ABA/NBA Exhibition Game?

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Joe's newest... :roll:

ASK THE CEO - NBA VS. ABA EXHIBITION GAME?
19-Sep-2005
Question from Mario in LA: "Would the ABA be willing to challenge the NBA to an exhibition game with the proceeds going to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Funds?"

Answer: Wow. What a question. First, let me say that the NBA, NBA teams and NBA players have been very generous in their support of the Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts including, but not limited to, having played an exhibition game with some of their finest players. The NBA has been great.

Would we be willing to challenge them to a game with the proceeds going to the relief fund? In a heartbeat. We would be willing to play at any NBA venue or at one of our largest venues like Miami or Pittsburgh or Los Angeles. We'd play in Yankee Stadium.

If we played at one of our venues, the ABA would pay the full cost of the venue and all of the promotion involved. We would include all of the sponsorship money in the proceeds and if the NBA could use its vast contacts to have the game televised, we would include all of the revenue from that in the relief fund.

However, the one thing that we would insist upon is that the ticket prices are fan-friendly and affordable to all - perhaps a flat rated $20 per ticket. With capacity of 18,000, this would generate $360,000 before sponsorships, TV and other income. Further, if the NBA would do this, the ABA would donate $50,000 to start the fund.

Done well, done properly, we believe an ABA/NBA exhibition game could generate over a million dollars for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. (As an aside, this would be valuable to the ABA from a PR standpoint, but certainly not the primary reason for the game - the relief fund and hurricane victims would be the real beneficiaries). Of course, it's up to the NBA. I hope this answers your question.

It continues... :?

ASK THE CEO - DID THE NBA ACCEPT?

20-Sep-2005
Question from DP, Indianapolis. "Have you heard from the NBA since you challenged them to a Katrina exhibition game?"

Answer: DP. Thanks for the question. That's a little quick. It was only posted yesterday morning. No we haven't heard from the NBA. We're not sure if they are even aware of the offer to play the game as we don't know if they read the ABA Web site (or the other Web sites to whom the offer was sent). We have received calls from former NBA players and original ABA legends saying that they would be willing to play an Oldtimers Exhibition Game as part of the event if it would help raise money and achieve our goal of raising a million dollars for Katrina hurricane victims. I hope that someone from the NBA hears about this and gives us a call. But, it's a little early. I will keep you posted on any developments. Thanks for asking.

And continues... :?

ASK THE CEO - NBA EXHIBITION GAME?

21-Sep-2005
Question from RR, Chattanooga, TN: "Any word yet from the NBA about the Katrina exhibition game?"

Answer: RR. Strangely, we have not heard a word from the NBA - either yes, no, maybe. We did hear (unofficially) from one NBA team. And still, the NBA might not know about the offer though I can't imagine from the number of e-mails I've been getting. We also got a call from one of the nation's leading sportscasters, a huge superstar, who said he would cover it on his program and would try to get it televised if the NBA were to agree to it. With the game televised, we have no doubt that we could achieve our million dollar goal for the one evening of basketball for Hurricane Katrina victims. Maybe we'll hear something today.

[skippy]

If the ABA plays the NBA in an official exhibition game, I will jump into a tank full of sharks while on my period.

Joe Newman is delusional and he isn't even a good carny.

[meyes]

This is an interesting idea, but there is absolutely no reason for the NBA to do it. There is NO chance any game like this will happen any time in the next few years.
Maybe, just maybe, 5 or 6 seasons down the road if the ABA stabilizes and ABA teams get solidly established in or near NBA markets and it is clear that both the NBA and ABA teams have a solid fan base and it is clear that an exhibition game between the two teams would be desirable, would have good attendance and would be a good way to raise money for some worthy cause, some games might happen. It does not look at all likely now, but I rarely say "never" about anything.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Yes, meyes. ...and if, if, if pigs could fly you could buy pig wings and pig feet at the same meat market. The suggestion of the ABA raising millions in an exhibition game against ANYBODY is pure hogwash (flying hogwash?).

How is that ESPN contract with the ABA coming along anyway?

[Chuck the Writer]

I saw that post at abalive.com and almost laughed my head off. This is nothing more than just a pathetic publicity ploy by Unca Joe. what, if the NB doesn't respond to the ABA2000's challenge, then what, the NBA are a bunch of fraidy cats? Feh.

Why should the NBA even bother to play the ABA for Hurricane Katrina relief, when Kenny Smith can already get a ton of NBA superstars to play an exhibition game and raise millions without having to look up an ABA2000 schedule and wonder where the teams are to play against?

Besides, what would an NBA-ABA2000 game be like - would the ABA2000 team fire its female coach because she actually played somebody her owner told her was hired just to sit on the bench? Would the ABA2000 team change its name in the middle of the second quarter? Or maybe it won't come out for the fourth quarter, claiming it wouldn't stand a chance against the NBA team anyway? And on top of all that, what NBA team would Unca Joe propose his squad play? The Heat? The Pistons? Hey, the Celtics have an open date somewhere...

And we all know what happened to the ABA2000's best team - they got away from Unca Joe's Ponzi scheme and joined the D-League, didn't they?

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

I saw that post at abalive.com and almost laughed my head off. This is nothing more than just a pathetic publicity ploy by Unca Joe. what, if the NB doesn't respond to the ABA2000's challenge, then what, the NBA are a bunch of fraidy cats?

It is a no-lose situation to Joe. If the NBA chooses not to play, Joe spins it as the noble ABA made an effort to raise funds to help out the victims, but the NBA ruined their plans. If the game actually happens, Joe wets himself over the PR attention.

