slapshot
01-05-2006, 08:17 PM
Of course, it's not crystal, it's more like the bottom of a Coke bottle. But, I picture a day in the not too distant future when we might see something from SI's Alex Wolff that goes a little something...like this:
‘Heaves close in on ABA legitimacy
by Alexander Wolff (as told to Slapshot)
With a little “due” diligence and the stroke of a pen – on a check – the Vermont Frost Heaves are one step closer to becoming the latest team to join the American Basketball Association.
Most of you are well aware of my intentions to field a professional basketball team, and I recently got even more insight into what it takes to try and make it to the big leagues of professional sports.
One of the most important jobs for any sports league is to properly vet any potential owners, lest some unscrupulous and unsavory characters sneak in and drag down the quality of the league. In the ABA this task falls on the shoulders of one Ricardo Richardson.
Admittedly a decent enough chap, Richardson came knocking on the door of the ‘Heaves offices late last week. His assignment – to make sure we were making adequate progress in getting the team up and running in anticipation of next season. In fact, a visit by Richardson is one of the requirements for each team hoping to play in the ABA.
It was an informative, if brief, visit, consisting of little more than a few questions rattled off by Richardson.
“Do you have a marketing plan?”
Although we had done some marketing, we had yet to develop a proper “plan”.
“No," I answered, "but that’s on our to-do list.”
"Close enough," Richardson said as he took his pen and made what appeared to be a check mark, no doubt next to a line that read “marketing plan”.
Next question: “Have you lined up a venue with a capacity of at least 3,000?”
“Well," I said, "we have the Aud, along with several other local high schools. If you add all of them together they’d probably equal 3,000.”
Once again, another check mark.
This give and take – and check marks – continued for another fifteen minutes, after which Richardson congratulated me, shook my hand, and asked for his fee.
“That’ll be the standard three-thousand dollars, plus expenses, which include airfare (first class), three nights at the Westin, a couple of meals at Ruth’s Chris, and the limo ride to and from the airport. I’d put it at about $8,500," he said.
I questioned the “standard” fee, which I initially believe to be only two-thousand dollars, but Richardson pointed out that since so many teams had fallen into various states of “suspension”, the league felt the need to increase the fee so potential franchises could be properly vetted.
So, minute-by-minute and dollar-by-dollar the Frost Heaves continue their journey to the Promised Land that is the ABA. By the way, buddy, can you spare a dime…or a thousand dollars?
‘Heaves close in on ABA legitimacy
by Alexander Wolff (as told to Slapshot)
With a little “due” diligence and the stroke of a pen – on a check – the Vermont Frost Heaves are one step closer to becoming the latest team to join the American Basketball Association.
Most of you are well aware of my intentions to field a professional basketball team, and I recently got even more insight into what it takes to try and make it to the big leagues of professional sports.
One of the most important jobs for any sports league is to properly vet any potential owners, lest some unscrupulous and unsavory characters sneak in and drag down the quality of the league. In the ABA this task falls on the shoulders of one Ricardo Richardson.
Admittedly a decent enough chap, Richardson came knocking on the door of the ‘Heaves offices late last week. His assignment – to make sure we were making adequate progress in getting the team up and running in anticipation of next season. In fact, a visit by Richardson is one of the requirements for each team hoping to play in the ABA.
It was an informative, if brief, visit, consisting of little more than a few questions rattled off by Richardson.
“Do you have a marketing plan?”
Although we had done some marketing, we had yet to develop a proper “plan”.
“No," I answered, "but that’s on our to-do list.”
"Close enough," Richardson said as he took his pen and made what appeared to be a check mark, no doubt next to a line that read “marketing plan”.
Next question: “Have you lined up a venue with a capacity of at least 3,000?”
“Well," I said, "we have the Aud, along with several other local high schools. If you add all of them together they’d probably equal 3,000.”
Once again, another check mark.
This give and take – and check marks – continued for another fifteen minutes, after which Richardson congratulated me, shook my hand, and asked for his fee.
“That’ll be the standard three-thousand dollars, plus expenses, which include airfare (first class), three nights at the Westin, a couple of meals at Ruth’s Chris, and the limo ride to and from the airport. I’d put it at about $8,500," he said.
I questioned the “standard” fee, which I initially believe to be only two-thousand dollars, but Richardson pointed out that since so many teams had fallen into various states of “suspension”, the league felt the need to increase the fee so potential franchises could be properly vetted.
So, minute-by-minute and dollar-by-dollar the Frost Heaves continue their journey to the Promised Land that is the ABA. By the way, buddy, can you spare a dime…or a thousand dollars?