Article on the ABA

[preeths]

Surprised this hasn't been brought up on the board:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/clippers/la-sp-aba26jul26,1,4639554.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba-clippe

[Pounder]

...but how do you send it to everyone who has a $25K limit on their Visa or MasterCard?

[nksports]

From the article:
"One complaint by critics is that the ABA prays on those with shallow pockets and extravagant dreams, with minimal knowledge of pro sports, and so winds up with too many weak owners who lack an adequate bankroll."
(Thus the problem)
" "People can buy a franchise with their credit card," said Florida Pit Bulls owner Demetrius Ford. His team also defected to the CBA."

"The ABA name is licensed by the NBA. When the NBA, which owns all the rights to the ABA, caught wind of the start-up league in 2000, it sued for trademark infringement. To settle the suit, the ABA paid $100,000 for use of the league's name and the red, white and blue ball made famous by the original ABA.

"The NBA can void the contract and take the ABA name away if it deems the league is in violation of the agreement. By taking a year off to "reorganize" in 2002, the ABA broke a clause in its contract requiring continuous play during a 12-month span, according to the licensing agreement obtained by The Times. But the league paid the NBA $25,000 for an extension."

The NBA needs to take the name back NOW before Uncle Joe can do more damage.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

The ABA has been running the same scam for what...five years now? There is plenty of information available on the Internet about the ABA's past practices. You mean to tell me people are giving interviews in 2006 about being burned by the ABA in 2006? You mean to tell me there are still people who think the ABA league office should reimburse them for all*star game expenses or playoff expenses? I guess the Internet and google doesn't work in their towns because the ABA has never picked-up the tab for such expenses to my knowledge. Besides, how much reimbursing do these people think the ABA can do on 5000, 10000, or 20000 entry fees?

These interveiwees need to stop whining and START exercising some common sense.

[Mr_Doug_Bug]

This can not continue much longer. There is no way that Joe Newman is going to be able to keep this scam...eh I mean league going much longer. He is going to end up in court. Too many false promises and not to mention the NBA will have to pull the plug because this league is definately ruining the ABA name. I intend to write commissioner Stern and I hope you all do the same. It is time this thing dies and Joe Newman can go sell used cars.

[psbf]

Say what you want, about the ABA. Everyone who knocks on the league, forgets about all the owners who fail to make good on their promises. You blame the league because they are a 'convenient' scampe goat, it is easier.
Well, I'm glad for the ABA, even if I'm the minority. Yes they have lost teams in the past, but look at the owners behind them. If not for the ABA, cities like mine would not have a team. Other minor leagues are too costly, and forget the NBA, you need to be a millionaire to afford to pay those millionaires!
No, the ABA is not a league to get rich on or to live off of, but the fact is, I'm very appreciative to Joe and the owner of the team here, for giving us pro basketball. I'm hoping they remain here as part of our sports landscape.
Every league will have their nay sayers, and they are entitled. Nobody is perfect. But teams need support and I will do everything I can to help keep mine around. If you don't want to support your area team, that's your problem. But just keep in mind the real facts, not your opinions.

[dcsportsaba]

ABA insider here. Expect big things and big announcements, including multi million dollar sponsorships. Agree with the previous post. You all are entitled to your opinions. Don't go thinking that the whole world is against the ABA just because 5 of you post negative comments. Yes, in the past there were teams that were not operating efficiently and shouldn't have been allowed in the ABA in the first place, but for the most part, teams are packing their venues and are providing fast paced and exciting basketball along with great entertainment. You can get a courtside seat for under $20 and have a great night out. With a new President and COO, the expectations are going to be raised and no more $20,000 franchise entry fee. Detailed background and credit checks are going to be put in place and teams that don't currently qualify are being dismissed from the league.

[rams80]

Excuse my skepicism, but after the last two posts, I'm wondering if I am consuming some very strong hallucinogins on accident.

