THE OCCASIONAL ORBITER Wednesday October 30, 2002 Vol.93 Hi, hello and welcome fellow Cowboys of the Space variety to this very rare and unusual timely edition of your occasional reading. **** Cowboys Come Away With Ugly Win **** The Space Cowboys notched their thrid victory of the Fall Season in four (4) tries Tuesday night with a seventy-four (74) to fifty-eight (58) win over the "thuggy thuggs" of the Cov Cats. The 'boys were most definitely the better team, but the have a tendancy to play to the level of their competition, and in this case, that was very poor. After jumping out to a fourty-six (46) to twenty-two (22) halftime leadthe sentiment was that the game was over, it was just a matter of running the next twenty (20) minutes off the clock. Such was the case that Andy Krallman, who scored seventeen (17) pints in the first half, decided he was going to leave the game for a previous engagement. Although not exhilarated with the news, the 'boys thought nothing of it. Little did they know, the monstrcity that would ensue. The second half was nothing less than horrendous. The team shot a paltry thirty (30) percent (%) from the field, compared to fifty-eight (58) in the first half. Their defense also left quite a bit to be desired. The 'thuggs, as bad as they were, seemed to be scoring at will, while the home team could not put anything through the hoop. Although the lead was never seriously threatened the Space Cowboys learned an important lesson about why the second half of games is played and they don't just end at halftime. The second half has traditionally been a thorne in the side of the 'boys, but if they have any aspirations of becoming a Sports of All Sorts Tuesday Night League Championship calibar team, they will figure out how to change and adapt as the game goes on. The bright spot shined on just a few in Tuesday's win. Andy Krallman, in his second game with the Space Cowboys, once again did not disappoint. Mr. Krallman, who as perviously mentioned only played the first half, scored seventten (17) points on seven (7) of nine (9) shooting. Domination is not strong enough a word for his play. Also stealing just a glimmer of the spotlight was Lance Schicling. Mr. Schicking, who has become more of a "role player" showed he can score when needed. He came up with nineteen (19) points to leald the team and keep them from an embarrasing loss. **** Box Score October 29, 2002 **** Name No. Fgm Fga 3ptm 3pta Ftm Fta TP K.Lubbers 10 - - - - - - - N.Lubbers 23 4 12 3 7 0 0 11 Jeffries 24 5 12 1 5 1 1 12 Krallman 27 7 9 0 0 3 3 17 Ash 30 4 10 1 4 1 1 10 Boyer 33 2 5 0 2 1 2 5 Schickling 34 7 18 3 9 2 2 19 Totals 121 29 66 8 27 8 9 74 44% 30% 89% Attendance: 5 ( Elsbernd, Huhn, K.Lubbers, Sargent, Sears) Season Attendance: 18 Special Thanks to Scorekeeper Keith Lubbers **** Next Game Tuesday November 5, 2002 ***** The Space Cowboys will be in action once again this Tuesday, November 5 at 7 P.M. at Sports of All Sorts in Florence. The 'boys will be taking on the "thuggy thuggs" of The Jam. These two clubs have met a few times over the last couple seasons and the home team has yet to come out on top. Most recently The Jam knocked the 'boys out of the postseason in the Summer Season. It is beleived that the 'thuggs will carry a perfect record into Tuesday's matchup with a win over the the only team to defeat the Cowboys. Although intimidating, after seeing The Jam in action on the 29th, the home team is very confident, that with the help of Mr. Krallman and with the way this team is capable of playing, they will prevail. This Tuesday, will also be a special Orange Lanyard night. It has been some time since any lanyards were actually given away, so this week will be lanyard replacement night. If you have an old lanyard, given to you byt the Space Cowboys, that is in bad shape, bring it to the game. If yours is deemed unusable you will be presented with a replacement, free of charge. Yes, you heard correct, absoutely free of charge. Also, if you have not recieved a lanyard previously, there will be an opoortunity to present your case, as to why you deserve this symbol of the Cowboys. So come on out to the "big arena by the highway" wo watch as the Space Cowboys play for their fourth win of the season. Nothing says Space Cowboys more than basketball and orange lanyards. Doors will open at 6:46 with pregame festivities begginng around 6:52. **** Dan Huhn Sighting **** If you did not notice just by browsing the attendance list, Dan Huhn, who at one time was considered one of the more loyal of Space Cowboys fans, graced us with his presence at Tueday night's victory. Mr. Huhn made his triumphant return to the stands after an absence of fifty-eight (58) straight games!! He was present for the two highest attended games in team history on the 5th and 12th of June in 2001. But the Space Cowboy family does not hold grudges and we were extatic to see Dan back supporting the orange, with an orange hat even. We also feel it is our duty to report to you that the same Daniel Huhn who missed fifty-eight (58) consecutive games has already made a mention of attending next week's contest. Don't hold your breathe... **** Keith Lubbers Doubtful to Return This Season **** In what seems to be another blunder by "Doc Hollywood" and the Space Cowboys medical staff it is now doubtful that guard Keith Lubbers will be back in action before the completion of the 2002 Fall Season. Mr. Lubbers, who suffered a right distal radial fracture on September l1, 2002, was orginally diagnosed with a sprained wirst before doctors admitted they were wrong and it was in fact broken. Now, after being "probable" to play in each of the last three (3) games since having his cast removed, doctors say his wrist may not have healed enough to play in a game situation until the beginning of the 2003 Winter season which is tentatively scheduled to start in early January. This comes as a huge blow to the Space Cowboys after their near collapse in Tuesday's victory. Keith provides quite a spark off the bench. He is a hustler and a scrapper, which is exactly what this team needs. It will be difficult to fill the void left by Mr. Lubbers, but the team wishes him their best and hopes he keeps up the great job he is doing with the screbook. **** Website Updated **** The internet home of the Space Cowboys, The Space Ranch, was recently updated in the Image Galleries section. The numbers on the sight are updated weekly, but this section has gone months now with noe new editions, but now the wait is over. There are now eleven (11) new picutres, including captions in the Orange Lanyard and Off Season picture galleries. While you're there check out the Occasional Orbiter library as well as all the numbers you could have need that apply to the Space Cowboys. And don't forget to sign the guestbook. It can all be found at http://www.geocities.com/spaceranch2001. **** News and Notes **** Injury report: See above....Dan Huhn's streak of fifty-eight games is more than even that of Michael Brinkman, who in his prime never made it to double digits....Rumors have begun to fly that one Ms. Nikole Lenihan amy be present for next week's contest, we cannot confirm or deny those rumors....It has come to our attention that the word "plethora" has not been used enought in recent editions: plethora plethora plethora....Although he is not participating in this league we would like to mention that Ben Keene as well as the undisputed #1 fan Larry Keene wold still be welcomed with open arms to the "big arena by the highway"....So much for James "jimmy b" Boyer's double digit performances. He put in just five (5) Tuesday night. That will be all for this edition of the Occcasional Orbiter. If you ahve any questions, any at all, don't be afraid to email us here at occasionalorbiter@hotmail.com. Also feel free to contact us with any comments or suggestions pertaining to anything Space Cowboys. New subscribors are always welcome, tell a friend! Editor-in-Chief Nick "Stud" Lubbers Boo!