A new story!

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Sunday, September 30th

The Patroit Stadium clubhouse was releaxed, the cream-colored walls providing a simple look and the area supplied with a flatscreen TV, video game system, a treadmill, a fridge, and a coffee machine. The TV was tuned into FSPN SportsWorld, the top program for news in the furry sports realm. The program suddenly switched to a red-lettered "BREAKING NEWS" graphic. A brown hare seated at a black desk then appeared on the screen, a graphic of a familiar player displayed behind him.

This is Kevin Fransden (Hare) of FSPN Sports. The Dakota Bikers’ lucky number 7 came up: a blockbuster deal sees arguably the best player in the game, Buck Hopper (Rabbit, G), going to Sturgis...

Teo Masalia (Black Panther, SG, WIL) almost fell off of his treadmill in front of the clubhouse TV as he stumbled hearing that statement. “GAH! What the hell?!” he yowled in surprise, getting off the moving walkway.

Lenny Hicks shot up from a laying position on the clubhouse couch, perking his ears forward as Otto Okkonen (Dragon, F/C, WIL) and Leonard Mack (Fox, PF, WIL) looked up from their card game at the TV.

“Tell me I just didn’t hear that, Otto,” Leonard said bluntly. Otto nodded.

“Okay, I won’t tell you,” he replied just as bluntly.

The deal breaks down like this: Hopper and Blythe Nacht (Red Fox [silver phase], SG) are heading to the Bikers. The Thrust, in return, are being sent guard Devon Kellendyne (Cacomistle) and forward Conrad Schaefer (German Shepherd) from the Biloxi Voodoo. The Voodoo then get center Steven Munt (Warthog) and guard Fritz Jansen (Painted Horse, SG) in two sign-and-trades.

Seated at a table adjacent to the two forwards, Wiley Twaddle’s (Woodchuck, SG, WIL) jaw dropped as he noted the news. Eleanor Rigby (Deer, PG, WIL), seated beside him, stared over at Wiley for a few seconds, a bit of granola bar “stashed” in her cheek.

“Wiley, you have, like, a peanut hanging there on your lip,” she said, pointing.

The woodchuck reflexively rubbed where she pointed and she was right: the bit of trail mix was there after his flabbergasted reaction.

“That’s just... that’s crazy,” the woodchuck said as the talking heads pontificiated. Eleanor nodded, swallowing the bit of granola bar she was eating after a thorough chewing.

“Buck and Ryan both need to be the head of the family, the one that makes the rules under the coach. It’ll be very difficult for them to be at peace,” she said quietly. Wiley nodded and grinned.

“No kidding. This is either the most genius move ever, or that team will kill each other after 10 games,” he said. Eleanor giggled a little.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

The analysts seemed to agree.

“Kevin, Buck Hopper has always been the leader on his team,” said Smith B. Simon (Kookaburra). “Ryan Malone hates his guts. Either the two put aside their differences to work together, or this arrangement is going to tear apart the Bikers from the inside out.”

Randy Osbourne (Giraffe, F/C, WIL) walked into the clubhouse to find everyone gathered around the TV.

“Hey, guys, there’s still some shooting around out there, what’s up?”

“B-Hop’s been dealt to the Bikers,” Lenny said. Osbourne dropped his gym bag on the ground.

“You’re joking, right?”

“Look at the screen, Randy, I don’t joke,” Lenny said. The giraffe looked at the flat screen monitor, craning his neck.

“It’s a move that says the Bikers will do anything right now to the FBA Championship Trophy back now that it’s passed through Stanislaus and Williamsburg," Smith continued.

"As compromised now, do you think the Bikers are the #1 team in the FBA?” asked Kevin.

“Absolutely. They were clearly the best team last year,” Smith replied.

Several groans came from the players and a couple of towels and even a hackey sac tossed by Damien Nathaniel (Hyena, SF, free agent) were thrown at the flatscreen as Smith continued to talk. From beside him, Eric Logan (Bull Elephant, C, WIL) successfully hit the TV with a red, white and blue towel from twenty feet away.

“No respect from anybody. The Bikers are always said to be the best team, and now they’re even better,” Logan said.

“Eh, that’s bias for you,” Damien replied. Others nodded in agreement.

“Yo, what’re you guys groaning about?” Ain Iannizzi (Cougar, SF, WIL) asked, coming in with a basketball cradled under one arm. “No one else wants to come out and free shoot the rock?”

Damien just pointed at the TV screen and AIn looked. Conveniently, the trade was laid out for them again, as the analysts talked about other aspects of the Voodoo and Thrust.

Iannizzi’s jaw dropped. “Aw, screw that noise...” he groaned. The cougar immediately went back to the doorway leading to the gym.

“Hey, guys and gals! Hops has been traded to Dakota!” he called to the several players still on the floor.

Marron Gwosdz (Arctic Vixen, SG, WIL) and Tina McCall (Fennec Fox, PG, WIL) stopped their dribbling exercises and stared back at Ain.

Vera La Tiérra (Red Vixen, PG, FA), dressed in a white “Minutemen Basketball” t-shirt and navy shorts, finished her follow through and stared back at Ain. “¿Estás bromeando, Ain?” she asked as the ball bounced up. Ain shook his head.

“No joke, chica!”

*BONK!*

“OW!” Jason Peterson (Hyena, C, WIL) yelped, rubbing his head after the rebound bounced off his noggin. Vera frowned. “Lo siento, Jason,” she replied.

“It’s all right, Vera. I’ve got a hard head,” Jason replied, rubbing his noggin some more. “That trade, though... yikes.”

“Don’t worry, Jason, it’s just another challenge we will face this season,” Nick Nwabudike (Elephant, C, WIL) replied with his accented voice.

“Yeah, you’re right, Nick. Coach and the others are really sweatin’ it too, I bet.”

* * *

Upstairs, general manager Sam Gwosdz (Red Fox) and coaches Morgan Roosevelt (raccoon) and Kelsey Hampshire (red fox) sat at a conference table with a few media stat report sheets spread out in front of them.

The younger red fox stared at the smiling face of Buck Hopper in the 2011-12 FBA Official Register book, his muzzle resting on his propped up paws. A written note was scrawled beside Hopper’s name: TRADED TO BIKERS. Morgan and Kelsey were seated at either side of the table.

“It’s not like we have to respond by making any moves...” the younger fox mused. “Not that we can... It’s just... everyone’s going to feel this, and that means we will too.”

“Of course,” Morgan replied.

“Did scheduling get in touch with Dakota?” Sam asked. Kelsey nodded.

“They did. We’ve got the exhibition agreed to and it’ll be put on the docket,” the older fox replied.

“Good.” The three knew seeing an early meshing of the Hopper-Malone dynamic might help them concoct a strategy for their early-season matchup.

“Are negotiations with Vera still going well?” Morgan asked.

“We still have the only offer on the table. No rumors have even surfaced that she’ll get another,” Sam replied.

“Glad to hear that. We need consistency right now. I’m looking forward to having little roster overhaul,” Roosevelt said.

Sam nodded. “I am too,” he said. If there was anything Roosevelt liked, it was consistency in the roster. The Minutemen historically had been successful when they kept their strongest players and let them grow together, much like the Plymouth Taproots and Newark Pride have done in recent years. No one knew that better than the 56-year old raccoon.

The work may not be done, but the three minds were ready to execute with the players they would have when Howlerween, the first day of the FBA season, arrived.