[bectond]

What about the ABA's practice of placing teams in markets that already have minor league basketball, I question if these owners:rolleyes: are really even paying franchise fees, I think the ABA is only out to sabotage owners in other leagues that have really invested their time and money into their franchises. Why is Anderson, IN on the ABA's schedule? I'm I to believe that someone invested $20,000 within the last month to field a team there when the Alley Cats already play there. Some goes for Hammond, Miami and Little Rock. Is bad ownership behind those moves? The League does not care if there teams make it. If minor league basketball was a solar system than the ABA would be an asteriod. The league is only concerned with the constant destruction of markets.

[dcsportsaba]

Teams aren't placed in cities that already have franchises. Teams may be placed in the same state in far away lcoations (45 min-1 hour away). For example, theres a team that plays in Baltimore, MD a team in Alexandria, Va as well as Rockville, MD. They are all 45 min away from each other. No fans are going to switch teams and drive this far to see another team play...unless they are die hard aba fans. This elimnates air travel cost for those interstate games which results in more profits and revenue for the teams. I am up at the league meeting in Indiana right now and I can assure you that the experience of going to an ABA game will be A LOT different, and A LOT of more fun! If you have a team in a city near you, I urge you to go out and experience this fast paced and exciting basketball!

[bectond]

Teams aren't placed in cities that already have franchises. Teams may be placed in the same state in far away lcoations (45 min-1 hour away). For example, theres a team that plays in Baltimore, MD a team in Alexandria, Va as well as Rockville, MD. They are all 45 min away from each other. No fans are going to switch teams and drive this far to see another team play...unless they are die hard aba fans. This elimnates air travel cost for those interstate games which results in more profits and revenue for the teams. I am up at the league meeting in Indiana right now and I can assure you that the experience of going to an ABA game will be A LOT different, and A LOT of more fun! If you have a team in a city near you, I urge you to go out and experience this fast paced and exciting basketball!

The LttleRock River Catz were placed in the same town as the Arkansas Rimrockers (Little Rock), the Hammond Rollers were placed 10 miles away from the Gary Steelhead, the Miami Tropics were placed in the same Metro Area as the Florida Pit Bulls and the ABA schedule list an Anderson, IN team and the Indiana Alley Cats already play in Anderson. Carson, Hollywood and Maywood are all in the same area as the LA Aftershock and the So. Cal Legends. Why rush trying to put a team in Anderson unless your only reason is to sabotage the Alley Cats, who is the owner of this new Anderson team, your telling me to blame the owner (if there is an owner) because a team is placed in an area only to sabotage another team. Killing markets is not good for basketball. The ABA must develop long term goals, which currently -it does not have. The leadership of the ABA is reckless and counter-productive. Getting into petty public feuds with owners that are attempting to capitalize on their invest. Raising an entry fee and doing credit checks are not the only answers, the league is a fundamentally flawed confederacy that lacks order. The basic business plan can not work for 90% of it's clubs in it's current format.

[psbf]

Teams aren't placed in cities that already have franchises. Teams may be placed in the same state in far away lcoations (45 min-1 hour away). For example, theres a team that plays in Baltimore, MD a team in Alexandria, Va as well as Rockville, MD. They are all 45 min away from each other. No fans are going to switch teams and drive this far to see another team play...unless they are die hard aba fans. This elimnates air travel cost for those interstate games which results in more profits and revenue for the teams. I am up at the league meeting in Indiana right now and I can assure you that the experience of going to an ABA game will be A LOT different, and A LOT of more fun! If you have a team in a city near you, I urge you to go out and experience this fast paced and exciting basketball!

As far as Indiana, I've not seen anything about the Alley Cats this season which makes me wonder if they are returning. My team is scheduled to play Anderson, but I don't remember seeing anything about them on the 'current teams' list. Indiana was so good last season, so I'm kind of surprised that I've not seen anything on them.

[rams80]

Teams aren't placed in cities that already have franchises.

Bull. Unless you don't count NBA teams, and then it's still probably bull.

