Down to Nine?

[panchess]

I see the Krunk's two games against East Kentucky are cancelled (I assume forfeited), as are both Patroon games against Great Falls, as evidently Tuckman couldn't secure a site and Albany didn't fly out on a whim.

Therefore it's safe to assume the Krunk weren't sold. Tuckman claims he is going to play Yakama and make the playoffs, according to today's Great Falls paper.

[cat1bb1]

This is the article in today's paper, something still doesn't smell right...

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/SPORTS/802250317

[OKCAVS67]

Did Tuckman have the same problems with cash flow last year?

Funny how in the article Michael Tuckman said Sunday that the Patroons remained in New York rather take a costly flight to Montana for only two games.

I thought the cost of travel was spread out among the teams? That is how Atlanta has been traveling for only two games here and there. Maybe he can't afford his half of the travel cost since he can't even pay for a place to play.

He is a peice of work!

[psbf]

I find it interesting that the Krunk game was ppd and the ABA Vision were sold out(according to their release).

[The Magician]

I find it interesting that the Krunk game was ppd and the ABA Vision were sold out(according to their release).

LOL ... Believe me, although The Krunk and The Vision are in the same Metro-ATL area, they are a world apart from each other.

[Kev the Cav]

I'm not sure when this interview took place, but it was posted on to the Slam Online site on Feb.22. Doesn't say anything about new ownership...

http://slamonline.com/online/2008/02/krunk-aint-dead/

[OKCAVS67]

Couple of comments in that article that stood out to me...

"If I’m still involved next season, and that’s still up in the air,"

and

"I’ve been in the throes of bringing in new majority ownership so we can survive the season"

The article was done on Feb. 23. Does the guy realize that there is only 2 weeks left of the season?

Just sell the team outright to someone that will care about it and pay the players.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Did Tuckman have the same problems with cash flow last year?

Funny how in the article Michael Tuckman said Sunday that the Patroons remained in New York rather take a costly flight to Montana for only two games.

I thought the cost of travel was spread out among the teams? That is how Atlanta has been traveling for only two games here and there. Maybe he can't afford his half of the travel cost since he can't even pay for a place to play.

He is a peice of work!

The Patroons organization has a history of not meeting its travel obligations late in the season. The Patroons did the same thing in the USBL last summer--refused to travel. It's another big red flag that the Patroons are cash strapped. Great Falls should get the wins by forfeit.

[preeths]

The Patroons organization has a history of not meeting its travel obligations late in the season. The Patroons did the same thing in the USBL last summer--refused to travel. It's another big red flag that the Patroons are cash strapped. Great Falls should get the wins by forfeit.

I hope you're being sarcastic. If the home team, in this case Great Falls, doesn't have a home court lined up by the time the traveling team needs to go, the home team should forfeit. Tuckman's game of musical home courts should cost his team, not the Patroons.

[besl]

The Patroons organization has a history of not meeting its travel obligations late in the season. The Patroons did the same thing in the USBL last summer--refused to travel. It's another big red flag that the Patroons are cash strapped. Great Falls should get the wins by forfeit.

This raises an interesting question. Who is typically more to blame when something like this happens?

Is it reasonable to expect Albany to not fly out to Montana without knowing that either of their games are going to be played? Or should they fly all the way out there and show up at the Explorers' offices (which I believe are still padlocked by the police) to be able to claim their forfeit victories?

If Tuckman gave Albany his word <chortle> that they will have a place ready by the time they get there, are they then required to show up despite Tuckman's terrible track record in following through on his word?

Considering everything, I'd just split the games and give each team a forfeit win/loss.

[Sam Hill]

I find it interesting that the Krunk game was ppd and the ABA Vision were sold out(according to their release).

They didn't say "sold out."

They said "packed house" (of which I'd be skeptical on the face of it - but definitely skeptical that they sold all those tickets) and "the Vision's biggest crowd" (whatever that is).

At least the release was more or less in English. Just incomplete.

As for Tuckman, the guy's living in some fantasy world.

[panchess]

..in the USBL, the Patroons decided not to wait around two weeks for the USBL tournament after a season where they had seven games cancelled, and the schedule re-written at least twice. While the regular season ended the last week in June, the Patroons season ended in early June due to all the cancellations.