And, Joe has acknowledged that he has not spoken with anyone in the NBA offices - but, since the NBA is always checking out the ABA site, he's sure someone will see the ABA offer or at least pass it along to the right people. Not exactly the smartest way to plan an event, but par for the ABA's course :roll:

I still wonder if the $50K Joe offered to donate to 'start the fund' will ever make its way to the Red Cross or any other recovery organization. He would have been better off not saying anything, than to promise and not deliver (wait, has that happened before????).

[Chuck the Writer]

I think what would be a more worthwhile charitable game would be if Joe Newman challenged Worth Christie to a "best of your league" basketball game - and the winner would be the team that showed up with the correct uniforms, tied shoes, and per diem money that didn't include McDonald's french fry coupons.

[Tha Man*]

Amen Chuck, Amen!

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

The madness continues...

Ask the CEO
09/22/05 - American Basketball Association (ABA)

Question from Lewis from LA (and others): "Have you heard from the NBA?"

Answer: All. No we haven't. Actually, this is very surprising to us as
we can't imagine why the NBA would not want to send a team to play a
game that could raise a million dollars for the Katrina hurricane
relief fund - or for the Rita hurricane relief fund for that matter.
You all might want to start sending the NBA emails and ask them why
they haven't responded. Angela Rizzi, ABA VP of Entertainment, has
heard from some great entertainment superstars that said they would do
a concert and waive their fees if this would help. Actually, it could.
We might be able to do two separate events, the NBA/ABA Exhibition
Game and a concert and double the money we could donate to the
hurricane victims. And this would also give the NBA scouts (and
America) a chance to see the quality of the best ABA players and maybe
some of them will perform so well that they could make an NBA roster
(their dream). We have players in the ABA who can play and would excel
at the NBA level is given a chance. I hope the NBA responds. If you
have a question, please email joenewman@abalive.com.

[Sam Hill]

Note to Joe: The NBA isn't aware you still exist.

Further note to Joe: Pretty much nobody else is, either.

God, what an imbecile. What a delusional human being Joe Newman is.

You know why they don't contact you, Joe? Because you and your league are gnats on the ass of basketball. You're a fly-by-night operator of a fly-by-night basketball league that is still in business because you somehow manage to con enough people into thinking that they can do this on a shoestring and call themselves professional basketball owners and you can call yourself the head of a pro sports league.

Please, retire to Florida like other old people.

[wncsport.com]

Ahem...

The NBA ALREADY had a game for the Katrina relief efforts.

They also ALREADY gave $millions.

IF they wanted to do more, they would have exhibition games against their NBDL teams. Which is unlikely to do because when the D-League starts up the NBA will already be in full swing.


Good grief... :roll:

[oldfatguy]

Ask the Oldfatguy:

From some made-up name, posting on my own site: Do you think you will ever marry Halle Berry?

Oldfatguy: Wow, what a question. First, let me say that Halle Berry has been quite non-repsonsive to my repeated requests for marriage. I see no reason why Halle Berry would refuse such a thing. In fact, I truly believe that Halle Berry would and should become my wife, forming a merger that would be a true tribute to my ongoing program of (waist) expansion and the (lack of) quality of my product.

I have received much support for this project, including from my ex-wife, who said, and I quote, "I will jump off the Sears Tower if you marry Halle Berry," and from a former girlfriend, who said, quoting again, "That's hilarious." My brother Mike added, "I shouldn't have let dad drop you on your head so much."

An amazing range of musical superstars, including The Plasmatics, The Hudson Brothers, The Banana Splits, Lipps, Inc., The Vapors, Bow Wow Wow, Kajagoogoo, Frank Stallone, Edison Lighthouse, Mungo Jerry, Joey Heatherton and Hurricane Smith have all been contacted to appear at the wedding reception. A representative of Liberace said the artist would be happy to appear if he hadn't died in 1987.


From some other made-up name: Has Halle Berry responded to your most recent request for marriage?

Oldfatguy: Unbelieveably, no. In fact, I have received many requests from a number of 'independent' filmmakers, including a real superstar, to film not only the wedding, but the ensuing honeymoon. Proceeds from such a video would go toward the many years of therapy I obviously need for even believing such a thing could ever happen.

From myself, posing under another made-up name: Do you think Halle Berry is afraid to marry you?

Oldfatguy: If she isn't, she should be.

Sorry, had to. If you're gonna fantasize... do it right. :-)

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

The madness continues.....

Ask the CEO
09/24/05 - American Basketball Association (ABA)

Question from George, Atlanta: "If you did play the NBA in the
Katrina/Rita exhibition game, what rules would you use?"

Answer: George. Neat question. No word yet from the NBA. I think we
would suggest using the ABA rules with our 3-D though we wouldn't
insist on it. The NBA is willing to play with other rules when they
play in the World Championships or the Olympics so we don't see why
they wouldn't like to try our rules on our home court. When MLB
American League teams visit National League teams, they play without a
designated hitter and vice versa. It might be fun seeing the NBA
dealing with a game of full court presses and having to play full
court defense and offense with the 3-D rule. It might change things
considerably and expose some weaknesses (just kidding, their players
are great and it would be fun seeing them playing with 3-D). Only
problem is, so far, no NBA - and now we have two great causes -
Katrina and Rita Hurricane relief. I am reminded by Dick Tinkham,
co-founder of the original ABA, that the NBA did indeed play ABA teams
in exhibition games before the merger. And the NBA had to face Dr. J,
David Thompson, George Gervin, Spencer Haywood, Marvin Barnes, Freddie
Lewis, Ron Boone, Connie Hawkins, etc. It's quite possible that the
NBA remembers those days and is worried about whether we have some
"super sleepers" here too. (Mr. Stern. We do). Thanks for the
question. If you have a question, please email joenewman@abalive.com.

[rams80]

Dear Joe, can I buy pot from you?

[SignGuyDino]

Here's an idea instead: A D-League v.s. CBA Challenge. Take the #1-#7 seeds in a best of 7 series like the Big East/ACC Challenge. Proceeds for charity. Have it on NBATV.

