Say it isn't so!

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

An article about John Salley:

http://www.andpop.com/article/7047

The important part:

But movies and television are not his only focus. Salley was recently named commissioner of the ABA.

"We're planning on changing the whole league and making a real minor league, not trying to compete with the NBA but trying to be a proven ground for developing young players and being in communities that don't have NBA basketball around the world," Salley said.

Joe, out?

Can it be possible????

[Dilbert]

If John is smart he will cut the league back.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Joe is the CEO of the ABA. He's got it sweet, so he's not likely to go anywhere. Commissioner is the position the guy from Kansas City (Clark?) held a few years ago. There doesn't seem to be any power associated with the position of ABA Commissioner.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

I should have continued my thought...

Bringing in someone with a far higher profile as Commissioner may spell the start of the end for Joe. Salley may be able to get the support to get initiatives done and changes made to benefit the league - changes that Joe has obviously paid little more than lip service to for years.

Now, if/when there are debacles this season as there have been in every OTHER season, instead of others leaving the ABA (teams, Ricardo, etc.), some combination of Salley, Wolff and other high-profile, strong personalities may look to make a complete makeover, starting with Joe's kitchen.

[Sam Hill]

Can we be honest for a moment?

What is it, exactly about John Salley that would lead us to believe he could actually run a league? Because he's personable? Because he's funny?

He was a decent player and he's glib. That doesn't mean he'll actually be able to accomplish anything as commissioner of anything.

Just devil's advocate. Let's not go all ga-ga about the guy when there's NOTHING I know of in his background that just screams "league executive" out at you.

[bectond]

All I have to say is Jessie the Body and Arnold. What exactly made anyone believe they could run a state. If he can bring this league into the light that's good enough, if it's exposed by his high profile then changes will have to be made. What other accomplishments are needed?

[Sam Hill]

Apparently many thousands of people thought they could do it, as they voted for them.

This is different. This is hiring somebody for a job, somebody whose sole qualification seems to be "Oh, yeah, I've heard of him."

Never been in sports administration. Never run a team. Never done anything but play basketball and be on television.

And no, just bringing the league "into the light" isn't enough. This league needs real change. Maybe Salley can do it. But I doubt anything good will happen while Newman is still around.

[Fells]

Could Newman be slipping into the background? Hmmmmmmmmm, I don't know. John Salley does have personality, connections, and credibility. This could be a good move, but I haven't reached a verdict on it yet.

[Pounder]

Just an undereducated hunch... but I'd rather have Warren Buffett's connections than John Salley's..

[bdaly]

From today's Rochester D&C:

The American Basketball Association added some credibility and hopefully some stability Friday at league meetings in Indianapolis. Former NBA star and co-host of Fox's Best Damn Sports Show Period, John Salley was named commissioner of the American Basketball Association. He said "it is not a figurehead position" and that he plans to visit the majority of ABA cities (56 at last count), with Rochester high on his list. The ABA's new president is Tom Doyle of the Maryland Nighthawks. Doyle and Salley will run the league. Joe Newman will remain as league CEO but will not be involved in day-to-day operations of the league.

http://www.rochesterdandc.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060923/SPORTS0101/609230319/1007/SPORTS

[bdaly]

Joe is the CEO of the ABA. He's got it sweet, so he's not likely to go anywhere. Commissioner is the position the guy from Kansas City (Clark?) held a few years ago. There doesn't seem to be any power associated with the position of ABA Commissioner.
But, I'm sure he's smart enough to realize that if someone can run the league better than him, he'd be wise to let him/her do it, as then he'd see a much nicer return on his investment (or concept). Granted, given what I've seen posted e-mail wise, it seems that he enjoys his control to a point that hurts the league significantly. But, money can be important too, and his best shot at that appears to be letting someone else control the operations. From hearing Doyle talk, he sounds like a bright individual. Who knows on Salley given his lack of experience. But, despite all of the negativity around the ABA, this can only be viewed as a positive. How much of a positive? We'll see, it depends on how much control is really given up.

[TEN]

If John Salley is going to hit all of the ABA markets....then he would be well off putting Rochester at the end of the journey...It's has the best chance of actually being in existence when he shows up.