Rome Gladiators
Encyclopedia
The Rome Gladiators, based in Rome, Georgia
, USA are a franchise in the World Basketball Association
. They play at the Winthrop-King Centre at Shorter College
.
. Ratliff retained coach Harold Ellis, and kept the team in Rome.
, in a 120–115 loss. The Gladiators then went on another nine game winning streak, before being brought down by both the Magic City Court Kings and the Gulf Coast Bandits
. The team finished 21–3 in the regular season, and defeated the HardHats in the championship game. The Glads were led in scoring by Darryl "MaJic" Dorsey, who won the WBA's player of the year award as well, scoring 23 points per game, was first team all-WBA along with Edmund Saunders. Harvey Thomas made second team all-WBA, and Jamario Moon made fourth team all WBA, and was named to the all-defensive team. Ellis received coach of the year. The team was so successful that the city of Rome threw a parade to honor the champs.
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
, USA are a franchise in the World Basketball Association
World Basketball Association
The World Basketball Association, often abbreviated to the WBA, is a professional men's spring basketball league in the United States.-History:The WBA was conceived in 2004, with seven teams scheduled to play...
. They play at the Winthrop-King Centre at Shorter College
Shorter College
Shorter University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Rome, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1873, it is a Christian university historically affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention....
.
2004
The Gladiators floundered in their first season, finishing a dismal 6–14. The team went through three different owners, and was at one point owned by the league itself. In May 2004, the Gladiators were bought by current owner, NBA player Theo RatliffTheo Ratliff
Theophilus Curtis Ratliff , better known as Theo Ratliff, is an American professional basketball player who last played with the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. Primarily a center, he was an excellent shot-blocker who has led the league three times in blocks per game...
. Ratliff retained coach Harold Ellis, and kept the team in Rome.
2005
Once again coached by Harold Ellis, the Gladiators won their first nine games before being stopped by the WBA's other powerhouse, the Mississippi HardHatsMississippi Hardhats
The Mississippi Hardhats are a World Basketball Association franchise in Hattiesburg, Mississippi....
, in a 120–115 loss. The Gladiators then went on another nine game winning streak, before being brought down by both the Magic City Court Kings and the Gulf Coast Bandits
Gulf Coast Bandits
The Gulf Coast Bandits were a World Basketball Association franchise in Biloxi, Mississippi. The Bandits sat out the 2006 season due to Hurricane Katrina and have since gone out of business....
. The team finished 21–3 in the regular season, and defeated the HardHats in the championship game. The Glads were led in scoring by Darryl "MaJic" Dorsey, who won the WBA's player of the year award as well, scoring 23 points per game, was first team all-WBA along with Edmund Saunders. Harvey Thomas made second team all-WBA, and Jamario Moon made fourth team all WBA, and was named to the all-defensive team. Ellis received coach of the year. The team was so successful that the city of Rome threw a parade to honor the champs.