Will it happen? No, but it makes 1,000 times more sense than the pot-smoker above.

[patmc16]

So, now Crazy Joe is comparing the ABA to the Olympics or either the AL or NL in Major League Baseball? To top that, he is comparing the players in this sham league to the real ABA'ers?

Don't worry rams80, it sounds like Uncle Joe has plenty of the hippie lettuce to go around. :lol:

BTW, the first news out of Detroit since January.... You can try out for the Wheels for 150 bucks!

According to Antoine Joubert, Wheels owner, "there's no doubt that we have the talent to have one of the best teams in the ABA - and we're hoping for a large turnout and a competitive camp."

Sure, people are lining up already to give there money to a team that, by all accounts, doesn't really exist. All of the things that I posted a year ago about the Jammers still apply to the Wheels. Well, the Jammers did play a few home games, which is more than I can say for the Wheels as they enter their "second" season.

Sounds like Joubert has been hitting Uncle Joe's stash!

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

[nksports]

A game like this, under any rules, would end with the NBA back of the bench beating the ABA stars about 150-45.
Given the ABA's track record, the ABA stars would fold en route to the playing venue.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

ASK THE CEO - ABA ALL-STAR GAME?

27-Sep-2005
Question from Murray W, Charleston SC: "If the NBA doesn't accept (Katrina Hurricane game), have you thought about a pre-season All Star Game between ABA players?

Answer: Murray. Thanks for the question. We have had lots of questions relating to alternative games. And we've talked about it. We don't think it would draw as much as an NBA/ABA exhibition game so that the hurricane victims would not receive as much money and it would probably not draw as much national attention to the game and cause. We are having a League Owners meeting on Friday and will discuss some options. Surely the NBA can pick one or two players from rosters that are located near Pittsburgh and send them over for a game. We'll even pay for their flights and hotel. We think we can generate a million dollars for the evening for hurricane victims. Looking at a map, the NBA could put together players from the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets. And if they'd send a player from the Miami Heat, we'd even have Tim Hardaway suit up. Someone should send an email to David Stern. We're serious. But time is running short. Thanks to all of you who have sent in e-mails.

Someone should send an email to David Stern???????? How about, oh I don't know, the league CEO sending him an email. Or better yet, pick up the phone and call the NBA office directly.

[meyes]

ABARWB,
You got to this one before I could. I was going to note that it appears Joe has internet access and a working keyboard.
Joe is supposedly a sales person. He should know that a sale is vary rarely made without the salesperson asking for the sale.

[meyes]

Here is an idea which came to me sitting in traffic and breathing bus exhaust.
This just might have a slightly better chance than the proverbial snowball...
The ABA plays host to a minor league basketball pre-season preview mini-tournament where Joe is suggesting.
Play two games. On the first night ABA players play against CBA players. On night two the game one winner faces D-league players.
Since the ABA is host, the league supplies the officials and ABA rules and the ball are used in both games.
This gives minor league basketball good exposure featuring the best of each league's signed players and gives at least one of the leagues some bragging rights. The NBA might approve, as this could also serve as a scouting combine. The players would likely like the chance to show their abilities against and with the best of their peers and in front of NBA scouts and coaches.
Proceeds go to hurricane relief.
If all goes well, this could become an annual pre-season event with all of pro basketball winning.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

ASK THE CEO - DID THE NBA AGREE?

28-Sep-2005
Question from Barbara F in West Palm Beach, FL: "Did the NBA agree to a game with you (for Katrina/Rita)?

Answer: Barbara. Thank you for the email. No, not yet, though we hear that they have heard about the offer and are discussing it. Keep in mind that the NBA, the teams and the players are not "bad guys." They've done some extraordinary things for Hurricane Katrina victims and should be thanked and praised for their great support and generosity. But is is just one more simple thing they could do, one more way to generate substantial revenue for a need that is definitely on-going. We've even heard from someone who has offered to fly in some Hurricane Katrina victims to the game as special and honored guests. Wouldn't that be nice? And we know that the American Red Cross and Salvation Army and all of the other worthy causes would be grateful. Perhaps some of them can make a call and see if the NBA might consider this. On another note, Barbara, I've received a few critical e-mails suggest this is an ABA publicity stunt. All I can say is shame on you. Yes, this would benefit the ABA with good publicity just as it would benefit the NBA with good publicity. But the real beneficiaries would be Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims. As Martha Stewart would say..."This is a good thing."

Now he wants the Red Cross to call the NBA. Will the madness ever end (oh wait, I'm sorry - shame on me) :roll:

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

And, the irony that he uses a quote from a convicted felon to support his case is priceless....... :D :D :D

[Pounder]

Hey, Joe has a point.

It's not a publicity stunt. I mean, damn, this sure isn't getting any publicity.

I guess you could call it "grandstanding to a targeted audience." You could construe from this that the targeted audience has a collective IQ smaller than the number of points scored in an average game...

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Joe and I trade kind words...

OK Joe, I'll seek help using your method...

I'll just sit here and talk about it repeatedly, dreaming of meeting up with the leading people in the industry, and talking about my ideas for a dinner meeting with them. Hopefully, someone will tell someone about it, and news of it will trickle to their office, and - hope against hope - they will call me and take me up on my offer. I won't actually CALL them, though; that wouldn't be the Newman way.

It's really simple, Joe, call the NBA and ask. And if you haven't/won't, why not?

conniejoenewman@aol.com wrote:
Adam. Thanks for your comments. You make obsession seem fashionable. You are one goofy young man with nothing to do. Why not focus on something constructive with your life? Or seek some help.

