Pensacola Tornados
Encyclopedia
The Pensacola Tornados were a basketball team that played in Pensacola, Florida
in the Continental Basketball Association
(CBA) from 1985-1991.
. After a 2-7 start, the Tornados moved to Pensacola
. At the time, the CBA comprised fourteen teams. The newly relocated Tornados' first home game, on January 3, 1986 against the Florida Suncoast Stingers, drew 3,611 to the Pensacola Civic Center, and averaged 1,651 per game for the year. In fact, on January 25, 1986, the Tornados drew 8,417 in a win against the Detroit Spirits, at that time the second-largest crowd to ever attend a CBA contest. Guard Billy Goodwin was the only CBA player to finish in the Top-10 in both scoring and assists that season. Ronnie Williams, a power forward, averaged 23.3 points per game. Despite all this, the Tornados suffered through a 15-33 season. During the off-season, Stepien moves the team to Jacksonville, FL and renames them the Jets. It was a turbulent off-season in general in 1986, as the CBA shrunk to twelve teams. This franchise would move three more times before folding in 1996.
7'-1" veteran center Marvin Webster
who led the team in rebounds. The team finished with a 20-28 record and made the playoffs for the first time. Webster was signed by the Milwaukee Bucks
before the season ended where replacement center Jerome Henderson led the Tornados in rebounding for the rest of the season. Henderson would later receive a 10-day call-up to the Atlanta Hawks
. In the playoffs the Tornados were eliminated four games to one by the Rapid City Thrillers
.
. Coleman was a second-round draft pick (38th overall) of the Clippers after being named to the Big-8 All-Conference team while at Kansas State. Other key players are rookie guard Mark Wade (5'-11", 160 lbs.), Tommy Davis, NBA veteran Freeman Williams
, forward Bill Nelson and Henderson. Joe Mooney and Frank Adams, of Government Credit Corporation, were the new owners. By the end of the season, the Tornados were tearing up their opponents that would return the team to the playoffs even with a 28-26 record.
In the playoffs, Pensacola crushed the original Tornados franchise (now located in Biloxi, MS) in a 4-1 run, but were swept by the Albany Patroons
in four straight semifinal games. After the 1987-1988 season General Manager Tim Sise and Head Coach Gary Youmans left the Tornados to start an expansion team in Columbus, Ohio that would become the Columbus Horizon
.
, led the team with 25.9 points per game. After a strong first-round playoff series victory over the Grand Rapids Hoops two games to one, the Tornados lost another playoff run to the Albany Patroons
three games to two in the best-of-five series. Tom and Jane McMillan are the new owners.
. Mark Wade led the CBA in assists (10.8 per game) once again.
In March 1991, team officials were looking at Knoxville, TN for possible relocation, but moved the team to Birmingham, AL after the 1990-91 season. The franchise would relocate two more times before folding in 1995.
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
in the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
(CBA) from 1985-1991.
1985-1986 Season
The first Tornados team began as the LaCrosse Bobcats for a short time in 1983. The team quickly relocated to Toronto and became the Tornados from 1983 through part of the 1985-86 season. Toronto is owned by former NBA owner Ted StepienTed Stepien
Ted Stepien was the former owner of the National Basketball Association's Cleveland Cavaliers. After becoming wealthy as the founder of Nationwide Advertising Service, Stepien purchased the Cavaliers in the spring of 1980...
. After a 2-7 start, the Tornados moved to Pensacola
Pensacola
Pensacola is a city in the western part of the U.S. state of Florida.Pensacola may also refer to:* Pensacola people, a group of Native Americans* A number of places in the Florida:** Pensacola Bay** Pensacola Regional Airport...
. At the time, the CBA comprised fourteen teams. The newly relocated Tornados' first home game, on January 3, 1986 against the Florida Suncoast Stingers, drew 3,611 to the Pensacola Civic Center, and averaged 1,651 per game for the year. In fact, on January 25, 1986, the Tornados drew 8,417 in a win against the Detroit Spirits, at that time the second-largest crowd to ever attend a CBA contest. Guard Billy Goodwin was the only CBA player to finish in the Top-10 in both scoring and assists that season. Ronnie Williams, a power forward, averaged 23.3 points per game. Despite all this, the Tornados suffered through a 15-33 season. During the off-season, Stepien moves the team to Jacksonville, FL and renames them the Jets. It was a turbulent off-season in general in 1986, as the CBA shrunk to twelve teams. This franchise would move three more times before folding in 1996.
