Class of 82 Posted April 15, 2009 Report Posted April 15, 2009 Jimmal is the starting point guard for Paris-Levallois in the French Cup league. They're currently in first place in the ProB division with a 23-5 record.JB's 2008-09 numbers: 12 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.2 steals in 28 games.He's made a nice little career over there.I still remember him as a freshman dropping 43 on Xavier (yeah, we lost that one in several OTs), and Dick Vitale dubbing him a Diaper Dandie. Quote
johnnyzip84 Posted April 15, 2009 Report Posted April 15, 2009 Jimmal is the starting point guard for Paris-Levallois in the French Cup league. They're currently in first place in the ProB division with a 23-5 record.JB's 2008-09 numbers: 12 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.2 steals in 28 games.He's made a nice little career over there.I still remember him as a freshman dropping 43 on Xavier (yeah, we lost that one in several OTs), and Dick Vitale dubbing him a Diaper Dandie.My all-time favorite Jimmal Ball memory was the time he raced back to defend the fast break and made a ridiculous block on Bonzi Wells!! Quote
Blue & Gold Posted April 15, 2009 Report Posted April 15, 2009 Jimmal "Spiderman" Ball! One of my very favorite Zips ever! (His mother used to call him Spiderman.) Inch-for-inch the most explosive player I've ever seen!They have a picture of him in his Zip jersey as you enter the Canton Fieldhouse. Unfortunately the bastards airbrushed "Akron" off the front of his jersey! Lol Quote
Class of 82 Posted April 15, 2009 Author Report Posted April 15, 2009 I loved Jimmal, too. And George Phillips. Too bad those two guys had to put up with so much drama on the team and in the coaching ranks. They were both class acts.Here's a link to a TV commercial for Jimmal's team in Paris. Strangely enough, the words on the screen are in English.When it get's to Jimmal's picture... well, it's very cool. Everybody loves a 5-10 guy who can still dunk at age 31, I guess. Anyway, check it out. (Jimmal's number 5)http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=42265146050 Quote
zip37 Posted April 15, 2009 Report Posted April 15, 2009 HE STILL LOOKS LIKE HE'S 21, HR HAS AGRD AS WELL AS LARRY SHYATT [ASST COACK IN LATE 60S] Quote
Let'sGoZips94 Posted April 15, 2009 Report Posted April 15, 2009 I started going to Zips games when he was just starting. I was about 1-2 yrs old. I loved watching Ball, George Phillips, Bruce Weinkein, Klaas Zolner, and others playing back in the mid-late 90's. Favorite all time memory of that group was all of the Can't State games. The place was always packed... everyone was always screaming... and Can't State still sucks. Bruce Weinkein was my best friend back then. My mom always tells the story of how one Halloween I asked to be him. I wore that jersey she made me to every game. I was actually on the news. Bruce and I got to know each other really well. He would take me into the locker room and I got everyone's autograph on a basketball. One Christmas, he even gave me a game worn jersey. I hear he's doing well in Arizona where he lives. Anyways, those were good times back then. The days now kind of remind me of back then. The players and fans have a tight connection again. The only thing different is that the AK-Rowdie's section now, was called "The Pouch" back then. Good times, good times. Go Zips! Quote
Class of 82 Posted April 16, 2009 Author Report Posted April 16, 2009 A couple of interesting notes gleaned from the few English sources I could find on the net.France's LNB (National Basketball League) is divided into two groups Pro-A and Pro-B, based on the previous year's performance. The three worst teams in Pro-A are relegated to Pro-B the following year, replaced by the top teams from Pro-B. (Can you imagine if they tried that in the NBA?)Last season, Jimmal was the MVP for the Vichy team in Pro-A and a league All-Star. Prior to this season he signed a three-year deal to play for Paris, which hoped to do well enough to return to Pro-A. Needless to say, it's working out well, as Paris is now all but assured a step up to the next level by winning the regular season title with Jimmal as the floor general.The NBA this is not, of course, but it's still pretty cool if you ask me. Anytime somebody can make a nice living as a professional athlete, you have to tip your hat... especially when you're a short kid from Canton who very few thought would succeed in college, let alone as a professional. JB is considered one of the league's top players and is one of the fan favorites.While he's played most of his career in France, Jimmal also played one season in Germany and another in Bosnia.Go Zips! Quote
