Halifax

[hfxhockeyfan]

From- http://www.rainmenbasketball.ca/news/mar-18-2008/rainmen-to-make-announcement

"Rainmen to make Announcement

The Halifax Rainmen executive will make a significant announcement regarding the future of the team, tomorrow, Wednesday March 19th, at 11:30am. The announcement will take place at the World Trade and Convention Centre, suite 301. Andre Levingston, Coach Rick Lewis and the entire Rainmen team will be in attendance."

[tbayz1]

Hope its a good one!! Something like leaving the ABA?

[logoguru]

Can't wait! I'll be at work at that time, though. Something to look forward to on the drive home. I wonder if they'll make hints to other teams futures.
________
Depakote Lawyers (http://www.classactionsettlements.org/lawsuit/depakote/)

[Paul S]

Well I'll give Andre his credit. When he first showed up I immediately labelled him as just-another-boob who got snookered into this league.

The man has proven stand up and first class throughout, even if he announces today that the ABA is where they are staying. If Newman had enough brains he'd have flown up and offered guys like Andre, Carter, Ian McCarthy and Alex Wolff a part of the league and a blueprint of how it can all work.

Problem is Newman didn't and won't. Whatever happens to the Rainmen, I wish them all the best. This is a good example of how you run a business first and a basketball team second.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

If Halifax announces they are leaving the ABA at 11:30, Joe will find a way to make them 'playoff ineligible" by 11:45.

Count on it.

[The Sweeper]

If Halifax announces they are leaving the ABA at 11:30, Joe will find a way to make them 'playoff ineligible" by 11:45.

Count on it.

Let's not forget about Joe calling Andre '"garbage" just like he did with the Razorsharks owners...

[a1sports]

Andre is too smart to let Joe ruin him in Halifax. If it is true that the city "helps" the rainmen, then staying in the ABA would be a total disaster for the relationship the city and andre have. The media in Halifax have investigated the ABA and have commented that it is a joke league. My information shows 60% to CBA and 40% chance they go to PBL. The point is they know they have to get away from the ABA to save credibility since the ABA has none.

They dont need to make an announcement today where they are going, just that they are leaving would show smart business sense.

[thebaseballdunc]

They are making the announcment at a good time becasue there is still talk about the team in the city at this point in time. Don't rule out going D-League guys they have the ability if not the geography.

[tops804]

If Halifax announces they are leaving the ABA at 11:30, Joe will find a way to make them 'playoff ineligible" by 11:45.

Count on it.

...Don't forget the pity-party he will throw.

Explaining how they are "mean-spirited", and ruined the great 8...

(Maywood may want to ship a box of uniform's to Quebec City....They may
have a chance to be "represented" after all...)

[formerlyknownasfells]

This just in through a news release from the Rainmen..........

Owner of The Halifax Rainmen has officially removed the team from the American Basketball Association, effective 10:00 a.m. today, March 19. The Rainmen will be not participating in the league’s play-offs, scheduled in Quebec later this month.



“After all the challenges we faced this year, it became obvious that the ABA is not the right league for the Halifax Rainmen. Our fans, our corporate partners, our season tickets holders and this city deserve better, and I will do every thing I can to deliver,” added team owner Andre Levingston.



Levingston is excited to announce future plans of the Halifax Rainmen. The team plans to make a run at becoming a member of the NBA’s Developmental League.



“I am so thrilled to begin the process of negotiating to become an NBA Developmental team. Tomorrow we will start to assemble a task force of professionals to begin to make our case to present to the league as soon as possible,” said Levingston.



Levingston commits the Rainmen will stay in Halifax regardless of the success of the future NBA D-League negotiations.

[CHris902]

First post on this board:

The Rainmen have left the ABA and will not travel to Quebec City for the Play Offs. (http://rainmenblog.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/rainmen-leave-aba-effective-immideately-will-not-participate-in-playoffs-pursuing-d-league-membership/)

They are now seriously pursuing D-League membership for next year. No word on how close they are to getting into the D-League, but I know Livingston has had daily contact with DL officials for the last few weeks. I don't think he'd announce this if he didn't think it was at least a possibility.

[LightningMan]

D-League would be their ideal option, but not their only one. If they could not get into the D-League, either the CBA or the PBL would take them. One thing is for sure: ABA? Gone.

[williamhughes11]

I figured they would go to the CBA/PBL route, but the D-League would be great if Toronto will decide to put their affiliate there.

At least Andre Livingston did the right thing for his team and the city. He deserves far better than the ABA.

[Sam Hill]

My information shows 60% to CBA and 40% chance they go to PBL.

My information shows they're going to try to go to the NBADL.

“I am so thrilled to begin the process of negotiating to become an NBA Developmental team. Tomorrow we will start to assemble a task force of professionals to begin to make our case to present to the league as soon as possible,” said Levingston.

I didn't even have to eavesdrop on a conference call, crash a league meeting or have someone forward me an email to figure it out!

Can I has bigshot now?

[panchess]

..way too far for just one team, that isn't even near another NBA franchise, much less another D-League franchise.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had their AHL affiliate in St. John's Newfoundland for a few years. Travel killed them, and they brought the team all the way back to Toronto, where they play about 10 miles north of the Leafs. At that time, there were other AHL teams in Nova Scotia (two for a while) and New Brunswick.

Halifax is 1100 miles from Toronto. New York and Boston are actually significantly closer to Halifax than T.O.

If the Raptors really want a D-League franchise, they should just put one in Hamilton or North York at the same Ricoh Coliseum venue that the AHL Toronto Marlies use.

[tbayz1]

Very smart move to leave! Andre is a REAL owner and Halifax is a REAL franchise