryouts at Viterbo College from October 25 to October 27, 1996.[3]
In 1997, the Bobcats marketing campaign featured commercials depicting La Crosse players hawking sub-par team endorsed products in a home shopping parody. The team's tagline for the commercials were, "Lousy endorsements. Great basketball". No actual La Crosse players were in the commercials since they were filmed during the off-season, so actors were used.[4]
During the 1999 CBA draft, the Bobcats selected former Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Okey in the eighth round. Okey declined a contract from La Crosse, opting to play in a Turkish professional league. In September 2000, the Bobcats announced that Okey had signed a contract for the upcoming season. Okey first received basketball notoriety in Wisconsin while attending a Cassville prep school. He was a McDonald's High School All-American in 1995.[5]
In 2006, the City of La Crosse dedicated a time capsule which included objects from the city's 150-year history. Buried under a marble slab, the capsule is set to be opened for the city's bicentennial celebration in 2056. A Bobcats pin-back button and program from their inaugural season were included in the capsule.[6]
Years | Wins | Losses | Winning percentage | Head coach(s) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1996–97 | 19 | 37 | .339 | Don Zierden | [9] |
1997–98 | 25 | 31 | .446 | Don Zierden | [10] |
1998–99 | 21 | 35 | .375 | Don Zierden (3–1) Mike Mashak (18–34) |
[11] |
1999–2000 | 21 | 35 | .375 | Dennis Johnson (14–22) Bill Klucas (7–13) |
[12] |
2000–01 | 9 | 14 | .391 | Bill Klucas | [13] |
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