Looks like Ottawa's in next season, Moncton also a possibility

[BelarusRikk]

...according to some quotes from Newman in Quebec City newspaper Le Soleil. Article is in french but essentially Newman stated that new measures will be in place next season to ensure teams complete the season. He also stated that the ABA will have somewhere between 40 and 50 teams next season.

Then the direct quote from the paper "Si Ottawa a déjà confirmé sa présence, il discute avec des gens de Moncton. Il a aussi bon espoir de ramener Halifax à la raison."...meaning Newman still hopes to bring Halifax back on board (LOL) and that discussions have already begun with people in Moncton New Brunswick about putting a team there. And although the phrase structure (from the paper, not Newman) leaves some doubt as to its intended interpretation it does indeed look like Ottawa's confirmed for next season.

The last paragraph of the article is also interesting, but I won't bother translating it as to not add further fuel to controversies on this board...but feel free to run it through online translators if you want to get the gist of it.

Here's the link to the complete article in french
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080328/CPSOLEIL/80327298/6808/CPSOLEIL04

[preeths]

Here's the rough translation from that article:
"A really difficult season," admits Commissioner Newman

"You can not talk about a happy new year! It was a really difficult season and it will not happen again, "admitted and promised the commissioner of the American Basketball Association (ABA), Joe Newman, en route to Quebec for the tournament's Final 8.

Of thirty teams at the beginning, only 20 have completed the schedule changed at the whim of moods and recalcitrant owners reluctant to fulfil their commitments. "On the ground, the show has been excellent, but the abandonment of several teams created a chaos and this has affected our good franchises, as Kebs. The clubs have been seriously loyal and they deserve much as a quality league, "added the founder of the ABA.

To avoid that scenario will repeat itself in 2008-2009, Newman has set new standards for future training to ensure they complete the season. He claims that the ABA will have between 40 and 50 clubs next year. If Ottawa has already confirmed his presence, he discusses with people of Moncton. He also hope to bring Halifax to reason.



"What hurts is that my president I was betrayed by setting up a new league (PBL) 10 franchises by bringing with him, but four have already closed the books and some will return home. The rotten apples have been damned at the door because they were bad people, "said one who celebrated his 71st birthday yesterday, and who is willing to give way to someone younger to develop ABA.

[LightningMan]

Four PBL teams have "closed their books"?

And we know who the team "returning home" is.

[williamhughes11]

If he actually follows through with the new standards and decides to bring in a new person to develop the ABA, then there may be hope for the league yet. I would be curious to know what those new standards are and how they will be enforced.

I don't quite buy the statement that four PBL teams have folded and others are looking to return, especially since there is talk of a merger or realignment with the CBA. I doubt he'll be able to get Andre Levingston tp return to the league, so perhaps he's talking about another franchise there.

If he doesn't get a new franchise in Halifax. wouldn't Moncton be more of a travel issue for teams than Halifax ever was?

[DazedAndAmused]

It's doubtful that the one returning home will have any money to operate (which won't exclude them from the ABA I know.)

And, it wouldn't be a stretch to predict that Dallas isn't coming back.

And, it is feasible that there may be some additional shuffling of teams for various reasons.

Joe may have been able to sniff some of this out.

But, in the end, I see a stronger PBL with at least 10 - 12 good teams and as many as 16.

[panchess]

..they left the ABA.

[LightningMan]

I doubt he'll be able to get Andre Levingston [Halifax] to return to the league, so perhaps he's talking about another franchise there.
Sorry, William. Most people know that the Jacksonville JAM was tossed out of the PBL. While the PBL retained a Jacksonville entry (Jacksonville SLAM) to finish out the season, it has been widely suspected on both this and the PBL board that Jacksonville (the JAM) is "going home" to Joe and the Red, White, and Blue Flying Circus.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

To avoid that scenario will repeat itself in 2008-2009, Newman has set new standards for future training to ensure they complete the season. He claims that the ABA will have between 40 and 50 clubs next year.

This is the same thing he said prior to the 05-06 season, 06-07 season, and 07-08 season.
If you want to buy it, go ahead. I already have my copy:
http://www.amazon.com/Cried-Wolf-Pied-Piper-Paperbacks/dp/014054612X

BTW - is there a translation website for Gwizz releases? I think Babelfish would shut down trying to put their stuff in English...

