View Full Version : Holy Toledo! Can you believe this guy?
sportsguy12
11-28-2006, 09:55 AM
"This is a basketball town and we are focused on bringing that to the forefront," added Dotson. "I am looking forward to our first home game as well as competing for the entire season and making the ABA playoffs. I know that we did not get off to a good start - and that there has been negative publicity. But we are committed to the ABA, we are committed to Toledo - and we are asking for a chance to prove ourselves. This Saturday will be a good start."
This is his quote from a recent press release. So how many chances does he want when no one shows up and the team folds again!
Does he realize that he is the cause of the negative publicity? I don't think ABA owners get it. If they don't play, how are the media and fans supposed to react?
If they don't fold, their replacement team can lose 191-66. Tell me if I'm wrong, but these excuses are like beating a dead horse.
I read that and had a hard time believing that myself.
In addition, the Las Vegas Venom(formerly the Rattlers) was purchased by a new owner and is supposed to be back next year. As I recall, Hawaii Mega Force played a few games last year, before folding and were supposed to return this season. I'm curious what happened to them.
bdaly
11-28-2006, 02:57 PM
How in the world is having a team in Hawaii viable? I suspect it's not, which is why I'm not surprised they didn't return. I remember hearing about an arrangement with an airline that didn't pan out. All in all, Hawaii goes against the ABA's low cost travel model, so hopefully they won't bother trying that one again...
If Toledo is now committed to showing up to all of their games, then more power to them (although hopefully that wasn't their whole team that got crushed). But, if they are going to show up half of the time and leave teams to have to cancel games the rest of the time, it would be best for them to disappear so teams have time to schedule other opponents.
heavesrock
11-29-2006, 08:32 AM
That was Joe's excuse. It probably did factor into the problem, but the team played in a HS gym, drew 70 fans per game, and had to cancel a game for which the other team had traveled to Hawaii because they didn't have money to pay the refs.
I, personally, would like to see Hawaii get a pro team regardless of what sport, despite the long travel.
panchess
11-29-2006, 09:08 AM
..the CBA once had a division that included Maine, Rochester, Anchorage and Honolulu.
Figure the economics of that!
rams80
11-29-2006, 10:22 AM
I, personally, would like to see Hawaii get a pro team regardless of what sport, despite the long travel.
Many leagues have tried.
Travel got 'em all in the end.
Sam Hill
11-29-2006, 11:07 AM
I, personally, would like to see Hawaii get a pro team regardless of what sport, despite the long travel.
And I, personally, would like a pony.
When you don't have to pay for the travel, it's easy for you to say. When you have to pay for the travel, you'll sing a different tune.
Sam, let's just agree to disagree on some things.
sportsguy12
11-29-2006, 04:59 PM
Many leagues have tried.
Travel got 'em all in the end.
Hawaii has had everything from the WFL to CBA to ABA (well, sorta) to the old Hawaii Islanders of the Pacific Coast League. Nothing has ever worked out. I believe the Islanders' PCL team had the longest tenure from 1961-1987.
They led the PCL in attendance with more than 400,000 fans. In 1987, their attendance dropped to 116,000. Wow! They moved to Colorado Springs.
Even the af2 Hawaiians didn't make it very long.
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