Basketball league stalled

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Peter Wortman has had plenty of interest.

But as of late August, Wortman was still waiting for even one team to commit to playing in the British Columbia First Nations Basketball League (BCFNBL).

Wortman hopes to have a 36-team provincial league start this fall. His plans are to have six zones, each consisting of six clubs, square off in their own league action. Winners from the zone championships would then meet at the provincial finals next April.

"I'd love to start in October," Wortman said. "But things are going kind of slow."

Wortman said he has talked to Native representatives from more than 30 communities. Most seemed intrigued with having a Native hoops circuit in B.C.

"I figured getting teams would be semi-easy," Wortman said. "But not one team has said, 'Yeah, we're in.'"

Wortman was originally asking for a $500 franchise fee from each team that signed up for the league. He believes that might have been a stumbling block.

He waived the franchise fee. Clubs would still be responsible for paying $150 to the league after each home contest, to cover expenses such as paying the referees.

Clubs are encouraged to raise funds by charging a $5 admission fee for league games.

Wortman, who lives in Mt. Currie, has planned for the proposed league since May, but he has to decide soon whether to continue with the venture.

"I'm hoping teams finally soon say, 'Yes, we're in.' If that doesn't happen soon, I'm going to have to bail."

Wortman said he has already spent $2,000 of his own money to get the league up and going. Being a stay-at-home father with four children, he said he can't afford to pump any more of his own money into the project.

Wortman said he is a bit baffled as to why squads have not joined. Several Native communities in the province already have established basketball clubs.

"Most communities have teams that go to tournaments now," he said, adding that the calibre of play is pretty good.

"There are 50 or 60 decent (Native) basketball players here," he said of Mt. Currie. "I know the situation is pretty much the same elsewhere."

Wortman added his league does not want to step on anybody's toes. The new loop would not have any games during the dates of already established Native tournaments.

The plan is to have squads play a 20-game regular season schedule with clubs from within their zone. Teams would not be playing every weekend since they would have one home doubleheader and one road doubleheader each month.

League games would only be held on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays.

"Expenses are minimal," added Wortman, a former professional soccer player who in the late 1980s had a brief stint with Gillingham, a U.K. Division III franchise.

Visiting teams would not have to pay any hotel bills, since the plan would be to have out-of-town players billeted at homes of local league players.

The BCFNBL would be a men's league, but Wortman said he is not setting age requirements.

"If you're 15 years old and good enough to play in the league, I've got no problem with that," he said.

For the men's loop, there are six franchise requirements:

Clubs have to pay the league $150 for each home game within five banking days.

Teams must also have a home court, with a minimum capacity of 75 people. Clubs are also responsible for getting their own uniforms (all jerseys must be numbered).

Franchises must also have concession facilities. Other musts are a clock and scoreboard, easily visible from the floor.

Teams are also resposible for purchasing insurance; rates for a maximum of 12 players per team are available for $50.

Those interested in the league can check out its Web site at www.bcfnbl.com or call Wortman at (604) 894-6715 or (604) 905-9175.