Knox some sense into them...

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Where have we heard this before?

http://www.metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/01/hoops-hq/

Hoops HQ
Owners of the Knoxville Thunderbolts planning to build a domed sports complexBy Mike Gibson (Contact)
Wednesday, October 1, 2008

A huge domed complex planned by owners of Knoxville’s new American Basketball Association pro basketball team would serve as a center for community sporting events as well as a home court for the team—if all goes as planned, says franchise general manager Chris Glisson. That could be a big “if,” though, given the ABA’s spotty history and the previous failure of an ABA team here.

“Our showcase is the Knoxville Thunderbolts,” says Glisson; the team was announced as a new addition to the 9-year-old ABA in May. “But we want to get the community involved in all the sports our facility will have to offer. We want the city to feel it has some ownership in both the team and the facility. We feel the ABA is about community, and we love that idea. We don’t think it’s fair that fans living in an NBA city have to pay $2,000 just to watch a ballgame from courtside.”

T-bolts owners the Huffson Group, a firm jointly held by the Huff and Glisson families out of California, has for the last 10 years run GENESIS International as the focal point of its operations. GENESIS is a Christian-rooted, non-denominational non-profit that creates outreach programs for orphaned and disadvantaged children the world over. “We’re not a Christian organization, but rather an organization owned by Christians,” says Thunderbolts president and Huffson co-owner Doc Glisson.

Several of the Glissons are moving or have moved here recently, for personal and family reasons.

Because of its previous experience in community outreach, Doc Glisson says building a huge sports complex in East Tennessee shouldn’t be problematic for Huffson. In California, Huffson/GENESIS “created, from the ground up,” two schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods—San Diego Christian Academy, and Aswet Patia Christian Academy, on the Pala Indian Reservation north of San Diego—and organized a multisport scholastic league in which both schools (and others) participate.

In West Africa, Doc Glisson says the group oversaw construction of the largest building in the region, the Refreshing Hour International Church—a giant community center, 5,000 capacity, with a college, a school, a seniors facility, and a business center. “In any of the missions we do, we’ve been involved with building the facilities,” says Doc Glisson.

“This project isn’t daunting to us; you just plan it, and you do it.”

It was Doc Glisson who conceived the idea of owning an ABA franchise, says brother Chris, partly as a means to help his own son—a former San Diego high school standout—continue playing, as well as to assist other players whose careers fall short of NBA glory in “keeping the dream alive.”

The fledgling Thunderbolts team have already held an August tryout at Grace Baptist Christian Academy, and a second in September.

Last week, the team announced the signing of former University of Tennessee players Damon Johnson and Jordan Howell. A key player as a back-up point guard in the Bruce Pearl era, Howell graduated from UT last year; having served with UT in the mid-1990s, Johnson played 12 years of pro basketball in Europe.

Glisson says one other former UT player has been signed, but not announced: “It’s someone who everyone knows, and who everyone will be excited to have on the team,” he says. Additionally, five other players will likely be signed to the squad based on their tryouts.

While he and head coach Chad Smith, formerly of South-Doyle High School, build the team, Chris Glisson says the rest of ownership is hashing out details of the 150,000-square-foot sports dome, which will include a 7,000-seat home court for the Thunderbolts, as well as additional athletic facilities including a retractable gym floor, enabling the space to serve as room for eight practice courts and four tennis courts, or as an indoor field suitable for football, lacrosse and soccer, surrounded by what would stand as only the second Olympic-sized indoor track in the state.

The overall complex will also include six franchise restaurants and six conference rooms, Chris Glisson says.

Where this would all happen is still a matter of speculation; Glisson says five sites across Knox County are currently under consideration for the facility, though he says he isn’t at liberty to discuss the possible locations. A site decision should be announced in January, along with details on cost and ownership, he says.

Ambitious plans for a new sports franchise, and prospects for a citywide community sports facility—that’s the good news. The bad news is that Huffson may face an uphill battle basing an ABA team in a city that has already seen one league franchise fail.