Joe Newman
ABA CEO


-----Original Message-----
From: Adam/NJ <abaredwhiteblue@yahoo.com>
To: ABABasketball@yahoogroups.com
Cc: joenewman@abalive.com
Sent: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 09:00:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: [ABABasketball] ASK THE CEO - DID THE NBA AGREE?


How can Joe Newman know the NBA is "discussing it"? He has yet - 10 days into this spectacle - to pick up the phone and directly contact the NBA for their answer. Now he wants the Red Cross and other charity groups to call the NBA and push them, when he can't/won't do it himself? Pathetic.

The NBA opens its season on November 1. There is absolutely no way its teams would have their players participate so close to opening day. They are making their final cuts at that point, after playing their full preseason schedule. The NBA players that would make this fantasy worthwhile would not be permitted by their teams to participate; there is way too much guaranteed money in those contracts to lose them for a hastily-planned exhibition.

Nobody is looking at the NBA as "bad guys" - its players and management put their time, efforts and money forth almost immediately, and continued to do so throughout the days that followed. To even hint otherwise is a slap in their face.

This charade has gone on for far too long (with virtually NO national media coverage, other than Joe's daily comments - a simple internet search will show the lack of coverage). If the ABA is going to do something, then just do it (is there even a plan B under discussion?). Call the NBA yourself - (212) 407-8000 - and end this PR stunt (that has generated little publicity anyway).

I would say shame on you - but you have displayed time and again that you indeed have no shame in the first place. The NBA and its partners don't deserve even a hint of criticism for this little charade. It you were truly serious about it, you would have personally contacted the NBA before even posting these messages. I am curious why you chose never to call. Were you afraid they wouldn't take your call, or that you would not be taken seriously?

It's too bad for those franchises in the league that really do have a conscience and are making every effort to grow their organizations - as well as those who have already done so much for the Gulf victims. There are so many different things the ABA could have done (and could still do) to promote the league and help out these people. Instead, your obsession with this delusion will make anything the league eventually does look like it was slapped together at the last minute.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

I guess Joe didn't like my response:

conniejoenewman@aol.com wrote:
Adam. Thanks for the email. Your stupidity is only exceeded by your arrogance. You are a foul young man who is obsessed with the ABA. Shameful.

Joe Newman
ABA CEO

[oldfatguy]

ASK for the sale! Damn, that's what I'm doing wrong! Anyone got Halle Berry's number?

"Someone should e-mail David Stern." - Joe.

Too funny. Kind of like... "Someone should get some water to those people in the Superdome. Or wherever they are." - Michael Brown, former FEMA doof. Or not so much funny as pathetic.

Where can I send my check to get me one of them there ABA franchises?

[patmc16]

So, lets get this straight. Someone who shows interest in this "league" and, at the same time, sees through the lies, scams, delusions of this crazy old man is "stupid", "arrogant", "foul", "shameful", and "goofy"? Gee, I just can't understand why no one (who lives in the real world) takes the old man and his league seriously.

Really, his attidude seems par for course. What does he really do? He sells franchises and collects money. If those franchise fail or succeed, its all the same to him. Which way a franchise falls just determines which form letter style press release he puts out. He's got his cash either way, so what does he care? Seriously, can anyone name anything the league does to support the franchises once the fees have been paid? What does the franchise fee get a team? In Crazy Joe-land, everyone else should do the work to make something like this happen and then if in bizzaro-world it was to actually happen, he would be there to take the credit.

Nice way to talk to someone that cares enough to ask a legit question. How many shots did Unk' throw back before concocting those gems?

Well, I guess no one would recognize a "foul young man" better than a foul old man.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

I don't think I'll be invited to the Newman Thanksgiving this year:

-----Original Message-----
From: Adam/NJ <abaredwhiteblue@yahoo.com>
To: conniejoenewman@aol.com; ABABasketball@yahoogroups.com
Cc: joenewman@abalive.com
Sent: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 14:35:59 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: [ABABasketball] ASK THE CEO - DID THE NBA AGREE?


You are planning an event without actually contacting the invited group. You are harping each day about this event, announcing all the activities surrounding it, but are incapable of picking up the phone - the same one you have used for countless due diligence conversations of potential ownership groups - and calling the primary drawing card. You answer the "hundreds" of emails you receive, and find the time to send me some of (by your lofty standards) less than inspired comments and zingers - but you can't find 5 minutes over 10 days to make one telephone call to the 212 area code. But I'm stupid...... OK.

At least - based on how poorly this event has been planned - we all know who planned your wedding and reception. Had you been in charge, you would still be waiting for your bride to hear about the ceremony in the first place.

conniejoenewman@aol.com wrote:
Adam. Thanks for the email. You seem to know everything about everything. Is there a spray that I can use to get rid of you, perhaps a computer "bug light" that can zap you.
You are a ridiculous, obsessed young man. And you do need some help.

Joe Newman
ABA CEO
-----Original Message-----
From: Adam/NJ <abaredwhiteblue@yahoo.com>
To: conniejoenewman@aol.com; ababasketball@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 18:54:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: [ABABasketball] ASK THE CEO - DID THE NBA AGREE?


Why Joe - would that be a threat? Of course, if you need to call to order this 'spray' you are looking for, then I know you'll never actually get it.

Unlike you, I have never claimed to know everything; however, I do know enough to know when I should defer to those who possess the requisite knowledge to get something done.

