Congrats to Maywood!

[bectond]

The Maywood Buzz, just completed their 5th season in the ABA. Why do they continue to succeed on and off the court while all others seem to fail. Why is it that the Buzz ownership group is able to thrive in the face of such adversity?

The Buzz are a model leaque franchise, does anyone here on OSC have any knowledge of the Buzz's budget and/or business plan/model?

Thanks,
A kind and friendly internet poster

[Frost Heaves Fan]

The Maywood Buzz, just completed their 5th season in the ABA. Why do they continue to succeed on and off the court while all others seem to fail. Why is it that the Buzz ownership group is able to thrive in the face of such adversity?

The Buzz are a model leaque franchise, does anyone here on OSC have any knowledge of the Buzz's budget and/or business plan/model?

Thanks,
A kind and friendly internet poster

bectond, it is great that Maywood has been in the ABA for 5 years. That is quite an accomplishment. It is also good that you say that they suceed off the court. It sounds like you are proud of the team and that is good, but I think it is a stretch to say that they are successful on the court. This year they didn't pay 10 of the scheduled games (26 played out of 36) and out of the 26 games played they only won three.

Do you know what the average attendance is at home games?

[misenern]

bectond, it is great that Maywood has been in the ABA for 5 years. That is quite an accomplishment. It is also good that you say that they suceed off the court. It sounds like you are proud of the team and that is good, but I think it is a stretch to say that they are successful on the court. This year they didn't pay 10 of the scheduled games (26 played out of 36) and out of the 26 games played they only won three.

Do you know what the average attendance is at home games?

sarcasm

A form of irony in which apparent praise conceals another, scornful meaning. For example, a sarcastic remark directed at a person who consistently arrives fifteen minutes late for appointments might be, “Oh, you've arrived exactly on time!”

[CHris902]

On and off the floor?

Didn't they only win 4 games in 07/08?
Wikipedia says they were 9-21 in 06/07 and 10-10 in 05-06. That's even worse than Halifax. I will assume that this is sarcasm.

[skippy]

Actually, I think that Maywood is a success story. You have a non-traditional owner, who obviously doesn't come from money who has managed through frugality and/or street-smarts to keep the team afloat. This is the anamoly that exists that keeps people buying into the fantasy of team ownership.

I really would like to know Burrell's secret.

[tops804]

I can't tell if it's sarcasm or praise.

Based on the fact that we heard nothing from the so-called, playoff
tournament that Maywood hosted. I would have to say that they aren't
very proud of their "accomplishments" either.

Had they pulled off an upset and gone to Quebec City, I wonder if we would
have heard anything more???

[besl]

When you don't pay your players and refuse to travel unless someone else pays for it, it really frees up what little money you have to pay for the essentials.

From what I understand, Burrel Lee's full time job is as a janitor at a Carson rec center, so maybe he gets free gym time for his team to practice.

[misenern]

They operate on a small scale. Little risk, little reward. There is nothing wrong with that, they just don't fit in a league that likes to consider itself an international pro league.

They play in a tiny gym.
They only play local games, a short ride in a van, unless their travel is paid for.
They have a website that is hosted for free.
Their players are likely all locals who live in the area.

[skippy]

It seriously sounds like they don't bite off more than they can chew and know the limitations they have.

I really believe that Joe should be lifting up the janitor as an example of how to make it work.

[Frost Heaves Fan]

On and off the floor?

Didn't they only win 4 games in 07/08?
Wikipedia says they were 9-21 in 06/07 and 10-10 in 05-06. That's even worse than Halifax. I will assume that this is sarcasm.

The #1 Halifax fan saying that this team is even worse then Halifax. Now that sucess is something to be proud of.

[bectond]

Actually, I really would like to know Burrell's secret.

The real keys to ABA success.