Founded in 1999, and beginning play in 2000, the ABA is heading into only its eighth season, due to a reorganization in 2002-2003. Its brief history has been marred by ongoing difficulties, including teams collapsing and successful franchises departing for other leagues.

A previous, short-lived Knoxville ABA franchise was indicative of the league’s overall struggles—the Knoxville Noise opened the ABA season at Catholic High School in 2006, but folded midway through the season, having averaged only 300 fans per game.

The Glissons say the league is changing, however, and future ABA endeavors should have better footing. Beginning this season, the league will govern its various divisions through Regional Managers’ Committees, which are charged, among other things, with evaluating the financial feasibility of its franchises. “It’s like having a president’s council,” says Doc Glisson. “If a team looks like it can’t finish a season, it doesn’t play. We look at it and tried to help it get ready for next year.

“We’ve heard these concerns a lot: ‘We believe in you guys all the way, but what about the ABA?’ But the league has binding contracts with each team in place now. They’ve really raised the bar.”

“In Knoxville, we’re coming in to clean up what happened before,” Chris Glisson says.

With their home court still on the drawing board, the Thunderbolts will play the coming season at Grace Christian beginning in November, in hopes of christening a new facility with the opening game of the following season. “Grace Baptist’s direction and leadership matches what we’re all about, so that will be our home for the time being,” says Chris Glisson.

So, how many of the over 210 team have announced silimar plans? And don't forget Joe's blatherings on the subject as well.

Quick quiz: how many have ACTUALLY built an arena?

You can count 'em on the fingers of the Venus de Milo
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/g/greek/thumb/venus_de_milo_louvre.jpg

I hope there are no hills in Knoxville. :rolleyes:

[TEN]

YAWN...just another ABA pipe dream...

can't make this crap up...

[SignGuyDino]

Cloud Hidden is a concrete dome home in Asheville built into the side of a mountain. Values of nearby properties went up after it was built despite initial objections. Saves a ton on energy costs.

Don't diss the concept itself, although it's interesting there's no pics of their proposed dome.

A few years ago, the supposed reborn World Hockey Association had the Monolithic Dome Institute make a presentation about such buildings for ice arenas.

For a variety of reasons, the concept is a winner. Problem is the ABA is a joke. There is no improvement of perception of the ABA as claimed. If anything, more and more people are becoming aware to what a farce it is.

You would THINK the Knoxville basketball team would come up with a design to help move the Icebears, who have support despite a serious crap venue, and bring them on board.

Pipe dream is right. Clueless.

It takes an almost religious faith to believe in the ABA. I'm sorry but that's how I see it.

[runninref]

I'm not sure the Knox ownership group believes in the ABA. It, for the time being, is a means to help acheive the vision. I think, through God, they believe that all things are possible. Let's not pass judgement on the franchise based on the league they start playing in. With solid (by ABA standards, mind you) teams around this franchise, they could possibly prosper and actually play their entire schedule. Remember, Rochester, Vermont, Maryland, etc. all got their start here. Therefore, it is safe to say that this league does serve a purpose as an incubation league to separate the men from the boys. The men move on to bigger and better things. The boys just run up the credit card bills and then become bankrupt. Bigger things for Knoxville might just be a dome and another league.:mrgreen:

[LightningMan]

Bigger things for Knoxville might just be a dome and another league.:mrgreen:
They might be a decent travel partner for an Augusta and a Wilmington, NC team in another league.

[Pounder]

Didn't Lillehammer "build" an in-cave arena for parts of the 94 Winter Games?

[formerlyknownasfells]

Shouldn't that read "Doomed Sports Complex"?

[Paul S]

The amazing thing is..............some of these people actually fully believe what they are saying and have every intention of pulling this thing off. Personally, in my opinion, they are delusional but that doesn't stop them from believing.

[utahstarsticketholder]

they could pull this off, they would have never joined the rec league! If they have money it would been better spent joining a real league that might help them break even. Bottom line if "they" had done their due deligence no way Ole Joe cashes a check. Cheers, jack.
Where have we heard this before.....

