St. Louis Swarm
| St. Louis Swarm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conference | IBL West |
| Leagues | CBA (1999) IBL (1999–2001) |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Folded | 2001 |
| History | St. Charles Swarm (1999) St. Louis Swarm (1999–2001) |
| Arena | Family Arena |
| Location | St. Charles, Missouri |
| Team colors | purple, yellow |
| President | Michael Mannion |
| Head coach | Bernie Bickerstaff |
| Ownership | RiverCity Basketball |
| Championships | 2000, 2001 |
| Website | stlswarm.com (archived on June 5, 2000) |
The St. Louis Swarm was a
professional basketball team based in St. Charles, Missouri from 1999 to 2001. They were members of the International Basketball League and won the league's only two championship series in 2000 and 2001. The Swarm played home games at Family Arena
.
History
In 1999, an ownership group with the name RiverCity Basketball announced their intentions to purchase an expansion franchise in the
St. Louis University alumni Erwin Claggett was the first player signed by the Swarm as announced by team president Michael Mannion on February 16, 1999.[3] The team's nickname "Swarm" was announced before an audience at the Regal Riverfront Hotel in Downtown St. Louis. The Swarm's logo was also unveiled and was described by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as "a bee grasping a basketball with its left hand as it prepares to slam the ball through the hoop in its right hand".[4]
In April 1999, the Swarm hired St. Louis native
Fresno State University, who was also selected by the Denver Nuggets in the 1999 NBA draft.[10] They also selected St. Charles native Ryan Robertson, who was selected by the Sacramento Kings, and Antwain Smith, who was picked by the Vancouver Grizzlies.[11] In July 1999, it was reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Swarm head coach Butch Beard was negotiating to join the Washington Wizards as an assistant coach to Gar Heard.[12] Beard was hired by the Wizards in August 1999.[13]
During the IBL's territorial draft, the Swarm selected former
barnstorming team.[20] The Swarm also announced that former National Football League player John Outlaw had been hired as assistant coach.[19]
In September 1999, the Swarm announced they had signed a contract with
play-by-play and former Saint Louis University basketball assistant coach Jay Spoonhour as the color commentator.[21] The Swarm held an open house at Family Arena in October 1999 that featured three St. Louis players Erwin Claggett, Doug Smith and Versile Shaw in which 5,000 people attended, 3,000 more than the Swarm's anticipated attendance. The Swarm sold 200 ticket packages at the event, worth an aggregate of $40,000.[22] Individual game tickets went on sale on October 18, 1999 and ranged from $7 to $25.[23]
Awards
- 2000 International Basketball League Champions[24]
- 2001 International Basketball League Champions
- 1999–2000 IBL Coach of the Year — Bernie Bickerstaff[25]
- 1999–2000 IBL Most Valuable Player — Doug Smith[24]
- 1999–2000 IBL Defensive Player of the Year — Doug Smith
- 1999–2000 IBL Rookie of the Year — Danny Johnson[26]
- 1999–2000 All-IBL First-Team — Danny Johnson (
See also
- Atlanta Hawks, formerly the St. Louis Hawks of the National Basketball Association
- Spirits of St. Louis, St. Louis based American Basketball Association franchise
- St. Louis Trotters, a semi-professional basketball team based in St. Louis
- Missouri River Otters, a professional hockey team which shared a venue with the Swarm
References
- ^ Lyons, Joe (February 17, 1999). "IBL's business plan entice Swarm". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. D8.
- ^ Sonderegger, John (June 29, 1999). "Swarm's basketball team's special offer ends Thursday". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St, Louis, Missouri. p. 1.
- ^ Lyons, Joe (February 17, 1999). "New IBL franchise unveils name, signs Claggett". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. D1.
- ^ Lyons, Joe (February 18, 1999). "IBL team now has identity with unveiling of nickname and logo". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 8.
- ^ "Sports shorts". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. April 22, 1999. p. D2.
- ^ "Sports shorts". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. April 15, 1999. p. D2.
- ^ "Sports shorts". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. May 24, 1999. p. C2.
- ^ "Swarm pro basketball team runs first tryout camp at Linerwood". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. May 26, 1999. p. 6.
- ^ "Short hops". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. July 1, 1999. p. 7.
- ^ "Price vaults into university finals". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. July 10, 1999. p. D5.
- ^ Lyons, Joe (July 13, 1999). "Swarm coach may have NBA offer". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. C4.
- ^ Lyons, Joe (July 13, 1999). "Swarm drafts Robinson to get in line behind NBA Kings". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 6.
- ^ "Celtics, Nuggets make six player trade". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. August 4, 1999. p. D5.
- ^ "Swarm lists former Mizzou stars Smith, Grimm for league's draft". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. July 16, 1999. p. 8.
- ^ "The Swarm will hold a party for its inaugural draft tonight". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. July 19, 1999. p. 19.
- ^ Lyons, Joe (July 20, 1999). "Draftees please Swarm president". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. C5.
- ^ "Short hops". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. August 5, 1999. p. 8.
- ^ "Bickerstaff takes over Swarm". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St, Louis, Missouri. August 31, 1999. p. C1.
- ^ a b Lyons, Joe (September 1, 1999). "Bickerstaff is surprise catch for IBL Swarm". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. D2.
- ^ Lyons, Joe (September 2, 1999). "Swarm names Bickerstaff coach". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 6.
- ^ "KFNS will broadcast St. Louis Swarm games". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. September 23, 1999. p. 10.
- ^ Bradbury, Peggy (October 19, 1999). "Some 5,000 fans Swarm Family Arena's 'Tag Day' for tickets, autographs". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 1.
- ^ "Short hops". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. November 3, 1999. p. 6.
- ^ a b "ST. LOUIS SWARM VS. RICHMOND RHYTHM; SWARM SWEEPS RHYTHM IN IBL CHAMPIONSHIPS". stlswarm.com. St. Louis Swarm. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
- ^ "BERNIE BICKERSTAFF NAMED IBL COACH OF THE YEAR". stlswarm.com. St. Louis Swarm. May 9, 2000. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
- ^ "DANNY JOHNSON NAMED IBL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR". stlswarm.com. St. Louis Swarm. May 9, 2000. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
- ^ "IBL ANNOUNCES FIRST AND SECOND TEAM ALL LEAGUE HONORS". stlswarm.com. St. Louis Swarm. May 5, 2000. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved April 11, 2018.