johnnyzip84 Posted April 16, 2009 Report Posted April 16, 2009 A couple of interesting notes gleaned from the few English sources I could find on the net.France's LNB (National Basketball League) is divided into two groups Pro-A and Pro-B, based on the previous year's performance. The three worst teams in Pro-A are relegated to Pro-B the following year, replaced by the top teams from Pro-B. (Can you imagine if they tried that in the NBA?)Last season, Jimmal was the MVP for the Vichy team in Pro-A and a league All-Star. Prior to this season he signed a three-year deal to play for Paris, which hoped to do well enough to return to Pro-A. Needless to say, it's working out well, as Paris is now all but assured a step up to the next level by winning the regular season title with Jimmal as the floor general.The NBA this is not, of course, but it's still pretty cool if you ask me. Anytime somebody can make a nice living as a professional athlete, you have to tip your hat... especially when you're a short kid from Canton who very few thought would succeed in college, let alone as a professional. JB is considered one of the league's top players and is one of the fan favorites.While he's played most of his career in France, Jimmal also played one season in Germany and another in Bosnia.Go Zips!I've always enjoyed speculating as to how America's sports leagues would fair in a "relegation/promotion" model. It'd be fun (for a while anyway) just to watch franchises and leagues scramble I'm not saying that it's workable here. BUT, the one advantage to this system that is undeniable is the attention it places on BOTH ends of the standings. Sure, a high draft pick can add somewhat to the drama of "who will finish in last", but it pales in comparison to the dreaded RELEGATION. "Attention Pittsburgh Pirates (I can say this, being a 'Burgh native)....you've been RELEGATED". LA Clippers? Relegated on general principal!As far as JImmal being the former MVP for Vichy, I couldn't pass up this truly history-nerd based question. Can anyone identify THIS fellow former MVP for Vichy? Quote
tpsjugglerdude Posted April 16, 2009 Report Posted April 16, 2009 A couple of interesting notes gleaned from the few English sources I could find on the net.France's LNB (National Basketball League) is divided into two groups Pro-A and Pro-B, based on the previous year's performance. The three worst teams in Pro-A are relegated to Pro-B the following year, replaced by the top teams from Pro-B. (Can you imagine if they tried that in the NBA?)Last season, Jimmal was the MVP for the Vichy team in Pro-A and a league All-Star. Prior to this season he signed a three-year deal to play for Paris, which hoped to do well enough to return to Pro-A. Needless to say, it's working out well, as Paris is now all but assured a step up to the next level by winning the regular season title with Jimmal as the floor general.The NBA this is not, of course, but it's still pretty cool if you ask me. Anytime somebody can make a nice living as a professional athlete, you have to tip your hat... especially when you're a short kid from Canton who very few thought would succeed in college, let alone as a professional. JB is considered one of the league's top players and is one of the fan favorites.While he's played most of his career in France, Jimmal also played one season in Germany and another in Bosnia.Go Zips!I've always enjoyed speculating as to how America's sports leagues would fair in a "relegation/promotion" model. It'd be fun (for a while anyway) just to watch franchises and leagues scramble I'm not saying that it's workable here. BUT, the one advantage to this system that is undeniable is the attention it places on BOTH ends of the standings. Sure, a high draft pick can add somewhat to the drama of "who will finish in last", but it pales in comparison to the dreaded RELEGATION. "Attention Pittsburgh Pirates (I can say this, being a 'Burgh native)....you've been RELEGATED". LA Clippers? Relegated on general principal!As far as JImmal being the former MVP for Vichy, I couldn't pass up this truly history-nerd based question. Can anyone identify THIS fellow former MVP for Vichy?Alex, I believe the question is Who is Philippe Pétain? Quote
Class of 82 Posted April 16, 2009 Author Report Posted April 16, 2009 As far as JImmal being the former MVP for Vichy, I couldn't pass up this truly history-nerd based question. Can anyone identify THIS fellow former MVP for Vichy?Ahhh... but the good Marshal Petain didn't make Euros 15,000 a month playing basketball, did he? Quote
johnnyzip84 Posted April 16, 2009 Report Posted April 16, 2009 Ahhh... but the good Marshal Petain didn't make Euros 15,000 a month playing basketball, did he? No, but he must have made a few thousand Reichsmarks playing nicey-nice with Hitler Excellent, Class of '82! Quote
Class of 82 Posted April 16, 2009 Author Report Posted April 16, 2009 By the by... Jimmal is now a French citizen! :blink: Quote
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