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3738891
Opening ABA Game a Success in Knoxville, TN
November 11, 2008 - American Basketball Association (ABA) Knoxville Thunderbolts

Knoxville, TN. Knoxville Thunderbolts hosted the Nashville Broncs Saturday November 8th for their season opener. "There was so much excitement in this arena that I thought the roof was going to come off" said one of the Nashville fans. The Thunderbolts started the pregame activities with Harley Davidson motorcycles bringing in special guests. The crowd was energetic and full of spirit. Officer Robert Sexton of the Knox County Sheriffs Dept reported "There was not one bad incident and this is really good family entertainment." In the crowd was National Rodeo Champion and owner of the Nashville Broncs Scott Lumley and country music star Mindy McCready.

Both teams started out strong with the score going back and forth all the way up through the third quarter. Then Nashville turned it on with Ronnie McMahon, Jemere Hindricks and Josh Cooperwood hitting most of their shots. Knoxville's Chris "on fire" Wiley with 17 points lead the team. Andy Tipton and Michael Blue both with 15 points trying to bring the team back. The fourth quarter play by the Nashville Broncs was just too much for the Knoxville Thunderbolts to handle. Doc Glisson, the President/Owner of the Knoxville Thunderbolts said "The Nashville Broncs is a well ran organization and their players showed great sportsman ship." He also said " the Thunderbolts will be ready to take their win back when they visit to Nashville later on this month."

So, aside from the grammatical errors:
-no venue listed
-no final score
-no listed attendance
-no upcoming game listed

We know from the local paper that they lost 133-91, that they played at Grace Christian Academy, that their next home game is next weekend against Winston-Salem, and that - despite the fluff in this release about "the roof coming off" - there was an attendance of approximately 300 people.

Must be a thin roof...

[meyes]

I got so tangled up in the awful writing that I didn't even catch all the obvious omissions pointed out above. I used to be a sports editor and should have noticed.
It is possible that this piece was written by a high school or junior high school student with aspirations to become a sports writer. If that is the case, it is a poor reflection on the basic education received so far by said student.
If this was written by someone more "advanced" than that, the awful writing is an even deeper indictment of increasingly poorer communication skills of people in the U.S. in general.

[The Magician]

Opening ABA Game a Success in Knoxville, TN
November 11, 2008
http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3738891

I think this is the funniest part of the release which was put out 2-3 days after the game ...

The crowd was energetic and full of spirit. Officer Robert Sexton of the Knox County Sheriffs Dept reported "There was not one bad incident and this is really good family entertainment."

It's like they read all the OSC releases and OSC message board posts from the weekend, in order to write their own press release, after-the-fact.

Nice try Knox on trying to contradict the events surrounding the ABA leading up to your game and beyond ... But ABA Opening Night (for the league) was not a success!

[Sam Hill]

Shouldn't that read "Doomed Sports Complex"?

Pay the man, Shirley.

Got news for ya: ain't nobody going to build nothing for the next couple of years.

[Sam Hill]

Oh, actually there's a picture on the website:

http://www.knoxvillethunderbolts.com/images/stories/thunderdome_small.jpg

I'm sure it'll look just like that, too.

[nksports]

Oh, actually there's a picture on the website:

http://www.knoxvillethunderbolts.com/images/stories/thunderdome_small.jpg

I'm sure it'll look just like that, too.

As Auntie said about Thunderdome -- "Two men enter, one man leaves" She was talking about the attendance.

[SignGuyDino]

But can it top CONDOME???

http://www.dennisjustice.com/condome.JPG

[runninref]

Stating the obvious ... Isn't that where the Vision are scheduled to play their home games this season?:mrgreen:

[Pounder]

If, Buddha forbid, I received an inheritance with the caveat that I'd have to run an ABA team...

I'd prefer that Con-Dome to any HS gym or rec center. Seriously.

I'd spend money on getting a good floor, drywalling basic locker rooms, a couple bleachers...

...a platform with a whole bunch of recliners, a few sofas... even if I found them cheap and placed cheap coverings over them, all behind one basket...

