Cincinnati (1984–87) Cincinnati Slammers

the cincinnati gardens (pictured) home venue of slammers 1984–87.

during off-season before 1984–85 season, cba approved re-location of mixers lima, ohio cincinnati. sawyer family of lima, owned ohio mixers, had re-location costs underwritten jerry robinson, president of cincinnati gardens newly branded cincinnati slammers play. first professional basketball team in city since cincinnati royals re-located kansas city, missouri.

the first player cincinnati signed former dayton university swingman roosevelt chapman when inked contact on october 16, 1984. when asked united press international how felt close alma mater, chapman responded, feels [...] ll close home , there lot of [nba] scouts here watching us.

the slammers recorded first win of season against louisville catbirds, score of 111–90. cincinnati center dewayne scales scored game-high 29 points , 13 rebounds, followed slammers player darrell gadsden scored 26 points. head coach tom sawyer resigned position in january 1985. tom thacker, had been cincinnati s assistant coach, given head coaching position following sawyers resignation.

cincinnati s finished first season worst record in league (17–31), although based off league s point system second last (135 points).

in june 1985 slammers hired linda reed general manager. marked first time woman had been hired general manager professional basketball team. reed offered herb brown slammers head coaching position 1985–86 season. season before brown had coached puerto rico coquis received $500 fine altercation cba referee. tom thacker, had been team s head coach since tom sawyer resigned in january 1985, stayed cincinnati assistant coach brown.

slammers head coach herb brown named cba coach of month january 1986. cincinnati player victor fleming selected 1986 cba all-star team. slammers finished 1985–86 season best record in western division (33–15). finished first in division in points, cba uses determine postseason seeding.

during first round of 1986 cba playoffs slammers faced kansas city sizzlers. cincinnati swept kansas city 4 games none. slammers went on 1986 cba western division semifinals played evansville thunder. thunder managed win 1 game in series, slammers victorious in 4 games advancing them 1986 western division finals. la crosse catbirds advanced 1986 cba finals on cincinnati after winning 4 games of series slammers 2 games.

in spite of success during 1985–86 season, slammers part-owner jerry robinson announced selling interest in cincinnati cba franchise. according robinson, slammers had lost $500,000 during 2 seasons in cincinnati. stated average attendance home games 940 spectators. during playoffs, slammers muster 1,500 persons on average. small crowds did not deter team signing contact home venue, cincinnati gardens, 1986–87 season.

during game on february 13, 1987 cincinnati player bill martin knocked charleston gunners center peter verhoeven unconscious during fight in third quarter. martin suspended 3 games.