ABA Team Updates

[toad455]

Updated - 1/27/06

The league has currently lost 16 teams since it start(from 47 to 31). The latest to join the dead list: San Francisco, Lincoln(again) & Hawaii(again).

GONE(16):
Chattanooga
Texas
Niagara
Kansas City
St. Louis
Nashville
Georgia
Hawaii
Inglewood
Las Vegas
Mississippi
NE Pennsylvania(have joined the USBL)
Richmond
Charlotte
Lincoln(has applied to join the USBL)
San Francisco

ON-THE-BUBBLE(14):
Buffalo
Ohio
Boston
Fresno
Kentucky
New Mexico(road team only??)
Gallup
Detroit
Atlanta(may be gone very soon)
Florida
Birmingham
Montreal
Pittsburgh
Bellevue

NOT SURE(6)(haven't heard anything - good or bad):
Los Angeles
Tijuana
Lake Erie
Toledo
Strong Island
Baltimore

SOLID OWNERSHIP(11):
Indiana
SoCal
Beijing
Orange County
Tacoma
Bellingham
Newark
Harlem
Maryland
Rochester(have been rumored to join CBA next season)
San Jose

[preeths]

Mississippi is back under new ownership. Tacoma and Bellevue share the same owner.

[The Magician]

Updated - 1/27/06

ON-THE-BUBBLE(14):
Buffalo
Ohio
Boston
Fresno
Kentucky
New Mexico(road team only??)
Gallup
Detroit
Atlanta(may be gone very soon)
Florida
Birmingham
Montreal
Pittsburgh
Bellevue

Let me stress that Birmingham ... and Florida and Atlanta ... are not "ON-THE-BUBBLE." All three teams in the Barnes-Malone Division will be completing the 2005-2006 ABA Season. :D

[Vortex]

Lincoln has officially disappeared from the standings on the ABA website.

They were consistently drawing less than 200 fans per game during their five home games that were played, now they want to go to the USBL and play in the spring and summer?

Maybe we'll have a USBL (Thunder) / NIFL (Capitols) doubleheader and draw 250!

[nksports]

Lincoln has officially disappeared from the standings on the ABA website.

They were consistently drawing less than 200 fans per game during their five home games that were played, now they want to go to the USBL and play in the spring and summer?

Maybe we'll have a USBL (Thunder) / NIFL (Capitols) doubleheader and draw 250!

If played right, Lincoln could have a better chance in the USBL. You don't have to compete with U of Nebraska for fans, sponsors, media attention, etc. The USBL also has a little more credibility. The league's not without its struggles, but it's in slightly better shape than the ABA. It also has a decent track record of sending players to the NBA. They will have natural rivals with the Nebraska Cranes (Kearney), Dodge City, Enid and wherever Salina ends up (too bad Salina will probably be moving or suspending operations this season, it would have made a nice little cluster with Nebraska and Lincoln.
In the spring and summer, your main competition will be the the NU baseball team, the minor league baseball team there and the people sitting on their a**es in front of the TV who need to go out and do something.
Decent ownership (a decent league) and good marketing is all the Capitols need. If you can't sell football in Lincoln, Neb., you can't sell a glass of water to a man dying of thirst.

[SoCalSam]

There's only one solid franchise on the West Coast, The So Cal Ledgends. The LA Aftershock are on the verge of being evicted from their venue in scenic south central los angeles for failing to pay rent. Half of the team has quit. The OC Buzz are playing where ever they can find a free venue. Last week it was at some run down recreation center in Carson California. Only 22 people showed up, most were probably friends and family. The ABA website makes it sound like everything is going great out west, but to quote Aftershock guard Will Burr, "It's even worse than last year." Burrell Lee, the coach and general manager of the OC Buzz works for free. His only form of income is as a freshman h.s coach in woodland hills, ca. Last year he got kicked out of the league, but this year he's back doing the same idiotic stuff. Cedric Ceballos as yet to play a game for the Buzz. This league has no chance with people like Burrell Lee. Aftershock owner Shane Baltenburg is no better. Just a naive 24 year old who got screwed out of his life savings by Joe Newman. Rumor has it that legit people like Gary Grant of the So Cal Ledgends and Sean Higgins of the Ingelwood Cobras are going to start there own West Coast League next year.

[Tha Man]

Basketball in Lincoln will never go. 2 reasonsthe University and Husker Football.

[Pounder]

Husker football hasn't killed the hockey team there by any means... mind you, UNL probably doesn't have hockey.

That does matter for basketball... and I'd bet indoor football as well.

[Tha Man]

That is exactly why Indoor Football, Basketball or Soccer will ever work in Lincoln.

[preeths]

Indoor football has worked in Lincoln. The Lightning was playing to sold-out crowds for two years before the franchise switched leagues and folded, only to re-emerge in another league with different ownership. The instablility off the field had much more to do with the decline of indoor football in Lincoln than fan apathy.