As you have done for months, though, you seem wholly incapable of answering a simple, direct question. Why have you never called the NBA directly about this game? A glance at any of the internet boards dedicated to minor league sports - and the ABA specifically (which I'm sure you are fully aware of) - have asked the same question. The consensus (and most of these people have a keen interest in the ABA and its ultimate success, and more people on those boards are aware of this ABA/NBA "offer" than the rest of the country) is that the ABA is right to do something for the Gulf Coast, but question the ability of you and the league to pull together an event of this magnitude. The fact that the league has a less-than stellar track record in promoting and executing events (the trip to Mongolia, the All-Star game, ABASL, the summer league in Mississippi, the trip to Egypt, the playoffs last season), coupled with your utter disdain for doing somehing as simple as make telephone call before promising this grand spectacle only adds to the negative image of the league's management. In spite of the hard work of so many teams, they will be lumped in with the fiascos that continue to haunt the ABA, even after six years of operation - and instituting mandatory standards (remember the June 1 "deadline") that are barely worth the paper they were printed upon. How many teams still need a place to play, get their website up, hire the staff, and fulfill the rest of the requirements you put in place to allow them to play this year? Based on the data available on ABAlive, at least 20% of the listed teams still have not met your requirements.

I sincerely hope the ABA is able to raise millions of dollars for relief - but based on past history (and your lack of follow-up - asking the charities to call on your behalf???), it doesn't seem likely. If there isn't a plan B - and there have been a number of very good ideas discussed here and elsewhere that the ABA could incorporate - hopefully someone is putting something else together now, instead of waiting for an answer from Mr. Stern before proceeding.

But, call me some more names if it makes you feel better. Just try to be more original with the comments (although this latest one was pretty good, even for you)...

conniejoenewman@aol.com wrote:
Adam. Thanks for the email. You are stupid. And you are boring. You know nothing.
Just a gnat. Find someone else to itch.

Joe Newman
ABA CEO

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[barkley34]

AMARedWhiteBlue, your posts to Newman are RIGHT ON! I look forward to reading them daily, I honestly do. The man has YET to answer your question directly, a very simple one at that, and your responses could not be more precise, humorous and unfortuntately for him, real. WHY has he not called Stern himself? Simple. Stern has NO IDEA who he is, and when Newman called and the phone call was rejected, Newman would have to put "spin" on that too to his MANY Ask the CEO fans. Keep up the work on Joe. Absolutely hilarious!!!

[Chuck the Writer]

I think instead of Unca Joe begging and pleading for the NBA to acquiesce to play the ABA in any sort of contest - to me, it's almost like Duke playing against Marathon Oil - Unca Joe should be more concerned about getting a league schedule for the 2005-06 season. Heck, the CBA's had a league schedule up for over a month now. And I know that on that frosty November evening, I can go to the Washington Avenue Armory in Albany and watch my Patroons win their first home game of the season.

Instead of trying to sway the court of public opinion to do your work for you, Unca Joe, how about trying to make sure that your modern league stops whizzing on the name of a great league from the 1970's?

But take heart, Unca Joe... you already have the 2005 ABA champions playing in the D-League... I mean, those RimRockers ran out of the ABA before the fingerprints were wiped off the championship trophy. Probably wanted to go to a league where there wasn't concern that Kowznofski's Trophy Shop wasn't going to repossess the championship trophy for the engraving bill.

Actually, there might be a way your ragtag band of ballers can play against the NBA's cream of the crop... if you have any programming skills, you could probably take a copy of NBA Live 2006 and do a little "modding" to the uniforms... maybe you could even have Ashley McIlhenny walking the sidelines, ready to get fired after the second quarter. You could even add a feature where the team changes its name in the middle of the game.

Cheer up, Unca Joe... maybe you could schedule a contest against that team from Washington... you know... the Generals...

[Sam Hill]

ASK THE CEO - DID THE NBA AGREE?

Answer: Barbara. Thank you for the email. No, not yet, though we hear that they have heard about the offer and are discussing it.

I don't believe the word "discussing" means what Joe thinks it means.

IF the NBA discussed it, it was to laugh their collective asses off at the fried chicken salesman and then four seconds later they went back to actually running a basketball league.

[slapshot]

Hey Joe - I know this might be a novel approach, but why not stop wasting your time (even though you appear to have a lot of it), David Stern's time (he has an actual league to run) and our's and just donate the $50,000 to the Red Cross relief effort? Put your money where your enormous mouth is and shelve the publicity stunt. I know that's mean-spirited, foul, idiotic and all, but I promise to take my meds when I'm done typing.

[barkley34]

Joe Nerwman has never had $50,000 in cash in his possession at ANY one time, rest assure. If by some freak accident he DID, you can bet your a** that it would not go to a charity, but an upgrade in that AWESOME hairpiece he used to land the ladies.

"Being a lifelong moron really isn't ALL that bad.....I get by"
Sam Hill

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Good ol', reliable Joe...

Breakers to play Harlem Magicians for Red Cross
10/01/05 - American Basketball Association (ABA)

Clarks Summit, PA. The ABA NE Penn Breakers today announced that it
would hold the 1st Annual Fundraising Gold and Black Game - a
Celebrity Basketball game between the Breakers and the famed Harlem
Magicians with the proceeds of the game to to go the Red Cross of
North East Pennsylvania.

The game will be at 7pm on Saturday, October 22nd at the Lackawanna
College Fieldhouse on the corner of Vine and Jefferson Streets in
Scranton, PA. Admission is a can of food or other non-perishable food
item and hopefully a donation. We hope the fans will support all the
Red Cross and the food pantries. Red Cross staff will be present to
accept donations. Local politicians and celebrities willbe present to
play in a special charity game and there will be contests, including:
Slam Dunk contest: Pro and amateur level. The pro level will include
Breaker players who will "slam it up" to decide who the best dunker
is. There will be a high school contest and and a panel of area
coaches to judge the events, and fans will also be given score cards
to judge. Three point contest: We are inviting the best high school
shooters to compete in this event.

Breaker game: See the best talent in the ABA and meet them up close
and personally. They'll play a 20 minute game to showcase their
talent. The Celebrity Game vs the Harlem Magicians will follow with
newscasters, reporters, politicians and Breakers participating. It
should be a great evening of sports, fun and entertainment 0- with
only a can of food required. For more information, email
bfleming@tracercode.com or call 570 499 2068 or visit www.abalive.com.

