Vermont Frost Heaves??

[slapshot]

Just saw the release on the OSC site about Sports Illustrated writer Alexander Wolff getting an ABA franchise, tentatively called the Vermont "Frost Heaves". I'm just assuming he's coming into this thing completely cold and hasn't done any homework on the "new" ABA, Joe or Ricardo. Then again, it could be another "Sidd Finch" job by SI! At any rate, I'm sure Joe is more than happy to take his franchise fee, thus proving, yet again, that Barnum was right.

[dereksmith]

Well, the Frost Heaves just got more national pub than almost any other ABA team at 11:40 AM. The person doing the sports update on the Tony Kornheiser Show referenced the new team and it got a good chuckle from Tony K. and a few questions were raised about what the hell a frost heave was.

[rjgator]

this is going to be great to expose the scam the ABA is. Once this reporter sees how things are operated in the ABA I'm sure he'll have a nice write up for SI showing how Joe is stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars, all while ruining careers of basketball players, and destroying minor league basketball's reputation all in once fail swoop.

[slapshot]

But just think of all the great material Wolfe is going to get from this. Deception, lies, greed, stupidity, fraud. Although they do have a killer website (www.vermontfrostheaves.com), I can't help but think this HAS to be a lark, albeit it a very expensive one.

[JAKMAN]

Wolff has posted his email:

alexander_wolff@simail.com

Somebody should drop him a line and let him know he's crazy for doing this.

[pudealee]

I tend to agree with the thought that this is a lark. Joe is just crazy enough to believe that an SI wouldn't be doing this for "the story." In fact, the writing has already started. Check out the "News" section of the Heaves Web Site. Some pretty funny stuff. Check out especially the Si article linked in the news section http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/alexander_wolff/12/09/frost.heaves/index.html - there's a line that says something like since the ABA mantra is "fan-friendly and affordable entertainment" the cheerleaders will not be called the "Heave Hos."

Ha ha ha

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

I like the name. It's different, and there is certainly no confusion aboout who you are talking about when you say "Frost Heaves" - instead of the Tigers, Bears, and other more common names.

Hey, if the team is run properly (a good bet), and the league does its part (slightly longer odds, to be sure), you can have the Spokane Spitcups, or the Boise Backhair, for all it matters. At least there is some originality in Vermont - and the promise that this ownership group will do what so many other recent groups failed to do - like show up, play a game, pay its bills, secure a venue, travel, pay its players, etc.........

(Of course, I named a team 'SkyCats' last year, so I may not be the best person to discuss odd names)

[slapshot]

In the articles about the Frost Heaves, it's noted that the team will "play some of its games at the 1,650-seat Barre Auditorium." Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Joe require teams to contract to play in venues with at least 3,000 capacity?? Somehow I think he'll tend to overlook that minor sticking point, especially if it means pub in SI. Besides, as the Lincoln GM so aptly noted, "I don't think they follow their rules too closely." THAT could actually be the new ABA motto - "We don't follow our rules too closely."

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

I agree on the seating capacity - but I'm sure Joe just waived it for the chance to get the free publicity.

Also, the article says about 40 ABA players have gone on to the NBA. I'd love to see a list - none went last season, none have gone so far this season.

Put it this way - the CBA and USBL can, on demand, produce comprehensive player stats and lists of their players that have gone overseas or on to the NBA. Can Joe do this???




The question, of course, is rhetorical...

[nksports]

Afte reading the SI article, this may be the first ABA team worth rooting for. I just hope there's still a league for the Frost Heaves to play in. (Too bad the owner's revolt mentioned in the article didn't succeed.)

[rams80]

Afte reading the SI article, this may be the first ABA team worth rooting for. I just hope there's still a league for the Frost Heaves to play in. (Too bad the owner's revolt mentioned in the article didn't succeed.)

yeah...shame about the revolt. Reading the praise Wolff had for the business plan left me reflecting on a couple of Barnum quotes.

[SignGuyDino]

All I can say is... LOL

[meyes]

Who said the owners revolt isn't working?
I am deliberately using present tense here.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Who said the owners revolt isn't working?
I am deliberately using present tense here.
I'm with Meyes...

I can see some other teams 'suspending' operations in the next few weeks, then re-emerging in a new league in 2006...

which would leave Joe sitting in his boxers at the kitchen table trying to rank the leftovers for the (once again) re-scheduled playoffs...

[toad455]

Can someone simply tell me what a Frost Heaves is?? I haven't a clue.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

from their website:

Webster's calls it "an upthrust of ground or pavement caused by the freezing of moist soil." Vermonters call it part of life in the wintertime, when a frost heave in the road might be just one more reason "you can't get there from here."

No, you won't find frost heaves on the cover of a state tourism brochure. But people who live in the Green Mountain State are hardier for having to negotiate them. And they force visitors to downshift to the local pace. Thus our team motto: "We're gonna be the bump in their road."

[Pounder]

Our dear Mr. Wolff has chimed in with his latest exploits at an ABA meeting.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/alexander_wolff/02/15/life.frostheaves/index.html

Those of us who had "not really hardhitting" in the office pool are owed drinks.

[Pounder]

Latest installment... and our hope that Wolff would address the league's moguls has taken an awkward turn:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/alexander_wolff/03/07/hoop.life/index.html

[Jamie]

What is a "Frost Heave"?

[Minor League Man]

A Frost Heave is an icepatch in a road.