AAPBL, what a joke....

[Jeremy]

Come on, the Cedar Rapids BallHogs?? How stupid is that? One of the stupidest names in all professional sports. Gonna miss our old River Raiders even more now.

They seriously have to just want this franchise to fail. To begin with they are going to have a heck of a time pulling people in after numerous failed leagues...then to pop in a team with such a stupid name. As much as I want to see basketball, this is making me turn away too. They should have just held a name the team contest like was done with the River Raiders.

All the other teams, congratulations, they league at least treated you all with respect.

Oh and the article in the paper says they are going to pay double the CBA? I can't see the league lasting long that way. When there was talk about the River Raiders jumping to the CBA here it was said that they needed to get 3,000 fans to break even...now you want to double that? 6,000 fans? No way, isn't going to happen. They will be lucky to pull 3,000. Also, can just imagine, we had very reasonable ticket prices for the USBL..is this league planning on tripling the cost?

If the team is high quality basketball, which with the pay I am guessing they should be able to pull the best talent outside the NBA, I may check it out, but have a hard time getting into the BallHogs.

I just hope they don't plan on selling any merchandise, who in the heck would wear a BallHog shirt? Not this guy thats for sure.

10 months AAPBL...really...please rethink this stupid name.

[Common Sense]

Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy you don't like the name of your new team? Don't dispair my friend. No! Instead start digging in the cusions of your couch and checking your pants pockets to drum up $10,000 and contact Joe Newman and start your own ABA team! Yes as a matter of fact Cedar Rapids is a perfect pod for the ABA, conveniently located between Harlem and Orange County and you can even build your own arena that can hold the huge sold out crowds expected. Best of all you can name your own team and change it two or three times before the season even starts, if it ever does.
If what you are saying about what this league expects to pay and how they plan to operate, you won't have to worry about the name BallHogs because there never will be a season.

[dshaw62197]

Please note, however, if your team joins the ABA, it will have to change its name from the BallHogs to the BallDawgs. :lol:

[Pounder]

I've not heard of a league trample all over owners' decisions, so I'm not sure I lay the blame with the league here.

I may have an issue with summer ball in THAT region of the country.

However, at least the league management isn't totally dim...

http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2005/02/02/sports/00lead.txt

Make a decision and stick with it. We know what Joe Newman would have done. At least this league will die more of natural causes than total incompetence.

[Mike]

You've got to be kidding me about complaining about the team's nickname. If this is the team's biggest problem, well, they should have a great season.

Just remember, one man's STUPID NAME just might be one team's great marketing strategy to promote the team and sell merchandise.

[preeths]

Good point, Mike. Really, the AAPBL seems to have a plan thay they are following rather methodically. Whether that plan works out or not remains to be seen, but they get props for doing things correctly up to this point.

[lightning fan]

It could be worse. Rockford has a hockey team called the "Icehogs". Bad name good logo and colors. At least Ballhogs is a real thing. I see them all the time at the YMCA.

The CR Gazette article earlier mentioned "BB on the rebound in CR" I thought that was a clue they would be the Cedar Rapids Rebounds. No such luck. It would fit in with all the teams leaving, then BB continuing to rebound with new leagues in CR.

Lets see CBA Silver Bullets, Cornets(women), GBA Sharpshooters, USBL River Raiders, now BallHogs. I think there was one more after Sharpshooters which never got off drawing board. Anyone remember?

What happened to River Raiders?? I thought they led USBL in attendance at 2200??? Of course that does not matter. CBA Silver Bullets reportedly made a profit. Maybe the River Raiders did too.

[Jeremy]

As for what happened to the RiverRaiders, the owner was upset at the local businesses lack of corperate sponsorship of the team. The USBL handling of the St Louis mess hurt too...when the Cedar Rapids owner had to supply free tickets to another game to all in attendance, that hurt the pocketbook. I also remember hearing that the owner claims he didn't realize it was a full time job and didn't have time to put into it (how they could say that I have no idea). Then wanted someone to buy the team.

Then what really did them in is this AAPBL coming in and announcing they were playing here. The RiverRaiders owner was not happy that nobody spoke to him prior (like the US Cellular Center officials). So last I heard he was going to sell to someone in New Jersey or something.

I will probably give the team a shot (if this thing really ever gets off the ground), but really don't care for the name and will not be spending money on merchandise.

I hope this league knows they are going to have a hard time pulling people in. IF they have a long-term vision it could make it. People are going to be afraid to put their cash down on another fly-by-night basketball league. I would say it will take a few years to actually build up a good fanbase again.

