tbayz1
08-17-2008, 08:56 PM
I think the final was:
Buffalo 105
Cleveland 98
Anyways, this was quite the experience. First off the game was played in a community center, no surprise when it comes to the ABA. Well the center sits less than 100 people on 4 rows of bleachers. There was about 75 people there. The court was right up against the bleachers, it was that small.
Next there was no programs, banners with sponsors or a banner saying anything about the Sharks, and not even a piece of paper with a roster. No mention of the Sharks anywhere except for a few flyers laying around. The only roster to be found was with the owner on a piece of paper that he was showing to his family and friends. Someone wrote the rosters on the paper 5 minutes before tip off.
There was no player introductions, MC, or music. The refs just blew their whistles, the ABA ball went up, and the game started.
There was no concessions, and the A/C broke in the gym so it was very hot! There was one vending machine in the place.
The players didn't even have water on the bench. Buffalo players went into the lockeroom for water and Cleveland players brought some with them until someone gave them a case of water to have on their bench. The players didn't even have towels either, or a bench big enough for the team. Some players were sitting in chairs, some on a fold-up table.
When the players fell on the floor and it got wet, there was no mop. Instead they used a wife beater most of the game to wipe the floor. A few times they used a players' towel. Players were sliding all over the place throughout the course of the game.
The Cleveland coach had a potty mouth, but I will admit was a good coach, surprisingly. They showed up with 8 guys, all fairly decent. They showed up in like 2 cars, however, I only saw one SUV from Ohio, I assume they had another vehicle. They had cheap reversable jerseys, and the players had 2 different style shorts.
The 3-D rule didn't come into affect until half way through the first quarter when the Cleveland coach and appeared to be the owner pointed it out to the refs. Of course many of the fans were totally confused to the crazy ABA rules and did not know why a layup counted as 3 points.
Overall the talent was absolutely nothing compared to any Rapids, Silverback, or PBL game I've seen. Each team had 2-3 good players that could be playing at a higher level, but everyone else was just okay. Talent wise I think Cleveland was better, they just didn't play together at times. Some guys on the Sharks were rookies right out of college that could not play. Pure amateurs, that I personally wouldn't pay to see. But give them credit for going out and playing hard and trying to get better and play on the pro level.
I felt like I was at a pickup game with jerseys and an ABA ball. It was a rinky dink operation, and this owner of the Sharks is supposed to be a great concert promoter? Well he might be good at putting on concerts at his nightclubs, I'll give him that, but when it comes to ABA basketball, his operation is pretty crappy. I hope he doesn't run a game like this when the season comes, minor league hoops have already been tainted in Buffalo, we don't need any more embarrasment.
It was really a complete joke. This was nothing like the Rapids/Silverback games I've attended, this was type of operation is what the ABA really is. At least the Rapids and Silverbacks for the most part tried to really put on a good show, which they did. They had better talent, and better gameday operations, but they both just struggled with attendence, which is another story. But those games were way better than the crap I witnessed tonight.
I don't see a bright future for the Sharks. They might stick around longer than most of the other ABA teams, but with really no one to play, I don't see them finishing the season. But they could, but would be far from playing the 30 game schedule.
Buffalo 105
Cleveland 98
Anyways, this was quite the experience. First off the game was played in a community center, no surprise when it comes to the ABA. Well the center sits less than 100 people on 4 rows of bleachers. There was about 75 people there. The court was right up against the bleachers, it was that small.
Next there was no programs, banners with sponsors or a banner saying anything about the Sharks, and not even a piece of paper with a roster. No mention of the Sharks anywhere except for a few flyers laying around. The only roster to be found was with the owner on a piece of paper that he was showing to his family and friends. Someone wrote the rosters on the paper 5 minutes before tip off.
There was no player introductions, MC, or music. The refs just blew their whistles, the ABA ball went up, and the game started.
There was no concessions, and the A/C broke in the gym so it was very hot! There was one vending machine in the place.
The players didn't even have water on the bench. Buffalo players went into the lockeroom for water and Cleveland players brought some with them until someone gave them a case of water to have on their bench. The players didn't even have towels either, or a bench big enough for the team. Some players were sitting in chairs, some on a fold-up table.
When the players fell on the floor and it got wet, there was no mop. Instead they used a wife beater most of the game to wipe the floor. A few times they used a players' towel. Players were sliding all over the place throughout the course of the game.
The Cleveland coach had a potty mouth, but I will admit was a good coach, surprisingly. They showed up with 8 guys, all fairly decent. They showed up in like 2 cars, however, I only saw one SUV from Ohio, I assume they had another vehicle. They had cheap reversable jerseys, and the players had 2 different style shorts.
The 3-D rule didn't come into affect until half way through the first quarter when the Cleveland coach and appeared to be the owner pointed it out to the refs. Of course many of the fans were totally confused to the crazy ABA rules and did not know why a layup counted as 3 points.
Overall the talent was absolutely nothing compared to any Rapids, Silverback, or PBL game I've seen. Each team had 2-3 good players that could be playing at a higher level, but everyone else was just okay. Talent wise I think Cleveland was better, they just didn't play together at times. Some guys on the Sharks were rookies right out of college that could not play. Pure amateurs, that I personally wouldn't pay to see. But give them credit for going out and playing hard and trying to get better and play on the pro level.
I felt like I was at a pickup game with jerseys and an ABA ball. It was a rinky dink operation, and this owner of the Sharks is supposed to be a great concert promoter? Well he might be good at putting on concerts at his nightclubs, I'll give him that, but when it comes to ABA basketball, his operation is pretty crappy. I hope he doesn't run a game like this when the season comes, minor league hoops have already been tainted in Buffalo, we don't need any more embarrasment.
It was really a complete joke. This was nothing like the Rapids/Silverback games I've attended, this was type of operation is what the ABA really is. At least the Rapids and Silverbacks for the most part tried to really put on a good show, which they did. They had better talent, and better gameday operations, but they both just struggled with attendence, which is another story. But those games were way better than the crap I witnessed tonight.
I don't see a bright future for the Sharks. They might stick around longer than most of the other ABA teams, but with really no one to play, I don't see them finishing the season. But they could, but would be far from playing the 30 game schedule.