IBL Ownership? What do you think?

[Aces2007]

I am considering purchasing an IBL franchise for 2007. I am wondering what other owners/potential owners/fans are on this message board so that I can talk to them about their experience with the IBL.

Thanks!

[Aces2007]

Anyone here? Bueller?

[bectond]

The talent level in the IBL is extremely low(it's a rec. league), therefore I would not invest in it, I could not put money into a team that I would not enjoy watching or feel that me and four of my buddies could take the league champs. Plus, even if you wanted to increase the talent level I don't know of many agents that would steer their clients the IBL's way so go luck with recruiting. However, I have read the up on the leagues business plan and it is solid. Your travel cost will be a fraction of what owners in the other leagues are paying, it is far more cost effective than the USBL and the league seems to be one of the more stable basketball minor leagues (because of the business plan). I have a question, does the league require it's franchises to to pay unemployment compensation, disability insurance along with workers comp and social security insurance. Someone told me that the league tries to get around paying benefits to players by requiring that players be employed elsewhere.

GOOD LUCK, is the name of the team the Aces?

[minorleagueball]

I would say that is a pretty ignorant post who has no idea of what is going on in the IBL. The IBL talent has drastly improved from last year. It is comparable to the USBL and WBA. The IBL seems to be doing quite well and has a solid business plan in place. Be forewarned, the IBL philosophy is to play in smaller venues to keep costs down.

As far as comparing the talent to that of a rec league, I would probably take information from a reliable source than just any poster. It annoys me to read from poster who have no knowledge whatsoever on the topic post negative information. Here's a couple of examples of how the IBL is growing and the talent is comparable to that of the other Spring/Summer leagues.

Also, go to eurobasket.com. Tons of great information on there. Check out the IBL rosters and you'll see that a lot of teams have solid rosters with tons of professional experience.

Minor League Power Rankings: The Magnificent Seven

By Sam Amico
May 2, 2006


1. Mississippi Hardhats (WBA)
Coach Yama Jones boasts one of minors' best inside-out combos in big man Horatio Webster and guard Detrick White.


2. NE Pennsylvania Breakers (USBL)
Coach Al Clocker's club was named team of the week by league. Center Steve Castleberry and guard Lennox McCoy two big reasons why.

3. Dodge City Legend (USBL)
Guards Eric Chatfield and Lazarus Sims have enabled coach Dale Osborne to wear a smile. And let's not forget 7-foot-8 center Sun Ming Ming.


4. Columbus Cyclones (IBL)
Dave Cecutti is one of pro basketball's most underrated coaches, and forward Paul Haynes one of minors' most underrated players.


5. Rome Gladiators (WBA)
Center Kenyon Gamble a true gladiator underneath -- fitting, considering NBA shotblocker Theo Ratliff owns the team. (Harold Ellis coaches.)


6. Murfressboro Musicians (WBA)
Guard Tommy Gunn and big man Cedric McGinnis are music to basketball fans' ears. Same is true of coach -- and PBN columnist -- Steve Tucker.


7. Tri-CIty Ballers (IBL)
Coach Ward Farris' balanced bunch is solid as a rock -- as in mutli-talented forward Rock Winston.


Honorable Mention

Cleveland Majic (WBA); Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs (USBL); Elkhart Express (IBL); Aurora Cavalry (IBL); Druid City Dragons (WBA).

Top 20 Minor League Players



By Sam Amico

May 1, 2006



1. Brian Chase (Nebraska Cranes - USBL)

Lights-out shooter scoring USBL-best 23.0 ppg.



2. Eric Feigi (6-9, F, Salem Stampede - IBL)

Can go inside or out; leads IBL in scoring at 34.6 ppg.



3. Lazarus Sims (6-4, G, Dodge City Legend - USBL)

Ex-Syracuse standout is becoming a legend in Dodge City.



4. Cedric McGinnis (6-9, F/C, Murfreesboro Musicians - WBA)

Best all-around player in a league that's loaded with talent this year.



5. Tommy Gunn (6-3, G, Murfreesboro Musicians - WBA)

You guessed it: Gunn will shoot opponents dead to tune of 29.0 ppg.



6. Cory Hightower (6-8, F, Northeast Pennsylvania Breakers - USBL)

Former Spurs draft pick can do it all on offense.



7. Brandon Freeman (6-3, G, Arkansas ArchAngels - WBA)

All-around talent should get a look from NBA at some point.