I feel that Maywood is the Tin Standard of the ABA; therefore, the owner should really be the one authoring the ABA’s Keys to success manual. I’d like to thank you guys for posting the information that you have concerning the Buzz. As some of you may know, I’m currently investigating all minor leaques-looking for the right leaque to join. I’m the owner/ coach/ star of the Eastcoast Eggplants I have allocated $19.99 of my retirement savings for a leaque franchise (or two). Here are some of your great comments, please keep them coming:

1 - Get a job as a janitor at a rec. center that allows me to use the facility free of charge.
2 - Rely more on your street smarts than your business knowledge.
3 - Start up or allocate a very small amount of money for your annual budget, you can’t lose what you don’t have or are willing to spend.
4 - Be cheap as hell!
5 - Win very few games, therefore clubs looking for an easy win will pay you to travel to their place for an easy win.
6- Announce that your hosting a pre-post season tournament than insure that the tournament never takes place.
7 - If you pay players make sure it’s less than $175 a week maximum and $0 a season minium per player.
8 - Hire only interns and don’t pay them.
9 - Refuse to travel unless pre-paid to do so.
10 - Know your limitation (as a player and as a coach) and understand that your club is a joke!
11 - Operate as an owner/ coach/ equipment manager/ G.M. and star player.
12 - Use only an extremely tiny gym with an extremely tiny court.
13 - Play most of your games locally.
14 - Rent cargo vans or short yellow cheese buses from a bootleg car rental agency (in exchange for a sponsorship deal).
15 - Use only local players.
16 - Use a web-site that provides free web-hosting.

[besl]

14 - Rent cargo vans from a bootleg car rental agency

Actually this isn't too far from the truth. According to several players from the 2006-07 Maywood team, Burrel rented one of those Laidlaw short school buses for the 10-hour road trip from L.A. to Gallup.

Somehow, it seems appropriate that an ABA team would travel in a short bus.

[Paul S]

That happened in the IHL too. The Atlanta Knights were in Orlando and the bus to take them from the hotel to the rink to practise and eat dinner broke down, so the bus company sent a replacement of two of those short busses', the players took it in stride and all wore their hockey helmets as they rolled around Orlando...........

Is Burrell a janitor? Is that for real? or am I missing the sarcasm too?

Burrell's business plan only works if he is the only guy in the league running it. Problems will arise if another Burrell shows up and wants to be sent money to travel. Both teams will be sitting at home hoping the other sends money......game cancelled. Which sounds like a typical day in the ABA

[turbocamyes]

Maywood was 4-28 this year, 3-27 in league play, 1-1 against non-league opponents. They played 14 games at home (including the two non-league games) and 18 on the road. Their yearly records are:

04-05: 1-9 (0-01 as California, 1-8 as Orange Co.)
05-06: 9-22 (and 0-1 in playoffs)
06-07: 14-17.

[BuzzBasketball]

quick question...we played only 26 or 36 games this year

but our team overall record was 4-27 if you do the math i would say thats is a total of 31 games....meaning only 5 games was missed (2 at LA, 2 at Sac and 1 at reno)...18 home and 14 road (1 playoff game)

so we played all our home games and missed 4 road....go figure

[skippy]

Thanks for responding, Burrell. Could you elaborate more on how it is that you do what you do?

[turbocamyes]

Burrel is right--I should have noted the playoff game this year. Also, the Buzz have run two summer leagues (2005 & 2007) and have played in the JBL and California (now SPL) leagues for years. And I think Burrel is also a ref for one of the leagues.

[turbocamyes]

I should of done the math. They were 4-28 with 3 against non-league opponents. My only question is the 2/16 game against SF. While the game is not listed on the Buzz site, OSC did post a score. Who knows with SF.