...another semi-platform or semi-bleacher setup (maybe I'd build it myself) as a STANDING section behind the other basket, for which my soccer buddies would be proud...

...and a nice BAR. The bar would be the business in the end. The team would be gravy if it works out.

I'd have to be extra smart on location... but I bet this beats the pants off that Thunderdome proposal.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jan/04/thunderbolts-score-at-will-134-95/
Thunderbolts score at will, 134-95
Bill Howard, sports@knoxnews.com
Sunday, January 4, 2009

Fans who remember the Los Angeles Lakers' high-flying "Showtime" offenses of the 1980s might have thought they were watching that team Saturday night at Grace Christian Academy.

Actually it was the ABA's Knoxville Thunderbolts doing a very good impression.

Using a relentless up-tempo pace and scoring virtually at will, the Thunderbolts blew out the Georgia Gwizzlies 134-95 before a crowd of 150.

"The last three and a half weeks we've really bought into the concept of team play," said Thunderbolts coach Chad Smith. "Everybody in this league is gonna have guys that are great players. We've asked these guys to sacrifice a little bit and really buy into the team play. It's made all the difference in the world for us."

Late in the first quarter, Knoxville led 21-19. Over the next 10 minutes the Thunderbolts went on a 40-11 run for a 61-30 lead. Breakaway layups, long 3-point shots, and alley-oop jams were plentiful. Georgia never got closer than 22 after that.

"We know who's hot and we're starting to understand how to play with each other," Smith said. "So I told them if we continue to do that the sky's the limit for this team."

Andy Tipton led six double-figure scorers with a game-high 31 points. Gus Chase scored 27 and Christopher Wiley had 21. Sidney Pointer led Georgia with 25 points, with 15 on 3-pointers.

"We've got 10, 11 guys who can play," Smith said. "Our core eight or nine guys, we're gonna constantly rotate in and give them equal minutes and really push, push, push, and I think it's gonna pay off for us."

Knoxville was 52-of-91 from the field, including 8-of-24 from 3-point range. Georgia shot 34-of-93, 9-of-29 from 3-point range.

Notebook: The next scheduled game is Jan. 18 at home against the Atlanta Vision. Tipoff is 5 p.m. . . . Former Tennessee Vols Dane Bradshaw and Damon Johnson are still out with knee injuries. Bradshaw is expected back against Atlanta. Johnson's return is still undetermined. . . . Tickets that cost $15 and $10 have been reduced to $10 and $8. There also are $5 tickets for those under 18. . . . The 'Bolts' latest ABA power ranking is 11, out of 43 teams.

thoughts:

150 ain't much of a crowd...

The Gwizz are as competitive on the court as they are coherent off it...

We may have an Atlanta Vision sighting in a couple weeks; suffice it to say I wouldn't buy my ticket in advance...

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3759808
American Basketball Association At Its Creative Best
January 5, 2009 - American Basketball Association (ABA) Knoxville Thunderbolts

Knoxville, TN. (By Brad Zockoll, Sports Columnish, Knoxville TN). What do you see when you come to a Thunderbolts game? You're seeing the ABA at its creative best. The Thunderbolts take to the floor like a team with something to prove. These guys aren't out there for the individual accolades or the TV press conferences. The T-Bolts are on a two-fold mission: to bring professional basketball within the Knoxville fold, and to reward the city with a championship. When you witness the games during this Thunderbolts inaugural season, you'll get a sensation of NBA-like professionalism mixed with a definite NCAA college-level enthusiasm from the sidelines. These are exciting times to see the early ABA first-season steps as you get to witness a group of owners and supporters who want to see a fledgling team succeed in the professional world.
This is the American Basketball Association (ABA), the resurrection of a league many of us have sorely missed over the years. The always-innovative gameplay of the ABA is back in full force. The red-white-and blue ball, the three point shot, and the chest-heaving quickness of the game has always established the ABA as the creative league, and the game has added new flair to the flow of the competition. The scoring is plentiful, with the fluidity of the game kept in motion by the point-friendly approach to the game.