[fwp]

Ah yes! Many of us still dream of days past!

http://pershingcenter.com/photo_gallery/index.html?topic=list&categoryID=4

Click on the pictures to see what Pershing used to look like.

On the other hand, the beer lines are more customer friendly now!:D

[boing]

I drove out to LA Southwest College yesterday, expecting to see the LA Aftershock play Bellevue as scheduled at 2 p.m., and the college was empty. I walked up to the gym, which looked to be recently built and I was the only person there. No sign on the door that the game was cancelled, nothing. It would be interesting to see if a score is posted on the ABA website for the game. Perhaps the game was moved to a city park, rec center or someone's backyard....:rolleyes:

[nksports]

I drove out to LA Southwest College yesterday, expecting to see the LA Aftershock play Bellevue as scheduled at 2 p.m., and the college was empty. I walked up to the gym, which looked to be recently built and I was the only person there. No sign on the door that the game was cancelled, nothing. It would be interesting to see if a score is posted on the ABA website for the game. Perhaps the game was moved to a city park, rec center or someone's backyard....:rolleyes:

It was played out at the city park. The shirts beat the skins 21-18. (Play to 21, win by two, make-it, take-it, call your own fouls.) The next five called game and got to be the skins. The losing team had to buy the winning team the beer (It's ABA, what do you expect, money?)

[boing]

Unlike the Los Angeles Aftershock, the Bejing Aoshen Olympian actually play in a rec center. I went to see them yesterday. The rec center was a little hard to find, but I did eventually find it. The game was sharing the facility with a quincenera that was being held in another hall in the complex so it was a little hard to find parking. There were maybe 300-500 people at the game. Bejing was playing the Washington Generals, err Fresno Heatwave. Bejing went ahead by 20 in the first quarter and the rest of the game was basically garbage time. Bejing ended up winning by 36. The Olympian play a very entertaining style of ball. Fresno appears to be one of those teams that appears and disappears at will. They only had 9 players and they appeared totally overmatched. Apparently Tijuana was shifted to tomorrow's game to replace the departed Inglewood team. The ABA website should delete Inglewood.

[toad455]

Updated - 2/19/06

GONE(15):
Chattanooga
Texas
Niagara
Kansas City
St. Louis
Nashville
Georgia
Hawaii
Inglewood
Las Vegas
NE Pennsylvania(have joined the USBL)
Richmond
Charlotte
Lincoln
San Francisco

ON-THE-BUBBLE(14):
Buffalo
Ohio
Boston
Fresno
Kentucky
New Mexico(road team only??)
Gallup
Detroit
Atlanta(may be gone very soon)
Birmingham
Montreal
Bellevue
Mississippi
Tacoma

NOT SURE(8)(things have been quiet lately):
Pittsburgh
Florida
Los Angeles
Tijuana
Lake Erie
Toledo
Strong Island
Baltimore

SOLID OWNERSHIP(10):
Indiana
SoCal
Beijing
Orange County
Bellingham
Newark
Harlem
Maryland
Rochester(have been rumored to join CBA next season)
San Jose

[boing]

Since I enjoyed the Olympian's style of play, I decided to see them again Sunday. The crowd yesterday was much smaller than Saturday's. I asked the person selling tickets, and he said the paid attendance was 92. I looked in the parking lot after I got out of my car and Tijuana apparently came to the game in a utility van that had the paint peeling off the sides. Tijuana had only 8 players at the game. One Tijuana player got hurt, and the Olympian's trainer had to treat him. The Olympian seem to have a relativly professional operation. The Dragones did a little better than the Heatwave. They lost by 10 points.

If Bejing returns to the league next year, they would probably benefit by finding a facility near where the Chinese immigrant community lives, in the West San Gabriel Valley, near towns like Monterrey Park, Alhambra and San Marino. I'm not sure of any facilities other than rec centers, high schools or Pasadena City College, but that's basically where they are playing now. I think they played at Maywood this year because there was already a lease signed by the Maywood Laguneros, who apparently didn't get off the ground.

Any one notice that the ABA may actually finish their schedule this season?
They cut off the first four season's schedules prior to completion. On the other hand, they've probably played fewer of the scheduled games than in the prior seasons. So far, at least 14 teams have folded officially and it sounds like Inglewood and Kentucky have folded as well but haven't been deleted yet from the website.

This second version of the ABA may go down in history as the most bizarre and poorly organized league in the history of professional sports that's lasted at least 5 seasons. As far as I know, no one comes close.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Any one notice that the ABA may actually finish their schedule this season?

It is hard to finish something that doesn't really exist in the first place. The "schedule" on the league website is a joke; teams are setting up games on the fly with opponents to fill home dates, or to at least PLAY home dates.

The league may get to the original last scheduled day of the season, but it can hardly be construed as "finishing the schedule" in this case.

