28/02/2002
Riders delight at Holmfield success

Nurishment Leicester Riders were delighted by the news that Holmfield Primary School in Leicester Forest East – a school with close links to the club – has been awarded £3392 as part of the Awards for All scheme.

The cash injection will help the school promote basketball further both internally and in the wider community.

Already Leicestershire’s Primary Basketball Champions at last year’s Millennium Youth Games, the money should ensure that the school is able to continue producing a wealth of young talent.

The bid was personally supported by Billy Mims and includes the creation of new indoor and outdoor courts as well as balls and an extra two hours of coaching each week.

Plans are also in place to run an evening basketball course with Karl Brown, where parents and friends will have the opportunity to try out the sport, which is proving such a hit with their children.

The school plan to celebrate their achievement with an ambitious game against Winstanley High School, their local secondary partner. This should allow them to meet the competition of older and stronger children. During this exciting venture, they will be coached by Billy Mims and Ralph Blalock, who has been coaching the current crop of wannabe stars at the school.

The game takes place at Winstanley High School on Friday 8th March at 3.45pm.

This is an ideal opportunity for children as young as nine to test out their skills against older children in a full length game, whilst benefiting from the advice and knowledge of one of the top professional coaches in the country.

26/02/2002
How'd you know where you're going if you don't look back?

Winning is a funny thing. So easy to enjoy, yet so damn hard to attain. It's also a bit like drinking salt water. The more you drink, the thirstier you get; the more you win, the more you need to win.

As the buzzer sounded on that fateful Saturday evening in May, most of us were too busy celebrating to notice, but if you listened hard enough, you might just have heard the rumbling sound of goalposts moving.

As Cinderella left to go home, in her place was a monster. Nick Nurse joked in the last minute of commentary on the Championship Final, "Billy Mims should quit now. What more can he do at a club like Leicester?"

Therein lies the question. It's not so much the 'what more can he do' part, it's the 'at a club like Leicester' that was the most pertinent.

Because at the end of the day, apart from a warm glow inside and some pretty impressive newspaper cuttings, the club is the same now as it was 12 months ago. Had Jason Siemon's last gasp shot in Round One forced overtime, we could have fallen at the first hurdle and would have looked back with some satisfaction at having at least got to the play-offs.

Now, as we head into the final month of the season, we're in a position where it is in our hands to ensure play-off basketball with a fourth placed finish - which, of course, is where we finished last year.

Ask yourself this: When was the last time Riders went into the final month of the season in pole position for a play-off berth?

It's a tricky one, I know, but if you go back to March 6, 1997 - exactly a month before the end of Bob Donewald's first season - you'll find us slightly ahead of Derby in the last play-off berth, a position we (just about) managed to hang on to it.

And that is the only time in the last seven years that we have heading into the final month of the season with our destiny firmly in our own hands.

So what's the point?

Well, sometimes you have to know where you came from, to know where you are going.

Don't get me wrong; I'm as disappointed at how the season has gone as the next fan. I started in the summer with high hopes of winning something and certainly expected we'd be better 9-16 with seven games left. And whilst there is no excusing the dismal performances of, for example, Sheffield and Newcastle at home, it's not exactly been plain sailing this term.

Billy called it a Murphy's Law season and certainly it has seemed to be one thing after another from Donnie Johnson in September to Tim Moore last week. But let's face facts. We led the Conference for the first time ever early this campaign and we sit now in a play-off berth, which is ours to keep or throw away.

Billy was also magnanimous enough to say that with hindsight (as he pointed out, always 20/20) some of his decisions regarding playing personnel this season have been bad for the club. It's easy to point the finger of blame elsewhere, but not so easy to turn that finger of blame onto yourself.

I'm sure most people in Leicester could name a coach/manager who has taken a club from the top of the table to bottom in twelve months and refused to accept any blame for it (but obviously I'm not going to). And you could hardly accuse Billy of taking us from first to worst - he did the opposite!

Basically I guess what this piece is all about is perspective. In the reflection of the wonderful, shinny, silver basketball we claimed last May, fourth place and battling with Edinburgh for the final play-off berth is awful. But step back and things look different.