-----Original Message-----
From: Adam/NJ <abaredwhiteblue@yahoo.com>
To: ABABasketball@yahoogroups.com
Cc: conniejoenewman@aol.com
Sent: Sun, 2 Oct 2005 06:06:42 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: [ABABasketball] Breakers to play Harlem Magicians for Red Cross


Well, here is one team that gets it - put on an event the centers the attention on the home team, brings in local flavor to increase interest, and helps out those in need in the process.

If more teams did this (rather than waiting for the phone to ring), the ABA would gain valuable credibility, and increase its presence in the local markets.

And, I'll bet someone from the Breakers organization called the Harlem Magicians to arrange the event - BEFORE they publicized it.

Kudos to the Breakers - nicely done...

conniejoenewman@aol.com wrote:
Adam. You're an idiot.

Joe Newman
ABA CEO

Short and sweet from the great and powerful Mr. Newman. But, he is still waiting for the phone to ring...

I really think the Breakers are doing it the right way, despite the example being set for the league from the bunker in Indianapolis. Hopefully, more teams follow NE PA's lead...

[slapshot]

What we all really have to remember is that this proposal by Joe to play the NBA wasn't about fundraising - it was about getting credibility for the ABA. If the NBA were to agree to play, then it gives Joey instant marketing leverage and some degree of name recognition. Besides, aren't the "famed" Magicians also affiliated with one of the newer ABA owners?

And I especially like the fact that Joe can do no better than to call people "idiots". Call Joe an idiot and he'll instantly threaten legal action; however, since he is president of a "professional" sports league, I believe that makes him a "public person" and takes away a portion of his legal recourse. But, I wonder if all of us who have been at the receiving end of his discourses could sue him?

All in all, it comes down to the fact that Joe Newman is the "Slick Willy" of amatuer-professional sports.

[Sam Hill]

You know what's funny? I didn't have to make up a stupid quote from barkley34.

[barkley34]

Yeah Sam, you got me there. Wow, your quick wit and basketball "knowledge" (or lack thereof) is the reason I come to this site.
"I am a moron in every sense of the word....but it is not THAT bad. I get by" Sam Hill, proving that stupidity and ignorance can still be redeeming qualities.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Ask the CEO
10/02/05 - American Basketball Association (ABA)

Questions from Many: "Why do you keep promoting the NBA/ABA exhibition
game when it is obvious to everyone that the NBA doesn't want to do
it. Is this an ABA publicity stunt?"

Answer: To the many of you who have sent in a similar question, and
even to those of you who have written meanspirited emails about this,
I'll try to answer. On Saturday, one of the headlines in the
Indianapolis Star was - "Back in New Orleans, awful silence, stench."
The Chicago Tribune article said, "Thousands of residents returned
Friday to a city that only vaguely resembled the one they had left
weeks earlier. The French Quarter's usual sounds of laughter,
horse-drawn carriages on cobbled streets and rock music blaring from
bars were replaced by silence, punctuated with the rumble of military
trucks and the hum of generators."

The devastation caused by Katrina and Rita is not a quick fix. Since
the NBA challenge was made a couple of weeks ago, there have been over
2,000,000 visits to the ABA website. We have kept Katrina and Katrina
relief on the front page as an important story. Hopefully, everyone
will continue to support the cause with on-going generosity. Thus far,
the American people have rallied behind the hurricane victims as they
have for no other disaster in US history. The NBA has been generous.
So has the ABA. And we are going to keep Katrina/Rita relief front and
center - "until those thousands of residents are safely back at home,
comfortable, secure, employed and with bright futures - and so that
they can hear the rumble of military trucks leaving, the silence of
the generators, and the return of laughter and horse drawn carriages
on cobbled streets and rock music blaring from the bars."

That's why we keep promoting the NBA/ABA game. And we think the reason
is sound, we think the game is good and we think we can raise a lot of
money if the NBA accepts. If you have a problem with this, email the
NBA and ask them. If you have a question, please email
joenewman@abalive.com.

Brilliant! The ABA has kept Katrina relief on the front page - I'm sure CNN, MSNBC, etc. are looking to Joe Newman for their news resources. Not to mention that fact that a simple news search on the web reveals absolutely NO posted news about the ABA/NBA challenge, with the exception of sites regurgitating the ABA releases (like OSC, AmicoReport, etc.).

Also, he has now pointed the finger at the NBA. If the game doesn't happen, it is the NBA's fault.

Brilliant - and yet ridiculous at the same time.

[barkley34]

True but you still have to give Newman credit, how many other minor leagues can sport close to 40 teams! The USBL barely furnishes 6 and the other wannabe's are also on the fence. Love ot hate him, he does SOMETHING right. But your responses to him are priceless!!

My name is Sam Hill, and I have nothing better to do then stare in front of the computer and play "arm chair quarterback".

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

-----Original Message-----
From: Adam/NJ <abaredwhiteblue@yahoo.com>
To: ABABasketball@yahoogroups.com
Cc: conniejoenewman@aol.com
Sent: Sun, 2 Oct 2005 06:06:42 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: [ABABasketball] Breakers to play Harlem Magicians for Red Cross


Well, here is one team that gets it - put on an event the centers the attention on the home team, brings in local flavor to increase interest, and helps out those in need in the process.

If more teams did this (rather than waiting for the phone to ring), the ABA would gain valuable credibility, and increase its presence in the local markets.

And, I'll bet someone from the Breakers organization called the Harlem Magicians to arrange the event - BEFORE they publicized it.

Kudos to the Breakers - nicely done...

conniejoenewman@aol.com wrote:
Adam. You're an idiot.