Teams may be placed in the same state in far away lcoations (45 min-1 hour away). For example, theres a team that plays in Baltimore, MD a team in Alexandria, Va as well as Rockville, MD. They are all 45 min away from each other. No fans are going to switch teams and drive this far to see another team play...unless they are die hard aba fans. This elimnates air travel cost for those interstate games which results in more profits and revenue for the teams.

Assuming you enjoy watching the same 3 teams all the time and nobody folds. Oopsie.

I am up at the league meeting in Indiana right now and I can assure you that the experience of going to an ABA game will be A LOT different, and A LOT of more fun!

Aha! Now the truth comes out! You have to state the company line!

Different? I doubt it

A lot more fun? Not likely

If you have a team in a city near you, I urge you to go out and experience this fast paced and exciting basketball!

I plan on it...mainly because I want to be able to say that I actually saw an ABA game.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

ABA insider here.
OK...

Expect big things and big announcements, including multi million dollar sponsorships.

How will these big announcements differ from those grandiose, yet always unralized, announcements made in the past by the league???

You all are entitled to your opinions. Don't go thinking that the whole world is against the ABA just because 5 of you post negative comments.
It's a little more than 5, and many of the posts here and elsewhere are by people who were ABA 'insiders' as well, and have had the pleasure/pain of dealing with Joe Newman.

Yes, in the past there were teams that were not operating efficiently and shouldn't have been allowed in the ABA in the first place
And the blame falls ONLY on those ownership groups? What abou the extensive background checks - publicized last year ad infinitum by Joe, that would have eliminated these people from consideration? Or the ABA-marketing plan that was the end-all, be-all to guaranteed success? Or the fact that, even after months of saying the league had fixed its errors, the first tema dropped out DURING THE OPENING WEEK - and Chattanooga was nowhere near Katrina's path of destruction (Joe's best excuse, even though there were NO ACTIVE TEAMS affected in the area hit by the hurricane).

but for the most part, teams are packing their venues
Outside Rochester, NY, which teams 'packed their venues'? Published reports in local papers had teams like Pittsburgh with less paying fans than players at games, and other teams had reports gving similar reports.

providing fast paced and exciting basketball along with great entertainment
By law, this phrase must be included on every ABA-related release (although points off for omitting "at affordable prices")

With a new President and COO, the expectations are going to be raised

In journalism terms, you buried your lead. As long as new leadership is given the opportunity to put changes in place that have only been talked about in the past, the ABA has a chance to move away from the bus-wreck reputation it has earned during its existence.

Time will tell, but...

teams that don't currently qualify are being dismissed from the league.

Since the 'schedule' has been completed, shouldn't these teams have already been eliminated? Viable sports leagues - even rec and CYO leagues - don't alter the schedules with the whim and randomness the ABA has done in the past. The league has yet to complete even one full scheduled season. If any game is cancelled (other than weather-related) or a team drops out this season - after these 'improvements' have been made - the season becomes another in the list of failures the league has provided.

Time will tell...

[psbf]

Since you mention Pittsburgh, forget the published reports, I went to almost all the Xplosion home games last year and I personally saw the turnouts grow!
Going from as little as 75 to as much as 2,000! So don't tell me about the garbage printed in the papers. We have Xplosion fans such as myself and I am glad we have a team! There are other teams who also have good crowds.

[rams80]

Since you mention Pittsburgh, forget the published reports, I went to almost all the Xplosion home games last year and I personally saw the turnouts grow!
Going from as little as 75 to as much as 2,000! So don't tell me about the garbage printed in the papers. We have Xplosion fans such as myself and I am glad we have a team! There are other teams who also have good crowds.

1) How many of the 2000 were comps?

2) Define "Good Crowd"

3) Name one other team with a good crowd besides Rochester.

[psbf]

1) How many of the 2000 were comps?

2) Define "Good Crowd"

3) Name one other team with a good crowd besides Rochester.


