LA Push to return

[The Sweeper]

http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2008061606001

LOS ANGELES PUSH TO RETURN TO ABA THIS SEASON

16-Jun-2008
Indianapolis, IN -- The ABA announced that the Los Angeles Push would return this season.

According to Joe Newman, ABA CEO, "The Push started last season and were unable to continue due to some internal problems that have been completely resolved; this is an organization that certainly deserves to be in the ABA and which will represent the City of Los Angeles well."

The owners, Donye' Mitchell has been an avid basketball enthusiast his whole life. He grew up in Compton, CA where he fell in love with basketball. He has enjoyed playing with three generations of street basketball players at Venice Beach. His competitiveness and defense on the court has rewarded him with a reputation of passion and fierceness. After coming back from law school, Mitchell saw an opportunity to organize street basketball and his real passion began.

His plans included a streetball labor union, streetball player owned corporation, media rights protection for all of the "movies" created by streetball players, and eventually the opportunity to excel in a formal basketball setting. In 2005 Mitchell created a television show called Ballin'. It was a huge success. It brought local street basketball players together and showcased street basketball talent and uncovered its culture while crowning a Los Angeles ballin' champion.

In 2006 Mitchell created the format for a nationwide Push basketball streetball league with emphasis on an anger management. The Push league is forming teams now for the 2009 season which begins in June 2009.

In 2007 Mitchell was awarded an ABA team, the Los Angeles Push. He assembled one of the most talented teams in the league, but unfortunately, internal issues forced the team to shut down its operations. The new Los Angeles Push team will return for the 2008 season stronger than ever.

In 3008, Mitchell will celebrate street basketball at Venice Beach on Sunday, July 13th. He will be filming the second season of his hit series, "Ballin", and his new show, "Streetball Reality." Both TV shows will air on KVMD, Channel 23 this fall 2008 on Mitchell's own streetball network. He also has plans for establishing a street basketball museum at Venice Beach in the fall of 2008. Open tryouts will begin for the Los Angeles Push on July 13th also.

He has been a pioneer his whole life. He created a line of pre-natal waters for expecting mothers called 9 Beverage that will be in stores in early 2009. He also owns 1600 domain names and plans the next beverage to be a formula water beverage for street basketball players. The team is currently in negotiations with three venues in LA for the upcoming season. "I am excited about returning to the ABA and I promise to bring even more talent than before," said Mitchell. "And I am very thankful to the ABA for giving the Push another opportunity. We will not let them down and will represent this great league well."
--------------------
How long will they last this time?

"Alright, place your pets, place your bets"-Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack

[zeke41]

http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2008061606001

LOS ANGELES PUSH TO RETURN TO ABA THIS SEASON


In 3008, Mitchell will celebrate street basketball at Venice Beach on Sunday, July 13th. He will be filming the second season of his hit series, "Ballin", and his new show, "Streetball Reality."

I hope I'm still around in 3008 to watch this 2 season...

[The Sweeper]

I hope I'm still around in 3008 to watch this 2 season...

Well, I guess you could call it "planning ahead". Most ABA teams don't even 'plan'.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

of the Push in the ABA:

http://www.oursportscentral.com/boards/showthread.php?t=8960
http://www.oursportscentral.com/boards/showthread.php?t=8924
http://www.oursportscentral.com/boards/showthread.php?t=9139

Operations of the Los Angeles Push were suspended on Monday by the ABA. This was due to the lack of organization both business wise and as far as game day operations.

Obviously I look like somewhat of a fool because yesterday before I had found out about this I was still promoting the team.

I came on board just short of a week ago thinking that even though there were issues I could help turn the organization around. I truly believe that this would have been possible had there actually been financial backing for the team. Ultimately this team was thrown together at the last minute and while the team on the court was excellent and one of the best in the league the operation of the team by the owner was the worst in the league.