1986-1987 Season
The Bay State Bombardiers move to Pensacola to become the second version of the Tornados. This version began in 1978 as the Harrisburg Hammerheads, then the Maine Lumberjacks, on to Bay State before arriving in Pensacola. With new Director of Basketball Operations Tim Sise and new head coach Gary Youmans, the Tornados showed signs of life led by former New York KnicksNew York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
7'-1" veteran center Marvin Webster
Marvin Webster
Marvin Nathaniel Webster was an American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "The Human Eraser" and "Marvin the Magnificent", he played one season in the American Basketball Association and nine in the National Basketball Association with the Denver Nuggets , Seattle SuperSonics , New York...
who led the team in rebounds. The team finished with a 20-28 record and made the playoffs for the first time. Webster was signed by the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
before the season ended where replacement center Jerome Henderson led the Tornados in rebounding for the rest of the season. Henderson would later receive a 10-day call-up to the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. In the playoffs the Tornados were eliminated four games to one by the Rapid City Thrillers
Rapid City Thrillers
The Rapid City Thrillers were a professional basketball club based in Rapid City, South Dakota that competed in the Continental Basketball Association beginning in the 1987 season. They were reincarnated in 1998 as an International Basketball Association franchise...
.
1987-1988 Season
Power forward Norris Coleman, 6'-8", 210 lbs., signs with the Tornados after playing one year with the NBA Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. Coleman was a second-round draft pick (38th overall) of the Clippers after being named to the Big-8 All-Conference team while at Kansas State. Other key players are rookie guard Mark Wade (5'-11", 160 lbs.), Tommy Davis, NBA veteran Freeman Williams
Freeman Williams
Freeman Williams is a retired American college and professional basketball player. He was the 1978 NCAA men's basketball Division I scoring champion, and the Portland State University all-time scoring leader. Williams was the NCAA Division I national men's basketball individual scoring leader in...
, forward Bill Nelson and Henderson. Joe Mooney and Frank Adams, of Government Credit Corporation, were the new owners. By the end of the season, the Tornados were tearing up their opponents that would return the team to the playoffs even with a 28-26 record.
In the playoffs, Pensacola crushed the original Tornados franchise (now located in Biloxi, MS) in a 4-1 run, but were swept by the Albany Patroons
Albany Patroons
The Albany Patroons were a professional basketball team that played in the Continental Basketball Association ....
in four straight semifinal games. After the 1987-1988 season General Manager Tim Sise and Head Coach Gary Youmans left the Tornados to start an expansion team in Columbus, Ohio that would become the Columbus Horizon
Columbus Horizon
The Columbus Horizon is a defunct basketball team from Columbus, Ohio that played for five seasons in the Continental Basketball Association from 1989 - 1994.-New team on the horizon:...
.
1988-1989 Season
A slow start hurt the Tornados, but by the end of January head coach Joe Mullaney, pulled his club up from the Eastern Division cellar into fourth place in the standings. 6'-5", 190 lbs. guard Brook Steppe averaged 25.7 points per game and earned a 10-day call-up to the Portland Trail Blazers. Mark Wade, who helped pace the Tornados in the 1987-88 season, broke the CBA record for most assists in a season (626). Even though the Tornados earned another playoff berth after finishing 30-24, they were knocked out of the playoffs by the Tulsa Fast Breakers-but not before giving Tulsa at least one loss in the Breakers' eventual playoff championship run. Trial lawyer Robert Crongeryer was the new owner.1989-1990 Season
With yet again a new owner, Tom McMillan, the Tornados won a team-record 32 games against 24 losses. Four players would receive NBA promotions: small forward Jim Farmer, guard and Penascola native Clifford Lett, forward Bob McCann, and guard Mark Wade. Lett was named CBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 21 points a game. He was signed in March 1990 by the Chicago Bulls to a 10-day contract, and then to a second in April. Wade was a first-team All-League sleection. Tony Dawson, older brother of current Dallas Mavericks forward Jerry StackhouseJerry Stackhouse
Jerry Darnell Stackhouse is an American professional basketball player who plays both shooting guard and small forward. He most recently played for the Miami Heat. He is now an NBA TV analyst but remains as an eligible free agent....
, led the team with 25.9 points per game. After a strong first-round playoff series victory over the Grand Rapids Hoops two games to one, the Tornados lost another playoff run to the Albany Patroons
Albany Patroons
The Albany Patroons were a professional basketball team that played in the Continental Basketball Association ....
three games to two in the best-of-five series. Tom and Jane McMillan are the new owners.
1990-1991 Season
The franchise played one more year in Pensacola, garnered a 27-29 record and missed the playoffs on the final day of the regular season. Still, the Tornados led all CBA franchises in NBA call-ups that season, as Tony Dawson, Jim Farmer and Clifford Lett spent time in both the NBA and CBACBA
- Terminology :* Collective bargaining agreement** NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement** NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement* Consensus based assessment* Cost-benefit analysis* Cytometric Bead Array, a bead-based immunoassay- Institutions :...
. Mark Wade led the CBA in assists (10.8 per game) once again.
In March 1991, team officials were looking at Knoxville, TN for possible relocation, but moved the team to Birmingham, AL after the 1990-91 season. The franchise would relocate two more times before folding in 1995.