I'm not sure what you mean by 'comps', but the Xplosion have averaged over 1,600 in their last 4 or 5 games.
You and I may have our opinions on what a good crowd is in figures. But to me, that is pretty good. I look at the NBA figures, nobody is going to match those.
Teams like Maryland and Bellinghan have had sellouts of over 1,000, since their facilities don't hold more. Rochester has one of the biggest(aside from Mellon Arena here at 17,000+). But there is no way the Xplosion will come near the Pens figures, which is why I say ours are good. I'm proud to now be an Xplosion season ticket holder and I will go to their games as long as they are here(hopefully forever). To me, the ABA action is worth watching.

[bectond]

All of you guys Pro-ABA and Anti-Mr. Newman need to take a business class at the local C.C. You guys are all missing the poiint. Sports franchises worth is not determined by attendence figures or profitability. (The Yankees lost money last year!) It is gaged by how much someone else is willing to pay in order to join the club. Who would buy a minor league franchise that shares a town of 70,000 with another team? Mr. Newmans philosophy is flawed doing credit checks will not make any difference.

Example- If I buy a D-League team my goal would be to loss 1 million the first year and 200,000 each year for 20 years then sell it for 10 million. (Profit 5 million). I would have no control over the roster or the staff (the parent team would control all of that) I would simply be making a long-term investment.

The NBA understands supply and demand, that is why you don't see 150 NBA clubs. They keep the number of clubs at a low number for a reason. This whole 100 franchises idea is azz backwards (for owners) because he is creating a buyers market. He will always be able to sell teams but owners will never reel in the returns that other leagues owners will see. Why pay top dollar for an ABA team when 70 are failing and can be had for next to nothing.

The business sense of some of the posters on this board is unreal.

[rams80]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'comps', but the Xplosion have averaged over 1,600 in their last 4 or 5 games.
You and I may have our opinions on what a good crowd is in figures. But to me, that is pretty good. I look at the NBA figures, nobody is going to match those.
Teams like Maryland and Bellinghan have had sellouts of over 1,000, since their facilities don't hold more. Rochester has one of the biggest(aside from Mellon Arena here at 17,000+). But there is no way the Xplosion will come near the Pens figures, which is why I say ours are good. I'm proud to now be an Xplosion season ticket holder and I will go to their games as long as they are here(hopefully forever). To me, the ABA action is worth watching.

Comps would be free or giveaway tickets.

I would also define crowds in the 1000 to 2000s to be "horrifyingly abysmal" for ANY minor league team not in affiliated baseball.

bectond-I would think that people don't start minor league sports team for the purpose of selling them 20 years later at a profit. The number of folds over the years alone indicate that you are mistaken. They are started in the hope that they can actually show profit year by year.

[bectond]

If you buy a minor league team, you should be doing it for three reasons:
1- Returns from future sale
2- Tax brakes
3- positive publicity

Why take the losses every year if at the end of the line you can't sell the team for a profit?
The tax breaks alone do not justify buying a team.

If the league were to bringing in the right kind of high profile owner, greatly reduce the number of teams, stop putting multiple teams in single markets and put all the questionable owners in a shorten season lower-league and the better teams in an upper-league than the owners of upper league teams would be able to sell their teams for a sizable return and the lower-level owners would be able to cut their losses by playing a shorter season. But Mr. Newman rejected my idea, he wants to copy the NCAA format without the T.V. Deal. I just don't see the wisdom in that, the NCAA tourney without a T.V. Deal would be worthless.

[psbf]

If you buy a minor league team, you should be doing it for three reasons:
1- Returns from future sale
2- Tax brakes
3- positive publicity

Even if an ABA team does well the owner will not be able to make a solid return in such a buyers market. I would rather take losses each year in the D-league than be given 90% of ABA franchises for free. They are no win situations. I have run all the numbers, For most people It Can Not WORK!!