12 months ago we hadn't made the play-offs in four years and only once in seven years had we enjoyed post-season play - albeit very brief as Billy's Leopards gunned us out in double-quick time - and we were behind Manchester in the running for fourth.

14 months ago we were sixth and without a major trophy in 33 years of trying.

20 months ago having finished bottom of the league for the first time ever, we were homeless and wondering if we'd play another game.

27 months ago we were the laughing stock of the BBL without a win in 15 games and without a coach.

34 months ago we posted our worst ever record in a season.

From each of those distances our current position would be a notable achievement. And heck, we may not be where we want to be, but we certainly aren't where we don't.

You may say I'm trying to put a positive spin on things and cover for a disappointing season, but really all I'm trying to do is push the goalposts back to a more realistic position. I'm just trying to remember when times actually were really bad; after all it's the bitterness of defeat that makes success all the sweeter.

As I said, how'd you know where you're going if you don't look back?

25/02/2002
Moore walks out on Riders

Nurishment Leicester Riders are "very disappointed" after Tim Moore left the club without informing them. The 6'7" forward returned home to the USA before yesterday's BBL Championship match with DG London Leopards Kool Kats without permission from the club.

"Tim just left without telling either Billy Mims or myself," said Chairman Kevin Routledge. "He has acted totally unprofessionally and we have been insulted by his actions after all we have done for him this season.

"We allowed him to arrive late when we signed him, helped him through his injury and stuck by him when he was out for six weeks after only playing three games for the club. Billy even had to use two overseas slots for Tim and this is how he chooses to repay that loyalty. I'm very upset by the whole affair."

Moore played nine games for the Riders and led the BBL in scoring with 26.11 points per game and also averaged eight rebounds per game.

"We hold his playing licence for the remainder of the season and I have no intention of releasing him from that," said Routledge.

Riders are unable to replace Moore as the BBL transfer deadline has passed and therefore will play the remainder of the season shorthanded.

22/02/2002
Riders helping to Slam Dunk Smoking!

British Basketball Champions, Nurishment Leicester Riders, are joining forces with several other agencies to spread the message to children across Leicester that smoking and basketball don't mix.

Along with the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Smoke Free Alliance, the Leicester Education Authority and the Leicester Health Action Zone, the Riders will help inform secondary school children of the benefits of healthy living and the dangers associated with smoking.

As part of the 'Slam Dunk Smoking' campaign Riders Head Coach Billy Mims and his team will be working with Year 7 students from all the schools in Leicester.

"This is a fantastic project for the Riders to be involved with," said Mims. "If we can use the sport of basketball to help let the kids of Leicester know about the dangerous health risks of smoking, it can only be positive.

"Leicester prides itself on being the Sporting Capital of England and we want our future sporting stars to know that smoking and sport don't mix. Our players are used to slam dunking on the court, now they can help Leicester to Slam Dunk Smoking!"

Billy Mims and representatives from all the projects partners are launching the initative on Tuesday 26th February at Rushey Mead School at 9.30am.

The programme will see students given a range of information about smoking to help them make their own informed decisions and will also be set tasks to help spread the message to other young people about the dangers of smoking.

On top of this, the kids will receive top class basketball coaching from the stars of the Riders squad and Mims himself.

19/02/2002
Riders win East Midlands Championship Cup

Nurishment Leicester Riders were the inaugural winners of the East Midlands Challenge Cup after coming from behind to defeat Derby Storm 95-92 at the Thunderdome.

Riders went into the game without Michael New, Neil Turner, Dave Jones and Jorone Taylor-Lewis although there was little between the sides at the first break.

The first real lead of the game went to the home side thanks to a 13-3 burst to close out the first half. Derby went into the locker room 54-43.

At the break Tom Mahood's array of aerobatic skills saw him beat off the challenge of Kevin Griffin in the final of the Slam Dunk Contest. Mahood impressed the panel of judges including Leicestershire's winter signing Charlie Dagnall and BBC Radio Leicester's John Sinclair.

Earlier Ralph Blalock had been narrowly edged by one shot in the Three Point Shoot Out. His 16 in a minute just bettered by Durrell Robinson.

In the second half, Derby opened out to their biggest lead at 62-50 midway through, but Riders responded in breathtaking fashion.

Blalock had seven and Tim Moore six in a 14-0 burst which had Riders 64-62 ahead.