The ABA and owners of the teams on the PUSH schedule made the decision to suspend operations of the team for the good of the league. To put it plain and simply the Push owner ran the team as a REC League team and not as a professional sports organization.

I know that with my experience in almost every aspect of professional sports that I could have turned the game days ops around as well as the front office provided there was the finances behind the team to make payroll and give the team the chance of bringing in sponsors. That was not there!!

Unfortunately the Push ownership never really had a true idea of how to run a basketball team or the business side of things. Players and staff including myself have not been compensated and hopefully that can be resolved for everyone else. For myself, I simply want to distance myself from what turned out to be a bad choice (i.e. taking the job).

So am I giving up on the coaches, players and the league? HELL NO!!

After spending all day yesterday talking to head coach Otis Hailey as well as some of the staff that had recently been hired to fix things we talked about trying to make it work for the sake of the players. Financially it still was not feasible. However after talking to ABA CEO Joe Newman and reading all of the leagues marketing materials I have determined that owning and successfully running an ABA franchise is my goal for the 2008/2009 season.

As of today I am starting to put together the foundation of a successful ABA organization. I will be making the Market Reservation deposit in the next 2 weeks and you will see our new organization listed on the ABA site.

I hope in the coming weeks to talk to Coach Hailey and hopefully have him on board along with some of the players from the Now Defunct LA PUSH.
This gives us a head start on other Expansion Franchises in that we can do community events, clinics and other ways to generate revenue and guarantee first year success in 2008/2009 and beyond.

For those of you that believe the ABA is not properly run and whatever else you might say let me tell you this. The ABA gives each new owner a great packet of marketing materials and ideas to help any organization become successful. If a team fails in the ABA I believe it is truly because the owners failed to use this information, products and programs.

Please keep an eye out for the NEW Southern California ABA team coming soon! I will definitely post more up here!

For those of you that will say it ......YES .. YOU TOLD ME SO!

I admit that, however to me it was important to be positive and I will continue that in moving to my own ABA venture!

Anyone interested in investing, sponsoring or being a part of a successful ABA team is encouraged to email me at SOCALABA@gmail.com

[Sam Hill]

Why do this?

[Minor League Man]

3008? That's even after all the Star Trek series took place!

Speaking of which, I have an idea:


Captain's Log, Stardate 35841.9. We have just learned that intergalactic conman Harcourt Fenton Mudd has been named the new CEO of the American Basketball Association. In the press release, he says he hopes to bring it back to the days of the 21st century. Somehow, I think he's the right man for the job.
"Bones, you think you could repair the damage?"
"For God's sake, Jim! I'm a doctor, not-"
"So was the co-founder of the 21st century's ABA antidote!"

[preeths]

My gut tells me that Brad Hester exorcised the Push from the ABA last year. With Mr. Hester gone, the league was free to add them again despite serious performance issues last season.

[The Sweeper]

3008? That's even after all the Star Trek series took place!

Speaking of which, I have an idea:

"To boldly fold where no team has folded before"??

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

"To boldly fold where no team has folded before"??

Those places are becoming increasingly few and farther between...

[zeke41]

"To boldly fold where no team has folded before"??

I'm trying to keep quiet at work here...goodness, this thread gets funnier by the post!!!

[nksports]

Spock: Captain Kirk, we have an unidentified vessel on our sensors.
Kirk: Uhura, open a hailing frequency. Unidentified vessel, this is Captain Kirk of the Federation Starship USS Enterprise. Please identify and state your purpose.
Unidentified ship: This is Commander Newman of the ABA2500. We are here to bring affordable, fan-friendly basketball entertainment all throughout the galaxy. For just 10,000 strips of gold-pressed latinum, you to can bring a market reservation to this part of the galaxy.
Kirk: Sulu, arm photon torpedoes. Set phasers to maximum. Fire all weapons at the enemy spaceship now.

[skippy]

My favorite Push moment was the small flag from Walgreen's for the national anthem.