I don't know how many or if any were free tix and I'm not saying that I'm happy with an average of 1,600 plus. I'm just saying it is far better than what we started with. But I'm sure it will grow. I feel that 1,600 is pretty good considering we have other popular local teams(Pens, Pirates and Steelers) around. Some here may think we are better than 'minor league'. But I'm happy to have a team that I can afford to cheer for, as I'm sure other Xplosion supporters are. Those are my views. .

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

The NBA understands supply and demand, that is why you don't see 150 NBA clubs. They keep the number of clubs at a low number for a reason. This whole 100 franchises idea is azz backwards (for owners) because he is creating a buyers market. He will always be able to sell teams but owners will never reel in the returns that other leagues owners will see. Why pay top dollar for an ABA team when 70 are failing and can be had for next to nothing.

The business sense of some of the posters on this board is unreal.

bectond,
There you go again with the business sense knock again!

You present a lot of theory, but you seem to ignore a lot of reality at the same time. I agree with you wholeheartedly (which is rare) in the partial quote above though. It all comes down to selling teams when describing the ABA business model.

[Chuck the Writer]

The other problem with the ABA trying to create a 100-team league is that it's basing its model on the NCAA tournament and conferences, with dozens of conferences, each one hosting several teams, and that the top teams in each conference, along with several wild card teams, participate in an NCAA tournament.

But here's the rub. Besides the TV contract, the college teams receive money from - guess who - the colleges themselves and the alumni. That's why you never hear of a college team threatening to move to another city if they don't get a new arena. That's why you don't have college teams changing their name for a sponsor (I can deal with Hokies and Hilltoppers and Hoyas). And college teams have student alumni and graduated alumni, who have associated their teams with rivalries for generations. In fact, the only thing that will kill off college sports teams are things like point-shaving scandals or recruitment violations. Not crummy seasons or brutal schedules.

Also - the college players are playing for free. Okay, that's close to what is happening in the ABA, but at least the college kids are getting room and board and an education. In some cases, that puts them two levels above the ABA.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

The other problem with the ABA trying to create a 100-team league is that it's basing its model on the NCAA tournament and conferences, with dozens of conferences, each one hosting several teams, and that the top teams in each conference, along with several wild card teams, participate in an NCAA tournament.

But here's the rub. Besides the TV contract, the college teams receive money from - guess who - the colleges themselves and the alumni. That's why you never hear of a college team threatening to move to another city if they don't get a new arena. That's why you don't have college teams changing their name for a sponsor (I can deal with Hokies and Hilltoppers and Hoyas). And college teams have student alumni and graduated alumni, who have associated their teams with rivalries for generations. In fact, the only thing that will kill off college sports teams are things like point-shaving scandals or recruitment violations. Not crummy seasons or brutal schedules.

Also - the college players are playing for free. Okay, that's close to what is happening in the ABA, but at least the college kids are getting room and board and an education. In some cases, that puts them two levels above the ABA.

...and with that said, here is my opinion of ALL minor league pro basketball (although no one asked for my opinion on the matter):

There are always exceptions, but the American public is not the least bit interested in minor league professional hoops. The casual fans are too far and too few.

...and with THAT said, I hope the Steelheads find their niche against all odds.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Going from as little as 75 to as much as 2,000! So don't tell me about the garbage printed in the papers. We have Xplosion fans such as myself and I am glad we have a team! There are other teams who also have good crowds.

That 'garbage' printed in the papers is very oftent the ONLY publicity any ABA teams get in their home market. Joe seems to view any negative press as part of some vast conspiracy against him personally, rather than possibly a truth. (By the way, there were crowds reported - by the paper and pople in attendance - at far less that 75). But even at 1600 paid, that doesn't come close to even paying to open the doors at the Igloo for a game. The Xplosion really needs to find a more suitable facility to play, where that sort of crowd can actually be noticed (and I am originally from the 'burgh, so I am happy when any native team succeeds).