Joe Newman
ABA CEO
-----Original Message-----
From: Adam/NJ <abaredwhiteblue@yahoo.com>
To: conniejoenewman@aol.com
Sent: Sun, 2 Oct 2005 08:48:50 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: [ABABasketball] Breakers to play Harlem Magicians for Red Cross


I'm not sitting by the phone hoping that someone that I never spoke to calls me back....

Hopefully more teams follow the NE PA method of arranging an event - the ABA may actually get some positive publicity for its teams, as opposed to the cartoonish levels to which your public perception has fallen in recent days all over the web...

But keep those cards and letters coming. They certainly brighten my day...

Have a wonderful weekend...

conniejoenewman@aol.com wrote:
Adam. Thanks for the email. You're still an obsessed idiot.

Joe Newman
ABA CEO

[Sam Hill]

And barkley34 has never, ever responded to the challenge of saying exactly what I'm wrong about. Ever. So, do tell. What am I wrong about?

[Chuck the Writer]

Well, guess what. According to the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, there's no way the ABA2000 could even PLAY a game against the NBA. This from the NBA Players Association website regarding the collective bargaining agreement (http://www.nbpa.com/cba_articles/article-XXIII.php):

Section 3. Off-Season Basketball Events.
(a) No player may play in any public off-season basketball game, summer league (e.g., Southern California Pro League or the Rocky Mountain Revue Summer League), or public exhibition or competition of basketball skills (e.g., a slam dunk contest or a “tour” organized by an NBA business partner) (each a “Basketball Event”) unless such Basketball Event is approved in writing by the NBA and complies with the terms and conditions of this Section 3. The NBA will consider an off-season Basketball Event for approval only if a request for such approval is submitted in writing to the NBA, and only if the arrangements made with respect to any such off-season Basketball Event are confirmed in writing to the NBA and satisfy the following requirements, in addition to such other reasonable requirements as the NBA may impose:

(1) General Requirements.
(i) The Basketball Event takes place on or after July 1, but in no event later than September 15 (or, in the case of a summer league, September 1);

(ii) Prior to the Basketball Event, each participating player receives the express written consent of his Team to participate in the Basketball Event;

(iii) The person(s) organizing the Basketball Event obtains disability insurance for the benefit of each participating player’s Team, in an amount acceptable to the NBA (provided, however, that this requirement shall not apply to summer leagues); and

(iv) The names and logos of the NBA and/or any NBA Team are not used or referred to in connection with the Basketball Event, unless the NBA provides express written authorization for such use.

(2) Additional Charitable Game Requirements. The NBA will consider an off-season charitable game for approval only if, in addition to the general requirements set forth in Section 3(a)(1) above and such other reasonable requirements as the NBA may impose, the arrangements made with respect to such charitable game also satisfy the following:

(i) The Players Association approves the game (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld);

(ii) All proceeds from the sale of tickets to the game are used for charitable purposes;

(iii) The game is officiated by NBA referees assigned by the NBA to officiate the game. The person or entity organizing the game will be responsible for paying the officiating fees and the actual expenses incurred for the referees’ lodging and transportation to and from the referees’ homes to the site of the game;

(iv) There is at least one (1) NBA Team trainer and at least one (1) physician present at the game;

(v) The name or likeness of an NBA player is not used, or referred to, in advertisements or promotions for or related to the game, except that if the organizer of the game is an NBA player, such organizer-player’s name or likeness may be used, or referred to, in such advertisements or promotions;

(vi) Only current or former professional basketball players participate in the game;

(vii) The game is not accompanied by an exhibition or competition of basketball skills (such as a slam dunk contest), unless such exhibition or competition has been separately approved in writing by the NBA and the Players Association;

(viii) Participating players are not paid or compensated (in excess of per diem and actual reasonable expenses incurred in traveling to and participating in the game);

(ix) The organizer guarantees that the game will produce at least $100,000 for charity, and, if directed by the NBA and the Players Association, the organizer (or a third party if the organizer itself is a charity) posts security for such amount in a form satisfactory to the NBA and the Players Association which grants the NBA and/or the Players Association the right to sue to recover such amount for the benefit of the charity;

(x) The game is played in the United States or Canada; and

(xi) The organizer agrees to provide the NBA and the Players Association with an audited statement of revenues and expenses, in a form acceptable to the NBA and the Players Association, within sixty (60) days following the game.

So even if the ABA2000 were to get its wish for a charitable game, they would have to play under NBA rules and with NBA officials, it would have to be agreed to by both the NBA and the Players Association, and that the organizer (which in this case would be Unca Joe) would have to guarantee that the game would produce at least $100,000 in revenue for the charity, along with an audited statement of revenues and expenses.

In other words - all Unca Joe's done in the past two weeks regarding a charity game for Katrina has been nothing but bluster. Not only will an NBA/ABA2000 charity game never happen, but for Unca Joe to use Katrina and Rita to help promote the ABA2000 as some sort of charitable - and possibly viable competitive - league to the NBA is both sickening and ludicrous.

At this point, if Unca Joe was to tell us that the sky is blue, I'd have to get a second opinion based on his testimony.

[Chuck the Writer]

True but you still have to give Newman credit, how many other minor leagues can sport close to 40 teams! The USBL barely furnishes 6 and the other wannabe's are also on the fence. Love ot hate him, he does SOMETHING right. But your responses to him are priceless!!

Quantity does not equal quality. Big deal, Unca Joe has 40 teams. Of those 40 teams, maybe 10 are solvent? And where's the schedule? Heck, I've already got my frontrow-courtsides for the CBA's Albany Patroons and I know exactly when I'll be watching each game on the schedule. The only thing we know about the new 2005-06 sesaon for the ABA2000 is that they named all the divisions after members of a different organization that shares the current ABA2000's initials (which is why I can't just call the current version of the ABA anything other than the ABA2000).

