Joe makes another stupid statement....

[Mr_Doug_Bug]

ASK THE CEO - NBA SCOUTS?

25-Sep-2006
Questions from JAH. "Do NBA scouts come to ABA games? Does the ABA give exposure to players? How do tryout camps work? (questions paraphrased).

JAH. Thanks for the questions. NBA scouts do come to ABA games regularly. The ABA provides excellent exposure to players. There are only a limited number of openings every year in the NBA which uses the college draft as its primary source of new talent followed by recruitment of international players. It does not leave many spots open for players in other leagues - many of whom have the skills to compete in the NBA. But the NBA scouts are always looking. ABA teams have tryout camps and look for the 12 best players available. The level of talent is remarkable. The quality of players is amazing and the skills are outstanding. ABA teams can compete with any teams in the world - including the NBA. Hopefully you'll have a chance to attend some games and see for yourself.

Isn't making such a statement so stupid or is Joe actually right because I figure the best players for the most part actually get drafted to the NBA. I mean come on who is going to take a ABA salary with a team that may not be there tomorrow over that of the NBA if offered.

[Chuck the Writer]

ABA teams can compete with any teams in the world - including the NBA.

I think the more important question should be - if the ABA players are good enough to be competitive with the NBA, how many of those players have been called up from the ABA to the NBA in the past three years?

D-League - plenty of callups.
CBA - plenty of callups.

ABA - how many last season? In fact, how many in the past three years?

[WHAFAN]

If 3 NBA scouts showed up for an ABA game, the would represent 1/2 of the attendance!! For example, the team in Chicago, the Rockstars, begin play in a month and a half. There has not been one word on TV, radio, or in any newspaper about them. They apparently will be playing in a church gymnasium in the absolute most dangerous neighborhood in the city. The ABA is whoring itself out taking advantage of the name from 30 years ago. Same thing the "owners" of the WHA ( World Hockey Association ) are doing.

If 4 guys from this sight decided to get together and make a go cart in a garage and call it the DeSoto, or Rambler........would be it be the original? Hell no. Same thing with these guys that try to make a living using a familiar name from the past that sports fans recognize. I was thinking on having my kids and their friends start a flag football league and call it the USFL. Sure we can use the original uniforms, is it the same?

I'd sooner go to my local park and watch kids play basketball than pay to see this crap. No one cares, there is no interest, and no media coverage. As long as ol Joe Newman keeps getting franchise fee checks that clear, eventually every town in the US will have or had an ABA team. 100 teams in a league, and not one of them can afford to travel more than an hour away in a bus. Very professional indeed. It would appear rap music ( and I use that term loosely ) and dance teams are more important to teams than finding somewhere to play. How the hell can an owner buy a team in late September and begin play in November? I guess if there is a jr. high school gym open once a week, all you need is a few basketballs, 6 folding chairs and some water bottles. BOOM !!!!!! Your an owner of an ABA team. For this week anyway!!

[panchess]

...so presumably, can Vermont.

Your point is well-taken though. That is why most of the rest of the decent teams moved to the CBA, where you have to post a letter of credit for the season, and generally attempt to operate like a professional franchise.

[Mac the Knife]

ABA teams can compete with any teams in the world - including the NBA.

Sure they can, provided the franchise owner pays Trailways for everyone's bus ticket to make it to the game. I can put together a group of five guys who can compete with an NBA team. Neither the ABA nor I though could put a team on the court that'd be competitive with an NBA squad.

BIG difference.