[The Magician]

According to Joe Newman, ABA CEO, "The Push started last season and were unable to continue due to some internal problems that have been completely resolved; this is an organization that certainly deserves to be in the ABA and which will represent the City of Los Angeles well."

No problems are ever completely resolved, when it comes to matters of the ABA!

[tops804]

My gut tells me that Brad Hester exorcised the Push from the ABA last year. With Mr. Hester gone, the league was free to add them again despite serious performance issues last season.

Problem was, the Push were suspended for "not meeting ABA performance
standards". However of 19 surviving franchises, at least half also seemed to fill that
bill, even as early as December.

In other words ABA, why weren't the "standards", standardized??? Better
yet, what exactly are the standards?

IMO -- This was the only initiative Brad was permitted to take, and obviously
it didn't sit well with one certain CEO.

[nksports]

IMO -- This was the only initiative Brad was permitted to take, and obviously
it didn't sit well with one certain CEO.
A scene from the basement:
Joe: Brad, what happened to the Push?
Brad: They ran out of money, so I shut them down.
Joe: You what? Never shut down a team again. I don't care how broke they are. They still owe installments on the market reservation. Besides, I listed them sixth in the power rankings. Do you know how this makes me look?
Brad: They missed their last four road trips.
Joe: Shut up Brad.

[meyes]

Joe will say they were "phased" out.

[mrcool92501]

capt kirk: yes mr scott
mr scott: aye captain...i tried to stuff a weenie into the aba warp core but it just folded!!!
capt kirk: mr scott ,beam back here. we will just let it float in space then...sigh

[Paul S]

Wasn't the LA Push and Donye the team that the owner/coach had a bodyguard on the court? There is some post from awhile back where someone went to the game and said the coach had a bodyguard who was running up and down the court about 7 feet behind the coach all the time?

and at halftime any fan who wanted food could go down to the scorers table and order and someone would go to an inandout burger drivethru to pick it up?

I'm sure that was the Push...............

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Wasn't the LA Push and Donye the team that the owner/coach had a bodyguard on the court? There is some post from awhile back where someone went to the game and said the coach had a bodyguard who was running up and down the court about 7 feet behind the coach all the time?

and at halftime any fan who wanted food could go down to the scorers table and order and someone would go to an inandout burger drivethru to pick it up?

I'm sure that was the Push...............

Yes, it was:
http://www.oursportscentral.com/boards/showthread.php?t=8842

[mikeyratt]

http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2008061606001

this is an organization that certainly deserves to be in the ABA and which will represent the City of Los Angeles well."



NOone deserves THAT! we have laws against cruel and unusual punishment in this country!

[Pounder]

My favorite Push moment was the small flag from Walgreen's for the national anthem.

Not sure why reading that led me to this...

"I think that the problem may have been that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf."

(The ABA. It goes to negative one.)

[williamhughes11]

Not sure why reading that led me to this...

"I think that the problem may have been that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf."

(The ABA. It goes to negative one.)

I'll just keep with the script. You can apply this to this situation or the ABA as a whole:

"Maybe we just fix the choreography. Keep the dwarf clear.

What do you mean?

So they won't trod upon it."

The This Is Spinal Tap script is here: http://corky.net/scripts/ThisIsSpinalTap.html

:D

[Paul S]

"I think that the problem may have been that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf."



I like the part just after this when the manager says

"I think your making way too big a deal about this"

and Derek Smalls responds

"Making a big deal about this would have been a good idea"

Love that movie........................................

[BreakersFan]

Those places are becoming increasingly few and farther between...

Two great posts - I needed that laugh.

To boldly fold - there have been some bold foldings in this leaque, that's the truth

[BreakersFan]

I like the part just after this when the manager says

"I think your making way too big a deal about this"

and Derek Smalls responds

"Making a big deal about this would have been a good idea"

Love that movie........................................


So may I ask a question? Are we going to play Stonehenge tonight?