There isn't a thread of evidence that the Patroons ever played in the USBL at the Washington Avenue Armory.

The Pats have flown all over the country this season. The obvious reason that they didn't this time is that the games weren't lined up, and Tuckman had dropped two of his previous four home games.

[Pounder]

It's Official.

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3597339

[Sam Hill]

Won't someone please think about what will happen to the Sapphires?

http://www.greatfallsexplorers.com/images/sapphires/sapphires.gif

[FrontOffice]

I vote dispersal draft... I'll take the first pick, blonde - second from the left

[SUNKINGS]

Tuckman strikes again. Actually he had to spend some money , what did he get for it? What did he expect was going to be different than what went down? I dont get why he got involved in the first place. Did he want right to a CBA franchise? Help me understand.

[Precious Roy]

"While it is regrettable that Michael and the Explorers have to suspend operations, it is understandable," said CBA Deputy Commissioner Dennis Truax. "The ongoing lease issues between Michael and the Four Seasons Arena have made it difficult to operate. We commend Michael on all of his hard work this season and we will work diligently to help him solve this arena issue so he can return to Great Falls. We feel the Great Falls market can and will sustain a CBA franchise."

While I understand that you have to tow the CBA line, I think this comment is downright silly. Anyone with the most basic understanding of what is going on up there has to see that it is not just the Tuckman-facility issue.
If Tuckman didn't owe money to everyone in GF, he might have been able to spend money on the RENT FOR THE FACILITY!

Just my two cents.

[jjbballfan]

Who are we going to make fun of now? Tuckman was perfect a bad owner that likes to talk to the media.... there isn't too many of them, there isn't too many owners that talk to the media period and Tuckman was one hell of an interview.... Its going to be hard to over come this....

[rams80]

Congratulations Atlanta! You weren't the first team to go belly up.

Now...will they be able to complete their Virginia Squires-esque struggle to survive until the end of the season?

[panchess]

..not going to Montana..

[Shootmaster_44]

I find it strange that Great Falls didn't move to another city. If it was simply a case of venue problems, there are likely other cities that could host a team for the remaining part of the season. Not counting the games that were supposed to be played last night and tonight, the Explorers have 4 home games left. They couldn't find a venue for four measly dates? They could've moved the team across the border to Lethbridge or a little further East here to Saskatoon and saved the team.

At worst, the CBA could have seen them become a road-only team and move their six home games to the end of the schedule, where they'd play in their opponents' arenas.

I don't follow the CBA too closely, but does this cause red flags about next season? Will this kill any possible expansion? Not that I've heard anything out of the league or people in Saskatoon, but I'd love to see the CBA return. I'd hate for Great Falls (and possibly Atlanta) dying to kill any tiny chance of that occurring.

[Pounder]

Virtually every example I've seen of a midseason move, in the time I've observed the business, has merely compounded the minor disaster in the making.

[bectond]

I They could've moved the team across the border to Lethbridge or a little further East here to Saskatoon and saved the team.

I don't follow the CBA too closely, but does this cause red flags about next season? Will this kill any possible expansion? Not that I've heard anything out of the league or people in Saskatoon, but I'd love to see the CBA return. I'd hate for Great Falls (and possibly Atlanta) dying to kill any tiny chance of that occurring.


You mean you have not heard the good news? The CBA plans to expand to 10 Canadian cities in the next five years.

[jjbballfan]

I think the CBA really needs to do some soul searching the league in itself is having big troubles....

Atlanta- Who knows whats going on down there, they have venue problems, payroll problems along with others but the league doesn't know whats going on

Oklahoma- Was going to fold until local investors took over and when the league was asked to comment they said everything was fine as far as they could tell

Great Falls- I think that the league shouldn't of approved the sale of this team to an outside owner so close to the start and the league should of just took control of the team rather then have the operations suspended.

Minot- Sold mid-season seems to now have creditable owners but before that who knew

Yakama- seems to be having problems but who knows...

The league just doesn't know whats its doing, it is doing what the NIFL and the ABA did before they lost the little creditability they started caring more about expanding then quality. Thats one thing I give the Dleague and the UIF credit in they don't care if there are many teams they just want there teams to be creditable, and respectable....

