This is a submissions relating to the ongoing story in the Furry Basketball Association - ran by the indomitable  BuckHopper - the San Joe Thrust are the team coached by myself.

---

As franchise moves go, the move of the Thrust to San Jose will hardly go down in the history as one of the biggest blockbusters. Largely a stripping of the mentality of the previous team, the larger impression of the newly located Thrust is one that is a shadow of its former self, the purple hue of the shirts so very familiar, but in the light of cost cutting and an all change of a superstar line up cleared out to make way for something new - a new vision outlined by the owner Foo-Foo (Owner, American Eskimo Dog) to follow a marriage of lesser lights, rather then pay the huge bucks for the Hoppers and the Dorals. The only problem is the impression from the media and the receiving fans was luke-warm, and some how the vibrancy of those violet jerseys seemed somewhat duller - like last weeks back pages.

That view only was only further supported by not only the ins and outs which saw almost all change on the roster front, but also the oddball signing of an eccentric coach from Hundgary to oversee the new style of the team. Dimi Kabat (Assistant Coach, Grey Squirrel) would come even more to the fore as Don Von Wasser (Coach, Dolphin) facing long term illness left the stoic squirrel at the helm of this new Moneyballin' approach in San Jose. Things dampened fiurther when the Thrust went on a seven game losing streak, and at times - the team was struggling to sell tickets. As the knives started to be sharpened in the press, things started to shift, and this collection of seemingly ragtag ballers started to find some form - becoming the team to that for a while led the South Western Division. Kabat's attention to detail and love for using 'Powerzone' technology to monitor his players performances was starting to ctach peoples imaginations - and with the form of Billy Joe James (Mule, F/C) and Devon Kellendyne (Cascomile, G) - people in San Jose are now starting to realstically look at the play-offs.

Halfway through the season, the Thrust are 19-24 - and breaking even seems possible, something that would have been impossible earlier in the season. The only way is up, and after a big win against the Arctics - the Thrust are looking up the conference...

---

As the grey squirrel trudged into the changing room, his careful and considered steps reveberating through the air - the heat of sweat coming off of his finely tuned athletes. Dimi Kabat had been known to be a bit of a wildcard, but what was to happen next would really take the team by suprise, considering that the team had just scraped a much 9 point win over Alaska. Confidence in this team is what was needed, for this team it was its fuel. However, the grey squirrel and very different plans.

Hesistation seemed to hang around the room as the team waited for their coach to arrive. Silas Rand (Squirrel, G) sat tapping his paws together waiting on the bench next to Chip Nelson (Chipmunk, G). Silas had grown a bit of a reputation is being a bit of a suck up to Coach Kabat - almost acting as his right hand man, but even he was concerned why the coach had left them hanging in the changing room for over fifteen minutes after this huge Valentines Day win. Most of the team looked at each other nervously - they knew something was up, and whenever they tried to second guess the Coach, he would do something that would shock them. The normally quiet coach once unleashed the hairdryer at Joey Juloni (Leopard, G) after a particularly poor showing, the team were so taken aback that they daren't look the Coach in the eyes for a couple of days. During one of their better runs, something even more bizarre happeneed - the site of the fashionista squirrel dancing up the touchline after an overtime win - the team so stunned they forgot to celebrate the winning bucket as they watched their normally shy and retiring manager pointing and fistpumping towards the home fans.

All were quietly awaiting their de-brief - the captain Peter Conner (Cougar, F) ildy flicking his wristband in his paw. The only real noise was the occassional whoop and holler from the tigger-like Conrad Schaefer (German Shepherd, F) - but at the end of the day - no-one could ever keep the canine quiet. Conner looked over and rolled his eyes at the dog gazing into his locker humming and shaking his backside as he put his headphones away.

Coach Kabat!

The squirrel entered the room.

'Well done boys....and girl!' The squirrel nodding towards Pura Doris Quaatsch (Zebra, G). 'We keep this up now okay?' 'Good teamwork, good leadership Peter'. Then silence. Even for a squirrel that tended to be straight to the point, this was quite few words!

The squirrel pulled an envelope out of his tailored suit jacket and gently flung it on the lap of Uruyak Mongoyak (Wolverine, F).

'Whats this boss?' the wolvering looking puzzled.

You've been invited to play the rookie game on All-Star Weekend, congratulations Uri, you deserve it.

A stunned looking wolverine couldn't hide the fact the room had become incredibly quiet, as almost as if anyone could struggle to talk - before someones voice suddenly broke.

'Are there others? Other envelopes I mean....Coach?' Aristotle T. Zechariah (English Mastiff, C) asked quizzically in his obviously British accent.

'Sorry Ari - its just been announced, thats our lot'

Joey Juloni looked like he'd seen a ghost. 'What....no-one? We have no players in the All Star Game? Like...none? Have I not been invited to the dunk contest? I nearly won it last year!!' The snow leapoard aghast.

'No Joey....no other call ups. Uri is the only one...and Joey....zat is perfect.'

'Perfect?!'

Devon Palma (Ox/Bull, C) interjected. 'How can this be perfect Coach? Billy Joe has been sensational, what about Dev? How can they be overlooked?!'

I came here because I believed in the Thrust...its a team of winners, I don't want those hacks to be right! Schafer growled. 'Constantly in my face with the cameras 'Moneyball this, new franchise that...'

Kabat cleared his throat 'I believe in you still, and you believe in each other okay?' The team gradually and slowly nodded 'Well then let them think vat they vant! We know we have people who can play, and the longer they can't see Billy is the there with the best, and that we have a brave cougar captain, or the little cascomile who could, and some great rookies....then that suits us just fine. A viper in the grass doesn't dance in the sand, he waits to strike. Ve are the Thrust and we shall strike. Okay?'

The team s miled and shared some hugs. It was a muted celebration, but the message was clear. If the Thrust were to be the embodiment of working without starpower, then games like All Star Weekend might elude them for a while, but perhaps under the radar might be where they could suprise everyone. And under the radar is a dangerous place.

Characters are copyright to their respective owners
Story and Dimi Kabat by myself
The FA ic copyright to  buckhopper