Detroit Spirits
| Savannah Spirits | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Leagues | Continental Basketball Association |
| Founded | 1986 |
| History | Detroit Spirits 1982–1986 Savannah Spirits 1986–1988 Tulsa Fast Breakers 1988-1991 Tulsa Zone 1991-1992 Fargo-Moorhead Fever 1992-1994 Mexico City Aztecas 1994-1995 San Diego Wildcards 1995-96 (Disbanded during season - January 5, 1996) |
| Arena | Savannah Civic Center |
| Location | Savannah, Georgia |
| President | Reginald Henderson |
| Vice-president(s) | General Manager, Robb Larson |
| Head coach | Charley Rosen |
The Savannah Spirits were a professional basketball team that played for two years in the Continental Basketball Association from 1986 to 1988, amassing a total regular season record of 42 wins and 60 losses for a total of 306.5 points. The team originally began play in the 1982-1983 season as the Detroit Spirits. The Spirits did not qualify for the postseason in their first year in Savannah, Georgia. In their second and final year in Savannah, they were eliminated by the Albany Patroons in the first round, four games to one.
Future late-night talk show host Craig Kilborn served as the team's radio play-by-play announcer. It was the first broadcasting job of his career.
On May 24, 1982 Continental Basketball Association (CBA) spokesperson Fran Greenburg announced that Detroit, Michigan had been awarded an expansion franchise by the league's board of directors.
The Detroit Spirits set a CBA record for team rebounds with 80 during a 107–101 loss to the Ohio Mixers on January 4, 1983.
There was a 37 minute delay during a game in Detroit, Michigan between the Detroit Spirits and the Albany Patroons on January 16, 1983 after Spirts forward Francois Wise shattered a backboard on a baseline dunk at the 11:24 mark of the third quarter. Wise suffered "minor cuts" as described by the UPI and was ejected from the game.
Spirits forward Marvin Barnes was suspended two games and fined $100 on February 19, 1983 for what the CBA determined was a flagrant elbow against Ohio Mixers forward DeWayne Scales. Barnes was ejected from the game at which point he removed his jersey and threw it on his bench while exiting the floor. According to Barnes he only threw the elbow in retaliation to Scales striking him in the back. A week later Barnes was suspended by the team for the rest of the season after missing two scheduled practices according to Spirits general manager Sam Washington who told the UPI, "I suspended him the rest of the season so he won't be obligated to be at practice and games and we won't be obligated to look for him [...] He's complained about the leg since the surgery, and we set up a program for him [...] He went two or three times. [...] He's just not dependable [...] and I'm sick and tired of it. [...] The problem is with Marvin, as with a lot of athletes, that in high school, college and even the pros, he's had people cater to him [...] That's what he wants and, I guess, expects." Barnes responded telling the UPI, "I was at the house taking care of some other things [...] Sam [Washington] and I are friends and there are no hard feelings".
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