8. Jay Youngblood (6-5, G, Cuyahoga Falls Cougars - IBL)

Kent State product is one of IBL’s best all-around athletes.



15. Marcus Campbell (7-1, C, Arkansas ArchAngels - WBA)

Best low-post presence in spring/summer minor leagues is rebounding madman.



10. Horatio Webster (6-7, F, Mississippi HardHats - WBA)

Ex-Mississippi State big man continues to own paint in the state.



11. Ajamu Gaines (5-10, G, West Virginia Wild - IBL)

Undersized-but-athletic shooting guard tallying 28.8 ppg.



12. Brad Lechtenberg (6-2, G, Vancouver Volcanoes - IBL)

Arguably the best pure shooter in all of minors averages 27.1 ppg.



13. James Reaves (6-8, F, Dodge City - USBL)

Plays hard and does everything well on offense.



14. Lennox McCoy (6-2, G, Northeast Pennsylvania Breakers - USBL)

Veteran who knows all the tricks -- especially how to put ball in basket.



15. Will Caudle (6-9, F, Cleveland Majic - WBA)

Strong inside presence with decent shooting touch.



16. Solomon Wilkins (6-5, F, Oakland Slammers - IBL)

Tough near the basket; averaging better than 25 ppg.



17. Cory Underwood (6-10, F/C, Northeast Pennsylvania Breakers - USBL)

Athletic big man plays with tons of heart.



18. Lou White (6-4, G, Pennyslvania ValleyDawgs - USBL)

Team leader and talented scorer.



19. Tory Cavalieri (6-0, G, Northeast Pennsylvania Breakers - USBL)

Exceptional distributor who can also score.



20. Cedric Moodie (6-2, G, Elkhart Express - IBL)

Outstanding ballhandler and remarkable 3-point shooter.

[bectond]

I'm sorry if my last post offended anyone deeply involved with the IBL, I'll attempt to be more political in all future post, you live and you learn.
However, I do not believe that the rankings provided were objective. The USBL has players that PLAYED IN THE NBA THIS PAST SEASON and were not even ranked- James Lang and Deng Gia to name two. Plus, I'm I to believe that Eric Feigi, Jat Youngblood and Brad Lechtenburg(off the top 20 list) of the IBL are better players than former Big 12 1st teamers playing in the USBL like Joe Adkins and Corey Brewer. Come On! If Eric Feigi is the #2 minor league player than he should have some kind of comp's to prove it. How come he is lighting up the IBL for 35ppg but I have never heard of him. And i'm a basketball junkie I can name the best players in Lebabon and Taiwan, however, I can not remember EVER hearing his name until today. If anyone can provide me with stats that he put up in another league that compare to his IBL stats i'll eat my words, but until then his stats proves my point ([I]avg. joe's off the street can play in the IBL[/U]) And I don't care where you get the numbers from be it Nepel, Zambia, JUCO or the Southeast Exposure Basketball League. Until I see some numbers Eric Feigi is an avg. joe putting up numbers on D-3 talent.

[watchdogg]

I agree the IBL has some talented players, but, ask your self how long are they going to last in a rec-league? Just like the other person said they avoid paying insurance because they tell you to find a job, and the players you listed are not good enough to play anywhere else so why not the ibl, so you're telling me or anyone playing for $50.00 a game or $300.00 a game is worth moving your family from one city to another is the way to go.

[not so fast]

As someone who has been involved with the CBA and the USBL, I think I can make an intelligent assesment talent level. The IBL has good talent, and this is far from a rec league. It has players that could play in the CBA or D league and some that have played there.

As far as top players in the IBL, I have yet to see a player better than Ryan Edwards of the Lake County Lakers. He has to be one of the best players in the IBL, if not the best. The only reason he has not scored 30 in every game this season is because he gets in foul trouble helping other bad teamates on defense.

He would star in any of leagues, CBA, NBDL, etc... and this kid is only 22 years old. That would also make him the best player by age with the best upside.