The rotten apples have been damned at the door because they were bad people
No reason; I just like this version of whatever Joe might have said. Somehow everything always sounds better in French, oui? ;)

[nksports]

He also stated that the ABA will have somewhere between 40 and 50 teams next season.

Half of which won't start the season, another half will fold in the first week and more than the half remaining will fold in subsequent weeks. Again Joe is living on the Big Rock Candy Mountain along the river Denial.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Half of which won't start the season, another half will fold in the first week and more than the half remaining will fold in subsequent weeks. Again Joe is living on the Big Rock Candy Mountain along the river Denial.

how many halves make an ABA whole? :confused:

(not an ABA-hole - that would be a very different conversation...) :cool:

[The Sweeper]

There's no such thing as a "whole" ABA, just kibbles and bits.

[panchess]

..and New Brunswick isn't an island, so that helps.

Having said that, Ottawa and Moncton aren't close to each other (6-7 hours), so without Vermont, Halifax or Manchester, they aren't close to anybody.

[Sam Hill]

...according to some quotes from Newman in Quebec City newspaper Le Soleil. Article is in french but essentially Newman stated that new measures will be in place next season to ensure teams complete the season.

As opposed to the current measures put in place to ensure teams complete the season?

[Paul S]

Ya but Moncton is in sync with Halifax enough to know to stay away from this crazy league. It might be 6 hours by car but you have to go around the bay of Fundy, you can get Halifax radio, Halifax papers etc in Moncton.

Moncton is arguably even harder to get to than Halifax. Halifax has direct flights to Boston, NY and Europe. Moncton has direct flights to Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. Of course if the Syracuse Chapter 7's decide to go to Moncton its probably in the back of a pickup truck and not via air.

Its a lot more provincial than Halifax, thats saying something too.

People in Moncton should at least hear about this red white and blue circus. If Joe can scrounge up some moron who still wants to invest,,,,,,then I frankly have no sympathy for him (or her)

Ottawa? who knows. Joe is a walking-example of the old adage there is one born every minute, Joe seems to find them daily. Finding some guy who is desperate to lose money and still 'own a team' in Ottawa might be do-able.

I pity both of those cities if the ABA comes calling.

[nksports]

how many halves make an ABA whole? :confused:

(not an ABA-hole - that would be a very different conversation...) :cool:

Sorry, what I MEANT to say in English is half the teams will fold without playing a game. Of the remaining teams, half will fold in the first week. Of those teams still there, half will fold in the following weeks.

Please pardon my Gwizzlie math.

[Paul S]

NK thats a good one. Gwizllie math


0 fans
= 0 dollars


0 d0llars = no spwellcheque on the komputer...............

[hfxbballfan]

I really can't see a Moncton franchise making it. Halifax is a basketball town but Moncton is more hockey oriented with a smaller population base. Plus given the Halifax media coverage I think they will be all over the ABA's problems in Moncton.

I am less sure about Ottawa but there are a lot of basketball smarts in that city (hopefully too many smarts to get involved in the ABA).

[utahstarsticketholder]

1. Ole Joe will do just fine - 20 teams left - 10 may leave or fold leaving 10 or so - 20-30 suckers at 10k each - nice bottom line for Ole Joe.
2. "ABA" whole = Ole Joe.
Nuff said about the rec league, jack.

[bomp]

I really can't see a Moncton franchise making it. Halifax is a basketball town but Moncton is more hockey oriented with a smaller population base.

How's the AHL do up there?

[misenern]

How's the AHL do up there?

Not too well, considering they left Moncton over 10 years ago.

I think Newman is really pushing a franchise in New Brunswick, he mentioned that with the departure of Halifax, it opens the door for Moncton.

FYI everyone, Nova Scotia is not an island

[Pounder]

Moncton, eh?

D. O. A!

Worst poetry ever. Still not as bad as the leaque.

[Paul S]

Well the good people of Moncton won't be fooled by this sad-sack league. No way. You might be able to hoodwink some bumpkins in other places but they won't buy into this.

Its possible Joe can scrounge up some idiot in New Brunswick to pay his 10k fee in installments to buy into this circus but no way will the fans be snookered. Not after the Rainmen. "Word is on the street" in the Maritimes.