Even if we take the attendance figures you provide as fact (and 1600-200 is not 'selling out the venue' in Mellon Arena), and with the very public success in Rochester, there are dozens of teams active in the ABA last season who have little to no attendance at games (a partial list - Detroit, Toledo, Lake Erie, Kentucky, any LA team, any Tuckman-owned team, Indiana (there are photos of the cozt attendance on other sites), Boston, Fresno, San Francisco, Ohio, Atlanta, Birmingham, Buffalo, Montreal, Strong Island - who has members of its own front office disuccing their lack of a following). There is over 2/3 of the league last year, and I am giving the benefit of the doubt to most of the rest.

As for Maryland and Bellingham having 1000 fan sellouts based on their venue - one of the MANDATORY requirements for every ABA team before last year was a venue of at least 3000. So, a sell-out in a high school gym isn't that remarkable when the venue is sub-standard, according the the league's own rules. The word MANDATORY apparently has a much different meaning in Indiana than it does in Webster's dictionary.

To the other posts here - absolutely it is incorrect to judge a team only on attendance; however, low attendance is often due to the lack of funds/foresight for a proper marketing/advertising/public relations department.

Teams hold a news conference (or more likely, type a release and email it to Joe for publication - spell check is often an optional function - and announce that they are a new team with new ideas and tons of local support. They are lauded by Joe as a great ownership group with a strong business/sports/community acumen and exciting ideas. Then these same teams find out that many things need to be paid for up front (venues, advertising, marketing, salaries, paper, toner, pens, business cards, etc.), and think that just by opening their doors for the first game, they will be rolling in cash to grow and prosper. Or, worse, they rely only on the money that they can make from try-outs to cover their expenses before the first game (all the while sending as many email releases as possible, hoping some local news outlet will notice that they exist and give them some much-needed publicity).

When none of the above happens, seasons like the ABA has experienced every year of its existence occur.

I still maintain that the first steps in turning the ABA around are in place. If Mr. Nighthawk is willing to work with other owners to make real changes, and with John Salley presenting a public face (and the business/basketball networks he may be able to tap into as a resource), and with an owner in Vermont making the ABA's operations a matter of public record, there may be enough influence to downsize, re-organize or re-structure the ABA into a more stable entity.

If, however, Joe continues to have final say over all things ABA (with the rest of his kitchen cabinet to support him), well, it will be Groundhog Day again this year, and next year, and so on.

[psbf]

That 'garbage' printed in the papers is very oftent the ONLY publicity any ABA teams get in their home market. Joe seems to view any negative press as part of some vast conspiracy against him personally, rather than possibly a truth. (By the way, there were crowds reported - by the paper and pople in attendance - at far less that 75). But even at 1600 paid, that doesn't come close to even paying to open the doors at the Igloo for a game. The Xplosion really needs to find a more suitable facility to play, where that sort of crowd can actually be noticed (and I am originally from the 'burgh, so I am happy when any native team succeeds).

Even if we take the attendance figures you provide as fact (and 1600-200 is not 'selling out the venue' in Mellon Arena), and with the very public success in Rochester, there are dozens of teams active in the ABA last season who have little to no attendance at games (a partial list - Detroit, Toledo, Lake Erie, Kentucky, any LA team, any Tuckman-owned team, Indiana (there are photos of the cozt attendance on other sites), Boston, Fresno, San Francisco, Ohio, Atlanta, Birmingham, Buffalo, Montreal, Strong Island - who has members of its own front office disuccing their lack of a following). There is over 2/3 of the league last year, and I am giving the benefit of the doubt to most of the rest.

As for Maryland and Bellingham having 1000 fan sellouts based on their venue - one of the MANDATORY requirements for every ABA team before last year was a venue of at least 3000. So, a sell-out in a high school gym isn't that remarkable when the venue is sub-standard, according the the league's own rules. The word MANDATORY apparently has a much different meaning in Indiana than it does in Webster's dictionary.

To the other posts here - absolutely it is incorrect to judge a team only on attendance; however, low attendance is often due to the lack of funds/foresight for a proper marketing/advertising/public relations department.

