26/02/2003
Mims applauds fans

Billy Mims has praised the Riders fans for sticking with his team despite the poor run of results this season

"We probably try to approach our home games with a greater intensity and we have Milton Keynes at home on Saturday," he said. "They are fighting for the eighth play-off spot, so they are going to come in hungry and that’s an advantage to them.

However, this is a home game for us and about all we can do is try our best. We do have some of the finest supporters in the country. I’m going around the league and I’m not seeing any crowds bigger than those of the Leicester Riders.

"We are last in the league and yet the fans still come out in big numbers – that’s a testament to the quality of basketball fans in Leicester. It is a great sporting city – the Tigers draw 14,000 every week for the rugby, Leicester City Football Club, who are now in Division One, still draw more than 20,000 fans a week. This is a city in which people love their sport and basketball is no different.

"The home games take on a special meaning for us, because we have big crowds and they have supported us through the roughest of possible seasons. I have been in this business for 22 years and I have never had a season as bad as this one. I know how frustrating it is for me, for our players and how equally frustrating it must be to our fans, but they have continued to support us. Because of that, all we can do is go out at home and try to give them something."

06/02/2003
Slam Dunk Smoking Success Rewarded

The Leicester Riders hugely successful anti-smoking drive Slam Dunk Smoking reaches it's climax this weekend with over 200 children from the city's schools and colleges attending Sunday's BBL Championship match with Scottish Rocks.

Slam Dunk Smoking is a partnership project funded by Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Health Promotion Agency and has encouraged almost every city school to become No Smoking Zones for students, staff and visitors.

Over the last year, Riders coach Billy Mims and his squad have been working with teams of Year 7 students in 16 secondary schools across Leicester. The students have been competing against each other to come up with the best anti-smoking message ranging from posters and leaflets to poems, raps, games and songs.

The winning team will be announced at half-time of the Rocks game, with Mims and Leicester's Director of Education Stephen Andrews presenting specially made Riders shirts designed by Leicester's official kit supplier Impsport.

"Slam Dunk Smoking has been a phenomenal success," said Mims. "It's important that we give kids the information they need to make an informed decision. During the time we've been running this project, the players and myself have spoken to over 3,000 students to find out their thoughts on smoking - over 90% agreed that schools should be a smoke-free environment for everyone.

"This project has been such a roaring success that we'll be running another campaign in 2003 which will be even bigger and better. We're delighted to have the winners coming to watch us take on the Rocks this Sunday, but with this campaign everyone has been a winner because we really have been Slam Dunking Smoking!"

Health Promotion Specialist Vicki Wood, who has played a vital role in the organisation of the project, was delighted with the success of the programme.

"Slam Dunk Smoking helps young people make informed decisions about tobacco use at a critical age," she said. "Despite widespread knowledge of the risks, young people continue to take up the habit - about one quarter of 15-year-olds are regular smokers. There is no simple solution to this difficult issue, but we know telling children not to smoke or lecturing them about the risks simply doesn't work.

"Instead, Slam Dunk Smoking encourages young people to find out about the facts for themselves, discuss their views with the Riders players and express their ideas in imaginative ways. The programme has been a great success. The Riders are superb role models and they use their skills and enthusiasm to motivate young people and increase their confidence.

"The kids enjoy taking part and the smoke free message is already having a positive impact with almost every school in Leicester now No Smoking Zones. The Riders have been instrumental in bringing about this change and Billy and the players should be congratulated for this fantastic achievement."

As well as the students there will be 40 representatives from Leicester Education, Regional Health and Healthy Schools. Work done by the students in the Slam Dunk Smoking campaign will be on display at the Riders game this weekend.