[SUNKINGS]

Dont include the D-League in any of this minor league BB conversation. They have NBA money backing the teams. So no teams will go down like this nonsense.

[jjbballfan]

Dont include the D-League in any of this minor league BB conversation. They have NBA money backing the teams. So no teams will go down like this nonsense.

They may have NBA backing but I don't think that is a big factor..... the point I am getting to is how they operate professionally by doing background checks on ownership groups, and care more about solid owners then about having teams......

The CBA was once ran professionally........

[Sam Hill]

I find it strange that Great Falls didn't move to another city. If it was simply a case of venue problems, there are likely other cities that could host a team for the remaining part of the season. Not counting the games that were supposed to be played last night and tonight, the Explorers have 4 home games left. They couldn't find a venue for four measly dates? They could've moved the team across the border to Lethbridge or a little further East here to Saskatoon and saved the team.

You really haven't been paying attention, have you?

The venue was not the biggest of this team's problems. And simply moving somewhere, asking to crash on somebody's couch for four games, wasn't going to solve or even band-aid the systemic and organizational problems of the franchise.

So playing four games in Saskatoon could have "saved the team?" How, exactly? They stayed alive exactly as long as Michael Tuckman wanted to keep losing money. No more, no less. If he wanted to keep losing money (and marriages and his health), yeah, he could have just moved the team somewhere, been seen as a carpetbagger, tried to graft a team onto some temporary living arrangements (talk about a way to build a fanbase - "Hey, we got a new team!" "Wow, cool!" "Yeah, but it's only for a few games and it's so messed up it will probably fold because the owner doesn't pay his bills!" "Great! Let's go buy tickets now! I hope they play in a high school gym, because I've been dying to watch bad pro basketball in a high school gym with guys I've never heard of!") and played out the string.

But, really, why bother?

This team wasn't worth saving. This guy isn't worth having as an owner.

And, I'm sorry, keeping a team on life support is not the same as "saving" it.

Minor league pro basketball teams come and go. Six months from now, nobody in Great Falls will give a rat's ass. And there'll be some other team with a crappy name and messed up ownership in some other city, and eventually it'll all happen again.

[Sam Hill]

"While it is regrettable that Michael and the Explorers have to suspend operations, it is understandable," said CBA Deputy Commissioner Dennis Truax. "The ongoing lease issues between Michael and the Four Seasons Arena have made it difficult to operate."

He probably...shouldn't have signed that lease, then.

Should have sent everybody home that night and told the arena guy who waved the contract under his nose to go have carnal knowledge with himself. Would have been a momentary setback instead of the CF that it turned out to be.

[SUNKINGS]

I agree JJ, but its because of the NBA invovlement they are able to be choosy. There are very few cities that can support minor league BB, and a few of them split for the D- League and the CBA hasnt been able to get off the mat since. I think local ownership in these little cities is Ideal. with multiple owners, so that the losses are minor and spread out. (I beleive that is what Minot has). Then these guys can cat around town "owning a BB team"

[Sam Hill]

Then these guys can cat around town "owning a BB team"

How much catting around Great Falls do you figure Tuckman has been doing?

Do they give these guys "I went into bankruptcy because I had to own a basketball team" t-shirts?

[rider]

The CBA management in order to save any credibility must yank the franchise from Tuckman! How foolish the statement from the league saying they were in agreement with Tuckman to shut it down.

STAND UP CBA MANAGEMENT SHOW SOME BACKBONE ! OR RESIGN!

[jjbballfan]

The CBA management in order to save any credibility must yank the franchise from Tuckman! How foolish the statement from the league saying they were in agreement with Tuckman to shut it down.

STAND UP CBA MANAGEMENT SHOW SOME BACKBONE ! OR RESIGN!

You can say what you want about Tuckman but I think the bigger problem was the fact that they let Tuckman buy the team just before the season with recognizable problems already persisting..... If the CBA would of been smart they would of said if Tuckman is buying the team let the team sit out this season get its sh*t in order and start fresh next season, if that means moving the franchise back to Seattle or whatever so be it but I think that is where the big problem was.

