Get rid of the Bombers
Nov 7, 2007 6:53:37 GMT -5
Post by Willie on Nov 7, 2007 6:53:37 GMT -5
Bombers: Moving of team banners 'disrespectful'
Wright State AD asked Nutter Center to create WSU-only feel during basketball games.
By Kyle Nagel
Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
FAIRBORN — Costa Papista walked out of the Dayton Bombers' Nutter Center office and pointed to the near rafters.
"They would normally hang right there," said Papista, the Bombers' president and co-owner, as the Wright State men's basketball team prepared to play its exhibition game against Indianapolis on Monday. "And then the Canadian flag is normally next to the U.S. flag up there."
On Monday, the Bombers' celebratory banners and Canadian flag were gone. The Nutter Center agreed to a request by Mike Cusack, the WSU athletic director, and rolled up the six banners and flag for WSU's game, and will do so for home games this season. Papista and the Bombers staff feel their achievements — division and conference titles in 2001 and '07 — shouldn't be out of sight for another team's games.
The banner issue underscores possible predicaments when multiple teams occupy the same building.
John Siehl, the Nutter Center executive director, said he informed Papista several weeks ago that the arena could roll up the flag and the banners — three each from the 2001 and '07 seasons, when the Bombers advanced to the ECHL finals — for Wright State games and added that other venues do similar changes for certain games. Papista was unhappy when he left his office Monday evening and could not see the banners.
Cusack said he asked Siehl to roll up the banners to create a WSU-only environment that fans felt during the Raiders' run to the Horizon League title and NCAA tournament appearance last season.
"I think we started to set a tone that we should've had here for a long time that this is a Wright State place and an exciting place," Cusack said. "And, it is our building, so we even talked to the recreational people and asked them to keep the activities down as much as possible so it doesn't look like there are a million things going on. I saw the banners being part of that."
Siehl said the Nutter Center would roll down the banners after Wright State games. Papista remained upset about the issue Tuesday, even as the banners were visible outside the team's office.
"I think it's disrespectful," Papista said. "We're not talking about banners flying in people's faces. Banners are just very special for any team."
www.western-star.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/pro/bombers/2007/11/06/ddn110707bombers.html
Wright State AD asked Nutter Center to create WSU-only feel during basketball games.
By Kyle Nagel
Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
FAIRBORN — Costa Papista walked out of the Dayton Bombers' Nutter Center office and pointed to the near rafters.
"They would normally hang right there," said Papista, the Bombers' president and co-owner, as the Wright State men's basketball team prepared to play its exhibition game against Indianapolis on Monday. "And then the Canadian flag is normally next to the U.S. flag up there."
On Monday, the Bombers' celebratory banners and Canadian flag were gone. The Nutter Center agreed to a request by Mike Cusack, the WSU athletic director, and rolled up the six banners and flag for WSU's game, and will do so for home games this season. Papista and the Bombers staff feel their achievements — division and conference titles in 2001 and '07 — shouldn't be out of sight for another team's games.
The banner issue underscores possible predicaments when multiple teams occupy the same building.
John Siehl, the Nutter Center executive director, said he informed Papista several weeks ago that the arena could roll up the flag and the banners — three each from the 2001 and '07 seasons, when the Bombers advanced to the ECHL finals — for Wright State games and added that other venues do similar changes for certain games. Papista was unhappy when he left his office Monday evening and could not see the banners.
Cusack said he asked Siehl to roll up the banners to create a WSU-only environment that fans felt during the Raiders' run to the Horizon League title and NCAA tournament appearance last season.
"I think we started to set a tone that we should've had here for a long time that this is a Wright State place and an exciting place," Cusack said. "And, it is our building, so we even talked to the recreational people and asked them to keep the activities down as much as possible so it doesn't look like there are a million things going on. I saw the banners being part of that."
Siehl said the Nutter Center would roll down the banners after Wright State games. Papista remained upset about the issue Tuesday, even as the banners were visible outside the team's office.
"I think it's disrespectful," Papista said. "We're not talking about banners flying in people's faces. Banners are just very special for any team."
www.western-star.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/pro/bombers/2007/11/06/ddn110707bombers.html
