Bill Bent

Bill Bent
(Armadillo, G)
ID# 83

Illustrated by Rosenthal
No. 9 – Retired
Position	Guard
Species	Armadillo ( Dasypodidae )
Gender	Male
Nickname(s)
Bent Armor
Personal information
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight	213 lb (97 kg)
Shoots	Right
Career information
College	Unifursity of California at Los Angeles
FBA draft	2002 / Round: TBD
Selected by the Tucson Demons
Pro playing career	2002–2014
Career history
2002-2004	Tucson Demons
2004-2014	Lorain Firestorm
Contract information
Contract year	2013
Player Contacts
(IC) Agent	JTigerclaw
(OOC) Creator	Unknown
(OOC) Actor	Unknown
(OOC) Usage	Ask me before any use

The Texas-born armadillo had trouble fitting in from the start when his family relocated to Southern California. Young Billy had no trouble settling into the arid sands surrounding Victorville, but it was difficult to make friends among the local coyotes, foxes, rabbits and rattlers. In a touching interview he gave to Furballer magazine, he spoke of his trouble fitting in, being teased for his curled armored back, which soon earned him the nickname he's carried into his career, "Bent Armor".

Even though he could never play anything but guard at his height, his armored back made him nearly impenetrable posting up. It was a strange strategy that threw out the book on standard basketball, but it was something that Bent could do. He had hit the weights hard to strengthen his short arms until he could snap out passes with rocket speed and precision. He worked his legs to push back defenders from the post up, and when he learned how to pivot out quickly combined with his crisp, rocket passing, he ended his high school years having set a school record for assists.

With his exotic playing style, he could change the pace of a game quickly and mix up an opponent's strategy when needed. There was no doubt from the start that he was FBA material, but with his unusual reliance on the post up move and his lack of fundamentals, he seemed destined to stay deep on the bench.

That was until Delenna Dresden put her sights on him. Her eye for unconventional lineups extended to the back court when Bent's draft contract expired and the Lorain Firestorm offered him a big contract to start.

And that's where this kid from the desert continues to play his unique brand of furry basketball.

Retirement

On June 10, 2014, a full page color article was posted on the second page of the Lorain Daily sports page. Longtime player and 12 year veteran, Bill Bent, decided to announce his retirement from the FBA after his Firestorm had been knocked out of the first round. The page was written and paid for by Bent himself, thanking his teammates, coaches and fans and reflecting on his career.

Bent has said he would consider a job within the Firestorm organization, should they come to him about an opening.

Furry Basketball Player's Association

Bent was elected the President of the FBPA in 2007 and held the position, as well as team representative of the Lorain Firestorm, until his retirement in 2014. When Bent retired, Sarah Lancaster was chosen to replace him as President.

Images

• Drawn by Rosenthal
  Drawn by Rosenthal
• 
  Art by Rosenthal - Arranged by JT