I think the CBA has to get more organized.. Approve of facilities so teams aren't playing in facilities like the one in Atlanta or high schools like Great Falls did.... buy all the teams jerseys before the season and give them to the teams so the teams are playing with approved, professional uniforms, make sure the lease agreement is in place before the season starts and most importantly why can't the league just pay the players or at least have the money go through the league so the league knows who is telling the truth about people getting paid what.... I still have faith in the CBA because I think they there is still a place for a creditable league like the CBA but they have to get there poop in a group if they want to keep the league alive..... maybe Canada isn't such a bad idea.....

[Shootmaster_44]

You mean you have not heard the good news? The CBA plans to expand to 10 Canadian cities in the next five years.

I assume this is meant to be sarcastic. However, if not done in jest what officially is the plan?

[Shootmaster_44]

You really haven't been paying attention, have you?

The venue was not the biggest of this team's problems. And simply moving somewhere, asking to crash on somebody's couch for four games, wasn't going to solve or even band-aid the systemic and organizational problems of the franchise.

So playing four games in Saskatoon could have "saved the team?" How, exactly? They stayed alive exactly as long as Michael Tuckman wanted to keep losing money. No more, no less. If he wanted to keep losing money (and marriages and his health), yeah, he could have just moved the team somewhere, been seen as a carpetbagger, tried to graft a team onto some temporary living arrangements (talk about a way to build a fanbase - "Hey, we got a new team!" "Wow, cool!" "Yeah, but it's only for a few games and it's so messed up it will probably fold because the owner doesn't pay his bills!" "Great! Let's go buy tickets now! I hope they play in a high school gym, because I've been dying to watch bad pro basketball in a high school gym with guys I've never heard of!") and played out the string.

But, really, why bother?

This team wasn't worth saving. This guy isn't worth having as an owner.

And, I'm sorry, keeping a team on life support is not the same as "saving" it.

Minor league pro basketball teams come and go. Six months from now, nobody in Great Falls will give a rat's ass. And there'll be some other team with a crappy name and messed up ownership in some other city, and eventually it'll all happen again.

Nope. Like I say I haven't really paid attention to the CBA. I gathered from this thread that it was venue problems that caused them to go under. If that was merely the case then a move would have made the most sense to me. Since it appears that its money problems then it wouldn't help at all to move the team, unless it were sold to another ownership group who planned to bring them back next season (like the Mansfield/Youngstown/Saskatchewan Hawks).

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

I hope you're being sarcastic. If the home team, in this case Great Falls, doesn't have a home court lined up by the time the traveling team needs to go, the home team should forfeit. Tuckman's game of musical home courts should cost his team, not the Patroons.

Nope, not being sarcastic. Go ahead and travel to Great Falls. Albany was scheduled to travel there anyway. If Great Falls doesn't have a home venue, then Albany claims much needed quarter points--no question. If Albany DOESN'T travel, then the quarter point question is left open. Hey! We had a venue, but Albany didn't show up, could have been claimed by Mr. Tuckman. Of course, the question has been settled now. 8)

A similar situation happened with the USBL Gary Steelheads and a road trip to Jackson Mississippi. Jackson was flakey as a franchise and their owner was AWOL. This was known BEFORE Gary left on the road trip. Gary went anyway. The trip was already budgeted, so Gary met their travel obligation...and yes, Jackson could not find a venue (or enough players for that matter). Gary demanded a forfeit win and got it.

I tend to look for red flags. There are red flags going up all over the place with the Patroons organization. This is just the most recent raising of the flag, IMO.

[preeths]

Nope, not being sarcastic. Go ahead and travel to Great Falls. Albany was scheduled to travel there anyway. If Great Falls doesn't have a home venue, then Albany claims much needed quarter points--no question. If Albany DOESN'T travel, then the quarter point question is left open. Hey! We had a venue, but Albany didn't show up, could have been claimed by Mr. Tuckman. Of course, the question has been settled now. 8)

A similar situation happened with the USBL Gary Steelheads and a road trip to Jackson Mississippi. Jackson was flakey as a franchise and their owner was AWOL. This was known BEFORE Gary left on the road trip. Gary went anyway. The trip was already budgeted, so Gary met their travel obligation...and yes, Jackson could not find a venue (or enough players for that matter). Gary demanded a forfeit win and got it.

I tend to look for red flags. There are red flags going up all over the place with the Patroons organization. This is just the most recent raising of the flag, IMO.