[meyes]

The ABA will not play the full announced schedule this year. It is possible that not one team will play 36 games, which was the announced plan, although two or three might. It is correct that the league will, for the first time, play the season to the planned final date (or at least to within a day or two, depending on which teams are still playing at the end of the season.)
This has been a mixed season. The league has lost more teams than it used to start with. On the other hand, it will finish with more seemingly stable franchises than ever before. Any doubt as to whether the league will play again next season seems to have been greatly lessened, if not eliminated.

[nksports]

I wouldn't be surprised to see an owner's revolt during the off-season where the better funded teams break off from the ABA and either form a new league or join other leagues (sort of like what the UIF did from the NIFL last year).
It's clear the ABA's troubles start at the top.

[boing]

Apparently Kentucky was dropped from the league's website today. "Officially" and I use that loosely, the league is now down to 33 teams. There are other teams that are apparently not playing, like Inglewood, who should be dropped as well. There's also Bellevue and San Francisco, who did return this month to play one game. Los Angeles appears to be a road team only and hasn't played a home game this month and their remaining home games have been deleted from the schedule. Orange County has a home game scheduled tonight, but a check of their website does not show where the game will be played. They've played home games at three different venues, two not in Orange County. They played one home game at a YMCA in Orange County, and the other home games were played in Long Beach and Carson. I'd put Los Angeles and Orange County in the "On the Bubble" category. I think here in Southern California, we may just have Bejing and Southern California back next season, but these teams seem to have nine lives.

[SoCalSam]

The LA Aftershock have been evicted from a community college in south central los angeles for failing to pay rent. The team consists of eight members who are playing for free. The Orange County Buzz are playing where ever they can find a gym. The ABA has ripped off so many high schools and community colleges in southern california over the past couple years that the only place they can play is rec centers. Venues also require liability insurance. The Buzz submitted phony insurance to Long Beach City College and were immediately evicted. The So Cal Ledgens are legit and will hopefully be part of a different league next year along with the Long Beach Jam who played in the ABA last year.

[boing]

I think the Long Beach Jam have resurfaced in the D-League as the Bakersfield Jam. I think the owners are the same people.

[toad455]

Updated - 2/24/06 - Revised on 2/25/06

I moved Kentucky(now officially off the website) and Belleuve(didn't play a game all month) into the "gone" catagory. I also removed the "not sure" category and moved teams into either "on-the-bubble" or "solid ownership". I'm also consdering Ohio, Los Angeles, New Mexico & Gallup as gone as well. Any games scheduled on the website are marked as PPD and those four teams haven't played in about three weeks. And I think Fresno & Tacoma may join that list shortly if they don't play any games next week. If those teams are gone, that'll make 23 teams that folded and leave only 24 teams left.

GONE(21):
Chattanooga
Texas
Niagara
Kansas City
St. Louis
Nashville
Georgia
Hawaii
Inglewood
Las Vegas
NE Pennsylvania(have joined the USBL)
Richmond
Charlotte
Lincoln
San Francisco
Kentucky
Bellevue
Ohio
Los Angeles
New Mexico
Gallup

ON-THE-BUBBLE(12):
Buffalo
Boston
Fresno(may be gone soon)
Detroit
Atlanta
Birmingham
Montreal
Mississippi(changed ownership)
Tacoma(may be gone soon)
Orange County(no home court)
Toledo
Tijuana(only has 8 players)

SOLID OWNERSHIP(14):
Lake Erie
Pittsburgh
Florida
Indiana
SoCal
Beijing
Bellingham
Newark
Harlem
Maryland
Rochester(have been rumored to join CBA next season)
San Jose
Strong Island
Baltimore

[minorleagueguru2]

I say 26-30.

[boing]

Apparently Florida has been dropped from the standings and website as of today. They cancelled their last two home games, blaming it on the hurricanes. However, they may resurface, as they are listed as being one of the teams given a bye for the first round of the playoffs. On the last day of the season, officially the league has 32 teams, but that includes Inglewood, New Mexico and Bellevue, none of which have played since January. Gallup bowed out of the playoffs, but they are still listed on the website. San Francisco has resurfaced for the second time to play a few games this month. Los Angeles is supposed to play in the first round of the playoffs. Stay tuned.

The ABA has 27 expansion teams slated for next season to go with the 32 alleged active teams. That would leave 59 teams for next season. Wonder how many will actually be around at the end of October?

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Gallup bowed out of the playoffs, but they are still listed on the website.

Actually, there are differing reports about Gallup. First, the ABA's CEO/Head Comedy Writer, Mr. Joe Newman:

Tijuana Dragons to replace Gallup Talons in ABA playoffs
03/04/06 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) today announced that the Tijuana Dragons will replace the Gallup Talons in the ABA playoffs that start next weekend.