Two Karl Brown treys in the fourth quarter had kept the game level at 85, and with a minute to go Blalock leveled the game at 91 with a couple of free throws.

After a steal, Larry Johnson also netted a pair from the stripe, but when Durrell Robinson went to the line to try and tie the game, he had to sit a minute and think about it as Billy Mims called time out.

The old ice-the-shooter tricked worked for Mims as Robinson rimmed out on the first, but he made it a one-point game with his second.

With 7s left Johnson was again calm from the line to make it 95-92, and with Riders not in the penalty they allowed some time off the clock before fouling.

In the end Kevin Griffin did get a desperation three off on the buzzer but it was never going in.

Griffin was named MVP with an impressive 40 point display whilst Riders had five players in double figures.

Blalock led the way with 30, whilst Moore (20pts 13rebs), Johnson (17pts 11ass) and Billy Singleton (10pts 11rebs) all posted double-doubles.

Karl Brown was singled out for praise by Mims for his impressive 18-point display.

18/02/2002
Riders take on Storm

Nurishment Leicester Riders will take on old rivals Derby Storm for the East Midlands Championship Cup on Tuesday.

The game takes place at the Thunderdome on Tuesday 19 February with a 7.30pm tip-off.

The event was organised by Storm coach John Spezia and will see him going head-to-head with his old friend and Riders boss Billy Mims.

As well as the game there will be a Slam Dunk competition, a three point shoot-out and a long shot contest between the two sides. There will also be an MVP award for the night's top player.

Tickets are available on the door priced just £5 for adults and £2 for students.

12/02/2002
Mims "honoured" by top award

Billy Mims was named as Coach of the Year at the Leicester Mercury Sports Awards 2001, becoming the first ever Rider coach to lift the prize. The annual ceremony to reward great sporting achievement in Leicestershire was held at De Montfort Hall on Tuesday night.

In the Player of the Year category, Ralph Blalock finished as a runner-up and the Riders squad also finished runners-up in the Team of the Year category.

Mims beat off Loughborough swimming guru Ian Armiger and Leicester Tigers Director of Rugby Dean Richards, who guided the Tigers to the European Cup, Zurich Premiership and Championship in 2001 and collected the award in 2000.

"It's a tremendous honour," said Mims afterwards. "I thought Deano was going to win.

"I dedicate this to Kevin Routledge," he continued. "He gave me a home in this great city and without him I wouldn't have won this award and we wouldn't have had the success we did in 2001."

Ralph Blalock was the first ever Rider to make the final three in the Player of the Year category, but was beaten by Martin Johnson - Tigers, England and British Lions captain for 2001 - who collected the prize for the second year in succession.

It was also a repeat for the Tigers in the Team of the Year category - following their historic treble including their dramatic last gasp Heineken European Cup success - beating the Riders, shortlisted for the first time, and Ffyes Leicester Ladies side, who won the league title in 2001.

08/02/2002
Moore wins January Player award

Tim Moore has been voted by you the fans as the Nurishment Player of the Month for January.

Moore went head-to-head John Thomas, Antonio Garcia, Shawn Myers and Calvin Davis in the on-line poll and took 42% of the vote to become the second Rider this season to claim the prize. Ralph Blalock picked up the first award of the year in October.

His statistics for January demonstrate why the fans voted for him. With 28.2 points per game, Moore average nearly four points per game more than his nearest rival, while his 10.4 boards per game average also places him in the BBL's top five for rebounding.

Add to that a 52.63% shooting percentage from three point range, as well as a 54.64% shooting percentage from the floor, and it's easy to see why the public were so impressed.

Robbie Peers collected the Nurishment Coach of the month award, which he won with 57% of the vote, beating Kinder London Towers' David Lindstrom and Brighton Bears' Nick Nurse.

Chester Jets enjoyed a superb January, winning all seven of their games, including the ntl:home National Cup Final in Sheffield. Jets defeated Pertemps Bullets Birmingham 112-105 to claim the silverware.

Moore will receive his award prior to Saturday's game against Sheffield at Loughborough University (7.30).

06/02/2002
Riders nominated for three awards

Nurishment Leicester Riders have been listed as a main contender for Leicester Mercury Team of the Year 2001. It is the first time the club have been shortlisted for the prestigious award.

