Rejoicing In Rigby

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TROJANS HIT THE WFBL JACKPOT, WIN FIRST PICK IN 2009 DRAFT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)—That sound you hear (ka-ching!) is the sound of season ticket packages being sold in Rigby, Idaho. The Rigby Trojans are this year's lucky sons-of-guns, winning the first pick in the 2009 WFBL Draft, to be held Saturday, September 26th at 10am MST.

Held Labor Day morning in Salt Lake City, amongst a gathering that included representatives from the SnowBees, Underdogs, and Kings, the Draft Lottery was overseen, but not influenced in any way, by the Commish himself (with Bayside owner Rich Lachowsky a late arrival). For the second year in a row, names were put into a hat and drawn at random by the Official WFBL Draft Lottery Twins, Esther and Karina Barnes.

So to those who wonder—"Can I start getting excited for the 2009-10 WFBL season?"— the answer is a resounding "Sure!"


1 No way Rigby screws this one up; either CP3 is a Trojan once again (injury-plagued 2006-07 season) or the LeBron era begins in Rigby. Either way, Nathan Wallace's team immediately becomes a contender for the 2010 Concludings title.


2 Although Dave Barton's nightmare of Zermatt nabbing the top pick doesn't come true, this has to rank right up there with "worst possible draft lottery outcomes". We know what you're thinking—but three other league owners will confirm this wasn't rigged. Not a bad spot to be in for the A-Boms; just take whoever's left from CP3 and LeBron.

3 Another high pick for the Sundancers, but obviously finishing behind Zermatt once again is not what Barton wanted. Now the big question is who will Park City keep? Wade? Durant? With the third pick, it appears that either way there's a possibility that both could end up back in Sundancer blue next season.

4 Udorn took the last pick in the draft a year ago and used it to get to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. With Danny Granger staying in Thailand for the new season, and possibly Kobe or Durant available, how far will Jackson and Co. take the Jai-Rai this year?


5 It's sad to see Big Dwight leave the U-Dogs, but with the fifth pick, owner Truman Barnes has hinted to some that he may snag the blocking and rebounding machine once again. One wonders, however, if fans in St. George have had enough already of Howard and would rather get a fresh start with someone else.

6 With Pau Gasol officially their keeper, once-good-now-bad SnowBees have the chance to either grab a top-tier PG or beef up the frontcourt with another big man. Or, I dunno, maybe Shawn Marion will be available?



7 Any chance of the Gators nabbing Kobe again for two more years went down the tubes when Esther Barnes grabbed the paper with the scribbled Twin Falls logo on it at number seven. This is actually not a bad drafting spot for Shaun Adams; right in the middle. So who's it gonna be, Adams? PG? C? Twin Falls fans are on the edge of their collective seat.

8 Nephi used the third pick a year ago to turn their team from worst in the WFBL to a surprising playoff berth, and ultimately a disappointing first-round exit. Can Justin Banks use his magic to turn the eight spot into another playoff run?


9 Carmelo? Pierce? Regardless of who the Kings select as their keeper, owner TJ Barnes has to like his options. What are the chances Nash somehow ends up back in New York? Rumblings around the draft lottery seem to indicate that's a good possibility. Unless they take Matt Barnes instead.


10 This year's sure-fire autodraft. What team does ESPN's player rater have in store for the perpetually struggling Tigers? Surely something better than the monstrosity they gave him a year ago.



11 A low draft pick didn't stop the Iguanas from another strong season last year. Then again, they had LeBron James anchoring the lineup. Still, the Igs franchise has never missed the playoffs in the history of the WFBL, and with Chavez behind the scenes influencing Fran Hopkin's picks, 'Caibo fans need not worry.

12 No luck this year for 2008-09's second-worst team. Will Jason Kidd—so far the face of the franchise—be the foundation the Butchers' build upon for the next two years?























Esther Barnes once again selects the number one pick, this time the desperate Rigby Trojans





















(l-r) TJ Barnes (New York Kings), Ted Barnes (Salt Lake SnowBees), Truman Barnes (St. George Underdogs) and Commissioner Ben Barnes (Zermatt Abominables) hold papers with their draft position for the press after Monday's Draft Lottery





















The final order of the 2009 WFBL Draft Lottery