Aaronhere
05-05-2009, 02:10 PM
This is based on my personal observations and recent news stories. Feel free to comment, correct and confirm any and all rumors, reports, and predictions. I have ranked the leagues in order of viability:
D-LEAGUE: What was once the shining star in the minor league sky is showing signs of trouble. Bakersfield has folded, while the Anaheim franchise is moving east to Springfield, MA. Albuquerque and Colorado have also been rumored to be on the rocks as well. Dakota has publicly stated they have lost money, and now the league is looking at changing the ownership structure. After starting as a southeastern-based league, then shifting west, the league seems to be gravitating to the northeast. GRADE - B
PBL: Mid-Michigan and Montreal folded during the season, raising credibility issues about the league. Detroit's owners seem to have some tax issues to deal with (making them candidates for a Cabinet position). Buffalo has said it is optimistic about next season, despite some low attendance figures, and Halifax has agreed to a new travel structure to help other teams. It is hard to believe that teams such as Augusta, Chicago and Rockford can survive with their attendance numbers, which are hard to come by since the league itself does not release the numbers in their weekly reports and one must depend on various media reports. GRADE - C
IBL: The league has taken its share of hits this season, with Battle Creek moving to the PBL and Gary and Elkhart Lake sitting out and/or folding. At one time, I thought the IBL was going to become a large player on the pro scene, but its recent troubles have raised doubts. I can see a smaller, more geographically-confined league down the road while the finances are worked out. GRADE - D
CBA: After more than 50 years of basketball, the CBA appears to be in the final stages of life. Its four teams threw in the towel in January, and the remaining owners are admitting the league will need a miracle to come back this winter. Albany could end up in the PBL, while East Kentucky appears to be fading away. Lawton-Fort Sill remains a viable franchise, but its location makes it a hard fit for any league but the D-League, though they could be the keystone franchise in a new, Midwest-based league. GRADE - D-minus (the only reason I did not give an F is because there is a slim chance they will return)
USBL: Amazingly, this league is still around. OK, so its stock is worth 65 cents, and has not traded since March 31st. Even an announcement in early April about a return in 2010 could not make the stock budge. In case you forgot, the Kansas Cagerz are the defending champions (2007) GRADE - F
ABA: The damage done to minor league basketball by the ABA is already well-documented. With little to no media coverage (even Oursportscentral dropped them from the radar screen), one has to wonder how many suckers remain out there. The league continues to hype its expansion teams (Austin, Lake Michigan, etc.), while other teams are just shells. The Kentucky Bisons may be the most anonymous league champion in sports. GRADE - F
WBA: The league calls itself the "Next Best Thing to the NBA". OK, so let's give them points for being confident, not realistic, but confident. Based in the southeastern USA, the league looks like a scaled-down version of the ABA. Honestly, how can a league that plays 10 regular season games per team and cannot put its standings on its website be taken seriously? GRADE - F
I did not include the Eastern Basketball Association, NPBL, Universal Basketball League or West Coast Pro Basketball Leagues, because there is either too little information out there or they just don't seem to be viable enterprises. Thanks for reading my two cents...
D-LEAGUE: What was once the shining star in the minor league sky is showing signs of trouble. Bakersfield has folded, while the Anaheim franchise is moving east to Springfield, MA. Albuquerque and Colorado have also been rumored to be on the rocks as well. Dakota has publicly stated they have lost money, and now the league is looking at changing the ownership structure. After starting as a southeastern-based league, then shifting west, the league seems to be gravitating to the northeast. GRADE - B
PBL: Mid-Michigan and Montreal folded during the season, raising credibility issues about the league. Detroit's owners seem to have some tax issues to deal with (making them candidates for a Cabinet position). Buffalo has said it is optimistic about next season, despite some low attendance figures, and Halifax has agreed to a new travel structure to help other teams. It is hard to believe that teams such as Augusta, Chicago and Rockford can survive with their attendance numbers, which are hard to come by since the league itself does not release the numbers in their weekly reports and one must depend on various media reports. GRADE - C
IBL: The league has taken its share of hits this season, with Battle Creek moving to the PBL and Gary and Elkhart Lake sitting out and/or folding. At one time, I thought the IBL was going to become a large player on the pro scene, but its recent troubles have raised doubts. I can see a smaller, more geographically-confined league down the road while the finances are worked out. GRADE - D
CBA: After more than 50 years of basketball, the CBA appears to be in the final stages of life. Its four teams threw in the towel in January, and the remaining owners are admitting the league will need a miracle to come back this winter. Albany could end up in the PBL, while East Kentucky appears to be fading away. Lawton-Fort Sill remains a viable franchise, but its location makes it a hard fit for any league but the D-League, though they could be the keystone franchise in a new, Midwest-based league. GRADE - D-minus (the only reason I did not give an F is because there is a slim chance they will return)
USBL: Amazingly, this league is still around. OK, so its stock is worth 65 cents, and has not traded since March 31st. Even an announcement in early April about a return in 2010 could not make the stock budge. In case you forgot, the Kansas Cagerz are the defending champions (2007) GRADE - F
ABA: The damage done to minor league basketball by the ABA is already well-documented. With little to no media coverage (even Oursportscentral dropped them from the radar screen), one has to wonder how many suckers remain out there. The league continues to hype its expansion teams (Austin, Lake Michigan, etc.), while other teams are just shells. The Kentucky Bisons may be the most anonymous league champion in sports. GRADE - F
WBA: The league calls itself the "Next Best Thing to the NBA". OK, so let's give them points for being confident, not realistic, but confident. Based in the southeastern USA, the league looks like a scaled-down version of the ABA. Honestly, how can a league that plays 10 regular season games per team and cannot put its standings on its website be taken seriously? GRADE - F
I did not include the Eastern Basketball Association, NPBL, Universal Basketball League or West Coast Pro Basketball Leagues, because there is either too little information out there or they just don't seem to be viable enterprises. Thanks for reading my two cents...