Tag: U.S. Cellular Center

2004 Cedar Rapids River Raiders pocket schedule from the United States Basketball League

Cedar Rapids River Raiders

The Cedar Rapids River Raiders were a One-Year Wonder that competed in the United States Basketball League (USBL) during the spring of 2003. Despite a promising debut that saw the River Raiders excel on the court and lead the USBL in attendance, the team disbanded a couple of months after its inaugural season ended. 30-year old River Raiders head coach Dave Joerger went on earn head coaching jobs in the National Basketball Association with the Memphis Grizzlies (2013-2016) and Sacramento Kings (2016-2019).

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1988-89 Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets Program from the Continental Basketball Association

Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets

This Iowa minor league basketball team took its name from a corporate sponsorship with Coors Light beer, which used the ‘Silver Bullet” theme in its national advertising campaigns. The Silver Bullets great success story was former Oklahoma State guard John Starks. The 24-year old led the Silver Bullets in scoring during the 1989-90 CBA season until February 1990 confrontation with a referee led to a season-ending suspension. Starks signed with the New York Knicks later that year and developed into an All-Star during his 12-season NBA career.

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1979-80 Iowa Cornets team photo on the cover of a Cornets program from the Women's Basketball League

Iowa Cornets

They can rightfully claim to be the first women’s professional basketball team ever formed in the United States.  They travelled the small cities of Iowa and beyond in a custom 1964 Greyhound bus known as “The Corn Dog”.  Team members co-starred with Pistol Pete Maravich in a box-office flop from the auteur who brought you UFO: Target Earth and Bloodbath in Psychotown.  And they were pretty good too.  During their short two-year history, the Iowa Cornets appeared in two championship series and produced one of the earliest stars of the women’s game.

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