Completely disagree. I have no idea what the Patroons' financial situation is, but this was entirely on the Explorers, not Albany. Great Falls was ready to raise the white flag, and Patroons management realized it. It should be obvious that Tuckman was just trying to muddy the waters with his statement that Albany wouldn't travel. Not on your life would I spend the money to make a trip for games without a venue. First thing I would do is confirm the information with the CBA office. That way you get your quarter points without spending an extra dime or wasting any time. It's easy for me to say now, but the last day's events have proven the Patroons were right. I don't see the red flag, only the white one raised by Tuckman.

[rams80]

Nope. Like I say I haven't really paid attention to the CBA. I gathered from this thread that it was venue problems that caused them to go under. If that was merely the case then a move would have made the most sense to me. Since it appears that its money problems then it wouldn't help at all to move the team, unless it were sold to another ownership group who planned to bring them back next season (like the Mansfield/Youngstown/Saskatchewan Hawks).

I'd say it was money more than venue problems that cause Great Falls to go under, so yes, moving the team would have done little good.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

..in the USBL, the Patroons decided not to wait around two weeks for the USBL tournament after a season where they had seven games cancelled, and the schedule re-written at least twice. While the regular season ended the last week in June, the Patroons season ended in early June due to all the cancellations.

There isn't a thread of evidence that the Patroons ever played in the USBL at the Washington Avenue Armory.

The Pats have flown all over the country this season. The obvious reason that they didn't this time is that the games weren't lined up, and Tuckman had dropped two of his previous four home games.

I'm a bit stubborn when it comes to the USBL Patroons. No argument can convince me that the Patroons were justified in NOT traveling to the end of season tournament. The USBL league office was in shambles, sure I agree. However, the remaining teams only had themselves to depend on during the latter part of the 2007 season. It was the tournament host, Oklahoma Storm, the Patroons hurt by choosing not to travel. The USBL, the league, was a non-factor. All the remaining USBL teams participated in the tournament. The Patroons reneged on their travel obligations.

[formerlyknownasfells]

Joe Newman has to be thinking "Gee, at least this happens to other leagues and not just mine."

[Kev the Cav]

If Albany DID travel to Great Falls, would they have had a place to stay?

I'm pretty sure I read the home team pays for the visitor's rooms and the Explorers themselves had just been evicted, so I wonder if either team had a place to stay in Great Falls.

[preeths]

I'm a bit stubborn when it comes to the USBL Patroons. No argument can convince me that the Patroons were justified in NOT traveling to the end of season tournament. The USBL league office was in shambles, sure I agree. However, the remaining teams only had themselves to depend on during the latter part of the 2007 season. It was the tournament host, Oklahoma Storm, the Patroons hurt by choosing not to travel. The USBL, the league, was a non-factor. All the remaining USBL teams participated in the tournament. The Patroons reneged on their travel obligations.

That may be, but I don't know exactly what transpired with the USBL. Seemed like the Patroons knew it was a lost cause and threw in the towel early, but this is a different situation. The facts here look pretty indisputable. Tuckman tries to blame Albany, but a day later he folds the Explorers for the year. Not Albany's fault.

[Patroons1]

I think it is pretty clear that the Patroons did not go to GF because there was no reasonable expectation that a venue would be found and that proved to be true. There is no reason to spend money, cash strapped or not to find that out. I think that is about as clear as it can be.

If the Patroons are cash strapped (which I don't believe), the USBL had a lot to do with it. Joining that league was a tremendous mistake for the organization, it hurt the credibility and quality of the Patroon "brand", was a reschedule after reschedule joke, local high school refs were used, many cancellations and folds. It appeared to be more an effort by management to "fill dates" in the armory (that the organization owns) than it was an effort to protect the quality of Patroon Basketball. A perhaps well intended but miserable failure. The Patroons decided not to participate in the playoffs because the credibility and integrity of the season and USBL has long since been lost. Also pretty clear truth. They forfeited no regular season games.

The CBA patroons today are fully staffed (10 players on bench at last home game) with an xNBA head coach since day 1, an assistant and a professional announcer that also does the ALBANY D1 games. While there are obvious other bills to pay and I am sure they are not rolling in the $ like any CBA team today, typically a fully staffed team this late in the season is (a green flag) and not a symptom of a cash strapped team.

