2 Year Old Owner?

[Common Sense]

Uncle Joe has found yet another loner hanging out all by himself in the dark recesses of a video arcade to offer his "candy" and a ride in his van. Rob Blackwell is the proud new owner of an expansion team for next year in the ABA. Well, unless they see fit to catch up some games say, this Tuesday and join the league this year in order to make the play-offs. If they go this route, which I would not be surprised if they did, they won't be sending any players the to All Star Game in Vegas, so that they can concentrate on these play-offs.
I do however question Rob's "life long dream". In his release about his expansion team, he goes on about how he is successful in business and that it has been a life long dream to be involved in the ABA. Hmmmm, considering it had been gone since the 70's, then revived for one failed year, only to be revived again last year how could one have this life long dream? Are we to believe he is only two years old? Probably not Rob Blackwell himself, but considering his $10,000 purchace his mentality indeed is that of a two year old.

[meyes]

Common Sense, you need to check your "facts." This ABA played two seasons with a team in Indianapolis, took a season off, and is now playing its' second season since the layoff. The success of those three plus seasons is a subject for debate.
As for this attempt to have a team in Indianapolis, as much as I would like to see it succeed, I believe the only possible chance for success would be for everything to be perfectly organized, planned and executed (which is impossible for anybody to accomplish) and for the NBA to have a season-long lockout.
There is huge competition for disposable income in the central Indiana market, and the economy here is not in good shape.
The ABA does have the most entertaining basketball on the planet, and certainly should be represented in Indiana, but I just can't see it working here in the next several years.

[Sam Hill]

The ABA does have the most entertaining basketball on the planet,

It's just amazing all those millions of people keep wasting their money on that NBA product with all those mediocre players, and can't see what you see. :roll:

[Common Sense]

I'd keep up more on how many seasons Indiana had a team in the ABA meyes if it was part of a legitimate league with a website that would keep teams on there instead of adding, dropping and changing names on teams almost daily.
The point of the matter is another victim just lost $10,000. More importantly a few hard working Indiana residents will probably waste some of their hard earned money on a team that with the history of the ABA in Indiana in the recent past and the rate the league is traveling this year, won't be around for an entire season.
Sam Hill had interesting observation of meyes' quote that the "the ABA does have the most entertaining basketball on the planet". After a comment like that, meyes you are the one that needs to check your "facts".

[meyes]

In my opinion, the ABA does have the most entertaining basketball. It didn't say is has the best players or that other leagues aren't good or worth watching or a waste of money. That is my opinion. I am entitled to my opinion. You are entitled to yours.

[Sam Hill]

And when your opinion seems to be squarely in the minority, what will you do then?

Oh, you do what you always do. You increase the tint on those rose-colored glasses.

You're a shill. Why you continue to blithely think this no-defense league (where guys have to be bribed to play defense with the gimmicky 3-D rule) of has-beens and never-wases is so damn entertaining is absolutely beyond me.

Well, the drama is certainly entertaining. More entertaining than anything on the court, that's for sure.

[Houston Caldwell]

Actually, the ABA rules and resulting style of basketball are the part of the concept that was done RIGHT.
There IS a formula for success for minor league basketball; a minor league is NOT going to offer the most prominent players in ANY sport (the difference in salary level alone dictates that). The ABA has had one part of the formula right (this part), but ABA franchises that competently promote the on-court product have been few and far between. This is the formula, IMO, for success;
1- LEGITIMATE SPORTS TEAM OWNERSHIP- The part where the ABA has done WORST. Ownership groups need to have guaranteed and committed funding IN CASH (see Derrick Pearson) in the $750,000- $1,000,000 range if the team doesn't sell a single ticket , begin promoting their season a solid 6 months in advance of the opener, and front office personnel with legitimate and successful experience or appropriate training (college sports management degrees or training from outfits like Game Face Inc).
2- FULL-COURT ORIENTED STYLE OF PLAY- Many people like to watch this style, and NBA/NCAA have trended inthe opposite direction in recent years. ABA/IBL type rules contribute to this; this is the part such leagues are doing RIGHT. Many fans like SCORING and racehorse game speed; Vive la difference.
3- KEEP THE PRICE CHEAP- People aren't going to pay major league prices to watch minor league players.
4- BE INNOVATIVE IN OFF-COURT PROMOTION- There is a very good FREE sports marketing/promotions newsletter that focuses on promotional ideas successfully used by sports teams called Vertical Alliance, which can be subscribed to by e-mailing dsell@verticalalliance.com. I reccommend this highly to anyone interested in sports management/ownership. Minor league baseball, in my experience, does the best overall job of off-field promotion.
5- PICK CITIES WHERE YOU'LL BE "THE BIG NEWS"- See Arkansas Rimrockers or WBA Jackson Rage.
I'll bet neither Sam or Meyes would disagree with me on any of these points.
The ABA's 3 worst problems have been (1) Poor screening of ownership groups, (2) Locating franchises in NBA cities, and (3) Front offices without sports sales/management backgrounds. You need to be able to spend money and know how and where to spend it efficiently. And, yes, Meyes, I'd pick another Indiana city besides Indianapolis or Gary. Evansville doesn't sound bad.

[meyes]

Houston,
You win at least half your bet. I agree. Sam probably does, too.