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

True but you still have to give Newman credit, how many other minor leagues can sport close to 40 teams! The USBL barely furnishes 6 and the other wannabe's are also on the fence. Love ot hate him, he does SOMETHING right. But your responses to him are priceless!!

I wouldn't call what the ABA has teams...especially forty of them. Some of these so-called teams go year to year without paying their players, without traveling for road games, and of course without finishing-out the season. If they don't do the beforementioned, then can we actually call them teams?

They seem to be more like a collection of hollow logos and Internet websites (and sometimes not even the Internet websites).

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

There is much to be said for the NBA's collective bargaining agreement.

Gary native Glen Robinson held a charitable basketball game in Gary back in August. He and other NBA stars were advertised as players. Well, you guessed it because it didn't work out that way. Besides starting two hours late, Glen and the other NBA stars showed-up in street clothes. Seems that league rules prevented them from actually suiting-up and playing.

Glad I chose to attend a baseball game instead that day.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Chuck-

Outstanding research on your part! :D :D

I would suggest that anyone who has a free couple minutes email the link to Joe (joenewman@abalive.com), along with a sentence or two about your thoughts about this charade. I will say, his replies are priceless.

At what point does the league finally drop this thing? Over/under October 15?

There are actually teams that are making a concerted effort to do things the right way - but having Joe Newman as the face and voice of the league destroys their credibility.

Hopefully a few teams do well, and the NBDL/CBA can gain some new members next season. Of course, then Joe will add 50 new teams ("We always felt that Appalachia was a strong market clamoring for fun, family friendly basketball at affordable prices").

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

So, I went ahead and emailed Joe the NBAPA CBA (and credited Chuck for the research...). Joe's heartfelt, and well thought out response:

conniejoenewman@aol.com wrote:
Adam. You continue to be an idiot. The NBA could play a benefit game if it wanted to play a benefit game to raise money for Katrina/Rita victims. They are not hiding behind by-laws. What a jerk.

Joe Newman
ABA CEO

-----Original Message-----
From: Adam/NJ <abaredwhiteblue@yahoo.com>
To: conniejoenewman@aol.com
Cc: ababasketball@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 05:57:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: NBAPA By-laws


Nobody said the NBA was hiding from anything. They are out in the open, going about their daily business, preparing for their season while still contributing to the relief efforts.

The NBAPA was already involved in a very successful charity game, following their rules. If they want to, they can certainly play another game - as long as the organization of such a game following their collectively bargained rules.

You did know the rules before you started this, didn't you (two weeks of silence and counting)?


conniejoenewman@aol.com wrote:
Adam. You're an idiot. You're obsessed. And you're a fool.

Joe Newman
ABA CEO
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[Sam Hill]

So even if the ABA2000 were to get its wish for a charitable game, they would have to play under NBA rules and with NBA officials, it would have to be agreed to by both the NBA and the Players Association, and that the organizer (which in this case would be Unca Joe) would have to guarantee that the game would produce at least $100,000 in revenue for the charity, along with an audited statement of revenues and expenses.

Joe's not real big on following through on guarantees, and I'm guessing auditing revenues and expenses would be a new thing for him, too.

[meyes]

In his latest installment Joe questions why the NBA would use a RWB ball in its' developmental league when the NBA used a brown (orange?) ball? Apparently his research about the NBA and the D-league didn't turn up the fact that the D-league will use a blue white and light blue ball this season.
Joe also touts his ABA as an opportunity for players trying to get to the NBA. Why then does the ABA use a 10 panel RWB ball when the NBA used a solid colored 8 panel ball.
There is debate about whether the ball really makes much of a difference, especially to a really good player. Many players and coaches in the old ABA felt the the colors of the ball were helpful, especially to rebounders, as the colors made the rotation easy to follow and, at least for some players, that made it easier to project the direction of a rebound which was helpful in getting properly positioned to collect the missed shots.

[Chuck the Writer]

In his latest installment Joe questions why the NBA would use a RWB ball in its' developmental league when the NBA used a brown (orange?) ball? Apparently his research about the NBA and the D-league didn't turn up the fact that the D-league will use a blue white and light blue ball this season.
Joe also touts his ABA as an opportunity for players trying to get to the NBA. Why then does the ABA use a 10 panel RWB ball when the NBA used a solid colored 8 panel ball.
There is debate about whether the ball really makes much of a difference, especially to a really good player. Many players and coaches in the old ABA felt the the colors of the ball were helpful, especially to rebounders, as the colors made the rotation easy to follow and, at least for some players, that made it easier to project the direction of a rebound which was helpful in getting properly positioned to collect the missed shots.

First off, does Unca Joe watch any WNBA games? I believe the WNBA uses an orange and white ball with black lettering; does Unca Joe have a problem with the WNBA using a two-tone ball? How about when the NBA uses a red-white-blue ball for their "money ball" on the 3-point shootout at All-Star Weekend? Again a problem?

How about this - for the 1985-86 season, the CBA's 40th in existence, the league had a red-white-blue ball for a single season. It was manufactured by MacGregor, and its panels were WWRRWWBB (8 panels). The ABA ball was WRWBWRWB (8 panels), a Rawlings game ball with Jack Dolph as commissioner can be seen here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Rawlings-RSS-ABA-game-basketball-Jack-Dolph_W0QQitemZ8702379865QQcategoryZ50133QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem

What's next, is Unca Joe going to claim that the ABA2000 invented the three-point line? That would be news to fans of the old ABL, where a 3-point line existed; or to the CBA, which had a 3-point line in their league since the 1964-65 season.

Oh, and one more thing. Is it just me, or are these "questions" coming from the populace real questions from real people, or is Unca Joe making his own questions to go with his responses? Just a thought...