[Chuck the Writer]

The CBA patroons today are fully staffed (10 players on bench at last home game) with an xNBA head coach since day 1, an assistant and a professional announcer that also does the ALBANY D1 games.

And when that announcer's not available because of UAlbany commitments, then I step in, as his backup, and take the microphone. I'll be doing that at the Patroons' next home game against Minot.

And another thing about the USBL. The Patroons not only played all their home games, they went to all their road contests when the teams were available, even the rescheduled games. The USBL tournament was three weeks after the Pats' last home game, and by then the playoff format had been twisted around several different times. Even if the Patroons themselves did not go to the tourney, several of their players did participate in the tournament as members of other teams (I believe Eric Williams was on the Gary squad, for example).

[sj2u]

I find it strange that Great Falls didn't move to another city. If it was simply a case of venue problems, there are likely other cities that could host a team for the remaining part of the season. Not counting the games that were supposed to be played last night and tonight, the Explorers have 4 home games left. They couldn't find a venue for four measly dates? They could've moved the team across the border to Lethbridge or a little further East here to Saskatoon and saved the team.


Obviously you haven't been following the "Shenanigans of the Infamous Mr. Tuckman"... moving the team wouldn't make a difference as long as he was still at the helm.

The man's a conman who refuses to pay any of his bills and would have the same issues no matter where he went.

Also, he wouldn't be able to go anywhere because word has spread and no one would deal with him unless he paid cash up front for the venue (hotel rooms, travel, etc.).

As I said once before "SHADY, SHADY, SHADY."

[sj2u]

If Albany DID travel to Great Falls, would they have had a place to stay?

I'm pretty sure I read the home team pays for the visitor's rooms and the Explorers themselves had just been evicted, so I wonder if either team had a place to stay in Great Falls.

Nope, Kev, if they'd travelled here, they wouldn't have had a place to stay unless they footed the bill themselves (normally covered by the home team). All of the hotels in Great Falls have blacklisted Tuckman and won't book anything that's billed to him because they know they'll never see the money.

Seriously, there has to be some kind of law that he's broken here (if he were an individual writing bad checks it would be)... with the amount of money he's scr##ed local businesses out of it should be a felony!

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

I think it is pretty clear that the Patroons did not go to GF because there was no reasonable expectation that a venue would be found and that proved to be true. There is no reason to spend money, cash strapped or not to find that out. I think that is about as clear as it can be.

If the Patroons are cash strapped (which I don't believe), the USBL had a lot to do with it. Joining that league was a tremendous mistake for the organization, it hurt the credibility and quality of the Patroon "brand", was a reschedule after reschedule joke, local high school refs were used, many cancellations and folds. It appeared to be more an effort by management to "fill dates" in the armory (that the organization owns) than it was an effort to protect the quality of Patroon Basketball. A perhaps well intended but miserable failure. The Patroons decided not to participate in the playoffs because the credibility and integrity of the season and USBL has long since been lost. Also pretty clear truth. They forfeited no regular season games.

The CBA patroons today are fully staffed (10 players on bench at last home game) with an xNBA head coach since day 1, an assistant and a professional announcer that also does the ALBANY D1 games. While there are obvious other bills to pay and I am sure they are not rolling in the $ like any CBA team today, typically a fully staffed team this late in the season is (a green flag) and not a symptom of a cash strapped team.

Hmmmmm. You also didn't believe that the Explorers' organization was stealing services in Great Falls when I pointed that out to you a few months back. Putting people up in hotels with no intentions of paying the bill is exactly that. They might as well have been shoplifting from the local Wal*Mart.

Only time will tell on the Patroons organization. You see a green flag and I see a red flag.

[SUNKINGS]

I will weigh in on this topic. There is no way Albany should have even considered traveling to GF. Albany had a poor season on the court and at the gate this year, and I am sure are losing a few $$$ this year. They wont make the Playoffs (2 per division, trust me) and will finish the season with a decent product.

[preeths]

I see no flag, not on this point. The USBL is in the past, and the Patroons may just have recognized that before most others.

