Not again.....

[Shootmaster_44]

I noticed the genius that runs the ABA has addressed the Calgary situation.

I have received many e-mails and calls from Calgary Driller fans and media asking what happened to the Calgary Drillers and why they suspended operations. Fair questions. First, Calgary is a tremendous sports city and you embraced the Drillers from day one. We are deeply appreciative of the interest and support you showed. The problem was travel - getting ABA teams to Calgary - getting Calgary on the road. It was just too difficult both ways.

The ABA wants very much to be in Calgary and is working on a plan to make that happen next season. The Calgary Drillers Basketball Club, Inc. and the ABA are working to develop a team in Edmonton for next season. With a second team in Alberta, it would then be feasible for northwest division ABA teams to make the road trip and to play several games before returning home. It would also create an excellent rivalry between the two teams in Alberta. The Drillers and the ABA are working with a couple of different potential ownership groups to own the Edmonton team and believes that this can be accomplished in the next few weeks. We are also looking at creating a community ownership structure similar to how several CFL teams are operated.

The addition of Edmonton to the ABA would enhance the long history of intense rivalry between the two Alberta cities and would encourage the growth of the ABA across the province. It would be anticipated that Calgary and Edmonton would play one another several times during the season. We have also been assured by the Calgary Drillers Basketball Club, Inc. that they are working to resolve the unsettled business matters of the past season in Calgary. Once again, Calgary, the suspension of the ABA team there was through no fault of your great city. And there's nothing we'd like more than to return. Thank you for your support.

Two points to make on this:
a) Who in their right mind would buy a franchise for Edmonton? Their only venture into pro basketball failed miserably.

b) There's the message on the Drillers own website. It appears that it has now been taken off. But it did say that Al Howell, the Drillers owner was looking at the ABA, the CBA and the International League as possible places to play next season. In other words the Drillers had NOT committed to the ABA for next season. Which is smart since there may not be an ABA next year anyhow.

I think the CBA would be a better fit for the Drillers anyway. The teams are much closer to Calgary than in the ABA.

[dshaw62197]

Ah, more wit 'n' wisdom from Uncle Joe. Let's examine some of the finer points of his missive.

I have received many e-mails and calls from Calgary Driller fans and media asking what happened to the Calgary Drillers and why they suspended operations.

Hmmm. I wonder how he found those emails, considering all the other emails he has from fans in Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Hermosillo, Detroit, Chicago, Portland, Fresno, Boston, Colorado...

The problem was travel - getting ABA teams to Calgary - getting Calgary on the road. It was just too difficult both ways.

Forgive me if this is too obvious, but shouldn't that have been taken into consideration BEFORE a team was awarded to Calgary? It's not like the city was closer when Joe accepted the owners' check for $10 grand, then it moved farther away after the season started. Perhaps if Joe looked at the map before he gladly accepted the check, he'd have forseen this problem.

With a second team in Alberta, it would then be feasible for northwest division ABA teams to make the road trip and to play several games before returning home.

Okay, I think we all guess what happens next: Edmonton and Calgary start playing in '05, then suddenly no other ABA teams can "afford" to get to either city. As a result, the two teams are stuck playing each other for the rest of the season.


The addition of Edmonton to the ABA would enhance the long history of intense rivalry between the two Alberta cities and would encourage the growth of the ABA across the province.

I'm sure the good people of Alberta are just dying to see the ABA spread like a fungus across their fair province.

Once again, Calgary, the suspension of the ABA team there was through no fault of your great city.

At last! A grain of truth. Yes, Joe, the people of Calgary are not responsible for this fiasco. YOU are. For letting amateur ownership groups into the league and causing the chaos that has engulfed most of the league. For trying to let so many new teams into the league at once. And for not owning up to these mistakes, and instead compounding them by adding even more teams next year.

All in all, another masterpiece from the ol' used car salesman.

[Shootmaster_44]

I noticed something else on the ABA site today. It appears that Montreal has named their head coach. The one funny line in the release is this:

"I really am excited about this opportunity. The ABA is a very good professional league with some great teams and players. We will have to work very hard to be competitive - but we have no doubt that we will be very strong. We'll be announcing our tryout camps and other things very shortly.

He must not speak much English because in most media outlets and on here, the ABA is not a very good pro league. Granted there are a few good teams and players, but ol'Joe didn't make that happen. I hope more Canadian teams do spring up and they split off to make a Canadian national league. I miss the old NBL.

From what I see on the ABA site, here's the teams that could form the new NBL:
Calgary Drillers
Vancouver
Montreal
Edmonton (I expect that announcement very soon)

Where else would be a good idea for an All-Canadian league?

I'd say:
Winnipeg
Saskatoon
Halifax
Victoria
Hamilton
Quebec City

For this league to survive it would also have to be a summer league. The Saskatchewan Hawks and Calgary Drillers proved that winter basketball cannot survive.