History Happenings: Cedar Rapids River Raiders

On May 8, 2004, the minor league basketball team known as the Cedar Rapids River Raiders won a home game at the U.S. Cellular Center (now the Alliant Energy PowerHouse) by a remarkable score. According to the official record of the United States Basketball League (USBL) game — which saw the River Raiders take on the St. Louis SkyHawks — the home team won 2-0.

If the game had been baseball, that might have been a reasonable tally. That same Saturday night, for instance, the Cedar Rapids Kernels beat the Burlington Bees 7-2 in a home game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

But 2-0 is an unimaginable final score for a game of basketball. Based solely on that score, a reader would be left to assume that the River Raiders made either a single basket or two free throws while their opponents failed to put the ball in the hoop at all. Imagine how painful that would have been to watch in person.

One of your writers, dear readers, does not have to imagine because he — along with his dad and his young son — was in attendance that night. Fortunately, he saw more than one shot go through the net. Still, it was certainly one of the oddest sporting events he has ever attended.

Coach takes issue and takes off

When the game got underway, no one among the 2,670 fans in attendance could have imagined what was going to happen before halftime. Here is how Gazette sportswriter Jeff Dahn opened his story about the game:

“Crazy, even silly things happen in minor league sports, but what took place last night during a USBL game at the U.S. Cellular Center was so out there it should have been beamed from the International Space Station.” (For context, the first crew of the ISS arrived on the station in November 2000, so it was still a reasonably fresh call out.)

The game was proceeding as one might expect until about midway in the second quarter. As Dahn reported:

“With his team trailing the Cedar Rapids River Raiders, 38-21, with 6 minutes, 32 seconds left in the second quarter and Raider Brain Bracey headed to the free throw line to convert a three-point play, St. Louis SkyHawk Coach Floyd Irons walked to the centerline near the scorers’ table and summoned Raider Coach Dave Joerger. Irons told Joerger he was pulling his team off the court and heading home.”

Too many fouls?

A frantic effort was made to change Coach Irons’ mind, but to no avail. At issue, apparently, was the officiating and the disparity in the fouls that had been called against each team. And not just for that single game.

“At the time of the walkout,” Dahn reported, “the Skyhawks had been whistled for five fouls and the Raiders one…But the reason for Irons’ angst probably originated from his team’s two previous visits to the USCC. In those games, both won by the Raiders, Cedar Rapids was 62 of 91 from the line, and St. Louis was 16 of 29.”

While efforts were made to coax the SkyHawks back on to the court, a range of entertainment was offered to the crowd. The Raiderette cheer squad performed, and a variety of kids’ games were played. And then, as Dahn wrote, “tables were set up on the floor and River Raider players and former ‘Survivor’ contestant Heidi Strobel signed autographs.”

Not long for the league

The game was not a survivor — the league suspended Coach Irons — and before too long, neither were the River Raiders. Though attendance was good and the team played well (at the time of the shortened game, Cedar Rapids led the Midwest Division of the USBL with a 7-2 record; in contrast, the SkyHawks’ record was 1-9), 2004 would be the only season for the River Raiders. The USBL itself folded in 2007.

On that strange May night, however, the River Raiders were victorious. Their coach had some thoughts about his counterpart’s behavior. “Apparently, they feel like the officiating is unfair here,” Joerger said, “but when you’re getting beat by 17 points in the second quarter, it has nothing to do with the officiating.”

Do you have any River Raider memories? How about memories of the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets, the Continental Basketball Association team that called Linn County home from 1988 to 1991? Send them to us at HistoricalClines@gmail.com.

Jessica Cline is a Leadership & Character Scholar at Wake Forest University. Her dad, Rob Cline, is not a scholar of any kind. They write this monthly column for The History Center. Comments: HistoricalClines@gmail.com