State of the ABA

[b-ball31]

There are several problems that the ABA has that more than likely they have brought on themselves. However, there are definitely a lot of positives taking place this year.

There are some good rivalries starting to form all over the country. Rochester, Buffalo, Quebec, Vermont, Cape Cod in the Blue North. Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach in the Blue Southeast. Wilmington, Strong Island, Maryland in the Blue Central. In the White South division, the Aeros, Riverkatz and Tycoons are all exciting to watch. The whole White central division is pretty close, as is the Red South division.

The website is much improved and finally has standings that are updated regularly.

The company has named a new President, and a new Commissioner. Right now this seems a little more symbolic, as I haven't seen much about either one creating any change as of yet.

The company has gone public, and should have some additional funding coming in.

The Negatives.

The league website still doesn't have any stats available. They also don't have any box scores for any of the games.

None of the team websites are uniform. The ABA desperately needs to hire a marketing person that can work on their branding efforts. The ABA said that all team websites were being done by the ABA, but up till now that is not the case.

There have been several teams that have folded already this year. Brooklyn, Baltimore, and Toledo.

For all the hype given to names in the ABA, the Fame, Richmond Ballerz, and Commissioner Salley have failed to live up to expectations thus far.

I'm hoping this can spur some interesting conversation. What does everyone else know about what's going on?

Please...if you are going to blindly support the ABA with no willingness to recognize the problems, or are going to blindly bash the ABA with no willingness to recognize the progress being made, post on a different thread. Let's have some friendly, respectful, intelligent conversation about the ABA, it's struggles, successes, etc.

[bdaly]

This season has been better than the last one. But, clearly, there are problems. Doyle and Salley (I realize Salley is more of a figurehead) took on their roles at too late of a date, so they couldn't impact the somewhat crazy expansion and enforce standards as well as they could have had they been on board the whole off season. So, next year will be a real measuring stick--we'll see if they're given the power to really make a difference. Doyle has made his opinions known on teams that can't meet basic standards, so if he is actually given the power, I think it'll get better. We'll see.

[sportsguy12]

This season has been better than the last one. But, clearly, there are problems. Doyle and Salley (I realize Salley is more of a figurehead) took on their roles at too late of a date, so they couldn't impact the somewhat crazy expansion and enforce standards as well as they could have had they been on board the whole off season. So, next year will be a real measuring stick--we'll see if they're given the power to really make a difference. Doyle has made his opinions known on teams that can't meet basic standards, so if he is actually given the power, I think it'll get better. We'll see.

why not fix what you have before continuing to add to it. Don't keep adding teams. Stop expanding for a year and get everyone on the same page. Then once the house is in order, continue to expand. That's one of the big problems. There's so much instability that it's impossible to address any of the issues they have.

[b-ball31]

I agree. Next year will really give an indication of where the league is headed. If the team websites are all done and uniform. If stats are kept and updated on the league site, and if they truly enforce minimum standards before a schedule is done, then this league could really improve. If not, it may never turn the corner.

Speaking of Doyle getting control...I read through their public filing the other day (sad i know), and found a clause that states Doyle and AJ Discalia as "optionees" have the right to buy stock at a predetermined price, that if fully excercised would give them "well in excess of 51% of the league". It has a deadline for this to occur of December 31, 2007.

That's pretty interesting. I'm not sure what the intention is there, however there are some implications that could be drawn.

[b-ball31]

You make a good point Sportsguy....I agree to some extent, though do you think they should not add any teams? I think they have to get everyone on the same page and fix the problems they do have without disrupting the current dynamic. They should definitely minimize expansion next year, but i wouldn't say that they shouldn't add any teams. They should atleast replace teams that failed this year in the Blue Central. If they don't they will add a new problem of increasing travel costs to those teams left in the Blue Central to add to the myriad of other problems faced by the ABA.

[bdaly]

I agree it doesn't have to be a case of ending expansion. Low travel costs are the real benefit to this league. Moving forward with this season's survivors would lead to some regions being expensive. But, let's face it, it wouldn't have taken a PhD to guess most of the failures--the warning signs were obvious. Teams not getting websites up, owners falling behind on arena rent before the season started, absolutely no promotional effort, etc. Perhaps they should set up date milestones and knock teams off the roster with each one. Then, they could move forward with a schedule that would require far fewer changes. Obviously, teams not showing up and game cancellations kill any well-intentioned teams' credibility.

I agree that Doyle's stake in things is interesting. It may allow him to become more of a decision maker--like it or not. And, based on what I hear from him, I think he could drive the league in the right direction. So, we'll have to wait and see.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

the ABA has HAD mandatory requirements. It has HAD 'drop-dead' dates to meet those requirements.

And yet, it has continued to flounder.:mad:

Contract the league to a more manageable number. Get the correct people doing due diligence and the financial investigations. Require teams to put up the money need for the season up-front, in the form of a bond. Insist on minimum standards for playing venues, and demand that they be met - and the contract signed - BEFORE the team is announced. Set an absolute date of June 1 for all teams to be ready to compete. Create the full and complete schedule only AFTER all teams are confirmed (not "with an asterisk" as it did this year). Either hire a company to manage all team websites, or let them do their own, with minimum standards of information - stats, news, contact info, ticket prices, etc. Insist that those site be up and active by the June 1 deadline. Don't announce any planned events - the RWB Concert, Starz in Motion, etc. - without having a signed contract in place and the money spent to effect such an event.

That would be a start...

[sportsguy12]

the ABA has HAD mandatory requirements. It has HAD 'drop-dead' dates to meet those requirements.

And yet, it has continued to flounder.:mad:

Contract the league to a more manageable number. Get the correct people doing due diligence and the financial investigations. Require teams to put up the money need for the season up-front, in the form of a bond.

