Frost Heaves Watch

SI senior writer Alexander Wolff has founded an ABA team, the Vermont Frost Heaves, which will begin play in November (SI, Dec. 19). He'll file periodic updates on the team.

Thousands of people have kindled to our mission of melding the old Vermont (play in historic downtown gyms) with the new (invite fans to help run the team over the Internet). We've logged hundreds of merchandise orders over the Web, nearly as many offers to volunteer and five approaches from documentary filmmakers or reality programmers. Among the best ideas we've received so far are taking advantage of the ABA's 13th Man Rule by conscripting for one game a certain soon-to-be-retired New England Patriot, who could drop-kick three-point attempts, and having a Robert Frost impersonator launch a shot from beyond half-court before each game. Which would beget a slogan: Frost Heaves--not just a noun, a verb phrase!

• The team's website is www.vermontfrostheaves.com.

PHOTO

CHRISTOPHER HERCIK (FROST HEAVES LOGO)