According to Joe Newman, ABA CEO, "The ownership of the Gallup Talons has changed hands. The new owners, to be announced next week, and the league felt that it would be best if Gallup started fresh next season and the team has graciously stepped aside so that Tijuana could make the 24-team playoff roster. It was a generous thing for the Talons to do; the city of Gallup has really supported its team; Clayton Shields and his players were one of the league's best teams all season long. We are really looking forward to next season as Gallup is truly one of the ABA's premiere cities."

Of course, Tijuana was given the honor of hosting a playoff game against the OC Buzz due to their sparkling 9-20 record (but at least they were better than the 9-21 Buzz).

All of this came as quite a surprise to Gallup's CURRENT owner:

According to Joseph Kolb, owner of the Gallup Talons, Joe Newman made a unilateral decision to remove the existing ownership from Gallup without their knowledge. The team decided to end its season due to lost revenues incurred because the league had done nothing to support a schedule for the Talons resulting in lost revenues.

Kolb said since December his organization has been left to their own resources to schedule games, most of which had to held on weekdays. The George Gervin division essentially collapsed shortly after the seaon began with Texas, Lincoln, Kansas City and St. Louis dropping out. He said in early December Newman promised a schedule to kolb and his investor group that never materialized.

"We're not even on the master league schedule for February and March," said Kolb. "Newman never gave us the due process of informing us why he took my team away for the third time during the season," said Kolb.

He said the first time the team was taken away was in December after he argued with Newman about the lack of a schedule, an incident involving SoCal and this recent event. "It's a good thing I kept all of his e-mails to remind me how bizarre this experience was."

Kolb said he requested travel assistance to a recently scheduled game in San Jose as the league supported three other teams that travelled to Gallup but was denied. Kolb said Talon players that have moved on to other teams were told by Newman that the league sent the Talons money for travel.

"Right now I haven't seen the alleged e-mail where Newman made this claim, but I can assure you the league never sent any money to us at any time," said Kolb.

"There is no continuity in policies in this league but if you are not among the favored you will be ostracized as we have," said Kolb. "What ever indiscretions we may have committed are no more egregious than what other teams have done, so why take our team and not even have the courtesy to let us know?"

"Among the most bizarre incidents of many dealings with the ABA was the night Gary Grant and the SoCal Legends were in town and refused to play us because the bus was late in getting to his hotel after he confirmed it," said Kolb. "During a phone conversation and e-mail Newman berated me, not the guy who forfeited the game." Kolb said this was the second time Newman took the team from him this season. "I have coaches, referees and venue officials that overheard Newman's tirade and who will stand by me in saying we did nothing wrong," said Kolb.

Newman said, "The city of Gallup has really supported its team; Clayton Shields and his players were one of the league's best teams all season long. We are really looking forward to next season as Gallup is truly one of the ABA's premiere cities."

Kolb said this program was established under his vision and leadership and became what it is because of him, despite the obstacles.

"I expect Newman to send out one of his rebuttal e-mails which should include opinions about my leadership," said Kolb. "I expect that and know people are smart enough to read them with a grain of salt."

Among the concerns he expressed was poor enforcement of schedules, inconsistencies in management policies, failure to reimburse teams for travel to the ABA All-Star game as promised, dubious marketing programs, and indiscriminate punitive actions against those who disagree with him.

Kolb said unlike other teams that have faced the same frustrations with their ABA experience, he will be seeking legal counsel to discuss his removal as an owner and what was done and not done during the season.

"There are some serious issues that need to be addressed and brought to light not only for my organization but others who are in or plan to join this league," said Kolb.

You can't make this stuff up...

[nksports]

Kolb ought to sue, but I don't think he'd get any money even if he won. The process might force the ABA into an involuntary bankruptcy. Then again, the trial would be fun.

[toad455]

Updated 3/9/06

Florida has been removed from the ABA's website. not sure if they'll resurface in the tournament, but it's been rumored they'll join the D-League. This leaves the league with 28 teams.

GONE(19):
Chattanooga
Texas
Niagara
Kansas City
St. Louis
Nashville
Georgia
Hawaii
Inglewood
Las Vegas
NE Pennsylvania(have joined the USBL)
Richmond
Charlotte
Lincoln
Florida
Kentucky
Bellevue
New Mexico
Gallup

ON-THE-BUBBLE(15):
Los Angeles
Ohio
San Francisco
Buffalo
Boston
Fresno
Detroit
Atlanta
Birmingham
Montreal
Mississippi(changed ownership)
Tacoma(may be gone soon)
Orange County(no home court)
Toledo
Tijuana(only has 8 players)

SOLID OWNERSHIP(13):
Lake Erie
Pittsburgh
Indiana
SoCal
Beijing
Bellingham
Newark
Harlem
Maryland
Rochester(have been rumored to join CBA next season)
San Jose
Strong Island
Baltimore

[toad455]

The ABA has 27 expansion teams slated for next season to go with the 32 alleged active teams. That would leave 59 teams for next season. Wonder how many will actually be around at the end of October?