Teams hold a news conference (or more likely, type a release and email it to Joe for publication - spell check is often an optional function - and announce that they are a new team with new ideas and tons of local support. They are lauded by Joe as a great ownership group with a strong business/sports/community acumen and exciting ideas. Then these same teams find out that many things need to be paid for up front (venues, advertising, marketing, salaries, paper, toner, pens, business cards, etc.), and think that just by opening their doors for the first game, they will be rolling in cash to grow and prosper. Or, worse, they rely only on the money that they can make from try-outs to cover their expenses before the first game (all the while sending as many email releases as possible, hoping some local news outlet will notice that they exist and give them some much-needed publicity).

When none of the above happens, seasons like the ABA has experienced every year of its existence occur.

I still maintain that the first steps in turning the ABA around are in place. If Mr. Nighthawk is willing to work with other owners to make real changes, and with John Salley presenting a public face (and the business/basketball networks he may be able to tap into as a resource), and with an owner in Vermont making the ABA's operations a matter of public record, there may be enough influence to downsize, re-organize or re-structure the ABA into a more stable entity.

If, however, Joe continues to have final say over all things ABA (with the rest of his kitchen cabinet to support him), well, it will be Groundhog Day again this year, and next year, and so on.

I'm not trying to sound like the publications are bad. I'm very greatfull that our papers(or any in this country) cover our teams. My point was just that I attend the Xplosion games, so I know better than what is printed, since our papers don't even offer the turnouts.
As far as the Xplosion venues, they have no choice, since they are obligated by contract to play in the larger facilities(as is my understanding) , which will be the case for a couple years to come. In the meantime, I try to help promote them as much as I can.

[TEN]

Good posts Chuch and ABA RWB...I've said it many times that it will never cease to amaze me how seriously this league is taken in some media circles.

Every NBA affiliated, international, or minor league coach or scout I've talked to lament the fact that the ABA is killing minor league basketball in the states.

It blows me away how blatantly the ABA teams use the free agent camp as an out and out scam...Taking advantage of the least of us...the players.

But some of us have been saying it since 2000...and like a cockroach, it continues to live and spread disease.

One more thing...My take is that anybody who shills for the ABA is either naive...or a crook...There ain't no in-between.

[psbf]

Say what you want about the ABA(and me). I'm standing behind the Xplosion no matter what league they play in. They are only here(in exhistance) because of the ABA, which is the only league they can afford. And I will continue going to their games, simply because I refuse to pay so much for our main sports teams.
The only thing I fail to understand is why the league put their schedules out before the Division alignments(which they said would be released with the schedule).

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

The only thing I fail to understand is why the league put their schedules out before the Division alignments(which they said would be released with the schedule).

Throughout this league's history, the schedule was more a suggestion rather than a definitive list of opponents, venues, etc. One of the biggest failings of the league in the past has been its disregard for the sanctity of the schedule, which effects ALL teams, not just those that are poorly run. The better teams are stuck either paying out of their own pocket to cover the costs of their opponent to travel, or left with a gaping hole in their schedule which is an embarrassment that they need to handle with ticketholders, sponsors, etc.

I think it's great that you enjoy the game and are eager to go to games. If there were many more of your kind of fan in other markets, teams would do much better.

One piece of advice - no matter the possible price break you may be offered, don't invest (pre-pay) in season tickets. Pay as you go, and you will be assured of seeing every game for which you put up your own money. Very few ABA teams have completed their 18-game home schedule (again, many times as a result of those teams unable/unwilling to travel), so paying in advance may be throwing money away - unless you are attending Frost Heaves' games; there is no way they will not play their full schedule, lest Joe get ripped in the pages of SI.

[psbf]

Throughout this league's history, the schedule was more a suggestion rather than a definitive list of opponents, venues, etc. One of the biggest failings of the league in the past has been its disregard for the sanctity of the schedule, which effects ALL teams, not just those that are poorly run. The better teams are stuck either paying out of their own pocket to cover the costs of their opponent to travel, or left with a gaping hole in their schedule which is an embarrassment that they need to handle with ticketholders, sponsors, etc.