It is part of a unique treble for the Riders with Coach Billy Mims a main contender for the Coach of the Year award and Ralph Blalock shortlisted for the Sportsman of the Year award.

Riders face stiff competition from the two other sides shortlisted - Leicester Tigers and Fyffes Leicester Ladies hockey team.

Tigers, winners of the team award last year, won a historic treble in 2001 capturing the Zurich Premiership, Championship and the European Cup - the first time a side had won all three in the same season.

Fyffes won their championship in a nail-biting battle with Ipswich, which went down to the final game of the season.

Riders were nominated thanks to their double success last season winning the ntl National Cup and BBL Championship.

In the Coach/Manager of the Year award Billy Mims is up against last year's winner Dean Richard who masterminded Tigers continued dominance of English, and indeed, European Rugby. Ian Armiger - Loughborough University's swimming guru - is also shortlisted for the honour. Mims took the Riders from worst to first in 18 months.

Ralph Blalock's exploits in helping Riders from also-rans to champions - including his MVP display in the Cup Final - have earned him a shortlisting alongside Martin Johnson and Dan Greaves.

Johnson, who won the award 12 months ago, has had another stunning year as captain of the Tigers, England and British Lions, whilst Greaves - a paralympic silver medallists in Sydney in the discuss - became the first athlete to represent Great Britain as both an able-bodied and a disabled athlete when selected for the GB U20 squad in 2001.

The award ceremony takes place on Tuesday 12th February.

04/02/2002
Moore nominated for POTM award

Tim Moore has been shortlisted for the Nurishment Player of the Month for January award.

The forward will have to see of Chester's Calvin Davis and John Thomas, as well as Birmingham's Antonio Garica and Newcastle's Shawn Myers if he is to claim the prize.

Moore leads the league in scoring - averaging 29.50 points per game, which is an amazing six clear of the rest of the league - as well as appearing in the top five in rebounding and shooting percentage.

During the month of January he averaged 28.20 points, 10.40 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 2.0 steals, whilst shooting 54.64% from the floor, 70% from the line and 52.63% from downtown.

30/01/2002
Mims looking for repeat of Wembley push

Billy Mims is hoping that his ninth consecutive Championship victory over East Midland rivals Derby Storm can have a similar effect to the game he sees as spring-boarding Riders to double success last term.

"We were 4-11 going into our first game of 2001," he recalled. "We were a long way back in the race for the final play-off berth, but we won at the Thunderdome two days before the Cup Final and then went back and won there again six days after the Cup Final.

"Those two wins gave us momentum to firstly win the Cup and then make our run at the play-offs.

"We're in a much better position now than we were then as we're 9-12 now and are in third. The problem is then we had 21 game left and now we've only 11 games remaining to get the team firing on all cylinders."

Because of that Mims has set up a couple of friendly games against Storm. The first takes place this afternoon (Wednesday) at the Maher Centre in a behind-closed-doors game that will be played to full BBL rules.

The second is open to the public and will take place at the Thunderdome on February 19th.

"We've played so many games early in the season for a variety of reasons," continued Mims. "That means we've only got 11 left and we're still gelling together since the additions of Tim and Larry. We feel we need more games with them in the line-up to ensure we're ready for the play-off push.

"Also the way we are right now, we can't even simulate a game in practice. Michael New hasn't practiced since before Christmas with his elbow injury and basically just gives us what he can in games. Jerone Taylor-Lewis is out with an eye injury and Jermaine Gonsalves has flu so right now we can't go five-on-five.

"Playing the Storm gives us a good chance to go through some things in a game situation and I've always said that game situation is better than anything you can do in practice.

"It also gives me the chance, with no pressure on the win, to work with the likes of Tom Mahood, James Hurrell, Dave Jones - our younger guys to give them minutes out on court with the frontline players. With Michael struggling it is vital that we know if we need them, they can help us.

With their early exit from the trophy, Riders don't play again in the league until Friday week when they go back-to-back against the teams directly below and above them, Newcastle and Sheffield.

"This game against Derby helps us through this break in the schedule," Mims admitted. "We had a long break over Christmas and I don't think that helped us much, so we're trying to play through this one."