I'd expect that number of expansion teams to go up, possible around 40. Plus the 25-30 teams that played this past season. That equals approx. 70 teams the ABA is expecting for next season.

I'll take a guess and say only 20-25 out of 40 of those expansion teams will actually play at least one game. Plus only 15 teams from this season will return. That'll make approx. 40 teams to start the season with about 25 actually finishing the season. Gee, that puts them right back to where we are now.

[boing]

Apparently even the playoffs have lost teams. They have gone from 8 to 6 games in the first round. Tijuana, Fresno, Harlem and Montreal have dropped out. Harlem may have replaced Florida as one of the teams given a bye, but not sure about the other three. The ABA never fails to amaze.

[boing]

More playoff changes: Montreal beat Ohio yesterday in a game that must have been organized at the last minute. Fresno is playing Beijing, and Tacoma is playing Bellingham instead of Newark. Harlem must have been given a bye to replace Florida and the dropouts are Tijuana and Newark now. Ohio joined the playoffs at the last minute. Only in the ABA!

[Chuck the Writer]

Whoever's keeping tabs on who's going where - the Miami Herald has reported that the Florida Pit Bulls have applied to join the D-League for the 2006-07 season.

[patmc16]

the Miami Herald has reported that the Florida Pit Bulls have applied to join the D-League for the 2006-07 season.

The ABA should market itself as the minor leagues for future real minor league owners.

[toad455]

That has been rumored but glad to hear it's official. If the Bakersfield Jam got accepted into the D-league, the PitBulls should have no problem.

[boing]

Harlem is playing at Rochester in the second round, so apparently they were given a bye. The only playoff dropout now is Tijuana. Florida is apparently no longer in the ABA, leaving 22 teams in the playoffs instead of 24.

[Chuck the Writer]

Okay, this is what I have regarding the playoffs and the results of same. I have Harlem hosting Strong Island this Friday, as opposed to being the opponent against Rochester on Sunday.

FIRST - tHE FINAL ABA Power Rankings

ABA Power Rankings - First Round Playoff Bye

1. Indiana Alley Cats/Rochester RazorSharks (T)
3. San Jose Skyrockets
4. Southern California Legends
5. Maryland Nighthawks
6. Pittsburgh Xplosion
7. Florida Pit Bulls
8. Atlanta Vision
9. Beijing Aoshen Olympian
10. Harlem Strong Dogs
11. Toledo Ice
12. Bellingham Slam
13. Strong Island Sound
14. Montreal Matrix
15. Newark Express
16. Tacoma Navigators

The Top 8:

1. Rochester RazorSharks 25-4
2. Indiana Alley Cats 27-4
3. San Jose Skyrockets 29-5
4. Southern California Legends 19-5
5. Maryland Nighthawks 21-10
6. Florida Pit Bulls 19-9
7. Pittsburgh Xplosion 18-11
8. Atlanta Vision 15-7

Florida cut from league; no idea who is the "8th" team

ABA Playoff Championships First Round Match-ups

To be played the weekend of March 10-12

Boston Frenzy (2-20) @ Harlem Strong Dogs (18-12)
Tacoma Navigators (10-6) @ Newark Express (14-16)
Fresno Heatwave (2-19) @ Bellingham Slam (16-14)
Detroit Wheels (6-17) @ Toledo Ice (16-13)
Buffalo Rapids (11-17) @ Montreal Matrix (14-15)
Birmingham Magicians (6-13) @ Strong Island Sound (16-14)
Los Angeles Aftershock (11-13) @ Beijing Aoshen Olympian (17-13)
Orange County Buzz (9-21) @ Tijuana Dragons (9-20)

Tijuana Dragons replaced Gallup Talons.
Tijuana Dragons dropped out
Newark Express dropped out

3-10-06=

Montreal Matrix 104, Ohio Aviators 83

3-11-06=

Strong Island Sound 97, Birmingham Magicians 95

3-12-06=

Buffalo Rapids 133, Boston Frenzy 88
Bellingham Slam 134, Tacoma Navigators 116
Los Angeles Aftershock 91, Orange County Buzz 86
Beijing Aoshen Olympian 113, Fresno Heatwave 82

3-13-06=

Detroit Wheels at Toledo Ice

ADVANCING TO 2ND ROUND:

Buffalo Rapids
Los Angeles Aftershock
Montreal Matrix
Beijing Aoshen Olympian
Strong Island Sound at Harlem Strong Dogs, 3-17-06
(Buffalo maybe?) at Atlanta Vision, 3-17-06
(Detroit-Toledo winner) at Maryland Nighthawks, 3-17-06
Bellingham Slam at Pittsburgh Xplosion, 3-18-06
(team unknown) at San Jose Skyrockets, 3-18-06
(team unknown) at Rochester RazorSharks, 3-19-06
(team unknown) at Indiana Alley Cats, 3-19-06
(team unknown) at SoCal Legends, 3-(17-22)-06

If anybody has any additions or corrections to this list, let me know please.