It has to be proven that they are commited to being here unlike all previous teams.

If this league seriously can pay players what they plan on paying, it should be darn good basketball and worth the money.

[bp]

Jeremy, i know for a fact that this league spoke with the owner of the River Raiders before the AAPBL made a deal with the arena.

[SK Fan]

It looks like the BallHog prices are going to be a little steeper than the River Raiders. The River Raiders had seats ranging from $5 (upper level) $8 (mid level) $10 (courtside first eight or so rows) and $25 (baseline on the court). The Gazette quoted today said season tickets are on sale via e mail ranging from $8 -$35.



SK Fan

[Jeremy]

I am curious how it is going to be...I mean going head to head with the RoughRiders is going to be tough for the BallHogs. For the BallHogs sake I sure hope they plan on playing on other days, otherwise find it hard to see them being able to pull away from the USHL (not a big hockey fan myself, but darn fun time to go to the games). The prices going up may be a problem too (not for me, if they seriously are going to have the highest quality players outside the NBA like they claim with the pay), most people will at fist look at the price and think...why pay $35 for something I only payed $25 last year. Like I say, not for us that know the so called plan for great players....but this is for the average fan that doesn't know the difference between the USBL and the AAPBL.

Going head to head games with the RoughRiders? Hmm...top price for hockey tickets $17 and BallHogs $35...I know where most people will continue to spend their money. I hope they have good scheduling planned out.

[SK Fan]

Well, the AAPBL is not getting off to a great start here in Cedar Rapids. First Mike Koolbeck was hired. He lasted a month, then quit. Then they hired Bill Klucas. He lasted a week, then quit. Wonder who the next sucker will be?


SK Fan

[Tha Man*]

Here it is for those who haven't seen the article.

Ball Hogs coach, VP gets out of the game

Klucas steps down after a week, says C.R. team still viable

By J.R. Ogden The Gazette



CEDAR RAPIDS — The inaugural season hasn’t even started, and the Cedar Rapids Ball Hogs are 0-2.

Bill Klucas resigned Tuesday as coach and vice president of the Ball Hogs, members of the fledgling All-American Professional Basketball League.

Klucas’ resignation came one week after he announced he was going to lead the team. He is the second executive the t e a m h a s hired and the second to step down.

Mike Koolbeck resigned as vice president of sales and marketing Feb. 22 for ‘ ‘philosophical differences about the way the team should be marketed’’ less than a month after he joined the team.

‘‘This was a personal decision,’’ Klucas said Tuesday in a telephone interview. ‘‘This does not reflect on the team or the organization. Don’t read anything else into this.’’

The Ball Hogs and the AAPBL are a viable product, Klucas and AAPBL executive vice president Brad Pick said Tuesday.

‘ ‘ I d o n ’ t think I would have been involved in it if I didn’t think it would make it,’’ said Klucas, who has coached for more than 30 years, including 16 in the Continental Basketball Association, the most stable minor basketball league. ‘‘I hope the team does really well.’’

Pick said there is nothing to worry about with the Ball Hogs or the AAPBL.

‘‘There are going to be some bumps in the road,’’ he said from the Ball Hogs’ office. ‘‘We’re excited about the prospects in Cedar Rapids and we’re going to move forward. I don’t think there is anything to read into it.’’

AAPBL president Worth Christie said these types of problems are common with new ventures.

‘‘Are we going to make mistakes? Sure, we’re going to make mistakes,’’ he said. ‘‘You got to massage these things. The thing you do is you don’t force it to work, you let it work.

‘‘I’m not concerned about getting (the league) off the ground. The reception has been better than I expected.’’

There is no time table on hiring a coach, Pick said, because the priority is on finding the right fit for the franchise.

‘‘We’re going to make sure it’s the right person for Cedar Rapids,’’ he said. ‘‘We want to make sure we get it done right.’’

The league has not released its 2005-06 schedule, but Pick said that could come within the next few weeks.

The season is slated for November to March, and each team is scheduled to play 62 games.

Contact the writer: (319) 368-8696 or jr.ogden@gazettecommunications.com

[wazzie]

I wanted to put my foot in the door with coaching or something to do with basketball and I thought at first the AAPBL could be a good thing. I live in Kansas and we have two teams here and the only thing I have heard is that they have a team. No news about a coach or nothing. Sounds like it isn't going well. Just my thoughts.