[bectond]

The top 22 year old's spend May and June working out for NBA teams, their agents would never allow them to play in the USBL, WBA or IBL for fear that they could get injuried or have a weakness exposed playing vet's. Some may take a chance and play in the USBL because they provide Benefits no top player is going to play without benefits in May and June with the NBA Summer League coming up in July. That's where everybody is trying to get. Who in their right mind would risk injury for $100 a game and no benefits? A rec. league player that's who. I'm sorry but I can remember the days prior to that @$&$ Isiah Thomas running all that players overseas by cutting pay from $1400 a week to $800. Now basketball is full of snakes trying to pimp these players, paying $100 a game, come on. Some of these clowns don't even pay the kids. This bull would have never occured 15 years ago. Like I said in my last post i'm trying to be political and not step on any toes but these guy's coming up now without good agents are getting screwed BIG TIME!!!!! If these guy's do have talent, then they are not thinking. How can the IBL help you get to where you want to be? It can't help a player, if you score 40 a night so what, you did it vs. D-3 talent. How many scouts go to IBL games? No one's going to see you and if you get injuried they will not pay your bills. These new leagues are no good, they only provide a pipe dream, the NBA has it's own developmental league now, they are going to put the Top 50 on their own rosters and farm out the next best 100(some will go overseas for big money). That's the top 150 each year, these kids will go from school to work outs to summer league to training camp to NBDL or the NBA each year (All other leagues are out the loop- it's politics now). The kids playing in Leagues like the IBL and the ABA will be left outside the loop. That's cool if your a vet trying to stay in shape playing or your young and you don't want to get a real job yet or your a great rec. league player in your town and you want to showcase your talents vs. the best rec. talent from across the nation. However, these snakes are trying to sell these leagues as stepping stones, which they are not (only the USBL and CBA can make those claims).

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Okay, it's time for my two cents.

My answer to the original question (and it's been said many times before by others): If you have to ask for advice on a messageboard about purchasing a minor league team, then you are not cut-out for ownership.

On Sam Amico's power ranking lists: His lists ALL seem like apples and oranges to me. How can you compare players and coaches from different leagues (with different talent levels)? The lists seem meaningless to me.

...and what exactly IS a "power ranking"? I hear that a lot nowadays. The term "power ranking" is over-used IMO, especially when there isn't a clearly defined criteria.

not so fast,
Ryan Edwards may star in the CBA/D-League someday, but he didn't see a lot of playing time when he was with the Gary Steelheads. He was released soon after the team photo was taken. Cedric Moodie, number 20 on Sam Amico's "power rankings" above, didn't even last long enough with the Steelheads to MAKE the team photo.

[preeths]

Part of the reason for Sam's rankings is to elicit discussion. They're highly subjective, but that's part of the fun for fans who enjoy talking about minor league ball. The Massey Ratings which OSC posts are completely objective in that they are based on a formula that takes into account record, opponents' records, home and road records and points for and against.

[not so fast]

Ken steelheads fan, if you remember, he was signed at the time that the steelheads team was playing great, and it just wasn't room for him, it was numbers game as it is with many players at all levels.

As far as you critics of these start up leagues, the same thing was said about the USBL by some, and players such as Devin Brown utah jazz is now a solid NBA player, and he got his start in the USBL. For those of you who seem to know so little about these leagues but want to criticize, I have run camps for several years consistently for these leagues. And trust me, there are a lot of players out there, who just need a chance. Brian Chase would have never been given a chance in the CBA last season if he did not play in the ABA previously with the now coach of the year n the CBA jarren Jackson. I can assure you no team would have signed him, but he got his break because he played in what some might say is a bad rec league, and the kid had a very solid CBA season.

There are plenty of guys at about the same level, its just a matter of opportunity. I'm not saying they all are NBA players in the making, but none of us should kill their dreams. And quite frankly, why are all of you critics of these leagues on minorleague message board if these leagues are rec leagues? hipocrisy knows no bounds!!

[Aces2007]

It was interesting to read all the responses - thank you to everyone who posted. I didn't expect to start a discussion about "pimping" players and such, but it was interesting nonetheless.

As a bit more explanation, we are looking at the IBL because we simply do not project enough revenue for a CBA or USBL team. We won't consider the ABA.

We do not expect to attract/develop the next NBA stars. In our view, the IBL is not a developmental league - it is an entertainment league. The IBL is a place for players with better basketball experience and talent than most, but for whom playing basketball is not a primary career.

So we're not asking for business "advice" - We understand that we will likely not make money on the investment - We are able to make our own decisions and take responsibility for the consequences. I am looking more for what fans who have attended IBL games and what people who have been involved with the league think is good and bad about the IBL. Consider it a bit of additional due diligence before we make a decision.

Thank you again for your thoughts and for your continuing input...