[Chuck the Writer]

Okay, here's the revised 2nd round schedules:

ADVANCING TO 2ND ROUND:

Newark Express (14-16) at Rochester RazorSharks (26-4), 3-19-06
Montreal Matrix (15-16) at Maryland Nighthawks (24-10), date TBA
Buffalo Rapids (12-16) at Atlanta Vision (15-7), 3-17-06
Strong Island Sound (17-14) at Harlem Strong Dogs (19-13), 3-17-06
Los Angeles Aftershock (12-15) at San Jose Skyrockets (29-5), 3-18-06
Beijing Aoshen Olympian (20-13) at SoCal Legends (20-5), date TBA
Bellingham Slam (19-14) at Pittsburgh Xplosion (18-11), 3-18-06
winner of the DetroitWheels/Toledo Ice at Indiana Alley Cats (27-4), 3-19-06

[boing]

Apparently Lake Charles has dropped off the ABA website. With the addition of Knoxville yesterday, the league now unofficially (is it ever "official") has 62 teams.

[suge night]

Until the trick master Joe is out the ABA is nothing but a joke for the age's.A guy inside of TV a few year's ago tried to hold some talks with Joe about moving the league into the money game for more than himself but after a few talks were held Joe got cold feet since he knew if someone like that gain access to the few teams that were real in that league, would have kicked him aside the talks broke off and it was done by Joe....

[boing]

According to the ABA website today Providence is going to wait until 2007 because they want to secure additional investors. That puts the ABA at 61 teams with 1 2007 team.

[Minor League Man]

According to the ABA website today Providence is going to wait until 2007 because they want to secure additional investors. That puts the ABA at 61 teams with 1 2007 team.
They had six months before now to secure investors!

I think they should be called the "Providence Procrastinators"

[panchess]

..I thought half the teams in the ABA were financed with somebody's American Express card, and when it reaches the limit, the team "disappears."

[toad8098]

Looks like they're starting already for next season. Let's see, they're at 61 teams right. I'd say 45 will actually be scheduled for games when the season starts. During the season about 15-20 teams will fold and the league will right back to where it is now.

[nksports]

I'll bet only around 30 will start the season. I wouldn't be surprised to see an NIFL-UIF type split with some of the owners in better shape starting their own league, a little less capital outlay than the CBA, D-League and others and showing a little more viablity from their owners than the ABA.

[panchess]

This seems like a viable place for the "upgraded ABA" component. Short travel distances and enough teams to make it work. One problem is that there is ownership of multiple teams, but that might be solved.

[boing]

OK, five more teams have dropped off the ABA website today, but there were probably non existant anyway. Those teams were Ontario, Louisiana, Hawaii, Kansas City and North Carolina/Raliegh. That leaves the ABA with 56 teams for 2006 and 1 expansion team for 2007.

[nksports]

Kansas City died after a couple of road games. Kentucky died shortly after the season started. Kentucky did play a couple of road games after they got evicted from their arena with a smaller roster. The Hawaii owner suspended operations after something about the issue of who pays who to fly where to play (oh, you mean we're supposed to pay teams' airfare to Honolulu?) I don't know what happened with Ontario or Raleigh. Probably the typical ABA crud.

[boing]

Ontario folded after the 04-05 season, but for some reason was listed as an expansion team for 06-07 this past season. I guess no new ownership was found. Raliegh was a team that was announced, but never got off the ground. They were listed as "North Carolina" on the ABA website. There's another team, Norfolk, that's listed on the OSC website as an "expansion/inactive" team, but I think they fall into the category of announced, but never got off the ground. They are not listed on the ABA website as an expansion team.

[boing]

Oregon was added today and they will play in a Portland suburb. The league is now at 57 teams for 06-07 and 1 07-08 team.

[Minor League Man]

With the announcement of Lincoln's return, they also announced teams for Omaha and Sioux City, and with that of the ABA University (lmfao), they announced the St. Louis Stunners. Now that makes 60 for 06-07 and 1 that's probably gonna be 07-08 but said there was a slight chance they would be 06-07.

[boing]

Today, three more teams dropped off the ABA website. Inglewood, Lake Erie and San Francisco are gone, leaving the league with 57 teams for next season. No surprises with any of the three.

[panchess]

..on the ABA team web page here.

http://www.abalive.com/teams/

Of the 49, several of them seem to be vaporware, like Ohio, Detroit, New Mexico, Baltimore and Fresno.

[toad8098]

They're dropping like flies already. Maybe the ABA will be lucky enough to have 20 teams start the season. ...and have 10 of them actually finish.

[boing]

For some reason, they forgot Texas and Las Vegas, which they have added back on. They also don't have Ottawa, Quebec, Washington, St. Louis, Sioux Falls and Omaha. That's where I get the 57.

[panchess]

..in this case, I am not trying to bash the league, but it is hard to keep up without a scorecard.