[panchess]

..I'll be the first to say that this year's season didn't meet expectations in Albany, but a .500 season isn't poor or awful, it's average. RGV and Atlanta had poor seasons, not Albany.

I think the Pats will be back next season, but with Jim Coyne back at the helm instead of current management. I actually saw a Patroons TV ad for the series with Minot this weekend. Amazing.

Ticket prices were higher this season (with the gimmick of a free 12 and under with every paid adult, which I don't think worked well), so the b/e was probably a bit lower. Jim Coyne said at the end of last season that the Pats broke even.

[PikevilleOT]

I will weigh in on this topic. There is no way Albany should have even considered traveling to GF. Albany had a poor season on the court and at the gate this year, and I am sure are losing a few $$$ this year. They wont make the Playoffs (2 per division, trust me) and will finish the season with a decent product.

trust vs. distrust....I have no reason to doubt your word. However, I am positive we heard top 3. what is your source for top 2?
thanks.

[SUNKINGS]

Panchess you are correct, poor was a little strong. But I expect higher standards from the Patroons than the other teams. And with those standards it was poor. Please dont compare yourself to ATL/RGV.

[psbf]

I've been thinking about the Explorers situation and I don't know that the Xplosion will get automatic forfeits. I think the league will probably find new opponents for us and we may even get added home dates. But that is up to the decision of the league(imo).

[panchess]

..if that is true, that is good news. Given the circumstances, it lets the Krunk make up some games and not disturb the home schedules of the teams that actually draw.

It might mean, though, that Atlanta is actually returning to the CBA for next season. Who would have thunk it?

[rams80]

Regardless of owners, Atlanta is not a sustainable situation. The league would be best served by a move, or mercy killing the franchise in the offseason.

[psbf]

to see what their new owners will do for the franchise, before I make such a call, rams. If they can promote the Krunk and call attention to the team, things may improve. If they have deep pockets, things may get better for the team. Yes they have a lot of competition, but I'd wait and see.

[rams80]

to see what their new owners will do for the franchise, before I make such a call, rams. If they can promote the Krunk and call attention to the team, things may improve. If they have deep pockets, things may get better for the team. Yes they have a lot of competition, but I'd wait and see.

They don't do a good job of supporting their NBA team! What on God's good green earth makes you think Atlanta would care about a piddly-arse minor league basketball team? The Krunk are at best 3rd or 4th fiddle in town once you factor in Georgia Tech. Their home court situation is a disaster, and the fanbase is typically apathetic. Those deep pockets would be best served by getting out of there and finding a place where they won't quickly become shallow pockets.

[Sam Hill]

They don't do a good job of supporting their NBA team! What on God's good green earth makes you think Atlanta would care about a piddly-arse minor league basketball team?

Because pbsf thinks that the cure-all for every franchise is "promote more."

Every franchise needs to promote. But that seems to be his only idea, and he seems to think that's a panacea when teams like the Krunk have so many deep-seated problems beyond their promotional efforts that it wouldn't matter how much they promoted (not that they have the money to do so).

[psbf]

No need to be sarcastic, Sam. I hate seeing teams fail, is that a crime?

[bectond]

I assume this is meant to be sarcastic. However, if not done in jest what officially is the plan?

10 expansion teams based out of the caribbean sea (I'm assuming the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands)

10 expansion teams in Mexico (The flagship franchise playing in the beautiful city of Nuevo Laredo).

10 teams in Canada (whitehorse, Yellowknife, maybe Coppermine)

and at least one team from China based in Southern California.

The plan is to collect as many franchise fees from as many international investors as possible. It seems as if the entire US market has already been tapped; Therefore, serial businessmen are being forced into the emerging international sports market.

[rams80]

10 expansion teams based out of the caribbean sea (I'm assuming the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands)

10 expansion teams in Mexico (The flagship franchise playing in the beautiful city of Nuevo Laredo).

10 teams in Canada (whitehorse, Yellowknife, maybe Coppermine)

and at least one team from China based in Southern California.

The plan is to collect as many franchise fees from as many international investors as possible. It seems as if the entire US market has already been tapped; Therefore, serial businessmen are being forced into the emerging international sports market.

I hate to break it to you, but somebody leaked you Unca Joe's gameplan from a couple of years ago and slapped a CBA logo on it.