11/09/07 Maywood Buzz 106 San Francisco 108 L
11/23/07 San Diego 107 Maywood Buzz 92 L
11/25/07 Long Beach 132 Maywood Buzz 121 L
11/28/07 Maywood Buzz 89 San Diego 110 L
12/02/07 Maywood Buzz 97 Long Beach 119 L
12/04/07 Orange County 130 Maywood Buzz 129 L
12/07/07 Maywood Buzz 110 Beijing Aoshen 124 L
12/08/07 Maywood Buzz 83 Beijing Aoshen 115 L
12/14/07 San Francisco 121 Maywood Buzz 122 W
12/15/07 Maywood Buzz 98 San Diego 110 L
12/16/07 Maywood Buzz 115 Orange County 122 L
12/19/07 Orange County 146 Maywood Buzz 127 L
12/21/07 San Diego 138 Maywood Buzz 111 L
12/29/07 Maywood Buzz 110 Orange County 135 L
01/06/08 Maywood Buzz 111 Long Beach 126 L
01/12/08 Orange County 140 Maywood Buzz 110 L
01/20/08 San Diego 180 Maywood Buzz 153 L
01/21/08 Orange County 126 Maywood Buzz 120 L
01/25/08 Adv Players 118 Maywood Buzz 122 W
01/26/08 Maywood Buzz 152 Orange County 160 L
01/27/08 Academics First 115 Maywood Buzz 112 L
02/01/08 San Francisco 146 Maywood Buzz 120 L
02/02/08 San Francisco 132 Maywood Buzz 125 L
02/09/08 San Diego 106 Maywood Buzz 113 W
02/10/08 Maywood Buzz 141 Orange County 131 W
02/16/08 San Francisco 142 Maywood Buzz 132 L
02/18/08 San Diego 119 Maywood Buzz 109 L
02/23/08 Orange County 148 Maywood Buzz 140 L
02/27/08 Maywood Buzz 97 Halifax Rainmen 145 L
02/28/08 Maywood Buzz 95 Halifax Rainmen 124 L
02/29/08 San Francisco 164 Maywood Buzz 129 L
03/08/08 Adv Players 150 Maywood Buzz 138 L

[bectond]

The real keys to ABA success.

I feel that Maywood is the Tin Standard of the ABA; therefore, the owner should really be the one authoring the ABA’s Keys to success manual. I’d like to thank you guys for posting the information that you have concerning the Buzz; however, Mr. Lee has spoken (A.K.A. the Warren Buffett of leaque management)and I must update the list

1 - Get a job with a leaque franchise and work your way up, pay your dues!
2 - Rely on your street smarts, but also learn from the business mistakes of others.
3 - Watch your pennies!
4 - Allocate a very small amount of money for your annual budget, you can’t lose what you don’t have or are willing to spend.
5 - Be cheap as hell!
6 - If you pay players make sure it’s between $175 & $75 a week per player.
7 - Don't waste money on a staff, do everyting Red Auerbach style.
8 - Don't demand to be pre-paid in order to travel but don't discourage it either.
9 - Know your limitations (as a player and as a coach).
10 - Use only an extremely tiny gym with an extremely tiny court.
11 - Play most of your games locally.
12 - Rent cargo vans or large yellow cheese buses from a bootleg car rental agency.
13 - Use only local players.
14 - Use the $200 per year web package, it's the same one the millionaire club uses.
15 - Find a free gym
16 - Get at least 10 sponsors for $1,000 each to cover the bills.
17 - Print your own tickets
18 - Have give aways at games
19 - Have a snack bar at home games.
20 - Get a discount franchise by re-starting an abandoned franchise.

[Paul S]

and who, pray tell, is Adv Players and Academics First?

We could almost have another Great 8 involving side teams

Adv Players
Academics First
Utica Wreckers
Hanks Hammers
Philadelphia Experiments (the team of invisible men)
Fort Waynes' Best

thats 6, any other phantom or quasi-phantom fill in teams out there?

[skippy]

Would you rather Burrell did it the D-league way?

1. Own eight teams, no local involvement.
2. No logos
3. Run around saying "We're the NBA!, You'll do it our way!"
4. Get the euro-league rejects and guys who can't hit a 10 foot jump shot.
5. Play in HUGE EMPTY ARENAS
6. LIE in a digusting manner about attendance actuals.
7. When you do get local owners, tie their hands.
8. Get more suckers to buy in each year, to replace the ones that leave each year. {Actually, that's ABA, CBA, and NBDL.}
9. Sure you pay your guys, but no one cares who they are anyway.
10. Never really figure out that what plays in the city doesn't play in the sticks.