As much as I can't believe I'm saying this ... the owners aren't all too blame. The league (Uncle Joe) is supposed to run the teams' website for them. Those words came from a story where UJ was quoted. The league has totally fallen through on its websites as well as those of its teams. I think the ones that are good (websites I mean) are those run by the teams without the league's involvement. So ultimately, the league's failures are created by UJ, who also swindled owners who in turn swindle the public.

[nksports]

Uncle Joe just inherited $2.5 million in the reverse merger that takes the league public. The league should not have a single unstable team with that kind of jack, but it ain't happening.

In the weeks following the reverse merger, the stock went from .10 to as high as 2.70 (now at 2.10). The reported market capitalization went from $2.5 million to $61.16 million (Supposedly, you could borrow on that number, but a Wall Street investment banker could explain it better than I could. I trust that numer as much as I do that my deed to a bridge in NYC metro area is valid).
So the pump has started and I'm just waiting for the dump.

[BreakersFan]

I think b-ball's post is pretty good.

The good: This season is clearly the best in league history. The games are exciting and mostly competitive. More games have been played and there is generally more media coverage of the league. The ABA website has accurate standings. There are some strong franchises in the northeast and other parts of the country. If the All Star game goes well and the play-offs are legitimate, the ABA will finish this season in a much better position than it ever has before.

The neutral: The court is still out on going public. I still cannot believe that someone would put that much money into this league and keep the current leadership. It doesn't pass the smell test.

The bad: As far as I know from following the league and media:

There have been 7 folds: Mexicali Centenales, Brooklyn Wonders, Anderson Champions, Baltimore Pearls, Las Vegas Venom, Toledo Ice, and Knoxville Noise. (Call it 8 if you count Southern Georgia which folded 2 days before the season started).

Two "replacement" teams will soon play: Brooklyn Comets and Toledo Royal Knights. (Three if you count the Georgia Gwizzlies, who will not play this season).

Three teams have moved since Nov. 1: Fresno (to Sacramento), Carson (to Maywood) and Hammond (to Sauk Valley).

At least two teams have taken or are on hiatus: Arkansas River Cats and Houston Undertakers.

At least two teams are still playing but have cancelled some home games: Richmond and Waco.

An interesting off season is ahead for all of minor hoops!

[psbf]

The last time I checked, Houston had changed their name to Takers, but was still playing.

[teqkng]

Finally we have a reasonable discussion posting regularly. If you read my posts on the Gwizz thread I have laid out my opinions and thoughts without claiming a positive or negative. Keep in mind that in most success stories of note you take a major weakness and turn it into a chief strength or motivation. I can see some of the owners doing this, there are some strong organizations in the ABA. I think it is time to start further organization on a regional level, to allow regional sponsorships giving some larger companies a value for their sponsorship dollar. Even going so far as to let the websites be run regionally. It would sure help out Unca Joe and help to address a large number of concerns that I see posted here regularly.

Pipe up, Pros and cons?

[Marshall Benjamin]

Why do I see HS Basketball players on the ABA roster?

[AConcernedCitizen]

Real Madrid Basketball Team draws tens of thousands of people per home game and play in both the Spanish league (one of the best in the world) and the Euroleague (the best of the best teams) and it has a point guard that is 16.

I imagine he's in high school. He plays with and against men as much as twice his age.

What does it matter how old a player is if he's good enough to play?

Who is making the rules here for everyone? Freddie Adou played as a 14 year old for DC United in the MLS, should he not have done?

I was under the impression that once you turned 16 you can work and you can choose to stay in high school or leave.

[psbf]

Real Madrid in Basketball? Are you sure you're talking about the same sport?

[psbf]

Point gaurds, ok. But when it comes to Real Madrid, the Spanish League or the Euroleague, soccer comes to mind.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

It would sure help out Unca Joe and help to address a large number of concerns that I see posted here regularly.

These concerns have been discussed here and elsewhere by many - including team officials - for years. Same stuff, different day...

The only help Joe needs is to pack up and get out..... oh wait, he can't leave. It's HIS kitchen cabinet.

[heavesrock]

A lot of Foreign clubs were started a long time ago as a multiple sport athletic club and continue that way even if the soccer team is most popular.

[TEN]

I hope those high school kids....and the ABA coaches, etc....realize that they are jepordizing their eligibility to play college basketball if they play in a "pro" game.

There used to be some accountability when it came to that....but this IS the ABA.

[Sam Hill]

Real Madrid in Basketball? Are you sure you're talking about the same sport?

Yes. European sports teams are often actual sports "clubs," with different sporting teams under their umbrella.

FC Barcelona used to own the NFL Europe League's Barcelona Dragons for a while (they became the FC Barcelona Dragons for the last couple years of their lives).

Real Madrid is best known as a soccer club, but it's not exclusively a soccer club.

[psbf]

Thanks, I had not realized that. But I know they have Basketball teams overseas.

[Pounder]

Most kids in Europe are signed to "professional" contracts at 15. Mind you, "professional" at early ages means being paid with an education and maybe per diem, and the kids are probably playing in the club's youth system.

Wanna know why Europe is catching up to us? That structure I mention is the main reason. That 16-year-old catches the eye of coaches, the coaches can immediately try him out against the first team to see how he handles himself, and voila, he makes the first team. Meanwhile, America is tied into these age groupings that are becoming archaic (or in the NCAA's case, simply self-serving). Funny thing is that there are more foreign players than ever in the NCAA, but the ones getting drafted now are being drafted straight from the youth programs rather than the old standard of going to American colleges. Real Madrid is going to want cash for their 16-year-old if the NBA comes calling.

Food for thought.