My entry into the FBA 2013-2014 Draft. Those of you who know me, know that I used to be a koala. I love the cute and nasty little critters. So when the opportunity to make a new character came up, I couldn't resist. Besides, you don't see many koalas in the FBA - I think this might be a first.

Anyhow, for those who enjoy the FBA, sports, or the wonderful art of  rosenthal, please enjoy this as well!

FBA and all characters therein copyright to  buckhopper


When you believe in things that you don't understand...
Then you suffer... Superstition ain't the way.
- Stevie Wonder, "Superstition"


Travis Andrew Buckner
Male, age 23, 6’5”, 193 lbs, athletic build
Koala, grey fur, green eyes
Preferred position: Forward (3 or 4)
Origin: Wichita, KS
College: Black Tundra University, #13
Nickname: “Jinx”


Travis’ childhood saw a great affinity for basketball. He made the games seem easy, to the point where coaches would be clamoring for him even in games a few grades above his actual level. In high school, the koala's ability to find holes and drive through to make intense dunks and impossible tip-ins made him a formidable forward and the scourge of his opponents.

Unfortunately, this applied to his teammates, too. Despite Travis’ ability, his team didn’t win as many games as people thought they would, simply because others on the teams - BOTH teams - tended to score low when Travis was on the court. When asked for a reason, the typical offer was blaming the 'walla as ‘bad luck’, like he was siphoning out their fortune to use as his own. This was laughed off as silly superstition by everyone else, including Travis..

Except, the effect persisted, well into Travis’ career in college. For the three years he had been stationed at Black Tundra, his team performed only average, despite his consistent killer scoring performances and constant defense doubles - and even some triples - by Buckner. None of the games he started in scored over 70 points, despite him being one of the highest scorers, bringing in 25-40% of the points himself. Turnovers, lost balls, and injuries tended to be higher when Travis took the court, but few of these were directly caused by him - except the steals, of course.

Coaches loved giving Travis the ball as it usually meant an instant 2 points, but his teammates hated having to do so because it meant bad luck for everyone else to simply have him there - a stigma that persisted off the court as well. People started whispering that he really WAS a jinx, and that no college or pro ball team would, in their right mind, take responsibility for it. It became his nickname - a name he was very angry to have used around him. Travis didn’t believe in luck. He had natural ability he was going to use, and others’ issues with him were their own problems, stupid nicknames notwithstanding. As a result, he became detached from any team outside of court play, spending more time alone and resenting of teammates going out together after the game, and not inviting him along. This isolated him more and more.

With a 82% shot completion record in his junior year, and constant double-doubles in rebounds and some stellar footage of an aggressive dunk, Travis appears to be the perfect forward on paper or on the video screen. Very skilled in short range offense, knows tactics and excellent at pulling up rebounds and steals. His long range shots leave a lot to be desired, but get him the ball in the paint, and you’re golden.

The main problem is, unfortunately, the stigma of being labeled a ‘jinx’ by nearly everyone. As long as he’s not playing, everyone plays normal, but get him on the court, and things... just start happening with his teammates. This tends to happen more often and faster if the team is superstitious, which quickly becomes so when Travis is out making shots. Players who have played with him tend to do worse, simply put. Coaches claim it’s because others unconsciously THINK he’s bad luck - an idea to which Travis agrees wholeheartedly. As such, while he is cooperative towards team efforts, he is usually not sociable with them, as they don’t want anything to do with him in general except just get the ball to him ASAP.

Travis is putting his name in the draft, because he knows he can play well, and he just needs to find a team that believes in talent and a fresh start, and not stupid superstitions like ‘fate’ and ‘luck’.