[TheSportsLogoPundit]

I was the one that went to the Push game last year. Remember, Donye got on here and refuted the claims that it was a bodyguard. I still think he was a bodyguard, but what do I know. When a guy follows you around, only paces behind, all game long, what else are you supposed to think?

And to this day, I still regret not taking them up on the offer to go get some food for me. Church's chicken is right there. I love Church's.

I will say this, Donye did make that offer and then went through the crowd and got sodas for people that wanted them. After further thought on the matter, that's a nice little dose of customer service even if it was random and hilarious.

[TheStandard]

Im still speechless. I swear im going to turn into Michael Douglas in Falling Down on these ABA teams.

[DazedAndAmused]

I was the one that went to the Push game last year. Remember, Donye got on here and refuted the claims that it was a bodyguard. I still think he was a bodyguard, but what do I know. When a guy follows you around, only paces behind, all game long, what else are you supposed to think?

And to this day, I still regret not taking them up on the offer to go get some food for me. Church's chicken is right there. I love Church's.

I will say this, Donye did make that offer and then went through the crowd and got sodas for people that wanted them. After further thought on the matter, that's a nice little dose of customer service even if it was random and hilarious.

Sorry. We have Church's, Bojangles, KFC, and Popeye's in the South. Church's finishes last! Bojangles by far on top. (Note, chicken talk is far more productive than ABA talk...IMO of course.)

[TheStandard]

Sorry. We have Church's, Bojangles, KFC, and Popeye's in the South. Church's finishes last! Bojangles by far on top. (Note, chicken talk is far more productive than ABA talk...IMO of course.)

Well since im from the East but live in the West there is some great chicken places.

Church's, KFC, Popeyes, Pollo Campero, and Roscoes House of Chicken and Waffles in the West.

In the East. KFC, Popeyes, Pollo Campero, Church's and a bunch of No Name places like Crown Fried and Kennedy Fried Chicken.

To me Pollo Campero and Roscoes takes the cake,but oh man oh man Bojangles is the best! Their chicken is the crack cocaine of the chicken industry!

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3664810

Los Angeles Push Announces Management Team
06/21/08 - American Basketball Association (ABA) Los Angeles Push

Los Angeles, CA. The ABA Los Angeles Push is very pleased to announced that Victor Battle will be the Director of Public Relations for the expansion basketball team that begins play in December. His candor, professionalism, and creative awareness will certainly enhance our every effort. Mr. Battle will add a polished dimension to the Push like he has had for all of his entrepreneurial endeavors.

In addition, the Push has just added James Beard, a renowned anger management/marriage and family counselor to the front office. Mr. Beard will be the Director of Player Relations. The players and staff will definitely benefit from his immense insight and his award-winning programs.

Also announced were Mike Morak who will inspire all levels of the organization as the VP of Basketball Operations. His passion lies with creating atmospheres conducive to success. His knowledge of operations, marketing and player relations will certainly push the organization to new heights.

Dell Baxter will be the General Manager. His competence and diplomatic demeanor will definitely balance the many issues that lie ahead. He is well respected and well liked amongst players and coaches from coast to coast. His exceptional loyalty is his centering strength.

Andre Cobbs will serve as Assistant Head Coach and Team Trainer. His value to any organization is his relentless effort to prepare his players both physically and emotionally for the many challenges of athletic competition. His prowess will be appreciated by the entire Push family.

Marketing and Promotions will be headed by Brandon Harris. Brandon's exceptional gift his is work ethic tempered with his commitment to do the right thing. His organizational skills precede him. He will be a great asset to the team.

The Company Comptroller is retired Judge Jeff Stone. His accomplishments seem endless as a developer, entrepreneur and as a father. His critical path management skills will protect Push resources. His leadership will provide a bountiful amount of knowledge to be readily absorbed.

The Los Angeles Push Legal Counsel will be headed by Attorney David Ferreria. Mr. Ferreria specializes in entertainment law. His experience with specialized contracts, media rights, merchandising and publishing negotiations make him the perfect fit for the Push.