You gotta see this. Come see a snappy Wiley-to-Tipton pass and dunk. Watch as Dabbs sprints down the floor with a speed that puts many NBA players to shame. Every game night, Bradshaw gives it his all. Doc Glisson (team owner) gets in his element at the microphone, cheering on the team and whipping up the fans. The Lady Bolts get the crowd boisterous. Williams dares oppponents to take him for granted. Glisson putting in the extra effort in getting to the ball. Mr. Thunderbolt, the ominpresent mascot, is in and out of the stands throughout the game. Coach Chad Smith keeps driving the Thunderbolts to higher and higher goals. You get all is in one night. That's the ABA. That's Thunderbolt basketball.

...with Joe's standard "you've captured the ABA beautifully, blah blah blah" tagline at the end.

I wonder if Zockoll (who, as far as I can tell, is a Christian-themed writer, and not a "Sports Columnish" as described in the release) wrote this as a favor to someone in the 'Bolts organization.

The guy waxes poetic about a league that he surely has not seen much of, or read about ("resurrection of a league many of us have sorely missed over the years" - really? by whom?).

It's nice to be nostalgic about the 70s league with the same name, but this ABA ain't that ABA, Brad.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

no doubt this will be posted by Joe on ABAlive
http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3759808


And here it is:
http://abalive.com/headlines/index.html?article_id=162

But Joe forgot his fluff ending. He must be losing something off his fastball.

Do I win a prize?

AND - the splash page for this article replaced the Wash-no page, which I had wondered if Joe would remember to remove once they closed up for the year.

Geez, Joe, I don't mind doing your work for you, but where is my check?

Maybe I'll just stand in line behind the many, many others to whom you owe money...

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/feb/03/t-bolts-brass-makes-stance-on-attendance/

T-Bolts brass makes stance on attendance
By Dave Link (Contact)
Originally published 09:02 a.m., February 3, 2009
Updated 09:02 a.m., February 3, 2009

As the saying goes, you're either on the bus or you're off it. Half of the Knoxville Thunderbolts were off it.

Thunderbolts co-owner/general manager Chris Glisson took a stern stance with his players - albeit by text message from Michigan - when six of his players couldn't make the trip to Beckley, W.Va., for Sunday's ABA basketball game.

When the bus left for the game against the West Virginia Blazers, there were six Thunderbolts on it. Six stayed home - a few unexpectedly.

"I did a gut check (in the text message to players)," Glisson said Monday from St. Joseph, Mich., where his wife's parents live. "I said, 'Are we in it to win this thing? We have an opportunity to go to the playoffs and win it all, or are we going to coast through and end the season on a losing note?' The response was they're in it to win it."

The Thunderbolts had 11 players available during Monday night's 133-112 loss at Grace Christian Academy to the Beijing Olympians traveling ABA team, which is based out of Los Angeles. Former Tennessee player Damon Johnson was on the Thunderbolts' bench in street clothes, out because of an injured knee for more than six weeks.

The six Thunderbolts making the trip to Beckley were Scott Williams, Kevin McDonald, Josh Glisson, Gus Chase, Michael Blue, and Brent Watts.

Chris Glisson, Josh Glisson's uncle, knew a couple of the players weren't going to make the trip, but when several others pulled out, it left the team in a bind at the last minute.

"The main thing is to communicate," Glisson said. "Communicate to the coaches and owners, (say) 'I have obligations' ahead of time, not a day before. Things need to be prioritized a little bit. We'll see what happens."

The Thunderbolts' next road game will be Feb. 19 or 22 - the date has not been determined - in Atlanta. Glisson expects his players to be on the bus.

"It won't happen again, I'll tell you that," he said. "We're prepared for it."

Monday's Game: Among the players on the Beijing Olympians team was Toby Bailey, a starting guard as a freshman on UCLA's 1995 NCAA championship team. Bailey, who wore the name "Quincy Davis" on the back of his uniform, played two years for the Phoenix Suns, half a season with the New York Knicks, and has played overseas until this year.