I think it's great that you enjoy the game and are eager to go to games. If there were many more of your kind of fan in other markets, teams would do much better.

One piece of advice - no matter the possible price break you may be offered, don't invest (pre-pay) in season tickets. Pay as you go, and you will be assured of seeing every game for which you put up your own money. Very few ABA teams have completed their 18-game home schedule (again, many times as a result of those teams unable/unwilling to travel), so paying in advance may be throwing money away - unless you are attending Frost Heaves' games; there is no way they will not play their full schedule, lest Joe get ripped in the pages of SI.

Thanks, ABA. I agree about the schedule. I've followed this league for a couple of years now and I learn more about it all the time. I know that it's nothing like the old ABA(I was living on Long Island when the Nets were in it and I know pretty much all the teams from back then, although I never attended any). I know that even when the Divisions come out(Xplosion will be in the smallest), it's a question of who will survive.
As far as purchasing tickets, I did that last year(purchasing them individually). I had thought about that again this season. But I felt the need to invest in the Xplosion for this season. I'm sure they will play all their games(even though some of the teams in our Division seem iffy at this point).

[panchess]

..one of Joe's obvious ideas is to try and hurt CBA teams. Hammond next to Gary (and both teams disintegrate), Anderson, IN and so on.

[psbf]

Well, I said that I would support the Xplosion no matter what league they play in. I just learned we are switching to the CBA.

[dcsportsaba]

ABA insider here again. I am hearing that Mr. Nighthawks (new ABA President) and John Salley (new Commisoner) are trying to buy the league from Joe and him no longer affliated with the ABA. They beleive and already are on tract (sponsorships, media, going public, kicking teams out of the league that have no chance of survival, raising franchise fees, etc) to get the ABA back to where it was in the 1960's-70's, but want Joe out.

[bdaly]

I noticed that Salley mentioned that he knew people tied to the Florida Pitbulls. So, it surprised me that he'd get involved. Doyle has also been critical of things at times. So, while I'll believe it when I see it happen, it wouldn't be completely shocking. I really think the ABA concept is a good one, it's just a matter of execution. They are saying the right things, so we'll see if they can actually make them happen.

[WHAFAN]

I asked Joe Newman why the new Miami Tropics were playing an entire 36 game season against the same 4 opponents ( W. Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Orlando). Was it because they can't afford a bus trip to Georgia, they can't leave the state due to parole restrictions, or no one else wanted to play them.

His answer was to call me an idiot, a fool, and told me that me being the way I am is why my clocks are round. WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN??? Did Joe have a stroke and didn't tell anyone?

Even having a semi professionally run team in this league is a waste of time. Thats like being the tallest midget.

The team in Chicago, the Rockstars, has absolutely no chance of being a success. They are playing in a church gym in the worst part of the city. The Bulls were barely drawing 6,000 people a game throughout the 70's with some pretty good teams. They were in the NBA for 20 years before Michael Jordan brought life to the franchise. The only successful minor league team in Chicago are the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. They average 12,000 fans a game in a beautiful arena. There has been no tv, radio or newpaper coverage of the ABA or the Rockstars. It doesn't matter if an ABA owner has unlimited funds to support his team. When the league is run by idiots, with teams that can't afford travel, hotels, or paychecks, why do these people continue to dump money into being the next George Steinbrenner?

I guess the leagues holding out hope that hot 20 year old babes dancing at halftime will sustain the fan interest. Every team's website ( if they can afford one ), has more info about dance team try outs than player information. No records are kept, no stats, no attendance figures, every team playing a different amount of games..........yet Uncle Joe insists that the ABA is a conduit for NBA scouts? What records are being noticed? I'm half expecting a Partridge Family bus to roll down the street with ABA teams on board passing around a hat to find donations for a hotel room so they can display their talents in front of a sell out crowd of 45 people at the jr high school gym down the street.