Donye' Mitchell, majority team owner, is proud to add Todd Mitchell and Donye' Mitchell Jr (DJ) to the ownership group. DJ will be his Dad's personal assistant. He has a unique perspective in which to learn and also an opportunity to implement some of his creativity. Todd, his cousin, will be forging strategic alliances and securing funding for all areas and aspects of Push operations. Their union will surely be a blessed family affair. More more information, email brandon.harris@usa.com or mdonye@hotmail.com or visit www.abalive.com.

So, how many of these guys can also walk on water? Or at least provide a working website?

[TEN]

Just my take...

Director of PR Victor Battle's first official job should have been to write this press release...and if he did...well...ABAish...

[tbayz1]

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3671900

Vincent Askew comes on board as GM

Wasn't he just recently involved with the Albany Patroons?

[TheStandard]

I smell disaster well its burning already

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/beyondhiphop/2008/08/5270/

Streetball Vet, ABA Team Owner Wants To Take Streetball Culture To New Heights

Published: Thursday - August 14, 2008
Words by Ronnie Gamble, with reporting by Jay Casteel

Streetball has long been confined to park playgrounds and gymnasiums across the globe, until around the mid-2000s when the culture grabbed national attention thanks to TV exposure via shows like ESPN's "Streetball" and "City Slam" among others.

That exposure spawned the creation tours and companies like AND1 and Ball4Real, helping further push the culture into the mainstream. However, some feel that -- despite the corporate element finally showing its face into the streetball arena -- players haven't always been the beneficiaries of its success.

One man -- a second generation streetball player hailing from Compton, California -- plans to change all that. His name is Donye Mitchell, legendary Venice Beach streetballer and owner of ABA team, the Los Angeles Push.

After leaving law school due to a family emergency, Mitchell wanted to go back to his roots, which was basketball, and has since put his brain to work for nearly 2 1/2 years to see his plan set in motion.

Through his Push Company, the veteran streetballer is trying to take the streetball culture to new heights, and not just to benefit himself, but to help nurture and educate the actual players, bringing the ownership of the sport back to them.

"The Push Company was formed with an entertainment backbone," Mitchell tells BallerStatus.com. "We needed a way we could express our creative geniuses under one umbrella. That's why we created the Push Company, so we could implement some of our creative expressions through art, the internet, and through television.

"Street basketball, for a long time, has been given a bad stigma. They believe that street basketball players smoke dope, they have anger management issues, they hang out, they fight ... there's little credence to the art they perform. What I wanted to do was embrace street basketball because I'm a street basketball player myself," he adds.

Mitchell's Push Company boasts a professional ABA basketball team; an entertainment division, which has developed and is developing eight TV series centered around streetball; and a non-profit organization that offers free anger management programs for players and at-risk youth, as well as a Push basketball league, taking place in 16 cities.

In July, his company held the 1st Annual Street Ball Festival & Awards Ceremony at the famous Venice Beach basketball courts. It was organized to celebrate the sport, as well as the city of Los Angeles for allowing players to showcase their skills on Venice Beach for so many years.

"It was a celebration of street basketball culture," explained Mitchell of the event. "I wanted to showcase that street basketball was viable, it's economic and is, in fact, and art form. [Second, I wanted to reward the city's police, Mayor, park staff and fire departments] for allowing us to grow here un-a-bridged. They could come here and monitor us, and send the park staff to regulate us, but they leave us open, and they've done so for years."

The festival also served as production for the filming of new seasons for his TV shows -- Ballin', Streetball Reality, and ABA Dreams to name a few -- all of which air on indie TV station KVMD channel 23. According to Mitchell, Streetball Reality will place eight famous players in a mansion for 30 days where they will showcase their abilities, not just in basketball, but in other areas as well, including music. "We're gonna show the world that street basketball players are dynamic, multi-dimensional, and not just out there on the court," he says.