Just hope the CBA can pull off three or four of the good teams.

[boing]

This is a league well worth ridiculing. It sort of reminds me of the corner gas station that keeps changing it's brand name every few months....

This is the worst run pro sports league in history that's lasted at least five years. There are many start up leagues that don't get off the ground at all or last a few months, but to operate like this and last this long, boy that says a lot....

[boing]

San Diego was added today. The league is now allegedly at 58 teams....

[mrcool92501]

san diego wildcards revisited???

[boing]

The Wildcards lasted long, didn't they???

[boing]

Today's ABA news: Cedar Rapids joined the league and Harlem moved to Tampa. Now the league is up to 59 teams.

[Chuck the Writer]

The Wildcards lasted long, didn't they???

If you're talking about the old CBA San Diego Wildcards, they lasted half a season after moving to SD from Mexico. The Wildcards were the last CBA team to fold in mid-season (not counting the 2000-2001 CBA years). So in other words, since 1998 each CBA team has finished its season.

Can the ABA say that? Without Unca Joe crossing his fingers behind his back?

[boing]

Monterrey was announced today. The league is allegedly at 60 teams.

[boing]

The Orange County Buzz "moved" to Carson. Wait, I thought they already played a few games there at the end of this past season. They played only one home game in Orange County at a YMCA, the rest at Long Beach City College before they were evicted.

[Shootmaster_44]

Thanks for the email and the interest in Ottawa. They're still working on it. Might go in 2007 instead. Appreciate the interest.
Joe Newman
ABA CEO

Looks like the ABA is down to 59 for the '06-'07 season, based on this email I received from Joe. Ottawa is now an '07 Expansion Team it would appear.

[boing]

Toronto is now the Ontario Red Wolves.

[boing]

If San Jose is gone, that would leave the league with 58 and 2 '07 expansion teams.

[boing]

Southern California was removed from the website today, leaving 57 teams and 2 '07 expansion teams. However, Southern California's website is still active, but not updated since last season.

[WHAFAN]

Through several "meetings" with Joe Newman, apparently the only thing he is programmed to say is " affordable family entertainment". I am in the business of manufacturing sports items with team logos on them. I sent Joe several wall clocks to have inspected for league approval. He told me how great they looked, then procedded to give them away and tell me that I was asking too much per clock. End of my relationship with Joe. Never once has he answered any of my questions on the Ask the CEO section on the ABA website. He continually tells me that I have too much free time, I'm misinformed, I'm an idiot and a racist. When I asked why are all these teams concerned with dance teams and bad rap entertainers, instead of solidifying a team first, he called me a racist. This guy should be on infomercials selling vegetable choppers, floor mops, and used cars. This guy, this league, the entire operation is so mismanaged, ill conceived and utterly ridiculous, now there is a team in Chicago for next season. No media cares, no newspapers care, NO ONE cares. In 2000 when the Chicago Skyliners went to the ABA finals, 300 people showed up for the game. They would be lucky to have 300 people that could spell ABA !!!

[suge night]

You, are very correct Joe is such a joke and has giving minor league basketball a very bad name it is almost look'ed at like a beer league for washed up players or those that will never make it to the NBA level which in itself is a joke to some degree..just look at that game with San Antonio if Tim Dunkin was the only player they could count on to win why pay the other 4 players who were not taking any shots after Tim pretty much fell apart under the pressure.

[Minor League Man]

Now they have ringtones, I hear!

They can't solidify teams, but they can do ringtones!

I'd like to see if they have a ringtone for "Send In The Clowns" (don't bother, they're here...)

[WHAFAN]

Forget Send in the Clowns........How bout Take the Money and Run? This league is obsessed with dance teams, rappers at halftime, and this Salute chartiy crap........They are trying to represent themselves as a legitimate professional sports league, when in fact, they are nothing but an amateur operation with little or no structure.

I was thinking of starting up the TTHL. The Table Top Hockey League.( remember the hockey game with the rods? ) We can meet in each other kitchens every Saturday, pull up a few chairs and keep records. One draw back though.....if anyone knocks the puck off of the table, and it rolls under the fridge, we will have to suspend your teams operations until we can find a dance team or rap artist to move the fridge and find the puck. Talk about entertainment at affordable prices? No travel expenses, we can have our own ringtones, really bad management, and if one guy folds his team, we can replace him with anyone in his family old enough to reach the game. Franchise fees are only $10 per team. So at least I, as CEO of the league, can make a few bucks, and the rest of you schmucks are on your own.

I honestly think that we could draw bigger crowds at our houses than the ABA does. I wouldn't watch this crap if they were playing in my backyard. Why would anyone spend money to watch a bunch of high school dropouts, parolees, and otherwise talentless yahoos play in a rec center for $20 a game? Help me get a head count for my hockey league beginning this fall. The only requirement to join the league as a new franchise, is that you must have the ability to write a check with my name on it. Just like ol' Joe Newman and the ABA !!