Also on the Beijing team is former Northern Illinois player Jamel Staton. Staten scored 35 and Bailey 25. The Beijing team's starting posts were 6-foot-10 Lee Way and 7-foot Jung Song Taow. Blue had 27 points for the Thunderbolts.

[Paul S]

On my ipod I have a repeat button. If I push it, then the same song will repeat over and over and over and over until the battery finally runs out.

My repeat button is exactly like the ABA. It just repeats business mistakes, broken promises', half-a55ed planning, etc. When is the ABA's battery gonna run out?

[LightningMan]

When is the ABA's battery gonna run out?
When there isn't a mark left to "persuade" or when Joe cannot physically sell anymore.

[nksports]

"I did a gut check (in the text message to players)," Glisson said.

Yes but did he give them a bank check (that cleared)?????

That's usually why pro players don't make a game.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Dammit - yet ANOTHER name change:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/may/14/lemon-to-back-aba-team/

Lemon to back ABA team
Jam will be based in Maryville

MARYVILLE - Meadowlark Lemon has worked his basketball magic all over the globe. Perhaps he can work some magic here.

Lemon, known internationally as the former captain of the Harlem Globetrotters, will be joining in ownership of a new ABA franchise in Maryville that was formerly the Knoxville Thunderbolts.

The new team will be introduced today at 10 a.m. as the Smoky Mountain Jam at the Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson location at 1820 West Lamar Alexander Parkway in Maryville. Lemon will be available for autographs and photos for a short time after the press conference.

"This is going to be a major-league team, and part of my job is to build this into a major-league team," Lemon said Thursday afternoon. "We want to get the right people involved and hopefully get some top ball players."

Like the first ABA team in Knoxville, the Thunderbolts struggled with attendance in their first and only season. Lemon hopes to breathe new life into the team.

Lemon was born April 25, 1932, in Wilmington, N.C., where he was an all-state football player and standout basketball player in high school. He joined the Globetrotters in 1955 and played with them until 1980, when he formed one of their several imitators, the Bucketeers.

His current team is the Meadowlark Lemon Harlem All-Stars, who start a 60-game cross-country schedule in September.

And yes, Lemon still plays some good basketball.

"I can't play every day," he said. "I can't play 300 games a year anymore, but we're going to come after it and work it."

His endeavor with the All-Stars won't keep him from putting his energy into the Smoky Mountain Jam, which hopes to play home games at Maryville College.

"Right now, we're starting small, but I started small," he said. "My first basketball was a Carnation Milk can, and my first basket was a coat-hanger wrapped around an old onion sack. So we started small, but we didn't stay small because I've been able to help take basketball around the world several times.

"We started out in America with a few people playing. Now I guess we have over 100 million people playing it around the world."

Training camp for the Meadowlark Lemon Harlem All-Stars will be in Maryville. Lemon will play on that team and plans to make frequent visits to Smoky Mountain Jam games.

"I might show up any time at a (Jam) game," Lemon said. "We really want to make this big. When I show up in town, no telling who I might bring with me."

Lemon, who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., stays in shape with daily workouts and with the help of his wife, Cynthia.

"I never got out of shape," Lemon said. "That's the main thing. Once you get out of shape, it's finished. You try to stay up on it. My wife is a naturopathy doctor and she makes sure we eat properly, and then I work out every day."

Two thoughts:
1- how much do we REALLY expect Lemon to be involved here?
2 - seeing as the new stat guy referenced his working with Lemon as one of his qualifications to organize and maintain statistical information for a leaque with (allegedly) 40+ teams... and how he has said he is familiar with the Knoxville franchise... how much influence did he have in bringing in Lemon?

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

we have a logo:

http://abastatcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/meadowlark21.jpg

[Sam Hill]

So, wait....are they still going to build their own arena? (yuk-yuk-yuk)

[The Sweeper]

So, wait....are they still going to build their own arena? (yuk-yuk-yuk)

As long as it's not on a hill...