ABA Dreams, however, will document his Los Angeles Push ABA team's entire professional season -- from antics in the locker rooms, their play on the court, and what takes place on their off time.

While Mitchell and his Push Company have a lot going on, he's motives aren't driven by strictly monetary gain. He's an old school player, and revealed to us that he's seen too many of his peers get taken advantage of over the years. He plans to make a stand. How? Mitchell wants to organize a streetball labor union, a streetball player owned corporation under his guise, and help the new generation, as well as the old, protect their rights and business opportunities.

"You gotta understand, all these years of playing street basketball, we weren't rewarded for them," Mitchell explains. "I told [the players I know] they need to protect their moves. I told everyone. AND1 came up and sweep them all away, gave them a little funky $10,000, $20,000, and then they went bananas. Years later, they made shoes, the videos and stuff, and they didn't pay them. They didn't because they weren't SAG. No one represented them -- their publishing, royalties and all that stuff. They all came back and said 'Donye, you were right.' Of course I was, it was a no-brainer. Business is business. Protect your moves. Now, they're like 'Whatever you do, I'm with you.'

"It's time for us to organize and give the ownership back to their players. The players need to organize, form their own companies -- under one umbrella -- and hire a marketing firm to shop their talent, but at a fee. All the royalties from all the distribution deals, that has to come back home to us, so that we can distribute that through the culture," he adds.

Donye is very familiar with the entire streetball culture, not through studying it or watching it on TV, but through living it, as mentioned. He grew up playing basketball on Venice Beach with the first generation of player. Making friends with vets at a young age holds a place in his heart that lingers today.

"First time I came to Venice Beach was 1980. I was 10 years old. The older guys, the first generation, they allowed me to play with them. That was a profound statement for them to let me play with them. They didn't know my situation. I used to catch the bus, beg my mom to drive me," he said, beginning to get emotional recalling the memories. "They embraced me. That gave me hope to excel. I was here every weekend, every opportunity I could get. I learned that to them, basketball, it was more. I learned from the old heads. Passing that along sparked a whole streetball entertainment value."

With his heart still with the raw form of basketball, known as streetball, Mitchell wants the culture to expand. On the player's terms though. By everyone working together, he feels that can happen.

While he awaits his vision to come to fruition, he continues to set up various events to help that happen. Over the weekend, on Sunday (August 17), his Los Angeles Push team will hold their second tryouts at the Los Angeles Adventist Academy all day, allowing aspiring streetballers a chance at making the team.

He is also putting together a Push League, open to everybody. There will be several age groups in the 16-city league across the country, all of whom will compete for a chance to play at NBA All-Star Weekend for the National City Championship.

For more information about Mitchell's Push Company, visit ABAPush.com.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3705249

Los Angeles Push Adds Sponsor, Personell
08/21/08 - American Basketball Association (ABA)

Los Angeles, CA. The ABA Los Angeles Push has named The House of Spice Event Catering as their Official Catering Company. Mr. Randolph Brown and Bill Henderson will provide catering at all Push sponsored events. The House of Spice menu flexibility will give Push fans a taste of luxury at every home game and at ever special event.
The Push has named "That New DJ" and L.M.B.T.R. Inc as its Official DJ for all Push sponsored events. Craig Dillard will produce the sounds that Push fans hear throughout the year. His subtle mix of contemporary pop, jazz and hip hop will encourage an atmosphere of fun and excitement.

The LA Push has named Anthony Walsh as its Director of the Push League. Mr. Walsh will directly oversee the creation and implementation of the Push League. The Push League is a 16-city basketball league from June through December complete with Anger Management Counseling and resources. There will be 6 age divisions. Each age division will have a city champion that will go on to compete for the national city champions in each age division. This will truly be an historic event. The Push League will kick off its signup drive Labor Day 2008. For more information, email mdonye@hotmail.com or visit www.abalive2.com.