TTHL.......affordable family entertainment without leaving home !!

[brucker]

just curious...what did Burrel do to get kicked out initially?

Dude's a character...his team was getting pounced by Aoshen and he tried picking a fight with their coach, Lashaun McDaniel...who would have laid the smackdown on him had it escalated.

Can someone answer this...why does the ABA, a professional league, have HEAD coaches who coach FRESHMAN basketball teams?

[boing]

I believe someone posted here that the Buzz had no insurance, therefore they were evicted by LBCC.
Now two of the three remaining Southern California teams will be playing in rec centers, the other (Los Angeles) was evicted by Southwest College and has no home.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Now they have ringtones, I hear!

They can't solidify teams, but they can do ringtones!

I'd like to see if they have a ringtone for "Send In The Clowns" (don't bother, they're here...)
Hey - that's plagarism! :p If you want to use my line, fine. But remember to cite your source:

http://www.oursportscentral.com/boards/showthread.php?t=2593

[nksports]

Can someone answer this...why does the ABA, a professional league, have HEAD coaches who coach FRESHMAN basketball teams?
Because a lot of high school coaches actually get paid (unlike ABA coaches, players, vendors, venues and the list goes on).

[one way]

not only have you described the ABA but you also have described the IBL as well. Both these two leagues are the same in concept and WHA FAN you have correctly called them out

[preeths]

In the IBL's defense, they play the vast majority of scheduled games. I would draw a distinction between the two leagues based upon that alone.

[boing]

The Southern California Legends re-appeared on the ABA website today. The league has 58 teams (allegedly) set for next season.

[boing]

Mexicali joined the league on Friday. Southern California was dropped from the ABA website again. The league is at 58 teams, allegedly.

[BreakersFan]

not only have you described the ABA but you also have described the IBL as well. Both these two leagues are the same in concept and WHA FAN you have correctly called them out

That's not true at all. The IBL plays its games and doesn't have teams folding all the time. There is no comparison between the two. The IBL has much more professional management. The ABA plays fewer than half its scheduled games.

[boing]

Benton Harbor was just added to the ABA website. The league is now allegedly at 59 teams.

[boing]

A press release says that the Boston Frenzy has moved to Cape Cod and is now the Cape Cod Frenzy.

The league allegedly is at 59 teams....

[boing]

The ABA now has four 2007 expansion teams. Boston, Providence, Ottawa and Nashville. I wonder if they are done with expanding for '06????

[chuck43]

That all depends, since Joe runs this "league" out his basement, sells "franchises" as he sees fits to cover ABA operating costs:

His mortgage (double wide)
Car (1977 Volare)
Credit card payments (ooops, wait, he HAS no credit last I was told)
Bill Collectors (Yeah right.....Joe Newman pays his bills???????)
League Salaries ($500 monthly)
Player Back Pay (see "Bill Collectors")
Insurance ($250 to cover his double wide and Volare)
Hair piece ($25 You thought that hair was REAL???)
Hair Club for Men ($25)
Avacor Hair Replacement ($25)
Bally's Fitness ($30: Got to keep that Brad Pitt looking face and body in tact)
Wal-Mart ($99.00 for his 2 suits)
vacation (Follows Smokey´s Greatest Carnivals with his wife)

When the money runs low and these bills need paying, Joe simply sells another franchise. Remember, this is the same jackass that sold a franchise in Juarez, Mexico which has more then 200 rapes a year!!!!!Yeah, this guy is ALL about Family Entertainment.

[boing]

Benton Harbor has taken the name Twin Cities Ballers....

[boing]

Eagles that were to start playing in Ventura, are now going to wait until the 2007-2008 season. The league is now at 58 teams for the coming season and 5 expansion teams for 2007.

[boing]

The ABA announced an expansion team for Big Valley, located in Turlock, CA.
The league is back to 59 teams.

[bectond]

The ABA announced an expansion team for Big Valley, located in Turlock, CA.
The league is back to 59 teams.

Big Valley? Like the T.V. show. corny
In fact most of these new ABA names are kind of corny. The Alexandria-Mongolia United may be the worst because it makes no sense. How are they gonna fit all that crap in the front of a jersey? Some other names seem to suggest that even the owners don't believe their teams will last more than a year or two, why else name your team the Krunk or the Stunners. The Twin City Ballers may be the least imaginative name yet. Unlike the other corny names, this one seems like a name that was thought up in haste due to the owners indecisivness. It's like the owner was signing the franchise papers in the league basement and was forced to come up with the name on the spot. "Come on Kenny we don't have all night, what is it gonna be....".

[mcm2667]

Chuck43, I have been on this site off and on for the last 3 years and I must say that your post is by the far the funniest one I have EVER seen!!!!!!!!!
I literally spit out my drink when I read it..........that is Joe Newman to a T!